The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-01-14
a sIxTY-SINrH REGIMENT MESS.
Fenthcr-Bcd Soldiers Kickips Out the vete-
rsps-A Popipisy Lieut.-Coioneps Retort
for Opisions Expressed -" he style Of
Things ~ the National Guard.

for Opi.lons Expressed -" he style Of
Things In the National Guard.
Very much surprise has been felt In military
circles at recent occurrence In the sixty ninth Reg
imeni The officers whose commissions have been
vacated are by no means featber-bed soldiers or
politicians, but gained their popularity among their
comrades by long service In the neld The DIST sec
tion OF the act regulating the militia gives to the
General commanding and to the commanding on GERS
Of regiments the power to send before q military CT
aiming board such oieers he may select that their
capacity, military requirements and moral character
may be tested.
Captains o'Rourke and McDermott and Lieut..
Vos are the nrst officers Of the regiment vino have
been subjected to any such inquiry, and military
men express their astonishment that ORourkc and
McDermott should have been selected by Lieut..
Col Hargons, az they have the reputation OF being
the beet drills In the regiment Both served a. on.
GERS throughout the war and have been In the sixty
ninth many years, in every capacity FROM private up
TO captain.
The record OF Lieut. Col Hargons IL no. 50 war.
Ike He became = corporal In the seventh Rcg
ment after the war, and was considered by those
gallant fellows more ornamental than useful lie
was then now engaged in law pursuits a. the
partner Of Gen. MacMahon. who Ia his very close
and intimate friend, and Ia moreover engaged to
marry the Generals sister. When hacMahon he
Chht 'ulOntl OF the NiNtN-nint Regiment. ne en-
gagged Hirgons rs his Adjutant, thus giving him the
rank Vi First Lieutenant. shortly anerward Mae
Mshon became Minister 10 Paraguay, and went down
10 South America 10 enlist himself In the cause of
Brazilian despotsm, and 10 make plots against the
constitutional President OF fr,e republic.
Before his departure he Interested himself warmly
In HareOns's favor, and at the next election among
the ofncers to fill the vacancies In the command.
Jsvansgh was unanimously chosen Colonel, and
Hargons was elected Lieutenant & Colonel by ma
lority OF one, his own vote securing his election.
There has always been q strong prejudice against
him as military man; his opponents indeed. do not
scruple to assert that he Is not qualified to drill
squad Of men.
MacDermott and O'Rourke being old soldiers did
not fail TO give their opinions, and Hargons was on
one occasion fatty requested to resign. Hut he
didn't ieel like graft Sing tho malcuutcnts and stuck
TO this position. We msy add that he cannot hc r..
moved except by majority OF the officers insisting
on his resignation.
Capt. M1cDcrmott Il not only veteran soldier,
but hard working mechanic. gaining his bread as a
timer. He complains that while the Examining
Board was In NV York, he received order to
present himself but that when 1t adjourned 10 Al
bany he WIS orthNith ordered 10 20 there. lie was
unwilling to absent himself from home In his wile's
delicate condition, and called upon Gen Narian the
commander Of the Third Brigade. who directed him
to write letter 10 AdjutAnt General Townsend. and
10 forward the same officially through Reginental
Headquarters. That letter was never forwarded.
Tie Captain thinks that II was malciOusly detained
lie has again written to the Adjutant General, cV.
pressing his eagerness prove his military canacity
before any Board mud begging that hs disability
may be removed until the next Board shall conyen e
In Now Work