West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1892-09-29

not seen from the newspapers that
Mr.. Elkins, by means of purported
interviews, was falsifying his record
and endcavoring to play the role of
n staunch Union man and Fed
eral soldier during the dark and
trying days of the war. AS these
interviews are over the signature OF
well known and responsible CORES
pondents who purport to give in
many instances, the exact language
used by Mr.. Elkins, the falsehood
rests upon him. Mr.. Elkins says.
in an interview published in 1892
After the war ] decided to 90
Vest The official records of this
Territory show that in December,
1864, :. b. Elkins was n nom Der of
the House of Representatives of
New Mexico from Dona Ana couu-
ty the war had certainly not then
closed, and s. Il. Elkins, to have
been eligible, must have been i'm
this Territory for some time prior TO
his election.
When and where did he serve i'm
the Union army Nowhere. What
did he do? After the disbanding
OF tho famous Missouri Home
Guards, of which he boasts so much
of having been Captain, he followed
his father and brother John, who
had joined the Confederate General
Sterling Price, who was then in
Missouri. In the first battle in
which they were engaged our va
liant Secretary of War ran away.
according To the statement which
his own father has made in the
presence of many respectable gen
llcmcn residing in Santa Fe, ms
well as in many other parts IN the
Territory. The next that was known
of him he was out in New Mexico,
where, according to the record
have given, he must have arrived
as carly as 1868.
While he may not have been reg
ularly enrolled as Il soldier i'm the
army Of General Price, he was with
1T and ran away.
Ills father and brother were vio-
lent sccessionists and adhered to the
Southern cause until the end. But
what services did $. B. Elkius rem.
der the Union cause? None, ex.
ccpt TO run away from the Confcd-
crate army and abandon his father
and brother.
Six thousand FIVE hundred men
were mustered into the service of
the United States in the Territory
of Mexico during the time s. Is
Elklns was here, but ! have failed
to find anywhere in the records Of
this Territory or in the State of
Missouri that s. B. Elkins ever
rendered any military services dur
ing the war, except rs ! have here
inGeforc stated. While ut Messilla,
IN New Mexico, where he first set
tied, during the whole of the war,
he was regarded by the Union men
as Il Confederate sympathlzer lie
associated and resided with those
who were well known to be earnest
sympathizers with the Confederate
cause. Steve Is. Elkins never allied
himself with the Union men of this
country until after the election of
General Grant as President i'm 1868.
This, then. is the record of the va.
liant Federal soldier, the sincere
Union man, whom you lravc placed
IN command over men who have
grown gray in honorable service of
their country, who riskcd fortune
and life i'm defense Of the nation.
while ). B. Elkins was skulking in
the bottoms OF the Rio Abaio in
New Mexico, a runaway from father
and brother, sneaking his way out
OF the Confederate army and for
the good of his struggling country
burying himself in the wilds Of New
Mexico.
The veteran Union soldier can
and does honor and esteem the Con
federate soldier who met him in the
shock OF battlo--the manlness, the
courage, the heroic valor with which
the Confederate soldier sought to
maintain his convictions Of right
aud duty commands our admiration.
Now that the struggle is over there
is no bitterness or hatred upon the
part Of those who met upon the
bloody field. If Confederate sol
der, who had shown himself TO be
n brave man aud capable officer
had been given this high position.
it would have been regarded by the
Union men as an homage which
honorable men are always willing TO
render to q brave and sincere man
who was willing TO maintain his
convictions 1T the risk OF fortune
and life. But what must be the
feelings Of the Veterans on both
sides TO see n man who shirked his
duty, played the poltroOn, and who,
but for those vile guns, would
himself have been a soldier" now
commanding the armies Of the Uni.
ted States Of America =? do not
propose that this political Tartuffe
shall be allowed with impunity 10
falsify the history Of this country
and his own record, and palm him