Evening star., 1898-08-18
BOUND FOR CUBA
Second Army Corps to Supply Force
for Garrison.
THE RUMOR In PART CONFIRMED
Arguments in Case Against the
Third Virginia Regiment.
FOR DAM A G E S
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

CAMP ALGER, Va, August Is, 1885,
Information has reached several of the
officers here that the I'd Army Corps has
been selected for garrison duty in Cuba,
and will leave Middletown for that ser
vice about the middle of October. 1t is re-
ported, further, that the entire detachment
selected for the detail indicated will con-
sist of about 10000 men, to be taken main
ly from the two corps commanded by Cen
eral Lee and General Graham. The ID
Corps will probably be augmented by a
sufficient number of regiments to create
third division.
Rumors to this effect have been heard at
several places since the departure of Gen.
eral Davis men for Manassas, but until
today did not seem well authenticated.
This morning, however, it was made plain
that they had either emanated from the
War Department or were based upon sug-
gestions from that source. Inquiry was
made of those officers who have been in to
Washington recently, and, while no one
would permit his name to be used, 1t was
very generally admitted that the division
and brigade commanders of the I'd Corps
had received strong intimations that the
stories referred to were true.
General Butler would not discuss the
matter further than to say that he rather
expected to hear that the corps had been
ordered to Cuba before the summer is
over adding that he hoped to share the
assignment with his men whenever it came
Court-MnrtiaPs Inquiry.
Inc inquiry into the disturbance with
"hlch some of the men in the Sd Virginia
were connected has at last come to an end
the hnal arguments being delivered this
morning. Mr.. Hamilton, senior counsel for
Coione! Nalle and his men, is still unable
10 leave his room. The argument for the
regiment was accordingly delivered by one
OF the associate counsel, Mr.. Moore who
spoke for about two hours When he con-
Guided, Lieutenant Summerall, the record
er. spoke briefly of certain points not made
clear by the testimony, and the court de-
clared the case closed.
The examination into the evidence and
consideration of the argument made by
Mr.. Moore should not consume more than
a day, according to one of the members
OF the court so the decision will go to
General Graham for his approval or dis
approval about Saturday. If favorably
acted upon at corps headquarters it will
probably bs made public there. Otherwise
1t will be forwarded to the department for
Such action as the Secretary OF War may
determine. 1t will, of course in such case
be impossible to learn the verdict here.
Brigadier General P. s. Goblin appeared
today to represent General Butler, who was
urable to be present during the whole ses-
sion. There was some discussion about the
attitude of the parties concerned, after
which Mr.. Moore. of counsel for the regi-
ment, spoke. His argument was in sub
stance, as follows:
The order barring the Sd Virginia from
pass privileges and confining its officers to
camp was occasioned by certain conduct
on the part of a group of soldiers, which
had been characterized as 'riotous and dis
raG o. f1l W. nnt
the evidence, fastened upon the Sd Virginia,
but the punishment was inflicted solely
upon the men of that command. Unless
evidence were introduced to show that the
entire regiment had been guilty the order
was illegal. Extreme orders demanded eX-
treme offenses. He was prepared to show
that no extreme offenses had been COM
mitted.
Not even General Butler, he said, had
been able to alIege any specific acts of in
He had seen seventy-five or
one hundred men shouting and running
about. He ordered these men back to their
tents. One man yelled You can't put
down Virginia. and another hooted at
some one. That was all the wrong charged
against the whole regiment, and not even
that. had been fastened on the command
which had to bear the punishment
Finally, the court could not sustain the
order unless it was shown that a most ex-
traordnary state of affairs existed in the
camp. General Butler had himself admit
tions by his profanity. Did any one want
General Butler stripped of his uniform and
sword because he had violated the regula-
tions? Should punishment equally severe
be inflicted on the Sd Virginia Regiment
when its guilt was still only conjectured?
The speaker thought not and did not think
the court would disagree with that view.
Gen. Buffers Departure.
Major General Butler will leave his di-
vision tomorrow at noon to undertake the
duties of peace commissioner. He will take
with him his three personal aids Captain
j. c. Calhoun and Lieutenants Hampton
and Barnes. Meanwhile his successor as
commandant of the 1st Division will have
been selected by the department Among
those mentioned as likely to be given the
assignment are Major General Hawkins.
just returned from active service at the
front; Brigadier General Guenther. who
was the original commander Of the division,
and Brigadier General Goblin the senior
brigade commander of the corps.