Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-07-20

ofseer. He believed the court would IN
that Col. Lyaeh's explanation was reasonable
and satisfactory, AMI one which would b
accepted
I The 9th charge Col Bradbury said ~ss
one which had made every body smile. as il
Was universally known thA, Col. Lynch ~ss
a total sastziner; had never taken s;imulsnts
in ali his life exeep, by order of his pAysi-
elan OF surgeon II vas serious charge to
make-one utterly nnfoanded. and which
should not have been made sreep; upea a
careful examination. which it would seem
| the year that has ELAPSED since the event
took place woGld have given ample time FOR.
While in the end he felt sure the charge
would no, harm Col. Lynch among those
who kne~ him, il vas q harsh charge to
make for it could not be supported Ia re
view ing Il e sixth charge, which Col. Brad
bury said he regarded ss the only one of
any special consequence, that " hieh related to
The delay in making out of reports, he sd-
mitfed there WAS some delinquency on Col
Lyneh's part, but nos such as TO make ii so
grave charge IS would appear, To the
seventh and eighth charges, 10 answer ass
10 be made other than that which had been
made By Col Lynch in the general answer
which he has filed TO the charges. The case
give a fair, manly, open state men, in answer
10 every charge, as he has done and in sub
uniting it, we expect you gentlemen of this
court, to take the same view of il As We do.
II is cruel, and unusual, and contrary to
military Law that these charges should have
been 50 long delayed by the gentleman who
makes them. II Col, Lynch had been guilt,
OF all that is brought against him, whv the
general order OF the Brig. General com
manding. compiimenting him and his com
mani for the part they took in the muster;
or the letter of invitation to the reception
The delay in bringing the charges is due /
to Gen. Mitchell. for he had il in his power /
to press his charges AZ the time, as he should |
have done. The charges are scandalous, /
and have been KEEP, TO time when they can
do their most harm, in downright disregard |
OF military law, and AT the time when the, /
can DO Col Lynch great injury. We are
on the eve of another muster and of an elec- /
ton Of the Colonelency of the First Regi-
ment, as Col Lynch's term expires the Ith
Of next month yet these scandalous charges
come now to do their worst. We feel the case
is safe in the hands of eour, of so much
intelligence as that 10 which they have been
brought
After Col. Bradbury had closed his srgu.
nent Gen. Mitchell opened AS Judge aivo-
cate general in behalf of the State, remark
ng that he did not expect to be obliged to do
his duty. as be had supposed his duty ended
v shen he had made his report to the com
But as the judge advocate
~as member of the board he had consented
% make the argument. He occupied an
lour and a half and it Was nearly l2 o'clock
ast night when he closed A large part of
y - ftt,... 81
raj and special orders. laws and rules of the
military code His opening was
plea for discipline in the ser
ice that the commander in.chief might
isve an efficient militia upon which TO de-
'end in case of emergency. and that the
'oung men might be educated to the high
tsndard of the soldier. The question in
'olved in this case is, Shall the orders of
military officer be obeyed or shall they not?
There is no persona! feeling at issue An
'ihcer has no excuse for no, obeying the
'rders of the commander-in-chief or his
hyperion officer. If they don't obey, the
militia ceases to be military. Gen. Mitchell
hen said there WAS no time to make up charges
ust as the muster was closing and besides
he statute gave one year in which to file such
'harges. II is in accordance with strict mil
tary discipline TO correct an error Instantly
had been made; and he said he wanted
,ihcers who would act, not talk about acting.
.ol. Lynch did disobey the orders about the
ink he did not do directed by the gen
,ral order Of the commander iu-cbief, in
'egsrd to making acquisitions for supplies
before the muster commenced. He hal
,ever given Col Lynch permission to go
lown town and stay until 2 O'Clock, which
vas the last place a sick man should be in.
Does this look as though this officer wanted to
nd his superior commanding officer in max
ng the muster success? Do you want
uch men to be at the head of our regi-
nents! II Col Lynch had been as sick as
ie represents he could have been excused
rom duty and had the best Of care, but is a
ick man generally up at O'Clock at night
Is TO the dress parade there is no excuse at
ii for Col Lynch in not moving his regi
nent when it was in the wrong place. 1t
rould have been perfectly right for him to
ave done so and he should have done it.
Ny most charitable construction to put upon
oil Lynch's conduct at the time was that
e had lost his head and did not want to
ave a scene then and there. As to
he returns there has been gross delay
N earelessnsss in making them up and for
'arding them 10 the proper authorities. The
aw is repeatedly broken, What is it good
or if not obeyedf Everything shows the
Importance of the reports being sent in
Gen Mitchell, in closing, paid
compliment to his brigade inspector, plain,
'lunt, square, up and down officer, who
ould not be Influenced to treat friend any
letter than be would treat foe. Col.
lynch had committed grave misdemeanor
n setting up his will against the orders Of
be commanding officer Of the brigade, who
5 held responsible for the discipline of his
ommand.
At the conclusion of Gen. Mitcheli's
RS ument the Board adjourned to the
Iugusta House and went into private session
pon their report. At the time of going to
ress no decision had been reached.