Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-03
MUT|NY IN THE SIXTH
The Negroes Rebel Against Their
New White Officers,
REGIMENTS ORDERED OUT,
But They Were Sent Back Before
Reaching The Camp.
THE MUTINY FINALLY aUELLED'
The Brigade and Regimentai COM
manders Address the Mutineers-
Major johnson induces Them TO
obey Oficers.
Obey Officers.


(special)-The non-commissioned officers
and privates of the Sixth Virginia one
of the colored regiments at Camp 20
land. were in open revolt this morning
and riot and bloodshed were narrowly
averted.
At one time so ominous was the situa-
tion that the Thirty-frst Michigan and
Sixth Ohio were ordered upon the scene
of trouble. but the order was counter
manded Just as the Thirty-first Michigan
appeared under arms at double quick
ON the brow Of the hill. The regiment
was supplied with several rounds OF am
munition.
Tho trouble arose over the white Off
GERS who were this morning assigned TO
dutv with the regiment. The negroes re-
fused TO accept the white officers. 1hey
were promised the privilege OF presenting
their grievance TO the Governor OF VIZ
einia through the regular channels. and
tbev agreed to-day at noon to accept the
white officers and to obey them until they
could memorialize the Governor oil Nir-
ginia in their behalf.
TIRED OF THE SERVICE.
Deep down beneath the surface OF 1t all
the unquestionable meaning of the re-
volt is this:
The men of the Sixth Virginia do not
want to remain in service. They want
10 return TO their respective homes.
0tberwfse this trouble would not have
taken tine form it has. The men would
have remembered their oath TO OBEY
whatever officers were placed over them
did they desire to remain in service. Be
sides their restlessness Is an acknow-
ledged fact.
The trouble. as stated, grew out Of the
attempt of the white captains TO assume
command of their companies TO Whch
they were assigned this morning by Lieu
tenant-Colonel Il. G. CroXton, regimentaI
commando. These are the officers who
s,ncaoded the nine colored officers, who
recently resigned rather than stand an
examination before a board appointed 10
irvestigate as TO their qualifications.
These negro officers, member OF that
hoard declares, were in no wise capable
as commanders. The colored soldiers nave
EXPRESSED their disappointment at the
appointment of white officers all alonS'
and have declared that they would not
receive and obey them.
Last night Colonel Croxton told them
that he himself would head their memorial
to the Governor OF virginia. put thdt II
must go through the regular channels
and that at the present there was no
thing left for them to do but to accept ana
obey the white officers.
IN OPEN MUTINY.
This morning the men positively re-
fused to obey the orders OF the whlte
officers when drill-call sounded, ana so
the companies were sent out under coloreu
Iieutenants. When police-call sounded
the same trouble was experienced. They
would not police the camp under whlte
officers, and were again sent out under
cOlored officers.
At the beginning Of the trouble mes
seneer was sent to Colonel j. A. Kuert,
IN command of the Second Division. The
messenger found him at mess. Colonel
Kuert came at once TO the scene OF trou-
HE and found Major Louis V. CaZiarc,
assistant adjutant-general, already there
For a time all communications were pass
ed 10 the men through the colored officers.
THE MEN WERE UGLY.
Later Colonel Kuert saw them all in
nerson. The men were ugly at first. 1t
took the best part of the morning TO
make them see the matter in the right
light.
While Colonel Kuert and Major Caziarc
were in the camp of the Sixth Virginia.
Maior-General John c. Bates and stan
arrived at headquarters Major Caziarc
went at once and escorted the General
and his staff TO the scene OF trouble:
Colonel George Leroy Brown, Colonel
William V. McMaken, and others were
also present
raj Bates that the situation grew grave
enough 10 warrant the precaution of or
dering two armed regiments on the scene.
A few minutes aftecward it was decided
better not to have these regiments come.
II was also decided to assemble the men
and explain the situation to them.
ADDRESSES TO THE MEN.
Colonel Kuert was first to address the
men. He told them he had not lost talth
I'm thsm: that he would hear their COM
nlaints If made through the right cham
mel and begged them TO remember the
oath of allegiance which each had taken.
Major Caziarc then addressed them with
vigor and clearness. He told them that
little more than thirty years ago no man
NJ their color could wear the blue, and
| that nv disobedience they would repu-
diate the right to wear II now. They did
not disgrace the blue they simply made
themselves unworthy 10 wear II. TO dis
obey was TO be false TO their oath, TO
make themselves pcIJuitiS HdpiN ~ pun
ishment by death They disgraced their
| lace and sacrificed their citizenship II
| tbev refused to obey. He shamed them
that Major-General Bates. their new d.
x,isio, commander should find them In
| revolt as his first glimpse of the COM
mand and begged them as men to be true
| TO the oath of allegiance.
JOHNSON TURNED THE TIDE.
| Then Major ]. b. Johnson, of the First
| battalion, Sixth Virginia, colored off,
| Ger read to them from the Articles of
| war the acts relative 10 disobedience and
| mutiny. While he read there was silence.
| The moment was one OF solemnty.
| Having finished, Major Johnson address
| ed the men. He. too. spoke with force
| and clearness. His remarks, and the re-
| marks OF those preceding him, bore fruit.
| He asked the men IL they would net re-
| turn TO their quarters. do their duty, and
| wait until the Governor OF Virginia could
be heard from. obeying the white officers
| placed over them while they waited