Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-04

| AND cITIZkNs.
While the colored portion Of the District Ma
tional Guard was securing such a liberal share
| 81 public attention a couple of weeks since
there was notable silence on the part of Gen.
orCiway. A complete history Of the entire dis
turbance and the causes which led to it has
been compiled by Gen. Ordway and, in a report
TO the Secretary of War, is now made public by
the department.. The report is as follows:
GEN. oRDwAY's REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MILITIA,
WASHINGTON, DC, March "a, 1891.
To the Honorable
The SECRETARY OF WAR:
have the honor to submit the following re-
port relative to the affairs of the National Guard
OF the District of Columbia:
The law for the organization Of the militia of
the district OF Columbia was written by me,
submitted to the Secretary of War, and by him
referred to board of officers of the army for
revision. As revised and approved by the
Secretary Of War, procured its introduction
In Congress, and, after earnest and hotly
contested struggle of two years, its passage by
Congress and enactment into law.
At the time of the introduction of the bill in
Congress the infantry OF the National Guard
consisted of thirty-two companies organized
IN the manner proposed by the bill into battal-
ions OF four companies each; six battalions of
white troops organized into two regiments and
two battalions of colored troops had de-
signed to give the two battalions of colored
troops regimental organization. but after
most earnest objection on their part and the
representation that they would much prefer to
remain separate battalions made the con-
cession to them and allowed them to remain
separate
The bill met with great opposition in Con-
gress, and especially as to the number of COM
panies OF infantry allowed, and finally the
friends OF the bill determined that it would be
necessary to concede a reduction. After the
most earnest representations on nv part that
to carry out the three battalion system the two
existing regiments should be left intact, and
that to reduce to that point would exclude the
improper and unjust, finally succeeded in Sc
curing as concession twenty-eIght companies
OF infantry. and the bill passed in that form.
AN INSPECTION ORDERED.
The law having been enacted and it being
necessary Hereunder to muster out one bat
talon | determined that the battalion to be
mustered out must be one of the two colored
battalions. the ground on which l had won my
night against the opposition in Congress having
been the propriety of retaining them. / mott
fed the two battalions that would order
rigid and thorough inspection of them. and
that whichever was found to be the best and
most efficient would be retained. / gave them
ample time to prepare for such inspection ana
excited between them healthy and beneficial
rivalry. No question of color was raised at that
time and doubt if it was even thought OF by
themselves or anybody else. The inspection
was most thoroughly made by an efficient
and impartial othcer. The report of the
were two excellent companies in each
battalion. and two companies in each battalion
mat were very inefficient, if not worthless.
Under these circumstances / concluded that it
would be improper to carry out my announced
intention of disbanding either one of the bat
taIlons, by which two excellent companies
would be disbanded and two worthless ones re-
tanned therefore suggested that the two e1-
ceIent companies of each battalion should con-
sent TO consolidate into one excellent battalion.
MY suggestion met with such protest and OPP
position from each that after exhausting advice
and persuasion, and still determined that L
would not disband the two excellent companies
OF either battaliOns. / finally allowed them 10
retain two separate battalion organizations with
two companies In each battalion, and disbanded
the Two worthless companies III each battalion,
thereby making the reducti ton Of four companies
required by law.
My course throughout was largely governed
by the fact that the troops was dealing with
were colored troops, and that to appear to be
even just In my decisions it was necessary TO
discriminate in their favor.
TEE MONEY PROVIDED BY CONGRESS.
X
penses of the District militia for the next fiscal
year called for SIS. go for armories. that be-
ing the amount actually required for the exist
ing number of troops and armories The
House fixed the appropriation very largely be-
low my estimates, granting only S1z.7O0 1
Immediately appealed to the Senate committee
and IN official communication see Enclosure
''A') begged them to give us the amount re-
CURED for armory rents even if they sacrificed
the expenses of the annual encampment and
showed TO them what must be the inevitable
result If they would not consent In addition
to my Official communication, exhausted every
power and influence that could command and
devoted nearly all of my personal time in per-
slstent effort. The Senate sacrificed the an
nual encampment, but did not apply the money
thus saved to the armory rents (see Enclosure
'B }, and the bill finally passed with an appro-
priation of only S14, 900 for that purpose
1t then became necessary for me 10 at once
disband portion of the troops. 1 had already
submitted To the committees of Congress in INV
ofhciaI communication the fact that If thev per
sisted In reduction the seventh and eighth bat
tallons were the only troops that in nv iude-
ment could be disbanded. After careful re-
consideration of the subject could see no al
tentative. and accordingly issued letters of in
structon to the commanding officers of the
seventh and eighth battalions to prepare for
muster-out- (See Enclosure c.
REASONS FOR HIS CONCLUSIONS
L VIII prleHE state my reasons Tor coming to
the above conclusions originally and adhering
to them on reconsideration:
!. That the seventh and eighth battalions
under my original concession allowing them to
retain two separate battalion organizations of
two companies each. had each necessarily for
two years received double the amount of allow
ance out of the annual appropriations that the
other battalions had received.
2. That II allowed to continue their separate
battalion organizations they must continue to
receive double the allowance Of the other troops
out Of the largely reduced appropriations or
that would be obliged TO disband double their
number OF companies out of the two existing
regimental organizations. could not Justify
either in my mind or my conscience, such dis
elimination in their favor.
3. That from my previous effort and experi-
ence knew that it would be impossible for me
to effect harmonious and acceptable CONSOLE
dation Of the two battalions to bring them to
the same basis Of allowances that must be made
for the balance of the troops
The fact that these two battalions were col
ored troops had nothing whatever to do with
my conclusions; that fact was simplv a
coincidence, and in view of later events a mis-
fortune.
"oRoss AND MALIGNANT LIES"
On the publication Of my intention to dis
band the seventh and eighth battalions it was
Immediately taken up by the newspapers as n
choice morsel OF sensational news on the color
question and the most gross and malignant
lies produced and propagated, to which have
carefully and Professionally refused to make auy
reply.
The following evening a meeting of cit;zens