Year: 1865

wharf


ASSISTANCE.


Arriving at the Baltimore wha rf, an
officer was dispatched to acquaint COP
onel Joseph Robertswith the state of sf-
fairs, and asking assistance to bring
them to their duty. Colonel Roberts
at once sent Major Van Schelling, with
companies C and D, of the third Penn
sylvania artillery, to quell the mutiny.
Mai Van Schelling marched his small
command on board the Whildin, and
proceeded to the Meteor. There was
on board the Whildin at the same time
the most insubordinate company, the
one which had refused to embark On
the Meteor. On nearing the latter ship,
the colored mutineers on board threat
ened to fire on Major Van Scheillngs
men if he interfered with the men of
the Meteor.


The Major was anxious to quell the
mutiny without shedding blood He
decided on little strategy. He order
ed the Whildin back TO the wharf,
landed a portion of his men, and form





loaded and bayonets fixed The mutt
neers were then taken from the boat
by twos and threes, and made to lay
their arms down and proceed up the
wharf. They were marched in rear of
the fort and placed under guard. The
Whilden then proceeded again to the
Meteor and brought off portion of the
men on board On reaching the wharf
these were disarmed as their predeces-
sors had been. The Whilien contin
ued her trips between the wharf and
the Meteor till all the mutinOIs SOL
diers had been landed and deprived Of
their arms.


Then they were taken back to the
large ship without their arms or equip
ments. Some of the more determined
among the mutineers endeavored to re-
sist the disarming. Lay down your
arms or be shot" was the alternative
presented to them, and carbines and
sabers were, per force, deposited on the
wharf. The sabres and carbines of the
mutinous troops still rem ain piled on
the lower end of Baltimore wharf
Most of the carbines are loaded and
capped, and there is no doubt but that
bloodshed was imminent. Orders have
been sent to City Point to issue no more
arms to the eolored cavalry brigade.
The wharf is thronged with negroes
from Hampton and Slabtown, who have
come to see the trouble of their favor
ite soldiers. These colored spectators
consist mainly of females, who seem to
have quite as much curiosity as their
white sisters. They sympsthize with
the colored soldiers who are strolling
about the wharf, and glance deprecst-
ing looks at the piles of carbines and
sabeIs of which the mutineers were de-
prived last night Nearly all of these
colored females bear baskets on their
arms, in which they have material
sympathy in the shape of pies and
cakes, which the soldiers deyoUr with
much apparent gusto.


FURTHER DIsARMING.


At nine o'clock the light-drafJ pro
peller Delaware came to the wharf. The
Delaware came down from City Point
last night with four companies of the
First United States colored cavalry.
These men were fully armed and equip
ped. All remained quiet till near noon,
when the visiting negroes had nearly
all returned to their homes; then a
company was taken from the Delaware,
the men marching oh, one at time
When company had been disembsrk-
ed, it was marched up the beach near
the Engineers dock. Here were drawn
up battalion of the Third Pennsylva-
MIA artillery, under Major Won S;he.-
ling, the colored company marching
between the white troops, who stood at
open order, their pieces at g shoulder,
loaded, capped, and bayonets fixed.


After the colored troops had march
ed through this double line the white
troops marched IN close order, wheeled
70 the right and stood a serried line
one in flank on the colored troops At
The further end OF the line q company
of the Third siood drawn Up st night
angles 20 the beach, on the approach OF
the collored troops Thus the men
about TO be dissrmed had a company
on each of their hanks, the guns on the
fort behind them, and the broad bay
between them The thought OF resist
snce Wonld have been the inspiration
Of madness. The colored men glanced
around and seemingly appreciated the
thoroughness OF the preparations They
were formed in line single file, and one
by enc stepped forward and laid down
their arms they deeply felt their dis
grace every sable face was distorted
with pain az they unbuckled the ac-
eourtrements and laid down earbine
and sabre. Some groud their teeth
in silent modification. and tears rolled
down the cheeks Of others Rs they step
ped in front Of their fellows to lay down
the honorable badges Of their profes-
sion. Company by compady they were
marched down the beach and deprived
of their arms Great praise is due Msj
Won Scbelling for the admirable and
peaceful manner IN which he conducted
the necessary dissrming of these men;
he only showed force without using it
Under less cool and able management,
the affair Of last night would have re-
suited in bloodshed, and it wss abso-
lutsly necessary to disaFm the men who
we're dissFmed this morning, ~ they