The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1849-05-25
Gen. Sandfords Statement
0fthe Conflict tetueea the Military and The Med

ucll. SdiluiGr0S Stdlelhcnt
Ofthe Conflict tetussn the Miiitasy and The Mot.
The New York Herald gives the depos.
iiion Of General Sanford before the Coro.
ner's Inquest, which, as a portion of the
history of The lines, We have concluded To
publish. !, gives the naked facts Of the
case.
The next witness was General Sand.
ford. who. on being sworn 10 the usual
form, testified as follows
My name is Charles W. Sandrord and
am Majo General commanding The mil.
tafy forces Of this county.
=" Please stale What you know OF the
suhJec. matter Of this inquiry"
Thursday las, received message from
the Mayor requesting me to attend him in
his Office. proceeded there, and found
all the magistrates mention d By the Mayor
assembled. Tho Mayor informed me Of
the object Of my being sent for, and he has
stated correctly my reply when my opin.
ion was asked. After il was decided TO
issue the order for The military TO turn
out, il was understood by the magistrates
present, that the effnit should be made by
the civil authority to preserve the peace !;
aud that the military should not be called
out until that Effort failed. | received 10
consequence, the following order, after |
lef; the Mayors flee;
MAroR's OfrcE, City Hall, May 10, 1919.
Having reason to spprehend a serious
riot, this evening, which will require more
force to preserve The peace than Is posses.
sed byth police, Major General Sanford
Is requested TO hold suibcien, military
force in readiness 10 meet the app ehended
emergency.
G. s. WoopHrLL, Mayor.
After receiving the above order, or.
dered one regiment 10 assemble a, their
drill rooms, and one troop Of light ar,lle.
~, with two SIX. Founders. to assemble at
the Arsenal, with a small detachment OF
infantry TO protect the pelces.
We remained there until received a
verbal message from the Sheriff, who was
at the theatre, the pufpoU oil which was,
that the mob had attacked the theatre, had
driven in the police force, and were assail.
'ng the building. He requested me to
come up as soon as possible. This vas,
as we'll o. can recolIec,, between eigb,
aud nine O'Clock in the evening. After
receiving the message, immediately or.
dered the regiments 10 get ready 10 march
to distribute their ammunition, aud
move. The ammunition consisted Of one
thousand rounds Of bali cartridge. al
the same lime sent orders 10 the Arsenal
Yard for tie horse belonging TO this regi.
meni, and a small number o. horse Of
another regimen, assembled there, 10 come
10 front Of The drill rooms and march with
Us TO The ground. There was no ammu.
oiIlon gwen 10 tho horse, they had nothing
but their sabfes. The tfoops we're put
under march and moved rapidly up Broad
way to Aston Place. vas not aware,
until 60, on the ground, Of the amour,
Of the mob, aud supposed hat a small mill.
,afy force added to the police would be
sufficient 10 maintain order.
Before arriving Oh The ground, noun.
ted and tosk charge Of the cavalry, which
we're In advance, consisting af about forty
horsomen, directing the infantry to follow
close after US. ordered tho horse to
form front Of from five TO ton men on en-.
teting Aston Place. They advanced in
that order TIL they got nearly opposite the
centre OF the Opera House. We were as.
sailed q, this point by shower OF stones
aud b lex bats, by which almos, every
man was more or less hut and the horses
rendeted almost unmnnageable.
The men pushed rapidly through Astor
Place, and were received throughout the
whole distance with q shower OF stones. -
The infantry followed them. There was
Il dense mob extending the whole distance
TO the Bowefy, and as Ear as | could see,
10 Third Avenue. The mounted men be.
ing Conspicuous marks, received most Of
The stones, and were driven of the gtouad.
| dlsmountcd, returned through the mob
and took charge of,hc inlunlry, who were
halted 10 line across the open space be.
You'd the Theatre, with dense mob on
both sides Of thom, who we're asssllng
them With all sorts Of orprobnous ep,he.s,
aud frequent volleys OF stones.
| ordered Col. Duryea to form column
of division for the purpose Of first clearing
the ground in the rear Of the Theatre. ia.
tending afterwards TO 60 to the front. The
column was formed promptly, and moved
forward through the mob until stopped by
an excavation in the ground, which was
not seen, owing TO the darkness Of the night.
We then moved, and filed round this bro.
ken ground, and cleared the rear Of the
Theatre, by sweeping the mob before US,
without acharso-,hey retiring before US.
stationed at this time, two bodies Of
troops at each end Of the Theatre, extend.
ing across the street, and sen, into the
Theatre for Mr., Matsell and the Sheriff,
who came out 10 me. MIR. Ma,soll fur.
nished sufficient police TO replace those
two lines Of the military, and The whole
were then put in march rouod 9Th street
aud down Broadway by the flank the