New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-24
NATIONAL GUARD AFFAiRS.

INTEREST IN THE SEWARD COURT MARTIAL
TROOP AS FINE RECORD IN CAMP.
The uncommon interest which is being taken In
the Seward court-martial demonstrated by the
size and the representative character OF the audi
which listened the testimony at both
sessions Of the court. In spite Of the fact that
the room where the sessions were held was veri-
table sweat box 1t was crowded with colonies. leu
tenant-cOlonels. majors. surgeons. captains. heu-
tenants and prvates. They not from any one
regiment, nor from two or three regiments Nearly
every organization In the city was represented.
That their interest in the proceedings keen
shown every time the court cleared for DELHI
Grafton. The crowd hung around the doors for
nearly hour at time, fearing 10 50 away lest
the seats would all be taken by others before they
returned Each time when the doors were opened
the crowd rushed in to get the front seats. When
the proceedings begun again they were listened
10 with marked attention.
The first nights proceedings somewhat tedi-
I'm spite OF the fact that OF the prosecutions
most important witnesses. Generals McGrath and
Fitzgerald. examined. Outside of the formal
testimony 10 the Issuing OF the order and the
fact that the regiment did not parade the date
assigned TO IT, the only part OF General FiZgeralds
testimony which aroused any particular interest was
that concerning his interview with Colonel Seward
subsequent TO the issuing Of the order. He testified
that Colonel Seward his office May %
and asked to be relieved from taking the regiment
TO Van Cortlandt Park Colonel Seward gave as his
reasons for the request the which already
been published numerous times the large amount
OF duty the regiment had been compelled 10 do the
possible near approach Of the inspection. etc. Gen
era Fitzgerald refused 10 excuse the regiment how
ever characterizing Colonel Sewards reasons for
wishing 10 be excused as nonsense:
ara swore took place between General Fitzgerald
and himself was not brough, out BY the test;
said he asked General Fitzgerald how. then. in
paradng he was 70 INTERPRET that bari Of the order
giving the CGi0nel discretion to parade or not under
declared that. providing orders for inspection
were issued for date within week so.
colonel would be JUSTIFIED in postponins the parade
General Fiizgeralds demeanor while witness
the matter. He described the receipt Of Colonel
Stewards communication on the morning OF June
General McCrath's testimony brought out some
facts which have not been known all heretofore.
except by those directly interested in the trouble.
He said that early In May he RAD spoken to Colonel
Seward. asking him to say about when he would
be ready for inspection. Colonel Seward replied
the tailor for the purpose Of having the trimmings
changed. he could not give definite answer. He
Few DAYS s a nS h dd %rf sTsonn %
General McGrath, saying he would be ready for
= G1eTai McTah wrote aaga ~ asking c2one
week mentioned and intimaiing. If he would that
the inspection would be ordered for some day In
Seward had replied that he would be ready, TINS
testimony was Of great im9orinnee t. Colonc
which was comparatively definite as 70 the time OF
the inspection time before the date on which
he had been ordered - to Van COrtlan1t Park.
Whatever the outcome Of the court martial may
be. the proceedings viii be watched with Intense
interest and the verdict awaited with impotence.
Troop has been doing hard work all OF the
week In camp and winning praise from both the
Army and National Guard officers. whose business
IL Is 70 watch the men with critical eyes. There
Is little romance about the kind Of duty the cay
alrymen perform under the burning sun Of the
Peekskil camp. Any one who thinks there Is
ought go TO the camp and remain all night so he
can arise at 455 a. m. and just what the men
undergo. II is only week. 10 b. SURG but IN effect
1t Is several weeks rolled into one.
The camp has never before contained so many
men at time were there during the
week which closed yesterday. More than 100
officers and men ate their meals IN The hal
every day Two OF the companies had l0i officers
and men each. and the smallest company In camp
had ninety-one officers and men.
No troops from New-Iork or BROOKLYN VIII be
seen IN camp from now until July l. on which date
the 9Th Regiment takes its turn From that time
until It's close there will be men there from either
the First or the Second Brigade in the tents.