Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-31
MIGHT. HAVE BEEN
An Order to the Army That Has Just
Become Public.
How Mobs Are TO He Dealt With by
Regular Troops in Case
of Riot.

The leaders Of the .riotcus mobs who con-
fronted the 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
only were the troops fully authorized to
shoot into the mebs. but the commanding
officers were authorized to detail sharp
shooters to shoot down individual rioters
who were particularly obstreperous.
All this is made evident by general order
No. %, which was made public at the War
Department today. Not for many years
had the United States troops been so gen.
orally in active service as during the
strike, and consequently many commanding
officers were somewhat in doubt as to their
powers and duties under the complex laws
and regulations touching the use Of troops
To meet this demand for exact information
Gen. Schofield issued general order No. rs;
1t was dated July ., and officers we're in
Structed to regard it as confidential, be-
cause it was feared that its publicatio at
the time would further infame the ex-
cited and lawless mobs. The full text Of
the order is as follows:
Text of the Order.
General orders No. %.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
WASHINGTON. July D. 1854
for the government Of the army"
mob. forcibly resisting o. obstructing
the execution of the laws of the United
States, or attempting u destroy property
belonging to or under the protection OF the
United States. Is a public enemy.
Troops called into action against such q
mob are governed by the general regulations
OF the army and military tactics in respect
TO the manner IN which they shall act to ac-
compiish thc desired. end 1t is purely
in hs.= n
use the weapons with which they are armed
whether by the fire oil rnusketry and artil-
lery OF by use OF the bayonet and saber or
10y 10th, and at what stage of the opera tions
each or either mode Of attack shall be en-
ployed.
This tactical question must necessarily be
decided by the immediate commander OF the
troops, according to his best judgment of
the situation ana the authorized drill rsyula-
tions. -
In the first stage of an insurrection law
less mobs are frequently commingled with
great crowds of comparatively innocent peo-
PIE, drawn there by curiosity and excite
ment and ignorant of the great danger to
which they are exposed. Urder such circum-
stances the commanding officer should with
hold the hre of his troops, ii possible until
tmely warning has been given to the lnno-
cent tc separate themselves from the guilty
Under no circumstances are the troops to
fire into crowd without the order of the
commanding officer except that single
sharpshooters. seiecred by the commaudin.
officer, may shoot down individual rioters
who have fired upon or thrown rnissiles at
the troops. ... ..... -. =
. AS seneral rule the bayonet alone should
be used against mixed crowds in the first
stages of revolt But as soon as sufficient
warning has been given to enable the inno-
cent TO separate themselves from the g;,ilty
the actl)n OF the trocps should be governed
solely by the tactical consi1era tons involved
IN the duty they are ordered t. perform.
lhey are not called upon to conside, how,
great may be the losses inflicted upon the
pubic enemy, except to make their blows SO
effective to promptly suppress ali resist
ance to lawful authority and to stop the de
structicn of life the moment lawless resist
ance has ceased Punishment belongs not
By command of
MAI. GEN. SCHOFIEID
GEO. d. RUGGLES. Adjutant General.