The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-08
A SOLDIERS GRIEVANCE.
DIR. Whitteds Story of the Injustice Done
Him Twenty Years Ago.

HIM twenty Years ago.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, March 7.-Dr. William l..
Whitted, of Elletsvile, Ind, has presented to
Congress petition for the redress of a griev-
anCe growing out of his services in the late war
which will be read with interest by Journal
readers who were soldiers, and who can there
fore, appreciate the narrative it contains. Here
is the story related by the petitioner:
'About Jan. l. 1864, when my term of service
as soldier in Company B, Eighteenth regi-
ment, Indiana Volunteers, was drawing to
close, with the rest of my regimen received
certain inducements from the government to re-
enlist as veterans. was at this time twenty one
years OF age and held the position of sergeant.
had no thought of re-enlisting as q non-com-
missioned officer or private; but the proposition
from the government that the pew organization
should have the prigilege of choosing new set
OF officers, and the fact that my old comrades,
with whom had served, asked me to go with
them, that they would give me one of the com
missioned officers places, caused me to think of
the proposition to re-eniist in the veteran serv
ice.
Il felt that my long term of service as a non
commissioned officer, and my qualifications,
which had been acknowledged, justified my am
bition in seeking promotion An election was
held in every company of the regiment for the
the new organization, and l was chosen
second lieutenant over the old
lieutenant Shortly after the election of the
line officers took place; an election of the field
officers occurred The captain of my company,
who was also captain-elect of the veteran organ
iZation, was elected major. This created an
other vacancy in my company, and my name
was proposed against that of the first lieutenant
for the position of captain, to which l was
elected, and thus was eQuitably entitled to the
position. We were mustered into the
veteran service under these express conditions
and felt proud that L had been chosen com
mander over my old comrades never doubted
thai should get my commission. But time
went on, and the old officers still remained and
did not resign and give way to the newly
elected officers. Colonel Washburn, feeling
that L was greatly grieved over
the Injustice sent for me some time after and
offered to recommend me TO the Secretary of
War for a commission in a coored regiment as
captain. This felt was humihating and did
not accept the proposition.
''In the following fall the second lieutenant of
my company resigned. This left vacancy, but.
as the company was greatly reduced from dis
ease, killed, wounded, etc, | did not get my
place. owing to an order from the War Depart
ment forbldding the mastering of officers to fill
vacancies unless there was certain number of
men in each company On this account l did
not apply for commission. thinking it
useless to have a1I1Cl commission unless
l could be mustered Our first lieutenant was
almost constantly on detailed staff duty, which
left the captain the sole commissioned officer of
the company. By reason of this fact l was
called upon, time after time, from this time
until the close of the war, to discharge the du-
ties Of commissioned officer At the battle of
Cedar Creek, Va. on Oct. 10, 1864 our cap
tain wounded, and had charge of my com
pany on that ever memorable day, and did the
duties of company commander until his return,
some three months afterward. Soon
after this 1 was made sergeant
major of the regiment and while in
this position called upon to discharge the
duties of adjutant of the regiment as there was
no regular adjutant at this time and continued
to discharge the duties of sergeant major and
adjutant until discharged from the service on
Sept %, 1865.
Il have ever felt since my discharge from the
service that had been uniUstly treated, and it
has been matter over which l have cherished a
silent grief from that time until the present
In view of these facts l hope | shall
sacrifice made
The petition is indorsed by E. c.. Newland.
post No. 247, G, A r., Bedford, and has been
referred to the House committee on war claims