The Washington times., 1911-01-07

cOlOreu soldiers were OTOereO 10 tHe
frontal except Company f. Williams,
with 125 men under him, was command
ed to hold and protect the city.
Quantrell's Visit.
I One day the captains spies informed
him that Gen. w. G. Quantrell, the guer-
riIla chief, was at Jefferson City with
1,5OO men, and it was expected he would
cross the river and try to burn an
sack Quincy, as he had done Lawrence,
Kan.
1t was while Captain Williams was
preparing to defend the city against
another such fearful massacre when
1t was reported to him that a strang-
er was at the line, requesting to see
the commanding officer. He ordered
the man admitted, and a moment lat
er fine, stalwart-looking man,
mounted on a blooded horse, rode up
to the captain.
81 want to see the commanding Of
ficer," the stranger said.
I'm the commanding officer" Will
liams replied.
"What? You mean to tell me they
have 'nigger' officers in the Yankee
army?"
Then the captain realized he was
talking to a Confederate! but he IN
.vited him into his tent. The stranger
at once began to ask him many ques-
tions, all of which williams parried.
At length, the man asked him II he
knew Quantrell was across the river,
just a few miles away. Williams re-
piled that he did and was prepared TO
defend the town to the last man.
Guerrilla's Reply.
The stranger eyed Williams narrow
ly and said:
II am Quantrell and want to tell you
that what Eve seen today. is what l
never expected to see-a 'nigger' com
manding white men. AS long as the
Yankees put you in command of white
men, will not molest you; but will let
them see what a 'nigger' can do in
taking care of them"
With that Quantrell suddenly wheeled.
dashed for his horse, mounted ii, and
rode swiftly away. looking back at the
surprised captain over his shoulder. Will
liamS was never court-martialed. He
claimed that he was justified in letting
Quantrell escape, because If he had put
his hands on him, the guerrilla's 1850
would have swoOped down on his hand
full of soldiers and captured the town.
The War Department records show
that Williams desertef August s, 1864,
and for that reason he never received
any pension. But the old negro officer
claims that he was q British subject
when he enlisted, that he never took the
oath ofallegianCe to the United States.
is still British subject. and, therefore
States armV. He was born in Chatham
Ontario, according to his own story.
and was never 4 slave.
Attorneys Letter.
williams showed a letter from his at
torney, NJ. A. S. Cary. dated Washing
ington, July 26 1889, which read:
"A charge of failure in duty brought
before a court-martial at Quincy. Ill,
over which Judge David Davis presided,
was summarily dismissed as grOundless.
as affdavits of members now living
and official documentary evidence in eX-
istence at one time attest. The chief
clerk of the War Department, John
Tweedale, in 1885. assured him that the
charges of desertion were dismissed he
cause Of the fact that he had never been
mustered into the service of the United
States Army"
Williams was committed to the Gov
ernment Hospital for the Insane in
March. 1883. but was released after being
confined for eighteen months. He
claimed that he was kidnapped and put
into the asylum, and that President
Arthur promised him that the Govern
ment would compromise his claim for
damages, back pay and bounty for
S555.0OO. He never got any Of the money,
however.