Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-06

WASEHN3ToN. D. c.. September o.
special.)-The report Of the court Of in.
qary into the case Of the Third Virginia
Regiment was given out in this city late
ibis afternoon by Colonel Male. The text
follows:
headquarters, Second Army Corps.
Camp George e. Meade, Pa. August 81.
l&S-General Orders. No. II. The fol.
lowing report and opinion Of the court Of
inquiry, convened by Paragraph 4, ). o..
80. 20. C. 5. from these headquarters.
is published for the information Of all
l1lccrned
"L FACTs.-After a careful considera-
ti5n Of all the evidence in the case. the
Court finds the following facts uncon-
tIoverted:
'1 That shortly before dress parade
August Sun e 10 7:S0 r. NJ. a fight oc-
Cured between a negro Jeamster Of the
First Division Hospital and member
OF the Hospital Corps. but recently trans
terred 10 said corps from the Third
Virginia Regiment.
2. That the fight took place on the
hospital grounds. diagonally across the
public road from. and contiguous 10. the
Third Virginia camp. and resulted in
favor of the negro.
'3. That almost Immediately after pa
rade, say 73O 10 7:i5 p. NJ, a number Of
soldiers. variously estimated, were dis
covered chasing the said negro across
the rear section of the hospital grounds
towards the adjacent woods (where ne
soon escaped, and that some ten or
twelve of said soldiers were urging on the
rest. and melting them to do violence TO
The said negro by crying out. 'Catcn
him., Lynch him. HanC him.
NOT VIRGGNIANS ONLY
- That this riotous party was partly
composed of enlisted men Of the Third
Virginia Regiment Ohe rest being Hos
pital Corps men, Connecticut men, and
civihans.
-. That all said members Of the
Third Virginia Regiment had left their
camp in violation of the standing orders
Of the camp guard.
&c. That the sentinel across whose post
this outbreak mainly occurred gave the
alarm promptly. and that in from
I've TO hfteen minutes thereafter the
chase was over and all the Virginia par
ucipauts at least. we're back within the
limits Of their camp
-. That at the roll-call, ordered by
the division commander, and which was
taking place at the time the said com
mander reached the regimental com
mander's tent, there were but four mon
absent who had not been absent from
calls.
'S That this return of the Virginia
men 70 their own camp was effected,
mainly through the efforts OF four Of
their own officers, including the officer
o. the day. who promptly answered the
alarm of the sentinel
USE OF FORCE UNNECESSARY.
g. That neither the First Connecticut
Regiment nor the special guard from the
Thirteenth Pennsylvania Regiment Doth
of which were sent to quell the dis
tlrbance) found it necessary TO use any
force whatever but one arrest being
made by them. and this of man OF
j-e First New Jersey Regiment, some
time later on.
'lp That in no specific case in which
#. Go oh. O.. %
shown that any effort was made to bring
10 justice ,he person guilty Of ii.
u That the negro was not oyertaken,
ana thus no violence was done him.
DISORDER NOT "RIOTOUs."
II. POINT IN CONTROVERSY.-The
conduct Of the Third Virginia Regiment
between the time OF the return 10 camp
OF the party which had crossed the line
OF seutinels in violation of orders and the
time Of the departure therefrom of Gene
Ta Butler and Captain Brooks:
THE testimony on this point Is not only |
but irreconcilable, yet the !
OF it goes 10 show 10 the |
sarsiaction Of the court that while con- |
fusion existed-perhaps re!gned-in a por-
ti9u Of the Virginia camp during this pc
r.ld. yet this disorder is not 10 be charac-
tcrzed fairly as either riotous or 'insu-
bOrdinate'
GENERAL BUTLER PREJUDICED.
'2 OP1NION.--As to the merits OF the i
case the court is convinced. and even
from the record alone il cannot be doubt
,l. that In making General order No. is
.is author was distinctly influenced by
PREVIOUS experiences with the Third Vir-
gnia Regiment not 10 his liking, but this
Issue was excluded by the appointing
loWe from the courts consideration.
''Ihe court is further Of the opinion that
lhe author Of the order was largely, per-
naps principally Influenced by his then
conviction that the company officers
we're unwilling or unable 10 exercise any
control over the disorderly men. indi-
'ating want Of discipline most deplora-
'ie' (see official report OF General Butler.
iated August g. 1895. appended And mark
"a d. a conviction which he now tes- ]