Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-31

MORTON, protesting against the appointment of
Major BALFE to the Lieutenant Colonelcy. We
pass no judgment upon the merits of the con-
troversy, and think it unfortunate it has become
matter of newspaper discussion:
CAMP ANDY JOHNSON, SEVENTH BRIGADEl
ARMY OF THE ONO, March &c, 1862
EDrroR OF SENTINEL Accompanying this
note you will find copy of communication ad-
GOTH Regiment Indiana Volunteers, to his Ex-
cellency, o. P. Morton. As the communication
corrects sundry misstatements that have been cir
culated through the newspapers concerning our
regiment, L most respectfully request that you
will give il place in your columns, and that
other papers in the State friendly to our regiment
will copy the same
Respectfully, yours, &C.,
JoHN P. DuFFIcY,
Capt. Co. B 18th Regt Ind Vols
(ooPY.]
CAMP ANDY JOHNSON, near Nashville, Tenn.,l
March 25th, 1862
Hon. o. p. Morton, Governor Of Indiana:
SIR:-The undersigned commissioned officers
of the lst Irish (35th) Regiment Indiana Volun-
teers. beg leave most respectfully to enter our
solemn protest against the appointment of John
Z. Bafe to the Office of Lieut.. Colonel of this
regiment.
The undersigned did yesterday petition Major
Balfe not to accept the appointment of Lieut.
Colonel of this regiment stating as reason for
the request that we did not consider him quail
fled to discharge the duties of that Office and
that in consequence of this belief, we were I'M
willing to serve under him while acting in that
capacity.
The undersigned would most respectfully state
that we constitute all the company officers now
present with the regiment; that perfect unity of
sentiment and feeling exist among US; and that
we have every reason to believe the company
officers absent think and feel as we do on all
subjects which concern the welfare of the regi-
ment
In order that your Excellency may understand
the motives that govern us in taking the action
we do, the undersigned will avail themselves of
this opportunity to make few statements of
facts, which we hope will correct any false i'm
pressions which may have been made by misre.
presentations circulated by malicious persons to
the discredt of our commanding officer and the
regiment with which we have the honor to be
connected.
Your Excellency will pardon us, if for this
purpose We enter somewhat into detail, particu-
larly when we assure you that we do so as an act
of justice to our regiment
Your Excellency is undoubtedly aware that
i l1uCu has Ucclf SdfG through Tue newspapers al
indianapolis about the discharge of certain off
GERS of our regiment from the military service OF
the United States; and that Col. Walkers official
conduct 10 connection with those discharges has
been censured by persons who had little means OF
informing themselves correctly of the merits OF
the questions involved.
The undersigned have every reason to know
that Lieutenant Colonel Ryan was not cited to
appear before Military Board for examination,
by any report made by Colonel Walker to De-
partment headquarters, but that the order citing
Lieut.. Col. Ryan for examination was issued
without any previous notice of the fact being
given to the Commander of our regiment
Many of the undersigned have heard Colonel
Walker say, time and again, that he did not de-
sire that any Captain of our regiment should be
cited before Military Board or discharged; but
when a Captain did not possess much military
knowledge or military talent, it was absolutely
necessary that he should have the support Of good
Lieutenants.
OF the Leutenants that were reported BY
Colonel Walker for examination by Military
Board, two were reported for that purpose by the
Captains of their respective companies, and two
were reported by the Colonel from Capt. Tobin's
company, for the purpose, if possible. of giving
the Captain such efficient aid in the management
of his company as might enable him 70 have il
creditably drilled and disciplined.
In regard to Colonel Walkers action as
member of the Military Board, the undersigned
can say that the Colonel expressed great annoy
ance at his appointment, and earnestly urged up
on General Wood, then commanding at Bards
town, that he would apply at Department head
quarters for bis Colonel VS. relief, which re
quest was refused
| 1t is well known fact however, that Colonel
Walker was excused by the President of the Mil
itary Board from taking part in the examination
and from voting in those cases where officers oil
his own regiment were concerned.
The undersigned would further state-thougf
| they do il with the utmost reluctance-that sub
sequent events have proved the wisdom of the
citation of Lieut. Col. Ryan for examination by
a Military Board, and the propriety of his dis
| charge While, as is well known, Lieut.. Col
Ryan is gentleman of intellect and education
events have proved that he is Utterly deficient il
military talent and destitute of the military TASTE
essential TO the qualification of himself for re
sponsbe military duty.
| To sustain this statement the undersigned viii
reluctantly cite yonr Excellency to very few
incidents in the history of the Irish regiment
When our corps was ordered from Bardstow.
to Bacon Creek, Colonel Walker was confined tC
his bed by sickness, and as a consequence ths
command deyolyed upon Lieutenant Colone
Ryan. The march of the regiment was little
better than the march of an organized mob. Bu
little effort was made by either the Lieutenant
Colonel or Major to preserve order or discipline
on the march, and the condition of the regiment
was humiIiating TO the company officers. In dis
obedience of written orders. Colonel Ryan con
Quoted the regiment directly to Muniordsvilis
instead of to Bacon Creek. The latter part Of
the march was made in such manner that the
command came into Munforisville more Ike
band of straggers than an organized regiment
Most of the wagons and camp equipage had beer
lett behind, and several days we're required Il
collect the same together. A large number o.
the men who could not be provided for by theil
company officers IN stables and out-houses, wer,
compelled to pass an entire night without shelter
exposed to cold and beating rain. in consequence
of which unnecessary exposure many were made
sick and now remain behind the regiment. the
inmates of hospitals, and two OF which belonging
to Captain Denns's company have since died.
As specimen of Major Balfe's capacity .,
command the regiment, the undersigned viii cal
the attention of your Excelency to the folowin.
incidents:
While the regiment remained at Munfords
vile. Colonel Walker was detached from il al
commander of the Post. On one occasion Ma
jor Balfe who was left in command of the corps
caused a false alarm to be given during the night
and caused the battalion to discharge thei
p eces, in palpable violation of military law.
On another occasion, the Major took larg!
number Of the officers. including the officer OF TIL
guard at the bridge over Green rivera most re
sponsible post-and the band of the regiment, OF
an excursion to Mammoth Cave. all without leav'
of absence.
When the regiment started on its march q
Nashville Colonel Walkers duties as a com
mander at Munfordsville, required him to remaiI
for few days at his post The march of thu
regiment from Munfordsvile to Bowling Green