Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-23
THE COLORED BATTALIONS.
Editor Chase Make. an Explanation

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
1t is an old aphorism that TRAITORS retreat
when boldly they are confronted It was so
with some Of those who were confronted by
Gen. Ordway. can respect brave and honest
man, but l certainly detest coward. have
but one or two things to explain, since eIplana-
tons are in order. l, with others, received
and accepted an invitation from Gen. Albert
Ordway, commander of the District of Column
bia National Guard, TO be present at his head
quarters on the 18th OF March for the purpose
OF considering aproposed consolidation Of the
two colored battalions. Among other things
asked by Gen. 0rdway in the presence Of the
two commanding officers of the colored battal-
ions was whether he had at any time. directly
or indirectly, Disseminated against them or
their battalions. The question put
separately to each gentleman. Maj Fleetwood
took exception to some target shooting and the
opening of the National Guard headquarters.
On the latter occasion Maj. Fleetwood said that
no cOlored officer had been invited, while all
the white ones had. and he thought that the
coiored officers had been Disseminated against.
and when Gen. Ordway said that he paid
for that entertainment out of his own
pocket and it was social affair
OF his own every gentleman present at the con-
ference agreed that the explanation put an
other phase on what had been understood by
|
discriminate on that occasion against the col
ored officers. on the representation made to
me, and as they were so unanimously denied
IN my presence by persons whom L thought
should have had the manhood and courage to
have charged him as / had and which they had
failed to do, nothing WAS left for me to do but
to apologize for misrepresenting him. Maj
Revells was more emphatic in his denial than
any one else when he was asked directly by
Gen. Ordway the same questions that were
asked Maj. Fleetwood. Gen. Ordway requested
both majors to say honestly and without equiv
ocation whether he had Disseminated against
them or their organizations, and they failing to
do so am of the opinion that it comes in bad
taste to shoot, blow horns and trumpets in
time of peace when it should have been done
on the field of battle. If it is cowardce to
apologize for injury done to an innocent per-
son, | must admit. to satisfy brave (?) men who
failed TO do their duty on the field of
battle, that am coward (?.
Again Gen. 0rdway explained to the confer
cnce why he disbandcd the colored troops,
which explanation seemed to be satisfactory to
an extent TO those Tho were invited to con-
fer. II what Gen. Ordwsv said true ac-
cording to military discipline there was no dis
elimination; If what he said were untrue
certainly the two ma iors should have excepted
and charged him with gross discrimination.
Maj. fleetwood was the only one present to
make any kind of exception and that being too
weak to call 1t a charge. Ii know an evil to
exist and had the unmistakable proof as it was
claimed to exist l would have charged Gen.
Ordway with discrimination. Explanations at
the small gate are out Of order and the time to
have made them was in the presence of the
committee and to Gen. Ordway's face.
Very respectfully.
W. CALVIN CHASE
Washington, d. c. March o. 1891