The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-07-25
The X eokuk ssConstitution'' Riot
HEADQUARTERS, DISTRICT OF Iowa,

IlEADlUARIERS, DiSIRtCT OF IOWA,
DAVENPORT, Iowa, July Ia, 1868.
Genera Orders, No. 8.
[. A Commission of officers, convened at
Keokuk, Iowa, June Goth, 1863, Of which
Brigadier General Fitz Henry Warren,
volunteers, was President, by virtue Of
Special Order No. 2, Headquarters District
Iowa, have reported the following in the
case OF the riot on or about 9th February,
1858, and other disorders, alleged by Mr.
Thos. w. Clagget, of Keokuk, to have been
comrnittedby convalescent soldiers in Hos
pital, abetted thereto by officers of the
United States army, and volunteers.
The Commission of Officers assembled
under Special Order No. 2, Headquarters
Davenport, June 2lst, 1858, have attended
the duty assigned to them, and have the
honor TO report with accompanying evil
dence. The two specific branches of inqui-
ry were:
LIST. The facts connected with the destruc-
ton of the Printing Office of the Consti-
ution, on the 10th of February last, and
whether any of the U. S. officers had in
any manner aided or stimulated the at
tack or destruction. In the examination
of witnesses on this and other branches,
of the investigation, and testimony not
rigidly within the limit of legal proof
was admitted. The Commission were
anxious that there should be no imputa-
ton OF a technical rule Of evidence, which
should interfere with any disclosure ma
terial to the inquisition. The Hon. Thos.
w. C!agget, by the courtesy of the Court,
was allowed to question his witnesses,
acting as prosecution, and the Hon.
George A. McCrary appeared as counsel
for the oE,cers, sought TO be implicated.
It appears from the evidence, that body
Of soldiers, in part armed with revolvers,
and in number from 50 to roo, marched
down to the Office Of the Constitution, about
2 o'clock A. NJ, February 18th, in military
| order, and with none of the incidents OF
| a mob, except in the riotous destruction OF
| the property which followed. They placed
detail to guard the approaches of the
premises, while the remainder took pos
session of the office, laying hold of the
press, type and other material throwing
them out Of the window, and conveying
the heavier portion on drays to the river.
Lieut.. J. G. Ball, Military Commander OF
the Post, was present In the space OF about
twenty coy minutes, and by commanding
to desist from the work of demolition, en-
deavored to stay the destruction, but with
out avail. The Provost Guard, consisting
of from twelve to twenty men, were order
ed out and reported on the ground within
another twenty minutes; they were thrown
into line by Lieutenant Ball, who again
ordered the soldiers to retire to quarters,
and threatened to fire upon them, unless
the order was obeyed. The Guard WAS
brought to ready. but Lieutenant
Ball WAS warned that he was q dead man
| if he gave the order 10 fire. BY this time
| the work of destruction was nearly COM
plete, and the rioters then in good order
and quiet marched back to their quarters.
No further outrages we're perpetrated, and
the excitement passed off without any fur
Their breach of military discipline. 1t ia
clearly shown that the evaporation OF the
soldiers engaged, was great, and their
spirit and bearing determined. The Com
mission are unanimouss in the belief, that
| had Lieutenant Ball ordered his guard to
| fire. tho mere destruction OF property
would have been darkened into san-
culinary street brawl, with loss Of life
which cannot be computed, resolute and
desperate MS seemed to be the spirit OF those
directly engaged. OF the iact that none