New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-02
PRICE THREE CENTS.
WERE THE ORDERS IGNOREDi
FRICTION BETWEEN GENERALS PORTER
AND FITZGERALD.
THE TROUBLE AROSE OVER THE FORMATION
OF NEW COMPANY FOR THE 9th
BATTALION WHAT is SAID
ON BOTH SIDES.


BATTALION WHAT is SAID
ON BOTH SIDES.
Considerable friction has been caused, and
more is likely to follow, between Adjutant-Gen-
eral Porter and Brigader-General Fitzgerald
over the affairs OF the 69th Battalion. The bone
Of contention Is Lieutenant Edward T. McCrys-
tai who has been instructed by General Porter
to form new company. General Porter says
that he ordered General Fitzgerald to instruct
Lieutenant McCrystal to go ahead and form the
company and as the brigade commander did not
do so McCrystal was instructed directly from
headquarters at Albany.
Lieutenant McCrystal has recently been ap-
pointed inspector Of rifle practice on Major Duff
fy's staff but in the factional war which was
waged before the regiment was reduced to q
battalion he was never considered to be a warm
Duffy partisan.
According to Adjutant-General Porters story.
which he told to a reporter yesterday, decision
was reached by Governor Flower to allow Mo
CRYSTAL to form a new company from the best
material he could get together. General Porter
said that he told General Fitzgerald, on March
90 OF this decision and instructed him TO IN
form McCrystal and authorize him 70 go ahead
and form his company. That was one week ago
Friday On Monday General Porter accidentally
met McCrystal and asked him what progress ne
had made In organizing the company. McCrystAl
did not understand General Porter.
NO ORDERS FROM GENERAL FITZGERALD.
"Haven't YOU received any orders from Cen
eral FitzgeraId%' General Porter asked
McCrystal replied that he had not.
''Oh. we'll they will probably be at your house
when you get home tonight" General Porter re-
joined, and then they parted
When McCrystal arrived home no orders were
there however nor did inquiry at the armory
bring forth the missing documents. McCrystal
then decided to go to Albany, as General Porter
had returned to that place on Monday evening.
He saw General Porter Thursday at the
Capitol and that officer seemed somewhat sur
prised to learn that General Fitzgerald had not
carried out his instructions He gave McCrystal
full authority from the Governor TO go ahead
and organize his company and to use his own
judgment about taking old men, but to
get good men under any circumstances. General
Porter also told McCrystal to see General Fftz-
gerald at any rate. as there might have been
some mistake and the order might have mis-
carried
Following out these instructions McCrystal
called on General Fitzgerald Friday after he
returned to the city and asked him II he had any
orders or instructions for him. General flu
gerald replied that he had none.
McCrystal then told General Fitzgerald that he
had been instructed direct from Albany to go
ahead and form the company.
McCrystal. when seen by a reporter yesterday
verified the facts already related and said that
General Fitzgerald did not seem exactly pleased
when informed that he had been instructed from
headquarters to go ahead and organize the COM
pany.
General Fitzgerald intimated," he said, that
such instructions ought TO come primarily from
brigade headquarters"
GENERAL. PoRTERs SIDE OF THE CASE.
Adjutant-General Porter was seen by a reporter.
at his home in Harlem, yesterday. In answer
TO a question he said:
Yes: instructed General Fitzgerald. on Fri,
day week. to tell McCrystal 10 go ahead and
organize his company soon as he could IL
was not a printed order but in conversation
which had with General Fitzgerald told him
this
that YOU met McCrystal on Monday, and that
he then told you that he had not received your
Instructions"
yes: that is a fact" he replied, land I told
him he would probably find them at home that
"Dd he subsequently come to Albany and get
full power from the Governor, through you, 10
go ahead and form the company?
yes that is a fact also. | told McCrystal to
see General Fitzgerald possibly the order nad
miscarried But in any event ne unuouoteuIs
received full power from the Governor TO go
ahead and form his company as soon as possible:
The particular men to be taken in was left
largely TO his discretion But he was told 10 ges
coed men in any event. as we did not want any
PAPER soldiers Whether the men were tho5e
who had belonged 10 other companies or nor uiu
not matter. so long as they were good soIuiers.,
"Csn YOU offer any explanation for GenerA
Fitzgerald's action in not obeying your instruo-
tiors?" asked the reporter
"Ah" was the reply: that is a matter whicn
you must not ask me to discuss"
General Fitzgerald was seen by reporter on
Friday ard saturday and he said positively that
he had received no order from Albany 10 author
ize any one TO go ahead and organize company.
"It is not necessary 10 get such orders from
Albany" he said. I'VE can attend TO such mat
rers right here
General Fitzgerald could not be seen last night
after General Porter had said positively that the
brigade commander mad been instructed 10 ad-
wise Lieutenant McCrystal 10 go ahead ana
organize a company
Lieutenant McCrystal was seen again, how
ever. and he once more asserted that General
FITZGERALD had told him Friday that he had
no orders for him and that he had received
none for him from Albany or elsewhere.