The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-06

and the lime Of the departure thereirom
OF General Butler and Captain BROOKS.
CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE
The testimony on this point is not ony
contradlcfcd. but irreconcliable. yet inc
preponderance Of 10 goes TO show 10 the
satisfaction OF the court thdt WhAc cone
fusion existed. perhaps reiened-in por-
ton of the Virginia camp oullnb tL''
period vet this disorder Is not 70 ne
ehsractcrizcd fairly as either riotous or
"usubOrdinafo.
Thlrd opinion. As 10 tho merits Of the
case. the court is convinced. and even
from The record alone. 10 cannot ne
doubted that in making General oroer
40 Is Ns author was distinctly lnnn-
onced bv previous experience with the
Third Virginia Regiment not Co bis liking
but this issue was included Boy the ape
pointing power from the courts consid-
Grafton.
'rho court is further OF tho opinion that
ihc author OF the order was largely por-
hars principally. Influenced 10y his then
conviction that "thc company officers
were unwilling or unable to exercise any
control over the dis0rdorlv men, inoi-
eating "a want of Of ciplne most dcpiOra-
blc." (sce official report of General Bui-
lor. dated August gth 1ses, appended ana
marked "D'D. "a conviction which Doe now
tcsti0cs was crroneously deducted and is
no longer entertained.
A NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Tho court is finally Of tho opinion that
A. the author OF the order had been
restricted, as the court. is TO the con-
alteration of the Conduct OF men be-
longing to the Third Virginia Volunteers.
ae charrcd in General Orders 80. 1,. O..
s. bcad0uartors Of the First Division,
Second Army Corps, on the night of Au-
gust Sth. only. and had he possessed his
present knowledge OF the behavior that
night Of ou officers Of this regiment who
were shown to be cogrzant OF the 'rou-
DIE. Doe could not. with his high sense
of right and justice. have issued the or
dor no all.
The court does not consider Itself au-
thorizcd to make any suggestions as TO
curiher action in the matter.
PROCEEDINGS REVIEWED.
Tho following review of the proceed
ines is also published. Headquarters
second Army Corps. Camp George q.
Meade Pa, August 80 lSg5-Ihe FORE
going proceedings are approved. subject
90. and go far as they do not conflict with
the following remarks 10 appears from
the evidence that 81 large number OF the
Third Virginia Regiment were engaged
in % disorder in which the life OF a
f
ue inception. though the crowd after
ward DISPERSED without forcible means
being used amounted 20 $50 much that
stan officer of General ButlCrs who Wit
messed 3D. tcieplonod TO the adiutant-
general of the division that regiment
would Doe needed 90 queu 10. and this Wit
ness says $50 many were engaged ln 10
Chat he asked for 20 large armed party
to 0uoU "a mutiny' General Butler re-
Ccivcd This message. rode personally 10
The scene. and saw % tO 100 men around
the Y. ~. G.. A. tent and in rear shouting
and going ON in "a dis0rdorly way and
ordered them 90 their quarters. they
obcying reluctantly and their manner
appearing very 1isr.sp spectful Iucy re-
piled disrespectfuily To his staff officer
Captain Brooks who ordered the yelling
stopped. Later men stopped ON hcir
way returning from the bushes, ape
rdrcnty from pursuit Cl tine colorcd man.
said ln reply tO General Buffers state
mcut that mt would see that they got 90
camp and were kept in order. that there
were "some four on five hundred of us
to keep in order" Upon the Information
received from different sources, and upon
his own personal observation. COZ 1l
Butler acted and issued the order m Qucs-
uon.
There IS evident conflict in evidence on
the part of disorder at the time General
Butler tes,ides that he witnessed &c. 1t
is ncgauvcd by a large number of witt
uesscs who state that they did not hear
So and would have heard it if 30 had exc
listed. and therefore it appears not 90
have been general but the Generals
own experience with individuals is not
to Doe denied. and upon that in part bits
action was based.
There is nothing in the evidence 20 show
that the riug-ielders. or men guilty of
starting this disorder were Identified or
apnrchondcd. The responsibility for dis-
clpliuo rests upon "a commanding officer,
and whilst General Butler m'eht have
ordered an Investigation before issuing
Continued on Third Parc)