Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-06-04
THE Y0RKYIhLE UIRER.

whatever the motives that prompted it, is con-
struel as an insult offered the people and the
OCCASION. Since the death of Captain Chris
topher the command of this post has tempo
rarily devolved upon Lieutenant Whitehead !;
and although, as was understood by the COM
mi.tee Of arrangements, he declined PERSONAL
ly to participate in the exercises, yet, as COM
manding officer, he would present no obstacle
to the soldiers, who, as we have said, we're the
originators of the movement, and he relieved
them Of part Of the regular routine Of duties
for the day. Lieutenant Benner, the junior
officer, WAS active in promoting the work,
and on the understanding that Lieutenant
Whitehead would not participate, the com.
mittee appointed Lieutenant Benner to act
as one of the Marshals. Among those to
whom a special invitation was extended by
the committee of arrangements, were the
officers and cadets of the Kings Mountain
Military School. BY arrangement, as an act
of courtesy, the cadets and the soldiers were
to rendezvous at the old academy building,
at the upper end of Main street, from which
point the soldiers were to proceed under es-
cort of the cadets to the church. While thus
marching in procession, and without arms,
on their return, when they reached Rawlin-
sons Hotel, where quite number OF gentle
men were assembled, among them Lieutenant
Whitehead this officer halted the soldiers,
and addressing Lieutenant Benner, said in
substance, that he had understood no for
malities were to be observed OH this occasion,
and ordered Lieutenant Benner to his quar-
ters, and to consider himself under arrest. At
this, the column proceeded to the intersection
of Liberty street, leading to the church, when
they broke ranks; but all except Lieutenant
Benner, who obeyed the command Of his su-
perior officer, and perhaps few Of the SOL
diers and cadets, proceeded in broken order
to the grounds. At a subsequent hour, Lieu
tenant Whitehead addressed the following
note to the committee of arrangements:
YoRKvILLE, S. c., May 80, 1874.
II. F. -4dickes, T. s. .IcFerys, W. B. Nets, ".
II. McCJrklc and Others:
GENTLEMEN:-I desire to say to you that when
a copy of the proceedings of an informal meeting
of the citizens of Yorkvlle called together for the
purpose of considering proposition from the
Federal troops stationed at this place for the pur-
pose of decorating soldiers graves, was shown me
incidentally, it was the first intimation that had
received that such movement was anticipated.
was surprised at finding that had not been con
suited in the matter, but heartily approved tho
same and gave the necessary instructions to my
command for carrying out the requirements of
the movement.
My action in relieving 1t. Benner OF the com
mand of the troops paraded, was not done through
any discOurtesy to any one interestedin tho move
ment but purely through q military necessity
FRED. F. WH1TEnEAD,
Commandant.
In Justice to Lieutenant Whitehead we give
him the benefit of this disclaimer, only re-
marking that his acts and the language Of his
note to the committee are singularly at vari-
ance, and the public will be slow to under
stand why, if military necessity" demanded
the arrest of Lieutenant Benner, the little
matter of "formalty" could not have been ig-
nored in this instance, too and why, instead
of reprimanding subordinate officer and at
tempting to humiiate him before an assem-
blage of citizens in public place, it could not
have been deferred until after the conclusion
of the memorial ceremonies 50 auspciously
begun. With the supposed necessity" ofthe
arrest, it is not in the province of civilians to
enquire but they do claim the right to pro-
test against the mode in which it was done,
and to insist that the time, the manner and
the occasion had only the appearance Of
premeditated contumely, as much intended to
affront the citizens as to abase a subordinate
officer.