The daily gazette., 1881-11-17
BOSTON's NINTH REGIMENT.
The CommissfOn Reports That the
Men Disgraced Themselves nt
Richmond,

Men Disgraced Themselves nj
Richmond.
BOSTON, Nov. 15.-The military COM
mission appointed to investigate the ru-
mors and charges concerning the con-
duct Of the Ninth Regiment OF this State
during It's visit TO Yorktown, has made
its report to Governor Long. The COM
mission states that inquiriess have been
made and evidence taken principally in
the cities Of New York, Philadelphia,
Wilmington, Washington and Richmond
and along the lines of railroad and
steamboat communication between
these several points. IL was not thought
necessary 20 visit Yorktown itself. Re-
viewing the behavior of the regiment
at the various places named, and finding
that, except at Richmond, there is little
TO substantlate the charges of miscon.
duct so freely made, the report goes on
TO say as to their misconduct at Rich
mond: "We began our investigation no
November 2. About fifty witnesses
appeared, before us, whose statements
were taken down ip writing and signed
and sworn to. From the appearance of
the witnesses, their answers to our ques-
tions, their manner under cross examin-
alton and from the corroborative state
ments Of other citizens Of Richmond
whom we saw and questioned as to the
facts, we are constrained to believe that
meu 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 eDphatically
condemn. The acts testified to were
very different In kind and degree, some
simply violating proper sense Of fdecen-
cy, and others being Of much graver
nature.
The misconduct Of the men consisted
in jumping on to and taking possession
of carts and drays against the will OF the
drivers, and sometimes Of pulling the
drivers from their seats; jumping on TO
the backs of mules harnessed to carts;
parading up and down the streets and
| sidewalks with brooms or sticks in their
hands, sometimes In their sbirt-slee yes;
shouting In q boisterous manner; jost-
ling and running after one another in
the streets and obstructing the way, and
being sometimes under the influence OF
| liquor, In one instance pulling two small
flags from the decorations, and In an
other jumping upon and breaking down
canvasses placed as advertisements upon
| the sidewalks; ordering drinks at the
bar rooms and not paying for them;
going through the market pelting one
another with potatoes, cranberries, etc.,
snatched from fruit stands, In one case
taking some cheap jewelly from shop
and not paying for 1t; snatching articles
from girls hands In the streets; putting
their caps ON TO negro women's 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 familiar
way; forcing colored woman to drink
BY holding o canteen TO her mouth;
visiting Libby Prison and against the
keepers protest knocking bricks out oil
the inside wall to take away as memen.
toes; In one instance striking with q
heavy stick the horse and carriage Of Q
lady driving on the public street and
obstructlng her way, and in committing
other acts of q similar nature. Much ol
this misconduct was sport only, but II
was carried to excess. Some Of 1t wa.
from ignorance of good breeding and 9
| lack Vi appreciation VI eho eOuuoSs -
pected OF gentlemen visiting a strange
city; and some of II was clearly the re-
suit OF over-iudulgence In drinking. II
was impossible for the witnesses Il
identify the men who committed these
acts from the fact that they wert
strangers TO them and all wore thu
same uniform.
AS to the proficiency of the regiment
In drill and discipline and the appear
ance of the men while in the ranks
we have heard nothing but the highes
praise. The excellence OF the regimen
in this respect seems to have been 81
marked that we more than ever realiz'
what rare opportunity was offered
to win an enviable reputation which
would have reflected credit on tn
regiment and the State from which
bailed. But the opportunity thu
offered was lost, and sach honorabl
reputation as it did acquire was Inn
paired by the misconduct OF ceftai!
Individual members of the command
, We recommend that the Colonel
the Ninth Regiment be required Z
make thorough and most searching
investigation, and since 1t appears ina
some of the officers are cognizant Q
tho acts of misconduct, that the OIL
GERS of tho regiment be required to re
port to the Colonel the names of sue
men as they have or may have reaso
!, to believe were guilty of any miscor
duct, and also all acts of miscondut
which have or may come to the
knowledge; and, further, that th