Someone from Yahoo with whom I have exchanged some messages asked if I heard that Jefferson Davis had murdered a man during the War. I said I had never heard that and he sent me the following:
I was in the West Palm Beach, Florida Round table for about 8 years. We had over 80 active members mostly Union. As for Jeff Davis killing General William Nelson that information is on page 714 of Shelby Foote Civil War series ,book one. Davis shot the General, was arrested and nobody would try him, which allowed him to get a way with murder. It was all about ego. Davis wanted to speak to him and the General had no time for that because he was busy. Several weeks later he saw the General in the hall way, got a pistol from a soldier walking by, followed him, when he was about 8 feet from him Davis shot him in the chest.
Does anyone know anything about this? If it’s in Foote’s book, then unless Foote presents it as a legend, I cannot imagine it is wholly false. I would appreciate any information on this matter.
Val
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That was a Union General named Jefferson Davis:
The War Department ordered Union General William Nelson to command the newly formed Army of the Ohio. When Louisville prepared for the Confederate army under Bragg, General Jefferson C. Davis, who could not reach his command under General Don Carlos Buell, met with General Nelson to offer his services. General Nelson gave him the command of the city militia. General Davis opened an office and went to work in assisting in the organization of the city militia. On Wednesday, General Davis visited General Nelson in his room at the Galt House. General Davis told General Nelson that his brigade he assigned Davis was ready for service and asked if he could obtain arms for them. General Nelson asked Davis how many men were in his brigade. Davis responded that he had 2,500 men. General Nelson angrily barked to Davis: “About twenty-five hundred! About twenty-five hundred! By God! You a regular officer and come here to me and report about the number of men in your command? God damn you, don’t you know, Sir, you should furnish me the exact number?” Davis told Nelson that he did not expect to get the guns now and only wanted to learn if he could get them and where and after learning the exact number of troops he would draw the needed weapons. General Nelson flew into a rage and screamed at General Davis: “About twenty-five hundred! By God I suspend you from your command, and order you to report to General Wright; and I’ve a damned mind to put you under arrest. Leave my room, Sir!” Davis told General Nelson that he would not leave the room until he gave him an order. General Nelson barked: “The hell you won’t! By God I’ll put you under arrest, and send you out of the city under a provost guard! Leave my room, Sir!” General Davis left the room, and, in order to avoid arrest, crossed over the river to Jeffersonville, where he remained until the next day, when General Stephen Gano Burbridge joined him. General Burbridge had also been relieved of command by General Nelson under a trivial cause. General Davis came to Cincinnati with General Burbridge and reported to General Wright, who ordered General Davis to return to Louisville and report to General Buell and General Burbridge to remain in Cincinnati. General Davis returned to Louisville and reported to Buell. When General Davis saw General Nelson in the main hall of the Galt House, fronting the office, he asked the Governor of Indiana, Oliver Morton to witness the conversation between him and General Nelson. The Governor agreed and the two walked up to General Nelson. General Davis confronted General Nelson and told him that he took advantage of his authority. General Nelson, sneeringly and placing a hand to his ear, said: “Speak louder, I don’t hear very well.” Davis in a louder tone repeated his statement. Nelson indignantly told Davis that he did not take advantage of his authority. Davis told Morton that Nelson threatened to have him arrested and sent out of the state under provost guard. Nelson took his hand and struck Davis twice in the face and stated: “There, damn you, take that!” Davis left the room, but before he left he told Nelson: “This is not the last of it; you will hear from me again.” General Nelson turned to Governor Morton and asked him if he came to insult him too. Governor Morton stated that he did not come to insult Nelson but requested that he be present and listen to the conversation between Nelson and Davis. General Nelson violently told the by-standers: “Did you hear the damned rascal insult me?” and walked into the ladies parlor. In three minutes, Davis returned, with a pistol he had borrowed from Captain Gibson of Louisville and walked toward the door that Nelson had passed through. He saw Nelson walk out of the parlor into the hall separating the main hall from the parlor and the two faced each other ten yards apart, when General Davis drew his pistol and fired, the ball entering Nelson’s heart. General Nelson threw up both hands and grabbed a gentlemen, who stood nearby, around the neck and exclaimed: “I am shot!” Nelson walked up the flight of stairs toward General Buell’s room, but sank at the top of the stairs. Fellow officers took General Nelson to his room and they laid him on his bed. Nelson requested Reverend Mr. Talbott to see him at once. Mr. Talbott administered the ordinance of baptism. The General whispered: “It’s all over,” and died fifteen minutes later.
Mark
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