The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-12-06

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upon this charming lax and almost
can hear their war-Whoops and In
Imagination can see the canoes Of the
dusky warriors darling across its pei
lucid waters.
All fighting men have some sort OF
a battle-cry. ! de- not think the war
whoop would disturb me very much.
for I nave often heard the rebel yell,
which, although disagreeable, was not
wholly effacing.
/ LIVED for twenty-five years among
the people who had uttered it and
found them with hatreds and affec-
ions like other people. While living
there, many things worthy of notice
and remembrance passed under my
observation now recall the trial Of
a North Carolina sheriff by a military
commission in Charleston.
was employed in the years 1868
in the services Of the Second Military
district, comprising the Cardinals. as
assistant Judge Of the dis
trict, under General Ed. T.. S. Candy.
I have never seen General SlckleS but
once and l am sure he never heard Of
AAC' ~ "a SAty lid \ "AS AAo
private secretary was a pure lnVen-
ton. (Ihe nsufferable of
staff & as the truth what is not known
to be true, for a political
benefit. is inconceivable to honest
minds.) 1t would have been no dis
grace, however, to have been private
secretary to General Sickles, many OF
whose General orders have been re-
tanned in the statutes OF North Caro-
lima.
My usual duties were to review the
proceedings of all the military courts
in the two States and to report to the
commanding general, each morning.
the cases passed upon the preceding
day for his final action. The cases
related almost entirely to the trial Of
soldiers for offenses against military
law, and had nothing to do with the
civil government of the two States.
Complaint had been made to Gen
eral Sickles before the commencement
Of the administration Of General
Candy, that excessive cruelty had
been practiced upon n William NJ.
johnson. in North Carolina, by Jesse
c. Griffith, sheriff Of Caswe county
These charges had been put together
by our old friend, Judge Touragee, au-
thor of "A Fools Errand," who wrote
frequent letters Of complaint to Gen.
eral SickleS, which were left over by
the retiring officer to his successor.
Col. Edgar w. Dennis. Judge Advo-
cate of the Second Military District,
soon after my arrival in Charle-t
In August. 1857, directed me to re-
view the written statements OF Judge
IOurgee, with a view to the prosecu-
ton of Griffith, If the evidence SEEM
ed to justify it. / perused the letters
and ~Jonnson's aYerments yery care
fully and my judgment was against
proceeding further. Col. Dennis
seemed surprised at the conclusion
reached for he had been led to be-
Ieve that the case was one Of unmi.i-
gated harshness and cruelty. He
gave to General Candy my verbal re-
port, with the result that it was de-
termined by the General and his Judge
~dVoca to thoroughly sift the mat
Ter. l was instructed to p
charges and specifications.
A military commission vas organ
lied. with General Robert O. Tyler as
president INC several officers Of high
rank as associates. General Candy
appointed me special jude advo ate
of the court.
Griffith was charged with "Miscon.
duct IN ONCE and the specifications
were to the effect that he, having
charge of the .ail wantonly, unneces-
sarliy, maliciously and cruelty con
fined Johnson. who was ommitt 70
Grithth's custody by order Of the SUI
perior Court Of Caswen county, under
conviction Of burglary, lin an apa;t-
ment other than that provided by law
to-"it. in an iron cage, nine feet
square by six feet high" and that
Griffith maltreated Johnson bv htnd.
ing him inside of the cage with an
IRON chain OF about the length Of six
feet. 1t was charged thai Tohnsa
was confined in the cage WITHOUT fire.
or sufflclent clothing. or Other uoa.
OF warmth in the winter 80. aeahs