Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-17

Tells II tie Troubles uf It'll
9Th massachu
Friction WtiA nssslars and IfeachtU u 0as
u STAN Officers.

kuC Vtn AsAtAS1eAN 10 $50 ts.A - -
s. ", which led to the resignation Of
Col. Woodward and several other ON
GERS, are told to some extent In letter
received, today. from the Journal cor
respondent with that regiment, from
Ponce. under date Of Aug. 8. In an in
terview. Col. Woodward says:
.E0r some time we have had signs
that the 9Th was not popular. Today.
was told that the officers had for q
long time had their eyes on the Sth.
with a knowledge that II was not a
good regiment. They said that when
we arrived at camp they doubled the
guard and that when we reached
Charleston we were mob.
Probably you have heard about the
difficulties at Charleston. They were
discussed before We left the continent
The fact that there is colored COM
pany in the regiment hurt US a great
deal in the eyes of the people In that
city. Well. this morning. matters came
to a head.
THE specific charges made by Gen.
Garrettson. commander OF our brigade,
related to the struggling on the march
between Guanica and here.
Our men had been Is days on the
Yale when they went into that scrim-
mage at Guanica. The food was not Of
the best and the heat weakened the
men. When the march began they
were very tired. and did not have the
heart to be severe with those who were
exhausted.
Gen. Henry said that the volunteers
suffered from too much good Feeling
Of this kind: that had been among
the men in my regiment too long. and
that discipline suffered greatly. He
said that they shot men In the regu-
lars when they fell out. Ireplied EN-
phaticaily that perhaps that was his
custom but 1t was not mine even
said that did not have the heart to
courtmartial these boys for being ex-
hausted. said, too, that IL / had
been on foot, could not have stood
that last days march, and even as il
was. askbo tired to move when We
reached the camp. l actually fell down
here and did nothing till the men put
up my tent, and I. you should renhem-
Der, was on horse all day.
Il said had no desire to courtmar-
tinl the stragglers. The general said
must. l said would resign first, and
he said my resignation would be ac-
cepted Lieut.. Col Ciaflin said the
same. Major Taylor said so too. Ma
jors Darling and Preast are at Guanica
and Yanco. Capt. Goodale, who is the
senior captain, and who is temporarily
in command of a battery, also resignel l..
Chaplain Dusseault said he could
not stand by and see it done. So we all
resigned. We were told that our re-
signations would be accepted, and
Capt. Cook of Co. I, of Concord, the
next highest officer here at Ponce, IS
in command of the regiment.
I'VE were ordered before the board.
and we resigned. You may say, if you
wish, that I consider this a reflection
upon a good regiment. If it is not a
disgrace to Massachusetts, what could
be? There has been clashing always
with brigade officers. Part of it grows
out Of the bad feeling that prevails
almost everywhere between the regu-
lars and the volunteers. Some of it is
personal. At Camp Alger our regi-
ment was one to be proud of and we
were often picked out for our efficiency.
Since then we have worked hard and
faithfully under severe handicaps.
You can say, too. that there has
been treachery on the part of one of my
staff officers. He has been out of touch
with me from the start, and has re-
peatedly made complaints to officers in
one way and another. You can see for
yourself that the men are with u.s.