The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-06-30
Mutinous SpiritIameng the Co..
cred Troops at Fortress
Monroe.
Four Companies of Cavalry Mutiny
They Load their Arms ana FfoP~o
for a ght...HOW tney "o
Finally Disarmed.

FoRrREss MONROE, June Is.
mu.inous spirit has been manifest among
several of the bripades of the 10Th corps SINCE
the Inauguration of the Texan expeoiuon anu
there has been an outbreak or TWO, Dut as Tue
cases were individual, and there Delng no eVr
dence of preconcerted action, we abstained
from Giving publicity to exceptional cases, not
wishing to furnish food for the prejudice al;
raadv existing for the employment of cOl0red
men as soldiers. The COlored Cavalry Brig
AIDE, consisting of thu First, Second and Fifth
United States Colored Cavalry, made threats at
Texas :" THAT the government had no right to
send them there" sc. No attention was paid
to these mutterings by the officers, who re-
garded them as the grumblings peculiar to the
African race.
To better fit them for their new field of ope-
rations, the arms of the cavalry brigade were
ordered to be exchanged at City Point. They
were there furnished with Shapes breech-
loading carbines, new accoutrements, new sa-
bres, sabre BELTS &c.
The first batch of cavalry, four companies
of the First Colored Cavalry, were disembarked
Wilmon Whildin, of Philadelphia. They were
brought to Hampton Roads and transferred to
the steamer Meteor, full-rigged ocean-going
steamship.
Arriving in Hampton Roads, the Whildin
was ordered alongside of the Meteor to transfer
her complement of men on board the larger
vessel, the Meteor being draught too deep to
go up the James River. On making fast to
the Meteor some of the soldiers told their off.
GERS "They would not 60 on board Of her."
"They would not 60 on board of any ocean
steamer, as the government had not the right
to send them to Texas" The officers insisted
that they should 60 on board the Meteor, and
succeeded in transferring three companies to
the larger ship. The fourth company refused
to obey orders, and loaded their carbines,
capped them, and those who had no ammuni.
ton in their cartridge boxes drew their sabres.
Those on the Meteor now became riotous.
The officers threw off the mooring which held
them to the Meteor, and with the worst COM
pany remaining On the Whildin, they steamed
for the wharf.
Arriving at the Baltimore wharf, an officer
was dispatched to acquaint Col. Joseph Rob-
erts with the state of affairs, and asking assis.
lance to bring the men to their duty. Colo
mel Roberts at once sent Maj. Van Schelling,
with companies and D, of the Third Penn
Van Schelling marched his small command on
board the Whildin and proceeded to the Me.
teor There was on board the Whildin at the
same time the most insubordinate company,
the one which had refused to embark on the
Meteor. On nearing the latter ship the color
ed mutineers on board threatened to fire on
Major Van Schillings men if he interfered with
the men on the Meteor. The Major was anx.
ious to quell the mutiny without shedding
blood. He decided on little strategy. He
ordered the Whilden back to the wharf, land
ed portion of his men and formed them
across the wharf with muskets loaded and bay
Onets fixed.
The mutineers were then taken from the
boats by twos and threes and made to lay their
arms down and proceed up the wharf. They
were marched in rear of the fort and placed
under guard. The Whilden then proceeded
again to the Meteor and brought off portion
of the men on board. On reaching the wharf
these had been disarmed as their predecessors
had been. The Whildin continued her trips
between the wharf and the Meteor till all the
mutinous soldiers had been landed and depriv-
ed of their arms. Then they were taken back
to the large ship without arms or equipments.
Some of the more determined among the mu-
tineers endeayored to resist the disarming.
Lay down your arms or be shot," was the
alternative presented to them, and carbines
and sabres were per force, deposited on the
wharf.
This morning the sabres and carbines of the
mutinous troops still remain piled up on the
lower end OF Baltimore wharf. Most Of the
carbines are loaded and capped, and there is no
ders have been sent to City Point to issue no
more arms to the colored cavalry brigade.
At nine o'clock the light draught propeller
Delaware came to the wharf The Delaware
came down from City Point last night, with
four companies of the First United States Col.
ored Cavalry. These men were fully armed
and equipped.
They were formed in line single file, and one by
one stepped forward and laid down their arms.
They deeply felt their disgrace; every sable
face was distorted with pain as they unbuckled
their accoutrements and laid down carbine and
sabre. Some ground their teeth in silent NOR.
tiication, and tears rolled down the cheeks of
others as they stepped in front of their fellows
to lay down the honorable badges Of their pro.
fession. Company by company they were
marched down the beach, and deprived of their
arms.
Last night the scene is described by the Off
GERS on board to have been the height of mutt
ny, the soldiers threatening to shoot their off,
GERS if they were taken any farther south. An
armed party ranged themselves about the
windlass, and swOre to shoot the men who
would attempt to weigh the anchor. The
more daring among them advocated the i'm.
prisonment of their officers, and taking charge
of the ship themselves. These men were all
perfectly sober, and allege no reason for their
sudden mutiny but that they do not want to
60 to Texas.
At 8 o'clock to-day the disarmed men were
taken out to the Meteor and placed with the
mutineers of last night. This outbreak will
delay the sailing of the second portion of the
expedition. If no further outbreaks occur. eff
forts will be made to get off the remainder of
the 25th corps to-day.