Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-08-16
COL. NALLElS EVIDENCE.

Inquiry yesterday afternoon, auu HhI'
! rated the incidents of the evening on
which Gen. Butler visited his camp
relative to the disturbance charged to
have occurred. The point of his story
was that he heard no disturbance and
knew nothing of the affair until in
formed by Major Butler.
Among the other witnesses OF the
day was Capt. Eutchins, who was Of
ficer of the Gay when the trouble &C.
Cured. Nearly all the witnesses were
members of the Third Virginia Regi-
ment, who swore either that they
heard nothing OF the disturbance or
that they witnessed only little OF the
excitement.
Twenty-six witnesses in all we're ex.
amined, most of them at the request OF
the counsel for Col Male, and at 5 o'clock
the court adjourned to resume its SEES
sion this morning, when counsel for
Col. Nalle hope to complete their evil
dence. The case will then be argued
and will go to the court for report.
| 1t came out that when the Connectl
cut regiment reached the camp OF the
Vireinians, the former shouted that
they had come to help the Virginians
catch the "nigger." Gen. Buffers chol-
eric language was again commented
upon, as several witnesses swore that
| the division commander had spoken OF
the Virginians as acting like Indians,
and had criticised tina Virginia privates
for refusing to salute colored officers.
The bulk OF the evidence, however,
was OF purely negative character, as
most ofthe members of the regiment
swore that they had heard and seen
little or nothing.
The first witness was DR.. D. G. Mer.
riman. He stated that one OF the men
in the crowd grasped him about the
knee and tried to draw him from his
horse. Another man, also of the Third
| Virginia, shouted shoot that -"
F. X. Ferguson, a sutler, spoke OF
the crowd of men that ran across the
field estimating their number at about
seventy-fve to eighty, most OF them
members of the Third Virginia. The
disturbance, he said. lasted only few
minutes.
Capt. Hutchins testified that he met
General Butler, who said in an excited
way, 81 find your regiment in q perfect
state of riot. The men are set OF
- hoodlums, acting like Co
manche Indians" The General then
added that there had been some trouble
in the Virginia regiment in regard TO
saluling colored officers. II salute
them, !" he said, "and so do you. Why
can't the men do the same ~ Captain
] Hutchins testified that he was on tine
regimental grounds about $50 Monday
evening, when he heard call from post
thirteen. The call was repeated and
the captain went up to investigate the
trouble. The sentinel said that fuss had
taken place, and that number of men
from the hospital corps were chas-
ing d negro. According to the cap
tain's statements, the crowd might have
numbered 100 Virginians, hospital
corps men and outsiders. He triei TO
stop the men, and while hesucceeded in
the case of some, good many who did
not appear to hear him rushed by
Msjor Wright, who was very nervous
while on the stand, said be did not have
to use force to make the crowd disperse
and return to their camps. He did not
recognize any Of the Virginians. This
closed the case against the regiment.
Lieut.. S K. Don ohue gave evidence
10 show that the disturbance was not Of
a serious nature. He said he went to
head oil the men who were chasing the
negro and was met by Major Wright, Of
| Gen. Buffers staff, who asked why in
h witness did not head oil that d.
mob. Wright was tremendously ex-
cited. The men obeyed him as soon as
he reached them and there was no dis
order in camp.
After recess of an hour, the court re-
sumed its session. A number of men,
bers OF the Third Virginia were sum-
moned. After large amount OF cor
roborative testimony, brought forward
to show that no great disturbance was
witnessed at or near the camp, had
been submitted, Counsel Moore, repre-
senting Col. Male, asked whether the
court would accept without hearing
the testimony of some fifteen or twenty
others. whose evidence was along the
same line. The recorder seemed in
clined to grant this, but other members
OF the court believed that the matter
would rest necessarily with the discre-
tior OF the counsel. Accordingly, one
Virginian after the other was sworn in,
privates and non-commissioned officers,
as we'll as officsrs, and each was asked
briet series of questions. Besides Rev
W. II. Ashe,on and J. G. Dice, two civil
ians, and Capt. Henry II. Saunders, OF
the First Connecticut, Company K, q
number OF officers and men of the
Third Virginia took the witness stand.
While some of the men testified that
thew had heard and seen absolutely
nothing of any disturbance, Others de
clared that there had been some run
ming about, crowd variously estimated
at from so to 100 having participated.
Several who ran along said they were
instigated only by curiosity.
When Col. Nslle took the stand Gen.
Butler, who had been absent during
most of the proceedings, entered the
room and left again soon after the Col
onel had completed his testimony.
The Colonel evinced no desire to cast
any reflections on Gen. Butler. and the
strongest language he used was that the
Central was under q misrepresentation
He explained in full that he knew moth
ing of the affair until it was all over.
Witness said that be had finished SUP.
per on the evening OF August and was
sitting at mess table. talking with his