Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-08-28
GENERAL ooMPsoNs DEFENSE.
He Sets Right Several Unjust At
tacks.

body Of Lieutenant Nelson was con-
Quoted on rather broad lines and took
too wide range, is plain to anyone.
In the following statement General
Compson bases bis opinion in this mat
ter upon the elementary principles Of
military law and upon the natural ex-
pectation that he himself, the person
condemned, should have been summon
ed as a witness. He was not even noti-
6ed that an inquest would be held. In
speaking of the matter, he said in Sat
urday's Oregonian:
"I left Portland on Monday with the |
other railroad commissioners of the |
state TO make an Inspection of the AS
toria q South Coast railroad. and was
away during the inquest. I did not
receive any notification that one would
be held, and If ] had I would certainly
naye remained here in order to be pres
ent. My testimony surely wodld have
been at least as important as that of
any other witness, and 1 think it
very strange circumstance that was
not summoned to be in attendance.
Those Of my staff who took an active
Oart In the engagement were not called
upon to testify in regard to the matter,
tnd, altogether, the inquest seems to
rave been conducted more in the spirit
Of q prosecution than fair and impair
iai Investigation. To my knowledge,
uut on of the witnesses summoned was
upon my behalf, and part of his teSti-
mony is not entirely clear to me-"
II did not intend to make any state
ment Of the circumstances surrounding
the battle, until received the report of
the military court of investigation; but
80 much has been said and published
to my discredit that L determined to
give an account of the conflict az
once. have done all in my power to
have the death of Lieutenant Nelson
Investigated, and 1t was by my order
that the military board convened Sui.
day night and is now In session. Not
withstanding my efforts to have cart :
ful investigation made, 1t would seem
that some one has been endeavoring to
hold me up to public apprehension. In
my judgment, spitework is evident,
and 1t will be only a matter Uf time TO
fully develop who is at the bottom Of 1t.
ITO begin with, 1 will say the only
objection Of any weight made by any
of the officers was that the men would
not be In condition for the brigade in
spectlon which took place that evening.
The sham battle is a part Of the educa-
tion Of every soldier in civilized nations
and of the National Guard of the va
rious states of this country. Every
year the state organizations are ordered
out for field maneuvers, and the sham
battle, which is recognized as a part of
the military training Of a soldier, is
fought at nearly every encampment.
No danger attends q well-planned and
properly executed sham conflict, and
there would have been no fatality At
Camp Compson had my orders been
obeyed. 1t is absurd to say that Ma
tional Guard is afraid to participate ia
sham battle ON account Of the danger
attending 1t, aud IL there is any such
an officer or militiaman In the Oregon
guard he should leave military life.
Such man is not fit for a soldier, for
how would he act In active aud actual
service? Would he ask permission of
his superior officer to remain ia camp
during the conflict to avoid being
killedY Some people have an idea that
the National Guard is for parade pur-
poses only, but during my ineumbency
In office intend to accomplish the OBJ
lject for which 1t was formed-that Is
10 train and prepare it for military
service In time Of actual need.
My duty, rs brigade commander, is to
put the Oregon National Guard on the
best possible practical footing and pre-.
pare them to meet any emergency that
may arise-insurrection, invasion or
riot. This cannot be accomplished
without putting them under fire with
blank ammunition, which experience
would tend to abate their fear Of excite
ment when In regular battle. some
people say that sham battles are for
fun That Is all wrong. l think 1t
would be an expensive amusement TO
buy ammunition for the boys to dis.
charge for 'fun.'
~ wish to correct several statements
la regard to Lieutenant Nelson's death
The gatling gun which be tried 10 cap
tnre was set out As dummy only and
could not be fired because there E-as no
suitable ammunition TO be had for ii in
the state, According % the plan OF
battle, II was to be taken by Major
Everett on the fourth charge, and the
attacking party had positive orders 10
tall back when they approached TO
within 20 yards Of the gun. They ad-
vanced en- the third charge. and when
within the prescribed limit many fall !