Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-14
WAS V|RC|N|A'S DAY
Al the Investigation at Camp
A|ger Saturday,
UNJUST CHARGES EXPOSED.
Buffers Son a Good Witness
for the Regiment
TESTIMONY OF PRIVATE GILL.
connecticut Colonel Saw No
Disturbance to Quell,
REGIMENT PROBABLE TUESDAY.
Tbe News of Peace in Campfire
Third WIN Probably he Detached
from It's Present Communicable
Reason.
ARGUMENT PROBABLE TUESDAY.

WASHINGTON, d. c., August b.
(sDecial.)-The facts developed to-day in
the investigation at Camp Alger of tho
conduct of the Third Virginia Regiment
have served to demonstrate more con-
clusively than ever the injustice of the
charges made, and 10 emphasize the
harshness Of the punishment meted out.
only witnesses summoned at the instiga-
ton Of General Butler were examined,
but il was Virginia's day, and the burden
of the testimony was that there had been
10 mutiny. little disorder and no disre-
spect. There was far less acrimony
apparent in the statements of witnesses.
CAPTAIN Brooks was the only exception,
and the sting was taken out Of his VIM
dictiveness by his utter collapse under
discrimination. There were no dra-
matio incidents during the inquiry, but
an interesting episode was the examiNa-
ton Of Private GIL, of the Richmond
Company, who sat about two yards IN
front of General Butler, and repeated
that officers announcement Of his deter
mination TO hold the Virginians down,
punctuated as II was. with a violent
oath. General Butler smiled. though he
WINGED. and as soon as Private Gill left
the room he asked the recorder, in
tone of mild surprise, who is that wit
nessg' The rest of the testimony might
well have been introduced by Colonel
Male. for it completely rebutted the tes-
timouy heard yesterday.
Mathematician Hammond. of the
First Connecticut. who was in command
OF that regiment when it was ordered
ont 10 oueu the alleged riot. said that
not only was he unable to find any dis
turbance to subdue but that so far from
the Virginians hooting his command,
they cheered it, General Buffers own
son testified that when he went TO Colo
mel Males tent with orders from his
father for a roll-call he saw that every
thing 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 Nir-
gfnians. and an inference that may rea-
sonably be drawn from Captain Brooks S
evidence is that the only case of disre-
snect 10 an officer was provoked by his
own profanity.
The negro who was so badly beaten and
chased TO the woods is to be put upon
the stand 1t is intended to sit late on
Monday. in an effort 10 close the testi-
mony. If this is accomplished, argument
will be begun on Tuesday. and the court
may formulate its report on the follow
ing day.
A protest will be made by counsel on
Monday or Tuesday against permission
being given 10 General Butler TO make
his promised denunciation of Attorney
General Montague and others, who have
expressed opinions through the press. 1t
will be argued that if the court permits
the General criticised Mr.. Montague
interview, that gentleman must be per-
mitted 10 show that his statements were
true and the matter would seem to be
endless.
CAUSES or DELAY.
Hitherto the proceedings have been de-
layed by very amateurish stenographers.
The order for the court provided that the
services Of enlisted men should be en-
ployed. and those that have been lnlro-
duced thus far seem TO have lost their
cunning.
The court was very late converting to-
dav. The violent storm Of yesterday had
washed out the bed Of the railroad track
and II was impossible for Colonel George
p Gross one of the members or the
court. and counsel for the Thiro ieesi-
ment, who came TO Washington on Prl-
day night TO reach the camp at the dp-
pointed time. The party drove out III q
carriage. and arrived shortly AFTER al
O'Clock. and the court convened at ohce'
A MIXED WITNESS.
Captain j. c. w. Brooks, assistant guar
termaster. was the first witness called. ne
is a member of General Buffers stan
on Monday. August Sth, he said, re-
quest came over the telephone about
o'clock for a guard 10 quell disturbance
IN the hospital camp. He had his morse
saddled and rode TO the scene, but the
trouble was all over when he got there'
lie Joined General Butler and saw the
srst Connecticut regiment turn out. Jhey
Saw men returning from the woods'
whittier the negro had been followed
Six were arrested. one man thS HSh-
erai threatened TO punish. and he re-
Piled that four or five hundred more were
engaged in the affair. An aide was sent
10 Colonel Male with an order for roll
call. There was some yelling In the Vir-
ginia camp. The General rode over and
ordered the men 10 the streets for roll
call. There was great deal or disorder
and disposition 20 be mutinous. AS one
crowd was sent back another would come
forward. Witness saw some non-commis-
stoned officers, but they were making no
effort TO put down the disorder. one
man turned and hooted AT witness he
rode after him and caught him. After
snrerirtending the roll-call he returned