The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-08-26
0Em9ntel4i1lK1unns
MORNING, AUGUST eG,

SATURDAY. moRNTNG, AUGTsT e.
SIXTH W. va, CAvAIRY.-Adjutanti
General Peirpoint has just returned
from Leavenworfh City, where, by
order Of Gov. Borelnan, he had went to
investigate the circumstances connect
edwith the mutiny and arrest of por-
ton of the Sixth w. Va. Cavalry. He
left Wheeling on the 9Th of the present
month, and arrived at LeaYenworth on
the 18th, and proceeded at once 10 con-
fer with the commander and other Off
GERS of the department, also with those
officers of the regiment still remaining
ut L.eayenworth. Among these was
Col. Fleming. From these parties he
obtained all the facts connected with
the affair. He then visited the prisonl
ems, who were confined in the jail which
is used ms military prison. 1t was a
stone building with grated windows
and doors. The men to the number of
one hundred and ninety, were confined
Fo small rooms on the first floor.
unring the first few days of their con-
finement they were restricted to bread
and water, but eventually were al
lowed regular rations.
The cause OF their arrest was their re-
fusal to cross the plains, in obedience
to orders issued by the commander of
the department. On the 18th of July
Colonel Fleming received an order to
march on the 10Th with his regiment for
Fort Kearney. The necessary orders
were issued, and on the morning of the
fifteenth tho bugle sounded the COM
mand to boot and saddle. About one
hundred and fifty men of the regiment
responded and fell into line; the bal
ance remained in their tents without
stirring. Their officers rode up and
ordered them to mount. They quietly
replied, eve do not intend to cross the
plains" The officers exerted them
selves to induce these men to obey.
They plead and threatened, but all APP
peals were in vain! The facts were re-
ported to General Tbbitts, who ut once
visited the camp, and addressed the
men, urging to them yield and obey the
orders of their officers. The only re-
Spouse was, General, we have resolved
not to cross the plains.H laa8
They were threatened with force, but
all to no purpose. Asbattery was put
imposition and the men, 1t is said, were
orderedto fire, butrefused. There were
two regiments of infantry, but they
were not considered reliable. The gar
risOn in the fort was small, and it look
ed as though the rebellious men were
not likelyto be subdued or coerced into
obedience. They. were armed with
Spencer rifles, and II disposed to resist
would probably have been more than
a match for any force then present.
Their conduct In all other respects, save
that of obedience to the order to march,
Is represented as unexeeptipnable; they
were quiet, and did not indulge in any
riotous demonstrations. The order to
turn over their horses and equipments
was instantly Obeyed, and the proceed
'ings conducted in as orderly. a manner
az though they weIv loot.,s, -sl.,lstsretll
out of service. When ordered to turn
over their arms they made some obiec-
tons, unless they could receive assur-
anee that they would not be imprison-
ed. Some such assurance was given,
and they atonce turned over their arms.
saying, "Now we are at your mercy.
You can do us you please with u.s."
They were at once arrested and con-
fined, as we have already stated. The
commanding officer of the regiment,
and the commanding officer of each
companywere retained at Fort Leaven-
worth.
The one hundred and flfty men who
did not participate in the mutiny were
sent, under command of Major Squiers,
to Fort Kearney, where they stiII re-
main. On the 10th of August all the
officers retained at Leavenworth were
put in arrest, except Colonel Fleming.
Three of the men haYe been tried by
court-martial, viz: John c. Nuss, of
Ohio county (resides in Fulton), seGt.
VIM. Riggs, of Harrison county, and
Jerome Brooks, OF Allegheny county,
Pa. These men were sentenced to be
shot, but the death sentence had been
commuted to imprisonment and hard
labor. eEhere has been no deaths in
the regiment since they arrived Mt
LeavenwOrth. Major Day, who was
sick Is now convnlescent. This was
about Che icohditib1i Of things which
Gen. PeirpOint found existing ut the
time OF his arrival.
The prisoners had henrd of his arri-
val in the city, and were overjoyed at
the prospect of meeting a friend direct
from their State, and upon whom they
felt they could rely for all the aid he
could possibly render them. The in
terview between him and these men
was very affecting one. Many of
them shed tears, and the General saws
that 1t rs impossible for him TO describe
his own feelings when he witnessed
the manifestations of joy and hope with