The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-08-24
The Niu.inoua EaIunteeFs

A letter from Washington TO the Fhiladel-
pala Press giyes long account of the recen I
mutiny ia the New York 18th, or Highland
Regiment. One cause Of the difficulty seems
to have bean that the men did not wish 10 ioin
the brigade CT Gen. Sickies, 10 which they
had been assigned, while it is also stated that
they claimed the right TO 20 at the expiration
OF three months service, which was denied
them. The regiment was drawn up into line
to hear the orders OF Gen. Mcclellan, name
ly, that the rirgleaders of the mutinY were
TO BE placed IN arrest, ard the regiment was
10 be ordered to fall in by company and march
10 the quarters assigned them in Virginia, and
If they refused 10 obey this order they were
to be fred upon. The writer proceeds
The scene during the reading was exceed
ingly impressive. The sun was Just going
down, and in the baxy, uncertain twilight The
features and forms of officers and men
could scarcely be distinguished. immediately
behind his aid WAS Gen Porter firm and self
possessed. Colonel Stevens was in front T
his OWE reEim I, endeayOring to quiet his "a
Their nervous horse. In the rear Of the ragU-
lars, and Z little distance apart, Gen. SIckles
sat careIeas!y on horseback, coolly smoking
cigar aud conversing with friend. A. one
tins during the reading murmur passed
through the line Of the mutineer., and when
that portion OF the order directing 10 Surrender
It's colorG VI rs read, private in one Of the rear
d" Let's keep the co!ors, boys - No response
was made by the remainder Of the regiment
Major Sykes al once rode mp the line to whore
the voice waa heard. 1t would have been more
than that soldiers life worth had he
been discovered at the moment, in pistol range
by any of the officers. " hen the reading was
concluded, voice cried ont, /" fire ~ and a
number OF spec ators in the rear of the infan-
try, sUppoSing the work Of death about to
commence, ran a little distance to escape the
balls
After n. orders had been read. General
Porter said 70 Colonel Stevens, point out
the leaders" A squad Of men were detailed
from the battalion to accompany the Colonel,
VINO want from company to company and
deSig mated the obnoxious members. They
We're marched TO the rear TO the number OF
forty or fifty, and placed under arrest. This
operation took .ome time, and 1T was dark
before the arrest WAS completed. The final
order was then given 10 wheel by company
nto column and march to the quarters in
Virginia. This was the order which they had
disobeyed in the morning, and which, il again
disobeysd, would have been followed by a fire
from the regular infantry. There seemed to
be moments delay, but the Tnuttnous yolun-
teers, evidently seeing that resistance was
useless, reluctantly Obeyed, and took up the
line Of march % their quarters. The ares ted
leaders were taken to the guard house, while
the remainder Of the regiment Waa escorted
hy the cavalry and the ba ttery.
The news of this disafsCtiOn has creat led a
deep feeling Of grief among the friends of the
7pth. II has bsen said that the in trigues of
some of its officers have caused the present
0uble, but Of this | know nothing. A strict
| in vestigation win be en tered int and some
| Of The riugIeader7 may be shot, as an example
| to this and other regiments.