Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-22
THE MUTINOUS SIXTH
MANY BREAK CAMP on KILLING
AND PnLAGE BENT.
THE REGIMENT UNDER ARREST
Guards Ordered to Shoot Any Man
Who Attempts to Escape-Thought
That They Want to Get Out or the
Service.
Service.

MACON, GA. November 2l,-(Special.)--
The Sixth Virginia negro Regiment.
which caused so much trouble at Knox
vile. Is now under arrest and in disgrace
at Camp Macon, and has been deprived
OF all arms and ammunition. About mid
night Saturday night the old mutinous
spirit of the regiment asserted itself, and
only very prompt action prevented serious
consequences. Brief kilograms sent out
from here yesterday stated that about
eighty members Of the regiment broke
through the lines at camp and started
to town with the avowed purpose OF Kill
ing white provost guards, each man be-
ing armed with a rifle and a belt full OF
cartridges. Information concerning the
action of the negroes was sent to provost
headquarters, and General Wilson ordered
Colonel Gaillard and the Third Engineers
out to arrest the negroes. The engineers
dOuble-quicked after the men OF the sixth
and found them riotous and diSOrderly.
The regiment was then put under guard
Of a battalion Of the Tenth Immunes Col
ored).
From talks with officers OF the Tenth
first to corral the mutinous negroes, II Is
found that the mutiny was more serious
than has yet been reported. over hun
dred men left camp in small squads. each
squad armed with Springfield rifles ana
going I'm different directions. They were
to Kill not only the white provost guards,
but all white people with whom they came
in contact. and were to piliage the
town. They had also sworn TO Wreak
vengeance on the Tenth Immunes, VINO
would not join them in the outbreak A
place OF rendezvous was appointed ana
when those left in camp heard the firing
of rifles they were to leave and join in
the massacre. Timely discovery prevent
ed the carrying out of the plans, and ar
rests followed. Two companies from the
Tenth Immunes captured large squads OF
the mutinous negroes before they reached
the city.
General Wilson has positively declared
that he will not ask that the regiment
be mustered out, as he is satisfied that
their misconduct has been for the pur-
pose of getting out OF the service. The
cause of the trouble as given your cor
respondent to-day by an otiiceh OF the
regiment was that when the troops lett
the State volunteer service they were
gwen the promise that their own oiilcerS'
all Of whom were negroes, would remain
but when it became apparent that these
were incompetent 70 control the men,
white officers were placed in charge and
this aroused mutinous spirit. The white
officers being unable to do anything win
the negroes. most Of them resigned
leaving negro officers in charge OF the
companies. These with few exceptions
are Just as .rebellious as the privates and
al nd thnTR
no discipline whatever in the regiment.
Tie entire regiment is still under ar
rest. guarded by a battalion Of the Tenth
ImmlInes also negToe-. but well-discip-
lined soldiers. These have orders TO
shoot any man who attempts to escape.
The Tenth Immunes, who are camped
adjoining the Sixth Virginia, have more
contempt for the latter ,nan nave any
Of the white soldiers