Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-03


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happened. I have long wanted TO have
| plain talk with General Winder. but
did not feel that It was becoming 4
a subaltern officer to express my senti
ments TO the General. nor do ] think
would have any beneficial effect upol
him; but now he has given me a GOO,
opportunity. and i'm a few days | viii
say some plain things to him"
THE HANGING OF JOHN BROWN.
| 1t happened at that time that Genera
| George w Randolph. who had practice,
law in Richmond for some years will
distinction and success. and who wa,
an old friend OF mine, was then Secretarj
| OF War in JEFF. Daviss Cabinet. To hin
as the head Of the army, General Windel
looked with the utmost respect. On IN,
day John Brown was hanged at Charles
town. General Randolph. then captain
was In command OF the Richmond Howit
zers, In which company was a private
He was officer of the day when John
Brown was hung. and the Howitzers oc.
cupied every guard post I'm the village
BY the way. II will interest many people
10 say that l saw John Brown led from
the jail and put in the cart which carried
him IN the scaffold. In appearance he was
very like Governor Henry A. Wise, which
resemblance was noticed by many
at the time. When he got into
the cart and sat down on his coffin. there
was smile upon his countenance, as II
he felt there was a halo OF martyrdom
encirclng his brow Governor Wise
had long conversation with him In the
jail, and said of him. that he was one
OF the bravest men he had ever seen.
At the scaffold ne exhibited no physical
shrinking, but died bravely, an enthusiast
to the end
ASKED GEN. RANDOLPHS HELP.
l was at headquarters with Captain
Randolph, and he at that time was
suffering severely with a neuralgic head
ache that almost made Il torture for
him to perform his duties. Perceiving
this. and knowing from experience what
was almost a specific I'm such cases, l
went TO the hotel and had prepared a cup
Of tea and some hot corn batter-cakes.
which l carried 10 the Captain and they
relieved him. He was very thankful for
my attention, and said to me, iocularly:
"If hereafter can be OF any service TO
you. be sure and call on me and / will
certainly respond to your Wishes" With
General Winders charges In my hand.
went one evening to General Randolph's
house and found him at supper with his
accomplished. beautiful wife. When he
came into the parlor I said to him, with a
smile: General. / am In big scrape
and l have called on you to get me out
OF IT, Don't you remember the tea and
cakes ] brought you at Charlestown
when you were sick and suffering. and
don't you remember your promise to me
then? Now Is the time for you to fulfil
IT." What is the natter" he asked.
Read that paper" l replied, handing
the charges to him, "and you will see"
He did so, and after ne had finished he
laughed immoderately. and told me 10
tell General Wnder that he knew one Of
the detectives, whose name was signed TO
the paper, for he had cheated him out
of the first fee he had made in Richmond.
GOT PLENTY OF CERTIFICATES.
But" said /, General that is not
enough. 1 want you to put down in
writing your opinion of my loyalty 10
Virginia and the Confederacy." He
wrote: Il have known Captain r. ID.
W for many years, and II there Is
In the State any man more loyal to it
and to the Confederacy, and more Vir-
ginian than he is, l do not know the
man." and signed his name, George W.
Randolph, Secretary or War" That, l
thought was sufficient, but / wanted to
be completely sustained by the opinion
Of many OF the distinguished men whom
| knew, and / called upon Joseph Mayo,
Mayor of the city; L. w. Tazewell, the
Commonwealths Attorney; John o.
Stegar, It's postmaster; many OF the Vlr-
GINA representatives in the Confederate
Congress; Governors McRae and Foote,
OF Mississippi: Haines, of North Carolina;
Semmes, of Kentucky; Generals Malone.
kemper. Imboden, and Moore, of the
army, and many others. whose names |
do not now recall, and whom / happened
to meet in the city, all of whom wrote
me the strongest testimonials to my
loyalty, and many of them, who knew
me WELL expressed establishment that II
should ever have been questioned or
doubted by anybody.
THE INTERVIEW WITH WINDER.
Armed with these endorsations, I called
upon General Winder, who had never di-
rectly told me OF his intention to have me
and / said to him:
General, / understand you intend to have
me court-martialled for disloyalty." Eyes.
sir, he replied. General. you will do no
sucn thing" | answered. what do you
meanT' said he. Read that" l an
swered, handing him the paper with the
testimonials upon II, "and tell me IL you
stu insist upon my trial?" When he had
finished, he said: These are certainly
very complimentary and satisfactory
VIII withdraw the charges and you can
go back 10 your duties"
Now. General" said /, before leave
want TO say few words to you. have
shown you beyond all question that nv
loyalty is sustained by irrefragible tes- |
timony. given by some or the most DIS
tinguished people In the South. and you.
upon the mere statements Of detectives.
VINO drew. with yourself, wrong in
lerences from my words, intended 10 |
STAN my reputation by a public trial |
which | was not afraid OF. so far as IL
would reflect upon me in the estimation |
Oh my friends, but IL would have injured |
me with those who did not know me.
ana would only hear OF the trial /
You will perceive, therefore that Won |
have been too credulous in believing the |
statements Of your detective afficers. and 1
In more instances than mine Won have /
caused men to be incarcarated upon IN. /
sufficient testimony and unreliable sus |
plcions. You must Acknowledge Won have
lone wrong In such cases, although | be- |
ieve your purpose was TO do right I
nave closely scanned your administration.
Ind this purpose Is visible all through n
put II has oftentimes been thwarted by
iour misplaced confidence In many Of
hose who surround you. upon whom you
ely for the information which induces
'our action. II you will be more careful
n this respect and not act blindlv uuon
he reports OF these irresponsible men
'r get rid OF them and put others In
heir places, you Will be more popular
lmong our people, and your administra-
ion Will give greater satisfaction" The
General took what ! said in good
emper, and | believe he had greater re-
pect for and confidence I'm me therea f,er