Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-07-13

visit OF these friends TO the Governor, Lieut. Col.
r RYAN. John Bali. Esq. Surgeon Mullen
aud myself. When il was ntimated 20 the Gov
ernor that perhaps former Cavalry mis- sunder
standing between himself and Walker stool in
the way of the latter's appointment. the Gov
ernor said, "Geutemen, never let personal
matters control me in making appointments.
Personally. have nothing against Col Walker,
although | think he has treated me badly.
believe he would make very fair officer. but.
assure you. fear it would be a mistake to place
him in command of an Irish regiment l must
have time for reflection" Time wore apace.
and At last the Governor. overlooking all person
al considerations. appointed John C. Walker to
the Coonelcy Of the Irish regiment. Was il "a
mistaken" Let the subjoned facts answer the
question.
In the organization of the Irish egiment. com
missions were issued to give semi official show
Of authority to the officers and thus facilitate re
cruiting 1t was perfectly well understood that
in case any officer failed to raise his required
quota Of men. the commission should be void and
OF no effect But nine companies were raised.
and even these with one or two exceptions were
below the maximum standard A heavy force
being required Kentucky this regiment of nine
companies was ordered into the field John
Hughes and Leut blears. without a com
mand." hut with their old recruiting commits.
sons in their pockets. followed the regiment into
Kentucky
short time after the regiment arrived in
that State. Board OF Examination" was in.
stituied-of which John e Walker WIS Presi
dcnt-to examine the qualification OF officers
Quite unmber Of Irish officers were cited to ap
pear before the Board. and the result was as
Col. Walker states. some we're dismissed and
some resigned rather than submit to nm exami
nation j. It astonishing that men who had been
in the service but few weeks failed to stand a
critical military examinationg 1t seems that
these brave fellows had just thrown down the i'm
plements of peace aud, for The frstiime. grasped
the weapons of war: and il Col Walker had ex.
crcised half the industry to preresf his oIficcrs
from being cited ~ he had in causing them to ap.
pear before the Court. perhaps the troubles in
the 3Jth would never have occurred Dssalis
faction grew deep. IL not loud The dismissed
officers returned home and united in yine that
Col Walkers Vaccinations produced al the
difficulty lr-hmcn throughout the State be
came indignant at the treatment certain of their
friends had received. and at once determined that
the matter should be investigated
Whilst matters were thus progressing in the
35th. | was authorized 10 raise the 81 liish rcr
mrnt When IN cfmppt Msdi.on Ind 70
cciycd two letters from Col Walker. each bear.
INK the date Feb. 3. 1860. Col. Walker stated
that the Lieutenant Colonclcy of his rcgiment
would soon be vacant. rendering me the position
II | would bring men enough to ON MP his incom
pcie regiment declined accccdmg TO Col.
Walker request lor two rcasons; lst, because
| would do nothing. directly or indirectly. to
supplnnt a trend--thc friend | allude % was
Lieu, Col Il Ryau--and secondly. IN.
formed Col. Walker | owcd something 20 the
officers then recruiting tor nv regiment; that to
nhtudon Them would be 10 commit in my iule
ment. great wrong against them | furthermore
urgel Walker, II possihlc. TO retain Col Ryan
and the other officers spoke particularly "
Col Ryans friendship tor Walker and myself
The Prcsdcut" or ,he Examining Board had
something else in view lhnn reNrdng friendship
Cal RYAN. after suffering repeated indignl,ics,
lct Ihe service
Gov Morton. at this time. had adopted the
rule tina promotions ia regiment should be
made in tho order " scriority-Sergeants 10 take
Al nf I I 4. 4.
place of Captains and Captains in the place OF
Majors. &c. except in particular Instances where,
To follow the rule. manifest injury to the service
would bc done Major John + Balfe was cited
before the L" Board. hut in this trick Walker and
his coadjutors were foiled. for Balfe was an old
soldier and stood his examination creditably
aud passed the censorship of Walkers Board
triumphantly. receiving high Endorsement of his
qualifications rs an officer BEING Maior. under
the Governors established rule he naturally ex.
pectcd the Lieutenant Colonecy. rice RYAN.
This did not snit Walker John Hughes whom
Col Walker goes into rapturcs over. and who
still held in his brecches pocket his old recruiting
commission. became the Walker candidate. -
Governor Morton refused to appoint Hughes and
did promote Major Balfe to the Lieutenant Col.
onelcy
The new Lieutenant Colonel soon found the
place too hot Tor him lie had either to resign
bis new houors or he subjected TO tyranuical in
dignitieS Col Walker managed 20 trump up
some old chrges against Bale-trivia in them
selves. but excessively annoying TO a sensitive
officer Lieut. Col Balfe had TO resign or be
placed i, arrest lie chose the former. came
home aud reported al the facts % GOV Morton.
The storm 81 Indignation against Walker, raised
10y the friend. OF the dismissed officers at home.
increased TO hurricane when Col Balfe re.
turned Committees Of Ir-hmen waited upon
the Governor time a.d again and urged the dis
missa OF Walker or that the regimen, be dis.
banded, for this reason. that those whom the reg
iment represented. that j. 20 say. the Irish
adopted citizens OF lndihnsl were being disgraced
by Walkers conduct IN breeding dssensions
among the officers and their respective friends
in the ranks
Had Walkers impertineni interference with the
officers ended here. he might have been able 10
have covered up his tracks and escaped the ap-
probum and disgrace that followed. But bic
terrible effort to play smart Oh the Governor.
,sIill remembering that cavalry" defeat he
u "a. D -