New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-07
GENERAL YOUNTS CRITICISMS.
A COURT-MARTIAL TO INVESTIGATE THE
TROUBLES IN THE FIFTEENTH
MINNESOTA.

Washington, April (SpeciaD.-The court OF in
qury which tho acting Secretary Of War has
instituted TO meet at St Paul on April TO- at the
request of Captain Harry A. Leonhauser. OF the 18th
Infantry. who was until recently the colonel COM
manding the 18th Minnesota. will either result in
the complete exoneration of that officer from the
sweeping and scathing official denunciation Of the
officers Of that regiment by General s. NJ B. Young.
In which case General Young himself may not
escape censure. IT will stir UP another ugly row
I'm the service which is Just suffering In almost
every direction from bitter jeaouses and personal
animosites which the War Department by It's
weakness rather encourages than suppresses.
There was a bad mutiny in the 18th Minnesota on
February and at Augusta. when II was on the
eve being mustered out of the service. and Gen
era Young reviewing officer of the resultant
court martial of some Of the enlisted men wrote
some rather caustic comments the findings.
comments which appear have had ample justi-
fcation although It was regarded unfortunate
that he did not specify which OF the regiments off,
GERS were in his opinion culpaby negligent OF their
duty.
General Young's Endorsement in part as fol-
lows
The deporable ineffciency incapacity. weakness
and timidity exhibited by nearly all of the COM
mssioned officers present at the disgraceful and
violent outbreak in the camp of the 18th Minnesota
Volunteer Infantry February and . is incred-
ble except on the abundant sworn testimony OF
said officers themselves. which testimony perXades
graph !.
court-martaled for completely In the same
Every officer present with the regiment including
all the field officers must have known the night OF
the 4th that mutiny had actually broken out IN
the camp that evening, and that although checked
for the time being. the men were still in an excited
Under such conditions each such officer should
have armed himself and kept up a vigilant and un,
RENTING watch on the movements behavior and
temper OF his men. But instead Of this, and despite
the whole night of warning. when the outbreak
was renewed next morning. only two or three of
munition had been issued TO the guard. nor had me
guard been strengthened and although me armed
mutineers numbered not more than one hundred
men and were without ammunition, yet Of the ten
fective force the attack the ammunition store
house. nor. indeed. at any other time. ..,.
atng. exhorting, pleading but not one Of them at
tempted to shoot or fell the two or three leading
house door And this attack succeeding. and the
men having taken all the ball cartridges they de,
with fear and the armed squad Gor many had
fallen away was permitted to march out or camp
without the least show OF resistance and 10 go on
the murderous and defiant Grand These are mere
ly the salient facts, but the court martial recorcs
the part of oficers-details only incidentally elic.
responsible officer brought TO trial
These sworn details are, IT is thought enough 70
DISMISS number Of me onf bee T 'e
law as FinaIIv the order from superior authority
curing the immediate muster-out Of this regiment
is all that precudes the bringing before court
break proved themselves thus recreant and with
profound regret that the corps c0mmaSnaer mos
while through circumstances beyond his control.
certain officers unworthy Of the commissions tney
held are permitted to go home with clean records
The court OF inquiry at ST. Paul Is TO report its
opinion to whether and to what extent az AT are
merited by Captain Leonhauser as colonel OF inc
Minnesota Regiment. - x, 1900.
Ieonhauser in particular