The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-05-10


portunity Of crushing their enemy, be.
gan TO reach Louisville Sept 25. and
| by the 29th the whole army was In
camp around the city.
The killing Of Nelson.
In those momentous days, when
every hour seemed to have its shock
and It's terror, mems minds became in
| a manner numb to startling events In
spite OF this the tragedy which occurred
in the Gait House in Louisville, Sept
~, sent sorrow to every loyal heart.
| wounded, worn out and aching in every
| fiber OF his being from the mismanaee-
meht OF his subordinates which had
| brought about the disaster of Rich
mond. Gen. VIM. Nelson arrived in Lon
, lsVlile. He was to take command of
the city, and organize it's defense out of
the new regiments being hurried for
ward to him. Time and circumstanc
were such as to try souls of far more
equably-minded man than the turbu-
rent unsparlng autocrat Of the quarter
deck. Among those directed to report
TO him was Brighten. Jefferson c.. Da-
! Wis, who had won laurels in command
| or brigade at Pea Ridge Davis was
naturally of a rather sour saturnine dis
position and jealous Of his personal
dignity There are any number OF ac-
counts current as to what happened
| between him and Nelson. The best
supported Of these indicate that when
Davis reported to Nelson the latter as
sailed him in the harsh, irritable way
| he was too often In the habit of using
when addressing officers, and which
must nave been greatly increased by
his wounds, his recent experiences and
| his overwhelming responsibilities Davis
answered back very hotly, and the al
tercation proceeded until the epithets
became 1ntolerable. Davis went away
and broOded over Nelson's language
ana, hnaily returning, demanded an
apology, which Nelson refused with
more angry words. At this Davis threv
a ball OF paper which he had been ner-
vously rolling with his fingers into Mel
sons race. Nelson retOrted by slappinp
Davis's face. The latter turned to one
or his friends. borrowed a revolver and
iired at Nelson. striking him near the
| heart, from which wound he died short
| ly afterward The unfortunate affair
aroused great intensity Of feeling in the
army, as after all, Nelson's men had
come to feel a deep affection for him.
and rather enjoyed and prided them
selves in his hot, hasty tongue. On the
other hand. many who had suffered
from his scorching words were not a
| little pleased that punishment had been
| dealt out to him. In the hurry and
rush OF those pregnant times but little
| notice was taken Of this affair There
vas some form of inquiry buI Davis
! retained his command, and eventually
| ed the Fourteenth Corps in the latter
| art of the Atlanta campaign. in the
| march to the sea. through the Caro-
| inas, and in the Grand Review There
| j. no doubt, however, that the tragedy
| 'addened all his life, embittering even
| his best days, and that the specter OF
! William Nelson was his frequent visitor
| IN those chill, weak hours that must
| come to every man when the earth Is
| till in the solemn black of midnight
Buell., Morton, Nelson and JeH c. Davis.
| There was much feeling aroused in
| indiana over the misfortunes OF the
| ne~ly-raised regiments at Richmond,
| KY, and Nelson was severely blamed.
| This had much 10 do undoubtedly with
the affray between Davis and Nelson.
!, Gen. Buell. has this to say;
! 1.-The army was now tc encounter grave
danger from the influence Of Oliver p
! Morton. Governor Of Indiana. He had
| from the beginning tried to retain q
! quasi authority over Indiana troops
after they had been mustered into the
service of the United States and had
joined my army. His interference was
injurious to discipline; but he persisted
In order to preserve his influence with
the troops. the people and the Govern
ment. The seeds of mischief, always
present in his extra-ofiicial conduct to-
ward the Indiana troops, were now be-
ing sown with vigorous but crafty
hand, In the counsels at Washington
II and among the Executives OF other
States, to impair my authority and ef-
u feet my removal from command. Gen
II Nelson, an officer of remarkable merit
ii was in command Of the center corps oi