, 1862-01-15
4 Statement from, Major A. ELF


Editors ehicego Tribune:
In yous paper Of the 10th lust, You refer,
in an articlc~o of some length, to an afftay
Which occurred between Col. j. ". Bell, OF
the 18th III. Cavalry and myself have no
particular fault TO find, to the manner in which
You treat the at1tay, belieTing with yourselves
tint personal broilB, terminating in Sth:s tfnd
Of knock down argument, should be avoided
and publicly deprecated, as unbeconaing TO
gentlemen, and more especially to men occu-
rying high military position I had no desire
to Eayc the personal affairs between Col. Bell
and myself ventilated through the papers,
confidently believing that was quite eompe~
tent to protect myself from the assaults. in~
furies and ipdignities which Ire has endeavored
to impose upon me. As this matter has now
become public property in part, deem 1t iU-
important to mysen that all the facts In con-
ncction should be ventilated; otherwise it
might be inferred that have been removed
from my poeition in the regiment, as Major,
for incompetency. Therefore you vii pardon
me for re1attng in rs brief manner as posi-
BILE the facts Of my connection vita Col Bell
in the formation Of his regiment; leaving the
public and the "powera that he'' to Judge
which officer has committed 8 wrong, and
which is deserving Of public censure. After
getting his authority ut Washington to raise a
regiment Of cavalry, he proceeded to this city
and commenced his operations; he made
known his wishes, and first proposed to have me
take the 1t. Colonelship, but soon referred to
the subject again, and said that he had par
tially promised that position to his sol, Chss.
A por Ia 70 4n1r lt.a.,
tion Of Major, which, sfter consideration,
Iag1eed to take, and accordingly arranged my
business and entered upon the duties Of my
office. About this time, Col. Bell went to
Springfield to obtain the sanction of the Coy
ernor to raise his regiment in Illinois. This
he informed me, on his return, he did not &C.
compIish, from the fact that the Governor had
some time previous given authority to Col
Voss to raise . regiment Of cavalry, which
regiment as get WIS not accepted by the War
| Depar tmcnt, and he declined authorizing Col.
Bef, to the exclusion Of Col Voss. Col Bell
| then left for Washington for the purpose Of
| adjusting matters, and as he expressed it,
| showing to Gov. Yates that be would raise his
| regiment in Illinois without his permission"
The Quartermaster and myself were left in
charge Of at1airs during his absence.
| The result OF his mission there is generullY
| known; he returned with permission to raise
| a minimum regiment, and an order to consoli-
| date with Col. Hartman's battalion, every
thing depending upon the sanction Of Gov.
| Yates.
| Col Hartman had been recognized by the
| War Department as weu IS BY the Governor
as @ Lieutenant Colonel; but Colonel Bell
brought back the order styling Hartman as a
Major, intending still to make his son Lieu
tennnt Colonel, Il he could induce the Cover
nor to confirm the order for the consolidation,
! ora II nr%, cf III
fraud that Was being practiced upon him.
Fortunately, however, Col. Hartman soon
discovered the joke, and Col Bell was compel.
led to give him the position Of Lieutenant
Colonel.
During the whole Of this time vas not dis.
tra1y was endorsed by Col Bell, and many
times introduced By him as the Major in h1t
regiment. This presume can be substantial
ted by many Of cur best citizens, Nor did ht
t give me any inti1nation pers9nally, that Ii
was going to remove me, until lind found on
j, that he was secretly at work, to effect the res
to1atiun Of his sou aud the further assufanc.
that he would be commissioned by the Gov
ernor. then broached the subject to him in
courteous note, and received an evasive reply
dropped him another note asking de1nit
answcF to my former questions, VIZ: "If h
. desired to remove me from my position Q
Major, and if so, give me the reasons for suc1
an act"
He then returned positive reply statin
that he had promised Ills son position, an
that he felt in honor bound to give him til
place intended for me; as the promise to hin
was made prior. Hc manifests a series Of re
. Erets, and thinks the Department at Washing
ton is far more to blame thau himself.
Nov it must be understood that tic son G
| Col Bell has not expended moments time
, nor dollar Of money in the raising Of thi
t regiment, while have stood by 1t in its dark
!, | CIT hour, with both time mud money, and dt
I fr1yed not only the Colonel's private expense
) but furnished him money for the contingen
= must low confess that I have no furthe
desire to remain In 8 regiment where 7sept
tim is carried to such an extreme
| 4 father, his hFae aoRs and 8o,a-ln-2ag in OF
| s1adu regiment occupying the most importan
Offices. Eill constitute domestic copartuel
ship that will render any position in the reg
ment unenyiAble. This has been the coura
pursued to get his regiment together. Wit
e q high hand this Colonel has sacrificed his be:
f friends, promised and pledged everything t
. everybody without any hope or intention
performing 4 tenth part Of his pledges, sacr
e hcing the interests Of the Government an
n making war upon its treasury by aeceptin
horses worth from sixty to eighty dollar
le when the Government pays from 800 to $t1
E unhlushingly making propositions to sha
~ handsome amount that he viii make On b
= regiment
., Even upon the very outset he unbluEhing
lie stated to prominent citizen Of Chicago " th
T. | whatever money Was to be made in the raisi1
-, Of his Regiment he should make himself al
% ties" II this is the way our w2r is to be Co
,e | ducted and the Treasury plundered, We nj
hope, In vain, for its successful termination.
II incompetent and nnprincipled men s.
r. permitted to mise regiments by delibeEa
+ system Of high-hnnded fraud and deceptio
= imposing In q coWardly and Wanton mann
ID upon those who are willing to risk their liy
"a in the defence Of their country, then, indee
~ is our nation In perlous condition. Mob
1. hare the brave men volunteered to fill Il
IA crushed out Oft, its future would be proud
~ cord for the State and Nation. Lieut., Colon
IL Hartman Of this regiment Is man worthy a1
u competent, and enjoys the confidence Of eve
y man. The other officers are able, and n
=, prove themselves efficient, but We prophe
re Of 8 whole family
re What larc said is for the double purpo
ne Of placing myself right with all the facts b
"A fore the people, and also, Il possible, to defc
Ia policy that carried out, will surely disc
ganize the regiment, and to expose the ct
rupt measures resorted to, By the man who
49, TO be the Colonel
For the above statements hold myself
a. sponsible, and II further evidence to suhst:
ut tiate any portion Of the same is required
's- shall be most happy to furnish it.
80 A. G. ELL1THoRPE
q THE above appeared in our evening edit
ne Of yesterday. It is here accompanied BY
zee sponse from Col Bell, which NC present, Il
er- giving both sides hearing. .]EEps.
tn 4 REPLY TO TIE ABOVE.
Editors Chicago Tribune:
Is, 1notiee Ia last evenings edition OF the I
OF DUsE, d statement over the signature of l.
&C. Elithorpe, which, if believed, might do
~, some injury. It would not be worth while
'ur reply, we're Mr. El1ithorpe as well known e
he where as in Chicago. His charges arc {
Fas from beginning to ending. Inerer propo
INT TO him the Lieutenant Colonelcy, nor did
The ever ask it. He asked me to give him the +;
The ond Majors place, when was authorized
to raise three batta1ions, to which I agreed
As ! wae afterward limited to the organizing Of
as one battulion, and was rendered Lieuten
wn Colonel Hartn1an's, a1ready organized, vi
ing I most willingly accepted, with the desire
on ! Wish Of Lieutenant Colonel Hartman. {
no Ing to raise but one battalion, /
compelled to disappoiut many captains
ru- lleutenauts I would GLADLY hare retained
Ar; says, 81 said would raise my regiment "
nn ont Gov- Yates permission" and that
no deayored to prevent Lieut. Col Hartman f
he retaining his position. Both these: char