New-York tribune., 1884-02-19
WHY MILlTIAMEN PROTEST..
Use OF OFFICIAL NAMES AND NUMBERS.

HOW THEY ARE WRONGLY APPROPRIATED BY UNI
FORMED VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS, ETC.
Auumber of the officers Of the National Gpard 10, on
this State have begun an agitation 70 pronio,. f
use of the names and numerical deegnaUons -; ~
regiments by outside uniformed battallons, s orsa
cations OF associations. statement OF tnc ,,
why such use OF regmehh,s hssn sgnsd by the fol-
lowing officers of the National Guard IN TINS GUY
apd dark colonel 7th Regiment; George D. Scott
colonel sh Regment William ssws& & R RsSineD gi
resmeps & Res@en james McEeer
Colonel I4th Regiment; Josiah Porter eoonel "a heg
pent R1anes Colonel 10 d ReS@ent Truman v Tutte
colonel 47th Regiment; James Cayanagh colonel 69th
ander shaier major general commanding lat Division;
W. 6. Ward brlgadier general COMMANDING lsf BTgaae
brigade G. r. Christensen, brgadsr general Sd BRIGADE
commanding % Division and an T% R1saSe H. BrOwne
There are now in New-York and Brooklyn uni
formed veteran" battalions made up of men who
have served five years in National Guard regiments
These battalions assume the names and numbers of
the regiments in which the members have served.
Many of these veterans" are not more than
no connection with the National Guard of the state
and act entirely independently of the regiments
whose numbers and names they Samed
have entered serious protest. In their memorial
they ate that the effect of such private uniformed
organizations has been to induce young men tn Mno
would otherwise continue to perform active miiita n
~ duty i'll the National Guard to take their @ ais %
charge from the service of the state 10 JON We
uniformed veteran battaliOns, when arc haue
FORMS by Parades, exc excursions to have u become
aeS'taS,Si standinp menace mS to the strength and
Welfare of the regiments whose names are assumed
are NOT responsible to subject to the orders OF
the commissioned officers, and may and do bring
discredt upon the regiments whose names ana num-
hers they assume. These regiments are held respo-
sible by the public for the conduct OF these
private organizations, over WHICH they have no
control. The officers of these prl-
yate battalions, without right, assume
and use In an official manner, and upon
parades and public occasions assume the military
insipnia and the military titles which belong only
der the State or National Governments. THIS is
said in the memorial to be an injustice 10 tae COM
missoned officers lnthc organizations OF the vet
Grams of the late waT--which the memorial uphoids
military titles are duly respected, ana tney, are
not assumed by those who have never legally held
them. .r,..
In regard to theunauthorized wearing of military
uniforms by organizations not part OF the Regular
Army or OF the National Guard, and not veterans
of the late war, the memorial states that IL 1epre
eales the character and reputation OF all military
service These ex-membeIs Of militia organizations
nre legally exempt from military DUTY ana thGir
appearance in public paradeS III oStentatlOus mill
taTy uniforms is said TO be without excuse OF
apology These organizations appearing ~
pnblic as made up of veterans,
are said also to he discOurteOus to the veterans or
the late war as well those who, by long service
and mature years, may be fairly entitled to that
designation. ,.
Associations of the veteran and exempt members
of the National Guard, for benevolent and sOclai
purposes are approved and encouraged; but the
uniformed battaliOns are pronounced positive
detrimcnt to the regiments whose names ana mum
beis they without authority assume.