Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-08-11
THE THIRD REGIMENT.

] III regard 10 disturbance at Camp Al
ger MONDAY evening General Butler
it is said, arrived on the scene near the
close of the incident, and, owing to
highly colored stories that had reached
him, took serious view Of the occur
renee. A statement signed by twenty,
eight officers OF the Third Virginia says
that great injustice has been done one
OF the best disciplined regiments in the
service by statement that the Virgin
ians would not obey their officers and
were forced to return by other regi-
ments under arms.
The summary action taken by Major
General Butler to punish certain mem
hers of the Third regiment. who were
guilty of breach Of discipline Monday
evening was bitterly resented by the
regiment. and thorough investigation
of the whole affair will probably be Or
dered by the Secretary of War. The
Virginia soldiers and their friends were
SO much wrought mp over the order
issued by General Butler, that Governor
Tyler was requested to visit the
camp and ascertain the facts. He did
not arrive yesterday, but Mr.. A. j.
Montague, Attorney General ofVirglnia,
went to Washington from Richmond
yesterday, and accompanied by Mr..
Park Agnew, of Alexandria, psid a
visit to Secretary Alger and asked thai
the whole matter be thoroughly sifted.
The Secretary promised to ascertain all
the facts in the case, and it is probable
that General Butler will be asked to
make report.
Attorney General Montague was in
dignant at the treatment of the soldiers
from his State, and, in discussing Gen.
Buffers order, after visiting the War
Department, said:
"My profession constrains me to
reach my conclusions slo WY and not to
PREJUDICE the result OF trial or an in
vestigation. Gen. Buffers position
should likewise constrain him to q sim
liar line of action and conduct. He,
however, has condemned every officer
al 4 man in the Virginia regiment with
out evidence and without hearing.
Indeed, it is doubtful if the or.
der has precedent in American
military life. 1t may find one liz Rus
sia. Therefore, l feel bound to enter
my individual probes t in behalf of as
true and brave men as are to be found
ia the American army. | anticipate,
TOO, that the people of Virginia will
concur in this protest.
"Gen. Butler publishes to the world
| not the facts or circumstances OF the
, culpabe conduct of the Virginians, but
rather gives to the world his unsoldier-
like and violent characterizatlons. For
the conduct CT the fifty or seventy-five
men which so enraged Gen. Butler was,
at the most, human and natural, and
very insignificant. 1t deserved no such
decree of disgrace, aud the order was
no less unjust than brutal and te
rocious.
81 am further persuaded that Gen.
Buffers conduct on the occasion OF the
alleged disorder was more unmilitary
aud censurable than that OF those
whom he would 50 peremptorily and
precipitately disgrace. | am ignorant
of military investig atoms. However, l
know OF the judicial methods establish
ed iu free country TO administer jus
tice and to ascertain the truth. and be-
fore such tribunal Gen. Butler would
be without fact to sustain his cruel Or
der, and he would be dismissed from
court for his false clamor"
Senator Martin, who was in Wash
ineton last night, spoke warmly of the
treatment OF the Virginia troops, and
| expressed his determination that there
should be a full investigation. Senator
Martin said;
81 have been to Camp Alger to day,
feeling deeply annoyed at the publ.
cations in reference to the alleged con-
duct OF the Third Virginia regiment
last Monday night, and at the order
made by Maj. Gen. NJ. G. Butler. |
know most of the officers and many of
the men of this regiment, and do not be-
leve that there is better disciplined
regiment or fuer body Of men in
the volunteer army. Virginia Ger
tainly can furnish no better material.
ANY lair official investigation of this
matter will show that there was not
the slightest disorder, riotous conduct,
or breach of discipline on the part OF
the officers or men of this regiment.
THE treatment it has received will
arouse feelings of indignation on the
part OF every Virginian. 1t is incon'
ceivable how Gen. Butler could have
fallen into such an error and treated
with such injustice the gal ant and
Ioyal men, who are now practically
under arrest without the slightest
cause. came here because of my deep
interest in the matter, and shall ex-
poet such an investigation az will vim
dictate my State and her troops from
the aspersions cast upon them.
"If q portion of the men had been
guilty of INSTRUMENTATION it would
seem extraordinary for that cause and
before an investigation to criticise and
punish the entire regiment, but in this
| instance the general commanding the
division goes further and even assaila
the reputation of the State of Viz
sinia."
Capt. John Lamb. member of the
House of Representatives from Vlr'
ginia, said "Gen. Buffers order is a
great surprise and naturally causes q
righteous Indignation in every Virginia
neart. 1t is unkind to Col. Nalle, who
is a strict dsciplinarian and typica!
soldier; it is harsh on bis officers aud
men, who are among the first citizens
of Virginia, and it is reflection upon
The whole State, whose people General
Butler should ;know well. From the