Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-02-22
re Steamship San francisco aud Col

tS
Gates.
Capt. judd testified before the Cour.
toE Enquiry id New York on Saturday
that while on The barque Kilby all the
army officers on board took their turn
as officers ofthe day except Col. CAFES,
and mat better order might have been
maintained by him had he issued the nc
cessary directions. 1t. Van Vost testified
that he heard of no orders being given by
Col. Gates to aid the officers OF the San
Francisco in working the ship or for the
care OF the soldiers on the Kiby when he
K Col. G left To go on board the Lucy
Thompson. Col. Gardiner testified thai
he was on the steamer all the time, from
the gath to the 23.h CT December, AMI
that he dill not see him do any thing
or give any orders. except to the SER
wants to bring water aud food. 1t was
necessary at the time that he should
have issued orders to the troops, as there
was an utter want of system mum
Der of soldiers were in the cabin, who
were turned out by the negro steward of
the ship to work the pumps all that was
done by the officers Of the ship was done
on their own responsibility Col. Gates
was standing near the steward when he
ordered the soldiers out of the cabin. but
look no notice of it, Previous to leaving
the steamer, however, CGi. Gates said Il
shall be the last man. to leave the Ship"
but subsequently, left for the Kilby, before
his command, but when he left, no one
thought that the transfer of the men would
be interrupted by the weather. In reply
h., r.. /
Gates was concerned, a fair and impartial
quantity otfood and water received BY all
on board the Kilby' Col. Gardiner thus
testified
Col. Gates had an extra quantity of
water each time that | was officer of the
day; he either ordered me personally, or
sent the bottles by his orders to be filled :;
on the first occasion demonstrated with
him it was on the Goth or 3Oth, the Sc
cond or third day that we were on the
Kilby, and before any issues of water had
been made to the soldiers l told him it
would have bad effect on the men as
some Of them were suffering from want of
it, ifthe officers got an extra quantity be-
fore the men gotany;
O. What was the reply ? A. His reply
was" | don't care d-n for the men
would rather that twenty Of them should
die than that my children should suffer :"
then issued the water to him and some
time after to the men.
@. What orders. while on board Of the
kIIby did you receive from Col. Gates /?
A. No orders, except to furnish him with
food and water
Col. Gardiner also testified thai Maj.
Gates gave no orders or personal attention
to the transfer Of the men to the Kilby
that he knew of, and he saw him leave
the steamer in the first boat. He consid-
cred it an instance of neglect on the part
Of the Commanding officer Col. Gates, in
not procuring more provisions from the
San francisco; more provisions might
have been brought without interfering
with the transfer Of the passengers.
1t. hurry informed the witness That he
had spoken to the captain Of the steamer
about procuring more provisions and wa
ter, which might have been done by pass
ing a line from the Kilby to The San Fran
cisco, and hauling them on board
Maj. Wise testified that he received no
orders from Col. Gates to aid the officers
of the steamer, but he applied to him to al
low him, the witness, to order officers to
superintend the bailng. COL Gates re-
piled" Very we'll, do it,"
1t mantles our cheek with shame to
learn that such craven hearted scoun
1 drel holds commission in the American
army. We hope he will be promptly
cashiered, unless something can be shown
pailiating his conduct.