Year: 1872

Commencement OF an Omcial Military
Investigation Touching the Alleged
Riot-The Conductor OF the Captured
Train on the Witness Stand-What He
Saw and Hcard-Muskets and BayoS
nets Used by the Pugnacious Soldiers
Graphic Description Of tho Fight an0
Terror ef the Passengers.


Pursuant to an order issued by Brigadier General
RYDER commanding the Fifth division N. G. s. N. T.,
a special court of inquiry met at Melrose,
Westchester county, yesterday for the purpose
of eliciting the real circumstances attendant
upon the alleged outrageous conduct OF Companies
A and G. of the Third regiment, while travelling In
the cars OF the Harlem Railroad Company on the
26th ult The Military Court, which convened at
the Armory OF Company G, was presided over by
Lieutenant Colonel HATCH of the Third regiment,l
Captain G. W. Storms, Of the same organization,
officiating as Judge Advocate.
The first witness called was William Gr0shOn, the
conductor Of the train which the militia dis
ported themselves in such an unseemly MANNER
who, after being duly sworn, testified as foll0ws:-
/ was conductor OF the Harlem Railroad train
which left White Plains at halfpast twelve O'Clock
p M. on the 2sth day OF September; saw party Of
soldiers, numbering about fifty or sixty, gee
on board the train at West Mount Vernon;
there were some among them whom took to ba
officers; am certain there was first lieutenant
In the car in which the fighting TOOK place; one Of
the commissioned officers subsequently left the
train at Fordham, in company with man who was
hurt; so far as could see the commissioned ON.
GERS were endeavoring to quell the disturbance.
but they seemed to have


NO CONTROL OVER THE MEN;


shond ttnk idere were 6e5ween =, tn twenty ana
go into the while the fight was going on, as 10
was not SAFE to do SO; saw muskets raised and
the soldiers at West Mount Vernon ] gave the
brakeman the signal to run down, so that the last
order to get them in that car; they started in all
directions and entered all the cars; there we're
en nvf e m :ne e as tn
seat sixty persons; told the officers to I'LL up the
rear car with men; Immediately after leaving the
menced; most OF the men In the car where the
fighting took place were intoxicated; there were o
lot Of men on the rear platform scufning, and one


LOST HIS MUsKRr


on the train ne pulled the bel.rope, which nad tho
started star got On the front, front platform 2, ths
their fare and others took no notice Of
me whatever, as they were busily engaged in
their fares again; tried after we left Woodlawn to
collect the fares Of the soldiers in the car bus
could not; then went ahead into the smoking car
and collected fares from several soldiers who were
there; the men did not get through the melee until
We arrived ~ a. At where her the police took





on one Of the brakemen locked the door or the
car, so as to prevent any Of the parties from
getting out; the men who were fighting were ala
hudded together in one end Of the car; there was
fighting going on when we reached fremont; somo
OF them seemed to be using their muskets as


WEAPONS OF OFFENCE;


saw blows struck with muskets; between West
Mount Vernon and W0Odawn, where the worst Of
the fight took place, saw man having his head
and hands covered with blood; one man seemed to
be perfectly crazy; they took his musKet away
from him. and he was bound to have it again;
the cushions In the car were cut; one
lamp was smashed, window glass broken,
and the panels OF the dented In several places,
besides the cushions and floor being covered with
blood; the car had to be left In the yard next day
to be cleaned and Overhauled; the cuts in the
cushions appeared as though bayonet had BEEN
thrust through them;


SAW WOUNDED MEN,
but do not know to what companies they belonged;
saw one taken on the train &C F0rdham; he may
have fallen of, as he was lying on the ground when
saw him; at fremont l sent for the police, and
they came down to the number Of nine or ten
under command Of Sergeant Steers he saw
what the disturbance was and ordered the
soldiers OUT of the train; was subsequently
called upon to testify against soldier
who assaulted me on the return trip the day OF the
fight; In addition to the fighting the conduct OF
the soldiers In the other cars was very bad; they
were using shocking language; the ladies' IN the
forward car were very much frightened, 80 much
so that the baggage man LEFT his car and went in
to assure them OF protection by his presence.


Some OF the officers OF the delinquent campanfes.
who were present. declined crosse xamining tho
witnesses to any material extent.


Conductor Groshen's testimony was fully corrobo-
rated by the testimony OF the brakesmen who wera
on board the train ~
The Court adjourned to meet ct White Plains
next Monday.