St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-31
Col. Bendss Answer to GEN. Mac
Carthy's Letter.

CaTtny'S ActtcIs
The exclusive publication in the GLOBE
of yesterday of Adj. Gen. MacCarthy's letter
to Col. Bend, containing an implicit rebuke
to the latter for not turning out the st.
Paul companies to participate in the Decor
alton day parade, was the source OF cOnsid-
cradle comment yesterday among the mil
itia, most of whom coincide with the views
of their colonel in the matter. The follow
ing letter was written by him to the adju-
tant general yesterday:
HEADQUARTERS FIRST REGIMENT, N.G. S. NJ.
ST. PAUL, May 80, 1885.
Adjutant General State of Minnesota, Gen
eral: have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt, at 1880 last night, OF your letter OF
the 18th inst, copy of which is printed in
this mornings GLOBE.
First-You have been misinformed as to
the facts. declined to accept the invitation
to parade Companies G, D and e to-day I'M
lsss they had the right of the line. The sec
Rotary of committee of arrangements OF the
Grand Army of the Republic said there would
be no trouble about it, and on the strength OF
his assurance, issued the necessary orders
to the companies named. On Wednesday last,
not having seen any notice in the papers that
the program as first published, which gave the
right of the line to a troop of cavalry, had
been changed. I spoke to the secretary
about it, remembered him of our former con-
versation, and told him that if the G.. A. r.
did not see fit to accord us the right of the
line, they had only to say SO and we would
decline their invitation with thanks. He at
tempted to argue the matter, but told him
that as the United States regulations laid
down the order in which the different arms OF
the service should be arranged, and by them
the infantry were entitled to the right of the
line; we would parade there or not at all. He
said that he would submit the matter to the
committee and let me know on Thursday. On
the latter day he notified me that the commit
tee adhered to their program, and thereupOn
told him that we were obliged to decline the
invitation which had been rendered.
Second-In settling questions of precedence
between military bodies, and in all other mill
tary matters, the regulations of the
army of the United States are sufficiently
good authority for me, and the only reference
in them to a case like that before us is as
follows: "Article 8. Precedence of Regi-
ments and Corps. On parades or other occa-
| sions of ceremony, troops of different arms
are arranged from right to left in the follow
| ing order: First, infantry; second, mounted
artillery; third cavalry. On all other Occa-
| sions, troops Of all Glasses are posted at the
| discretion of the general Or senior COM
| mander.'' There is not word in the regula-
| lions or in tactics to warrant your assertion
| that at funeral professions the above order
| should be reversed, and if the turnout on
| Decoration Day is not a ssparade or other Oc-
casion of ceremony" the placing of the
| troops rests in the senior commander, namely
| in me, had 1 paraded. Therefore, according
| to the universally recognized standard in
military affairs and which has been adopted
| by the commander-in-chief for the govern
| ment of the national guard of this state,
either the infantry were entitled to the right.
| because the turnout to-day is parade
or they were entitled to 1t because
1.-the senior commander assign it to them.
Third fully recognize the right of the G..
A, r. to conduct their procession in their own
way. The National Guard cannot take part
in it unless invited, but being invited they
owe it to themselves not to accept the invita-
| ton unless the military portion of the pro-
gram is to be conducted according to army
regulations. No one accOrds more honor to
the brave men who fought for their country
during the civil war than 1 do, and I know
that this is the feeling of every member of
the First Regiment but do not think thai
we are therefore called upon to violate every
maxim of military propriety. The regiment
which I have the honor to command is follow
ing army regulations as closely as vOlnn-
teer organization can do So believing that 1t
the only way in which it can succeed, and
whenever, for any cause, it is asked to go di-
rectly in opposition to them, it will decline to
do so. Seven companies of the regiment will
parade to-day in different cities with the g.
A. r. and in every case what 1 claimed here
has been accorded to them.
Fourth-As to the latter part of your letter
in which you say that refusal to parade to-day
will receive the ''serious consideration of the
commander-in-chief," and the prefix to your
signature of the words ssBy authority Of Gov.
L. f. Hubbard / have only to say that 1 do
not fear the result of the first, and that /
doubt your authority in this case to use the
second, as I know that the governor is absent
from the state, and authority cannot be as
sumed. Q have the honorto be general, very
respectfully, your obedient servant.