Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1799-05-24


cu, !. ,loua Gather arrival ihsv found K
guarded by not tets than one hundred 'nss |
men. Yheyrhsreiore retired.
II appeared, on careful enquiry, that the
l.aacases troops, ia ,hrle different expcai-
mons, conducted thcmfclyrs with the rtm It I
propr;e,y toNardsthe nhahitanls, and cdr
iiucd ,l,etaGeI,eO entirely 70 calsiag down
/ ieditiou poles.
After the departure of the troop from /
Reading, there appeared IN a Gazette OF that |
place, aud in the German language, pub |
lica;iou purpor,ing TO be ! narrative of theie
traniaetions. In this paper, OF which trani- !
lation is iub;oincI for che Information ofths
puolic. CB. the IsncaRer troopers were
charged with every species Of exeefs and
outrage; were expressly called cahnibals and
baad;isi were accuied Of :heft, cruelty, and
cow4rdice, with whipping children, and az
iauhiog women with pilols, and drawn
iwords.
On the return Of the troops 30 Reading,
which was on Saturday, The Lanculter,
troopers having been informed OF this pub
lirAtion, called on he printer, and demanded
the author. After fomc hciitation he con
fe.ied hinlrlf to be, in par,, tue author; al
ledgiag tAat two other pcrions who were 40
feat, but whom be named, had adltsd in the
competition. Ga this he ,rcciyed .x laihes
on his fhirt, IN the market place, froua the
trnmpster Of ,hs troop, and ia the IreiSncs
Of ,wo Of the troopers
Soon after this azair hsppened, the Cc-
neral was called from his dioner 70 be in
formed ofit, by Mr.. HeiiIer, Mr. Frailey,
and iomc Other perions. He replied that
he would enquire ia,o the matter, and saufe
tina proper reps to be taken respecting i.
Re then ordered tranlatien Of ttDl paper
in queaion to BE- brought TO him immediate
iy and IN the coufie Is the 7sfternoon fest !
Mr.. Williams TO requeg Mr.. Hsiaerto call |
on him either rhat evening, or tbe next
morning, as might be moa Convenient, Mr. !
flsiiser promred to Gene at nine In the
morning, az which hour The eapssin OF the
Lsacaiter troop was ordered to attend. He
came accordingly, but Mr.. HeiRer, though
Naieed foi : confierable time, did not ap-
pear, nor DID any other of the perions who
appeared, the day before, to be engaged in
The affair.
The General, in the mean time, received
nfoymatioa that warrants had been applied
.oragainf The parties concerned, aud having
carefully examined the buiinefs, he conhder-
ID 1t as more proper for civil, than military
,ognIzance. In the former cafe It would be
1ed by jury of the neighhourhood en- the
pot where the feet had been committed,
md the witDelTes rehdsd and before irda-
ses in Whole prefence, almoa, the tranfaEii-
IN had pafled. In ihe latter, the troops,
extremely anxious 70 return houe, rnuft have
'esn detained for the proceedings of court
martial, mach 10 their own Inconvenience,
md at heavy expenfc TO the public and
ne court martial mutt, ct receifity, have
oesn competed Of officers who had ierved ON |
he fame expedition, aud would therefore,
ave been expofed TO the imputation Of par.
.iality. The general, confcquentlyl ordered !
Inc parties concerned to so before Judge |
81 the county, furr>ndei tbernfelves into
:nfody, aud give fuch bal as might be re-. |
laired, for ti;eir appearance at the next
court, to aEfwer for the offence. Thisthey
had always declared their willingaefs TO 60. |
They did il immediately, and judge Morris !
took the bail, in the general prefence.
Even had not thefe fteps been taken. Rill |
the parties were fully within the reach of
the law Gncc, during the @hols Of Satur-
day afternoon, they were liable 10 fuit by
civil prosefs, and might hare been taken on
criminal proceis, at any time before their
depztture on Sunday, which was rot I'll
: o'clock in the afternoon. That the leaf
iutimstion was given, or would have been
luhsrsd, Of an atsntioa 20 rcfa, or elude,
.he execution Of writs, is abfolu,eJy fslfr.
Early on Sunday, the general had CONC
to Teiolution to difmils the troops early on
Monday morning; and captain Montgomery
having rePrefented that he pfeience wasex-
tremeiy neccGary on that day st I,ancafer,
where The court wa to commence, and he
YES very extendyely engaged as council and
attorney, he received permiision to fst out
with hts troop On their return home on Sun
day AFTERNOON. They fet out about o.
clock after giving hail. The other tsoops
received orders on the fame evening, to ct
cut. to their REFLECTIVE homes, at day break
next morning.
Tie pca.ic i nov enabled 10 Judge what
provocatior The Lanca6er troop hadforthcir
conduit, and what t,uth there Is ia tie char
ges and ialipua,ions contained ia your paper
on that f,sjstt.
Jonathan Williams.