Bismarck weekly tribune., 1889-12-27
Stands by the Private.
From Tuesdays Daily,1

The people of Bismarck remember the
unpleasant episode at the close of the fes.
tivities on the 5th OF July as the troops
from Yates were departing for home. A
soldiers of the Twelfth infantry was
knocked down by Captain Fechet for in.
subordination. The newspapers of the
country contained descriptions of the as
sault, intimating that Captain Fecbet had
exceeded his authority and deserved cen
sure. Shortly after the appearance of the
item in the papers number OF officers of
the Twelfth infantry, signed card exon
Grating Captain Fechet and stating that
what he did was to 'preserve order and
prevent what seemed to be open mutiny in
his command" This exoneration was
signed by Lieutenants Woods, Abbott,
Steele, Aver and Baker. In reply to their
card Captain Craigieof the same regiment,
sent the following communication to the
Army and Navy Register, and as the affair
took place in Bismarck and created SEN
sation hereabouts it will be interesting to
the TRIBUNE readers. Captain Craigie
says :yShe foreao;no nor :. :, =, : -
GUS in its nature on the fair fame of sing
ularly loyal and faithful set of men.
The 'maltreated' soldier referred to is a
member of company G. Twelfth infantry.
The rough discipline consisted of the
officer in command of a battalion of COM
gaRes ge ms%ba1 snd H. q Twelfth fha infantry
seizing from the hands of sole er
of the command rifle, knocking down the
man in question while slightly intoxicated
under guard and defenseless, by striking
linn on the head with the butt of the piece,
splitting his ear and stunning him into in
sensibliity, necessitating immediate medi-
cal aid and conveyance to hospital.
Experience, as we'll as duty, teaches that
the officer of the day or guard of all we'll
regulated commands, assisted by his nom
commissioned officers and guard, take
charge OF, and if need be, discipline obstre-
porous soldiers while on the march or
journeying in railroad cars. etc.
1t has been my privilege to have served
IN my regiment through the different COM
mlssloned grades including regimental
staff appointments up to that of company
commander, covering period of over
| twenty three years, and in all that time l
nave never in any way observed the slight
est spirit of insub0rdin .tion, much less a
spirit of smutiny,' in the rank and file of
the regiment; out, to the contrary, it
solute knowledge that while the Twelfth
infantry travelled from the vicinity Of
Washington, D. c., to the Pacific coast in
the spring of 1859, returning to garrison
certain forts in New York state in the fall
OF 1882, and again returninglwestt to Dakota
in 1881, travelling these many thousands Of
miles by rail, ocean, lake and river steam.
ers, including long marches at times under
very trying and adverse circumstances
these long journeys being made cheerfully
without complaint or accident, or rough
discipline being resOrted to to spreserve
order or to prevent open mutiny,' thus
showing a high state of discipline and a
thoroughly loyal command, imbued with
great regimental pride.
This regiment has never been subjected
to the rough discipline system, further.
more it has never been tolerated in it.
deem it unwise to permit this indignity
to pass unchallenged as indicated in the
letter referred to.
By giving these few remarks place in
the next issue of your valuable paper, you
will confer great favor on your humble
servant and many others of my regiment
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
DAVID s. CRAIGIE."