Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-06-25

had also been LETT ia command of the post at
Munfordsyle, Ky. where my regiment arrived
AZ the time the several columns Of Gen. Blells
army had commenced hurried advance into
Tennessee. An immense amount of Govern
ment property, necessarily left behind the ad-
vancing army was scattered for miles about this
place Three thousand sick and convalescent
soldiers. not very we'll cared for, were also left
at Munfordsvile For the manner in which /
gratuitously collected and saved the Government
property-for the way provided for the comfort
and discipline of the sick and convalescent sol.
diers-for my efficiency in getting stragglers to-
gether. in forming detachments and commanding
the active troops at that place ] bad been the
recipient Of highly complimentary order from
the Headquarters of the Military Department.
Much surprise was therefore expressed at the
tender Of my resignation. | was informed that
the General commanding had been pleased and
satisfied with my conduct as an officer, and that
he could not consent. on the reasons given by
me, TO accept my resignation. Shortly after
this, Lieut. Col Balfe rendered his resignation
and left the service, and was followed by the As
sistant Surgeon, whose continued bad health
compelled him also TO resign Thus was de-
prived of the services of q Lieutenant Colonel
Major and Assistant Surgeon. and. counting the
number who generally on the sick list, my
regiment. through the non action OF Governor
Morton. was left with less than half its quota of
officers During several of the following
hot months. my command. usually consisting
of cavalry we'll as infantry, was engaged in la
borous marches over the larger part of middle
Tennessee. or in the occupancy of extreme and
dangerous outposts, in which the utmost vigi-
lance and prudence was required to guard against
surprise and capture. | was also in bad health,
and the scarcity of officers added much to my la
borous dutieS-the incessant wear and exhaus-
tion of which ultmated in a nearly fatal at
tack of typhoid fever
While temporarily at Shelbyville, Tennessee,
during this time, Lieutenant Colonel Mullen ar
rived at my camp accompanied by about one
dozen commissioned officers and sixty six pri-
Yates, with orders for the consolidation of his
6lst regiment @ with the 35th Indiana Volun-
teers. The outrage contemplated by this attempt
to force upon a regiment of veterans, in which
were privates capable of commanding companies.
more than dozen officers, unknown TO the men
and nnpractised in military tactics, thus cutting
of all hope of promotion from the mertorious
could not but create intense excitement and in
dgnation in the corps. | myself very naturally
partook of this feeling, and, while receiving the
sixtysix men of the 6lst regiment, declined to
recognize officers of the 35th regiment. more
than two or three of the officers who ACCOMPANIED
these men. Lieutenant Colonel Mullen appealed
to General Negley. whose district extended TO
Shelbyviile. for redress. Although time and
opportunity TO act on this appeal were not want
ing, General Negley did not express to me. in
any way, the slightest dissatisfaction at what had
been done. On the contrary. he afterwards
assigned me to the command of the post at Fay
etteyllle, accompanying his order with expressions
of unlimited confidence in my vigilance, eff.
cheney, and capacity as an officer While at Fav-
ettevilie, | was disconnected from the command
OF General Negley, and made my reports directly
to General Buell. In the course of a few weeks,
however, when the army changed its base. came
within the command of Brigadier General Smith.
at Tullahoma. In the meantime the bitter
feelings aroused in the regiment by the
advent OF Lieutenant Colonel Mullen. had
somewhat subsidized and | had received and put
on duty nearly all the officers who accompanied
him. One Captain and three Lieutenants were
sent with Mullen, for whom there were no va
cant places in the regiment and could not have
received them had been even willing and anx-
iouS to do so. | had determined to persist in nv
refusal to receive B F. Mullen into the 35th reg
lment, If Tor no other purpose, at least, to test
my right TO reject him. In 'ay correspondence
with this person, at Shelbyvih did not, for di.
plomatic reasons, assign the main points on
which should justify my action. To General
Smith, however before whom Lieut. Col Mullen
brought his claims, verbally stated my position
in the premises in about the following terms:
General Orders No 81, War Department, l6Gl pro.
hibt the mastering of volunteer officer into the
service of the United States until such officer shall
represent a specified number OF men, or until he
shall be ordered into the field with command
Lieut.. Col. Mullen and his dozen officers were all
mustered into the service at indianapolis. while
representing less than one tenth the number of
men they were required to represent to enttle
them to be so mustered 1t is true that these Of
hcers had been re commissioned for the 35th reg
iment, then in the field but until they joined il,
they could not be regarded as having command.
They, therefore. presented themselves to me un
der a false muster. and it was my right, if not
my duty, to reject their services. Yet. had
concluded to waive the bar against their claims,
so far as TO receive those Captains and Lieuten-
ants for whom there we're vacant places in the
regiment, intending to have them re mustered
before their names were placed upon the rolls
ana certified
Gen. Smith conceded the correctness Of nv ar.
gument, bat urged me. on the grounds of expe.
diency to receive Lieut. Col Mullen. rs | had n
part of the other officers who accompanied him,
and have them all re mustered at some subse
queut period. Being quite i'll at this time, and
It must be confessed. entirely out Of patience. and
having had my right to reject Lieut. Col Mullen
acknowledged by higher authority. consented
to receive him, on the condition. however, that
Gen Smith would issue a written order recurring
me to do so, which was forthwith done by him