William P. Thomasson to Thomas E. Bramlette

KYR-0001-004-1528.xml

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Accession Number

KYR-0001-004-1528

Document Genre

Correspondence

Repository

Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

Collection

Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867

Item Location

BR12-366 to BR12-367

Place of Creation

Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky

Date of Creation

4 February 1865

Dates Mentioned

1865-02-04

William P. Thomasson to Thomas E. Bramlette, 4 February 1865, Office of the Governor, Thomas E. Bramlette: Governor's official correspondence file, petitions for pardons, remissions, and respites 1863-1867, BR12-366 to BR12-367, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort, KY. Accessed via the Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, discovery.civilwargovernors.org/document/KYR-0001-004-1528, (accessed May 14, 2025).

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To Thomas, E, Bramlette
Governor of Kentucky

Your excellency will no doubt recollect with painful regrets the calamitous death of the late Genl W R Nelson, he was at the time the pride and hope of our State, his sensitive nature keenly alive to the responsibilities of his position was often excited and when irritated he was sometimes harsh to his inferiors in rank, yet all his acquaintances agree that a more noble and generous heart never pulsated in the breast of man -- He is gone; neither flattery or detraction can harm him more, and whilst we admire the virtues of the dead we should not forget the claims of the living. Genl Jefferson C Davis by whose hand Genl Nelson fell was placed under military arrest for the deed, and after
some days of confinement he was ordered to join his command, and that too without trial or even investigation, for it was generally admited that he could not under the circumstances do less or more than he did -- The Grand Jury of Jefferson County however out of abundant caution found a true bill against Genl Davis for ~~murder --~~ ^manslaughter^ His honor the judge of the Jefferson Circuit Court admitted Genl Davis to bail and Tho^s Ware Gibson Esqr and your petitioner are his bondsmen in the sum of $5,000 --

Genl Davis has been ever since the unfortunate occurence in the Army of the Union and many a battle ^field^ bears witness to his ability and prowess -- The killing was at a hotel
the Galt House in Louisville and witnessed almost wholly by temporary sojourners so that it would be next to impossible to find the witnesses and insure a fair trial --

Under all the circumstances your petitioner most respectfully asks your Excellency to interpose the Executive clemency in pardoning said Jefferson, C, Davis for said Killing, and thereby releasing said Gibson and himself from all liability on amount of their said surityship -- And as in duty bound &c

Will, P, Thomasson
Frankfort Feby 4^th 1865

Jefferson Cir Ct
Frankfort. Feby 4^th

The death of Genl Nelson was a national calamity -- but the gallant & noble services of Genl Davis since the unfortunate occurance [...] fully commands Executive Clemency as to the public accusation of the Grand Jury
A pardon of the offence is ordered

Thos E Bramlette

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