Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-16
WHOLE NUMBER, l4.677.


ments. IL germane to the issue. might be
made. The General then read the re-
port he had made to the Acknowledgement
of the Second Army Corps on Tuesday
last.
THE REPORT.
II have the honor to report" the report
says, that a most disgraceful act Of In
subordination and riot broke out last
night in portion OF the Third Virginia
Volunteer Infantry about o'clock +. NJ.
AS soon as / received notice / went In
person TO the scene of disorder, and by
ordering the men TO their quarters, with
the assistance of some members OF my
staff. and directing a check roll-cail. sup
pressed the disturbance"
General Butler then cities the cause OF
the trouble, and goes on TO say: IL re-
gret to say that the company officers were
unwilling or unable to exercise any con-
troll over the disorderly men, indicating a
want OF discipline most deplorable."
This communication was accompanied
by "A COPY OF the order issued by General
Butler. and by request for the support
of the major general commanding the Sc
coma Army Corps. This paper was re-
turned endorsed as follows: General
commanding the corps gives his hearty
and unqualified approval TO this action In
reference to the misconduct OF the Third
Virginia Volunteers, and will sustain him
in every particular. 1t is suggested that
perhaps the action 10 be taken by gene
raj court-martial in the event that the
guilt of these men can be established
might be Of greater severity by way OF
punishment than would be a dishonorable
discharge TO men who give such little eva
dence of honorable principle.
THAT NEGRO MAJOR.
General Butler was proceeding to read
a report made some weeks ago concern
ing disrespect shown by members OF the
Third Regiment to a negro major OF the
Ohio regiment in failing 10 salute hlm'
when counsel interposed with the oDJec-
ton that It had nothing TO do with the
present case adding that General Butter
by his action, seemed anxious 10 Wlden
the scope of this investigation.
General Butler retorted with heat. lie
would say what he pleased, he declared.
He had been assailed in the press by a
set of vagabonds and slanderers, and
he would not submit to 1T.
Nh Hamilton replied, protesting against
the use of such language, and said that
counsel had endeavored to conduct the
case with all decorum.
'That is not true" said General Butler.
81 don't intend to be bully-ragged by a
lot of demagogues and politicians
The recorder rose and interrupted Cen
eral Butler, and the court was cleared
while the matter of admitting the state
ment of General Butler was considered.
The interval was long one, but the
decision came at last, and 1T excluded
all testimony, written or oral, which was
not connected with the occurrences OF
August Sth.
General Butler then rose and said, in
justification of counsel, he desired to say
that they had been uniformly courteous.
Colonel Male had seen fit to parade ms
(the General's) acts for investigation. IL
had been said that he was defending
negroes and he would have the matter
fully ventilated before he got through
Mr. Hamilton replied. denying that
counsel had ever tried TO connect Gen
eral Butler with anything that did not
occur on the night of August Sth.
MR.. MONTAGUE.
Mr.. Montague then rose, and said, very
quietly and with dignity: May 1t please
the Court, L understood at the opening
of this case that everything would be
recorded. Certain statements have been
made by the distinguished General dl-
rected 10 me. 1t has been suggested TO
me that as that language was abusive
| that it be stricken from the record. l,
however. think that General Buffers ex-
traordinary conduct and abuse concern
the dignity of this court more than my
self. / am utterly Indifferent TO 1t, and
could not, with propriety. properly char
| acterize it. L am a practicing attor-
| ney of this State and OF the United
1 States, and my right to appear in this
| court is perfect. AS to my department
during this trial, the Court itself has had
| opportunity to observe"
General Butler did not reply and the
incident closed
Lieutenant Donohue, of the Third Regi-
ment, said he went to head off the men,
who were chasing the negro, and was
met by Major Wright, of General Buffers $
staff, who asked why in h witness
did not head off that d mob. Wright
was tremendously excited The men
obeyed him as soon as he reached them,
| and there was no disorder in camp.
| Lieutenant Griggs, who was officer Of
the guard, testified to the ready obedi-
| ence of the men. AS TO the few who had
| gone to the woods, they did not talk of
| the object of their chase, but of the storm
which had come up.
| Lieutenant Bond heard no confusion
at all. and the long roll was promptly
answered. Some men started out OF
camp because of a rumor that Virginiar
had been killed.
| Rev. w. H. Asheton. Of Fauquier a
| visitor i'm the camp, gave very emphatic
corroborative testimony and spoke par
| ticularly of the enthusiasm of the men
at the appearance of the Connecticut
regiment. Messrs. j. C. Dice and +. T.
Ferguson (civilians) spoke along the
same lines.
| BUTLER'S "CUSS' WORDS.
Private Garland repeated the assertion
OF General Butler, made TO the man Wh'
said "You can't hold Virginians down =
viz. "Ill show you that l can hold yo'
id wild Indians down."
Corporal j. w. Kelley overheard IN
General declare with an oath that n
would fix them.
Sergeant Beech and about fifteen othe
members of the regiment testified alont
similar lines
When Colonel Nalle went on the stan'
General Butler entered the room. Th'
\ former testified as TO the messages re
ceiyed from the General about the disor
der and the Majors and Generals visits
10 his tent. He heard no disorder him
self. though he sat at mess in an opei
tent. and Major Butler said he had ex
pected 10 find the regiment riotous, bu
that everything seemed TO be most order
| v He did not remember that Genera
Rutler had used the language attributed
| 10 him by Captain Hutchens.
other officers who testified to the order
" conduct of the men and the quietnes
of the camp were: Captain w. Il. Ander