The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-06-28
lCor. of the Philadelphia Inquirer.]
Highly Emportant--Mutiny Among
the COl0red TrOOps--They do not
4 Want to go TO Texas.
FoRrREss MONROE, June II.

FORTRESS MONROE, June IL.
A mutinous spirit has been manifested
among several of the brigades of the 10Th
Corps since the inauguration of the Tex
as expedition, and there has been an out
tbreak or two, but as the cases were indi-
vidual, and there being no evidence OF
giving publicity to exceptional cases, not
wishing to furnish food for the prejudice
already existing against the employment
of colored men as soldiers. The Colored
Cavalry Brigade, consisting of the 1st,2
and 9Th United States Colored Cavalry,
made threats at City Point that they wo'd
not be ''sent to Texas" ''that the Govern
ment had no right to send them there"
&c. No attention was paid to the mutter-
ing by the officers, who regarded them as
the grumblings peculiar to the African
race.
| To better it them for their new field
of operations, the arms of the cavalry
brigade were ordered to be exchanged at
! City Point. They were there furnished
with new Sharpe's breech loading carbines,
new accoutrements, new sabers, saber
! belts, &c.
The first batch of cavalry, four compa-
nies of the First Colored Cavalry, were
disemb barked at City Point yesterday, on
the propeller Wilmen Whildin, of Phil.
adelphia. They were brought to Hamp-
ton Roads and transferred to the steamer
Meteor.
The Meteor is full-rigged ocean going
steamship, staunch, roomy, and in every
respect seaworthy. To make everything
comfortable for the soldiers, as soon as
they came on board, carpenters were kept
at work erecting berths on the Meteor last
Sunday.
Arriving in Hampton Roads, the Will
din was ordered alongside of the Meteor,
to transfer her competent of men on
board the larger vessel, the Meteor being
of draught too deep to go up the James
River, hence the Whildin acted in capac-
ity of lighter. On making fast to the
Meteor, some of the soldiers told their
officers s.they would not so on board of
her." "They would not go on board of
any ocean steamer, as the Government had
net 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,-
Neither threat nor entreaty prevailed with
them. They unslung their carbines, cap
ped them, and those that had no ammu7
nition in their cartridge-boxes drew sa-
bers. Those on the Meteor now became
riotous. The officers threw off the moor
ing which held them to the Meteor, and
with the worst company remaining on the
3. Whildin, they steamed for the wharf.
4 Arriving at the Baltimore wharf, an
officer was dispatched to acquaint Colonel
Roberts with the state of affairs, and ask
ing assistance to bring the men to their
duty. Col Roberts at once sent Major
Van Schelling, with companies G and d
of the Sd Pennsylvania artillery, to quell
the mutiny. Major Van Schelling march
ed his small command on board the Will
din, and proceeded to the Meteor.
/ There was on board the Whildin, ,at the
same time, the most insubordinate compa-
ny, the one which had refused to embark
on the Meteor. On nearing the latter
4 ship the colored mutineers On board
threatened to fire on Major Van Schel-
ling's men, if he interfered with the men
on the Meteor. The Major was anxious
! to quell the mutiny without shedding
|, blood. He decided on a little strategy
He ordered the Whildin back to the wharf
landed portion of the men and formed
them acress the wharf, with muskets load
ed and bayonets fixed. The mutineers
were then taken from the boatby two and
three, 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 Whildin then pro
ceeded again to the Meteor and brough
off portion of the men on board. Or
: reaching the wharf these were disarmeC
as their predecessors had been. The
Whildin continued her trips between the
I. wharf and the Meteor till all the mutin
Gus soldiers had been landed and depriv
e ed of their arms. Then they were taker
0 back to the large ship,without their arm
or equipments. Some of the more deter
\ miued among the mutineers endeavoreC
5 to resist the disarming. ''Lay down you
y aims or be shot," was the alternative pre-
, sented to them, and carbines and saber
s were, per force, deposited on the wharf.
: This morning the sabers and carbines o
S the mutinous troops still remain piled oil
y the lower end of Baltimore wharf. Mos
of the -carbipes are loaded and capped AN,
j, there is no doubt but that b!oodshed wa
d imminent. Orders have been sent to Cit,
y Point to issue no more arms to the cele
o brated colored cavalry brigade. TIL
g wharf is thronged with negroes frou
S Hampton and Slabtown, who have com
! to see the trouble. of their favorite sol
/, diers. These colored visitors consist main
II ly of females, who seem to have quite a
: much curiosity as their white sisters
It They sympathize with the colored soldier
who are strolling about the wharf, an
glance deprecating looks at the piles c
n carbines and sabers of which the mutin
If eers were deprived last night. Nearly a
II of these females bear baskets on thei
> arms, in which they have material syn
e pathy in the shape of pies and cakes
a which the soldiers devour with much az
10 parent gusto.
IS At 8 clock the light draught prope
IF ler Delaware came to the wharf. Th
" Delaware came down from City Point la.
T. night; with four companies of the Fir