San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-03-10
Srrrnarrrr.p. Mass, OCT. "a.


under the headline, Can This Be Truer' /
should be glad to confer with you before answer
IT, yours faithfully, WILLIAM T. JACKSON.
The item in question was short and
read as follows:
CAN THIS BE TRUE!
correspondent has sent the following note to |
US, and It seems to call for a reply from Mr. |
jackson at once. Without any information on |
the subject we cannot answer the query but we |
nope, for the sake of a man who is generally re-
spected it is not true. |
To the Editor OF The Republican:
SIR-Can You tell me whether the William |
Truesdale Jackson who has been nominated by |
the Democrats for the responsible position of
county Judge is the same William TruesSiaIe |
Jackson who deserted from the Second Massa- |
chusetts infantry the night before the battle of
Gettysburg, and was condemned by court mar
tial to suffer the penalty Of desertion in the face
Of the enemy? II he is there are old soldiers
enough hereabout to snow him under on election
day. Yours, REPUBLICAN.
Mr.. Gardiner finished his breakfast
with light heart and made his way
down to Mr.. Jackson's house. He never
doubted for second the squire had pre-
pared positive denial of the story, and
he found himself wondering with a
vague curiosity who the deserter could
be. Entering Mr.. Jackson's house he
found that gentleman in his library
After greeting each other Mr.. jackson
picked up half sheet of note paper and
handed it to his friend. On it Mr.. Gar
diner read:
To the Editor of The Republicans:
SIR-1n 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 l have only to add that although was
then much younger than ! am now and with
much less experience than now have, would,
were placed in the same position today again
desert before night had fallen. 1 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. i
"You are not going to send this,
hope" said Mr.. Gardiner.
Most certainly am. If my fellow
citizens choose to honor me with thei-
suffrages, they shall do so with no false
pretenses on my part"
But, my dear 'squire"-
"The thing is true; why should deny
it,"
There is no use of a denial. Let it
alone, say nothing, and there is not
man in the county who will believe it,"
Mr.. johnson smiled somewhat sadly.
my friend" he said, "a 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, l 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 l could not
consent to be silent"
But the ticket!' broke in the unhap-
Ply chairman.
Il think it would be better that | re-
sign"
"Not for a 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 it
would be all right. But that note is so
curt; it fiaunts your desertion in the face
of men as though you were proud of it;
it fairly defies all public opinion
II am proud of it, sir, and 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 l tell why
l deserted 1t 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
itself, Il know as well as you the dis
grace which attaches to the name of
man who deserts ON the eve of a great
battle. | know he is called a coward
and poltroon. am of no sterner stuff
than other men, and it has required all
the trust | have in One who is wiser than
Ito make it clear to me that the burden
was laid on me for some good purpose.
Il have thought that perhaps some
other way might have been found and
| have been spared, but it was not to be.
l do not regret the act, but | mourn over
the necessity for it. My name as a man
is as dear to me as yours to you. make
no vain boast, Mr.. Gardiner, when l say
to you that if my life would benefit my
country | would give it gladly. Yet l
stand before men as one who fed at a
supreme moment of that country's peril.
This is not easy for me, for am proud
man, sir, and l am not a coward; but |
console myself as best l may by the con-
ccin,,SnnSS that tharn is One ruhn lrr,n,rrr