The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-09-02
The Truth Of the Matter

The Truth Of the Matter
To the Editor Of the Los Angeles Herald
, have been exceedingly surprised at seeing
within the last two days, in several news
papers. interviews with Colonel Berry OF
the Seventh regiment. in which the colcne
Is made responsible for statements con
corning Brigadier General H. G. Otis and
his relations with the Seventh regiment
which 1 chance to know are 80 entirely al
variance with the facts. I feel II incumbent
upon me to ask space In your columns fol
a statement of the truth as happen tc
know II.
Just two weeks before General Otis sailed
for Manila reached San Francisco on bust
mess which detained me there during the
remainder of the Generals stay and unit
the day on which he went aboard his ship
for sailing. Owing to personally friendly
relations with the general and some men,
bers of his staff, was at his headquarters
probably a dozen times while was In the
! city; was with the general for some time
during nearly every day of my stay, and
spent one night and took several meals In
| camp. This association enabled me to be
personally cognizant OF a number Of facts
| which do not at all agree with the state
ments attributed to Colonel Berry in his
published Interviews. The first day ar
rived In San Francisco I called upon the
general at his headquarters in the after
noon and found the tents of himself and
| his staff situated beside the camp of the
Seventh regiment and In what was certain
| ly the worst spot of the camp location. II
any could be referred to as worst when all
were very bad. The generals headquarters
| were located on the side OF the camp next
| the ocean, where they were the first to re-
ceive and the last to be clear Of the harsh
ocean winds and fogs which made the camp
so disagreeable and fatal to our boys Of the
unfortunate Seventh. After having been
in San Francisco few days learned that
numbers of the officers including other
generals, made It convenient to spend their
nights in the city. surrounded by the COM
forts Of hotels and lodging houses anty one
day I asked General Otis how it was that
other officers appeared able to consult their
comfort by sleeping In the city, while he
spent his days and nights subject to all the
rigors OF this most undesirable camp loca-
ton. His answer in substance was. that
| in the first place he felt thar what was good
enough for the men under his command
secondly that the location OF the camp Of
the Seventh was so poor, and the boys were
suffering so much from it. and other ap-
parent hard luck. that he felt that II they
saw him taking the same discomforts tina,
they were subjected to, It would have the
effect of making them better satisfied with
their condition and less disposed to object
10 the bad luck which seemed to have at
tat71 AA
in San Francisco I was informed by Gen.
eral Otis and officers of his staff as we'll
as by members of the Seventh regiment
that it was fully settled that the Seventh
would sail with the general. know that
the general fully believed this, and tina.
when, few days afterwards. 1t became
evident that the Seventh was not to be
part Of the expedition. he was very bitterly
disappointed at the news, and expressed
his disappointment In as strong terms as
his ideas of discipline and proper respect
for his official supertors permitted. know,
| too, that the general took immediate steps
to have the order changed SO that the Sew
enth might go with him IL possible, and II
| not. so that It might go upon the next expe-
dtion. In this effort not only General
Otis and the officers of the Seventh, but
Senator Perkins, Governor Budd, General
Barrett and all from Southern California
who happened at that time to be in San
Francisco, were interested, and all did what
they could 20 this common end. Numer-
Gus meetings and consultations between
interested parties were held about the mat
ter. and it was suggested to me that il I
had any friends in the east likely to have
some influence with the authorities In
Washington, 1t would be a good idea for
me to wire them asking their good offices
in behalf of the Seventh, and In pursuance
Of this suggestion l did what could in the
matter. The matter was discussed by the
general in my presence a number OF times
and in the exchange Of kilograms sent by
the various parties I became possessed Of
copy of the telegram sent by General Otis
himself TO the adjutant general at Wash
!ngton, and it is as follows:
headquarters, Third Brigade, Independ-
emit Division, Eighth Army Corps.
Camp Merritt, Cal, July II. 1893
"To the Adjutant General of the Army,
Washington. D. c.;
Il am appealed to by the officers and men
OF the Seventh California infantry, and by
a multitude of the regiments friends, 10
urge the selection of that regiment for early
dispat ch TO Manila. do not mean to in
terfere with the orders of my superiors.
who have already chosen the troops for the
fourth expedition, but, without exceeding
my authority, I will earnestly request the
president, through the secretary Of war,
to order the early advance of this faithful,
| efficient, we'll disciplined and excellent reg
iment; and earnestly recommend the char
ter of the necessary vessels for that pur-
pose.
(Signed) HARRISON GRAY OTIS.
"Br!gadier General U. S. Volunteers, Com
handing Third Brigade"
This telegram was sent shortly after
General Otis learned that the Seventh was
not to accompany him. and before he sailed
he received a reply to it in substance as
surfing him that, while the Seventh could
| not be sent with this expedition, It would
certainly make part of the next exped!~
ton that sailed. So that when General
Otis left San Francisco it was In the con
| fident belief upon his part that the boys Of
the Seventh regiment would follow him in
few days. or weeks at the utmost. I
personally know that Colonel Berry knew
Of General Otis sending the above tele-
gram, and knew the contents thereof, and
knew the answer which General Otis re-
| ceived to it, and expressed himself, as did
all the other officers Of the Seventh, as be-
ing highly grateful to the general for the
interest which he had taken In the mat