The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-02

IoCdNOntdS, Va JUNE - Ao'".
General A. l.. Phillips. Commanding FIRST
Brigade, Virginia Volunteers
S.r.-In reply to yours Of the I'D Instant
instruciing me TO investigate certain
charges published I'm the Richmond Star.
rejecting upon the department Of one OF
the men under my command while on
duty at P0cahontas
In the first place. VIII assert that the
article written by the stars correspond
ent Is a tissue Of falsehoods from be-
ginning TO end. and Is unworthy OF the
notice of any respectable man.
The soldier whom the article refers 10
is only a matter of conjecture. as his
name IS not stated. The Star disoiaims
any reference 10 Private \. =. Bayliss,
OF the Blues Battalion. and as he AMI
Private H. Fields. of tne Petersburg
Grays. were tho Only men struck by
stones while on duty. the inference is
that the Stars correspondent had rcter-
once 10 Private Fields.
The facts I'm the case are as follows:
ON the night Of May 2oth the guards ut
Cemetery Ridge were In charge OF Liou-
tenant W. :. Mayo, OF the Fourth BAT
TALON Of Infantry. who reported that
about e.p 4. VI. n shot was fred from
Post No l." when / Immediately turned
OUT The guards and proceeded 70 the post
ON arriving. / found the sentinel, II.
Fields. lying IN the road, with his feet
towards the creek. and his face up. Al
the same time several shots were hred
from Posts . and az men who were APP
preaching. but refused 10 halt when email
lengod. and when fired upon turned and
fed. then sent 20 the officer OF me
dav FOR reinforcement OF the guard, which
arrived in a short time followed by the
Petersburg Grays after which there was
no further disturbance.
with any one conversant with the 10
caliiv and circumstances the idea or ono
of tho guards being absent from his post
would seem simply preposterous.
Cemetery Ridge commands the approach
most frequentcd between the ElNhorn re-
glon and Pocahontas. and at that time
There was considerable activity among
tho strikers. striving 10 get at the ioed-
houtas miners. Between that point and
tho town is \ dangerous locality The
nfrh' was stormy and cold, and no one
hut "A soldier " the most intrepid dar-
ln. would have abandoned his post ana
zone to tho town and returned besll IS
the utmost vigilance was cnJoinel upon
rho -ler in charge Of the guard. and
Il.uf, ant Mayo is an efficient, Ieian'e'
and vieilant officer. and It is not WITHIN
reason 20 suppose that the absence OF
ono ~ his guard would have escaped his
notice IL simply could not have been aoh''
And assert that this charge against
Private Fields is base falsehoo'' 'H'
author OF which is malicious sco"iiii'''
The stars correspondent SHOWS MS j. mo-
,,nce of the occurrence in stating that
the guard were armed with inches'eI
rfeas each shooting sixteen shots IN halt
a minute The fact is that no hch's-
fer rifles are used by the volunteer mil
tia OF Virginia. and doubt whether fii-
,.4fo Fields SAW a Winchester while on
duty al p0cdhOntas.
..Thc statement that the man who
struck Private Fields was arrested ana
carried before the Mayor, and that the
Mayor dismissed the ease Ia ordrr 10
hush the matter up" is absolutely false.
so one has ever been arrested al any
time for the offence, as we have never
had the slightest clue AS 20 who the per
petrator was.
The charge that Governor O'Fcrrall or
dored the troops 10 POcahontas without
being called for by the local civil anthoH-
ties. and that they have been kept lh'l'
regardless OF the wishes OF the local au-
thorities. is sheer fabrication. Upon
fine cau Of che Sheriff OF Tazeweu county
received orders TO proceed az once 10
Graham. Va. with instructions 20 report
~ once 10 the Sheriff of Taze~el county
and 10 b. cove rned by his orders ana IN
.frurrions. / was ordered TO proceed with
INV command from Graham 10 Iocahoh-
tas by the Sheriff himself, ana from that
time until now have been subject 10 MS.
orders. Several times Ia the past thI'e
weeks have suggested 20 the Sherlh the
rropriety Of advising removal OF the
troops. and each time bee objected 10 the
removal OF the troops. because, III Ills
opinion. the condition Of AFFAIRS mere IT,
,.'iircd the presence Of the military 10
enable him 90 prevent violations OF the
Lazy and disturbance of the peace OF lhls
locality.
When I was ordered 10 the command
of the troops at this place my instrnc-
lions from the Governor were 10 permit
mo- violations of the laws OF the state
and 10 protect every ciuzen M us TIGHTS
IN rrrsue his legitimate calling, ana 10
project every man IN his right 10 worn
AGAINST Interference or mOleslatiOh from
others and to sac that 40 man was co..
err.d 10 work against his Will nave
enleayorcd TO carry out these instr"c-
lions. and have 10 knowledge OF any
man having been compelled 10 "o'A
AGAINST his will for one single moment.
ANA had such been the case would
have known il, because the miners were
limo and again notified that the military
uare sent here for their protection, ana
whenever they had any grievances th.y
had only 10 report il TO me- ana would
apply a remedy for IL.
In reference to the enforcement OF
military rule here. | tmphdiicatiF state
that il was necessary measure Ia orutl
To protect the lives OF the citlzehS anu
prevent the destruction OF property from
4 lawlcss mob. l was ordered TO DO SO
Of Ia with the
anprovaf of the Mayor Of the Town.
was present (by rcquesD at the meeting
of the Board of Trade Of Pocahontas
when they objected 10 The occupation OF
the town bv the military. j was ar my
request that they formulated the series
OF resolutions, which / forwarded 10 Inc
Governor having approved my course
continued 10 enforce military rule as long
As in nv Judgment the condition OF affairs
here required IL. large number OF
those same men who participated IN the
meeting Of the Board OF Trade and were
severe in their denunciation or the course
pursued by me. with the approval OF the
Governor. afterwards came to me indi-
viduallv and acknowledged that they
could see the wisdom OF the steps taken
10 maintain the law, and assured me
that they heartily approved OF II ana
thanked me for having restored order ana
preserved the peace OF the town.
came here in the capacity OF mill
tarv officer under instructions from Gov
ernor O'Ferrall. | was entirely disinter-
ested ia the welfare of any individual
or corporation OF this locality and have
honestly endeavored 10 carry out my In
structions TO the best Of my ability. re-
gardless OF the interest Of any individual
or corporation.
Having come in contact with great