The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-07

court-martial, which Colonel Barnett did
not appoint and of which he was not
part. Not only has Colonel Barnett been
greatly wronged but the chances of the
regiment for promotion have been lessened.
In the end truth will prevail, but ii may not
prevail until important positions that
should have been filled by men from the
Observation-Disclosures ty-ninth have been
filed from regiments from other States.
Again, Colonel Barnett is most tender
hearted man. 1t is my lot to be much with
the sick and dying. No other colonel In
the corps is so attentive to the sick from
his regiment as he. Before retiring to his
quarters at night he invariably makes in
quiry as to the sick and their needs. /
have seen Colonel Barnett at midnight
and comfort to the sick. In asking about
the sick he says, in closing. IF they need
anything which the hospital cannot furnish
to get out of bed at a. m. to see after men
who were near deaths door. / have seen
him In the, small hours of the night, by
the dim light of candle, wipe the death
sweat from the brow of member of the
observation-disclosures ifty-ninth and only leave
when further assistance was impossible.
know Colonel Barnett to be warm-hearted
Christian man, who carries his Christian
ity into camp with him. If the mothers
and sisters of men of the One-hundred-and-
fifty-ninth could have seen him. as some
of have seen him, miniStering to the
wants of the sick and dying they would
know what they do not now know, and yet
what is a fact-that in Colonel Barnett
their loved ones have friend such as is
SelQOm 1OunQ unQer Sucn clrcunlS
Again, to Colonel Barnett is due the alb
sence of the saloon in Camp Alger OF those
who preceded US here no colonel had the
backbone to shut out the liquor, and sa-
looms were the rule The first act of Colonel
Barnett in Camp Alger was to close the sa-
looms within our regimental lines, and 1t
was his firm stand that finally shut the sa-
looms from the entire camp.
The press of Indiana should remember
that the ne-hundred-and-fifty- is
composed of Indianians. and that we look
to it for support We thought the press of
our own State would be slow to publish our
mistakes, but instead of this we are COM
PEELED to defend ourselves against rank
cy in that observation-disclosures that already
have injured an honest man at the head
of the regiment and every man under him.
We now appeal to the press of Indiana to
cease publishing every idle rumor and ev-
cry statement that coWardly men write UNI
der MONS de plume.
1 write this simply in the interest of
man who has been greatly wronged. / I'M
heSitatingly characterize all reports as to
cruelty in Colonel Barnett as absolutely
false and especially is this true as to the
''saw-horse." I challenge any man in In
diana or out to affirm any Of these reports
publicly over his own name If any one
will do so / will make it my business to
prove it's falseness by the surgeons in
charge, by the records which show who
constituted the court, by the men who COM
posed the court. by the captain of CooperS
company and by a hundred soldiers who
witnessed the transaction.
w. X. WEAVER,
Chaplain e-hundred-and-ffty- In
diana.