Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-16
THE WHITES RESIGN.
TWO OFFICERS OF THE SIXTH
VIRGINIA WANT no QUIT.
no OBJECTION MILL BIZ OFFERED.
said That Licutenant-coIonel Crox-
ton Wants All White onacers to Re-
sign Except Major Cnbeii-Recom-
mended n Negro for Promotion.

Governor Tyler learned yesterday that
Captain Sidney T. Moore and Captain
George ii. Bentley, white officers recently
appointed to the Sixth Virginia. had for
warded their designations to the Secre-
tary of War.
Captain Bentley was first lieutenant of
Company f, Second Regiment, and Cap
tain Moore was first lieutenant of Com
pany d. of the same regiment. All the
others of the eight white officers APP
pointed were from the Third Regiment.
The captains say they found their posi-
tons very unpleasant The enlisted men
are In bad temper because officers Of
their own color were not appointed.
The officers among the negroes do not
like 1t that whites were commissioned.
The white officers do not. like 1t that the
ranking major of the regiment is negro.
They have to salute him whenever they
meet him. At least one of the colored
captains is the senior of all the white
captains. So IT will be readily under
stood that white officers life in the
Sixth is not all that could be desired.
A REMARKABLE STATE OF AFFAIRS
1t is not known whether the Secretary
of War will accept the designations of
| the officers named. 1t is presumed that
| he will do so. 1t is understood that Lieu
| tenant-Colonel Croxton has recommend
| ed, or will recommend. that they be ac-
| cepted
| There seems to be at Camp Poland at
present state of affairs both unique and
| amusing. To describe 1t properly one
needs 10 look back. When the eight col
| ored companies from Virginia were mus
| tered into service Governor Tyler de-
! cided that under the law he was obliged
| TO commission the colored officers. he
did so. After an experience OF four or
five months with these officers or color,
Lieutenant colonel Croxton decided that
there were very few OF them competent
TO discharge their duties. SO he had an
examining board appointed by the War
| Department for the purpose of investi-
| eating into the efficiency of his officers.
| Nine designations came in hurry, and
nine colored men were soon back on old
Virginia SOIL minus the brass and blue OF
| their Uncle Samuel.
1t was expected that the Governor
would promote colored men TO the posi-
tions made vacant by the negroes afraid
of examination. He announced TINS IN
tention to Lieutenant Colonel Croxton
The latter replied at once that there was
nobody in line Of promotion fit to wear
shoulder straps The Governor knew
there were officers in the Second anc
Third Virginia who were competent tS
command. He intmated several days be
fore he made the appointments that h'
would commission white officers.
THE WHITES WHO APPLIED.
It is believed that less than 100 Whit
officers applied for the positions. The
Governor has never stated how many
He made eight appointments. A vacan
| captaincy remains unified.
There was mutiny and almost rio
among the enlisted men when the whit
officers arrived, and undertook to assum
command. 1t was reported that non
commissioned officers, who, with som
reason. hoped to be promoted to succee'
their superiors who resigned, fomente
the trouble. The non CONS deny this
and IL may have been Incorrect. Their
YVES a hot time in the camp Of the Sixt
that day. Two regiments were ordere
out to auell the mutiny They were sen
hack. and several field officers. includin
Lieutenant Colonel Croxton. mad
speeches to the men instead. Peace wa
restored. More properly speaking, IN
| terms of protocol were dBIttu TO- lieu
; tenant Colonel CroXton said he would FOL
ward 10 Governor Tyler q memorial fror
| the men. in which they could expires
| their grievances.
Governor Tyler has been looking 10
such a memorial for days now. ii Is on
: Of those letters that never came'
2 II Is now stated that Iieutenant-ColC
mel Croxton has asked his white officer
70 resign. He made an exception
4 Major Cabell. This report is not officall
S confirmed. 1t Is generally believed. II
' has. within the past day or two. recon
! mended a colored man for appontmcr
e 10 the vacant captaincy.
Governor Tyler will not appoint N
? negro. The Governor does not undel
= stand the recommendation of the negr
n coming from Colonel Croxton, after n
,, port from him that there was none capt
+; BILE of making an officer.
T A SUMMING UP.
Summed up, the situation seems to be:
q |. The negroes want the white officer
r TO leave.
Q @ Lieutenant Colonel Croxton wan
Y them TO leave.
!. 3. They or at least a portion of then
l. want to leave.
II is predicted that unless the affairs
3 the Sixth are speedily adjusted. II
/ fourth head may soon be written. 1t wi
o tell of the muster-out OF the regiment