Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-17
THE ROWDY NINTH.
The Investigating Commission -
Making the Best of the Rascality
I'm ~ icb mOnd.


BOSTON, November 16-The committee
appointed to investigate the rumors and
charges concerning the conduct Of the
Ninth Massachusetts, Regiment while on 1t
recent trip to Yorktown presented its report
to Governor Long yesterday. The report
gravest rumors and charges, including the
statements that one hundred men were
locked up at Richmond that the
authorities OF the 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
Tor charging the members of the regiment
with bad behavior in Washington, and as to
their conduct at Yorktown they have the
assurance OF Generals Hancock and Mitchell
that no official complaint or communication
OF anv kind against the regiment was made.
1t appears to the commission that the acts
of misconduct on the way from Boston to
yorktown, outside of Richmond, were CON-
mitted in a spirit of hilaritY, sometimes
boisterous and carried to excess; but they
seem to have been no worse than is gener-
ally found among travelling bodies OF troops
on occasions of a similar nature. As to
their misconduct at Richmond, the commits
sion are constrained to believe that men
wearing the uniform of the Ninth Regiment
committed in various instances various
acts OF misconduct, none of which they can
approve and some of which they most en-
pbaticallV condemn. These acts were of
very different kind and degree, some sim
ply violating a proper sense of decency,
and others being OF a much graver nature.
Much of their misconduct was sport only,
but often bOisterous and carried to excess.
Some of 1t was from ignorance of good
breeding and some of it clearly was the re-
suit Of an over-indulgence in drinking.
These acts seem to have been committed
by one or more individuals, in equals of
from five to fifteen or twenty men, while
wandering about the city under permission
given, because no provision had been made
for refreshments during the unexpected de-
lay between the arrival and departure of the
train for Yorktown. The commission re-
commend that the Colonel of the regiment
be required to make individual, thor
ough and searching investigation, with
a view of fixing the guilt upon and dis
charging the men responsible for the alleged
dishonorable conduct. In conclusion, the
report testifies to the uniform cordiality and
courtesy with which they were received by
the Governor OF Virginia, the Mayor of
Richmond and the citizens of Rich
mOnd generally. Appended to the
report are letters from the Superin-
tendent OF Police of Washington, bearing
out the statement of the commission as to
the conduct of the regiment in that city,
ard the Mayor OF Richmond, who in cor
ro5oratiDg the statement summarized in the
report refutes a number of charges against
the members of the regiment, and also says
their train was not stoned as it passed home
ward through that city, and from the res
taursnt keepers at Wilmington, Del, who
deny any misconduct or nOn-payment Of
bills.
Governor Long has Issued q special order
to Colonel Strachan to a. certain and report
within thirty days the names of the culprits.
If they are not forthcoming, the entire regi
menC will be held strict y responsible and
be liable 10 such action as the Governor
shall theTeuDOn direct