The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-29 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

A correspondent of the New York gribune gives
the following description of the scene in the Supreme
Court at Richmond on the 13th inst. :
The Court was to meet at eleven o'clock-, but long
before that hour the street in front of the Spotswood
hotel was crowded, so much so that it took a squad
of cavalry and policemen to keep the passage-way
open for carriages and foot passengers. lhis crowd
was mostly composed of negroes, wishing to gratify
their curiosity by seeing Mr. Davis ; yet there was a
number of white citizens who wanted to gratify a
like desire, and at the same time do homage to a
fallen chieftain. The arrangements for transferring
the prisoner from the hotel were so directly opposite
to those made for the carrying of the same person
from the steamboat to the hotel on Saturday that
they were higLly commendable. On Saturday every-
thing was done unintentionally, no doubt, which
would attract attention to the prisoner and give a
chance to the people to render him that tribute
which his position entitled him to. To-day the same
persons were anxious to do the same thing over
again, and they were not at all satisfied when it was
told around the crowd that Mr. Davis had left by
a rear entrance, and was at that time at the door of
the court-room, some three blocks distant. hence
the crowd rushed to the latter building, but they
were disappointed, for the prisoner was transferred
from the carriage to the court-room in less time than
it takes to record the fact. A battalion of infantry
and a squad of policemen had been on the ground,
and had kept the passage way open from the street
to the entrance of the custom-house, in which the
Court was held. The crowd around this building
was larger than around the hotel. Not only was
the street pretty well thronged, but the Capitol
grounds in front of it contained many people. As
Mr. Davis was taken in, most of the whites raised
their hats as a mark of respect, but beyond this no-
thing was said or done. When Mr. Davis entered
the Court he found there a crowd of between three
and four hundred people, white and coloured, of
both sexes. The prisoner was seated within the
box on the left-baud side of the judge, with General
Burton on his right and Deputy Marshal Duncan
on his left. At about the same time Judge Under-
wood entered. The court-room then presented a
curious scene. To the right of the judge sat the
Grand Jury, composed of both whites and blacks,
and containing such prominent citizens as JOhn
Minor Botts and J. Seger. Immediately in front wss
the table for the counsel and distinguished persons,
and around it sat such men as Charles O'Conor,
William B. Reed, George Shea, William M. Evarts,
District Attorney Chandler, and his assistant, J. T.
Hennessey, Governor Pierpont, Horace Greeley,
Augustus Schell, James Lyons, a distinguished
lawyer of Virginia ; Judge Ould, and others. Oa
the left were members of the press and citizens gene-
rally. Many of the latter were distinguished gentle-
men. Generals Fitzhugh Lee and Imboden of
cavalry fame, Judge Meredith, Harry Gilmer,
and others were scattered among the audience, and
attracted attention. When Mr. Davis was brought
in of course all eyes were turned toward him,
but he -paid not the slightest attention. He was
dressed in a plain white and black plaid suit, with
a sack coat, wore green kid gloves, and carried a
cane. The court was opened by the Marshal, when
Judge Underwood said that bee tuse of the pre-
sence of so many of the nation's defenders, the
usual preliminary routine would be dispensed with,
and he would instantly hear from General Burton.
The General then took the prisoner to the vicinity
of the bar, and handed to Charles O'Conor the
order of President Johnson, directing him to sur-
render the prisoner. Mr. O'Conor then read it, and
moved that the court discharge the prisoner. He then
handed the papers to District-Attorney Chandler,
who, after examining them, sent them to Judge Un-
derwood. The judge stated that he found the papers
correct, and paid a flattering compliment to General
Burton, who, he said, acted with as much wisdom
as he displayed upon the battle-field in putting
down treason, the authority holding the prisoner
being insufficient when civil law was in force. The
Judge ordered that the General be released from all
him. Marshal Duncan imme-
the Norfnlk indictment to the
that under that he now arrested
fdp uri
ari
stt
ohe
ne
yre r cpahr
nae
sdr
eg
nse
at
ei of f
him. Mr. Davis took the paper, and handed it to
Mr. O'Connor, who, after reading it, and finding it
correct, said that the counsel of Mr. Davis were
ready for trial, and that they hoped there would be
n o unusual
perilousnau anxious
xu
iaocl
ti
condition
n d delay.fora
Mr. Davis had been for a long
time
iro nof the country that had been, a
trial, but on account of the
denied him, and, he, therefore, without wishing to
crowd the Government to a trial, would ask that
an early day be set for it. Mr. Evarts, in behalf
of the Government, said they were not now ready
for trial, and then named November 4 as a day
they would be. This was agreed to by Mr.
O'Conor. Then came up the question of a dis-
position of the prisoner, and in this more interest
was centrsd than in anything else. All kinds of
stories had been circulating around Richmond about
the alleged vindictiveness of JudgeUnderwood,that he
would decide, no matter how the lawyers argued,
that the crime of treason was not a bailable offence,
and that consequently he would refuse to release
Mr. Davis, and he would be treated much the re•
verse to what the general opinion was. This news
did not travel very fast, for fully three-fourths of
those in the court did not know what would be the
course of the authorities until Judge Underwood
said he was perfectly willing to take bail. Very
little discussion was had on the point, Mr. O'Conor
taking for granted that it was conceded that it was
perfectly legitimate in asking that a sum might be
named. He complimented General Burton for the
care taken of Mr. Davis. Mr. Everts and Mr.
Chandler did not oppose the proposition of Mr.
O'Conor, but said they hoped that the sum would
not be excessive. Mr. Chandler proposed $lOO,OOO.
The court agreed upon that amount, but not before
Mr. Chandler said he would insist that one half of
the persons
going security should reside in the State
of Virginia. This was not objected to, and Mr.
O'Conor then stated that ten names would be given,
who would give the required security of $4,000 each,
and he called as the first person to do this Mr.
Horace Greeley. Mr. Greeley went up to the clerk's
desk and signed the bond, after which Mr. Davis
accosted him, and they conversed several minutes
with each other for the first time in their lives. As
the other gentlemen named as bondsmen came up
they also talked with Mr. Davis. Among those
whom he seemed glad to see was John Minor Botts,
the mention of *hose name a few minutes before
was greeted with a few smothered hisses. After
eighteen of the bondsmen had signed their names,
Mr. O'Conor announced that two more would come
by boat, and that he would hold himself personally
responsible for them. With this understanding Mr.
Chandler announce I himself satisfied, and Judge
Underwood dismissed the prisoner. This announce-
ment was greeted with applause, which the Mar-
shal soon suppressed. During all these proceedings
Mr. Davis sat along side of Mr. O'Conor, but he
very seldom talked to his counsel. Ile seemed a
little nervous, confidently knowing that he would
soon be a free man. The announcement of his tem-
porary discharge lightened up his countenance, and
he seemed as happy as his friends around him. lie
went down stairs in company with Burton N. Har-
rison, his former private secretary. As he reached
the bottom of the stairs, some one yelled out, " hats
off," and nearly every man uncovered. Mr.
Davis acknowledged the compliment by uncovering
and bowing. lie was driven off amid ttre.elleers of
the Virginians, Main-street was lined with people,

The Duke of Cambridge, as Field-Marshal Com-
manding-in-Chief, held a levee yesterday afternoon
at the Horse Guards. Upwards of 180 officers
attended the levee.

llcr Majesty's ship Resistance (armour-plated) is
to be paid off at Portsmouth.
Retired Capt. Edward 11. Delafosse has been
awarded the Greenwich Hospital Pension of £65
per annum placed at the disposal of the Board of
Admiralty by the death of Retired Captain John
Stephens.
Yesterday Major-Gen. Freeman Murray held a
field-day of the whole of the troops under his com-
mand, ;on Chatham lines, on which occasion the
officers and men were put through an extended
course of light infantry and other manoeuvres.

The pensioners attached to the Chatham district
having completed their annual period of training,
under Col. R. Jenkins, were inspected yesterday, on
the inner lines, Chatham, by Col. J. W. S. Smith,
C. 8., commanding the Ist Depot Battalion. The
division, numbering about 360 men of all ranks,
was formed in six divisions, each man having 10
rounds, and on the arrival of the inspecting officer
gave the customary salute. The non-commissioned
officers and men -were then put through the manual
and platoon exercises, followed by the customary
inspection movements, which was carried out by
the veterans with remarkable steadiness and preci-
sion, the inspection being in every respect very satis-
factory. The pensioners will return their arms,
clothing, and accoutrements into store to-day.
Letters received by. a Chatham correspondent,
dated Valparaiso, April 17, report the departure
for England, on the 6th of April, of the Sutlej, 36,
500 horse power, Capt. T. P. Coode, late the flag-
ship of Vice-Admiral J. Denman, Commander-in-
Chief of the Pacific squadron, being relieved by the
armour-plated ship Zealous, 20, 3,716 tons,
800 horse power, Capt. R. Dawkins, flagship
of Rear-Admiral the Hon. G. F. Hastings. On the
departure of the Sutlej the new Commander-in-
Chief saluted the Chilian flag with 21 guns, the
salute being duly returned. Admiral Hastings left
Valparaiso in the Zealous on the 16th of April for
Vancouver Island, with,the intention of calling in
at Callao. The screw sloop Columbine, 4, 150
horse power, arrived at Valparaiso on the afternoon
of April 16, from Callao, 25 days out, all well on
board. The screw sloop Reindeer, 7, 200
horse power, Commander E. Nares, was at Val-
paraiso at the departure of the mail, but was
under orders to proceed on the 23d to Mazatlan, via
Callan, to relieve her Majesty's screw s'oop Mutine,
17, 200-horse power, Commander W. Swinburn.
The crew of the Reind2er had recovered from the
smallpox. The Topaze, 31, 600-horse power, flag-
ship of Commodore R. A. Powell, C. 8., sailed from
Valparaiso on the 13th, for Conception Bay. The
Chilians were busily employed in the erection of for-
midable earthworks for the protection of Valparaiso,
and a number of 300-pounder and other guns of
heavy calibre had been mounted on the defences
completed.
Yesterday a naval court-martial assembled on
board the Formidable, 81, Capt. Mackenzie, flag
ship of Vice-Admiral Sir B. W. Walker, Comman-
der-in-Chief at the Nore, for the trial of Mr. Geo.
Warren, engineer of her Majesty's ship Cameleon,
17, 200 horse power, Commander Annesley, on the
charge of having on or about the 22d inst. been
drunk on board the said ship, and incapable of per-
forming his duty. The Court, in consideration of
prisoner's former good character, and the very high
c2rtifieates produced, only sentenced him to be dis-
missed her Majesty's Ship Cameleon, and to be
severely reprimanded.
The steamship London, Capt. J. Hall, put into
Spithead yesterday afternoon from Gibraltar, and
landed for the Royal Military Hospital at Netley 78
invalid soldiers, 10 women, and 19 children, sailing
immediately afterwards for London, and taking
round with her, to disembark at Gravesend, Lieut.
Slade, R.A., Staff-Surgeon Jones, 2d battalion 15th
Regiment, 45 men, 5 women, and 8 children.
The screw steam sloop Chanticleer left Plymouth
on Sunday for the Pacific. The paddlewheel steam
frigate Terrible, 19, Capt. J. E. Commerell, C. 8.,
for the Mediterranean, and the iron screw steam
frigate Resistance, 18, Capt. 11. S. Hillyar, C. 8.,
for Portsmouth, left on Monday.
We have to record the death, at `Wellington, New
Zealand, on the 25th of March, of the Hon. Major
Henry Coote, formerly of the 22d Regiment, and
since then a member of the Upper House of As-
sembly in New Zealand. Major Coote fought under
the late Sir C. Napier, in Scinde. He was present
at the battles of Meanee and Hyderabad, and was
severely wounded in the latter action, where he
seized with his own hand the first standard from the
Beloochees. Ile afterwards served with the 36th
Regiment, and assisted materially in putting down
the Greek insurrection in Cephalonia. Since then
Major Coote has resided in New Zealand.
The following appointments have been made at
the Admiralty :—Capt. Rowley Lambert to the
Challenger, vice Capt. Maguire, invalided, and to
be commodore of the second class, and senior officer
of her Majesty's ships and vessels on the Australian
station ; Lieut. Robert F. Hammick to the Simoom ;
w. H. Fawckner, master, to the Euphrates ; Sub-
Lieut. Philip to the Phoebe ; Henry L. Conran,
midshipman, to the Royal Alfred ; Arthur Barrow,
midshipman, to the Minotaur ; and Pearson F.
Crozier, naval cadet, to the Phoebe.