The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-11-27
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weekly Collection About the Ma
tiOnal Capital.
THE SWAIN CoURT-MARTIAL.

q look In upon the oNallu rs
ought to be the case when so important per-
son as the Judge Advocate of the United States
Army is on trial. this is a very imposing trib-
unal. Gen. Swaim's rank being that of Briga-
dier-Generai, the court had to be composed of
officers of nearly corresponding rank, and
the President had to be a Ma General. The
first hitch came here. As there were per-
sonal reasons why neither Hancock nor Pope
could act, the choice was confined to Scho-
field. He admitted to some prejudice against
the defendant, but as he declared that this
would not prevent his giving fair and
just verdict, he was admitted, though against
the protest of Swaims counsel. He makes
a very imposing figure, as, attired in the
full uniform of Major-General, with a
broad gold sash across his breast, he sits at the
head of the long table, and listens with I'M
moving features to the prosy arguments and
the bushwhacking of the opposing counsel. His
hair and whiskeIs are snowy white, and his
face full, though not high-colored.
Next on his right, sits Gen. Miles, the noted
Indian fighter, nervous, restless trlmly-built
man, with iron-gray mustache and hair.
On Gen. Schofelds left sits Surg.-Gen. Muir
ray, the Oldest man on the court lie entered
the Army as Assistant Surgeon in 1876 and has
logged his way up through all the grades, until
he reached his present position about year
ago. He is a venerable old gentleman, wear
ing glasses constantly, and looking the embodi-
ment of routinism.
Ouartermaster General Holabird, whose
strong facial resemblance TO Garfield is re-
marked by all, sits next to Gen. Miles. He
entered the Army as Second Lieutenant in
1S49, went into the Quartermasters Depart
ment in May, 1861, as Captain and was pro-
NOTED in regular order, until he became Quar-
termaster-General July /, 1883.
A large, sOund-lookiDg head that was once
familiar TO the soldiers of the Army of the Poto-
mac as that of one of their most trustworthy
commanders next attracts attention. 1t is that OF
Gen. John Newton, Chief of Engineers who COM
manded the First Corps at Gettysburg on the
second and third days. He has been in the
Army since 1912, when he entered from West
Point as Second Lieutenant of Engineers. The
opening of the war found him Major of En-
gineers, and he laid down his commission as
Major General Of Volunteers in 1864 to be re-
turned to a Lieutenant Colonelcy in his corps.
He gained much reputation as an Engineer by
his conduct of the operations for the removal
of the Instructions at He'll Gate, and upon the
death of Gen. III. g. Wright succeeded him as
Chief of Engineers.
Col Romeyn B. Ayres, of the I'd Artillery,
sits with an unlighted cigar IN his mouth, aud
twirls his long, gray mustache He is another
of the solid fighting men of the Army of the
Potomac. He entered the Army from West
Point as a Brevet Second Lieutenant in 1S47.
The war found him a Captain of Artillery, and
he did splendid service with his battery at the
first battle of Bull Run. He was made Brig
adier-General Of Volunteers Nov. 30, 1862, and
rose until he was commander of the Second
Division of the Fifth Corps in Grants campaign
against Richmond.
Next comes Col John z. Brooke, who en-
tered the Army as Captain in the 4th Pa. at
the beginning of the war, was afterward Colo
mel of the 9th Pa, and Brigadier and Brevet
Major-Gencral. He was transferred to the
Regular Army as Lieutenant-Colonel of the
37th Inf, AMI is now Colonel of the Sd Inf.
Col. Luther z. Bradley is as fine looking an
officer as there is on the court. He went out
in 1861 as Lieutenant Colonel of the 51st Ill.
rose TO the command of brigade in the Army
of the Cumberland was wounded at Chicka-
manga, and again at Spring Hill; was given
commission in the Regular Army as Lieuten-
ant-Colonel of the 9th Inf, and is now Colo
mel of the 18th Inf
Col. Chas. III. Smith, of the 10th Inf, looks
like Downeast Yankee, which he is. He went
out as Captain of the 1st Me. Cav rose to be
Brigadier and Brevet Major General. and went
into the Regular Army as Colonel of the 2Sth
Inf
Col Henry NJ. Black of the 23d Inf, is a
graduate of Nest Point, but entered the war of
the rebellion as Colonel of the 9th Cal. He
has long beard, which he is not at all ashamed
OF, and the jolliest face on the court.
Col George J.. Andrews, of the 25th Inf, is
Rhode Island Yankee, and saw his first serv-
ice in 1851 as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 1st
No., being wounded at Wilson's Creek He
was transferred to the Regular Army that year,
and several times distinguished himself for
gallantry. He looks more like an intellectual
and scholarly than fighting man, and might
pass himself off as college professor.
Judge Advocate General Swain, the defend
ant, is a short, stubby man, with not prepos-
sessing face or manner. He first saw service as
Second Lieutenant in the 65th Ohio, aud rose
to be Captain and Brevet Major ON the stats
OF Gems. ROsecrans and Thomas. He was
wounded at Chlckamauga. While on Gen.
ROsecrans's staff he and Gen. Garfield became
fast friends, circumstance which was made of
much advantage to Swain. At the close of the
war he was given the appointment of Second
Lieutenant in the 3ith Inf, and four years
later secured transfer to the Bureau Of Mill
tary Justice, with the rank of Major. Toward
the close of Hayes's Administration he was
appointed 10 his present position upon the re-
quest Of President-elect Garfield. This appoint
ment gave deep ofiense 10 very many Army
officers, and Gen. Swain says this is the cause
OF all his trouble. The present accusation is
that he deposited $1,000 with f. Bateman &
Co., bankers IN this city, and after checking il
out attempted TO deiraud those bankers, and
only made his account good when they re-
ported the matter TO the Secretary of War
The Secretary ordered an Investigation, which
Swain tried TO have stopt, and this is made an
additional odense, as it is preudicial to the
honor and discipline of the Army to have an
officer, and especially one who occupies the
position Of Judge AdVocate-Gen eral, sEirk or
avoid an investigation into a matter which
impugns his personal honor.
The Government is represented in the case
by Maj. Asa Bird Gardner, of the Bureau of
Military Justice, and Gen. Swain is defended
by Gen. Chas. GrOsvenor, OF Ohio, and Judges
Shellabarger and Wilson, three very able law
yers.
all the members of the Court sit in full uni
form, with swords and belts, and their pIumed
helmets deposited on the tables in front of
them.
BLOOD IN HIS EYE.
Though Gen. S. S. Carroll is on the Retired
List of the Army, and although he has certainly
had fighting enough in his day and generation
10 satisfy any modeTate-minded man, the old
pugnacions spirit flames up in him yet Just
as 1t used 10 when leading his brigade up the
Shenandoah Valley. The General and his wife
have had some trouble, which resulted in a
suit on Mrs. CAROLS part for divorce. Her
counsel, Col. Geo. L. CorllhilI, who came into
notice during the Gitcau trial. seemed TO find
IT necessary in the course of the proceedings TO
attack the old General rather lively If the
Colonel had been better informed he would
have known this was very unsafe proceeding
Gen. Carroll Immediately went on the war
path, the Co!oneis scalp for his objective The
story goes that he forced his way into Corkhills
room with brace Of rey0lVcrs, one Of which he
handed him that he bod oorao tIa-o e.