Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-07-26
From the Caledonian Extra.
Melancholy Occurrence Soldier Shot Az
Camp Baxter.

Camp Baxter.
Il is with sorrowful emotions that we
are compelled to announce painful oc-
currence at Camp Baxter on Saturday eve
ming the goth instant. John 7. Tirrell
of Pittsburgh, n. H sergeant in Com
pany I, Capt. Nelson, was shot dead by
the guard, acting under orders, in attempt
ing to quell riot.
The riotous demonstration was made
upon the suffers quarters, kept by Mr.
N. J. Pike, of st. Johnsbury-being a
room fitted up for the purpose in the north
end of what is known as the amphitheatre
on the Fair grounds Whether there was
any provocation for this riot, growing out
of the conduct of Mr. Pike towards the
troops, we do not now, with our present
information, undertake to decide, but we
are inclined to believe from all we can
learn, that the men in the camp had some
reason to camplain that he has been ac-
customed to charge exorbitantly for va
rious indispensable articles which the SOL
diers could not obtain elsewhere without
great inconvenience. At any rate such a
belief became prevalent among the SOL
diers, and had the proper course been TIA
ken by them to do away with the abuse,
if indeed it existed, the painful event
which happened might have been avoided
We are assured that had these complaints
been properly presented to the officers in
command, or been made known to the
Governor, an investigation would have
been promptly instituted and the abuse
corrected, by the expulsion of the sutler
from the camp. Gov, Fairbanks and Gen.
Davis especially feel panied that the mat
ter was not brought to their notice.
Wholly engaged as they have been with
matters of great and weighty Importance
connected with the outfit of the regiment,
they hardly knew who was acting as suit
Ter, leaving the matter, very poperly, en-
tirely to the control of the commander ;
and Lieut.. Col. Hyde assures us that
he had no knowledge at all reliable of the
existence of these complaints.
Coupled too with complaints of a sub
stantial character, perhaps, against the
sutler, was another which we are satisfied
had no foundation in fact. In order to
make the whole matter intelligent to our
readers, and to answer all possible inqui-
ries which may arise in regard to so grave
and melancholy an occurrence, We pur-
pose to state whatever details are connect
ed with the affair. In addition to the
ordinary ratiohs the soldiers in Camp
Baxter have been allowed sugar for their
coffee The sugar has been delivered by
the Quarter master to the various compa-
MES regularly since the order was made,
but last week complaints came back to
the Quartermaster that the men did not
get their sugar This led to an investi-
cation which resulted in the discovery,
as we are informed, that the cooks of the
various companies, or some of them made
use Of the sugar, or some portion of it, to
make lemonade which they sold out to
the soldiers at two cents glass, while
Pike sold it at three cents. Boxes of ci-
gars, pies by the dozen, &C., were pur-
chased by some of the soldiers and ped
died by them about the camp, to the neg
lect of duty, tending to decentralization.
These facts coming to the knowledge Of
the commandant, an order was promul-
gated to the regiment on Friday at dress
parade, prohibiting the traffic in lemonade,
cigars, and groceries generally, by the
soldiers, Lieut. COL Hyde being in ignor-
ance of the real cause which had led the
troops into such a course
This order of Lieut.. Col. Hyde created
much excitement among the men, Many
of them attributed its origin, perhaps
naturally enough, to Mr.. Pike, who really
had no knowledge that such an order was
to be issued. Acting under the impulses
excited by such belief on Friday night,
after the PRONUNCIATION of this order, the
suffers building was broken iuto, and
some fifteen or twenty dollars worth Of
provisions taken by the men. AS near
as we can learn thefts had been committed