Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-05-01

pOTdi GslWdTQS, WHO llSlIuSlOu Hlui, tidN
if any person passed the street on either
aid ofthe capitol, he was not to hail them
or to disturb them, but if any person made
towards the centinel, he was to hail him
three times deliberately, and if no answer
was given he was to fire upon the object.
He never received any other orders until
the fourth day after the death of Mr.. NJ
Credie, when he was informed by corporal
Ladd that the orders had been changed
that the centinel was to hail three times,
and If not answered he was to- fire, but not
to point his gun towards the object ;--if the
person answered and gave the countersign,
he was to let him pass; if he answer
ed as a friend, and could not give the coun-
tersign, he was to keep him at the point Of
the bayonet; and, ifposted at the barracks,
the centinel was Immediately to call for the
corporal of the guard if at the capitol, he
was to keep the person in custody till he
W, relieved.
This affiant saith that he had been six
years and twenty days, in the army of the
United States, at fort Wilkinson, under the
successive commands of Col. Gather, Mai.
Peters, and Col Kingsbury, before he en-
listed in the public guard at Richmond -
that the uniform practice observed at that
station, was, whenever an order came from
the commandant, 1t was read by the adiu-
tant to the men on the grand parade, (Which
is an assemblagc of all the men J it is then
handed to the sergeant major, and from
him to the orderly sergeant, who posts it
on the orderly book, to which any of the
men can at all times resort who are at
loss as to any of the orders. That, since
he has been member OF the public guard,
at Richmond, he has never seen any or
derly book kept by the orderly sergeant
oNI he g -, 49, ,..t.I -
has been kept at that station, as he never
saw or heard of it; that all the orders,
which have been given by the commandment
of the public guard, have been verbal that
he never has heard the letters from any of
the governors, to the SAID commandment read,
nor has he ever seen a written order.
Question by Mr.. Penn. l. it not the OBI
mon of the greater part ofthe guard at this
place, that Nash was acting in the line of
his duty when he fired at Mr.. MsCredie.
Answer.-lt is.
HENRY DEWERSON.
Henrico County, Sc.
The within affidavit was sworn to before
me in due form agreeable to law this 18th
February, 1907.
DANIEL L. HYLTON.
Ky
bert Robertson and Gilbert Graham, who
say, that on the morning after the death of
MIR. M'Credie, they went to the barracks,
where they entered into a conversation
with one of the public guard, whom they
now recognise TO be corporal Dewerson
thatthe said Dewerson observed, that Nash,
(the centineD had done nothing but his du-
ty. and that he should have done the same
thing; that if the centinel had not fired,
he would have received one hundre LASH
es; and that he Corporal Dewerson) had
rather be shot, or be killed, {they do not
recollcct which eXpression,) than receive
fifty lashes.
ROBERT s. NIXON.
ROBT. ROBERTSON.
GILBERT GRAHAM.
Henrico County, &C.
The above affidavit was sworn to before
me in due form agreeable to law, this 18th
February, 1907.
DAN'L L. HYLTON.
-
a.
The affidavit of Harrison Dance, who
saith, that about O'Clock in the morning
after the death of Mr.. John M'Credie, he
waspassing round the capitol going into the
chancery Office, and observed a corporal
and two soldiers advancing towards the
capitol, one of which soldiers was placed
as centinel; the corporal then observed to
the soldier, you are placed here with
gun to do your duty as a soldier, and if any
person encroaches OH you while on post,
(this afiant thinks was the expression of
the corporal but will not be positively you
are to hail him, and # he will not stop, but
still perseveres you are to give him the Sc
cond law, this affiant thinks to the best of
his recollection was the expression used by
the corporal. This afiant few minutes
afterwards informed an acquaintance of
his, of the orders he had heard given to the
soldier, who began to ask the centinel some
questions, the particular words this affiant
does not at this time recollect, but he heard
the centinel say, that if any person insultcd
him while on post, that he should give him
the second law, and said, that, that was
the load in his gun, he also said, that those
were the orders given to him by the cor
poral few minutes ago.
HARRISON DANCE.
Henrico County. &c.
The above affidavit was sworn to before
me in due form agreeable claw, this 18th !
February, 1907
DAN'L L. HYLTON., !
R
(M)
The affidavit of Thomas Southworth. |
who saith, that he was among the first who |
joined the public guard after it was esta |
al IL 4