Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-22
TRIED TO KILL JOE WHEELER.
Two Union Officers Attacked the '"'
armed Confederate In His Room

armed Confederate In His room
(Correspondence Of the ST. Louis 1lope-
Democracy
The story OF an attempt 10 assassiha'e
General Joe Wheeler has come to hght
at the War Department. The would-De
assassins we're not spaniards. They |
were Americans. The truthfulness OF the
story was established, it appears by an !
official investigation. Now, thlrty-four
years after the incident was closed ana |
when General Wheeler IS hailed as one |
OF the most popular heroes of his country
the papers relating TO the attempt on his
life first become public:
Nashville, August ., 1850.
Naior-Genera G. H. Thomas, Nashville
General.-In obedience TO your instruc-
tions. I have the honor to make the tol-
lowing statement:
An order from the War Department Oh
the United States. releasing me from
confinement as a prisoner of war, directed
that / should be paroled in accordance
with the terms agreed upon between
Maior-Gcneral Sherman and General
Johnston. / have not carried about my
person or baggage any weapon since May
/, 1860
About 4 O'Clock F. ". on the 2lst IN
/
my room at the City Hotel no other per
son being I'm the room, some one Knocked
at my door After partially dressing
myself / unlocked my door, when TWO
officers. partially dressed In United states
uniform. entered, one Of whom stated
that he at one time had been prisoner
I'm my hands and that he had come 10
thank me Tor kindnesses received az the
time The other said he knew me. anu
had called to make his personal re-
spects. After a few moments Of polite
conversation they arose and babe me
good-by. remarking that as they discoy-
cred | was unwel they would not re-
main anv longer About five minutes
after their departure / heard another
| knock al my door. which / again unbolted
as soon as possible when TWO other
officers dressed in United States uniform
| neither of whom / had ever seen BEFORE
entered. one Of them advanced ana eN-
tended his hand. which | took. Nhlle IN
| the act Of shaking hands he remarked'
| rs this General Whecler?' And upon
my answering i'm the affirmative he stated
/ that ne was Colonel Blackburn Inc
| other officer Immediately seized me by
both arms. when Colonel Blackburn,
! having given 10 previous intimation
whatever Of his hostile purpose, struck
/ me violently twice upon my head WIN
! clitb Of considerable dimensions. stius-
e,led AWAY from the man who held me-
| and as / left the room botn the aSsal,-
ants followed me, the other oihcer Ho'u
inu a pistol I'm a threatening manner.
am confident that / only pfeFeh'Cu mn
| from shooting me by keepiH5 -,
/ rtaclburu between him and myself. Coio-
,,eI Ilackburn continued in his attempts
! g. strike me. but / succeeded IN warning
off his blows with my arms. flnally
e,ontIeman caught hold of the other
1ogcor when colonel Blackburn hastily
ran hack and ran down the stairs.
am satisfied that the attempt was one
mon nv life. and that the plstol "ou'u
hsve been fired at me but from the Iac'
Of colonel Blackburn being between NY
self and the officer holding IL.
y,o,,ld here state that / never issued
~. order whatever TO the prejudice OF
Colonol Blackburn, or any OF MS meu'
o,1 that all his men who fell into my
hands were kindly treated ana ahoWeu 10
-, to their commands I'm bodies, III
ardor that they might not be molested py
ann, one. / would further state that WINE
nossing through the country 90 not re-
Collect that any complaint was mace py
any Of Colonel Blackburn'5 fanny, vi
that anything whatever Was taken ''0"
them. -....s,,,,,, ,ou,
lItIHlhlf VIZ
- earvaut j. WHEELER,
rate confederate states Army.
An investigation followed, and this wa
the result upon it: ,-....
Military Division Of the Tennessee,
Nashville Tenn. August g. 800.
r,ravot- Brigadier-General T.. &. Maso"
Commanding Post Of NashVille'
General.-I nave the honor 10 achno"
.Hf of
ledee the receipt Of your report Oh 1lio ~
I -,.,,fcotion ordered by the major-genera
commanding into the causes lo' IN -
d s.,,l+ unon Mr. Joseph Wheeler, late ma
y io-.-general I'm the army OF the so-cahe'
- Corfeder1te states at the city Hotei' u
= mis- cftv Your report has been caretull.
o,a in,nartiallv considered by the MAJOR
e e,onoroI commanding, and the facts there
~ elicited and brought out with othe
focts ia the same connection when nd,
( | becr brought - his notice snow inc AT
tack upon Mr.. Wheeler by Lieutenant
colonel Blackburn and captain VuiIll
Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, To nave D'ei
| wholly unprovoked. ana unJuslliiaDie "i''
,,rbocon,ing an officer i'm the service
49,, Trnited states. Mr.. Wheeler. as
n1roled nrisoner is justly entitled TO pro
toction instead of being exposed 10 as
= eoult and his position, by virtue OF III
,9rnle am unarmed man. and hence with
~ means Of defence. should have beer
III r,,st i'm future b. respected, and no
only fn his case, but i'm the cases Of al
other persons occupying a similar posi-
4 tion. r,......,,,. clone
you will convey TO Lieutenant-Colonie
70 p,eciehiirn and TO Captain Quinn. OF an
Eourth Tennessee Cavalry. the nounca
u tom or the displeasure and reprimand o
u Nfoior-Genoral Thomas for their unonl
crrIike and highly reprehensible conduc'
z. ord saw 10 them that the muster on
u ~ the service Of their regiment mas Deel
Il Tho only reason for their not belhS SUI
l. iecfed To arrest and trial by coul i III,
IS rtial Their conduct at the uhe Oh u'l
- assault as well as subsequently nag Dc
., 80, ir,sult and a disgrace for the uniform
they wore. and is justly discount il''l,,
j. and frowned down upon by every honor"
!. bic and high-minded oficer ana ei'i''
e ed man in the service.
a The naior-general commanding direcl
i ,bot Won will further require OF iieuten
n ant-Colouel Blackburn and Captain gum
a uositive and satisfactory assurances @
,b.fr f,lfure good conduct. and the str!e
"a compliance with all orders ana iesull
-. lions FOR the preservation and man, =
., nonce of the public peace. ana al IN
% same time advising them that they VI
% 10 hold 10 a strict accountability lot an
furfher breach Of the same
10 I am very respectively, your oDedie!
?, ,.sr,.ant ROBERT IT. RAMSAY
- colonel and Acknowledgment "'"'
raj
Gavcrnor blackburn
oir.avs said that Crab Orchard Wat
MA c,,re more diseases than any Oh