New-York tribune., 1890-05-04
CAPTAIN BELKNAP'S FIGHT.
THE WAR BETWEEN HIM AND HIS MEN
NOT YET ENDED.
COLONEL. APPLETON DECLINES THE INVITATION
TO ATTEND THE UNWILLING OF THE
LIE MONUMENT PREPARATIONS
FOR DRILLS AND PARADES.

rOR DRILLS AND PARADES.
The unfortunate affair In the list Regiment seems
10 have resolved Itself into personal contest be-
| tween Colonel Hopper and captain Beiknap. Of Com
! panv II. When the proceedings OF the Examining
| Eoard were pronounced void by AdIutantGeneral
Porter Captain Beknap took his pace again as corr
mandcr Of his company. Upon being Informed that
Captain Belknap would be in command the men did
not appear at drill. and it s notorious fact that
| tho, who knew of Captain Bcknap's hresenc1
openly induced those who did not know OF u not
to attend the drill Captain Belknap did not prefer
charges against the men, however he simply reported
| the deuQucncics. and asked Colonel kop
per for delinquency court To bring
the men before and fine them according to the usual
methods. 1t appears tha' Colonel Hopper refused
the court or at least took steps to have one ap-
pn!ntcd and Captain Bclknap appealed 10 Brigadicr-
General Ft7gerI,. General Fitzgerald tlerrupon
wrote 10 Colonel Hopper asklng for an explanation Of
the case and Colonel Hopper has answered General
Fii7ecrads letter, giving history Of the trouble and
promising bring the members Of the company before
a delinquency court.
C,ptain Bclknap has tcnacously held TO his
place, even after the men By almost a unanimous
vote plainly told him that long as he commanded
the company it would be demOrlll7ed and Ineffective
Many officers with whom the writer has convcrscd
on the subject declare IL they had been in Captain
Lchnaps shoes they would have retired after learn
Log thdt he was 20 u POPULAR bu II appears IHdu
Captain Behnap dd not to get on on those
conditions. and the contest still goes on. What
ever may be sad Of Captain Bclinaps action, IL i,
certainly that under ordinary circumstances the
rchcilOus action oi the members OF the company
would have made them liable 10 serious punishment
The men are lucky in having Colonel
hopper on their side of the controversy.
for there few officers who would declare that such
% Gaguut di,otclcncc of orlcs would be iu>tlabe
t. IN "a uo- iuu end
than the one sought IA TINS case
Lieutenant Colonel DcnuisOn said yesterday that
since tie Adjutaat General had dsapprovcd the find
l-, ~ the Examining Board he Supposed that the
original application Of colonel Hopper fot such
board VA, sull in force, and would be acted upon by
General Porter.
Colonel Appleton Of the 9Th Regiment, has sent a
letter OF regret Colonel Partridge. Of the 23d Reg
mcut declining to take part In field drill in Prospect
PARK. Colonel Appleton says that the regiment has
too much ether business on hand just at present 10
make IL possible 10 accept Colonel PaItiidsc's inv
tation
The 69th Regiment will have parade and review
at the armory week from tomorrow evening.
when the state decorations for marksncn will be
distributed.
The I'd Battery, under the command ~ Captain
Wilson. hope, to try the new guns which were re-
Gently awarded to IT, and the organization expects TO
20 to sandy Hook and practise with the pieces on
the Government proving grounds on Mly 30 and 81
The following is a copy OF the letter Of Colonel
Appleton declining the invitation to 20 TO Richmond
10 attend tnc ceremonies incident to the unveIlng Of
the Lee monument:
ucadquartcr, 9Th Regiment. y. &. $. y. Y.
Ncw.York, April Is, 1890.
BrigadcrGcncra Charles j. Anderson chairman Military
Counittec Lee Monument Association, Richmond, Va
Sir. have the honor to acknowledge the receipt |
your circular invitation to be present with this command
Oh the OF the unvcng Of the equestrian statue OF
General Robert H. Lee. at Richmond, on May -. 1880
Allow me u express my of the compliment you pay
, regln,nt in inviting II BE- present at that
must appeal your warmcst sympathes. IL would az
ford me Great pleasure bring this matter TO the attention
several companies OF the regiment uut owing to the
tact that they will be- under order, from the authorities to
paade on the Both Of May would not be possible TO
ccpt your hosptsblo invitation.
The members OF the 7th Regiment entertain the most
cordial flug toward the state troops of Virginia as We
, with pleasure the friendly interchange OF hospitali
s between the organizations your State and this
nand az the Centennial in 1876. and we have always
loped that future time 1t would be our privilege
to this agreeable a,sociaton with sentiments OF
the highest esteem remain. very respectfully. your
o,,dl,nt servant DANIEL APPLETON, Colonel.
The iIth Separate Company held IT. election for
captan to succeed Captain L. " Pressey who resigned
on Monday night and Lieutenant Edward j. Kinder
was elected lie will now have to be examined aS
:, his qualifications by the state Board. The In
spectorGcncral, who recently Inspected tne COMPANY,
has reported that there Is not an Organization III inc
National Guard tiat SHOWS more mu.iil oPHit, h"T
greater improvement in marching drlll ana military
factcs generally, than does the llth separate Com
pany. II, new armOry, obtained through the IN
domitable perseverance and influence OF captain
Jre,scy has given impetus to the company ana
has brought the interests Of the orsa@aon vios.r 70
the people. The company has been weeded OF Us
dcadgood and the new material that has taken its
place dignihed. earnest and sincere IN tne military
and social advancement Of the Organization
CITY Editor-Did YOU say in your report that the
deceased was possessed Of all the VIRTUES
Rcporer-NOt exactly IN those words