New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-03
GENERAL rMAH0NS 1EliY RECORD
A MANLY LETTER FROM A VETERAN.
To me EdttOF o. The Irtb uHe
Sic: find the following plragraph in III

n
SIR: find the following paragraph in The
TRIBUNE of today regard to the successor of Genera
Sholcr should h be retired
OF those mentioned most likely 70 receive ,he Gov
eror's appointment Major General Martin L. Mcmahon
Guentiy named General Mcmahon is the present United
States Marshal ana iathough thathis political stand
s. a candidate with Governor mn But there Is strong
weight in appointment OF TINS klnd, auG many "a
tOnal Guard strong IN the Democratic lain dep
recate any action mat wOu!I seem 20 p0ht 10 IthA.
the NatOna! Glari mere pott" Hl'chte' nus 81
politics has mad little TO do With the organization amt
management of tine uniformed militia, ana It's btsl
friends hope that IL Will always be So ING opponents u
General Mcmahon point to the fact that he mas never
eSpeEehG@ m 5hi HIM ite # at all under ire ana was
brief ending with his resi- gnatiOn long before the
struggle closed aud at time when the Democratic
party wa pronOunclng the war failure.
I was not aware that my name had been frequently
mentioned in connection with this appointment and
do not believe that political considerations should or
will have any weight IN the matter OF the selection
should General smaller be retired.
When your reporter Is good enough to inform tho
readers of THE TRIBUNE that my opponents point to
the fact that | have never been identified with the
National Guard and that my experience In the war as
one Of General Dx's staff officers brOusht tlc, If at
all under fire. ana brief ending win my resigna-
ton long before the struggle closed and at time
when the Democratic party was pronouncing the war
failure" think may be permitted to state that III
several particulars my opponents are mistaken.
was "A member OF the AFRy OF the Potomac from the
time OF Its Organization until It's dlSdndMcht anu wac
never absent from any field Of battle on which that
army was engaged. This information could Atvt Oeeu
Oht ned by your reporter, believe, from any mrnot
OF the Old Sixth Army Corps dii not rcsic long be
fore the stTu gsle closed but continued f. service moEc
than one year thereafter What the Democratic pa -
was prouOunclng ST the date OF resignation, Which
was ut thu end 81 ! sGG 10 not remember. 1 WAS
Colonel of the G9th Regiment OF the National Guard
after the war until compelled by ia health to resi- n and
20 abroad. also InspectO. OF tao FIRST Division
OF tho National Giard until again compelled TO 20
abroad because of failing health.
These facts OF little Importance TO tho public, but
at the same time 1 very unwilling that any Hin
formed reporter should state IN TIE IHUSL that IN
any particular from tie outbreak OF the war until IT,
close f5iled do duty best could ol iicl
I'm the field. A few years ago would have been some
wat Indifferent in matter Of this Kind, but u common
with thousands of others whose hair Is becOmM-
frosted recognize the fact that new generation Ia.
succeeded TO that Of 81 and % who have plchtfu
la Of knowledge concerning the events Of that period
Very respectfully, NJ 1. MCMAHON
Ilcr . 1AS1.