Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-09-03

II h claimed that the order Tor his ap-
| pearance with other officers before Il
board to examine into their efficiency
was a great surprise. I'VE earnestly
Solicited some reason" says Colonel
Woodward, for this unusual action,
| and the only one given was that the men
had fallen out on the marches and that
II must be stopped;an that in the future
II 1t continued, severe, and II necessary,
the most extreme punishment must be
inflicted. / replied that / felt that we
had done all that humane officers could
do under the trying circumstances. and
/ would prefer to leave the service rather
than abuse the men, who had come from
Massachusetts with me, and to whom,
as well as their friends at home, owed
the moral obligation to treat them hui
namely"
After reviewing the whole matter, in
cludirg the statement relative to the
poor rations for the men and their sub
sequent weakness owing to that fact.
Colonel Woodward closes his statement
by pointing to his 80 years in the militia
and saying: 1.-The other officers all have
most excellent records. While we deep
~ ItSTel the dlldlI, we are SOIHeWn nat
recompensed by the feeling that many
injustices have been called to light and
that those who remain in the service will
be benefited. ] feel confident that such
will be the case. for, before we left Porto
Rico, 1t was admitted that the food
would be improved and that the men in
the future would not be compelled to
carry such heavy loads
On the same day, Aug %. the governor
sent to Colonel Woodward a letter, in
which he said that in reply to a request
sent to the secretary of war for informa-
ton regarding the cause Of the reSigna-
tons and present condition Of the Sixth
Massachusetts, infantry, he received
from the adjutant general the following
reply from Major General Miles, ad-
dressed to the adjutant general and
dated Ponce, Porto Rico, Aug. s: when
the Sixth Massachusetts infantry was
ordered to be ready to disembark rear
the entrance of Santiago harbor, Colonel
Woodward feigned sickness. At Guam
lea. when his regiment was ord red
ashore. he again feigned sickness and
went on hospital ship, was examined by
Colonel Greenleaf. surgeon who pro-
nounced him we'll and ordered him off
the ship. During this time seven COM
panies of his regiment We're engaged in
sharp encounter under command of
c. neral Garretson. Colonel Woodward
was ordered before examining board,
and rendered his resigna ton; it's ac-
ceptance will save expense of q court
marital. The lieutenant colonel of the
t.:
m2ined in his tent while part of his regi
m mt was engaged He was within sour d
of the fight. and did not even assemble
balance of re giment to reinforce part en-
gagged. If 1T should have been required.
Acce ptance of designations Of both these
officers would benefit the service"
Colonel Woodward's reply to the
charges of General Miles is very vol
luminous. He says: Il regre exceeding
~ that these statements have not been
made earlier. 1t seems hard that an
officer of the rank of colonel should be
Judged SO severely by the commanding
e. neral. and such heavy accusations be
on record against him without care
full examination by the commanding
general, and without an opportunity for
explanation or denial. General Miles has
been misinfOrmed by his subordinates,
and row that ! am out of the service
feel that l have a right to defend myself
by a statement of the facts, as natter
of simple justice to myself and, the state
of Massachusetts"
Colonel woodward claims that for a
long time he had Suffered from a pain
full stomach trouble, and that he was at
tackled by his trouble on July "a, just be-
fore the regiment arrived at Guanica.
On July 20 the regiment disembarked
Continuing, Colonel Woodward says:
sour regiment landed urmolested, and
there was no reason why should feign
sickness at that time. Soon after supper
that evening an order came for all the
troops to fall in, stating that we We're
being attacked by large numbers. Sew
eral Of my companies We're already on
OutpOsts, under command of Major Tay-
Tor. I marched out at the head of my
regiment until we were ordered to lie
down by the side of the road, where we
remained several hours, when we were
ordered back to camp. If had been dis
posed to feign sickness or take advant- |
age of an illness to keep out of fight, |
this was q time when could have done |
so.
1.-THE message states that the accept
ance of the designations would save the |
expense of a cOurt-martial. The expense |
of a court martial must be very small, |
as all witnesses and others are in the |
service of the government, and can re-
ceive no extra pay for that duty. A lit |
tie expense, however should not stand |
in the way of justice 1t became evident |
to me that vacancies We're desired i'm our |
X giment, and means devised to get rid |
Of some of the officers. on the evening
of Aug. 2. an order was given for me to |
appear the next morning, with four of |
my officers, before an efficiency board.
This was new proceeding under a lew |
passed by congress last April. l had |
never heard of the law A systematic |
freezing process seemed to me to have
been inaugurated. Reasons were asked
for this unusual action. and the only one
given was that men had been falling out
on the marches and that the officers had
not been severe enough with them. Then
we found that the board was composed
Va thC oitCcIS WIN tIle luult
These officers were practically the pros
ecutors, the judge and the jury. Then
comes the inquiry from Massachusetts
and from Washington concerning the
trouble. and false statements were made
in two cases, and no reasons at all given
as to Major Taylor am Captain Goodell
1.-The charges said to have been made
by Captain Ham were evidently drawn
after left Porto Rico. for | neither saw
nor heard of them until saw them in
the Boston papers. Light as they are.
they cannot be substantiated. 1t Is we'll
to note that this Captain Ham is the
officer with whom had the
difference in reference to giving my men
sufficient and proper food.
"Allusions have been made to our regi-
ment when at Charleston, S. c. There