Evening star., 1903-07-20
GEN. GRANTS REPLY
WAR DEPARTMENT REGARDS IT
AS SATISFACTORY.
The Brackettsville, Texas, Incident
Will Be Considered Closed-Any Ag-
grieved Citizen Has His Remedy

Acting Adjutant General Hall today made
public the action of the War Department in
the case of Brig. Gen. Frederick D. Grant.
commanding the Department of Texas,
who 1t was alleged by some citizens OF
Brackettville. Tex, had made an ''unwar-
ranted attack upon the defenSeless town or
Brackettville," in a general order In the
case of a soldier who was convicted of In
toxication. A protest was made by one
Of the officials of Brackettville against
General Grants criticism of the moral
character Of a certain section of the city.
This protest was made to President RooSe-
welt.
Gen. Grants Statement.
1t was forwarded to General Grant, who
returned it with the following indorsement
under date of San Antonio April S:
Respectfully returned to the adjutant
general of the army.
The within complaint appears to be
made on two principal grounds: First. That
the order was published in the newspapers
Second. That the structure therein contain
ed was directed against the community OF
BraCkettville.
LAS to the first, the newspaper publica-
ton evidently emanated from Washington,
as the inclosed clipping is in the form of
special dispatch from that city. The order
ters. but it is possible for an enterprising
newspaper man to obtain copies of orders
that are. like this one was for general dis
tribution and publication to the troops.
The order, q copy of which Is inclOsed.
was issued as a reprimand to the court and
to assist in maintaining discipline 1t did
not reflect upon Brackettville as a commu
nifty, and was not intended to so reflect. but
was intended to reflect. and reflect severely,
upon the dives near Fort Clark, and it is
believed that the decent people of Brack
ettville coincide with the opinion of these
resorts expressed in the order. The condi-
tiOnS at Fort Clark are not unusual and the
order SO states. 1t is not known that vet
Grams are engaged in keeping dives, but II
they are SO engaged. they do not deserve
any more consideration than other dive
keepers. The facts In regard to the court
martial. conviction. etc. are from the rec
ords of these headquarters, and the state
ment that % per cent Of these cases could
be traced to the effect of the dives OF
Brackettvile is believed to be exactly III
accord with the truth.
Furthermore. since the issue OF the or
der In question, there has been among the
troops considerably less disorder ana other
misconduct resulting from the dives In the
vicinity of Fort Clark
(Signed) IF D. GRANT
'Brigadier General, mmanding"
The Incident Closed.
After consideration OF all the papers the
War Department decided that the case
called for no action on Its part. Its posi-
ton in the matter Is shown In a letter
written by Acting Adjutant General Hall
to Mr.. J. S. NORM. attorney -at-law at
Brackettville. In which he said:
! have the honor to acknowledge the re-
ceipt, by reference from the White House
Of your communication of March q, 1903.
calling attention to the remarks of the re-
viewing officer In general orders No g.
February %, 1903, headquarters department
of Texas, in the matter Of the trial of Ser
seant John r. Haynes, Troop NJ, 18th Cav
airy, and protesting against the 'unwar-
Tanted attack on the defenseless commu-
nifty Of Brackettv!lle.' etc. and in reply
to inform you that the matter was duly re-
ferred to the judge advocate general of the
army, who, after quoting extracts from the
penal code of the state of Texas pertaining
to the question of libel. remarks that 1t
would appear that no penal action would
lie for a publication affecting the town of
BrackettviNe. If any individual resident
OF that place believes that his reputation
has been injured a consequence OF the
publca ton which has been the subject of
of1cial complaint he has his remedy in an
action at law. If there be no case for a
CIVIL tribunal the law provides no military
remedy. as General Grant was the legal
authority. and his action under the lO9th
article OF war final and Is not subject to
review by superior military authority"