Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-24
BETTER FROM THE ARMY.
Murder Of Lieutenant Magruder-Ruhl
and Dysentery in the Army.

and Dysentery in the Army.
Correspondence ef the Mssour; Democrat
HEADQUARTERS SIXTH Column,
Camp on Big Blue, July 2, 1898
Incidents of tragical character have
occurred since our arrival here, which VIII
cling to many stern soldier with painful
remembrance, and cause this camp to be
regarded as "Camp Of Horror"
On the night of the 28th ult., from some
cause, was aroused from my sleep about
midnight The night was one Of calmness
and beauty. | was aroused by No. ! sen
tinel CRYING Number ne-tWelve o'clock
and all is WE'LL" The weird chant had
scacelv left the lips Of the last sentinel ard
went echoing up the rocky ravine Upon
which he was posted, wheA [ heard the
brisk gathering Of horses boots coming up
the stony hill from the river. A mement
more and the rider drew rein in front of
Major Emory's tent, whotn he called UP,
and then rode to Sergeant Major Charles
Green's, whom he also called up. | now
heard the Major order him Sergeant Major
Green) to make out detail Of six men
from each mounted company to 60 under
the command Of Lieutenants Berry and Gun
bingham and two non commissioned officers.
Lieutenant Magradcr had been murdered
at settlers cabin over the river, and the
first detachment was sent to arrest the MUIR
derer. Or. Joseph r. Smith, a non COM
missioned officer, and detail Of two
mounted men from each cavalry company
went TO take charge Of the corpse The
news of the murder soon spread over the
place. The men came out of their tents
and congregatcd in groups TO discuss the
remedy. The gathering of hurscs' feet
were herad going .hither and thither.
Lieutenant John T. Magruder, Of the
Second Cavalry, was on detached service,
assisting Lieutenant Berry liz the command
of Company A. Dragon recruits. He is
Virginian by birth, but his father is at
present resident of Washington city.
At two o'clock on the 29th he was
buried The whole of the sixth coltinln
turned out and followed bis remains in sol
emn funeral procession. DR. D. 4. Smith
officiated as chaplain in the funeral service.
The last resting place Of the deceased is on
the point of considerable cminence over
looking the surrounding country To-day
they are erecting large stone mound over
the grave.
A fey nights since drunken row oc-
cured at liauor shanty near by, III which
several transfers were horrible mutilated-
almost literally cut to pieces. None Of
them, however, are quite dead, although
ia critical condition. The same night,
| am informed soldier belonging to the
fifth ccltinn, which is also encamped over
the river was shot dead The night af-
ter, wagoii master of an OK team, shot
one of his ox drivers through the head =
Last night two Transfers of mule train
were badly wounded by pistol shots fired
by OK drivers.
These deeds of horror are all attribu-
ted to the influence of liquor Thus got
see rum, that foul fend and agent Of tire
devil, is here as elsewhere, doing his
full share in the destruction Of humalt
life
But I am about to Neglect some Of the
particulars IN relation to the rasrder Of
Lieutenant Magruder Tie had been On
a visit 10 the officers of the fifth column,
amd was returning, when, Gu passing tie
hoi.se afore- mentioned; he vas cntanglel
in az alteration with d citizen ty TIE
ltanle Of Pro-c; who fred Upon him. The
gun YRS headed With d ban and q nHnfbcr
of BRICK shot, all Of which entered bis face
and head, killing him Instantly. I under
stand tkat the civil authorities CT NIsa3s-
Vile arrested tried and acquitted prose Of
the murder. Yesterday the MAJOR sent
out seventy-fye men, under coltfinand Of
Lieutcnants Crittcndcn and Ingraham, in
quest of che fugitive. But they have re-
turned after a fruitless search.
This morning there were about sixty
persons on the sick report Nearly every
case was the dysentcry. and ,noarly every
patient was a raw recruit, fresh from citi-
zen hfe Of course, It must be expected
that change Of diet, change Of climate,
change Of physical exercise AID d hcw
snode Of life altogether. will have an effect
upon men The only wonder is that there
is not e greater number 'sdown with the
same complaint" The doctor has no Sc
riots cases under his care The general
health of the troops is cxccl4cht Some
five, who, Ike myself, have travelled over
Mckee, and Texas, and contracted the
chronic diarrl0a, have had return of
that dreadful disease, but hope that, by
temperance and care, we will soon BIZ around
again.
Ever since we left T.eavcnworth we have
had 3 rainy day about every fourth day
When it was not raining, the weather has
been excessively warm and oppressive
II it were not for the fine prairie breeze,
NE would sometimes positively stsffbcate.