Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-11


In two other places in that letter did Gen.
ordway place directly before the committee
the fact that upon its action balanced the ex-
istence of the seventh and eighth battalions. 90
it must be evident that the committee acted
with its eyes wide open.
Fully a month Of the generals personal time
was given mp to effort directed toward the SAL
walton OF the threatened battalions and when
there seemed to be nothing else possible he
even offered to sacrifice the camp for 1891 If by
so doing he could secure a sufficient sppropria-
ton to pay all the armory rents. To this the
committee responded by saving of all money
for the encampmcnt and then neglected to pro-
vide enough to defray the rental expenses
coSeRkss DID THIS.
Congress did this" said Gen Ordway to q
STAR reporter this morning. "An my effort
before the appropriations committee was di.
rected to securing a sufficient appropriation
for armory rents. / showed as clearly as was
possible that a less sum than nv estimates must
Inevitably result in the disbanding OF the
seventh and eighth bsttalions."
''Could Won not have disbanded two other
battalions?''
No. There are eight battalions in the
brigade. The first. second and third COM
pose the first regiment: the fourth. fifth and
sixth compose the second regiment. The
seventh and eighth battalions have no regi-
mental organization and could. therefore. be
spared without in any way disturbing the regi-
ments. The first and third battalions
Washington Light Infantry and the Union
Veteran Corps-ere the only battalions, in regi-
ments. occupying individual armories, and no
one could for moment argue that those COM
mands be mustered out. That leaves for con-
sideration the second, fourth. fifth and sixth
battalions, located in the Center Market
Armory. Remember. there would be no ne
talions were it not that our coat had
to be cut out of a certain and unstretchable
piece of cloth. Suppose any two of the battal-
ions at the Center Market Armory had been
selected for the inevitable sacrifice, would the
rent Of the armory have been reduced? 1t could
not be. We rent the whole armory, and it
matters not to the proprietors whether there
are four or fourteen battalions occupying it.
All the facts in the case we're placed before the
committees and their action left me without
any discretion in the matter. Congress did it y
SOME MusTIc COMMENT.
Gen. Ordway's official notification TO Majors
Fleetwood and Revells was the cause Of great
deal of heated comment among those interested
in the two colored battalons. One officer who has
just resigned his commission talked with .
number Of those who wear shoulder straps in
the seventh and eighth. and AZ a result he
brought to The STAR the following criticism
| and requested it's publication:
Gen. Ordway has at last found a way to rid
himself of his two negro battalions II has
was DESTROYS of disarming the coloret militia in
order to appease the wrath of southern Con-
gressmen, who objected to appropriations for
the support of the militia on the ground that
they would be used in part TO maintaining ne.
| gro troops
"The question now is. will the Secretary Of
War OF the President permit this outrage. The
negro battalions were among the first to re-
| spond to the call and are both old organiza-
| tions To dsband them will be equivalent to
hat nf fT1r
militia will not be tolerated. though the col
ored people comprise one-third Of the popula-
ton and are to a large extent taxpayers.
| Every indignity that could be heaped upon
these battalions has been done already. They
| have been kept at the tail end of the entire
| foot troop, though longer in service than many
| of them. Their officers have been snubbed,
| lnsulted and ignored on several occasions, and
the color line has always been completely
drawn on them, but still they would not down.
| and now it is proposed to muster them out and
| take away their arms. We are not permitted
| to join the white companies and now are not
| to be allowed separate companies. Even our
| white citizens, am sure, will not approve this
| action"
MAJ. FLEETWOOD DECLINES TO TALK.
| A STAR reporter saw Maj. Fleetwood of the
seventh battalion this afternoon to find out
what he thought of Gen. Ordway's action in re-
gard to the two colored battalions. 1t WIS
evident that the major took the matter
| very much to heart. but, notwithstanding
this fact he was unwilling to speak at all freely.
The time was coming, he said, when he would
have something to say, but that time is not
yet. He does not at all like the idea of the
battalion at whose head he has marched SO
gracefully now breaking ranks because there
are not sufficient funds in the treasury
Of the District of Columbia National Guard
to pay for an armory. He has called meet
ing of his command for this evening and
there may be few expressions Of stormy senti-
ment turned loose, but the major is avoiding
| cold type for the time being. He says he is
| acting simply in obedience to orders from
above and in accordance with proper disci-
pline. Which being the case any criticism
passed on superior officers would be decidedly
| out Of place.