Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-08-02
waAr MIGHT uAyE BEEN

An Order to tho Army That BaS just
BECOME Pubnc-How MObs Are to BE
Dealt With By Regular Troops in Case
Of Riot.
Wishing on Sidr.
The leaders Of the riotous mobS who
confronted she United States regular
troops during the progress OF the great
strike probably did not realize how
perilOusly near they stood TO violent
death, for not Ohly were the troops
fully authorized to shoot into the MODS,
but the commanding officers were au-
thoriEed 10 detail sharp-shooters to
. Shoes down individual rioters who were
particularly obstrepsrOuS.
All this is made evident BY general
order No. %, which was made public al
the War Department to-day. Not for
,rspv wears had the United States troops
been so generally in active service as
during the strike, and consequently
macy commanding officers were in
doubt as to thelr powers and duties IN
Ger the complex laws and regulations
touching the use OF troops, To meet
this demand for exact Information Gen.
SchOfeld issued general order No. %.
II was dated July 9, and officers were
instructed to regard II as confidential
because il was feared thai It's publica-
ton at the time would further infame
the excited and lawless mobs. The full
text Of the order Is as follows:
TEXT OF THE ORDER.
General orders No. IS.
HEADQUARTERS DE THE ARMY, }
q - L
WASHINGTON, July 9, 1sS4.
The following instructions are puo-
liShed for the government Of the army
A mob, forcibly resisting or obstruct-
ing tho execution OF the laws OF the
United States, or attempting 10 destroy
PROPERTY belonging 70 or under the pro-
lection OF the United States, Is puOllc
enemy.
Troops called into action against such
a mob are governed by the general reg
rlAt;ons OF the army aud military tao
tics in respect TO the manner Ia when
they shall act 10 accomplish the desired
end. IL s purely q tactical question Ia
what manner they shall use the weapons
WIKI which they are armed-Whether
by the fire Of musketry aud artillery or
by use OF the bayOnet aud saber, or oy
both. add al what stage OF the opera
lions each or either mode OF attack shall
be employed
This tactical question must necessar-
fly be decided by the immediate COM
mander of the troops, according to MS
best judgment OF the situation and the
authorized drill regulations.
In the first stage Of an Instruction
lawless mObs are frequently commin-
gled with great crowds Of com parative-
ly innocent people, drawn there by Gu
riOSity and excitement and ignorant or
the great DANGER 10 which they
are exposed. Under such circum-
stances the commanding officer should
withhold the fire OF his troops, II pos
sib,e, until timely warning has been
given 10 the innocent 70 separate them
selves from the guilty.
Under 20 circumstances are the troops
20 IRE into a crowd without the order
OF the com handing officer, except that
single sharpshooters, selected by the
commanding officer, may shoot down
individual rioters who have fred upon
or thrown missiles at the troops.
As general rule tie bayOnet alone
should De used against mixed crowds In
the first stages OF a revolt. But as
soon as sufficient warning has been
, ven TO enable the innocent TO
separate themselves from the guilty
the action of the troops should be gov
erned solely By the tactical cOnsidera-
lions involved In the duty they are
ordered 20 perform. They are NOT called
upon 10 consider how great nav be the
losses inflicted upon the public enemy,
except 20 make their blows so effective
D. TO promptly suppress all resistance TO
lawful authority and 10 stop the de-
structiou OF life the moment lawless re-
sistance has ceased. Punishment be-
longs not TO the troops, but to the courts
Of justice.
by command Of
MAJ. GEN. SCHOFIELD.
GEO. d. RUGGLEs, Adiutant General.