The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-04

sYour endorsement, in which you
take occasion to charge theAdjutant
General with being cognizant of the
fact that arms and other property
lately i'm possession of the Charlotte
division. naval battalion, are now be-
ino held bv persons not in the public
service, is emphatically denied by that
officer. and the matter placed before
the Governor and COMMUNICATIVE Chief
and investigation demanded. In this
connection YOU are directed by the Gov
ernor and Commander-in-Ch to for
ward. without delay, satisfactory
proofs substantiating the charge
referred to-
This charge was made in letter
written by Winslow dated September
18th, in which he says: "The arms and
eouipments of the Charlotte division
we're removed from my control for
reasons of which | have no knowledge.
They were subsequently restored to
that control. During the interim the
howitzer and the equipment, and
number of reYOlveTS, rifles and other
public property have disappeared, or
are held by persons not in the public
service, with the cognizance OF the Adj
iutant General
In his reply to the Governor he
makes the following charge:
II am informed that it has been rep
resented to the Navy Department that
the Adiutant General is an old marine
officer and very friendly to the navaI
militia. / understand that the Adju-
tant General was in the marine corps
~of the Southern Confederacy andreach-
ed the grade of second lieutenant, but
| have not discovered any spirit of
friendliness to the naval battalion.
On the contrary, not content with be-
ing an accessory to robbing the organi-
zation of the hoWitzer in Charlotte, he
has recently endeavored surreptitIous-
ly TO obtain from the Navy Depart
ment two other hoWitzers for the use
of the land forces, Notwithstanding
that he knew and was informed that
the cost entailed would be charged to
the small appropriation allotted to
this organization, and notWlthStand
ing his knowledge that the Navy De
partment would only supply his de
mand upon the supposition that the
articles were for the use and benefit
of the naval militia, for which the
money was appropriated by Congress,
and for which it could alone be legally
and properly expended
In this same letter Winslow writes;
II do not believe any one in the Organi-
zation considered him its friend; |
think the majority consider him its
open or covert enemy. Most, if not all
the members would be glad to be re-
moved from his authority, and / sug-
gest that such Il course would probably
be a convenient and ready solution of
all controversies.
Governor Carr replied to this in a
letter dated December DIST, in which
he writes:
Il find that instead of combining
yourself TO substantiating the specific
allegations made by you against the
acknowledgement Of the State relative
to the disposition of arms, etc, as you
were directed to do. you have simply
INDUCED in long TRADE of abuse of
your superior officers and reiteration
of charges which are not sustained by
the official records.
Il also find that concerning the
howitzer in Charlotte, of which so
much is said, that nearly three years
ago the adjutant general learning in
cidentally of the existence of the gun
and desiring to use it, was informed by
a gentleman Of character and standing
that it was a personal loan and not
subject to the State authority, and
that to inquiry made by him to the
Navy Department in regard to the mat
ter he received no reply.
''As TO the two howitzers recently
applied for to be kept here at the Capt.
tol for use on public occasions, firing
salutes, etc, they were asked for by
my direction, and when the Secretary
Of the Navy recommended and evidently
wished to send two guns Of improved
pattern, to be charged to the annual
appropriation OF quota OF the naval
militia, the adjutant general, not wish
ing to interfere with the approprIa-
ton in the slightest degree, promptly
declined the offer, requesting instead
the loan OF two old fashioned, muzzie
loading guns, which the Navy Depart
ment admitted having on hand, as be
ing entirely suitable for the purpose
for which they were wanted.
THE tone as well as contents OF
your letter Of the 21st inst, have salts
fed me more thoroughly than ever Of
the undesirability Of your further con.
nection with the State service. A
short time since. for reasons then
stated, | requested your resignation as
an officer of the State Guard; this you
saw fit to decline, consequently, in &C.
cordauce with what / consider the
best interest Of that service, / now de-
mand it's immediate tender"
The records in the Adjutant Gen
erals Office show 1t WinsloW' s
charges 10 be absolutely without
foundation.
There has never been amy official
record. in the flee, of the howitzer al
Charlotte. The Adjutant General
wrote August goth to the Secretary OF
the Navy. requesting information re
garding this gun, which was loaned
by a Department official 10 an individ-
ual. The Navy Department has never
complied with the request. And there
has never been an official record oil
this gun in the Adjutant General :