The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-07-25

were subsequently arrested opinions NAV
differ as to whether Lieutenant Ball was
not guilty Of failing in duty. But of this
the Commission are emphatic in express
ing their belief that such arrests could
not nave been made with any probability
| OF punishment. It was under Che hurried
ana excited state Of feeling difficult mat
ter TO establish any identity of the parties
Implicated; and it appears in the evil
oence, that about the number engaged were
onder orders to join their several regi-
lments, and actually did leave the next day.
me opinion of the Commission is, there
lore, that Lieut.. Ball did all that could
nave been expected of young and mex
perienced officer, acting in sudden emer-
Sency and with no one with whom to adj
WISE or call to his assistance.
VI the second branch of inquiry, the
hrihS OF cannon on the 9th day of March,
uhder the excitement of the supposed cap
lure OF richmond, the outrages were much
more insignificant, but at the same time
equally reprehensible and uniustifiable.-
Inc carnage done was not serious, and it
was rather an outbreak of jubilapt eXhil-
efatlon, induced probably by some free
l!ndnigencies, common to hilarious and
joyful occasions. On this point there is but
one portion OF the evidence which i'm
tor, with hundreds of others. Two witness
es testify that Lieut.. Ball ordered the
soldiers, or rather consented that thew
should take down the fence to admit the
cannon into Judge Clagget's yard, but, ON
Icross-examination, they are not certain in
that belief; while witnesses for the defense
are positive in their declarations that he
gave no such order.
All OF the testimony shows, that the night
was one of great excitement, and the rules
OF military order and civil decorum gene
rally relaxed. While the Commission do
not approve OF the presence OF Lieut.. Ball
at the point indicated in the testimony,
they cannot, upon any evidence offered,
connect him in any manner, with advi-
sing, cooperating, or in any regard, being
accessory TO the actions of the parties who
manned the cannon or selected the place
where it was fired. The gun was the prop
erty OF the State and in charge of Col. Vial,
AID TO the Governor, who seems to have
mad and exercised full control over it.
me Commission would hold it further,
to be harsh justice to an officer who an
pears to have done his duty well, in gene
raj administration. and who umites in him
self the functions of Military Commandment,
|COmmlssary, and QuartermaSter respOn-
slble for strict discipline with the charge of
from to 1900 soldiers, and with no indie
pendent command, outside of the conya-
lescents of the Hospital.
The reputation of Lieut., Ball. and also
Surgeon Taylor, is unimpeached outside of
these transactions. and the Commission
are of the opinion that they have discharg-
ed their duties with fidelity and zeal, and
| they do not in the testimony discover any
matter OF censure against either of them,
which would in their judgment render any
further proceedings in the case demanded
by the good of the service. (Signed)
F'ITI HENRY WARREN,
Brig. Gen. y. 8. CaDulyy, P,est.
(SigneD GEO. p. NORRIS
Lieut.. and Recorder.