The National tribune., 1893-09-07

! time made several applications for court
martial or court of inquiry, but withou
avail. At last / wrote to the Governor o
my State, Austin Blair, of Michigan, stating
my case and asking him to use his influence
to have me brought to trial.
Gov. Blair forwarded my letter, with
strong Endorsement to Gen. Grant, thel
commanding the Military Division of Mis-
sissippi, who Endorsed the papers to Gen
Thomas, commanding the Army of The
Cumberland, to "have this officer brough
to trial as soon as possible"
With these papers / received an order tt
appear before the court of which Col. M. c
Hunter, of Indiana, was President, then il
session at Nashville.
When l appeared before the court the
President said: "Col. Minty, you can de-
cline to be tried by this court. / am the
only officer of your rank on it; you are en-
titled to trial by your peers"
replied: Mr.. President, for five months
| have been asking to be brought before q
cCurt-martial or court of inquiry, and now
that am allowed to appear before a court
/ will not throw any obstacles in the way OF
my trial. am quite willing to leave my
case in the hands of the gentlemen compos-
ing this court"
l did not employ counsel, but conducted
my own case. The trial lasted 16 days.
Gen. Crook was in the field, somewhere in
northern Alabama, and it was agreed that
his evidence would be received at any time.
On the 10th day Crook appeared before the
court. His evidence was direct and positive.
He was riding at nay side as we passed over
Guys Gap. He pointed out my camping
ground on the bank of Cedar Creek, and
then and there gave me the order TO march
before aybreak.
When the direct evidence was concluded,
the President said: Col. Minty, have you
any questions to ask?"
wrote: "Gen. Crook, in what direction,
on what road did you order me to march ?"
Col. Hunter glanced at the question and
handed it to the Judge-Advocate, Capt.
Squires, l believe the same gentleman who
is now Senator from Washington, who read
it to the witness. Gen. Crook started,
thought a moment, and, turning to Col
Hunter, in a manly, soldierlike manner,
said: "Mr. President, / now recollect
did not give Col. Minty orders to march
ordered him to be ready to march"
l responded: Zen. Crook it is a great
pity that you did not tax your memory five
months ago, when the great wrong that has
been done me would not have been perpe-
trated."
OF course this closed the case I was
hOnorably acquitted and restored TO my
command.
l believe Gen. Crook, when he preferred
charges against.me, was honest in his belief
that l had been guilty of disobedience of
orders; and although he did me great and
wrong, 1 heartily acquit him of
all malice or evil intent
He was splendid soldier and commander,
but as a cavalry leader he had two serious
faults: he was careless to the extreme in
picketing, and he was too slow, or rather
took too long time, in getting into fight;
but after he got into it no General could
handle his men better or more CALAMITY,
and it would have been well for the country
if we had had more like him.
l had purposed passing over my arrest and
trial, as being entirely personal, but l have
come to the conclusion that it is part of
the history of the brigade, and as such
should have place in these incidents.
viii endeavor to follow the career of the
brigade during the five months l was absent
from it, but as | necessarily have no personal
knowledge Of its work | will have to depend
upon Others for facts.-R. II. g. MINTY,
Brevet Maior-General, Ogden. Utah,