Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-08-20
THE THIRD REGIMENT.

Just before leaving Camp Alger yes
terday General Butler rescinded that
part of bis order against the Third Ylr-
ginia regiment which made four roll
calls day necessary. The rest OF the
order, however, is still in force, and it
was distinctly stated at headquarters
Yesterday that Gen. Goblin would make
no change in it until the report CT the
committee has been acted upon. Inls
i, severe disappointment to the Vlr-
gipia bows. They have been confined
10 their quarters SO long, many OF them
for an oifense of which they knew
nothing until it was all matter OF his
tory, that they hoped that the order
would he revoked. 1t was issued at the
command of General Butler on August
9. and in it it was stated that the order
would remain in force for ten days or
until further notice. This, the men
thought, meant that they were to sub
nit TO the discipline for period OF ten
DAYS, or, if the general saw fit, they
would be relieved from ii at an earlier
date. Many of them did not consider
that the phrase cor until further notice
might be the basis of prolonged pun.
ishment. 1t is also asserted that if the in
vestigation had not been requested, the
order would have been suspended at
the end of the ten days, bat that now
the men will be obliged to wait until
the report of the court has been acted
upon.
The latter is now complete. 1t was
prepared yesterday morning in 8 secret
session of the court. The three colo
nels left on the afternoon train for
Gen. Graham's headquarters at Camp
Meade, carrying the sealed document
with them. It's contents remained q
secret, and if any of the officers at
headquarters knew aught about it, they
certainly gave no evidence of the fact.
General Graham will review the pro.
ceedings, and either approve the
Gudings of the court or forward the
report to the Secretary Of War
for his approval or disapproyal
Partisans of the Virginia regiment as
sert that the report surely must be IA
vorable to them, while those favoring
G. n. Butler are equally confident that
the investigation has shown that the
division commanders action was
strictly in accord with the military ne
cessities of the occasion. A rumor was
circulated about camp yesterday that
the Virginia regiment was to be sepa
rated from the First Division, and
would go TO Jacksonville to join Gen
Lees force. No confirmation of the
news was had, and officers stated that
such removal of the regiment under
Existing circumstances would be an un-
usual proceeding.
Attorney General Monagu who de-
Tended the Third Virginia regiment
against the asptrsions in General But
ler's famous order No, IS, returned to
Richmond yesterday. Mr.. Montague
says the investigation of tie alleged
riotous conduct Of the Third regiment
was complete vndicslion of Colonel
Male and his men. General Buffers
statement as to what happened was
supported only by two members OF his
staff, and it was contradicted by large
number of soldiers, not only from Vir-
ginia, but from Connecticut and New
Jersey. The verdict will be sent to
General Graham, the corps commander,
at Middletowp, Pa. He has authority
to accept or reject it. An appeal can
then be taken to the Secretary of War,
and finally to the President.