The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-03-22
La Collie Mill and Block-hou.e

which seem to prove that Wilkinson was
agent OF the king of Spain. paid by him to inf1u-
ence Kentucky to secede from the Union and be
come a Spanish ally.
II he was In the pay of Spain 1t evidently
wasn't enough to support his family for he went
back Into the American army was advanced to
colonel and within a year to the rank OF briga-
dergeneral and In 1916 he became commander
of the army.
Then followed that amazing period In his career
when. holding the highest military office in the
land, he was STILL there Is good reason to be-
lleve. In the pay OF Spain. Soon afterwards he
was involved In the Burr conspiracy. Like the
Spanish Conspiracy the Burr plot Is still some
thing of a mystery with many angles yet
explained Recent historical research has uncov-
cred evidence which Indicates that Wilkinson,
instead of Burr was the arch-consprator and
that Burr was only the tool of the INSCRIPTIONS
ommander-in-chlef. According to one theory
Wilkinson was Jeffersons secret agent all along.
giving Burr enough rope with which TO hang
himself before exposing the plot. According to
another Wilkinson used Burr for his own ends
then double-crossed him at the last to save his
own skin.
In the light of his past career. Ii would seem
reasonable to believe that Wilkinson was up to
his old tricks-playlng 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 lndlct-
ment on a charge of treason he managed to come
through the whole affair without bearing his
lust share of the disgrace that engulfed poor
Aaron Burr and continued on his way OF play
Ing part In important historical events
AS commander OF the army he sent Lieutenant
Pike off 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 1872 he won bloodess victory
by capturing Mobile and ousting the Spanish
garrison there. Then he went north to the Ca
madam border to add to his laurels, but succeed
ed only In wrecking what little military reputa-
tlon he had left
Still the stormy petrol of the army, he became
involved In series OF Jealousles and chickering's
with other American generals who were. If 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 1t been carried
through intelllgently.
In March, 1914, he launched another campaign
to "vindlcate" himself. ''But instead of success
and vindlcaton, he achieved only ingorlous de-
feat In the insignificant battle of La Collie Mill"
That was the end of James Wilkinson He was
relieved Of his command and ordered to Wash
ington under arrest to await court-martial "The
walt was long The harassed administration at
tempting to wage war without money without
ships almost without soldiers and with gener.
ais who achieved disaster with monotonous reg
ularlty had not time to waste on the trial OF one
of Its failures" Perhaps II 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 coat Of white
wash
Instead of being tried he was allowed to sir
quietly into obscurity. He spent the next few
years writing his Memoirs" volumlnons and
verbose abb 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 hin
and In trying to obtain grant OF land on wha
Ia now the site OF Galveston, Texas from ths
Spanish In recognition OF services rendered"
He died In 1925 and was buried beneath thu
Church OF San Miguel In the Mexican capital
The exact site OF his grave Is unmarked ant
unknown-an appropriate end perhaps. to thu
man who received so much from his countr,
and gave so little In return
9 by Western Newspaper Union