Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-31
The trouble. In the irish Regiment.

paks no Judgment upon the merits Of the con
troversy, and think il unfortunate il has become
a matter Of newspaper discussion:
CAMP ANDY JOHNSON. SEVENTH BRIGsDEl
AENY or rHE ONO, March -. 1862.
EDIToR or SENTINEL Accompanying this
note you will find copy Of a communication adj
dressed by the company officers of the lst Irish
(35th) Regiment Indiana Volunteers. to his Ex-
celency, O. p. Morton. As the communication
corrects sundry misstaiements that have been cir
culated through the newspapers concerning our
regiment, l most respectfully request that you
will give it a place in your columns, and that
other papers in the State friendly to our regiment
will copy the same
Respectfully, yours, &c.
JOHN =. DuFFrcY,
Capt. Co. b 35th Regt. Ind Vols.
[coPY.l
CAMP ANDY JOHNSON, near Nashville, Tenn.,l
March 25th. 1862
Hon. o. p. Morton, Governor Of Indiana:
SlR:-The undersigned commissioned officers
of the lst Irish (35th) Regiment Indiana Voun-
teers. beg leave most respectfully to enter our
solemn protest against the appointment Of John
+. BaIfe to the Office of Lieut.. Colonel OF this
regiment
The undersigned did Yesterday petition Major
Bale not to accept the appointment of Lieut..
Colonel Of this regiment, stating as reason for
the request that we did not consider him quail
fed to discharge the duties of that Office and
that in consequence of this belief, we we're un-
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
"a have bpllpvp the
officers absent think and feel as We do on all
subjects which concern the welfare of the reg-
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 discredit of our comwlndng 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
much has been said through the newspapers at
indianapolis about the discharge of certain Off
GERS of our regi ment from the military service of
the United States; and that Col. Walkers official
conduct in 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 discharged; but
when Captain did not possess much military
knowledge or military talent it was absolutely
necessary that he should have the support OF good
Leutenants
OF the Lieutenants that reported by
Colonel Walker for examination by Military
Board, two were reported tor that purpose by the
Captains of their respective companies, and two
were reported by the Colonel from Capt. Tobn's
company, for the purpose, if possible. of giving
the Captain such efficient aid in the mana cement
of his company might enable HIM to have il
creditably drilled and disciplined.
In regard TO Colonel Walkers action as a
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 ut Department head
quarters for his Colonel VS. relief, which re
quest was refused
liz 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 of
his own regiment were concerned
The undersigned would further state--though
they do it 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, rs is well known, Lieut.. Col
Ryan iS.a gentleman of intellect and education
ev ents have prov ed that he is utterly deficient in
military talent and destitute of the military taste
essential to the qualification of himself for re-
sPonsible military duty.
To sustain this statement the undersigned will
reluctantly cite your Exceliency a very few
incidents in the history of the Irish regiment.
When our corps was ordered from Bardstown
to Bacon Creek, Colonel Walker was confined to
his bed by sickness, and as II consequence the
command devolved upon Lieutenant Colonel
Ryan. The march of the regiment was little
better than the march of an organized mob. But
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 humiliating to the company officers. In dis
obedience of written orders. Colonel Ryan con
Quoted the regiment directly to Muniordsville
instead OF to Bacon Creek. The latter part of
the march was made in such manner that the
command came into Munlorsville more like a
band OF stragglers than organized regiment.
Most of the wagons and camp equipage had been
LETT behind and several days were required to
collect the same together. 4 large number of
the men who could not be provided for by their
company officers IN stables and out-hOuseS, were
compelled pass entire night without shelter
exposed to cold and beating rain. II consequence
OF which unnecessary exposure many were made
sick and now remain behind the regiment the