The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-03-21
CAPTAIN Little's Case.


preston created in consequence of the rejec-
ton of the bill to reinstate Capt Thos Little
to the army, we give the report of the COM
mittee on the bill in so far as it touches the
record of Captain L., and Judge Upson's re-
marks while the bill was pending.
The committee on military affairs, to whom
was referred the bill ii. X. No. 1921 for
the relief of Thomas Little. respectfully report
that, concurring in the views expressed in the
report of this committee made at the second
session Of the forty-sixth congress on bill
identical with the one now under consldera-
ton, they adopt said report and recommend
the passage of said bill II. X. No. 1901.
Said report is as follows:
(.Forty-sixth congress, I'd session.-flouse
report No. 45o."I
1.-The committee on military affairs, to whom
was referred the bill III. k. No. $3.50 for the
relief of Thomas Little, report"
THAT Thomas Little enlisted as private
in the United States army and was assigned
10 the 4th artillery September 49, 1856; pro-
NOTED corporal September l, 1857; sergeant
Iune 1, 1859; and first sergeant, March l.,
charged as first sergeant October g, 1861; re-
enlisted November 8, 1861, and appointed
same date: discharged July 2, 1862, by reason
of appointment as second lieutenant Thir-
,eenth infantry, May 81, 1862; appointed first
lieutenant August IS, 1862; appointed captain
November 1, 1867; breveted captain July 4,
1863, for gallant and meritorious services at
the siege Of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and ma
jor IS, 1863, for gallant and meritorlous ser
vices at the battle of Missionary Ridge, Ten
nessee, Served in the Florida Indian war in
1886 and 1857. Participated in the following
battles, namely, Chicasaw Bayou, December
"a. 1862: Arkansas Post, January ii, 1863;
Walnut Hills, May I9. 1863; siege of Vicks-
burg, 1863; Colliersville, Tennessee, October
IL, 1865 Missionary Ridge, November "a
and IS, 1863; in two engagements with Sioux
Indians in Dakota in 1867 and 1868, and in
pursuit of Comanches and Kiowas in Texas
and Indian Territory; in two engagements
with Kiowas in 1872; in battle OF the Wichita
agency, August II, 1874. Wounded twice
once slightly in Florida and once severely in
action before Vicksburg. Dismissed from
service December 20, 1877.
The rest Of the report recites the incident
out of which grew the charge against Captain
Little.
UPSoN'S REMARKS.
Mr.. Speaker, had hoped that after the
reading of the report, by which it appears
that this bill has been twice acted upon favor
ably by the Military Committee of this House,
there would be no necessity to enter into a
discussion in regard to its merits. The sub
stance of the testimony is contained in the
report; but as the gentleman from New York
mir. Cook has seen proper to open this dis
cussion, l feel it incumbent upon me to state
TO the House the facts of the case, in justice,
as | believe, to an honest, brave, and mertor-
ious officer, foreigner by birth, who has
made this country his home by adoption, and
can hold up before the country his record Of
twenty-one long years Of service in the Army,
without spot or blemish, in answer to the or
act of indiscretion preferred against him.
In brief, what are the facts of this case
This officer, having been upon the frontier
during a campaign of three or four months,
came to Brackettville, small frontier town
near Fort Clark, in Texas, on the night when
it is represented he fell in company with this
woman of easy virtue. He went to a saloon
with friend and there took supper. There
is no charge Of drunkenness against him,
though the evidence shows that he had taken
a few glasses Of beer. Between ten and
eleven O'clock at night, da night, he left
the saloon. Here let me say that the review
of the finding of this court is unjust and I'M
warranted in representing this officer as walk
ing upon the public streets with a common
postitute, as though in public in the broad Light
Of day in defiance of decency, when in fact
the occurrence took place about eleven clock
at night, on dark night unseen except by
one person. As Captain Little walked out Of
the saloon this woman spoke to HIM and
caught him for moment by the arm. He
walked about twenty-five steps only with her
across the street, in the darkness Of the night,
and went to her room.
Those are the facts. How were they dis
closed! Captain Little, under the advice Of