MAURY COUNTY, NC - MILITARY - Mizner to Andrews Letter, 1905 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Hugh Hoffman, HFTHusma@aol.com --------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. --------------------------------------------------------------- T R U E C O P Y 61 Pitcher Street Detroit, Mich. November 14th, 1905 Mr. R. E. Andrews, My Dear Friend, I thank you very much for the kind expressions contained in your favor of the 10th Inst. You can form but a faint idea of the terrible time through which I passed in saving your Father's life. One afternoon two Irishmen, who had been drinking, got your father down upon the floor of the Sutler's store, and were beating him when he pulled a 4 inch colt, killed one and wounded the other. This was promptly reported to me and I hastened to the scene. I found the citizens sympathizing with the soldiers and encouraging to violence. I went at once to the family who were in greatest distress, your noble sister Sallie throwing her arms about me, and imploring me to save her Father's life. I can never forget it. It will be 40 years in January. I threw a guard around your house, a three story brick, just outside the Court House Square upon the road to Pulaski. About 8 in the evening I became satisfied that my men would attack your home and I went at once to the family, where I found four or five of my officers. I had not been in the house to exceed five minutes, when the front door was burst open and in came two hundred men armed with revolvers, and wild with rage. I sprang upon the leaders and struggled with them up two flights of stairs before I succeeded in stopping them. I was unarmed. Arms would have done me no good. I depended upon the power of my language and my influence over them. While on the second floor a shot was fired striking the casing of the door near me and undoubtedly intended for me. Had I been killed nothing could have saved your Father's life and the building would have been gutted. No one on earth could have controlled my men but me. They did not expect to find me in the building. Thirty minutes later, on a bright moonlight night I walked across the square with your father and my small group of officers and placed him in the jail. My men were upon the walk but did not interfere with me. The next morning with a mounted, armed escort I got him safely to the depot and to Nashville. Three months prior to this occurrence I had shot and killed a man of the same company at Spring Hill, while marching from Franklin to Columbia. He had abused his horse and I had ordered him dismounted to march to Columbia. He became violent and advancing toward me with a loaded rifle declared with an oath that he would have satisfaction in the presence of my entire command. I warned him that I would shoot him if he did not stop. My revolver was drawn and I kept my eye upon him. He defied me to shoot and I fired. The inclosed will give you the result of the Court called at my request. I never had any trouble after. Henry R. Mizner Brigadier General U. S. Army In the cemetery at Columbia there is a tomb stone with the inscription, "He excaped the bullets of the enemy, to be assassinated by a cowardly pup." The Court said he got his deserts. I don't think he ever had an enemy under fire. _____________________________ A TRUE COPY 20 JAN 1990 s/HUGH HOFFMAN _______________________ Comment-HH Brigadier General (then Colonel, 14th Michigan Vol. Inf.) MIZNER is the writer. This incident occurred in January, 1866 in or near Columbia, Tennessee. I do not have the military court record. Does the headstone still exist? Who was the deceased soldier? Can Mr. R. E. ANDREWS or the ANDREWS family be identified? I am Gen. MIZNER's great great grand son. ____________________