Part 126
Q. Did any of your men who were not able to join you the night you left undertake to come to you at Pittsburgh afterwards?
A. Quite a number. One detachment reach Altoona and went back.
Q. Which regiment?
A. I refer to the detachment of my own regiment.
Q. Do you know why they went back?
A. My information is--I demanded a statement from the lieutenant--that General Beaver allowed the troops to do as they pleased at Altoona--to remain or to return.
Q. Was that detachment the one that marched on foot part of the way, and was escorted over the bridge at Harrisburg?
A. No.
Q. Did they get back to Philadelphia?
A. Yes; they made a march and detour near Harrisburg, but they got to Philadelphia. They were on the same train with the First City Troops.
Q. Was there any court-martial of those troops?
A. No; they reported to the regiment afterwards.
Q. What was done about them?
A. The case was scrutinized by me. It didn't go up any higher than myself, because I thought that the officer was justified under the circumstances. He merely followed the direction that most of the other troops took.
Q. Could he have gone on to Pittsburgh at that time?
A. I judge not--for want of transportation.
Q. How many days was it before the road was opened so that the detachment could have gone to Pittsburgh?
A. I cannot give the exact day. I think the road was opened about the 27th or 28th.
Q. What day was it they returned from Altoona?
A. They reported at Blairsville intersection--that detachment with others.
Q. When did they report to you at Blairsville?
A. I judge it was about the 26th, probably.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Do you think the troops could have remained any longer in the round-house than they did?
A. No; and I didn't see what the necessity was for their remaining there anyhow.
Q. What was the condition of your command, in regard to rest and want of food?
A. The men were very much exhausted. They had been taken away during the night from their homes, and, of course, had very little sleep, and little or nothing to eat, and, of course, they were very much exhausted. Still, as they demonstrated on their march, they could do their duty. I would like to state to the committee, that at no time, from the hour when my regiment left Philadelphia until it returned, was there any moment, in my estimation, when the men were not prepared for any duty, that they were called on to do.
Q. You had some army experience?
A. I served about three years and six months in the army.
Q. Your troops were as ready to do service as those in the United States army?
A. I never saw any difference.
* * * * *
Walter G. Wilson, _sworn_:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. State your residence, and what position you held in the National Guard in July last?
A. I live at No. 2323 Green street, Philadelphia, and I was major and acting assistant adjutant general with General Brinton, during the July riots.
Q. Did you hear the testimony of Generals Brinton and Mathews?
A. Yes.
Q. In the details as to what occurred at Twenty-eighth street. State whether their testimony was substantially correct?
A. Their testimony was entirely correct, so far as my knowledge went. I was on the ground constantly with General Brinton, during that afternoon, and reported to General Pearson, of my arrival with him. General Pearson was then at the Union depot. The formation of the column and line of march was stated by both Generals Brinton and Mathews, and is substantially correct.
Q. State whether at Twenty-eighth street you heard any command given to fire?
A. I did not.
Q. By any officer?
A. I did not.
Q. State what the action of the crowd was there, prior to the firing by the troops?
A. The action of the crowd was such as to induce me to believe that a conflict was inevitable. I was satisfied they had made up their minds to have a row. There was jeering and insults in every direction, but the men bore it all patiently. I heard General Brinton, on leaving the Union depot, state, if I am not mistaken, to General Mathews and General Loud, that he wanted them to endure, and pay no attention to anything the mob might say or do, even if they spat in their faces--simply, if they were attacked, to defend themselves. At Twenty-eighth street it was absolutely impossible to move on account of the crowd. The Gatling guns were brought in between the ranks, and, when the crowd were pushing in and surging in at the end, the Washington Grays were formed across, but were found insufficient to keep the crowd back. General Brinton then sent me with instructions to bring up other men, as the mob were pressing in between the ranks of the First regiment, which I did. I heard no order given to fire, and saw distinctly, not only pistol shots, but stones and missiles of various kinds thrown from all directions. I saw, after the firing--in fact, it seemed to me that the firing had hardly commenced before the crowd scattered in every direction. I saw, immediately, Generals Brinton and Mathews and Colonel Benson, if I am not mistaken, give the command to cease firing, and go up and down the line endeavoring to stop the men. The crowd had dispersed in every direction.
Q. How long did you remain in that position before you moved into the round-house?
A. I should judge it was about two hours, probably three hours. The firing had hardly ceased, when General Brinton got a note from General Pearson, to which he sent me to reply in person. Upon reporting to him the state of affairs at Twenty-eighth street, he directed me to return, and inform General Brinton that he would like to see him personally. I did so, and accompanied General Brinton back to the outer office, where General Pearson was.
Q. Where was he?
A. In the second story in the office at Twenty-sixth or Twenty-seventh street, at the outer depot.
Q. How was he dressed?
A. He had on a fatigue uniform and cap, and sack coat or blouse--an officer's blouse--and dark pants, and, if I am not mistaken, a white vest. He had on shoulder straps, and the mark of his rank on the cap.
Q. Did he have on a belt?
A. No; I think not.
Q. State what the conduct of the troops was during the night in the round-house?
A. The conduct of the troops was unexceptionable. I was up and around during the entire night, from one part of the building to the other, and I saw no instance where the men refused to obey any order given to them, although they were, of course, rather exhausted, and rather hungry; yet, at the same time, any command that was given was obeyed at once, cheerfully and willingly. The slight disturbance that General Brinton spoke of in his testimony was so slight that I never knew anything about it until long afterwards, and I suppose I had probably as much opportunity to know what was going on as anybody.
Q. State whether you had notice of the orders received by General Brinton from General Latta or from General Pearson?
A. Yes, sir; I had.
Q. Of all the orders?
A. Yes.
Q. State whether General Brinton received any orders from General Latta before leaving the round-house?
A. He received two dispatches during the night from General Latta.
Q. State what they were?
A. The first one was complimenting him very highly.
Q. Were they telegraphic dispatches?
A. No; they came by the hand of a scout whom General Brinton sent to communicate with General Latta.
Q. Named Wilson?
A. Yes--of the Jefferson Cavalry. The first were sent off with members of the Hutchinson Battery, and they never returned. Wilson brought back an answer regarding the situation in which we were placed, stating we understand the situation thoroughly, and an effort would be shortly made to provision the troops--that ammunition had been sent to Guthrie, and that the troops at Walls station would join Guthrie, and that Guthrie would be on the way, and certainly ought to be with us by six or seven o'clock, and stating also that there was no chance for friction primers. The second dispatch--Sergeant Wilson went out again and returned about two o'clock--maybe three o'clock--and brought another dispatch from General Latta complimenting the division very highly upon their conduct, and stating that the ammunition had reached Colonel Guthrie, and that he would be on his way shortly, and certainly would reach the round-house not later than five or six o'clock, and to hold on vigorously, or if compelled to leave, that we should do so by way of Penn avenue or eastward, and take Penn avenue.
Q. What time was that dispatch received?
A. I should judge in the neighborhood of two or three o'clock.
Q. Did General Brinton stay as long as he could in the round-house?
A. He stayed as long as he possibly could stay--as long as it was possible to stay. I think it was ten minutes of eight o'clock when the order was given for the troops to fall in for the purpose of leaving. At that time the roof of the round-house was on fire, and the building was full of smoke, and the only part that was not on fire was the office building of the upholstery shop, through which we went out. The piles of lumber in the direction of the Union depot--I don't know whether east or north from that--were all afire. Shortly before leaving, I went to the upholstery shops, and could see nothing but a mass of flames to the Union depot.
Q. Were any guards thrown out to guard the approaches to the round-house during the night?
A. Yes; as far as it was prudent or possible to throw them.
Q. Were any attacks made on the guards during the night by the mob?
A. There was no attack. It was a desultory kind of firing during the entire night from every direction. Men would conceal themselves behind piles of lumber, and in the windows of the houses, and behind chimneys, on roofs. The firing came from every direction.
Q. At what distance were guards placed from the round-house?
A. It was probably as far as from here to Eighth street--probably two hundred yards.
Q. Did they remain out all night that distance?
A. Yes.
Q. Were any of them wounded there?
A. No; it was on the track side, towards the Union depot. The building was not defensible at all from that side.
Q. From the side towards the depot no attack was made?
A. No.
Q. How far were the guards out on the side towards Philadelphia?
A. There were no guards there. A part of the Sixth division was supposed to be in the Twenty-eighth street round-house.
Q. You had no guards on the street leading to Penn street?
A. There was no occasion for them. Everything was in perfect view, as far as that was concerned, from the building itself.
Q. State in what kind of order the troops marched out?
A. The order was perfect.
Q. Was there any firing along the route?
A. There was considerable firing along the route.
Q. Were you present when General Brinton met Major Buffington at the arsenal?
A. I was present when he met a person, supposed to be the person commanding the arsenal.
Q. Where was he?
A. It was at his house inside the arsenal grounds.
Q. How far from the house?
A. Right on the steps--right on the porch.
Q. What took place between them?
A. Well, General Brinton introduced himself, and told him who he was, and requested substantially--that was he requested permission to bring the men inside, and, if possible, to get ammunition and provisions for them, or if not, to allow them to remain there until he could communicate with General Latta, and get some orders. Buffington immediately ordered him to leave the place as rapidly as possible, and leave no men inside. He did that in an abrupt manner, as much as to say, if you don't go out, I will throw you out.
Q. Had you been directed to Major Buffington's house by anybody?
A. My impression is that Captain Murphy took us there. It may have been that some person just at the door, or the sentry at the gate, may have said so.
Q. You accompanied General Brinton to the house?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you meet him before calling at the door or ringing the bell?
A. We met him right at the porch. I think there was a lady standing there, and the question was asked if Major Buffington was in, and at that moment he came out. I know that nobody went for him.
Q. You turned then and----
A. Went to the gate as rapidly as possible.
Q. Did Major Buffington come up to the gate before you left?
A. No.
Q. Did you see anything more of him?
A. I didn't. He turned on his heel and went into the house.
Q. Did you see anything of Lieutenant Lyon?
A. I don't know the lieutenant at all. I will state this much, I think there was some one in citizen's clothing, when the wounded were brought to the gate, who said allow them to come in, and I suppose from what I heard afterwards that it may have been Lieutenant Lyon.
Q. Describe the appearance of the man you met at the house, supposed to be Major Buffington?
A. I cannot do that.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Was he in uniform?
A. No; in citizen's clothes. I don't know that I would know him if I saw him. It was all in a moment, and the excitement, as a matter of course, was great, and I paid no particular attention to the man's appearance.
Q. Do you remember whether he wore a mustache or not?
A. I think he had hair on his face; but whether a mustache or not I won't be certain. I think he had hair on his face.
Q. Some gentleman was there?
A. There was somebody who said he was Major Buffington.
Q. There was some person who permitted you to bring the wounded inside?
A. Yes; that was afterwards. After we were ordered out.
Q. State whether you were present when Colonel Norris overtook General Brinton?
A. I was.
Q. What orders did he give, if any?
A. None; he gave no orders.
Q. Did you hear anything or all of what took place between them?
A. I did. I heard the entire conversation.
Q. Do you know whether General Brinton received any orders after leaving the round-house or not during that day?
A. Not until late in the afternoon.
Q. What were they, and who communicated them?
A. Those orders came out by the hand of Major Baugh, who reported to General Brinton at Claremont, and was immediately sent back by orders from General Latta--I think it was him--but they were received late that afternoon, directing the general to bring the entire division to Altoona by rail.
Q. That was a written order?
A. Yes.
Q. Did a man by the name of Colonel Smith reach you during the day, Sunday?
A. Norman Smith?
Q. Yes.
A. He reached us on Sunday. I saw him--the first time I saw him to know him--he may have reached us an hour or so before--it was after the division had encamped on the hills overlooking Claremont. He was there, and stayed for some hours.
Q. Do you know what his mission was?
A. I don't know that it had anything to do with any military matters, and I think he said he had an appointment with somebody to go across the country. I didn't ask him who.
Q. Do you know whether General Brinton telegraphed to Colonel Scott of the Pennsylvania Railroad?
A. He sent a number of dispatches to Colonel Scott during the time we were out, in relation to various matters, for the purpose of urging the necessity of endeavoring to procure us ammunition, and provision, and blankets, and clothing, &c. And I know he also sent a note. I am under the impression it was in response to an inquiry as to the condition of the men, and he stated that, if he was allowed his own way, he could open the entire road from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh with the First division.
Q. When did he send that dispatch?
A. While we were at Blairsville Intersection.
Q. Do you know on what day?
A. I cannot state the day. We got there, I think, on the afternoon of the 23d, and it may have been the following morning. It was just in response to an inquiry as to the morale of the division.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Was there one or more sentinels at the gate when you reached the arsenal?
A. There was but one. There may have been one or two in the box; but one was patrolling the beat.
Q. Didn't the sergeant there point out to you and General Brinton the gate to Major Buffington's quarters?
A. No. There may have been somebody who pointed out the house, but nobody went for him.
Q. No one went on with you to the house?
A. No. He may have pointed it out to General Brinton, in response to a question. I don't recollect that he did or didn't.
Q. Did the major come out of the house there, and stand on the steps?
A. He came out of the house--out of the entry way--on to the steps.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Did Major Buffington give any reason for refusing admission into the arsenal grounds?
A. I don't think he said anything, except that there was a large amount of property there, or something.
Q. Did he say it would be endangered by bringing on a conflict with the mob?
A. I think not. I have no recollection of it.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Did he tell General Brinton there was no small ammunition there?
A. I have no recollection of his saying anything of the kind. He may have told him that he could not get any; but I have no recollection of his saying there was none.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. How were your troops supplied with ammunition? Did you have sufficient?
A. No; not at that time. The next morning--Monday morning or afternoon--the ordinance return showed that the Third regiment had about three rounds to a man, and the First regiment, I think, an average of ten.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. How many did you have on Saturday afternoon when you went out to Twenty-eighth street?
A. We were supposed to have twenty rounds to a man. Ten were issued at Harrisburg, and ten at Pittsburgh.
Q. State whether General Brinton received orders from General Latta to go to Torrens station; and, if so, when he received them?
A. He received orders from General Latta to go to Torrens station on the night of the 3d of July.
Q. What kind of an order was it?
A. A written order, and sent, as I was afterwards informed, by the hands of Captain Aull, and delivered by him to Colonel Guthrie, and by Colonel Guthrie to the general, at the reception of the Duquesne club, the night before we left Pittsburgh.
Q. When was the order dated.
A. On the morning we left the round-house. It was a very congratulatory order, directing him to go to the stock-yards, and entrench himself there, and congratulating him on the movement of the morning, and stating he was glad to hear he was safe.
Q. What per centage of the men of the First division were soldiers of the late war? Do you know?
A. No; that is pretty hard matter to tell.
Q. From your acquaintance with them could you form an estimate?
A. I should judge probably fifty per cent. of them--taking the strength of the division right straight through--probably more than that.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. You stated you heard no command given to the troops to fire.
A. No.
Q. Didn't you consider the men justifiable in firing?
A. Yes; I consider it would not have been half a minute before the command would have been given. It would have been necessary.
Q. Was there a consultation among the officers as to the position you should take after the firing took place?
A. The only consultation was between--or a conversation--it was hardly in the nature of a consultation--was between General Brinton and General Pearson. General Pearson sent to know of General Brinton--stating he had heard the firing--whether there were any killed or wounded, and requested him, if he desired to communicate, to send a staff officer. General Brinton sent me, and I immediately returned and reported that General Pearson desired to see him and went back with him.
Q. Where did you find General Pearson?
A. In the second story of the outer office.
Q. Mr. Pitcairn's?
A. I don't know. He was in the telegraph room. There was no consultation about it. It was an absolute order from General Pearson to move the troops in there.
* * * * *
E. DeC. Loud, _sworn_:
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Please state your residence?
A. No. 3741 Spruce street.
Q. State whether you are a member of the National Guard now?
A. Yes.
Q. And you were in July last?
A. Yes.
Q. What was your rank?
A. Brigadier General, commanding the Second brigade.
Q. You accompanied General Brinton to Pittsburgh?
A. Yes.
Q. State whether you went out with his command to Twenty-eighth street?
A. I did not.
Q. On Saturday?
A. I did not. When we started from Pittsburgh, or rather from Union depot, a portion of my command was then ordered to guard the passenger trains that were going to be run out, and when we got about the center--from the western half to the center of the round-house--I was ordered to take that position, and to keep the tracks clear, and see that nobody came into my line excepting those that had authority--to keep out all citizens--that the trains were ready to be run, and that I should keep things clear, in that shape, until they could open the road at Twenty-eighth street. I held that position until the firing began at Twenty-eighth street; but, I think, perhaps a little before that I sent an aid to General Brinton and asked him, if possible, to return to me the troops that had been detached, as the ground I had to cover was too large to be covered by the troops I had. He sent them back. Shortly after that, I saw the firing at Twenty-eighth street. It was about a square and a half, and I could see the firing. I had stationed a line across east to keep the crowd back from that side, and when the rioters broke around from the rear of the First brigade, and came back, I ordered the line doubled, and turned the crowd through the yard out on to Liberty street, instead of letting them come on the tracks. So far, as I saw, the trains were all ready, with nobody interfering with them, and if they had had men to run them--engineers and firemen--I think they could have run those trains out after Twenty-eighth street was cleared.
Q. Were the engines fired up?
A. I think so.
Q. Were there engineers with them?
A. There seemed to be men about the engines that seemed to have authority. They seemed to be train hands--engineers.
Q. And brakemen?