The herald., 1894-10-26
OUR AMATEUR SOLDIERS.
The Late Military FiascO at
Sacramento.
Report of Markham's Court Of
Inquiry.
Commanding officers Numerically
Roasted.
MOI or q ensral Dimond and His Dubor-
dinAtes Held r Rssponsibls for the
InElorious Campaign OF
July Fourth.

SACRAMENTO. Oct. 25.-The report Of
the court of inquiry appointed by the
governor has been received. It states
that the court met at the armory Of
Company O. First regiment infantry.
Second brigade, N. G. c., September 27,
1894, organized in due form, and entered
upon its duties.
The order appointing the court pro-
vided that thorough inquiry should be
made as to the operations of the troops
at Sacramento during the late strike,
and that special inquiry and report
should be made as to the conduct Of the
officers and men. As directed by said
order, the court has performed its work
without regard to rank, prejudices or
preconceived ideas." and its investiga-
tions are returned, with ite opinions
freely expressed"
1t has endeavored to make its investi-
cations thorough, its labors have been
performed with view of eliciting the
true facts, and its conclusions are the
result of careful deliberstion. It real
izss the importance OF the investigation
and the grave duty resting upon it; be-
ing conscious that the conclusions
reached and the communications made
will be officially acted upon "a am
nounced in said orders. A large number
OF Witnesses, citizens, as we'll as MEM
bers Of the National guard. were exam
ined and much documentary evidence
introduced. The testimony covers over
1000 pages OF legal cap. and the court
was actually in session 20 days.
From the evidence the court finds that
on July 8, 1894, the governor received
from Marshal Baldwin demand for
troops to be sent to Sacrament to assist
him in the preservation of the public
peace, preservation of property and en-
forcement of the laws of California and
the United States, and he thereupon by
telegraph ordered Msjor-General Di-
mond. commanding the division, to send
sufficient troops to Sacramento. The
utmost latitude was given to General
Dimond, al be was permitted to Use
his own judgment az to the number OF
troops and the means Of transportation.
The governors orders were received
about 5 80 p. m. on the Sd. communi-
Gated to General Dickinson, and by his
order the entire command was ready 20
20 to Sacramento. the troops showing
remarkable promptness and zeal In re-
porting for duty.
No attempt was made to comply with
the order to provide one days rations,
with the exception of two or three com.
panies of the First regiment. The or.
der for rations seems to have been
clearly understood by General Dickin-
son and Colonels Sullivan and Barry.
So far as the court has been able to as
certain, the commissary officers OF these
commands received no orders, nor did
the commanding officers themselves
make any effort to provide subsistence
OF any kind. 1t is in evidence that these
officers had, az early June 30th. consid-
cred the probability of their commands
being ordered out for active service.
Sacramento was reached at $3.50 q. m.
on the 4th, There eeems to be no ques-
ton that before leaving the armory at
Sacramento Brigadier- General Dickiu
son received orders from Msjor-Genera
Dimond to cooperate with Brigadier
General Sheehan. The commend moved
in one column upon the depot. The
brigade under General Sheehan was ia
the formation OF close column of com-
panies.
General Dickinson marched in the
same formation until just before the
depot was reached. when it formed. by
direction of General Dickinson, in q
street column. This formation was main
tanned during the whole time that the
troops stood in the sun at the depot and
tbav ,vara fpallv die roioaad
The depot may be approached by three
or four different streets leading to it di-
rectly or indirectly. There seems to
have been no organized plan and no
consideration of the advisability OF
marching against the depot in parallel
column of attack 30 that on arrival .
strong line might have been immedi-
ately formed and sufficient force OF
skrmishers thrown forward.
1t tappeats that the strikers had pub
!iciy announced, and that General Shee-
han was fully notified that no resistance
would be made to the occupancy of the
depot by the troops. and he go informed
General Dimond and General Dickinson.
During all the time (about three
hours) that the troops remained at the
armory on the morning of the 4th, no
attempt or effort was made by any one
to ascertain the actual situation Of
affairs at the depot; the number of
strikers there. their disposition. their
arms. as we'll as their temper. remained
unknown to the commanding otiicers.
1t appears that Generals Dimond and
Dickinson accepted the assurance Of
General Sheehan that there would be
no resistance, and tho column of nearly
1000 men moved upon the depot without
taking the precaution to send forward
force in advance, or even to throw out .
single skismisher.
No real effort, from military stand.
point, was sver made to enter the depoe
or take possession of the railroad prem.
ises. The force which came in direct
contact with the crowd consisted OF the
front of only one company OF l6 fles,
and no determined effort was made b.