Year: 1879

PLAtE-HATfNS = BRIGADE TliF FIRST % ME-


SION RrDGE-sTANLEY's LETTER OF APOLOGY


AND RETRACTION.


At the outset of the Stanley-Hazeu trIal THE
TRIBUNE gave history of the case, together with
biographical notices of the two officers chiefly con-
cerned in H. sketches of the personnel of the Court
and other matter tending to give the reader an un-
dersanding IN advance OF the chief features Of one
of the most remarkable courts-martial ever held
IN this country. Full reports of the proceedings OF
the Court have been given in these columns Pom day
TO day, but as there have beon numerous intermIs-
sons, the general reader can scarcely be supposed
to have followed the testimony carefully and con-
nected it closely with the original charges and
specifications. The purpose Of this article Is to
analyze the evidence and point ont what has been
proven aud what has not been proven by it.
marked popularity Of the case was that
although General Stanley MAS technically The de-
fendant, the real defendant was General Hazen'
whose record for bravery and whose character Tor
truth and honor assaIled throughout by stan
ley In trying Stanley for accusing Hazen of cow
ardice and falsehood, the Court in reality try
ing Hazen, too for Stanleys defence was that the
charges he had publicly made against Hazen were
true and were capable of proof. Thus his defence
was direct attack on Hazen. The success Of this
attack would, it was evident. ruin Hazen with the
Army and destroy his brilliant record IN the his
tory of the rebellion and 1t equally PLAIN
that ITS failure would put Stanley in the unenvable
position of having given currency, presumably from
unworthy motives 20 slanders upon brother Oiil-
Ger calculated to reflect irreparable injury upon his
reputation.


The trial. under the presidency of General Han
cock was conducted with marked dignity and far
ness. The bearing of the distinguished officers Yho
took part IN members OF the Court or witnesses
the gravity and decorum observed and the evident
desire 20 get all facts calculated to make the PAIN
OF justice plain, We're IN strong contrast
with certain recent non-miltary trials, and
were calculated to deepen the respect felt
for the Army among the civilian spectators
Judge-Advocate Swain, who was charged with the
prosecution by virtue OF his position, displayed
praisewoTthy lack of partlsanship, and gave the
accused every opportunity to bring forward all the
evidence he wished TO justify his position.


GENERAL sTANLEYs ACCUSATIONS.


The trial began by the arraignment OF General
Stanley aud the introduction as evidence
against him of letters and newspaper publications
emananng from him charging General Hazen
with cOWardlee and falsehoOd. The authenticity
of this evidence was admitted by General Stanley
and he sought to justify his conduct by proving
that his charges were true or that at least he had
reason to believe them true. He attempted to prove


l. That General Hazen guilty of dlsgraceiul
conduct battle OF clIlUG, Oe-erills us
brigade and skulklng near the river during the
time his men were engaged with tue enemy


. That General HaZen was guilty OF lmposture
in causing monument to be built at stone RIVER,
communicating the men of his command who fell
in tuat ga-cment, on ground which his forces du
not occupy during the battle.


g. That General Hazen kept ont Of danger at the
bajtie OF Picketts Mills. and was not with his
brigade during the hard fighting 40 that place.


T. That III his official report of the acton Of his
brigade at Mission Ridge, General haZen falsely
0N fIItGf
captured certain guns which were III TACT captured
by other troops


D. That General Hazen swore falsely as a witness
before the Senate ~ the Beknap impeachment tr1al
in regard 10 the purpose for which he was sub
pRnaed before the House Military Committee, and
made false statements as 10 the unWlllngness oIJbe
Subsistence Department to comply with the law re-
quiring 1t TO furnish suffers supplies to the Army


GENERAL HAzENs CONDUCT AT SHILOH.


To establish the charge Of cowardice at Shiloh.
General Stanley's witnesses were General AcCook,
General Wood and DR.. Murray, who testified that
they saw General Hazen at Pittsburg Landing dur
ing the second day of the BATTLE about the middle
OF the dav McCook and Murray spoke to him. He
appeared greatly distressed, and said his brigade had
been cut up and he had got separated from it, The
Inference sought to be drawn from this evidence
wa, that General Hazen had voluntarily deserted
his men aud taken refuge at the nyer bank to get
out Of danger OF course the place Of brigade



and his absence from them during the fight, if not
Dositively suspicious, demanded full explanation.
Ii General Hazen's defence had been shut out, as
was attempted TO be done by General Stanley's
attorney. a serious blot would have been put upon
his f. me as a soldier.


The Juige-AdvOcate offered evidence showing
that General HaZen calamity accompanied his
command for hours during the severe lighting OF
the day, and was with the nrst line during the
final charge. when 1t was broken and forced back.
AtterwaTd, in falling back across a large
omen field and through a dense wood, he
became separated from his men by reason
Of being forced 10 make detOur 10
avoid fences winch his horse would not jump. In
seeking TO regain his scattered forces he came upon
tho enemys line and was fired upon. Then lie
sought % regain the Hamburg road, On which ms
brigade had marched out IN the morning, but as al
roads cOnyerged at tue landing he reached the lver
before striking the road. There he stopped long
enough To take food About + O'Clock he re-
gained the remnants OF the brigade Reformed
II and placed 1t IN camp for the night.
reporting all the facts IL the ~ his division
commander, who told hlm that the occurrence was
not at all remarkable under the clIcums ances. There
was never anything covered up about Ills absence.


The witnesses Hazen's gallant conduct
during the battle officers OF his COM
mand who were near hun IN the action.
including his adjutant and both ms aids From the
time tine brigade ceased lighting and, after suffer
ing heavy losses, fell back IN confusion until the
time he reOined It, toward evening, the behavior
of General HaZen was clearly and satisfactorily ex-
planned by his own testimony. a large amount OF
cumulative testimony rs 20 fidZti bravery uurlnR
the fghting period of the day was offered and de-
clined by the Court on the ground that the whole
affair had been satisfactorily cucldated.


TIE STONE RIVER MONUMENT.


As to the Stone River Monument, General STAN
ley's counsel endeavOred TO prove by General
Thomas J. Wood that General Hazen's brigade did
not fight on the ground where the monument
stands, but was engaged on the other side Of the
turnpike, 800 yards away, and that at no time dur
I,o, - hat DID &
men occupy the spot whore the monument stands.
General Woods testimony was positive this
point and was several times reiterated in
aminatlnn but be returned 10 qualify It bH saYing