Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-15
Why Private Henry was ShOt-Iiis
Many Thcfts.


The following is Lieutenant Greely',
official report oi the execution Of private
Horny li Camp Clay. ncar Cape Sabine:
Port moVib, y. II, August ltd
jttont- GCpcrGi Iaied states AImyUtroRp
Cbilf ,SiGpGi O8icer UaHcd states -irmV:
SI.-l have the honor to report ON june
e. 1854. at Camp Clay, near Cape Sabine,
Grinnell Land, i, became necessary for me
10 oder tic military execution oi private
Charles Il. Henry. Filth calvary, for con-
tinCcd thleying. The order was given IN
writing on NY individual responsibility, II
being deemed absolutely csSentia! for the
safety Of the surviving members OF the eX-
Iedition.
Ten lad already died OF starvation aud
two more lay at the point OF death. The
facts inducing my action were ~ follows:
Provision %fald been stolen in November.
1888, and Hsnry's completely therein was
more than suspected. On March oath the
party declared him guilty Of this aud other
ihefs. 4 clamor for his life was raised,
but was rcpressed by me. lput him under
surveillance until our waning strength rem
deTed his phts cal services Indispensable.
Later lie was found one day intoxicated,
having stolen the liquor on hand FOR gen.
cral issue. A second time his lie was
demanded. but | again spared him. On
June 9Th thcfts of provisions on his part
having been reported TO me. | bad
conversation with him, in which l ap'
pealed TO his practical senje, pointing
out that union was necessary 10 our
preservation. lie promised entire refor-
nation, but, distrusting him, l issued a
written order that he should be shot II de-
lected stealing. On June 9Th he not only
stole part OF the shr1mpS for breakfast. Dut,
visiting Unauthorized our winter camp,
stole certain sealskip reserved for food. L
then ordered him to be shot. ON his person
was found the silver chrouograph abandon
cd by me at Fort COnger and stolen by hini.
In his bag WAS found large quantity OF
sealsLin and pair Of sealskin boots stolen
q few days before from Hunter. Snspecting
completely on the part of several. ! ordered
| his execution by three OF the most reliable
| II en-. After his death all order was read 10
the entire party, and was concuFred IN ny
| every member as being not only Just, Dut
as essential TO our safety. To aVoin pubiic
scsndnl, ordered that no man should speak
Of this matter until an official report was
made OF the facts.
| have the honor TO request that a court
| Of inquiry be ordered, or a court-nrrtial
be convened, should the honorabie oecre-
tary Of War deem either advisable III this
case. | have thought 1t best not 10 ask
written statements OF the surviving mem
| bers OF the party for appendices TO ihls re-
| port, lest / might seem TO be tamperihg
! with them. Ibnve not asked sine our res-
cue June 22d) whether their Opinions con-
cerning my action have changed or hoh
leaving such questions 10 your acton, II
deemed requisite. necessarily regrct that
circumstances imposed such terrible re-
spops,bllity upon me, but am consciols Is
that should have failed In my duty 10 the
rest Of my party had not acted promptly
and summary.
am, respectfully, yours.
tsignedl a. w. GREELY,
| Lieut.. Cav. A. s. o. and Assistant CON-
OF L. +. ID. Expedition.