The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-04-26


To the Editor of The Republican:
SIR-In answer to the query contained in your
columns this morning permit me to inform you
that am the William Truesdale Jackson who de-
serted, not the night before but two nights before
the battle of Gettysburg from the Second Massa-
chusetts infantry, and who was subsequently
condemned to the penalty of the military crime,
My reasons for that act were and are personal to
myself. have only 10 add that although was
then much younger than l now and with
much less experience than now have would,
were placed in the same position today, again
desert before night had fallen. / remain, sir.
your obedient servant. WILLIAM T. JACKSON.
Mr.. Gardiner looked up, his mouth
shaping itself for the hymn tune, and as
he looked faint wave of color for a
moment rose to the 'squire's cheek.
You are not going to send this,
hope" said Mr. Gardiner.
Most certainly l am. If my fellow
citizens choose to honor me with Their
suffrages, they shall do so with no false
pretenses on my part"
''But, my dear 'squire"-
1.-THE thing is true; why should l deny
itr'
'There is no use of denial Let it
alone, say nothing, and there is not a
man in the county who will believe it,
Mr.. johnson smiled somewhat sadly.
my friend he said, ga suppressio veri
will not help me IN this matter. 1t is
better to tell the truth; better, because
it is right, and better policy as well. 1t
is easy to identify me with the deserter
in fact, have no doubt this has been
done already. But even were it not,
were that paragraph the last of it, now
the question has been raised I could not
consent to be silent.
But the ticket" broke in the unhap-
Ply chairman.
II think it would be better that re-
sign"
mot for moment. That would be
absolutely fatal. But squire, if you
must acknowledge it, why not tell your
reasons for leaving the service? I'm
sure they were good ones. Then ii
would be all right. But that note is SC
curt; it haunts your desertion in the face
of men as though you were proud of it;
it fairly defies all public opinion"
81 am proud of it, sir, and l thank my
God that he permitted me to DESERT
broke in the lawyer in his deepest tone
through which there rang an accent OF
strong emotion. 'But neither to you
nor any other man living will 1 tell why
l deserted. It must suffice you that ]
did, and have never regretted it. I'm
! derstand me, Mr.. Gardiner" and as he
! spoke the faint color once more showed
J itself, 81 know as well as you the dis
/ grace which attaches to the name of q
man who deserts on the eve of a great
battle. know he is called a coward
! and a poltroon. | am of no sterner stuff
than other men, and it has required al
the trust | have in One who is wiser thar
to make it clear to me that the burden
was laid on me for some good purpose.
81 have thought that perhaps some
other way might have been found and
l have been spared, but it was not to be.
l do not regret the act, but mourn over
I the necessity for it. My name as a man
is as dear to me as yours to you. Imake
no vain boast, Mr.. Gardiner, when say
to you that if my life would benefit nv
country would give it gladly. Yet
stand before men as one who fed at q
supreme moment of that country's peril
This is not easy for NE, for l am proud
man, sir, and l am not a coward; but ]
console myself as best may by the con
sciousness that there is One who knows
better than men, and that he in his wis.
dom has afflicted me. But, sir, while
this is hard enough, it would be fan
worse were to descend to falsehood, fol
then | should be ashamed in mine OWL
eyes"
Mr.. GARDENERS eyes were moist as he
grasped the lawyers hand and STAN
mered out an apology for his mistaken
though well meant advice. He offered
to carry the note to the Office of The Re.
publican himself, and the squire, visibly
gratifed by this, acquiesced gladly.
To say that MIR. Jackson's answer tx
The Republican created storm of tall
is to put things in the miIdest way. The
orators opposed to the Democratic ticlzet
made the most Of the weapon which haG
torials filed the Republican papers
and the machinery of the Grand Army
was used to increase the excitement
While enemies tainted the desertel
friends implored Mr.. Jackson to speak
but to no purpose. Entreaties and abuse
seemed to pass him by with equal lacl
of effect. When he appeared at public
meetings-for as soon as the county com
mittee had decided he should not with
draw the squire showed he was no
afraid to face any music going-thert
was at first a disposition to hiss OIL
the part of some who were there. This
however, was speedily put down by tn,
majority. 1t was impossible for thest
people, among whom he had lived tru,
and blameless for many years, to toll
crate open disrespect when shown tx
him, and once the man got hearin.
there was little danger of his audience
thinking Of aught save his spoken
thoughts.
Mr.. Gardiner, shrewd as usual, anC
since that talk with the squire respect
ing him as he never had before, was tn,
first to see the tide had turned, and see
ing rejoiced greatly. It became appa
rent as the days went on, and the frs
shock wore off, that the imprisoned APP
peals and able denunciations were rapid
ly losing :heir effect. Three days befor,
the election speaker who began dia
tribe against "the coward" and TRAITOR
was fairly Kissed into silence. Men saiC
to each other that while desertion was ;
mighty bad thing, no doubt, the squire
said it was right for him to desert, ant