The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-09-01
ssrgesnr Fofma1 Gives H'a Side.
To the Editor of The State:


Inasmuch as Lieutenant Colonel
Tillman, in an interview reported to
your paper from Saluda, S. G., has
most unjustifiably denounced me, L
desire that the public shall know all
the facts, in order that it may esti-
mate ct their proper value the denun-
ciatory phrases of this valiant militia
man. For this purpose ask your
Indulgence for few paragraphs. l
shall not undertake to handy epithets
with him, for I must confess, albeit
with pride, that I have never been
trained in the school Of billingsgate.
Moreover / am not at all concerned
with what kind OF an opinion Col.
Tillman may have Of me since he
has proven himself that kind Of man
for whom l could not have proper re.
spect and in whom I could not place
any confidence whatever. lam there
fore utterly Indifferent as to what he
may say or think, as fortunately my
reputation can neithe. be made nor
blasted by anything he may say or do.
But 1 cannot permit his assaults on
nv name to pass Without exposing
theirtrue inwardness. To begin with,
the recent contest in which Col. Till
man was defeated by Major Claffy OF
Fort Motto is still fresh in the minds
of the public. His conduct since the
contest has shown that he is still very
sore over his defeat. When Col.
Hall resigned, Lieut.. Col. Tillman
was the ranking officer and naturally
expected promotion. That his regi-
ment should 20 outside and select an
other man as colonel was a little too
much for him. The Edisto Rifles, of
which company I am a member, cast
its entire vote for Major Claffy, against
Col. Tillman, and he of course has not
the kirdliest feelings towards this
company.
Now, as to the medal part of the
story: Col. Tillman offered a medal
to he awarded to the best drilled SOL
dier in the regiment, the contest to be
had at the encampment at this place.
I entered this contest as did many
others. The judges were named by
Col. Tillman, ard were his brother,
Capt. B. R. Tillman, Jr., and Lieut..
M. B. Stokes, U. s. A. The drilling
was conducted by an officer of the
United States army. Men were dropp'
ing out from time to time for various
errors until two others and myself were
left. After some further drilling the
two judges consulted, but failed to
agree. They then called in the drill
master, who promptly decided the
contest in my favor. Col. Tillman
then directed me to come to his tent at
9 o'clock p. m., and saying at the
time that he would give me the medal
then. I did so, and was informed by
him that there was opp osition raised
by members of the other companies
based on the fact that the Edisto Rifles,
of which company I am the first SER
geant, was not in the camp. Strange
Colonel Tillnan did not think Of
this before no allowed members
from this company to enter the con-
test. It was known several weeks
before the encampment that the Eds
to Riffs would not take part in it.
And yet Col. Tillman offered his med
al for the best drilled man in the reg.
iment. When I called to see Col.
Tillman at 9 o'clock at his tent he also
said that there would be another drill
on the following morning. He no
doubt would have insisted on another
competitive drill, as he was evidently
displeased with the award made by
the Judges of his own choosing. But
early next morning three companies
left camp, aud as Col. Tillman's pets
were among those to leave, heard no
more about another drill. On the
contrary Col. Tillmsn came up town
to see me and informed me that he
decided to give me themedal. He said :
Il would stay and deliver it myself,
but have an important murder case to
attend to, and will 60 by and get Capt
Moss to present it to you for me- He
also said that he would get Capt.
Moss to 90 up aud get it out of
the postoffice. Now, if the medal was
in the postofhce, how could he have
directed me to come to his tent at 9
o'clock the night before, saying that
he would present it at that hours One
cannot reconcile these two statements.
As I could moi do so, unwill1ngly
began to suspect something wrong,
and then and there determined that l
would never do myself the honor of
wearing Col. Tillman's medal. After
the lapse of two weeks Capt Moss de-
livered the medal to me. There was
not a letter on it that would indicate
for whom it was intended or for what
it had been awarded; in point of fact
there was not a single letter on it. 1t
wss, therefore, es a badge OF merit,
utterly worthless, and certainly
would not possess it otherwise. This
fixed me in my resolution to return it
to him, which I did accompanied by
the following letter, every word of
which is justified By the foregoing
facts:
Dear Sir: Under all the circum-
stances connected with the awarding
of the medal, and the later develop.
ments, beg to return the medal sent
me with thanks. Please find same in
closed. Very RESPECTFULLY,
"a. W. HofTm man."
Permit me to add, Mr.. Editor, the
following testimonial which l have
just received from the secretary of the
Edisto Rifles, Mr.. r. G. Moseley, with
notice saying that the resolution was
passed at a meeting of the company
held on the 20th of the month.
"Whereas Lieut.. Col. j. Fl. Tillman,
in an interview at Saluda, s. c., is re-