The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-12-04
LEE PUNISHED TROOPS.
Company Dishanded on Account
of a lynching.
Captain j. {. Hess Tells or -Nnair Down
III Texas just Before the Civil War
Which II IA Partial Precedent for
PRESIDENT RoOSeyclt'S Now Famous
order-SOme Features Idcltical.
CIV post.)

CIV POST
n case somewhat similar TO the re-
cent dismissal, by presidential order.
o. thet three companies of Colored
troops because of the trouble at
Brownsville, Tex, is that OF the dis
charge of Company G, OF the Eighth
regiment ut Fort DAVIS, Tex, IL. he
summer OF 1860. Although me details
are not parallel in all particulars, it
is believed by many thai the Fort
Davis case was regarded as d prtce-
dena by President Roosevelt.
In the Brownsville incident, as a re-
suit Of the alleged rloting of the SOL
diers, n man, a bartender, was kill
ed. The victim in the Fort Davis af-
fair also was a bartender, he having
been lynched by unknown parties,
supposed to be soldiers, after he had
killed a member Of the company by
striking him with his fist. The SOL
dlers at Brownsville were ordered dis
missed without honor by the presi-
dent, while the soldiers at Fort Davis
were transferred to other companies
and not dismissed until they had serv-
ed OF their terms of enlistment.
The latter incident occurred during
the administration of President Du-
chanan, but there is no record that
the action in the case was taken by
virtue or any order given by him. The
responsibility for the order was as
sumed by Robert E. Lee, later the
famous Confederate general, who wa !;
at that time in command of United
States troops in Texas.
NO RECORD OF DISMISSAL.
P0CCjhlV on 0oaNI.rf ~f Tho o;-. $780,
breaking out soon after the incident.
or 1t might have been because of the
destruction of the records in the case
before they reached the war depart
ment, it is thought no official record
OF the dismissal Of the company is in
existence. At least, so s;Lys Capt. T..
L. Hesse, who is PROBABLY the only
surviving member or the
now employed in the office OF he mill-
tary secretary of the army.
Capt. Hesse, in speaking of rhe oc.
currence yesterday, said he had often
regretted he had kept no diary during
his army service, referring especially
to the affair at Fort Davis, which, ne
said, he regarded as n of the mist
interesting Of his career. AL hough
he was transferred with the other
siXty-five members of the conpanv
and it was ordered that at tie end OF
his enlistment he should no. De al
lowed to r%e-enlist. Capt. Hesse tn ouah
a personal appeal to Col. Lee, aud on
account Of his previous record for n
tegrity. was absolved from any klame
In the matter and was ven a clea
record. He had been transferred 20
Company A of the Eighth regiment,
and at the end Of his ueI.. lie enlisted
again and served with homo in the
civil war. Before the end OF the war
he was transferred to Washington TO
take up work in the gene.aI "a vice.
FLED FOR HI LIrG.
at happened on Of
Patrick's day in Is. I'd Ca .
Hesse. After tattoo s. t the oil
diers went into saloon ". ere, in he
midst of a quarrel, le oarkeepe
struck one of the men III the necx.
causing his death. Iit occurrence
caused great excitec-en. ong the
men, and the ~barheepe Led % h 3
life. SOOt afte~, lurae rus
headquarters and appe at he
saved from the HAND n IN h
] which he said vas pul J. n He
was ordered placed in d house
and the guard vas il
"Tbe next night the f l.
guard took four of tie r lhe
| purpose 10 making l. nd3
During the absence { pc. !
and the men, the G
fore 81 open and ne
away. The corporal re. Il half
hour later, insti.1ted i u
the result that the be e. was
found hanging 70 q tree n = DO.
yet WARM.
The alarm was given ..amediately
to the officer OF the day. who ordered
that an investigation be de of the
quarters Of the soldiers and OF every
other person at the 70 IS q result
it was found that every IAN va
his bunk. where all n ly had
been asleep for SIEVE S. tt g
mystery has never bee. 4 p. 70
far as I know { o his d:
However" cont1nr lie sc.
seven enli ted men = cd
suspicion o. being IL n h,
l%ynchine 2 I we're Il n q
$50 miles tant, in vn y
located TT nearest G. \
time. There they ve
quilted.
LEV 0-nvpFD - Il
"Col. Washington
the com~en@fng ofrc1
ported t. a~air &c
in command of the a.