The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-07-22


that none were subsequently arrested
opinions may differ Is to whe Their Lieut.
Ball was not guilty of failing in duty
But OF this the Commission are emphatic
In expressing their belief that such arrests
could not have been mado with iny prob.
ability of punishment. 1t was under the
hurried and excited state of feeling, a diff.
ticult matter to establish any identity OF
the parties implicated and il appears in
the evidence, that about the number en-.
gagged were under orders to Join their
several regiments, and actually did leave
the next day, The opinion Of the Com.
mission is therefore. that Lieut.. Ball did
oil that could have been expected of q
young and inexperienced officer, acting
IN sudden emergency and with no one
with whom to advise or call to his assis-
lance.
OF the second branch OF inquiry, the
firing of cannon on the 9th day of March,
under the excitement of the supposed ca D.
ture of Richmond, the outrages we're
much more significant, but at the same
time equally reprehensible and xnjustifa-
Bile. The damage done was not serious,
and 1t was rather au outbreak Of iubilant
exclamation, induced probably by some
Free indaigenees, common to hiisrous and
joyful occasions. On this point there il
but one portion of the evidence which
duplicates Lieut.. Ball, beyond being a
spectator, with hundreds of Others. Two
witnesses testify that Lieut.. Ball ordered
the soldiers, or rather consented that they
should lake down the fence to admit the
cannon into Judge Clagett's yard, but, on
cross examination, they are not certain in
that belief; while witnesses for the de-
fence 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 deco.
rum generally relaxed. While the Com
mission 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
advising. cooperating. or in any regard,
being accessory to the actions OF the par
ties who manned the cannon, or selected
the place where it was fired. The run
was the property of the State, and in
charge of Col. Wall. Aid to the Governor,
who seems to have had and exercised full
control over it.
The CemmissieH would hold it further.
TO be harsh justice to an officer who ap-
pears to have done his duty we'll, in gen
sral administration, and who unites in
himself the functions of Military Com
nandant. Commissary, and Quartermas-
ter, responsible for strict 6scipline with
he charge of from to 1900 soldiers,
md with no independent command, out
ide of the convslessents of the hospitaI.
The reputation Of Lieut. Ball, and also
surgeon Taylor, is unimpeached outside
u these transactions, and the Commission
ire OF the opinion that they have dischar-
yed their duties with fidelity and zeal.
md they do not in the testimony discoy-
n any matter Of censure against either of
hem, which would in their Judgment
'ender any further proceedings in the
'ase demanded by the good Of the SER
nee.
[Signed,1 FITz HENRY WARREN,
Brig Gen. U. S. Cavalry, Pres't.
lsigned, GEO. p. NORRIS,
1t and Recorder.
III. The Commanding General of the
District concurs in the opinion of the
'ficers of the Military Commission, and
discharges Lieut.. G. ]. Ball, Military t
1ommandant of the Post of Keokuk. and |
surgeon nj. K Taylor, from any and all
'ensurs of impu;ation laid agains, them,
n the sworn statements of one Thos. w.
Jlagstt, on which this investigation was
rdered.
III. The General Commanding the
district 10 constrained to condemn. in
trong terms, the violence and lavless.
Tess OF the soldiers concerned in the riot
I the 18th February, and the subsequent
rave military disorder by the GONZALES
ents in the hospital at Keokuk. In flu.
ure, such breaches of military discipline
nil be punished in the most exemplary
nd prompt manner, with the extreme
enalty of the military and civil law.
~. An appeal is made to all good
nd true citizens of Iowa, to discourage
lch license of newspapers, a. ID calcu-
ted to infame the resentments and pas
ons of wounded and suffering soldiers.
his class of our most loyal citizens, main.
on fields that have inspired them with
aired to traitors and sympathizers with
reason, may net be expected to hear with
atience the Government and its army
and libelled by the aiders
nd absttors of rebellion. without ex-
mple in its proportions, and unparalleled !
! its atrocity.
V. The Commission of Military Off
ers, of which Gen. Warren 10 President
hereby dissolved,
BY order of Brig. Gen. B. s. RosxRrs,
Jos. NcC. BELL,
Capt. and A. A. G., u. s. A.
AN lNcIDENT.--On Saturday last, when