The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-07-17
LETTER FROM THE ARMY.
MURDER OF LIEUTENANT MAGRUDER-RUM AND DiSEN
Terry IN THE ARMY.

Correspondence Of The MSSoari DemocrGtl
HEADQUARTERS SIXTH Column,
Camp on Big Blue, July =, 1898.
Incidents of a tragcal character have occurred
since our arrival here which will long cling to many
stern soldier with painful remembrance and
cause this camp to be regarded as the 'Camp OF
Horror"
On the night of the 2Sth ut., from some cause or
other, was aroused from my sleep about midnight.
The night was one of calmncss and beauty. l was
aroused by No. sentinel crying-"Numbcr one
twelve O'Clock and all is WE'LL The cry was
taken up by each sentinel in his turn and re
pcated all around the camp. The weird chant
had scarcely lett the lips of the last sentinel and
went cchoing up the rock rayine upon which he
was posted when | heard the brisk Gathering OF a
horses hoofs coming up the stony hiil"hom the
river. moment more and the rider drew rem IN
front of Major Emory's tent, whom he called up
and then rode to Sergeant Major Charles Green 5,
whom he also called up. | now heard the Major or
der him Sergeant Major Grecn) to make out
! detail of six men from each mounted company to
| go under the command of Leutenants Berry and
| Cunningham and two non-c0mmlssioned oIncerS.-
| Lieutenant Magruder had been murdered ut n
settlers cabin the river, and the first de:acl-
| mcnt was sent to arrest the murderer. Dr. Joseph
| Il. Smith, non-commssioned officer, and a 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 camp. The men
came out of their tents and congrcgatcd in groups
to discuss the tragedy. The Gathering of horses
feet were heard going hither and thither.
Lieutenant John T. Magruder, of the Second
Cavalry, was on detached service, assisting Lieut.
| enant Berry in the command of Company A. ORA
COON recruits. He is Nirginian by birth, but his
father is at present resident of w ashington city.
At two o'clock on the Doth he buried. The
whole of the sixth column turned out and followed
| his remains in solemn funeral procession. Dr. d.
Il. Smith oficiated as chaplain in the funeral ser
vice. The last resting place of the deceased is on
the point of considerable cmincnce, overlooking
the surrounding country. To-day they are erect
ing large stone mound over the grave.
\ few nights since drunken row occurred at a
liquor shanty near by, in which several teamster:
were horribly mutated-almost literally cut t
pieces. None of them, however, are quite dead, al
though in critical condition. The same night, !
am informed a soldier belonging to the fifth col
umn, which is also encamped over the river, wa
shot dead. The night after, a wagon master OF a
OK teams shot one of his drivers through tn
I head Last night two transfers of a mule tral
were badly wounded by pistol shots fired by o!
drivers.
a These deeds of horror are all attributed to tn
influence Of liquor. Thus you see, rum, that iou
fend and agent of the devil, is here, elsewhere
doing his full share in the destruction OF huma
life.
-, But | am about to neglect some of the particular
;, in relation to the murder of Lieutenant Magrude
5 | He bad been visit to the officers of the fit
t column, and was returning, when, on passing I'll
house aforementioned he got entanglCd in an alte
is cation with citizen by the name of Prore, VIII
fired upon him. The gun was loaded with ba
and number Of buckshot, all of which entered hi
~ face and head, killing him instantly. understan
y tried and acquitted Prore of the murder. Ieste
he day the Major sent out detachment of sevent
re FIVE men, under command of Licutenants Critte
den and lngraham, in quest of the fugitive. Br
they have returned, after Il fruitless search.
&c This morning there was about sixty persons c
Il the sick report Nearly every was the dysel
~ terry, and nearly every patient araw recruit
y. fresh from citizen life. OF course it must be expeC
y ed that change ofdiet, change of climate,
" change of physical exercise, and a mode of Ii
~ altogether, will have such effect upon TT
only wonder is that there is not greater numb,
of down with the same complaint" The doctor h
no serious cases under his care. The general heal
OF of the troops is excellent. Some few, who, Ill
sc myself. have Travelled over Mexico and Texas a,
o. contracted the chronic diarrhGa, have had I
of that dreaded disease, but hope that, by tel
OF perance and care, win soon be around again.
w Ever since we left Lcavenworth we have hat
&c rainy day about every fourth day. When it was L
- raining, the weather has been excessively wal
II and oppressive. If it not for the fine pra
of breeze, we would sometimes positively suilOcate.