The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-03

then said that IL was probable that the Twenty
fifth Corps would be sent to Texns, where there
was likelihood of brush with the French in
Mexico and that, rs | still had considerable
time to serve. he would take me rs his personal
clerk or private Secretary, if | desired the bill
let. lie said that | need not consider this an
order; that If did not want 10 go with him
would report to my volunteer regiment. which
would, without doubt, soon be mustered out of
the service and that il was only on conditions
of my freely volunteering to go with him that
he desired TO take me along.
| told him that ] would he delighted to 90,
bnt would like 30 days' furlough to 20 homo
and see my folks first.
He said he could give me the furlough easily
enough, but he thought the corps would sail
before the expiration of that time; and, besides,
il was TO go with him, no needed my serv-
ices Mt once.
In conclusion he said that must let him
know that night what / was going to do, be-
cause he would resume his command the next
day, and would at once make preparations to
move his troops.
did not wait till night to decide, but said
at once that would join him and would report
then and there for duty in tho capacity he had
mentioned; so that afternoon | was relieved
by man from Gen. Hawley's headquarters,
and went with Gen. Draper out 10 the headquar-
tiers OF his command. | was at this time sort
OF wait. My name was regularly carried only
on the roll of my volunteer regiment. which
had been consolidated with another since l had
left 1T, moro than two years before.
After Lieut.. Mitchell was crippled Mt GRAY
ely Run aud Lieut. V0se took command, my
interest in the old battery ceased entirely and
well understood that the army would soon be
disbandcd
Shortly after
THE SIIRRENDER AT ApPOMATTOX
all the detached volunteers serving in Regular
batteries We're returned TO their regiments To
be mustered out. In the case of Battery B,
don't suppose there were more than % or 30
enlisted men lett after the detached volunteers
were discharged. j cannot now recall what
disposition was made OF the old battery after
the Graud Review, but my impression is That
il was sent to the Pacific Coast soon afterward,
or at least out on the plains.
When volunteered 90 20 with Gen. Draper
he secured a headquarters order detaching me
permanently FROM my volunteer command, and
directing me e" report to the officer command.
Ing First Division. Twenty-hfth Corps, for
special duty"
Almost the first duty had to do Mt these
headquarters was to Jacket and inhorse"
court martial case for the approval of the d-
vision commander. IL seemed TO me that had
genius for this kind OF duty.
This court was convened under the presi-
dency of Col. Benjamin f. Pratt, of the Both
u. ). Z. T., aud its duty was to try two Ser
geants and II Corporal and some private sol
diers of the 3Sth regiment for the most aRgra-
waited otfense that came under my notice dur
Ing my service. As it turned ont, ouly the
three nOn-commissioncd officers were tried by
this court, the privates being rcmanded 10 their
regiment for regimeutal court martial. in con-
sequence of their not having been particeps
criminis except in being present aud cognzau
of the crimes of their superiors
The principal culprits were Serg'ts Jackson
and Brooks aud Corp'l Sheppard of Go. l. 3sth
u. 5. C. 7. They belonged to the First Br.
gade First Division, Twenty-ffth Corps.
which had been left behind 10 occupy Rich
mond when the rest of the Army of the james
started with the Army Of the Potomac for APP
poinatiOx Courthouse. Two or three days after
Lees surrcndnr--prohahly about the 18th of
April these men had entered house on the
M"chanicsvlle road. between Richmond aud
that village. THIS house was tho residence OF
a disabled Confederate soldier named Crawford.
who, AS well a. can rocollect tho testimony.
was then lying helplessly wounded. in bs own
house. The other inmates OF tho house were
his wife, Mrs. Crawford, and her younger sis
ter Miss Woodson.
Both these ladies were terribly assaulted by
the two negro Sergeants and the Corporal. who
then ordered some OF the private soldiers 10
repeat the assault: but the latter refused aud
finally ran away aud went back TO their camp.
Alter assanltinG Mrs. Crawford aud Miss
Woodson the three negro comm Issioned of.
6rers proceeded TO sack the house. taking such
things watches, silver ware etc As soon
ms the ladies could ret 10 headquarters they re-.
ported this occurrence. aud AS they TcroIlssieJ
seeing - on the caps Of the men, that regi.
ment was Immediately mustered aud they
identified the culprits without hesitation
Ia
because some OF the soldiers who were present
got frightened and turned States evidence"
THIS court martial was conducted with unusual
solemnity, with tic view TO impress upon the
colOred troops the euormity of tho crime
charged. While military operations were going
on, aud the colored troops were surrounded by
white soldieTy, they were very dOciie aud the
average Ol crime among them was much small
or than among the white troops But now
that the war WAS ended aud the white troois
began To leave for the North the negroes OF the
Twenty fifth Corps showed signs of turbu-
lence. 80 it was determined
TO MAKE THIS CASE EXEMPLARY.
The finding Of the court was guilty as TO all
the charges and specifications, aud the sentence
ran an follows:
And this court, all the members thereof
eoncurring, do therefore unanimously sentence
him, the said Peter Jackson llAie SeTgeautl
70 l. 5cth bnltcd sthles tOlurcd Troops tuf tile
said Brooks. etc. or the said Sheppard) 10 be
hanged by the neck until he is dead this In
presence OF the First Division. Twenty nth
Corps, aud at such IA time aud place as the com
mandiuR officer may direct"
The record WAS sent on TO Washington as
usual for review, aud the charges findings aud
sentence were read Oh parade-a very unusual
thing, bot done in this instance for its effect
on the colored troops. There was 40 reason why
these sentences should not have been returned
FROM Washington IA week. But they were
not. and tho Twenty fifth Corps sailed for
Texas. carrying these wretched culprits along
with them In irons. The sentences were
finally approved and sent on to Texas
not witness the execution being on duty ut
Brownsville when IL occurred.
The effect on the troops was very marked
The long delay had made the negroes believe
that the culprits would be pardoned or their
sentence committed. So that when the sen.
ience WIS finally executed. they got the idea
that military justice WAS sure IL slow ! have
often wondered that the colored troops were
not more turbulent than they were, after they
got 10 Texas, where they NO longer felt the re-
stralDing influence Of the large bodies Of white
troops IN their vicinity. Many of their CON.
paBy officers and some Of the higher ranks
lived IN constant fear Of their own troops
There WAS one or Two small uuIiui,ss the
llBtb regiment being he most turbulent in the
corps. | nave heard that "a battery of Regular
artillery was once brought TO bear on the camp
ofthe 10th at lndiaHola, shotred with d0u-.
Tl,. nFda luD ID, a.,