The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-11-04
10 the Editor of The "Republic," Washington, ID. {

10 the Editor OF The "Repubtic," Washington, ID. e.
SIR In the Washington Republic Of the 18th ul
tino there ID q communication subscribed ii. II. c.
an attempted REPUTATION of letter which appeared
in the Baltimore Sun of the 18th utimo, signed
"Chrysta''
ii. II. c. states that he was present on that occa
sion; that the soldier had deserted from company
&C." second artillery; and that on his trial had
boastingly confessed that he had enlisted with the
determination of deserting-bis only object being
TO obtain bounty and outfit That he made use Of
any such confession is fasel The culprit belonge
TO light company "a +" second artillery, (Duncan's
battery;) was enlisted in the month of June, 1850
had never received any bounty, not being entitled to
any, (Which ID only given in cases of re enlist
meDt.) He was sentenced "to receive fifty lashes
on his bare back with raw hide, to have TWEEN
four pound ball and chain attached to his leg to
make good the expenses incurred for his apprehen-
sion, to forfeit all pay and allowances that was or
might become due him, and to be confined at hard
labor for six months" He states that in most Eu-
ropean countries the offence would have been pun
ished with death This is ridiculous; and sufficient
proof that he is unconnected with this any other
army. He delivered himself TO the civil auhori-
tics at Hampton, Virginia, the same day he had
been reported a deserter, clearly showing that il
was not premeditated case of desertion.
Immediately after "reveie" of the morning of
the 24th July last the command was paraded to
witness punishment. The bass. drummer of the
band was selected to lay the lash. II. r G..
lightly as to laugh from end of the line
to the other This is another wilful error of his,
and certainly proves that he ID not some sided"
There was one universal feeling, not of mirth, but of
sorrow and pity, for their comrade who had indis-
creetly brought this degradation on himself The
duty OF experimenting such punishinents properly
belong to the post adjutant; but it is not his duty
to make any additions to the sentences of courts
martial, which, in this instance he did, by order
ing the drummer to lay it on harder; the sentence
did not imply that the fifty lashes were to be so un
mercifully laid on the two which he, Captain
Simpson, laid on tho drummer. There s a wide
hot
cut him in two. The drummer replied to Captain
Simpsons order that he doing his best, 'tbe
truth of which was palpable' by the writing of
the culprlt, the stined cries which he uttered and
the ndelible marks which every stroke of the cow
hide imprinted on his already lacerated back. For
all this Captain s. unnecessarily ordered "harder
yet, harder YETI although it was apparent to every
one, but Captain Simpson and your correspondent
that this part of the sentence being properly
executed. Your correspondent charges the drum
mer with "dsobedience Of orders" How docs
he make this appear, when the drummer executed
the orders to the beet OF his ability? But admitting
that he was disobedient, Captain had legal neans
in his power of furnishing this offence, and has not
the least shadow Of an excuse for committing such
degrading assault upon man who could not
rctaatc but at the risk Of being sentenced TO death
for mutiny. Your correspondent wishes to impress
upon the public that this affair a "moc kerry"
and that the drummer "was shirking," previous
TO the marked manner in which Capt. s. communi-
Gated his wishes; and that after this "the thing
became serious, and much more satisfactory than
before" How very discerning he must have been,
to have seen more than the whole command, Capt
s. excepted! Now, sir, and others can vouch that
the first part Of the sentence executed with as
much severity as the latter.
Your correspondent Is, perhaps, unaware Of the
reprmand given to Capt. S., by the senior officer
on the parade, while inictng the ashes upon the
drummer, (Which caused him to desst } and his
cruel and inhuman bearing towards the prisoner.
wonder If your correspondent did really hear
Capt. s. remark "that il was unpleasant for him
to witness whipping" Why unpleasant TO hims
. should cay because he was not the principal, The
idea of it being recreant the part of Capt s. to
have permitted the lashes TO have been lightly in
flicted is absurd, il being entirely optional with
Capt. S. how the lashes were laid on, SO long as
that they laid onthe sentence not stating, as
such sentences almost invariably do, ",osH laid
,cith rd,o hide"
AS to the soldiers tcazng him into the detcrmi-
nation of seeking redress IS false, as he himself
took the earliest opportunity of 80 doing, by con-
sulting legal adviser in Hampton, Va, who pre-
ferred charges against Capt. Simpson.
lnj ustice to all parties concerned, hope you will
give these facts an insertion, we'll as that of your
other correspondent, II. r. G..
Very respectfully, OLD POINT
Having given both sides a hearing we hope
this will close this unpleasant discussion En-
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