The herald., 1894-10-26

from its front.
After further long details OF events
leading up TO the march to the depot,
the court says:
Major General Dimond snys in his
report that he "cheeriully accepts the
responsibility of the management OF the
campaign resulting from the strike;"
and, in q certain sense, 1t must be said
that he is responsible for the various
errors committed in July last. Absolute
command carried with ii the entire re-
sporsibility. But the court is of the
opinion, while thus broadly placing the
responsibility upon his shoulders, that
In the execution of the various move
ments, he is not to be held entirely to
blame. But nevertheless he is person.
ally responsible for q number OF mis-
taxes. He gave the necessary orders,
and his subordinates should have at.
tended to the details.
The concentration was made so hia
command would arrive in Sacramento on
the 4th, when it was well known that sll
places of business would be closed and
that the capital city would be filled with
large numbers OF citizens from the sur
rounding country. 1t was his duty to
endeavor to dislodge the strikers from
the railroad property without any strug-
gle, and without any loss OF life. if pos
sibls. II was ill-advised TO make any at
tional holiday.
Referring to the delays on the morn.
ing of the arrival, and the lack OF break
fast, the court says that General Dimond
ia not directly responsible. but. on the
other hand, when the trains were halted
at Twenty-frst street he should have
issued orders to proceed to the depot
and. II necessary, should have taken
charge OF the trains himself. On the
arrival OF the trains at Twenty-first and
M streets. and while at breakfast at the
armory, the major-Reneral commanding
advised with Brigadier-G General Sheehan
of the Fourth brigade. who, rs ne resided
in Sacramento, was supposed to be
familiar with the situation and compe-
tent to give the major-general such in
formation as might be necessary.
Brigadier-G General Sheehan assured
the major-general that the strikers
would offer no resistance and would al
low them to enter the depot without op-
position. Notwithstanding these as
Burances, the ma jor- general should have
taken the proper precautions 80 that
there could have been no question Of
success in case of resistance. After q
delay of about two and q half hours,
the troops took up the march from the
armory to the depot in single column.
The depot is situated in open ground
and can be reached BY three or four
different streets.
The court is Of the opinion that the
command should have moved in two or
moro parallel columns, 80 that on its ar
rival at the open ground near the depot.
the troops could have deployed and q
force OF akirmishers been thrown for
ward. Tie court finds that the major
general is equally with the brigade
commanders. responsible for the faulty
formation of the troops when advancing
to the depot. On the arrival OF the
column in the open near the depot. the
major-general established headquarters
in the depot building, out OF the imme-
6iAte presence of his troops. The court
is of the opinion that his post should
have been with the column, so that he
could have personally issued his orders
and verified their execution if they
we're neglected or disobeyed, he should
have placed under arrest or deprived oi
command the delinquent officers.
1t WISE great misfortune to place the
Sacramento companies at the head oi
the column, as the members OF these
organizations resided in Sacramento.
Msny OF them belonged to trade organi-
cations and in all probability sympa-
thized with the strikers. 1t was un-
doubtedly one OF the grave errors of the
day to place these troops in position
where they would recognize in the
crowd their daily associates, neighbors,
friends and perhaps relatives. The
court is of the opinion that if the San
Francisco troops bad been placed at the
head of the column an entry into the
depot could have been effected without
trouble or loss OF life.
General Dimond did, after some delay,
Issue the necessary orders to take the
depot, and if it had not been for the
delinquency of some of his subordinate
officers, the depot would have been oc-
cupied. General Dimond issued an or
der to his brigade commanders in posi-
tive terms, authorizing and directing
them to use all force necessary to dis
lodge the strikers and they were directed
to use the bayonet and lead if neces-
sary. 1t therefore results that the fail
ure to take the depot does not rest
entirely on the shoulders of the division
commander.
The line of march from the armory
was not well devised; more care should
have been exercised in selecting the
route. A part of Second street. over
which the command moved was torn
up for repairs. the street was filled with
stones of convenient size for throwing
old lumber boxes and barrels lined the
streets and in places greatly impeded
travel. a determined mob could have
easily barricaded this street and used
the loose stones with serious effect
Crowds Of people, men, women and
children, gathered along the streets and
sidewalks and accompanied the troops
to the depot. When General Sbee-
hams command reached the place
where the crowd was gathered in front,
his command WAS marching in close
column of companies and with front
of 16 files. There was no order to de-
ploy no thought of skirmish line. but
the first company was allowed to bump
against the mob. until they stood still
without orders. There was Gatling gun
between the Sacramento and Stockton
companies. citizens were standing be-
tween the companies, around the gun,
20 that determined mob could have
made q rush through the fanks,
destroyed the formation and captured
the gun. General Sheehan not only ad.
dressed the mob several times at length,
but he pleaded with the strikers and re-
quested them to leave the depot and al
low him to take possession. In this he
forgot his duty az an officer and violated
the law, which especially prohibits the
making of speech to mob.