The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-17

Reporter she Commission. which shows How
'ne Wen Disaraeed Themselves In Rich.
msnd-Action OF Governor Long.

Inc military commission appointed to
investigate the rumors and CHARGES con.
ccrning the conduct OF the Ninth regiment
OF this State during It's visit 20 Yorktoxn
ms made its report to Governor Long.
me commission states that inquiries have
vcen made anu evidence taken PRINCIPALLY
u, ,a, ,he cities OF New York, Philadelphia.
wilmington, Washington, and Richmond.
anu along the lines OF railroad and steam
ooat communication between these several
fo,iits. AZ was not thought necessary 10
siSit Yorktown itself. Reviewing the be-
INior OF the regiment nj the various
PAGES named, and finding that. ex-
cept Richmond, there is little 10
suestantiate the charges OF misconduct so
Freely made, the report goes on TO say as 20
sbelr misconduct at Richmond: 1--WE be-
gan our investigation on November I'd.
About nifty witnesses appeared before us,
whose statements were taken down In
writing and signed aud sworn TO. From
the appearance OF the witnesses, their
answers to our questions, their manner um-
der crosS-eXamination, and from the cor
roooratlVc statements OF other citizens OF
Richmond whom we saw and questioned
as 10 The facts, we are constrained TO be-
lieye that men wearing the uniform OF the
Ninth regiment committed in quite num-
Der OF instances various acts Of miscon-
duct, none OF which we can approve,
and some OF which We most emphati-
cally condemn. The acts testified 10
were very different in kind and degree,
some simply violating proper sense OF
dccency, and others being OF much graver
nature. The misconduct OF the men con-
sisted in jumping on TO and taking possess
sion Of carts and drays against the will Of
the drivers, and sometimes OF pulling the
drivers from their seats; jumping on the
backs OF mules harnesSed TO carts parad-
ing up and down the streets and sidewalks
with brOoms or sticks in their hands, some
times in their shiTt-slceYeS; shouting in n
boiStorOus manner; jostling and running
after one another in the streets and OBJ
structing the way, and being some
times under the influence OF liquor,
in one instance pulling two small
flags from the decorations, and in another
jumping upon and breaking down canvases
placed Is advertisements upon the side
walks; ordering drinks at the bar-rooms
and not paying fer them; going through
the market pelting one another with pota-
toes, cranberries, &C., snatched from fruit
stands; in one case taking some cheap Jew
elry from shop and not paying for it;
snatching articles from girls hands in the
streets; putting their caps on to negro We
mems heads; embracing and kissing negro
women and others in the public streets;
approaching and addressing women, some
OF them young girls, in an improper and Ia
miliar way; forcing a c0lored woman 10
drink by holding cantcen to her mouth;
visiting Libby Prison, and against the
/ keepers protest knocking bricks out OF the
inside wall 10 take away rs mementOes; in
one instance striking with a heavy stick
& the horse and carriage OF a lAdy driving on
Z the public street and Obstructing her way,
and i'm committing other acts Of 4 similar
nature. Much OF this misconduct was sport
/ only, but it was carried to excess. Some OF
I il was from Ignorance OF good breeding
and lack Of appreciation OF the conduct
/ expected Of gentlemen visiting a strange
city: and some OF il was clearly the result
OF oyer-indulgcnee in drinking. 1t was
/ impossible for the witnesses to identity the
! men who committed these acts from the fact
/ that they were strangers To them anu all wore
the same uniform. AS 60 the proficiency Of
the regiment in drill and discipline, and
the appearance Of the men while in the
ranks, we have heard nothing but the high
est praise. The excellence OF the regiment
i'm this respect seens to have been so
marked that we more than ever realize that
a rare opportunity was offered IT to win an
enviable reputation which would have re-
hected credit on the regiment and the State
from which il hailed. But the opportunity
thus offered was lost, and such honorable
reputation as il did acquire was impaired
NV the misconduct OF certain individual
{ 2 a nd
that the Colonel OF the Ninth regiment be re-
quired TO make 4 thorough and most search
ing investigation, and since il appears that
some of the officers are cogniZant OF the
acts of misconduct, that the officers OF the
regiment be required TO report to the Colo
mel the names OF such men as they have or
NAV have reason to believe were guilty Of
any misconduct, and also all acts OF misc0n-
duet which have or may come to Their
knowledge: and ful theT, that the Colonel
be required to direct the captains TO apply
for the discharge OF men upon whom the
guiIt Of the alleged dishonorable conduct
shall be fixed"
In conclusion, the Commission testiiles to
the uniform cordially and courtesy with
I which they were received by the Governor
Of Virginia, Mayor OF Richmond, and citi-
zens OF Richmond generally.
Appended to the report are letters from
the SUPERINTENDENT OF Police Of Washing
ton bearing out the statement OF the com
mission as TO the conduct OF the regiment
in that city; from the Mayor OF Richmond,
\ who corroborates the statement summa-
rized in the report, which refutes number
OF the charges against the members OF the
regiment, and also says their tram was MOI
stoned as it passed homeward through that
city: and from restaurant-keepers at Mll-
mington, Del, who deny any misconduct
or non-payment OF bills.
As soon rs Governor Long had read the
report he directed the issue OF special or
der from the Acknowledgements ofdce re-
Guiring Colonel Strachan, in pursuance oil
the recommendations, TO within thirty days
ascertain and report the names OF the men,
hers Of his command, whether officers or
enlisted men, who he finds or had reason
TO believe were guilty OF improper con-
duct. Failing TO present such names as re,
ouired. the entire regiment will be held
strictly responsible fer the reported mis-
conduct. aud will be liable to such acton
as the Governor may direct.
A Compliment 10 the Richmond
Press.
The Springfield Republican OF the 18Th
SAYS: -. n.
HThe one pleasant feature in this dis
graceful Ninth regiment episode mas peeH