The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-07-26
FROM NORFOLK GRAVE CHARGES
AGAINST YA N X EE OFFICERS -
THEIR TRIAL BY COURT MARTIAL
--CiYIEiAN3 SENTENCED FOR "DlE-

FROM NORFOLK - GRAVE CHARGES
AGAINST YAM kEE OFFICERS
THEIR TRIAL. BY COURT MARTIAL
--CiVIEiAN5 SEN FENCED FOR "DlG-
LOYALTY &C.
We have received copy Of the Nor-
folk Ne,o Regime, the Yankee official
journal of the department OF Virginia
and North Carolina"-:n other words,
the organ and pet newspaper of Beast
Batter. A considerable portion of its
space is devoted To the publication of
proceedings of Courts Martial and Mill
tary Commissions, in which grave charges
are alleged against officers in the Federal
army:
The first on the list is the case Of Lieut.
Matthew Keck, Adjutant of the lSSth Penn.
| sylyana volunteers. The first charge against
| him was violation of the SEA Article of
| War, in that he did, on or about the 10th
! day of May, at or near Dfewry's Bluif, while
| with his regiment in front OF The enemy
shamefuliy abandon his post at the first iire,
| and run back to the entertainments, dis
| tance OF nine miies. more or less. 1t is also
alleged that his cowardice was aggravated in
| character by his attempt to spread consfer-
| nation wherever he went, and that he was
| guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer
and a gentleman. The Conrt Martial SEN
tence ed him TO be drnmmed out OF camp
With the piacard coward on his back in
staring Letters, he was placed between two
flies of sOldiers, the first having arms re-
| versed as at funeral, and the second in
scharge bayonet" style. The points OF The
| weapons being tnt close to The cuipfii'n per
son. In this order the miserable inau was
paraded through the camp. preceded hS
drummers and iiirrs playing the R"pde'a Z
| March.
The next cases in order are those Of Cap
WiiliaIS Badger and Capt David Q Burleigh
officers OF New Hampshire regiments. who
were charged with cowardice, mis- sbehayiol
before the enemy, ami various other mil,
tary offences. The sentence of the conrt
was that they be "cashiered," which wa!
duly carried into effect. The same paper
contains large number of death sentences
passed on private soldiers for desertion.
\ Charles Leweliyn aut Peter G Mall, citi-
zens Of Norfolk, were charged with char
boring, comforting, aud concealing person.
serving in the rebel armies, acting and lurk
ing as spies within the lines OF the Unite'
States army" The former was sentence
: to confluence at hard labor for the pero
OF six months, ana the latter for the perio
of two years.
William II II Hodges, citizen, wac charge
= with embezztement, ana fraudulent, Iii.
J. honest, and contumacious conduct, to th
+ prejndicaof good order in the department.
/: He was Cashier Of the Merchants and Me
chanics' Savings Bank OF Portsmouth, an
his "traul," according to the speciIe Atiol
consisted in his refusal to give any accom-
. OF the property OF the corporation entrnste
to his care to a commission appointed
examine into the condition of the affIirs
e General Of the d Department., who doubles
wanted to appropriate the funds to his ow
= USE The court sentenced him to con6n
=. ment, at hard labor, for the period OF tw
years. Mr. Hodges is son OF Gen Hodge
Of revolutionary fame, and brother OF G
- James Hodges, who lost his life in Il
Y Confederate service.
s j. F., alias William j Williamson, IL
4 William j Finn, citizen, for treasonab
aud disloyal conduct. giving intelligence
the enemy, and acting and lurking as sp
Was sentenced to confinement. at hard Il
Dor, during the war.
John IL Lester, citizen, who for some tin
previous to the war was engaged in Il
70 manufacture Of sewing machines In RE
" mond, was charged with manufacture
arms for the enemies of the United State
h | giving information and endeayoring to gi
:. able aud disloyal conduct. Tee Court SCI
fenced him 'to be confined ct hard iaht
with ball and chain, at such place as &
!, comm. .nding General shall direct, for &
period Of ten years, aud to forfeit all pr
It perty 10 the hands OF CIptsin Cassels, Pr
:. vost Marshal, to the Goyernmant of Z
United States"
These barbar0us sentences are now doul
less being carried into execution.
"a Bat the hardest case OF all is that OF Hen
10 Sack, civilian, resident in the "so -ealie
,g Confederate States, who was charged WI
al acting and iurkisg as epy, aud tFansgre
Id eion Of the laws and custanis OF war.
d Judging from the specifications, the exte
l. OF his offence was actirg in the capacity
le mail carrier between the "rebeie" and pc
he sons living within the ilnes Of the Unit
I'd Htaies army, and to this he pleaded IN
., entity" yet the conrt very summarily sc
D. fenced him 90 be hanged by the neck nn
In he 10 dead, J" At sneh time and place as {
10 commanding General may direct. The
1T proceedings, coupled with their consta
., violation Of the rules Of civilized warfare