The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-11

eager TO do nonOr TO the gIoflOuS lTdui-
lions Of the American volunteer service.
But while the bulk of the regiment had
thus gone forward, Colonel Downs, Lieu
tenant Colonel Smith and the senior ma
jor, Whittle, remained behind in the trail,
behind the river. with various stragglers
and most of one company, which the col
onel had kept with him.
Toward nightfaH General Kent sent
back word by one of the officers Of the
Seventy-Arst to Colonel Downs to come
forward and bring up every available man.
This order was first delivered to Major
White, who had at the moment ventured
across the river. Instead of obeying it he
hurried back and waited until after dark,
on the pretence that ne desired to see
what his coloners orders were-this, be it
remembered, when Major Whittle, accord
ing to his own statement, had just been
informed that the division commander
wished every man at the front. Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Smith had meantime gone TO
the rear, where he was reported as sick,
and did not turn up again at the front for
several days. There was no heavy fight
ing after the LIST.
;
can Colonel Downs conduct be justified.
Colonel Downs had failed to take his
men through the trail and deploy them at
the ford; he failed to take his regiment
forward when ordered to do so by word
of command passed up the trail from Off
Ger to officer; he failed to lead them for
ward when the regular infantry regiments
marched over his own regiment and for
ward into the fight; he failed even TO
accompany his men or to follow them,
save at distance, when they finally went
forward in battalions and in companies
by themselves. He has since resigned.
Major Whites case is almost as clear.
He was the only major who did not ac-
company his battalion when it went for
ward into the battle, but stayed behind
in the trail, and when informed of Cen
eraI Kent's positive direction, at once to
come to the front, he retired to the rear
and stayed there until after dark, when
he came forward with Colonel Downs. He
also has now resigned.
1.-THE case of Lieutenant-Colonel Smith
is not so clearly cut, yet 1 think in his
case also his neglect of duty is clearly es-
talblished. His defense is that as lieuten-
ant-cOloneihe had nothing whatever to do
so long as the colonel was unwounded and
was present. He also states that he did
not hear the orders sent up the line to
Colonel Downs to move his regiment for
ward; but this is absolutely impossible,
if he were exercising proper vigilance and
aIertness.
These orders were passed up from Off
Ger to officer along the line, and if the sec
ond in command knew his duty at all and
was exercising very moderate amount of
vigilance, it was absolutely impossible
that he should not have known that these
was showing the grossest dereliction of
duty in not moving forward.
After these orders had been issued and
disregarded, came the march of the regu-
Tar regiments forward through the Seven
ty-first into the fight, and then the for
ward movement of the Seventy itself
in companies and battalions.
Yet throughout all this time Lieutenant
Colonel Smith stayed as ignobIy inactive
as his chief, making no effort to get for
ward into the fight or to lead any por-
ton of the men where they might regain
for the regiment the reputation which
their superior officers were fast losing. It
is not safe or wise that such a man should
hold high office either in the volunteer
army or in the national guard.
THE case of Captain Austin is more
puzzling. His own statements before the
court of inquiry would seem to condemn
him beyond redemption as having actually
refused to move forward at General
Kents order and having failed to take
to his own commander. General Kent's
direction that the regiment should go for
ward. But it appears that Captain Aus
tin was not as grossly derelict in his duty
as his words would seem TO imply, and
that he was largely influenced by the fact
that at the time it seemed thai the regi-
ment was going forward.
Il do not feel like holding to the sever
est accountability a subordinate officer,
when the three highest officers Of the
regiment were exhibiting such misconduct,
and shall merely recommend that Cap
tainn be severely reprimanded.
IN conclusion, [ desire to say that after
performing the stern and painful duty of
the three senior officers of the regiment,
it is a source of the most genuine pleasure
TO turn TO the conduct of the bulk of the
other officers and the enlisted men. That
under such leadership certain oft he other
officers and Of the enlisted men should not
have shown TO disadvantage was inevita-
BILE but the conduct of the great ma
jority as they moved forward in spite Of
the detection Of their proper leaders and
stood shoulder to shoulder with the regu-
lars on the summit shows that the Seven
ty-firSt New York was composed OF men
worthy of the ancient renown of the
regiment, Of the state ana or the country;
men VINO wanted only proper leadership
TO prove themselves equal 20 the highest
demands that could be made upon their
courage, their patriotism and their sense
of soldierly duty"