The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1892-09-28
CAMPAIGN LIES HAILED.

Inc NeI1S mas EecelVeO inc AOuOWlnB
with request to place it before the public:
DALLAS, September q, 1892
Hon. H. L. Bentley, EsGn1g"T Peoples party
campaign, Fort Worth, IerGs;
DEAR SR:-My attention hGs been
called to the publication In various dem
ocratic papers concerning my admins
tratlon as commander Of tho post at
Pulaski, Tenn, in tho winter Of 1863 4.
The charge that / ever Imprisoned any
one and then released them for q money
consideration, or that l ever oppressed
any one, male or female, or ever charged
the people Of that locality for passes
through the lines Of the federal army, or
that l ever, in any manner, extOrted
money from the people Of that locality
and appropriated the same to my own
use, is an unmltigated lie, 5so,.Q ,4nr
I was assigned to the post at Pulaski
by order Of Gen. G.. NJ. Dodge, COM
mander of the left wing Of the Sixteenth
army corps. Upon entering that part Of
Tennessee General Dodge issued an order
and made 1T public, in which he stated
that his army was In need OF supplies of
every kind, and stated that if the people
would bring in supplies vouchers would
be rendered for the same without max
ing any inquiries as to the loyalty or dis
loyalty of the parties. People brought
in their supplies and vouchers were given
them, and they were all paid by the
assistant commiSsaSy general, Cyrus 20.
During ny adhlnlstratioa ~ COM
mhnder ofthe post, q large number of
refugees came within our lineh They
came from the eoonfederate army In Ala
bama and elsewhere. They we're totally
without supplies and destitute, and at
that time they could not be- allowed to
depart without restraint. General Dodge
isaned an order commanding me to make
q levy Of $4,000, as ! now remember,
from wealthy citizens living In. the Vi !
clnlty, for the purpose Of paying for sup
plies necessary for the suStenance Of
these refugees. In obedience to that
order issued an order reclting the su-
thority under which I WaO acting, and
served it upon certain parties, doubtless
the parties named In the statement sent
out from Pulaski. Tho money collected
was paid direct to Col. Cyrus Q, Car
panter, assistant commlsSery general Of
the left wing of thsSixtS9nth army corps,
and did not pass through my hands, Gs I
now remember, and the wants Of the
refugees were supplied. av ss4, g.h.
General Dodge Is well known to the
people Of Texas, being In charge Of an ex-
tehsivVe railway system within your state,
and Colonel Carpenter has since served
as an officer IN the treasury department,
asa member of congress, and as gov
ernor Of the state Of lowe. To these
ofacers, and to Slfothers who knew me
In the army, refer. ell quettiona CON
corning my rectitude and honorable con-
duct as a soldier, There is notA human
being-man, woman or chlld-living or
dead, that Fever oppfsssed q &htreatSd
while I wasip the service q ag country.
The confscatIon Of property Is cruel, the
taking of life is cruel, every phaSS ofwar
is cruel, but unfortuhStslV ouE'unhappy |
country had q surfeit yof It, For my |
standing in the community, and during |
the time commanded the said post
refer to Mr.. Harris, the Ballentyh& fsh-
lily, Rev. Robert Caldwell, aud others