Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-12-27
ELKINS DENIES 1T.
He Was Not a Member of Quantrelrs
Band and Was Never In the Confederate

Band and Was Never In the Confederate
| Service.
On Wednesday last the NeeO YoAk
World contained the following:
NEVADA, Mo-, December 22.-George
Maddox, a former police officer OF
| Nevada, who served with Quantrell
during the war, has this to say OF the
soldier life of Stephen B. Elkins, who,
he has no doubt, is the Stephen b.
Elkins recently appointed Secretary OF
War:
st was in Jackson county, in June,
1862, that Stephen B. Elkins and MS
brother Jim were with our command.
They came across from the other SIDE
OF the river, from Clay or Platt county,
with Gordon, and remained with US
until the following winter. They were
not sworn into Quantrell's command,
but had been sworn into the service OF
the Confederate States. They were,
however, under Quantrell's command
and were subject to his orders all the
time that they remained on our side OF
the river.
"Steve was with us at Sibley and
participated in several fights that we
| had during the Summer. l do not now
recall how many fights he was in with
us, but several. He was darkroom
plexioned fellow, about twenty-one or
twenty-five years old. So far as ever
saw or heard he conducted himself In
battle like soldier should, and you
know Quantrel's men all fought to the
death. They expected no quarter and
gave none. The black flag floated in
every battle where Quantrell command
ed.
"Steve Elkins left our command in
the fall or winter Of 1862 and went back
over the river. / never saw him again,
but we heard afterwards that he had
Joined the Yankee militia. OF course,
we were all anxious to see him after
that. Had we ever run across him some
other man would now be holding down
a chair in Harrison's Cabinet as Secre-
tary of War. My understanding was
that after he left us he went to Liberty,
in Clay county, and joined a company
of militia there. His brother Jim went
on south with US, and joined the regular
Confederate service.
"No, | could not swear that Secretary
of War Stephen B. Elkins is the same
Stephen B. Elkins that rode with us
under the black flag on that June morn
ing in 1862, but rather think the two
are identical"
Speaking of his own connection with
Quantrell, Maddox said;
~ Joined Quantrell at Blue Springs in
June, 1861, and fought with him all the
time from then until he went to Ken
lucky, where he was killed"
Maddox carries on his body the scars
of thirteen wounds received while light
ing under Quantrell.
The article, if true, was deemed i'm
portant by the REGISTER, and desiring
to give it's readers the truth and Mr..
Elkins at the same time an opportunity
to confirm or deny the story, the follow
ing telegram was addressed to the new
Secretary Of War:
Stephen B. EkinS, Secretary Of War,
Washington, ID. c.:
Does the telegram from Nevada, Mo-,
in Wednesdays New York World refer
to you? Were you ever in the Confed-
crate service or under Quantrel's COM
mand? Wire answer at our expense.
WHEELING REGISTER.
This telegram came back with the
statement from the Washington office
of the Western Union that Mr.. Elkins
had gone to his home at Elkin's, w.
Va.
1t was ordered forwarded to him, and
yesterday the following reply was re-
celved, the delay being due to transfers
and long messenger service at the sec
retary's home, nc doubt:
ELKINs, w. VA, December Co.
WHEELING REGIsTER:-Did not see
Wednesdays World.
No.