The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-30

| - e<<s@<&<s~sSAI >S4s "sS~>@~ ward, an old Line Whig, Writes of Him and Tells of His True Characteristics
 His Coming to Alabama.
 ter. James Finley and myself. Col onel Williamson by some means mis- understood General Jackson's orders, or mistook his place in that fight. For IT General Jackson's orders had been strictly carried out. and ths place of attack strictly observed, very few In- dians and negroes could have escaped. But as 1t turned out few Indians had the brunt to bear, as will be recollect- ed by those familiar with that cam paign.
 This fight was In April, but now forget On which day of the month. The next day I crossed the river with some 300 Indians by swimming and carry ing the gun in one hand. We pursued the Indians that day and part of the next: killed few Indians and took q few women and children prisoners, as we'll as captured a few negroes.
 MORE INCIDENTS OF
 THE SEMINOLE WAR. On our return to camp 1t was in the evening, the man Robert Ambrista happened to get between our lines | and the enemy, and was picked up and made a prisoner. and that ended the Seminole war so far as I was en- gagged in it. At that time Ambrista and Cook were picked up at sewanee. Arbusthnot was prisoner at St. Marks. which was then in charge Of Captain vashon. You have heard of | the Ambrista and Arbusthnot cases. And those who have. or think they have a good knowledge of this mat fer have Aa ha{ vx,tnA Ar against, long since. and anything that could say now would do no good. think 1t likely could their lives have been spared. their families at least would have been more benehted, our country would have sustained no loss and the consciences of some men on mature reflection would have rested | easier. And no doubt at the time they were executed some could have been found of our own people, who had been equally guilty in furnishing the In- dians material to do mischief with. While was in Florida with the na- tfves from the Chehawtown some Geor- gains under the command of fool Yankee by the name of Obed Wright, went to Chehaw, burned and plundered the town. and killed few old men, some women and children and among others killed was old Howard who was known as the native chief.
 The news reached General Jackson when he was at Pensacola. He order ed Major Davis of the Ordnance De- partment to go into Georgia, arrest Wright and carry him to his (Jackson's camp) no matter where that might be. Major Davis arrested Wright. I think in Louisville. He carried him to Milledgeville, where he tried to make his escape.
 Major Davis called on me as had then returned home to aid him in car rying Wright to the army, not think ing about the impropriety of carry ing a man by military process and a private citizen out of the States to be tried by a military tribunal, and per haps by the United States. seized Wright put him on a horse and was about making of, when General Clark came up, learned what was going on and said Wright should go no further; and said he would be one to defend the rights of a citizen against General Jackson and his whole army. Gov. Rabun had habeas corpus writ issu- ed and Wright was released.
 Major Davis was highly pleased at getting rid of his charge. Not long afterwards I received a letter from the General saying that he was we'll pleas ed at my offering my service to Major Davis, in aiding to bring the murderer to justice. and that as I had on former occasion intimated to him that I would like to be in the regular army, if I then wished he would procure for me a commission. I declined 1t.
 That was the end of my service in the United States army until 1886. and as there was scarcely a youngster about Columbus. Ga. or Montgomery, Ala. who had ever seen Blackstone's Commentaries, or read the Georgia Justice or Aikens Digest or who had seen a Root Doctor or read medicine as far as salts, but was Aid to some body, or some one else and among them you will no doubt get the whole of the affairs complete.
 After quit the army in 1918 went to Washington City with some half breed Indians. I visited the Eastern shore of Maryland, went into Della ware, returned to Georgia and then went to Alabama and fixed for another settlement I carried a few negroes and settled them below old Montgom- cry in Autauga county. In the spring of 1919 I returned to Columbus. Ga, to aid General Watson in running the line between Georgia and Florida. got some Uchee Indians to pack horses and hunt for him as provisions were short.
 JACKSON INTERESTED
 IN MYSTERIOUS ENTERPRISE.
 After I returned to Milledgeville. l took a trip to Alabama as far South as Clairborne I returned to Georgria. wrote a letter to General Jackson noti- flying him of an enterprise, which wished to engage in Che anu I had talked on the subject while In Flori- da.)
 and will send 1t to you, and you can