The Coolidge examiner., 1934-03-23


which seem 10 prove that wilkinson was ar
agent of the king Of Spain. paid by him 10 nnu-
ence Kentucky 10 sccede from the Onion and be-
come a spanish ally
II BE- was In the pay OF Spain Il evidently
wasn't enough 20 support bis family for he went
back Into the American army was advanced 10
colonel and within a year 10 the rank of briga-
der. general and ln 1876 be became commander
of the army.
Then followed that amazing period In his career
when. holding the highest military Office in the
land hs still. there is good reason 10 be
lieve 10 the pay % Spain. Soon afterwards he
was involved In the Burr conspiracy Like the
Spanish Conspiracy the Burr plot Is sim some
thing OF n mystery with many angles yet IN
explained Recent historical research has uncov
cred evidence which indicates that wilkinson
instead Of Burr. was the arch-consprator and
that Burr only the tool OF the unscrupulous
commander in-chIsf According 10 one theory
Wilkinson was Jererson'x secret agent all along
giving Burr enough rope with which 10 hang
himself before exposing the plot. According TO
another Wilkinson used Burr for his own ends
then double crossed him az the last 10 save his
own skin
In the light of his past career II would seem
reasonable TO believe that Wilkinson was up 10
his old trlcks-playing both ends against the
middle and quite capable OF betraylng anyone
TO further his own ambitious projects. But what
ever the truth of the matter. the fact remains
that although Wilkinson narrowly missed indct
ment on a charge OF treason he managed 10 come
through the whole affair without bearing his
Just share OF the disgrace that engulfed poor
Aaron Burr and continued on bis way of play
ing a part in important historical events
As commander OF the army he sent Lieutenant
Pike on upon the exploring expeditions that
won fame for that young officer He was one Of
the commissioners who received the Louisiana
Purchase from the French and at the outbreak
OF the War OF 1912 he won a bloodless victory
by capturing Mobile and ousting the Spanish
garrison there Then he went north TO the Ca
madam border 10 add 10 his laurels. but succeed.
ed only In wreckng what little military reputa.
ton he had left
Still the stormy petrol OF the army. he became
involved In a series OF jealousles and chickering's
with other American generals who were. IL any
thing more incompetent than he. The result
was the utter failure OF his proposed expedition
to capture Montreal. an expedition which had
every prospect OF success had II been carried
through intelllgently
In March 1914. he launched another campaign
to "ylndicate" himself. But instead OF success
and vlndlcation. he achieved only inglorous de-
feat In the Insignificant battle OF La Cole Mil"
That was the end Of James Wilkinson He was
relieved OF his command and ordered 10 Wash
ington under arrest TO await court martial. "The
wait was long The harassed administration az.
tempting 10 wage war without money. without
ships almost without soldiers. and with gener-
ais who achieved disaster with monotonous reg
ularity had not time 10 waste on the trial OF one
Of It's failures" Perhaps n he had been tried II
would have been with the usual result For dur
Ing his career he had been before three courts
OF Inquiry on charges ranging all the way from
neglect OF military duty TO treason and each time
he had managed to escape with a coat Of white.
wash.
Instead OF being tried he was allowed to slip
quietly into obscurity. He spent the next few
years writing his Memoirs" a voluminous and
verbose alb for all the things that had ever
been charged against him. and managing his
plantation on the Mississippi below New Orleans
Then we find him In Mexico City also adjusting
claims OF American citizens entrusted to him
and in trying to obtain a grant OF land on what
is now the site OF Galveston, Texas, from the
Spanish ''in recognition of services rendered.!
He died in 1925 and was buried beneath the
Church OF San Miguel in the Mexican capital
The exact site of his grave is unmarked and
unknown-an appropriate end, perhaps to the
man who received so much from his country
and gave so little in return.
c by Western SewsDa Union