Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-12
1T WAS BRUTALITY.
ATTY-GEx'L MONTAGUE SO SPEAKS
OF GEN. BuTLER's ORDER.
EMPHATIC DEHUHCIATlOA.
The Attorney-GeneraID Discusses the
Treatment of the Third Virginia,
and Gives ForcibIe Expression 10
His Views Regarding Ii.

Il think General Buffers order a piece
Of clear-cut, gratuitous brutality, an in
dignity put upon the regiment and the
people of the State without cause and
without parallel"
1t was thus that Attorney General
Montague. after his return from Camp
Alger and Washington yesterday after
| noon. characterized the action of
Major-General Butler regarding the Third
Virginia Regiment
Mr.. Montague went to Camp Alger in
| response to telegram from a number
OF the officers OF the regiment who wish
ed him to advise them regarding the
| course best to be pursued in view of the
strangely and Unexpectedly unjust manner
IN which General Butler had acted
towards them. Mr.. Montague is, by
nature, man Of extreme prudence and
conservatism, so that his force and
warmth in discussing General Butler
conduct makes 1t certain that the general
opinion that the regiment had been treat
ed unjustly was correct.
Mr.. Montague had just returned from
washington ard was seated at his desk
"heh the Dispatch reporter entered. Du-
ing the conversation he remained seated
the greater portion Of the time. but once
he rose to his feet to discuss the con-
duct OF General Butler and the hunilia-
ton of the Virginians.
OFFICERS AND MEN PRISONERS.
II found the entire regiment practically
under arrest" he said. mot an officer
nor a man is allowed to leave camp
without permission, and this Is refused
by Major-General Butler. Every day
there is detailed from the regiment be-
tween three hundred and four hundred
men to stand guard and see that nobody
passes out of the lines. General Butler
has said in general orders that the en-
tire regiment is in disgrace, and officers
and men feel acutely the humiliation to
which they are subjected.
But subjected unjustly." continued
Mr.. Montague with warmth. General
Butler is proceeding in a manner which
merits the condemnation Of every good
soldier and every fair-minded man. He
will receive IL after an investigation into
all the circumstances shall have been
had He has judged and is furnishing the
whole regiment for an offence charged to
only a few and that without investiga-
ton. He alleges, know. that he saw
The attack upon the negro, and that he
knows of the circumstance by personal
observation. The accounts which ne
gives of the affair differ in the widest
POSSIBLE manner from that given by the
officers and men of the regiment. l do
not desire to bring any charges against
anybody, but do not believe / can find
anywhere a man, or set of men. whom
| would sooner trust TO speak the truth
on any matter coming under their obser-
walton than my acquaintances in the
Third Virginia Observation-Disclosures and
men-and they are absolutely a unit in
contradcting the story told by General
Butler.
II do not know what will be the pro-
cedure in the court Of inquiry which is
to deal with the matter, but this l know,
that If IL were TO be passed upon in
court Of law General Butler would lose
his case. The overwhelming preponder-
ance of testimony would be against him.
A DELIBERATE CHARGE.
General Buffers entire course" said
Mr.. Montague with deliberate emphasis,
rs a piece of clear-cut, gratuitous
brutality. His order is an indignity put
Upon the regiment and the people Of the
state without cause and without a par
allel"
Mr. Montague and Mr.. Park Agnew,
United States Internal Revenue Collec-
tor at Alexandria. called on the Secre-
tary of War, and discussed the matter
at length. Secretary Alger was, of
course, reticent regarding the trouble,
he f,,lI
investigation.
BEAR 1T LIKE SOLDIERS.
Mr.. Montague says the people of Vir.
gnia should realize the sad and humili-
atng position in which their soldiers are
placed.
yet" he said they bear 1t nobly
General Butler is not abused by the Off
GERS or by the men The demeanor OF
every one, from Colonel Male down, IS
superb, showing that they fully deserved
the compliment paid the regiment by Cen
eral Butler a few days ago, when he said
1t was the best drilled and disciplined
body of men he had ever seen outside of
the regular army.
The Court of Inquiry is expected to sit
and investigate the matter within short
time, but the time has not been fixed.
There Is not a shadow Of doubt but that
the regiment will be exonerated.
GOVERNOR COULD NOT GO.
Governor Tyler did not reach Camp AL
ger, though he had started thither in re-
spouse to a telegram similar TO the one
sent Mr.. Montague. but he was recalled
by the illness Of Hal, his youngest son.
Senator Martin has been taking great in
terest in the affair, and Mr. Montague
warmly commended the promptness and
energy with which Mr.. Park Agnew did
all possible to relieve the condition Of the
Virginia soldiers.
Who General butler Is.
There is naturally a great deal of sur
prise expressed here at the manner in
which General Butler has acted. He is a
southern man. supposed to be in sympa-
thy with southern soldiers. though
to do more than simple justice.
He seems 10 have lost his head.
He had the reputation of being a man of
remarkably cool Judgment, and there was
pleasure manifested by the Virginia SOL
dlers when assigned 10 his command. The
war record of General Butler, his record
In the Senate OF the United States. and
his general reputation OF being Of the salt
Of the earth, as an army officer ex-
pressed 1t 10 a Dispatch reporter last
night, made the opinion universal that he
would make an ideal commander There
seems to have been an all-around mistake
picture OF General Butler was unvell-
ed in Lee Camp Hall last fall. Mr.. Will
liam l. Royal making the presentation
speech. and General Fitzhugh Lee the
speech Of acceptance.
In C~ober, 1883. General Butler deliver