The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-07-03
COLONEL LYNcA's AccusERs.
The Charges Against Him Stated by
General Mitchell.

The following letters and orders show the
status of the controversy between the bril-
gade commander, Gen. H. l.. Mitchell, and
Col. John j. Lynch, commanding the First
Regiment:
HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE. NJ. Y. NJ
BANGOR, June 27, 1882. J
[Onicial:l
The Adjlltdnt General:
Sir,-f have the honor to respectfully make the
following report relative to the conduct OF Colonel
John j. Lynch, First Regiment NJ. Y. M, Tor the
information OF the Commanderln-CMeI:
/. That from the facts as OBJ .erved ana reported
to me during the encampment of the Maine Vol
unteer Militia in Augusta, Maine, August IL TO
H. rssS or pS qags be Ssse res
lative to the preparation OF SINK 1or the use OF
the first regiment, aud failed to have sink pro-
yided for the use of his command during said en-
3. That Col, Lynch did further dsobey the. or
der Of the a Ss SSg s an cSap
camp without permission from the brigade CON-
s. That COL Lynch further disobeyed the Or
ders OF the brigade commander In that he did not
send the several companies In his command TO re-
port to Col. harrington at the range at o'clock
a. m. and direct them to report back for drill at
$50 O'Clock a. m as he was directed to do by the
brigade commander.
A. That Col Lynch did more than once dsobey
the orders Of brigade commander in that he failed
at dress parade to place his command where d.
rected by the assistant adjulant general, who was
dClluR ulutT lIlB OIucTS Vi Tie pTlBduc COiiulduu
er. That Col. Lynch also made an unmilitary, UNI
gentlemanly and insulting reply before his COM
mand to the assistant adjutant general when Or
dered by him TO place his command as directed,
then turned his back upon him
&. That from the actions ofCol. Lynch as s W
them and the reports that came to me from oiiie-
ers under my command, it appeared that Col.
Lynch made such free use of stimuiants as to
render him unfit to be in command during a por-
ton of that tour of duty in camp in 1888. other
wise ne was wilfully gull of INSTRUMENTATION
and conduct prejudicial to the service.
g. That have not received from Col. Lynch
the returns that Sections $3.50 (both inclusiye)
OF chap. 225, Public Laws of 1880 imperaively
demand should have been made during the
months of December, 1883. and April 1888; that
by reason thereof the assistant adjutanI general
has been unable TO make the returns that he
should have made.
written to several times, as appears by the
snnexed copies Of comnunicaiions
a e. nd 80 as asf ant 10
and know he entirely ignores the requirements
of Par. H. q. o. No. 10, A. q. o.. series of 1885,
and he: seems disposed TO disregard and treat
with contemit all law, regulations of the service
and orders, and has failed to comply with either
OF the communications, A. B. =, and answer the
furnished with transportation and expenses paid
for a visit to the armory OF each company In the
First Regiment, made during the month OF
| February 1889, but no report thereof has been
made TO the brigade commander and no excuse
given for not forwarding the returns In question
z. herewith transmit The Brigade Inspectors
report of the encampment OF 1885, aud call at
tention to what is therein, AMI about the conduct
First Regiment. M. v. NJ, during said encamp-
ment with the information that the Inspector
General for 1888 was excused from duty in camp
for that year, but he requested the brigade in-
spector to act for him and make detailed report
OF the duty performed in camp by this command
the conduct and discipline OF both. officers and
men during said camp, thereupon the brigade in
| spector applied to the brigade COM
mander for instruction and was dir
rected to make the report impartally ana without
fear or favor forward it to brigade headquarters,
| from which place the inspector general would be
supplied with the original copy as he might de-
| sire. That the brigade inspector report was re-
ceiyed at brigade headquarters about Nov. "a,
1888, and copy thereof at once forM arded To the
inspector gen. raj, and am informed that he for
| warded said copy to the adjutant general as
part of his report to the commander in chief in
December, 1888. had supposed that the inspec-
of the present adjutant general until informed to
| the contrary by General Sprague.
9Th. SO tar as l can see or am informed, Col.
| Lynch has failed TO offer any improvement upon
| his conduct, but colLinues TO act and display a
| spirit of INSTRUMENTATION to such an extent that
continue longer.
He has failed 10 ask for court OF inquiry to sit
upon his case, therefore submit that he thereby
admits that the statements OF the brigade inspec-
tor as per his report true or that he Is indlf
ferent as to good order, discipline and the good of
the service.
therefore recommend that Colonel Lynch be
ordered before board OF officers TO be organized
proceedings be had in the premises in accordance
with the provisions of section 81, chapter 307,
public laws Of 1885, unless his resignation is at
once forwarded
Respectfully submitted.
HENRY l.. MITCHELL,
Brig Gen1 Com'dg