Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-08-15
THE THIRD REGIMENT.

ment served 10 demonstrate lne III Us
tice of the charges made. Only wit
nesses summoned at the psigation
of Ger. Butler were examined, but the
burdea of the testimony was that there
had been no mu;iny, little disorder, and
DO disrespect. An interesting episode
was the examination of Private Gill, OF
the Richmond Company, who repeated
Gen. Buffers announcement OF his de-
termination to hold the Virginians
down, punctuated, as it was, with an
oath. General Butler smiled, and as
soon as Private Gill left the room he
asked the recorder, in tone OF mild
surprise, "NNho is that witness?' Lieut..
Colonel Hammond, OF the First Con-
necticut, who was in command OF that
regiment when it was ordered out to
quell the alleged riot, said that not
only was he unable 10 find any dis
turbance to suodue, but that 30 far from
the Virginisus hooting his command.
they cheered it. General Buter's.own
son testified that when he went TO Col.
Males tent with orders from his father
for roll.call he saw that everything
was quiet, and rode back to allay his
fathers fears. Lieutenant Smith, Of
the Connecticut regiment, gave testi-
mony that was all in favor OF the Vir-
ginians. and an inference that may
reasonably be drawn from Captain
Brooks's evidence is that the only Case
of dlsrespect to en officer was provoked
by his own profanity.
Captain Burke testified that on Mon
day, August Sth, request came over
the telephone about o'clock for
guard to quell disturbance in the hos
pital camp. He rode to the scene, but
the trouble was all over when he got
there. He joined Gen. Butler and saw
the first Connecticut regiment turn oui.
They saw men returning from the
woods, whittier the negro had been
followed. Six were arrested. One
man the General threatened to punish,
and he replied that four or five hun
dred more were engaged in the affair.
An aide was sent to Col. Male with
an order Tor o roll-call. There Yves
some yelling in the Virginia camp.
The General rode over and ordered the
men to the streets for roll-call. There
was q great deal of disorder and a dis
position to be mutinous. One man
turned and hooted a. witness. He
rode after him and caught him. This
was Private Boxall. Of Co. X. He did
not notice any commissioned officers
trying to quell the disturbance
The negro teamster, who was being
chased by the soldiers, belonged to
wit1ess's department. The whole
character of the men OF the Third aad
their manner was rebellious. He
could site no other instance than the
o1e mentioned above where specific
act of discourtesy was shown to an otii-
Car.
Maj. Butler, son OF Gen. Butler, said
he was at headquarters when q mes
sage came for guard to be sent TO the
hospital grounds. He was ordered TO
20 to Col. Male and report that there
seemed to be some trouble with his reg
imeut, and request him to take steps to
stop it. Maj. Wright met him and told
him of the difficulty between the negro
and the white man and the subsequent
chase. Witness arrived at Col. Males
tent and reported the disorder. Col
Male was at supper. He seemed
to be very much surprised. Wit
ness reported the message of the
division commander, and Colone!
Male replied that he would look
into the matter at once, and sent for
the officer of the day. There seemed
to be some slight confusion in the camp
as witness rode to Colonel Males tent.
Men were standing about talking ex
ctedly, but there was no disorder. He
expected to find riot in progress, and
told Colonel Male go. He did not,
however, find any such condition ex-
listing.
DR.. c. V. Butler, acting assistant sur
geon, testified that at $50 o'clock last
Monday he was returning from the
New York encampmeDt. He saw
nothing unusual until he arrived at the
hospital grounds. There he was met
by Mbjor Devine and told that ne had
better not leave the camp unless in
uniform, because there was some dis
;urbance among the Third Virginia
troops, and the Connecticut regiment
was trying to quell it. The only dis
turbance he noticed among the troops
of the Virginia regiment was that
caused by the officers of the Virginia
troops trying to get the men together.
They were being assisted by officers oil
The Connecticut regiment. The men
did not appear to be disorderly or vic
lent.
F. ]. Bell, proprietor Of fruit stand,
saw the fight between one of the Vir
GINA boys and the negro teamster. He
saw the man who had been in the fight
running away and was told that he
was member of Company A, of the
Third. A lot OF boys from the Virginia
regiment ran around the stand after the
negro. They were shouting and max
ing a great noise. He saw nothing
further until they returned. He
thought about seventy-five or 100 men
were in the crowd Of Eirginians. H
heard cries OF Lynch HIM" Hang
him." In subsequent conversation with
the soldier witness asked whether they
caught the negro and it seemed to be
matter of doubt. From the expressions
he heard the intention of the men was
to kill the teamster.
Lieutenant James Smith, of the First
Connecticut, had been told there had
been disturbance rear the division
hospital. The conduct of the crowd
was not disorderly, though the men
seemed to be very much excited,
Private L. W. Gordon, Company X,