Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-07-13
VOLUME XII.
DAILY SENTINEL
rhe Irish Regiment and Colonel
waTkcr-Geffer from Colonel H. o.
Mullen.
OTFIcE uF THE Posr CoNNsxpASr.
MADIsoS, ISD July 3, 1863. I

endeavors 10 explain away the causes that led to
his dismissal from the army. That an officer
who has been diseraeed bv having his straps
stripped from his shoulders for insubordination or
unsoldierly conduct. should feel keenlv this dis
grace. the reading public can understand: but
that that public should be interested in the details
Of that officers misconduct, do not believe
Hence. must apologize to you, sir. and 10 your
readers. for inhcting necessarily lengthy reply
Unlike Col. Walker, ] have not been pursua
ded" by anybody to publish my reply assume
the right to do so simply 10 vindcate the truth OF
history. which Col Walker has violated, and 10
give the curious public the grounds upon which
the Colonel was dsgracefully dismissed from the
United States Army
In his communication the Colonel has sought
the opportunity to halfway apologize for his ever
having entered the service. He entered il, or
tried 10 enter il. at the head OF cavalry regi
ment. although he doubted the good faith of the
party in power. in the declaration nude by IL of
the objects held in view in the prosecution OF the
war;" and yielded" only at the "persua-ions"
Of friends TO accept the command The Colonel
however. did not make much Of sacrifice as it
appears the Governor refused to commission him
Although the Colonel accepted the command
"reluctanllv.' he quite "a reluctantly" con.
sented not To take It. for upon the refusal of the
Governor to commission him, the gallant Col.
onel seized his pen aud At once attacks Governor
Morton. thereby establishing" SAYS Maker.
"betwecn him and me- relations Of an unaminbe
and dsagreeable nature"
/ notice this cavalry raid" merely to show the
public that then and there Col Walker became
the bitter personal enemy Of Governor Morton.
All OF his military folly. insubordination and
dismissal grew ont of the personal rancor and
nursed wrath entertained by Walker against the
Governor Whatever of injustice the Colonel
may have received At the hands Of Gov Morton
that of his dismissal from the service cannot torn
part. Tor frankly say that Walker himself was
the remote. aud he undersigned the immediate
cause of John g. Walkers being dismis-ed the
service Walker himself conlesses Il hnd lie
tcrtnincd ~ persist IN my refus, to receive II r
/ Mullen into the 35th regiment. II for no other
purpose at least, 10 test my right to reject him I"
/ This effort to test his right" 10 reject officers
commissioned by Governor Morton cost him his
commission Nor should he complain. for in a
communication TO Col Walker. pending the die
cussiou of my claims 20 \ position Ia the 35th
informed him OF my intention thus with all
due respect to your authority. AIN obliged 70
say cannot conccde Ia you the right 60 either
accept OF decline m, services: I have received
nv commission from the same source ~ yourself
| | am ~ deyouily attached TO my country aud the
service "a any man who wears - military button:
| ] have ~ sincerely at heart the character of
tho Irish name aud race as you who have
been honorcd with the command of an Irish
regiment
correspondence IN the case 90 those whose duty il
Is 10 investigate and correct The oath upon the
back Of my commission shall be sacreily observed
by sir yours, sc" In a subsequent letter cave
Col Walker another warning. "ln concnsion.' -
| said "you are at perfect liberty TO enforce all
the power you possess against me in every p,rtic-
ular shall enter into no tril Of skill with you
as to who can depart the firlhe.t from the strict
line OF discipline without stepping into the vortex
of nsubordination. Any further paper discussion
on my part. must cease Military rule aud law
shall determine my rights aud your authority over
them" | am thus liberal in my quotations of n
previous correspondence to show that Walker
was twice warned that. il possible. would make
him pay the penalty of his interference with my
rights: yet Col Walker insists that Gov Morton
arbitrarily had him dismissed from the service
Col. Walker made a laoored efor, 70 be re
stored to his rank. by stating his case fully in
writing TO the chief Of Gen Buels staff. in Sep
tcmber last. This paper was forwarded to the
Secretary of War and by that honorable gentle
man to the General in Chief General Halleck's s
endorsement upon that paper is as follows:
"Col Walker was discharged on documentary
evidence. furnished by Gov Morton. that he /.
| (Col. W } had repeatedly refused to receive Of
fcers duly appointed by the Governor
October q. 1862 General in Chief.
What were the documentary evidences fur.
nished'' to the War Department? They were.
lst Extracts from orders Of the Adiutant Gen
erals Department and the War Office relative to
the consolidation of the 6lst with the 35th regi
ment. ID. certified copy of the officers ros-
ter showing the vacancies in tho 35th and the
> appointments made TO fll the vacancies 3D. All
the correspondence that passed between Walker
and myself, AFTER his refusal 20 recognize me rs
ofiicct of the regiment That Gov. Morton
may have asked the dismissal OF Walker under
the 'documentary evidence furnished is possibly
true. but that the Governor. by the of his
political influence alone. had Walker dismissed,
no person who reads the foregoing aud iorthcom-
! ing lines. will believe FOR a moment.
The unsophistcated who have read Col. Walk
er's letter NAV have been led to believe that i
required the most urgent solicitation of friends"
to induce the Colonel tender has valuable Il
military services TO the Government How far
this may be true in regard TO the cavalry enter
prise | can not say, but assure YOU. Mr. Edi
tor. when applied TO the Irish regiment. it i.
prod gious ioke.
Col Walkers appointment 10 the Irish resi-
meut wac combated publicly and privately by
gentlemen ~ho had the interest Of the Irish char
acter dearly at heart They believed that
Irish officer could command Irish meR. The
Governor thought 20. too. hence the sp-
yointment of Walker hung hrc con
I III