The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-09-20
WAR AMONG THE
FIRST'S OFFICERS
Many Of Them Sign a Card L0V0lI8d at
Colonel Ri6dOn.
CHARGED AGAINST HIM
That H0 Refused to Allow the BOYS TO
Vote on
WILLINGNESS TO GO TO CUBA
And Afterwards Saw Fit to Produce I'M
preston That Factions Existed
Among Officers Because He
Was Favorable to Men.
CHARGED AGAINST HIM
TO GO TO CUBA

1t seems that a miniature war has broken
out among the officers of the First Ala
bama regiment. By some it is contended
that it grew out of the dispute over the
mustering-out of the regiment 1t is also
contended that a rupture existed before
this.
Many statements have been made pro and
con, but nothing official has been given out
until yesterday, when this statement, sign
ed by twenty-eight officers of the regiment
was sent to the Age-Herald.
1t opens up the trouble which seems to
have been brewing for some time between
Colonel Hgdon and other officers headed
by Lieutenant-Colon McDonald:
The Officers Letter
Headquarters First Alabama
United States Volunteer Infantry,
Jacksonville, Fla, September l. 1898.
TO the Editor of the Age Herald:
We, the undersigned officers of the First
Alabama United States Volunteer Infantry.
now on duty at Jacksonville, Fla. do here
by state that at meeting of the officers
of this regiment, called on or about August
90 1898, by Col E. L. Higdon commanding
the regiment, for the purpose of consider
ing the question as to whether the regiment
wishes to go intact with the Seventh army
corps to Cuba or not, the question was
asked Colonel Higdon ''if the men were to
be consulted or not" and we certify on
honor that he in substance replied: mo;
they have nothing to do with it. # the
officers go the men will have to CO. We
are moved to make this statement because
of the fact that both in private and publicly
at the home headquarters of the regiment,
Birmingham, Ala, Colonel Higdon has seen
fit to produce the impression that factions
exist among the officers of the regiment,
brought about by the colonefs attitude be-
ing favorable to the men, when in fact, as
above stated, he refused to allow them a
voice. (signed)
j. B. Mcdonald, lieutenant-colonel; Tom
Smith, major First battalion; o. Kyle, ma
jor Third battalion; o. p Fitzsimons, cap
tain and chaplain; A. Harrison, captain
Company L; Thomas Hardeman, first lieu
tenant Company M; B. r. Field, first lieu-
tenant Company d; H. c. Laughlin, cor
poral Company F; NJ N. Pride, first lieu
tenant Company e; Lawrence E. Brown,
first lieutenant adj utant Third battalion !;
r. B. Going, first lieutenant Company G;
Tom B. Cooper, first lieutenant Company l.;
Henry T. Dean. second lieutenant Company
X; w. ]. Parkes, captain Company A. h.
G. Mallett, second lieutenant Company M;
Thomas T. Huey captain Company IL; h.
D. Johnston, first lieutenant Company X;
Leon Schwarz, first lieutenant and adJutant
First battalion; Robert L. Brown, hrst
lieutenant Company B; w. E. Wallace, cap
tain Company E; w. M. Martin, captain
Company B; N. G. Canning, captain COM
pany e. Thomas M. Hooper, second lieu
tenant Company F; William A. Hasson'
second lieutenant Company c; n. d. Lacy
first lieutenant Company l.; r. NJ Stiteher'
IT.. first lieutenant and assistant surgeon;
C. L. Ledbetter, captain Company X; w.
T. Webb. second lieutenant Company Il.
Col. Higdon Ill
Colonel Higdon was too Ill last night 10
he approached about matter OF TINS kihd
The colonel was in his tent, but suffering
from a high fever. The attendant ADVISED
that the matter not be mentioned to him.