The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-31
GEN. FITZGERALD RESIGNS.
a sURPRIsB At 4 DINNER GIVEN TO
OFFICERS OF HIS CoMMAND.

ment-The speech Announcing HIS SeotGnA-
tien-An 1prormal Taik en- National Guard
1seorGaniHntion-Gen. FitEEeraIa's Record.
Gen. Louis Fitzgerald, commander of tho First
brigade OF the National Guard, sprang a sur
prise on the commanding officers OF the brigade
and the members of his staff by announcing his
resignation at q dinner which he gave last even
ing at his residence ut Lexington avenue and
Thirty-nfth street to celebrate tho fortieth an
niversary OF his enlistment. When Gen. Ftz-
gerald arose to his feet after the dinner and re-
quested silence the guests thought that he was
about 10 propose q toast. To their profound
astonishment he spoke as follows:
1T has been known for q long time that my
retirement fromrL he National Guard has been
deferred until 1 should have completed. or have
seon completed, the several matters which, ave
always been deemed Of vital Importance to the
welfare and future prosperity Of the organiZa-
tion. namely:
parade ground suitably situated and OF a capacity
to provide for the handling Of the entire brigade at
once;
The arming OF the brigade with q rife moro ser
viceable than the Romington;
The return on the part of the brigade to distinctive
uniforms FOR the separate commands. AMI
The erection OF suitable army buildings in the City
OF New York for the entire command.
IAN Of these matters have boon brought to q
successful issue; the two commands OF the
brigade not yet supplied with armories have
sites selected for them and boards have been
organized for the acquisition Of the property. I
may therefore say that my tasks have been full
hlled, and on this, the fortieth anniversary of my
enlistment in the National Guard, l surrender
the trust received at your hands and which I
have held 30 long. and I have forwarded to the
Commander-in.Chief the resignation of my COM
mission.
"The numbers. discipline, and efficiency of the
First Brigade were never greater or in O higher
state Of perfection than now, and the obedience.
respect, and affection that you have given to
your commander have been most gratifying. 1t
has boon my constant thought for years that the
National Guard Of the State would be made
more efficient az q whole by q reorganization
that would give to it q permanent commanding
officer. and that the men should serve in the
higher grades with the same spirit, enthusiasm,
and love of service, without compensation, that
have actuated us. and I am now assured by those
In authority that legislation Is contemplated
embodying tho ideas that I have so earnestly
advocated. 1t is hoped that the details Of such
reorganization will be carried out In the spirit
Of the proposed legislative enactments. The
fulflment Of my hopes in this respect will DO
the work of those who succeed me; and with the
confident expectation that faithful service to
| the SCaIe anu buDSerVlenCy OF personal interest
may be the rule Of the National Guard officers
II the future as they have been In the past
During the delivery Of this announcement
Gen. Fitzgerald was visibly affected, especially
toward the close. when he spoke OF saying fare
well. His eyes grow dim and his voice trem-
signs Of being deeply moved. At tho conclusion
Sew sas Col! GsneI Wiiiia 5sm seMard dve Ths Is l ssaiS1
line Colonel IT. q the s. brigade was eS q. 70
r Old - HO, like the General. showed traces of
emotion as he spoke. He referred to the prog.
fisss %sss y d n Gen. Gnf Fftu IN 1sIs s sl'Y p Srfia a h iRs
s ssiIIsy: ~. Seward ard was Sssf issqasntly i SasSTSlSs
Col; Seward others Of the company expressed
last speaEef had concluded bis eaiogy on their
The following. officers made up the company
that sat down at dinner: Brigade staff-Lieut-
SSli fMts a3Ss hd 4; CIV Y. AAs ek ( sa Aq;StsnMsiS aior
Paul Dana. Ordnance Officer; Major Augpste
F. c! M y 4; R IIsssPssctOr; Major Mt David Crqsker.
Dolano Andrews, Engineer. Major W. EmIeSn
man, Jr., Sommisaary Of Subsistence; 1cS apt.
William Bay, Coster, aide-do-camp.
Regimental Communicated. Daniel Apple
ton, Seventh Regiment; Col Henry Chauncey,
II, Eighth Regtment; Col. William Seward,
Regiment; Col. FRANKLIN Bartlett, Twenty.sec.
end Regiment, and Col. Francis Vinton Greene.
Seyenty-hrst regiment.
Major Charles F; Roe, Squadron A; Capt: Louis
Wendel, First Battery; Capt; David Wilson,
Second Battery; Cap. Homer w. Hedge. Signal
The only absentees were Col. George Moore
aide-de-camp on the Generals staff. who Is in
G%nSPs; has o ShIls s" 81 r eFfasns Sq nnd Se of shs
the Seventh Regiment, whom Gen, Fitzgerald
menu mssnot the se Sew SEVENTH tsse col. Il R igPrs ssVine e an Haa rssti
tho Generals enlistment by two months. Col.
plInent to the hosts old regiment.
The guests were all DESTROYS that the General
cation, and before the company broke up he
gave an informal talk on the reorganization in
Among them We're these: That the ermanent
Major-General should serve without pay. max
IRE his hesad9ISSfhrtees wherever nc pleased, and
a field officer In m OF troops; that there
should be a separation Of the comman Of the
STATS should be allowed 70 have more latitude
should be only one division Tor the entire state;
that SIi /, the neva separate par ,nt Gom mp; OF the l. state
ions; that member of the guard or United
States Army who have had practical experience
thought that the First brigade should be
divided into two brigades. as T. y almost
State; In Gen. Fitzgerald,s opinion tho staff
of the .Commander,in:Chlef should consist
Of an Acknowledgement who should rank as
Brigadier-G eneral; a Quartermaster and a
Judae-Advocate,, who should rank as Colonels.
and four aides who should rank as Lieutenant.
Colonies: The General said that no would add
70 the Military Co 10 a provision giving to the
S.sIsssnt sne IA The The r,s s1st to tsgPSint Gr detail S.nar as
ment. as well as the Inspector.Ge Generals depart
ment and the department of rifle practice,
o%fieers who should receive pay and devote all
their time to their military duties.
After the dinner a gentleman Conversant with
the Affairs OF the National Guard sal i:
Although nothing In the announcement of
his resignation or In his informal talk concern.
Ing his Views on reorganization could DO con-
strued as an attack on or even a criticism of
general headquarters, the guests exchanged
significant looks when the General In his
farewell remarks referred 70 the .%legisla-
earnestly advocated The modesty of the
Generals, claim in saying that he had
merely advocated these changes did not escape
the auditors. They remembered how. he had
fought for them for years in the face of opposi-
ton at Albany, and, the conclusion was appar-
emit to those who had in mind the recent attempt
m ahalya rho General at ALBANY that hia idaoa