The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-09-03
4 severe nud -alu,ar, EAnmp,r.

The f flowing is the iu,,tancc Of the offence
ct col. M,Cr ~, a. cNmcs-cd in the charges on
which he was tried and for which he was pun.
.hcd by the severe rcprimaud from General
NJ, CLrllA; which follows.
SyecipcotoR. R.-Tnnt Colonel John II. McGuan,
| If the Thirty seventh regiment Of Now York
Volunteers did, oU or about the afternoon ol
the 9Th Of August, 1851, at Willard Hotel, ~
called, iu the city Oi Washington, ID. G., when
a,Lcd by Lieutenant Il. =. Hunter, Svond
United States infantry, then in command Of a
provost guard and on duty, to show him hi' pass
or authority for being there f,il to do 80, aud
did use toward, the nd Lieutenant Hunter
most abusive, ungcntlcmaulv nud unOlir cflikc
language, saving Go TO hell. Bv God, ,ir,
by what authority do YOU demand my pas, p
Or words 10 this effect and when told by the
aid Lieutenant Hunter that he demanded his
PISS l., authority IT Colonel Porter, Provost
Mar.hnl, did reply, in u very disrc-peciiul man-
urr saving, BY tud, do not recognize Nuur au-
thority;' and after hcng repeatedly asked for his
pass, did finally pull from his pocket piece 0 Z
paper and hand the same to Lieut. Hunter, siy-
ing, There, damn YOU, will that d0l' or
words to this effect and when informed by
Lieut. Hunter that II was not "A sufficient pass
tor him. aud that hc CCol. McCunn) would have
10 20 10 his quarters In arrest and when asked
for his name AMI regiment by said Lieut. Hun
ter the said Cob McCmn dl positively refuse
manner, aud did say; II viii ,cc YOU ,mnoi
before / will obev your arrest, or words to this
| effect. "l"u and all Nuur guhrl urc drunk
| the guard at ia, time hciug outside the hotel.
-rNTrNCE.
The Cuur, does therefore sentence the accu ed
| Col. j. IT, N,Cunu Thiry-scycnth regiment
| New York Volunteers. to Lc rcprimlndcd in
| general orders from tho headquarters uf the
| t,u,El commanding the army ui thr Potomac.
ruE RErEIMANr.
The General commanding confirms the find
IUs and .yutDuCc OF tie Court but in doing 50
he a..luuo- that the sentence was Eidc thus
llrhl IN gvn-ldlmtiun Of the incNpclicnCg of the
| accused Iol. McCunn, 1t WOuG appear from
| The record, i ignorant Oi the Ur great prnci-
| pie which should guide all .oldl'r Of whatever
rank yil--lmpicl obedience to proper authori-
| ". The authority oi Lieut. Hunter. and
| were mot clear and objectionable. II
| wa. N, authority dircc " delegated through
| the Provost Marshal ot the General command
| ing this army, aud ,hould have been oheyod ~ re-
| spcctlully aud implicitly ~ If the dem md had
| been made bv the General in person. The man
uer Of the officer making the demand should
| have had no influence, but the Colonel should
| lave obeyci the order respectfully aud prompt
| ly. u the manner Ui Lieutenant Hunter was
| improper and that il was so J. by no means
| clear To the General Commanding 1t was the
duty OF Colonel McCWn TO have retained his
,elt-po,,c--ion and -cli-rcspcct aud To have
complied with the direction to show his pass.
trusting tu subsequent action for rodrcs,. Col
mel McCmn -hDwrd by hi1 dcmonuor a. il ap-
pear, on the J.. ord, that lie has vet 90 learn at
i.a.t two thing before ho become. competent TO
.lnmmd % rc im'ut, ami thra' are; .clf-com-
raid, nBi rsTcrt lurWopor authority. The
pa. shown hv Colonel NlcCuun was Improper
| a. rIu, and |. Lieutenant Hunter wa, perfectly
right u drJly ng 10 recognise IL validity
| 1hs paper submit 7 Us Colonel VI Gum "a, hi,
defense i- In many respects, Irrelevant, AMI in
| others di.,rc1iiablc. Tho Court would have
| been entirely Justified in refusing To
receive il. Iio General commanding fully
approves the nnlius Of the Court which
Uhimctcrilc- the conduct Of Colonel Me
Gum ~ JrcIudiC.0l 10 good Urlcr and mill
tarv discipline, and desires to cNprcs, the hope
thai this instance will be- q sufficient warming 70
him anil all other officer, who may feel dis
posed 10 place homsclyes in opposition 10 the con-
stituied military authorities. The finding of the
Court may be regarded AZ quito lenclli bat the
General j. prevented from remaining the cLso
tu the Court for reconsideration, partly because
the time Ol many valuable officers would there
ny be- consumed, and partly uecau-o he is willing
~ attribute Colonel McCuUu. F, misconduct main
j.. fO tln feet of his being an inexperienced sol
der lhi, occasion is nvlipi ol 90 assure all
Icrruu- .u dis army, Of Whatever grade, that
d,-. ipiue and uup...it Io.I'., 70, authority viii
| 90, il hazards b. enforced. The General COM
maulin,, is happy to state thai the va majori-
~ u' tl army cNincrs the most ,lldi'rly and
uriu.i, feeling and ,h,t he IS proud TO COM
muui ,n uuhl a bOds Of mou. The exceptions
rc few i.d,al. Culunl NJ Gum vii resume
| Lis ,vori AMI his duties.
III. The general Count Martial d which
Brga'Jcr Gu-rl George M,tali 10 Pr ''dcnL
| dissolved,
D. command of