New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-13
FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS,
Evidence Of Gen. Sharpe
TEE PRISONERS DEFENsu
y u GMENT NDE II T. D.
wAsHvGroy. Friday. May i2. 1865.

SGHarrio Member Of Congress from Maryland charged
Win violating the adth article Of war. IN hrporine
Rebel soldiers, resumed proceedings 10 day
Gen. SHARPE was sworn n witness, and In reply u
the questions IL the Jadge Advocate ana the counsel
or the accused stated that be designated by Gen
Grant TO receive the dnIca'c rolls Of LEES army,
which hc did aud had lta him the rolls of the men re-
ported for parole Of Corses brigade Picketts division
which The I'D virginia Regiment belonged lie ala
I not find the OF either Sergeant Chapman or
Private Reed the rolls ard from the evidence OF
those papers D. coud cay whether the two men re-
ferred TO parcled not lie had other evidence
flowover. which be believed would show that Chapman
nvas paroled.
The latter statement was jected 10 being intro
I ced as evidence by the counsel FOR the accused.
The wtne :. resulBng, said the rolls furnished the
names ~ only 200 men Of COrses Brigade ~ OF whom
were Of the 32d Regiment. representing Companies A,
r., =. 7. II. and X. Company X to which Chapman
and Read pro assod TO belong had only the names Of
corporal aud NO priytes The rolls were furnished
the commanding officers Of Lees army; but many Of
the commands disncgrated to render 1t 'n-
possible to specify the different commands; as for in
staucc the corps Of Cen Early Mt the time OF s
render cQr,mandedby Northumberland. An at
temp had also bcen made about that time to rcorgan-
I've Lees army, and hs had produced 40 much confu
SION tbat many Of the officer. { not know 70 what
command they belonged. A. r. Hills corps had been
merged into other commands, and at the tine Of the
surrender did not exist Besides Just previous to tic
surender large number Of men had left Lees army
for various sons, 10 procure food others 20
cape; and az the terms were sgred these men came
back IN laTgsIBsbs 20 avail themselves OF the liberal
terms offered. On returning they would find that their
own particular commands had left Apromattox Court
House Of the oops were also abandoned bytheir
general officers almost Immediately after the surrender
who eft Their 70 shift for themselves, thereby com
pene u 70 adopt the principle Of permitting men to
he taken mp hY any commanding officer and parolcd
Gen. Lees Provost Msrsha MAJ. Brtfcrd, look up al
grea, many and Gen. fi'z lee. upon coming In, de-
tailed lis A. slant AdjutrntGenera Capt Core, with
parole them Before TIA. in very many instances,
when bad reported 70 be paroed stating that they
had officer they were sent back to the lines OF the
enemy with note l.hoflziug any commanding officer
Lees army were rot paroled Ii AppomattoI Court
House, but at Iyuchburg srd aluhg tne south,
side Railroad. The original papers were ngnea
ny the ,onyen'Jn on lo'h SIDES. ana lue,u. , .hs
Amy of l~i-a on the 81 at lie N nde these state
Incnb a, rhow that a mans nnne reed not necessarily
be ouud on the ros q hisresment brigade or DIVISION
~ nsroed The idea vas taat II alierward a MAJ DE
i IA r., ol,an any favor pnroled prisoner 10 mus
make reference himself 80 TO where bis name Is to bo
found There men parolcd at Appomatiof Cont
House whose names were not on the rolls. becsus2 the
rolls had been forwarded 70 Gen Lee. Several days,
prcvia1s 10 the surrender large portion Of Pckcts
Division was captured. Including Gen. Corse, com
maniiu,. tho Brigade 4, which the B2i Virginia be-
longcd and at the surrender there were found remain
ing in tho division only foo officers ore surgeon. one
captain and three houenants The rolls Of the officers
were intended TO he made by brgadcs. but the disin
iegraton great that these five were all the Off
GERS Of the division ic Including tho brigade stats
Gen fields DIV ision the only Of Iongstreets
CORPS that was found in decent shape The facitiesI
aao.led by the Confederate officers carry ont the
system Of parole were very deficient. The fact that
le Of Chapman and Read were not ON tue rolls
VI their regiment was no proof that they were not
paroled II tie men were present. be would 10 doubt
.oon find their names o. otber rolls
The Judge. Adyocai. claimed that the examinato
OF tho rolls showed that they could not be regarded as
comp,teut testimony The witness had shown that it
WA not only unnecessary for the names OF Chapman
and Read TO be the rolls Of the regiment parocd
~. a.. ~.
but tha II very probable that they were on other
rolls As the rolls were introduced by the defense 20
disrcdt the testimony - the witnesses. Chapman aud
Real after the examins ion lac fell inpciled TO reject
them evidence.
The counsel for the accused insis ed that II the men
had been with their commands at the date OF their
render their names would appear on the rolls.
The witness rcsumng said that the rolls OF Pickctts
Division were made out week after tho surrender
There was great desire on the part OF the Coined
crates 10 get away ut aud many started without
waiting for paroles In order TO be the hr.t 10 pass
tbrou h the sections where forage and subsistence
might be obtained. When the Commissioners iirst
vent TO Pickctts Division they could do nothing AS
b re wac no one 'eft TO look after IT,
The held that the Court should decide whether
the witnesses Chappap and Read psroled soldiers
Or NOT The rols did not show II. aud ne challenged
the Court to prove IT,
On opening the Judge. Advocate stated tina. The
Court had decided to admit copy OF the ious az
evidence. 49,
NV Harris then proceeded to read his defense TO the
Court. stating that he in no way connected win
the and or naval forces of the United States and TINT
he mad not committed any offense. He had not har
bored the prisoners md had been proven tnni they
Al NOT lodge IN IN, house in which they stated they
had He ssid that they had stated to him that they
were paroed prisoners and asked for lodging lie De
ing actuatsd by de- re to get rid OF mem ala kno"
IND their poyrrty gave each OF them 81 10 pay for a
lodging at the hotel to which he cold them to return
TIE defense having closed the testimony was read
over and after brief deberation with closed doors
the Court forwarded their Judgment 70 the Judge Advo
cate. ;eneral and adjourned sine die.
The decision Yill probably be published In General
Orders nex. week.