Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-09-14
THE RESIGNATION OF COL. HAYES.
The Cause of the Step-What an Infantry
Officer Says-His Successor.

Officer Says-His Successor.
On the 9th of this month Colonel G..
Percy Hawes resigned his position as COM
mander of the First Regiment of Virginia
Cavalry, and on the 7th 1t was accepted by
| the Governor The reason for Colonel
Hawes's action dates back TO February last.
While the Senate Committee on General
Laws and the House Committee on Mill
tary and Police were considering OIL TO
prescribe the mode of appointment, term
of Office. and duties of the Adjutant-Gen-
eral Colonel Jo Lane Stern, Assistant In
spector-General, who appeared before the
JOINT bodies, criticised Colonel Hawes' s
military conduct in this matter. and IN
concluding his remarks. 20 which the cav
airy colonel took exceptions, said; =,
II want TO say, sir, that remain OF the
same opinion as to IL being breach OF
discipline, and that no military ofhcer mas
| a right to make such propositions without
the knowledge of his superiors"
Colonel Hawes replied that as citizen
| be bad the right TO ask his representative
| TO amend any legislation, and there an
nounced his purpose TO request the com
mander-in-chief to order a court OF IN
quiry. This be did quite promptly.
THE PAPERS REFERRED.
The Governor. through Adjutant- General
Mcdonald, replied that he would give the
matter consideration after the adjourn
ment of the Legislature. Colonel Hawes
addressed several letters 20 the Governor
| renewing his request, but the court was
never ordered, and few weeks ago ne re-
| uuested that, as the annual inspection was
! near at hand, another officer be substituted
| for Colonel Stern TO make the inspection
| of his regiment. This request was denied
] and finally Colonel Hswes rendered has
| resignation. as stated.
II was stated IN several quarters yester-
day afternoon that Colonel Hawes's appll'
| cation for a court of inquiry had been re-
| ferred to the judge-advocate general, Coi,
| onel Meade Haskins for his opinion. and
that officer had been told when given the
naners that there was no hurry about the
| matter. and this was one of the causes OF the
| DELAY. IL was also current rumor that there
| had been some friction in the cavalry regl'
| ment staff regarding the entertainment tc
| be Given this fall for the Seneht OF the
military of the city. An unsuccessful
effort was made last night to see Colone
Hawes with reference to this rumor.
| WHAT AN INFANTRY OFFICER SAYS.
An officer of the FIRST Virginia Regiment
| Gnfantry) stated las. night, however, tha'
| Colonel Hawes had only taken stel
| which other officers would be compeiIee
| to follow. Colonel Halves, he added. was
| only the uISl W SuCCuuiD W -N--- :.
growing out Of inability 10 get Proinp'
snswers 10 letters addressed to the Ad'
iutant-Generars office. -
The Adiutant-General, on the other
hand, says that all letters addressed I'
him recurring answers have been answered
Through General Anderson Oolone
| Jones also requested that an offlcer be SUP
stituted for Colonel Stern to inspect ms
regiment, but the request was not grahteu'
TO ELECT HIS SUCCESSOR.
The line officers of the cavalry regimen
Will. il is expected, meet the latter part o
tins month 70 fill the vacancy oceaslohe.
| by Colonel Hawes's resignation. Lieu.eh
am Colonel Wickham will be made eoioheI
Major Mathews will be promoted 20 heu
tenant. colonel, aud the major VIII oe sc
iected from the line officers. Ihe name .
Cantain Moore. of the Chesterfield troop
ie nrominentlv mentioned IN connection
with the position of major. Colonei hawel
was elected one year ago to-moiroW' suo
ceeding Colonel j. V. Bidgood, wno ws a. -
turn had about a year ago oeeh eIeo.oa :o.. y y
the vacancy created oy Ihe nss,.anca lesls. n,
Coionel Marshall upon. the acceptance ~
tAe latter of the position OF cominaIioan.
If cadets at the Virginia Military lns'i
Colonel Hawes has been in the military
service pretty steadily for thirty years
having entered II early IN the "ai' o., -,
ms. under all circumstances. proven nili %
self a good soldier. What Is more nc n's m
a record in all arms OF the serVlce-ll ~ 4,
fantry and artillery during the war AHu u
artillery and cavalry since the War'
THE ONLY cnARGKs PREFERRKp'
The resignation or Colonel Hawes . an
the circumstances that led thereto Tss ,ss
the uppermost topics OF discuss'o.as ~ 10 10
night IN military circles. Alapy vpvl, ~
we're approached in conueeiloh VIZ w.l,,,t 80
matter. but declined 10 make Statcinvn' ''.a,,
for publication. Colonel stern, VINO W. W.
over 10 Petersburg last night on insyes ~.
tion duty. said before LEAVING the city .e .asS
he had no statement 20 make IN tne o"os -
General Mcdonald likewise expresses M, =
nngillinoae to discuss the matter; - -,
Jndee. ADVOCATE General was not III ,n
city. .h.t Colonel
Hawes and Jones occupied the salho ~ ,s,
: irons when tho matter was oelots ~
legislative committee. Whhg ..e. ,.e n
asked court Of inquiry the 'es.el' Ger
I, said. fled charges against voiop.i ,sIie
J which we're endorsed by. tue A.
General and forwarded through wy N
: iutant- Generals Office Ihese a,e !
only charges that have been prere,soS@ !
9 connection with this controversy, epr ,s
. far as il known no action has sfoi
! taken regarding them. There seems ~ - |,
y difference Of opinion between so.v,1 =. ~
Hawes aud some OF tho other omesfs ~ J
the right TO demand the court ~ n'H~,'
a for which la askod