Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-03-19

Fridays Milford Chronicle con-
tanned the following communication;
:Mr. Editor: Last summer neigh
bor OF mine, Capt. Fred. O. Wiswell,
was reported through the columns Of
your, and other papers, as having been
elected major OF the First Regiment,
N. g., OF this State. With others, I
congratulated him on his election but
l hear he has never received his com.
mission. What is the trouble? In a
conversation with friends, the Governor
is reported as having said that Wiswell' :
ought to have been commissioned long
ago. don't know of my own knowl-
elge, what the Governor said, but do
know that Wiswell is capable of filling
the Office, and as an old veteran and
comrade, | wish you would let the pub
lie know why an old soldier of actual
war. is treated as he is by the militia
of Delaware. | am, sir, an old army
man and we'll wisher of the National
Guard of the country.
can Old Soldier"
To the communication was appended
an editorial, which read as follows:
"The above inquiry is one of many
that are asked by old soldiers and
Grand Army men, and much as we re
gret to air the dirty linen of the Ma
tiona Guard of Delaware, we feel that
the blame for the matter should be
| placed where it belongs by the public.
"In July, 1895, Gov. Watson issued
an order to his Adjutant- General, Gar
rett j. Hart, of Wilmington. that the
Board of Officers of the First Regiment
should convene at Dover and elect
major to fill vacancy in the regiment.
In compliance to that order Capt. Il. G..
| Wiswell OF Milford, was elected. This
upset the plans laid by the Whining
ton people, and they resolved to deprive
Wiswell of his commission. This was
deliberate policy of the Adiurant-
Generals department, and has been
faithfully carried out for nine months
past. No effort can rouse them to action
and even the suggestion of the Governor
himself can not rouse the stubborn,
bull headed spirit that dominates the
Adjutant General and his advisers in
this matter. 1t is rank insubordina-
tion among those who should set ex-
amples of obedience to the line That
this little iunta OF paper soldiers have
power to order Maj. Wiswell before an
examining board, and turn him down
on physical conditions, every old Ma
| tional Guardsman well knows. Can't.
| Wiswel is soldier of the rebellion,
and in his head wears two silver plates
as patches to his skull where rebel bull
let's passed through his head, and of
course he is not physically sound
man. But not one member of the Ma
tional Guard, without coaching, can
equal him in military knowledge per-
tanning to his station. Tho National
Guard system of Delaware needs re-
forming, as well as the political policy
of the State. Many Kent and Sussex
county farmers, believe it should be
reformed out of existence, and the
salary of the Adjutant General be saved
to the State. If the Adjutant-G GEN
erals department must be pleased in
every election, the law should give him
the power to appoint officers.
| A reporter OF The Gazette called
on Adiutant-G General Hart, and re-
quested statement concerning the
election of Capt. Wiswell.
| 80 have no reply to make to that, "
the Adiutant- General stated. 81 am
responsible 10 Acting Governor Watson
alone for my actions in the military. "
by this remark he intimated that he
did not care to discuss the story pub
lished in the Chronicle.
But National Guard officer was
found who would talk. lie stated that,
as far as he understood the situation,
the meeting at which Capt Wiswell
was elected major was not regularly
held. He had been informed that tho
officers were not in full dress military
uniform, as required by law, and for
that reason he understood Adjutant-
General Hart was not in favor of sane
tioning the action OF the meeting. Aa
it would establish precedent
1t is believed the matter is in the
hands of Acting Governor Watson, and
whatever orders he should give will be
carried out by Adjutant- General Hart.
The position of major is still vacant.