New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-15
ARMY NOTES or INTEREST.

Colonel william II. Gibson. assistant paymaster
general. who was recently promoted 10 the vacancy
caused by the retirement for age Of Colonel Rodney
Smith, has been before the retiring hoard for "xamina
ton prior TO retirement because OF physical disability
1t is reported that he has suffered greatly recently
from an injury which he received early I'm the Civil
War; In connection with his duty Of paying The
troops in the field he met mlshap and broke one Of
his legs. lie was sent 10 Philadelphia hospital for
treatment. and three months later. on July 90 -12
having determined back to duty he reported for
light duty at Baltimore. on October l.. 1-G2. hr
left Baltimore on crutchcs and went 70 other duty.
lie brcvetcd a lieutenant colonel In March, l-b1
for faithful and valuable services. ana would hay"
reached the retiring age sixtyiour years In another
two years
Colonel GlbSon's retirement will probably he fol-
lowed by another, that Of Major and Paymastcr John
= Witchcr, who IS also incapacatcd BY these re
tirements vacancies have been made In the list OF
masters to De filed the number having been cut down
TO the limit provided hy the OF Congress Of July
8, 1854, By the retirement Of Colonel Rodney Smith
II has been the custom for an outgoing administration
to provide for some Of the most deserving protcgcs
commissions TO vacancies In the pay corps Of the
Army and Navy. and ii has been said in these columns
that Elijah Ilalford, the Presidents private sccrc
tary would get q commission as paynastcr In the
Army with the rank Of major. This report was con
Grmed on Friday by tie nomination Of Mr.. IIaford
being sent TO the Senate. There Is no limit TO age
for paymastcr's place in the Army under that Of
sixty-fonr years, but may be appointed I'm the
loves grade Of the pay corps Of the Navy who is
und,f twcnty-onc nor over twenty six years old.
The lucky app0ntcc TO the pay corps In the Army Is
not only made full hcdgcd major. but he receives
salary OF 50, 00G year. with Communication for guar
tiers, ucagc. etc. The duties are not onerous. nor
are they unpleasant, except on the frontier. when
there T. a risk OF sometimes being "hcld up" until
he delivers the public funds bv some bad road
agent or wicked cowboy. Even then be has strong
guard 10 battle against the villains who wear broad
brlmmcd hats. high-top boots and carry Il biace Of
dangerous Goadcd. Of course rcvolvcr'
The War Department seems 10 he little en-
barrassed In its efforts to carry ont the law Of Con
grcss detail Army officers IN place Of civilians
Indian agents. The reason for this is that The officer,
are reluctant to serve under orders Of the Com
missioner OF Indian Affairs. When the first appoint
mcnt selection was made a few days ago. and Com
missioner Morgan was requested by Secretary Elkins
TO describe the qualifications needed for the place. lac
replied: "As you are aware. / look with a great deal
Of apprehension upon the policy Of assigning Army
officers TO tie charge Of Indian agencies InsOmuch
it is the policy established 10y law, and owing 10 The
circumstances OF the case seems now 10 be practically
forced upon tc administration, am dcSirOu, that II
shall lave IN opportunity OF being tried under the
most favorable circumstances. In my opinion. the
officers appointed should first OF all bc III sympathy
with the present policy OF the Government In dealing
with Its Indian wards policy looking toward Their
speedy absorption into the BODY polite as individual
citizens" The experience OF the past seems to show
that in all where Army officers have charge Of
agencies there f. no disorder apparent dscOntcn;
among the Indians, and there Is an Increasing de-
mand for Army officers TO serve. while the officers
do not hanker' after such assignments. Their chief
objection to such duty i that IL i outside ia" lire
Of regular military duty. ana that they hamprrrd
I'm their action by divided responsibility to the War
and Interior Departments 10 say nothing of the minor
harassmcnts from contractors ard the Indians them
selves
First Lieutenant Edward +. Hardin, who IS assigned
10 duty In connection with the National Guard Of
New York. Is Gev0,ing his time to the supervision o
drills at tie armoes OF the New York and BROOKLYN
regiments. lie Is first lieutenant in the 7h Infantry
Kentuckian By birth and a graduate from West
Point on June II. 1e14. lie served rs adjuiant and
au ernsstsr In his regiment until september Z. 1857
when his superior qualifications caused him 10 be d."
tailed to The West Point Military Academy ms A.
scicntOnS In his present Guty. and questions are fired
at lin continually while giving Instructions In the
armory the officers and n0n-oOmmissiOncd officers
Captain j. c. Grugan. concerning whose troubles nj
Fort schuyler much has been published in the last
few weeks, is believed 10 be more snncd against than
SHINING. lie Is spoken Of by officers who know him
well MS soldier from hat 10 boot. and he has an cX
cellent war record back Of him. That he IS i
dlscplinahan is Il fact and he has been recognized BY
the War ID .partncnt and ,y Congress as "a gallant
and a neritOriOus officer" lie was engaged III
the battles OF fredericksburg, Charlottesville orange
Grove. Mine Run. Auburn, Trandy station. kelly's
Ford Wilderness. Sp0isylvaliia North Anna. Cold
l!arbor and llatchcrs Hun the eoigc and capture OF
Petersburg and The campaign ending IN the surrender