The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-29
ARMY JOURNAL0N
CASE OF CARROLL
Editorial Discusses Recent Out
break by Negro at Gettys-
burg Camp.

Virginia militIamen have heard con-
flicting reports about the editorial in
the Army and Navy Journal on the Car
roll trial at Gettysburg during the re-
cent manoeuvres. That paper said In
It's last issue:
Governor William Hodges Mann. OF
Virginia, still seems TO have griev-
ance against the War Department In
general and against Brigadier- General
w. w. Wotherspoon in particular over
the Incidents leading to and the re-
sulting trial OF Private Thomas Car
roll. a member OF the colored War Col
Iege detachment on duty at Gettys-
burg during the late encampment at
that place. Carroll Is the man who
came In for some trouble while passing
through the camp of the First Virginia
Infantry during daylight. and who. 1t
Is alleged. refused TO halt when or
dered TO do SO by the sentries OF Nos.
and pests. He was then chased by
the guard with fixed bayonets. headed
by the officer of the guard and claims
that the Threatening language used by
his pursuers justified him in thinking
his life was in danger, ard he drew
an empty revolver TO hold of the ylr-
gin!ans. He finally reached his own
camp. about 1000 yards from the Vin-
ginia lines, and then SURRENDERED to
his own first sergeant, Sergeant Kin
caid. of the War College detuclment.
He was then taken to the Virginia camp
and later turned over to the provost
marshal. by whom he WAS parolcd
pending an investigation.
The case was Investigated by Major
Daniel II. Broughton, the provost mar
shall, who, after examination OF varf-
Gus witnesses, reported that, while the
case bore some serious aspects as
breach of discipline on tho part OF Caf
roll. there had been so much III feeliEt
shown by the First Virginia toward
the few negro soldiers In camp that
Carroll may have been impressed with
the idea that his life was in danger,
and merely drew the empty revolver
in an effort to scare off those WON ne
deemed intended bodily harm. There
was no ball ammunition in the hands
of enlisted men or officers at the camp
of instruction, SO that the fact that
the revolver was empty was and Is
conclusively proved.
In view of Carroll's excellent record
OF thirteen years as a soldier, 1t was
recommended by Major Broughton that
he be brought to trial by summary
court This was done Lieutenant Ly-
man w. V. Kennon, Fourteenth In
rantry, was the summary court officer,
and the trial proceeded with an ex-
animation Of the Virginia witnesses. In
the meantime Governor Mann, who was
In camp at the time, called upon Cen
eral Wotherspoon and in rather abrupt
language insisted upon a trial by gem
erai court-martial. The summary court
proceedings were stopped and the mat
ter referred to Washington for final
disposition.
The War Department concurred In
the action taken by General Wother-
spoon, and Carroll was tried eventually
by summary court and fined $40. When
this news reached Richmond Governor
Mann and the First Virginia Regiment
became somewhat upset. to say the
least. The Governor Immediately wrote
to Senator Martin, who took the mat
ter up with the War Department. and
the whole case and all the circum-
stances connected herewith were re-
viewed by the judge advocate-general
of the army, who upheld General Woth-
erspoon throughout and stated that
he had acted not only within his
rights as commanding general of the
camp, but had used both tact and d.
plomacy In the handling of the case