New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-08-13
From SOulh Carolina.
The Injustice 1t West Point.

The Injustice At West Point.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Aug. :, 1874.
To tie Editor Of The Neo National Era:
SIR: In my last communication 1 related
the circumstances of the "dipper fight" and
now we come to the court which re-
suited therefrom.
But there was another charge upon which
was tried at the same time, the crcum-
stances Of which will detail.
On the 18th of August, 1870, just two
days after the "dipper fight" Cadet Corpo-
raj Beacon made a report against me for ire
plying in a disrespectful manner TO a file
closer when spoken TO a. lriltP. NJ" For
this alleged oilense wrote an explanation
denying the charge; but Cadet Beacon
found three cadets who swore that they heard
me make disrespectful reply in ranks when
Cadet Beacon. as a file closer on duty, spoke
TO me, and the Commandant of Cadets,
Lieutenant Colone: Upton, preferred charges
against me for making false statements.
The court TO try me sat in Sept, with Gen.
o. .. Howard as President. 1 plead "not
guilty. TO the charge of assault on Cadet
Wilson, and also to the charge of making
false statements.
The court found both Cadet Wilson and
myself guilty" of assault, and sentenced us
TO be confined for two or three weeks, with
some other light punishment, in the form of
''extra duty"
The finding of the court was approved by
President Grant in the case of Cadet Wilson
but tlisapproved in my case, on the ground
that the punishment was not severe enough.
tn erefore, Cadet w. served his punishment
and did not serve mine, as there was no
authority vested in the President to in
crease it.
On the second charge l was acquitted, for
proved, by means of the order book of the
Academy that there was no company drill on
that day-the 18th of August-that there
was ski'mish drill, and by the guard reports
of the same date, that Cadet Beacon and
two of his three witnesses were on guard
that day, and could not have been at drill,
even if there had been one. To some it
might appear that the slight Inconsistencies
existing between the sworn testimony of
those cadets and the official record of the
Academy, savOred somewhat of perjury ,ibut
they succeeded in explaining the matter by
saying that cadet Bascom only made mis-
take in date" OF course he did how could
it be otherwise: 1t was necessary to explain
it in some way so that might be proved
liar to the corps of cadets, even if they failed
to accomplish that object to the satisfaction
of the court.
l was released in November, after the pro-
ceedings and findings Of the court had been
returned from Washington, where they had
been sent for the approval of the President,
having been in arrest for three months.
But was not destined to enjOymy liberty
for any length of time, for on the 18th of
December, same year, was in the ranks Of
the guard, and was stepped on two or three
times by Cadet Anderson, one of my class
mates, who was marching beside me.
As had had some trouble with the same
cadet some time before, on account of the
same thing, believed that he was doing it
Intentionally, and as it was very annoying,
spoke to him about it, saying: " wish you
would not tread on my toes" lie answered:
keep your ID toes out Of the way"
Cadet Birney, who was standing near by,
then made some invidious remarks about me,
10 which did not condescend TO reply. One
of the Cadet Corporals, Bailey, reported me
for ''inattention in ranks, !" and i'm my written
explanation of the oflense, detailed the
circumstances, but both Birney and Ander-
son denied them, and the Commandant of
Cadets tOook their statement in preference
to mine, and preferred charges against me
for fllsehood.
was contaminated in Jan. 1871, Captain
Piper, Sd Artillery, being President of the
court. BY this court was found "guilty," as l
had no witnesses, and had nothing to expect
from the testimony of the witnesses for the
prosecution. Cadet Corporal Bailey, who
made the report, Cadets Birney and Ander-
son, were the witnesses who convicted me-
in fact they were the only witnesses sum-
moned to testify in the case. The sentence
of the court was that should be dismissed,
but it was changed to one years suspension,
or, since the year was almost gone before the
finding of the court was returned from WASH
ingtOn, where it was sent for the approval of
President Grant, was put back one year.
had no counsel at this trial, as knew it
would be useless. considering the one-sided
condition of affairs. was allowed to make
the following written statement of the affair
to be placed among the records of the pro-
ceednSs of the court:
May it please the court; stand here TO-
day charged with a most disgraceful act-One
which not only affects my character, but will
if | am found guilty, affect it during my
whole life-and l shall attempt, in as few
words as possible, to show that am as inno-
cent as any person in this room. l was re-
ported-On the 18th Of December, 1870, for
very trivial offence. For this offence l sub
nitted an explanation to the cOmmandant of
cadets. In explanation i stated the real
cause Of committing the offence for which
was reported. But this cause, as stated, in
volved another cadet, who, finding himself
charged with an act for which he was liable
to punishment, denies all knowledge OF it.
lie tres to establish his denial by giving evil
dence which 1 shall attempt to prove absurd.
On the morning Of the 18th of December,
1870, at guard-mountng, after the new guard
had marched past the old guard, and the
command of "Twos left, haiti" had been
given. the new guard was about two or three