The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-07-30

"I
Ben Butler made q speech on the 4th
July in which he had something 70
~ about rebel murder pens for pris
He Vas obsivious Of the fact
that he had one himself when he had
charge of the Army Of the James
In the testimony given by General
Grant. on the nth Of February, be
fore the Congressional COMMITTEES on
the Conduct Of the War, We find the
following:
20. Did you know anything about
Chaplain Hudson"
"A. l had that case investigated, pot
I cannot give the exact result Of 2
vestiRation. The man was confined fol
fifty odd days in what is called the bull
De1. near General Buffers headquar-
fers. I underssand-put IN with desert
ers and ali sorts Of prisoners. The IN
vestieation shows that be was there
that length Of time without charges
and without trial, though during a
Vood mart Of the time he was there
| General Butler had 3 court-martial sit
ting right st his headquarters, and
/ could have tried him.
HBy the Chairman.
40. How long ago was thatY
"a. He was confined there during
the fall, in the months of September,
October and November. He was re-
leased walls Gen. Butler was in New
York City, ct the time of the cleo
ton de a released on the 9TH Of
November, ] think
80 When did the case come to
your knowledge
"a. | received 8 letter from 8 lady
here in this city telling me about the
case. Immediately ordered Chaplain
Hudson to report 10 me, and then
had the case investigated. The mai
had been all this time in confinement
without nay knoWedge.
II 40. Without any charges z
"A. Never had any charges preferreC
against him until after Gen Butler wa
relieved.
40. What was alleged against him2
, "a. Absence without leave, / believe
! and there may be other charges Al
the papers in the case are now in thi
! citv' No other officer has q right t
copfine a commissioned officer in
, prison or guard-house except for mJ
Is tipv. or for some ofense where it woul
not be safe to trust the man ct larg,
A commissioned officer, for ordinar
/ breaches Of military discipline, is pu
, under arrest This was only q case
? that sort for which he should not hay
been confined at all, except in his ow
tent, under arrest When this cas-
d came TO my knowledge / immediateI
] ordered an examination made OF q
the prisoners about Norfolk, Fortre
Monroe and Portsmouth, TO see if thel
we're any more such cases.
70 sBy Mr. 0deli:
o "a What was the result of your g
b animation z
= "a. The result was to find a gre
many perscas in prison without charg'
, Some had been there for 8 great leng
e of time.
u. % In the bullpen9
ms "a 'Bull-pen is merely the mar
given by the men themselves to
. Guard.house or prison. When prisone
1d are first brought in, they are put the
IT until they can be sent on 70 ON
at prisons or guard-houses, or can be trl
and disposed Of 1t is q place in char
of the Provost Guard"
90 Were the lei placed there
de order Of Geu. ButlerY'
In "A. They were placed there by
Provost Marshal and officers. In ma
instances there was nothing to show
IN whom they were put there. have I
els only ordered an examination to
of made of all the prisoners there, bn
&c intend sending inspectors to make
examination of prisons in all other {
0" partments, with authority to correct
icy such abuses thst they may lind
q By the chairman:
AT 90 lam glad of that. There
;. too many cases Of that kind, not o.
ms in the army down there, but here a
on elsewhere"
nd "a 1t may be so without my kat
"A ing it. or Y being able { correc
o~nsirelvN