, 1862-08-08
THE TRIAL OF COLONEL J. B.
TURCHlN.
Incidents aid Organization Of tho
CeIri-tfiartial
EiSHCBLE ARD S0LDiERLY DEfEK3E.
Rebels Admitted to Testify Against q
Federal Officer.
Be- CTiES OF TIE DON C4BLOS BUELL.
TACTICS,

CAMP TAILOR, HrSTsT1LLE, Ala, July 80.
As wrote to you briefly, the trial Of Col
(noW gcneraD j. B. Turchfn was closed yes
terday, and the members Of the court-nartial
retired to deliberate upon their verdict.
The members Of the court are Brigadfer
General Garfield, Ohio, commanding the 10th
brigade. president; Col. {noW. .generaD Am
men, Mth Ohio, and commanding 10th brig
ade; Col Beatty, Sd Ohio Col. Jones, I'D
Indiana; Co. ssdgwick, "a Kentucky; Col.
tucky. Capt. Swayne, United States in
fartry, is attached to the court as judge adyo-
cate.
The composition of the Court is somewhat
remarkable, three members {includlng the
president) being from Ohio, three from Ken
the number Of regiments which each State
has in the st army Of the Ohio,'' but the state
ment has been made that the number Of Ken
1ncky members in this court-martial is largely
difproport tionate; that in a matter Of such
general interest, all the States having
been represented; that nearly one-half the
members hare been given to Kentucky, while
Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Pennsylvania,
etc, haEe been entirely ignored; that num-
bers OF Kentucky officers are well. known ad-
gocates Of the 'tconstisutionap' rights Of trait
ors. That some Of them have declared that ifthe
government adopts vigorous war policy they
will fight upon the other side, and various
matters Of this kind. These statements,
some OF them obviously true, while others are
probably false, are giving rise to much unfa-
Vorab}e comment upon the supposition Of the
court, and upon the Influences which will
control it in making up its decision. For
my own part, I have no fears! lknoI + that
the Ohio members will be governed only BY q
sense Of justice and regard for the common
cause; and believe the same OF the others.
The bearing Of the accused officer, through
out the whole proceeding, has been manly.
soldier-1ike and dignifed, eliciting the warm
admiration Of all that have looked inside the
court room. he has magnificent physical
build, bold and intellectual features, and the
patience, leaning his head upon his hand, ne
would sit listening, an hour at time, while
some malignant traitor Was pouring forth his
malice, and the judge advoca'e was taking it
down with as minute parttcularity Us If it
high. When The rebels spite WAS exhausted,
an opportunity was given Colonel
| (Generai] Tnrch5n to CROSS examine, he
wopId quietly raise his head, look the witness
in the face and ask, :. Are soa loyal man p
1ras diso77opcd; and II the precedent Is to bs
followed, every Union officer must understand
t that, hereafter, he must do nothing to Offend
| rebels and traitors; because, wheuever they
see fit to charge him With foiuriug them toe
severely, their erideace aoW be tksn to slls
tain The charge. He himself will not be allow
to raise the question Of their dis}oyslty! The
| enemies of the government will be the judges
as to how much harm shall be Inflicted upo1
| them by government oficersi And the OF
ces will At any time be liable to azraignmeo'
before court martial if they exceed tht
bounds set for them by their rebel masters
snch are the logical consequences to which
this singular decision leads.
Col. Tu1chln had generally no other ques
TORS to ask the prosecuting witnesses tha.
| fh< NM 7 haze ~
disa]lowed in each case, he pou1d compose
| himself to listen to the next dreary mess o
distorted truth, of representation, of1enon
and of lies.
It is something of which he may feel proud
that perhaps the most earnest, nnconditiona
Union man in all Northern Alabama, was til
principal witness for the defense.
Col. Gazsay's pies for tho pefeadant wa
made after Col. Turchin had delivered an ez
| p1auatory abatement of the facts in the case
The points made by Col Gazlay were mainl
these: That no testimony had been adduce
showing Col Turchin's consent to, or know
edge Of, the alleged outrages; that Col. Tal
chin .was engaged in the discharge Of sue
. ! pEessinglY important and imperative duty 8
rndered it impossible for him to know Of til
.. duty In the premises, appointing, early IN tn
dsy upon which Athens was occupied by hi
troops, provost marshal to keep order in th
town; thst General Order No. 81, from d
vision headquarters, threw the immediate II
Eponsibi>ity for the good order Of the troor
upon CONF any officers; that no iphsbitant
Athens laid any complaint before Col. Turchi
; Of mistreatment, either in person or property
, that the orders of Gen. Mitchell released Co
Turchin from any responsibility with resa,
to Eorees prtssed into the service, and n
, | groes protected by the brigade; that the ter
: "peaceable citizens'' in General Order No.
designating the class of persons who are NJ
! | to be molested, cannot reasonably be held
; include those who are in rebellion against tt
= government Of the United States, and ha'
i difaSowed It's anthorits; that the testtnos
:, Of eontumacious rebels ehould be allowed I
credit when offered agaiust loyal officers
> me Union army; thai Col Turchin, aft
hearing Of the outrages, arrested the perr
n 1facosa Tes = ana sent them to Huntsville.
ans nssa Gauges g = against The Colonel Genera
y y fansry, Actirg Inspector General.'' -
~ COL. TuRcH1n's STATEMENT.
Ut The statement OF the accused occuni
3e | abont an hour and halt In delivery q,
commanded, from the first sentence to t
to last, tne earnest attention Of every iudiyidt
1p MN N me eonIt room. The speakers soice =
be tecny cool, exhibiting not. the slight
trace OF passion or excitement. Some p
p saees N the address were worthy Of I
"a He commenced with lucid and csre
1s"t%tA<s - AoE Et@146 '#40Gl toQk pl
abont the 1st Of Msy, upon the right Vi
Of the third division. Beginning With
assault Of the rebel cavalry upon the Il
sn- Ohio, then At Athens, and closi6g with
1T occupation Of the place by, nearly the wh
m Of The eighth brigade. Thai, portion Of
w address alone could only have been written
nd N ahle end experienced soldier, and she,
lon how completely Col Tarchin understood
zes wcsk aseigned him.. md hoy yell he exeeu
~ thess1ne. He the detsfled Ills masterTg
If rargEutent for sAh.yds +euee,of Athena agai
ger superior force IL the .tnem1: which he
every reazon to believe would assaA h