The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-09-21
THE KILLING OF GEN. NELSON
A Tragedy of the Civil War Retold by
 A Union Veteran.


 A Union Veteran.
 Two of the noted and most interest ing Grand Army men who attended the great encampment are Capt. T. D. McGillicuddy of Cleveland, twice Adjutant General of the Grand Army | of the Republic, author of ''Ohio in the War" and many other contributions to military history and his brother, Major D. w. McGillicuddy of Chicago, both of whom are the guests of their sister, Mrs. w. R. Johnson, at the Lombardy flats, Foutrh street. Capt. McGlllicuddy went to the war with the Fiftieth Illinois Regiment, and Major McGillicuddy with the Sixth Ohio, from Cincinnati, commanded by Col Nicholas L. Anderson. Speaking of the war and its incidents to The Enquirer man at the Emery, Major McGillicuddy said Soldiers must take care of themselves when in camp | or on the march if they expect to keep in good health. Our regiment, the sixth Ohio, left Cincinnati 1040 strong, and in three years and three months of active, hard service through several states, and in all seasons and condi- ttons of climatic change, we never lost but fifteen men from disease, an al- most unprecedented record. But we | took excellent care of ourselves, stick ing to hardtack and the regular army rations, eschewing pies, cakes, and knckknacks of all sorts that we came across. Ever since the war l have learned to take care of myself and have earned a good salary every year since the surrender. l have been with | one firm, Farewell & Go, in Chicago | for thirty years, and have never lost a single day from sickness in that | period, and am now sixty-tWo years of age. You ask me about the tragic death of Major Gen. William Nelson, who was shot and killed on the stair way of the Gait house, in Louisville by Gen. Jeff C. Davis of Indiana the latter part of September-I think it was 1862. l I remember we'll that 1t was q short time before the battle of Perryville, Ky, which oc- cured October 8, 1862. General Brax- ton Bragg was invading Kentucky with an army of 60,000 Confederate veterans, General Nelson was put in command at Louisville, charged with looking after it's defenses, and Gen. Davis was ordered to report to him. Davis would come into Nelson's head I quarters every morning and make yer bal reports Nelson who had been a naval officer before the war. and was strict disciplinarlan, got tired of this and said to Davis;
 This is a h. of way to make your reports. want them in writing. How am I to know how many men and guns you have got?'
 Davis was much incensed over Nell sons words and manner and they parted after other hot words in anger. Two or three days later there was a gathering of governors in Louisville, including the governor of Indiana, and fresh trops from that state. Davis, emboldened by the presence of his friends, stopped Nelson in the Galt house. and demanded an apology for what he had said to him shortly be- fore. Nelson refused saying that he owed no apology for ordering a sub ordinate to do his duty, and walked away, waving Davis off. Davis follow ed him, still demanding an apology, and probably attempted to strike him when Nelson gave him a back-handed slap in the face at the same time say ing, You insolent puppy Davis rush. ed away, and, getting a pistol, return ed almost immediately, and as Nelson turned on the stairway in response tc his call, shot him, inflicting a mortal wound The tragedy created tremen- dous excitement in Louisville, where many troops were massed, and a pro- found sensation all over the country It was with the utmost difficulty that the officers prevented a bloody riot be- tween the Kentucky and Indiana troops. There were several Indiana reg iments in the field at that time, notably the Sixteenth, to whom Nelson haC presented a stand of colors and witt all of whom he was very popular, that would no doubt have killed Davis hac they been in Louisville at that time notwithstanding he was from theii state. Nothing was ever done to Davis He died at the Palmer house, Chicago after the war He was Brigadiel General and had commanded a division before the tragedy"-From the Cincin. natl Enquirer.
 GOVERNMENT IN AUSTRALIA.