The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-01
General Schofield's Order No. %
Just Made Public
The Troops Were Not to Shoot
Into a Crowd
PICK THEM OUT SINGLY
SharpshOOters We're to Dispose
of Individual Rioters.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-The leaders
of the riotous mobs who confronted
the United States regular troops dur
ing the progress of the great strike
probably did not realize how peril
Ously they stood to violent death, for
not only were the troops fully author
lied to shoot into the mobs, but the
commanding officers were instructed
to detail sharpshOoters to shoot down
individual rioters who were particu-
larly active.
All this is made evident by general
order number %, which has just been
made public at the war department.
Not for many years had the United
States troops been SO generally in
active service as during the strike and
consequently many commanding Of
fcers were somewhat in doubt as to
their powers and duties under the
complex laws and regulations touch
ing the use Of troops To meet this
demand for exact information, Gen
eral SchOfield issued general order
number %.
1t was dated July and officers were
instructed to regard it as confidential,
because it was feared that its publica-
ton at that time would further in
flame the excited and laWless mObs-
The full text OF the order is as follows:
"A mob. forcibly resisted or OBJ
structing the execution of the laws Of
the United States, or attempting to
destroy property belonging to or
under the protection of the United
States, is a public enemy.
Troops called into action against
such a mob are governed by the
general regulations of the army and
military tactics in respect to the man
complish the desired end. 1t is purely
a tactical question in what manner
they shall use the weapons with
which they are armed-whether by
the fire of musketry and artillery. or
by the use of the bayonet and saber,
or by both, and at what stage Of the
operations each or either mObs of
attack shall be employed.
This tactical quest on must neces-
sarily be decided by the immediate
commander of the troops according to
his best judgment of the situation and
the authorized drill regulations.
In the first stage of an insurrec-
ton, lawless mobs are frequently
commingled with great crowds of
comparatively innocent people, drawn
there by curiosity and excitement,
and ignorant of the great danger to
which they are exposed.
''Under such circumstances the
commanding officer should withhold
the fire of his troops. if possible, until
timely warning has been given to the
innocent to separate themselves from
the guilty.
Under no circumstances are the
troops to fire into a crowd without the
order of the commanding officer, ex-
cept that single sharp-shooters,
selected by the commanding officer,
may shoot down Individual rioters who
have fred upon or thrown missiles at
the troops
LAS a general rule. the bzyonet
alone should be used against mixed
crowds in the first stages of a revolt
But as soon as sufficient warning has
been given to enable the innocent to
s parate themselves from the guilty
the action of the troops should be
governed solely by the tactical con-
siderations involved in the duty they
are ordered to perform
They are not called upon to con-
slider how great may be the losses IN
hicted upon the public enemy. except
to make their blows so effective as to
promptly suppress all resistance to
lawful authority, and to stop the
destruction Of life the moment lawless
resistance has ceased Punishment
belongs not to the troops, but to the
courts Of Justice BY command Of
Major General Schofield.
GEORGE r. RUGGLEs,
''Adjutant General"