New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-16
MILITARY PUNISHMENT IN TINE OF WAR.

Tothe Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In recent communication to your paper
by Rudolph Fitzpatrick, In reference to the PUNISH
nent Of Isms the soldier at Homestead lie says
General Phil sheridan surely knew hlo power rs d
military commander, equally as well as "eler'h
snowdcn vet summary proceedings even In the MIDST
OF the mos, uniust.nabe that ever cursed M
ton, were resorted TO by him. thinK fl'@-
patrick entirely mistaken In his views. II was
common custom, whlla Sheridan had command oil lie
Army operating In the Shenandoah Valley, cSpeci"y
among the cavalry regiments, to tie men up by tho
thumbs a. was done IN the of lnms for mis-
conduct far less grievous than his. Hardly day
passed bit that some soldier thus pun shed III
some Of the regiments. To be sure there were some
OTHER punishmcnts more severe. II he, fl'hpauioN'
belonged TO the Third Cavalry Division, commanded
By General Custer, and part OF Sherdans Army our
ing the first part OF the year 16G5, he must rcnion-
her the summary execution Of two d"sercrs In Feb
ruary 1863 and n short time previous to the com
mencemcnt Of the march down the valley 4 unite
his forces with General Grant for the final struggle
OF the war General sherldan's headquarters "eTo
at w nchester Clusters headquarters were som" three
or four miles out, and west OF winchester, III hrHo
brick house painted white. the highway Two
members think, OF the Sd New-Jcrscy Cavalry, hna
been caught deserving the day before. and think
every Old soldier will remember the circumstance
Orders were issued to all the regiments oi the Ih'ru
Division, 10 report TO Custor's headquarters nv
think 10 a. m. wa reported there. and wer" all
formed in line In the rolling heid'
across the highway from Clusters headquarters. In 'e
little valley below us Two open graves Presently
n open ambulance, with two men seated upon 'ne'r
collins were seen riding before us; they were pro
tectcd bv guards and escorted by the headquarters
band PLAYING a funeral dirge. When they arrived
AT the open graves, they and their cOnns were uheh
out a squad of men drawn up with loaded guns
within n few PAGES Of them, and they were sho'
dead Will. sitting upon their co1ins. couple OF
physicians rode up, examined Them their breasts were
stripped naked. The entire Third Division was wheeled
and marched by them by fours There they lay
with five or six bullet holes around their hearts,
and little streams Of blood Were tnckling from each.
They were then and there put In their coiln' ana
buried Ask any old soldier OF the Third Division ana lac
will tell YOU that this Is true. Certainly, this must
have been done with the knowledge ana approval oi
General Sheridan who was In command within short
distance. | think am safe In saying That there
were many summary punishmcnts inflicted BY mo
order of sheridan alone II necessary and proper
that discipline should bc preserved. and examples
made Both sheridan ana Custer kind md con
siderate commanders but fheg were In the presence
Of the enemy. liable to attack at any moment, and
had no time 10 lose In balances ana dcay with In
suboIdinatOn ana treason. G. ". WOOISEl.
Lieutenant, I'd y. Cavalry.
Milton. ~ Y, August H. 1S92.