The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-17
LAID ASIDE JUST NOW
WAR DEPARTMENT HOLDING UP
M'KEE'S APPOINTMENT.
Did Not Like His Refusal of the
CoIoneIcy of the First
Regiment.

General Mckee said yesterday to a friend
that he still had hopes that he would be APP
pointed a brigadier general, though the
long delay in his appointment and the
departure of the Indiana troops to Chick
amauga in detached regiments was some
what disheartening to him in viewing the
probability of his appointment. Word comes
from the War Department, however, that
MeKee's appointment to be brigadier gen
eral has been relegated to the doubtful list
because his action in refusing to condescend
to accept the colonelcy Of the First Regi-
ment, now the observation-disclosures fifty-ninth.
had displeased the heads of the department.
1t is further stated that McKee's appoint
ment may be made later, but not before he
has done penance for his "high-horse' act.
After Colonel Pennington's unfortunate
accident, which put him in the City Hos
pital with fractured leg, from which he
could not hope to recover for eight weeks
at least, the command of the regiment came
into the hands OF Lieutenant Colonel Nc
Coy. The friends of the lieutenant colonel
acknowledged that he was not a competent
man to command the regiment without a
wiser head to direct him, and several secret
conferences of the officers of the regiment
were held after Governor Mount stated to
them that he would put the matter of de-
Gliding on colonel entirely in their hands.
The officers could not come to any agree
ment except that General Mckee should be
the colonel, unless he received his appoint
ment to be brigadier general of the brigade
after it was mustered into the federal serv-
ice The deep sympathy of the regiment
for its old colonel forbade the appointment
of any man to its command save General
Mckee. No officer under his rank, 1t was
stated by the officers, should be considered.
Accordingly, the officers, with all respect,
went to General Mckee and offered to him
the colonelcy of the regiment in event he
should not be appointed to the command of
the brigade.
AT that time the confidence which had be-
fore been felt that he would be appointed to
command the brigade was beginning to
weaken. General Mckee had q conference
with Governor Mount and correspondent
with Senator Fairbanks, and finally refused
to accept the colonelcy at the same time
thanking the officers of the regiment for
their oner. The officers were greatly dis
appointed, and General McKee's refusal
greatly Gained the spirit that either he or
no one but Lieutenant Colonel Mccoy should
command the regiment, and the colonelcy
was offered to Colonel Barnett, who had
been a member of General McKee's staff,
and Is retired regular army officer, who
When the news of General McKee'% re-
fusal reached Washington it was received
with the opinion that General Mckee had
not shown the proper spirit; that his accept
ance of the cofonelcy would not have inter-
fered with his appointment to be brigadier
general, and that he had not exhibited the
devotion to the service which 1t was claimed
he was imbued with. The authorities realize
that he is an excellent military man and
would be creditable brigadier general, but
they feel that his appointment should be
staff General
Mckee has suffered because of his action.
They are men who have given years to the
betterment of the Indiana National Guard,
and would have been glad to have accepted
regimental offices, as some of them did, but
refused to crowd others out to make places
for them Those who are personally inter-
ested in the Indiana militia hope that Gen.
Mckee will be appointed, for they have all
respect for his ability.