, 1861-05-27
CHICAGO, MoND|A:YYl;; MAY 27,:.: j
4 Statement from Capt. Tazrker.
CANP BARKER. Mse- ~. 1861

oAF BAnKrB, Raa. n, 1851.
Editors Chicago Tribune:
GKH7LEa1EE:--.A communication an series
Of resolutions appeared in the fbef Of tl1e 23d
membera Of Company B, Chicago DEagt,ons.
and the Illinois Rangers, Capt. Frank Benn ett,
which has caused In me: feelings the most in
teneely painful.
While do not desire to appear, personality
In the Journals Of your city, Justice to myself
to make plain statement Of the facts con-
nected with the disbanding Of Company s.
Chicago Drngoons
On he I'M day Of April, 1881, 4reeelved .
commission from Gov. Yates, Commander-in.
Chief, to bring into active service for State
men. 1returned to Chicago and enlisted that
number Of men: Subsequently, forty-se4en
others pressed themselves upon me with the
full understanding that I would do all could
service. Wewere reeeiye (172 men) atepring-
field as one company, drew ratio0s, blankets,
172 men. Iwenty.four hours after, the Ger
man Cavalry, from Chicago, came into
camp murdered, and unaceepted;
Ieut: Coz. Hoffman exerted himself II their
behalf. From bis efforts arose the cavalry
regiment bill, cutting a11 companies down to
e0nen and including the German cavalry aud
the Chicago dragons as the first two compa-
MES. On the very heels Of this came the Or
ments, to Cairo. expostulated, and the De-
partment allowed me time to buy horses and
horse equipments, which, as you know, did
In Chicago, at the same time drawing from
Springfield arsenal eabres, Eelts, and pistols
COT tTe hapdsd bg Gp hep ba 45ae5 sDg
Frank Bennett, Illinois Rangers, being re-
fused service by the State, offered him,
self and command to me. accepted SO
much Of it as would fill company B to war
footing, taking Capt. Bennett and IS men but
esn on & nsg o gsaa se% mea PafSs R z ee GoTEa Hn 10
Cairo with the horses for Company A, he TN
derstaning that he and his men were to return
to Springfield with Company when relieved
by Company 4. The balance Of men I could
not get passes for to Springfield and therefore
The morning Company A left Springfield
had assurances from the highest State author
ities that Accompany B, EChicago Dragons,
should be Company B OF the cavalry regiment
and should have returned to Springfield to
assist Company B, the day. after Company 3
disbanded had not the intelligence Of such dis.
and men were passed from Chicago to Cairo
and from Cairo to Springfield, and his bill Of
$14 SO for expenses Of men WAS paid By the
proper department here, for which they hold
his receipt.
No one as an officer or man can regret mora
than ! do the return and dIsbanding Of Com
papy get, do not believe 1t was owing in
any sense to any lack Of nterest or energy on
my pa1t, and most emphatically state that to
each ard all Of them stated the plain truth
aud nothing hut the truth. I wiah now to ask
The men WHO desired to remain with Compa-
ny at Springfield, md who requested 1t Of
me because they thought themselves likely to
obtain office in It, whether in the low, vile
and unjust attack made upon me they have In
tion Ct the Gentleman, or the soldier? Gentle
men rer- -, Your ob't servant,
c.. ". BARKER,
Capt. Chicago Dragons.
1t meeting of the Chicago Dungeons,
held at Camp Barker, ncor Cairo, H., On Fri
day, the Gath list, convened for tho purpose
CT taking some action with regard to
the recent libenous attack upon the
character Of Capt G. ". Barker, upon mo-
tlor, VIM T. Mcdin was chosen Chairman,
and G. A. Forsyth, Secretary. The above let
ter Of Capt. Barker being. read, 1t WAS
Resozred, That being conyersnnt with the facts
get forth In the above letter, We heartily and fully
endorse them in every particular.
RtSofCed, That We fully abeo1ve Capt. Barker
from any and al llbellous charges and statements
coutAlued in the resolutions published in the Chi
cago Post, May sd, 1861; that We recognize IN
Capt. Barker all the qualities Of an able command
Ct, gentlcman1y soldier, and above all al honest
and humane man.
Tic above resolutions Terc unanimously
adopted. Whereupon the meeting adjourned.
". H. MEDu1, Pre5't.