Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-11-17
REPORT OF COMMITTEE

Appointed to Investigate Charges
Against the Ninth Massa-
chusetts Regiment.
BosToN, November 16.-The com
mittee appointed to investigate the
rumors and charges concerning the
conduct of the Ninth Massachusetts,
Regiment while on its recent trip to
Yorktown presented its report to
Governor Long yesterday. The re-
port first pronounced false number
of the gravest rumors and charges,
including the statements that hun
bred men were locked up at Rich
mond, that the authorities of that
city wrote an official letter ON the
conduct of the regiment to General
Hancock, and that General Lee or
dered the regiment out of line
at the review. The committee
think there is little ground for
charging the members of that reg.
iment with bad behavior in Wash
ington, and as to the conduct at
Yorktown, they have the assurance
of Generals Hancock and Mitchell
that no official complaint or COM
munication of any kind against the
regiment was made. It appears to
the commission that acts of mis-
conduct on the way from Boston to
Yorktown, outside of Richmond,
were committed in spite of hilarity.
Sometimes it was boisterous and car,
ed to excess, but they seem to have
been no worse than is generally
found among travelling bodies
Of troops on occasions of similar
nature. AS to their misconduct at
Richmond, the commission are con-
strained to believe that men wearing
the uniform of the Ninth regiment
committed, in quite number of in
stance, various acts of misconduct,
none of which they can approve, and
some Of which they most emphati-
cally condemn. The acts were very
different in kind and degree, some
simply violating a proper sense of
decency, and others being of much
graver nature. Much of their mis-
conduct was sport only, but bois
ferrous and carried to excess.
Some of it was from ignorance of
good breeding, and some of it clearly
the result of over-indusgence in
drinking. The acts seem to have
been committed by one or more indi-
viduals i'll squads of from five to tif-
teen or twenty men while wandering
about the city, under permission
given, because no provision had been
made for refreshments during the
unexpected delay between the arrival
and departure of the train for York
town. The commission recon-
mend that the colonel of the
regiment be required to make
individual, thorough and searching
investigation, with the view of fixing
the guilt upon and discharging the
men responsible for the alleged dis
honorable conduct. In conclusion
the report testities to the uniform
cordiality and courtesy with which
they were received by the Governor
of Virginia, mayor of Richmond and
citizens of Richmond generally. Ap
pended to the report are letters from
the superintendent of police OF
: Washington, bearing out the state
ment of the commission as to the
regiment in that city; from the
mayor Of Richmond, who, cor
roborating the statement summarized
In the report, refutes number o1
the charges against members~of the
regiment, and also says their train
was not stoned as it passed home
ward through that city, and from
restaurant keepers at Wilmington
Del, who deny any misconduct OF
non-payment of bills
Governor Long has issued spes
cial order to Colonel Stracham tc
ascertain and report within 80 days
the names of the culprits. If they
are not forthcoming the entire regi-
ment will be held strictly response
BILE, and be liable to such action as
the governor shall thereupon direct
/