The Portland daily press., 1898-08-17
WoooWARD's EXPLANATION.
Colonel of Sixth Mass. Tells Why He Re
signed.

| Boston, August 16 The recent troubles
in the sixth Massachusetts infantry, U.
6. Volunteers which led to the resignation
of Col. Woodward and several other
officers are told to some extent in a letter
received today from the Journals CORE
spondent with that regiment from Ponce.
under date of August 8. In an interview
| Col. Woodward says:
"For some time we have had signs that
the sixth was not popular. Today l was
told that the officers had for long time
had their eyes on the sixth with the
knowledge that it was not good regi.
ment. They said that when we arrived
at camp they doubled the guard and that
when we reached Charleston We were a
mob.
Probably you have heard about the
difficulties at Charleston. They were dis
eussed before we left the continent. Ihe
| fact that there is a colored company IN
the regiment hurt us great deal In the
eyes of the people in that city. Well, this
morning, matters Game to head.
aIhe specific charges made by General
Garretson, commander of our brigade,
related to the struggling on the march be-
tween Guanica and here.
"Our men had been eighteen days on
| the Yale when they went into that sorim-
mage at Guanica. The food was not of
| the best and the heat weakened the men.
When the march began they were very
| tired and I did not have the heart to be
severe with those who were exhau sted.
General Henry said that the volunteers
| suffered from too much good feeling OF
| this kind, that had been among the nen
| in my regiment too long. and that
dicipIine suffered greatly. He said that
they shot men in tie regulars when they
| cd bsati oaf Inv hot
hars that was his custom, but it was not
mine. even said that did not have the
heart to court martial these boys for being
Exhausted. ! said, too, that Ii had been
on foot, 1 could net have stood that last
days march, and even as 1t was, that
was too tired to move when we reached
the camp. | actually fell down here and
aid nothing till the men put up my tent
and I. YOU should remember was on O
| horse all day.
II said I had no desire to court martial
| the stragglers. The general said must.
| said / would resign first, and his said
my resignation would be accepted. Lieut.
Col Clafiin said the same. Major Taylor
said SO zoo. Majors Darling and Prest are
at Guanica and Yanco. Captain Goodale,
who Is the senior captain, and who is
| Temporarily in command OF a battery al
| SO resigned. Chaplain Dusseault said he
could not stand ty and see it done SO we
| all resigned. We were TOLD tnaC our re-
signations would be accepted, and Capt.
| Cook of Co I, of Concord, the next
highest officer here at PoHce is in COM
mand of the regiment.
"We were ordered before the board, and
we resigned. You may say, ii you wish,
| that L consider this Q reflection upon q
good regiment. If it is not disgrace to
Massachusetts,, what could BIZ. There has
been olashing always with brigade
officers. Part of it grows out of the bad
feeling that prevails almost everywhere
between the regulars and volunteers.
Some of it is personal. At Camp Aiger
we were often picked out for our
efficiency. Since then We have worked
hard and faithfully under severe handi-
caps. You can say, too, that there has
been treachery on the part of one of my
staff officers. He has been out Of touch
with me from.the start and has repeated
ly made complaints to officers in one way
and another You can see for yourself that
| the men are with us. 4"