New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-22
COLONEL DOWNS AND THE list.
HE POINTS TO HIS HONORABLE DISCHARGE
FROM THE UNITED STATES SER
VICE AND TO HIS COMMAND
OF A BRIGADE.

FROM THE UNITED STATES ohh-
VICE AND TO HIS COMMAND
OF BRIGADE.
Colonel Wallace A. Downs. who commanded
the list Regiment, n. G.. s. N. " throughout
the war with Spain, was seen by tribune re-
porter yesterday in regard to the charges or
cowardice against certain officers OF the regi-
ment which were brought out on Thursday In
the hearing given by Governor Roosevelt on the
report OF the Court Of Inquiry OF the National
Guard. which was directed by the Commander
in-Chef to investigate the conduct of the list
Regiment in the Santiago campaign. Colonel
Downs was sick in bed yesterday, suffering from
another attack of fever which he contracted at
Santiago, and unable to talk much. He
said that he had not had the fever for eight
weeks. and had remarked to friend only few
days ago that he thought 1t had left MIN Tor
good. He became i'll on Wednesday.
"As TO these charges OF cowardice. ne SAID
IT would like to point to my honorable dis
charge from the service of the United States.
Any one who has served in the Army knows
what that means. I'd like to remind you also
of the fact that for a month ! commanded a
brigade in Cuba. From July 20 to August ~,
1898, l in command of the First Brigade.
First Division of the Fifth Army Corps.
don't think that l would have been put in
charge OF that command If l had proved myself
unworthy Of my uniform. The men that placed
me in that post had been through the Santiago
campaign themselves and they ought to know
what happened and how officers conducted
themselves in that campaign.
II don't see what right there is in this invest-
cation. anyhow When the list Regiment was
in the service of the United States it served no.
body else. An army does not serve two masters,
and while we were in the service Of the Govern
ment completely out of the National
Guard and had nothing whatever to do with it,
nor had the National Guard any jurisdiction
over United States soldiers. And now we have
State officials investigating the acts of men who
were responsible to no State government when
they performed those acts. / do not under
stand it,
"As to the orders which the Court OF Inquiry
charges me with having received but not execut
ing, and on which l suppose 1t bases its charge
OF cowardice. only say that obeyed every
order given to me in the Santiago campaign I
did not receive orders to cross the stream and
go ahead, as is alleged. My only orders were
to advance to the stream and rest my column
there. This was done. and you know how the
men Of the list were killed while standing there
under orders. 1t would have been easier to go
ahead"
Did not two companies OF the list break
away and go ahead?"
Eyes. l know the regiment did not keep to-
gether entirely. Everything was mixed up at
that point. and the different regiments were
damned against each other so that 1t was i'm
possible to maintain perfect order in any of
them"
Colonel Downs said that Dr. Van De Water.
the chaplain Of the regiment, who was on the
spot at the time and while still in Cuba wrote
history of the regiments movements In the
campaign, had corroborated his statement about
the orders in that history