The Red Cloud chief., 1898-09-02
TROUBLE IN 10Th KANSAS.
Col. Funston May Brinr Charges Against
little An Open Rupturc.

tONCfnOr ICcuy recommending certain
promotions in the Twentieth Kansas
regiment he may be court-martialed
for insubordination. IL has long been
known in the camp there was Ill feel
ing between Colonel Funston and
Lieutenant Colonel Little. Its growth
has been watched with increasing in
terest from day to- day and lately there
have been many predictions of an open
rupture. II came last night. Colonel
Funston then made q discovery that
made his blood boil. lie has laid the
matter before General Miller and there
is every prospect that Colonel Little
will have To answer to serious charges
before a court martial.
CySincc last June. when Colonel Fun
ston took command OF the regiment,
strained relations have existed be.
tween the colonel and his subordinate,
who, before his arrival, had been In
command.
Little knew nothing about the dis.
ciplinc or drilling of n regiment, and rs
n consequence his superior officer had
n difficult task upon his arrival in
bringing the Twentieth Kansas to
good order. During tho last two
months quarrcls have been frequent
between the two, morc particularly
since the regiments recent removal
from Camp Merritt To the Preside. At
one time 1t was rumored that Little
vas to be requested 10 resign.
mo, this Is not the first nor the
second time Little and l have fallen
out, ~ said Colonel Funston. 1--WE have
not agreed upon any one thing since
we have been together In tho regi-
mcnt. There Is no use, however, of
discussing our past relations. l am
concerned only about the present diff
ticulty.
'On the 18th OF this month I sent
recommendations for three appoint
mcnts TO my regiment to Governor
Lcedy. Second Lieutenant A. C. Al.
ford | recommended for n first lieu
tenancy, and Sergeant Major +. Il.
Dodge and Sergeant C.. II. Ball for sec
ond licutenanc'cs. Colonel Little sent
by that same mail, without informing
me Of mis- action, his recommendations
for two other men for the first lieuten-
apcy and ono for the second licu.en-
aucics. No, | don't care 10 give their
names; they were good men. too, and
not responsible for Colonel Little's
error. lie agreed with me In recon-
mending Sergeant Ball for the other
appointment.
II received the acknowledgment OF
my recommendations from Governor
In,l,,'s ,ry Chic IN fru The
governor was not in town, but his sec
rotary wrote that the papers would be
presented to his notice Immediately
upon his arrival. Littlc's recommend
atoms must undoubtedly have reached
home ~ soon as mine. They may pre-
vail with the governor over mine. Lit
tie was the governors private secre
tary when the war broke out and o.
course has "a political pull, while
have none.
If his recommendations do prevail
and officers are put in here over my
head, this regiment is going to witness
all the changes OF a tropical climate
but that isn't the story. II was only
yesterday that l learned of Titles ac'
ton, and you may imagine how ! took
the news. Unluckily, or, perhaps,
luckily, | could not find Colonel Lit.
tie. ! fancy something very unpleas'
ant would have occurred in view OF
the frame of mind ] was In then.
Last night ! asked him IL my in,
formation as TO his unwarrantable
action was correct. He replied in the
affirmative. i asked him II he thought
that he had military precedent for q
subordinate's sending in such recon-
m~endations. He replied No. but con
sidered that he had lone perfectly
right, nevertheless Then ! told him
that his conduct was u the prejudic,
Of military discipline and that l in
tended to place him under arrest foi
insubordination. He did not relish
the idea.
Little Is president of the court.
martial now sitting In the Thomas af
fair, and l did not wish to inconven
fence its workings and SO did not carry
out my threat. That he can be ar
rested and court martialcd for his of
Tense I have good authority for bell ev
ing, and i am still working OF the
matter.
II have consulted with General Nil
Ter. He agrees with me that Colone
Litt!e's action is a breach of military
discipline and OF military etiquette
and an altogether outrageous proceed
ing In u subordinate officer. Now tina
i have had time to think the matte
over l am not certain as TO what my
next move will be. Something decis
i've, however, must be done very soon
II Littie's recommendations arc acte,
upon favorably ! hardly know what
should do. There certainly cannot bt
two colouels In a regiment and ther'
never shall be two coloncls in tine
Twentieth Kansas"
Colonel Funston appears 10 have tn
support Of his brother officers, II groul
of whom surrounded him while h
made the statement quoted. Ia al
the quarrels between Funsto1 ant
Little OF the past two months 1t
said that the former has had the stead,
support Of every officer.