Evening star., 1898-08-12
The Inquiry Into Conduct of the 3rd
Virginia Regiment.
TESTIMONY OF COMMANDING GENERAL
The Order Forming the Court and
Who VIII Compose 1t.
MAY GO TO SEA GIRT

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
DUNN LORING, Va, August 12.-In
compliance with orders issued by Ad-
jutant General Corbin court of inquiry
was convened this morning at 1st Division
headquarters for the purpose of investi-
eating the recent disorder in the Sd Vir-
sinia- Volunteers. The witnesses examined
were Major General 81. C. Butler, COM
manding the division, and Major F. 5.
Strong, adjutant general of the division
1t is the general impression here that Cen
eral Buffers statement of the case against
the regiment was damaging to the COM
mand in the extreme, but that it was
weakened considerably in cross-examina-
tion. Major Strong merely confirmed some
details of General Buffers testimony An
adjournment was ordered about o'clock,
with the understanding that the afternoon
sitting would begin about 3.
The order creating this court read as fol-
lows:
Headquarters I'd Army Corps,
Camp Russell A Alger. Va,
August IL. 1888.
Special Orders No. 70.
In accordance with the 115th article Of
war a court of inquiry is appointed at the
request Of Colonel w. Nalle. Sd Virginia
Volunteers. to examine into and report
upon the facts connected with the conduct
teers as charged in general order IS. cur
rent series, 1st Division headquarters I'd
Army Corps. The court will meet at the
headquarters of the 1st Division, I'd Army
Corps, at 10 o'clock am, August II, or as
soon thereafter as practicable.
I'm it's report the court Of inquiry will
pre- sent it's opinion Of the merits Of the
case as provided in the 119th article of
Gross, Sd Missouri Volunteers: Lieut.. Col.
W. S. Edgerly, inspector general. United
States Volunteers: Lieut.. Col. w. F. Duval.
chief ordnance officer, United States Volun-
tillery recorder
by order Maj. Gen. Graham
"(SigneD c. S. ROBERTS,
'Adjutant General"
In the room in which the court sat were
Col. Na11e commanding the Sd Virginia;
John F. Rixey, member of Congress from
Virginia; A. J. Montague, attorney general
of the state, and Messrs. r. w. Moore of
Fairfax and George E. Hamilton and 3. K.
Peter of Washington.
Gen. Buffers Testimony.
The court first summoned Mai Gen. But
Ter, who gave complete statement of the
facts which led up to the order issued Tues
day morning. His version of the affair APP
peared in The Star of Tuesday. In SUBJ
stance it was as follows:
He was Informed about 8 o'clock in the
evening that a number of men were indulg-
ing in riotous and disorderly conduct near
the quarters of the 1st Division hospital
and he was requested to order out a guard
to suppress them. A detail of twelve men
was accordingly sent at once. A little
later, at the request of Maj Cooke, chief
surgeon of the 1st Division this guard was
supplemented by an additional detail of the
battalion from the 1st Connecticut Volun-
/ teerS Maj. Butler, the son of the general
was then sent over to determine on the ex-
acS nature of the disturbance; subsequently
Gen. Butler himself rode over On arriving
at the Sd Virginia sentry line Gen. Butler
saw about seventy-five or 100 men running
ahout shouting and yelling. He was in
formed that there had been a disturbance
about negro, and the 1st Division hospital
and the me nbers of the Virginia regiment
mad been responsible for it. When he and
h's aus ordered the men to go back to their
quarters they obeyed. but did so reluctant
ly. One of the men hooted dsrespectfully
oriy short distance away from Gen. But
Ter Another, when told that every one
Who participated in the disorder would be
arrested, answered that there were 400 or
SEQ, then. who would have to be taken into
custody.
AS far as General Butler could see there
were no officers from the regiment about
anywhere. IN General Buffers mind the
conduct of the men-"that is, of the Is or
1eo that he himself had seen''-was riotous
and disorderly in the extreme The cross
examination, which was conducted by Mr.
Hamilton, brought forth the following
facts:
AN the information on which the order
condemning the Sd Virginia was based was
obtained either over the telephone or on
General Buffers tour of inspection 1t was
possible that in the noise about the camp
and the confusion that prevailed his or
ders to the men might not have been heard
He knew of no specific acts of insubordina-
tion.
Major Strong was called and testified to
the information received by him over the
telephone relating to the disturbance at the
hospital. 1t is expected that the hearing
will occupy several days. Major Cooke
chief surgeon of the division. will probably
| be examined this afternoon. Information
has leaked cut that the west division will
not go to Thoroughfare Gap. 1t is not
known exactly whera the command will be
stationed, but the impression prevails that
1t win go to Sea Girt, N. J. A dispatch to
that effect is said to have been received
from the governor of the state
No nsw cases Of typhoid fever reported to-
day.