Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-12
BUTLER IS ON TRIAL.
HIS TREATMENT OF THE THIRD
GENERALLY DENOUNCED.
10 BIZ FULLY INVESTIGATED
At the Instance of Senator Martin
and Congressman Lamb and Rixey-
The Situation mt Camp AIger Yes
terday.

(Special.) 1.-The tyrannical treatment of
the Third Virginia Regiment by Major
General Butler, who is South Caro-
linian, an ex-Confederate officer and an
ex-United States senator from that State,
is the absorbing topic of discussion in
both civil and military circles to-day,
and the action OF Butler Is severely criti-
cised on all sides He now stands ar
raigned both before the military authori-
ties and the bar of public opinion of
having perpetrated an unprecedented out
rage in military history. 1t is not the
Virginia regiment, which is admitted to
be one of the finest and best disciplined
organizations In the service, that is on
trial, but 1t is Major-General Butler,
and 1t is hinted that the investigation
which will now take place Will bring
forth some very unpleasant revelations
about the expressions he used and the
threats he made last Monday evening.
Senator Martin, Representative Lamb,
and Representative John +. Rixey. the
latter warm personal friend Of Colonel
Males. called on the Secretary of War
and Adiutant-General Corbin this morn
ing. They stated fully and clearly the
conditions that existed in the quarters Of
the Third Virginia Regiment at Camp
Alger. and explained the punishment that
had been unjustly imposed on the COM
mand. and the gross lndignities which
had been heaped upon it there and in
the public prints. They urged and in
sisted on an immediate investigation of
the whole matter, in order that justice
might be promptly done the injured and
sandered soldiers. Their presentation
of the matter was substantially pre-
ferring of charges against General But
Ter for conduct unbecoming an Off
Ger, and both the Secretary and
the Adjutant-General realized that
such complaint from a United States
senator and two members of the House
of Representatives could not be ev3ded
They were assured that a full and i'm
partial investigation would be made. and
with this end in view an inspector-gene-
raj would be sent to the camp. who. after
making proper inquiries, would make
report on the whole case on its merits
1t is not known how soon this report
will be made, but it may be forthcoming
tomorrow or the next day. In the
mean time, it is suggested that something
should be done to relieve the regiment
petrated upon it.
Representative Lamb visited Camp Al
ger this evening and returned tonight
about 9 o'clock. He expected to find the
inspector-general promised by the war
Department to-day at the camp invesu-
eating the affair, but he had not put III
an appearance.
Colonel Nalle was quietly making an
inouirv into the whole affair, with view
to making a report when the proper Tune
arrives. The inspector-general ordered 10
renort on the trouble is said to be MAJOR
Mills, who reported adversely upon Iy-
ron. n. c.. as the site for a military camp
I'm that State. Whether Major Mills mas
returned here or not could not be ascer-
tafned tonight, but it is certain ne hau
not visited the quarters of the Ihlrd
Virginia this evening.
GRAHAM TAKES A HAND.
In the mean time the corps commander
at Camp Alger. General Graham, has
taken the matter in hand, and has Or
dered a court of inquiry, which VIII pro-
badly develop the facts in the case ana
as he is said TO be a fair and Impartial
officer and a strict disciplinarian, the true
story of the affair seems likely to reach
the public as we'll as the War Depart
ment. There are no witnesses In Wash-
ineton who were present when GeneraI
Rutler came upon the scene near the
quarters of the Third Virginia on Mon
dav night. but the current reports
brought here by those who have vislted
the camp go to show that the Major
General used language that was insulting
and certainly contrary TO all military
rules and regulations and the Articles Oh
War. Among others things he Is reported
tn have said i'm a most excited manner
that the Virginia soldiers were set OF
a. fools To Colonel Nalle he SAID thaI
thew were a bowling crowd of hoodlums'
worse than Indians. In reply 10 re-
mark made by n man who did not know
ubo the man on horseback was, ne sald'
"D- Won. I will show you that VIII
hold vou down" Perhaps the worst Oh
all is the reported threat of the Major
General that he would place a negro pat
talon on guard to keep the Virginians III
tbeir quarters. This needs coniirihduoh'
The court of inquiry to investigate the
olleged breach Of discipline by the Ihird
yiroinia Is made up as follows: Colonei
C.roes Third Missouri; Lieutenant-Colo-
mol W s. Edgerly, inspector-general Sc
no.d Army Corps; Lieutenant-Colonel
William p. Duvall, ordnance onicer OF .he
corns and Lieutenant Charles r. sum
,,eralI recorder. The court VIII pesln
its work i'm the morning
--<t------