New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-21
WHY MAJOR LORIGAN IS OUT.
HE SAYS HE WAS DRIVEN FROM THE
NINTH BY COLONEL GREENE.


Major George T Lorigan. who resigned his post
as major Of the lst Battalion. 9th Regiment of
NewYork. arrived in this city from Chickamauga
last night. He reached his home just before IL
o'clock. and warmly welcomed by his wife.
who had received telegram from him at Wash
ington saying that he was coming. The Major
looked well although he said that he had lost
thirty pounds In weight while he was attending
to his military duties under the broillng sun at
Chickamauga.
Major Lorigan freely admitted to a Tribune re-
porter that he had resigned his post on account
OF differences with Colonel Greene. commander OF
the 9th Regiment. He said also that number of
the other officers OF the 9th Regiment had done the
same thing and that would follow their ex-
ample He declared that the sanitary condition of
the 9th Regiments camp at Chckamauga was ex-
tremely bad and that typhoid fever was prevalent
in the regiment In consequence. Colonel Greene.
he said largely 10 blame for this unfortunate
state OF affairs. The Colonel devoted too much
time finding fault with his officers and too little
to the sanitary condition of the camp. Major
Lorigan declared that the 9th Regiment would not
go to Porto Rico because it was In demoralized
condition.
What other regiment In camp can show that
ten OF Its commissioned officers have resgned7"
he added. Among the officers who. Major Lorigan
said had resigned from the 9Th when he LETT
Chickamauga were Captain John ID. Walton, OF
Company d: Captain A. VI. Tompkns. OF Company
H.
Lieutenant II. c. Leonhardi. of Company r. and
First Lieutenant Z. j. Wnteroth. Of Company l..
81 left Chickamausa Sunday morning. con-
tined Major Lorigan. land | glad to get
away. My trouble with Colonel Greene dates back
before he was elected colonel Of the regiment. He
was Assistant Inspector General. and when Colonel
Seward could not go to the front he was elected
colonel OF the 9Th by narrow margin. The notice
OF the election OF a new colonel was short one,
and when the officers Of the regiment found that
they had to elect new colonel they wanted me
to declined thought that Lieutenant
Colonel Rand should he asked to run first. he being
the senior officer Colonel Greene was also NOM
mated and he elected
After we had got down to Chickamausa | was
surprised to have Colonel Greene inform me that
I not the senior major OF the regiment. but
that would have to draw lots for that post. In
various other ways Colonel Greene sought To make
life unpleasant for me. I was assigned to drill the
regiment While | doing so Colonel Greene
would continually follow me around seeking 10
humiliate me at every opportunity. One day he re-
lieved me OF command before the whole regiment |
stood It as long could and then resigned Colonel
Gre, ne was glad TO get my resignation But AFTER
thinking the matter over. ! concluded that as the
moment It would look bad for me to leave IT, no
matter what my grievance then determlned 1od 10
to go to Colonel Greene because he would not
appreciate my notifies. so teegraphed TO Ad n
him saving that my resignation had been with:
drawn. | went TO Colonel GreeneS tent then ana
told him what | had done / thought that he
would be pleased and say he thought that
had done the right thing Instead. he appeared 10
be very angry and got up and hastily left the tent
Things for some time, until many
Colonel Greene told me day that II dld not
resign a second time nc would prefer charges
against me. The charges were that had lrrcgu-
larry communicated with superior oihcer IN teIe-
graphing to Adjutant-General Corbin without nrst
communicating with Colonel Greene Inc latter
said he would give until o'clock That aiier-
noon 10 decide which I would do thought the
matter and finally decided that had better
leave the regiment rather than subject myseI 10
arrest ard further humiliation. would undoubt-
eddy have beaten Colonel Greene when my case
ca me to trial but felt that the country did NOT
need my services very badly. as there were plenty
Of other men ready and anxious TO fight for her
| then resigned for the second time. and here am
Governor Black. and explain my case to them
The general public will hardly understand my
trouble with Colonel Greene. but no man could
POSSIBLY put up with the way he treated me- He
got a position in fifteen minutes when he was
elected colonel Of the 9th Regiment that 1t gem
orally takes twenty or thirty years TO OBJ
tain.
There is nothing pleasant for the officers OF the
9th at Camp Thomas" said Major Lorigan in
closing. The regiments quarters are the dirtest
in the whole camp Colonel Greene Is such
sticker for what he thinks is due to his dignity
that he insists that OF the officers under him
shall address him. except In writing. 1t is
different with the colonies and their officers In all
the other regiments in camp that this Is much
mn nj tod Op