Year: 1876

MI Lewis that was possessed OF


KNOWLEDGE OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS


which n made public would result in the overthrow
OF Mr. BeIknap Our conversation repeated by
Mr. Lewis 10 some OF his friends on the day that Mr.
Belknap was charged by the House committee with
high crimes &c, and some reporters who stand
ing near lelegraphed what was said TO the country.


PERSONAL HISTORY.


On the commencement of the late rebellion lef a
beautiful home and my friends and in Fairfax
county, Virginia being only sixteen years old, and
took an active part against men who, thought were
about TO destroy OF the best and nobest govern
ments known, which several off my ancestors had
contributed their services 10 establish SO enthusiastic
was for maintaining the old flag that l enlisted as a
private soldier left the friends Of my childhood and
took part against them with strangers, and soon at
taned TO the rank OF second lieutenant Thereafter
being disabled for service in the field appointed
the Veteran Reserve corps but In few months hav
ing recuperated ] requested active service General
C. q. Anger approved my request, and was sent TO
the field where General q. s Grant assigned me to
duty assistant aide de-camp 10 General IS Hancock
commanding the Second army corps, with whom |
served through the most important battles OF the
paign, from the Wilderness TO Petersburg. Va, during
1854 was promoted TO capiaincy when but nine
teen years OF age upon the recommendation Of General
Hancock and was also complmented by letters OF that
gallant ohcer soon aiier joining my regiment was
complimened In general orders oy General Nelson A.
Miles for leading charge and capturing the enemy s
works at hatch's Run, and for that action !
brcveted major. | renamed In the field until the
close Of the rebellion, when placed in command
OF Fort Whpple Va, with six companies OF artillery,
and was soon afterward assigned TO the command OF
the Fiith district Of Virginia, under General o. q.
Howard, where | remained until mustered out OF SER
vice IN the volunteers. then received a commission
second lieutenant In Second regiment United
States cavalry upon the recommendation OF Generals
W. ). Hancock, G. G. Anger, c. H. Tompkins and 9TH
ers was sent to the Plains and soon placed in com
mand OF Company NJ Second cavalry in the absence OF
the captain OF the company. In the fall of 1866 led
expedition of cavalry against the Indians with such
satisfactory results that the commander OF the depart
ment OF the Platte, General Philip st. George Crook
issued general order stating that had performed


PERHAPS THE GREATEST CAVALRY


war HQ m cd ma In
General Grant, who requested that he made a captain
In the regular army al once, and my commission as
hundred officers who had been my seniors Subse-
qucntv served in several expeditions in separate
mendcd by Generals Hancock and Sherman for brevet
lieutenant colonel United States Army.


In 1869 | was n witness before court convened at
Fort Harker. Kansas. While in attendance upon this
court | obliged to take my meals at a mess
kept by two young women. One morning at
the breakfast table one of the officers OF
nv regiment, Captain Cox, who seemed
TO be acquainted with the woman who kert the mess
the waiter boy OF them with some pictures
with a message that had sent them. The woman
came into the mess room and inquired for me. was
pointed out when she walked up and caught hold of
my shoulders in a playful, but rough way; whcreupon
] at ordered her to ''get OUT" She left, and l


NEVER TO UNDERTAKE SUCH JOKE


with me again. There ihe affair ended. Several
months afterward had occasion to prefer charges
against two officers Of my regiment one OF whom was
the Captain Cox who tried 10 perpetrate the Joke.
These officers did their best 10 have me withdraw the
charges against them but declined beng satisfied of
their guilt They obtained an interview with Lieu
tenant Colonel A. d. Nelson, who listened to their in
famous proposition to prefer charge against me,
which they thought would rum and disgrace me- even
II IL did not put me out of the army was placed in
arrest and ordered before court, OF which Colonel s
B. Sturgss President and Major Lewis Merrill the
Judge Advocate


COURT MARrIAILED.


The court which tried me was composed OF Ave mem
bers Against It's President and Judge Advocate l
made the charge Of gambling, and during my trial /
objected being tried by
Colonel Poand); but my objection was not sustained
and | was forced to trial by a court composed Of
bitter enemies who presided over by General
Sturgiss and Major Lewis Merrill Judge Advocate.


The Judge Advocate OF this court accepted the tes-
timony OF the two mess women, whose character
proven on the trial to be OF the lowest grade. The
officer who preferred the charges me- and the
this court have been subsequently cashiered and dis
missed the army, and two OF them sentenced TO the
common Penitentiary for highway robbery and other
crimes.


The proof that this infamous court was prejudiccd
against the truth is that IL feused TO credit the
testimony OF honest honorable and reliable witnesses
produced on my part After the unjust judgment Of
this court was promulgated was at liberty, and came
TO Washington with letter from Hon S. J. Kirkwood
TO the late Secretary of War, who seemed to pay
attention to the letter than II II were much
waste paper. He grufly said should not have re-
hearing nor be reinstated. | employed counsel and
submitted my case TO the President, who upon hear
ing that my prosecutors had been found guilty of the
charges preferred BY me, sent my nomination to my
and demanded that should deposit with him resg-
nation of the ONCE, which TO take effect
had been confirmed, which demand declined to
comply WITH but later accoded to, only to recall 1t in
a few hours afier leaving IL with him.


My nomination defeated through the machina-
tions of one A. ID. Ames then a Senator and tool of
the late Secretary OF War; then applied to Congress
for honorable discharge under the act of June,
1870 MY thoroughly investigated
bv committee OF the House OF Representatives,
which made a unanimous report excupating mo
from the false findings OF the court martial which
confirmed by the House Notwithstanding the cxerons
of tho Secretary of War to the contrary but
eated in the Senate by hts false and malicious repre-
senlations The result the the next session
Finally in 1874, my good character was fully vindca-
through the aid Of Senator Clayton and others who
were of the injustice OF the persistent perse-
cution on the part OF the late Secretary OF Var


APPEALING BELKNAP


Pending the action OF Congress in my case, ad-
dressed several letters TO the late Secretary War
which, written in 1871 sad "Does It stand
reason that will allow ialso charges an nle
have justice revenge" No reply being made to this
and being convinced OF his prediction Tor people of
low character, sought for confirmation Of my judg
men and in less than years found material enough
TO urge me in the patriotic duty OF exposing to the
people OF our country OF the dangerous and
powerful enemies that ever sought to blscken the
annals OF our history.


EXPOSURE LAST DECEMBER


My hrst step in exposing this individual to the
merited of the pubic in my to the ST.
Louis daily Times during the month Of December 1875
and parties in the state Of Iowa, for the purpose or
defeating MIN in the contest for the Senate OF United
States quote from Of my letters the ST. Louis
Times, published December ~, 1875 and again pub
lishcd March 3 lo16:-


''trom what know personally OF this in
dividual feel satisfied that proper investigating
mittee would nd him guilty of having IN post
tradershps IN the army, and having been paid indi-
recty for positions he has given persons Secretary
War That he has been interested in selling clerkships in
the departments of the government; that he has ac
cumulated a large amount OF property since he has
been Office that he Is not entirely free from CON-
plicty with the Whiskey king that the administration
his department has been extravaganty abused since
he Secretary OF War, and that he has msrepre-
sonted matters which, tor the good Of the country
should be properly explained have written this letter
show the real character OF who holds the high
position OF Cabinet officer and the confidence OF tho
President"


CUSTOM treat II without gloves and with fear for
consequences relying upon the public for my Jusinca-
tion thus exposing the attempts Of puOlic officer
against the public good


am not adjective or person who NEEDLES with
the business Of other people but when attacked
feel my duty find the character and standing
OF my accusers and yet have failed prove
them individuals not to be believed. so gentle
hneo ado thac ohf