Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-07-12
Troops 1T THE POLLS.
An Episode of 1S7S-How the Army is
Used to Perpetuate Corrupt Party.
To the Editor of the Globe.

Used t0 Herpetuafe COrrupt Ear'y
To the Editor of the Globe.
Towards the end of October, 1876, the in
struction batteries of tthe artillery school,
at Fort Monroe, Va, were thrown into con-
siderable excitement by the rumor that the
exercises of the school were to be suspended
and four batteries, of the five stationed there,
were to be sent to South Carolina to help to
elect the carpet bag governor in the face of
the opposition of the majority of tho citi-
zeus of that State, to the misrule and cor
ruption of that "regime." The rank and
file of the artillery school were (although
DISTINGUISHED by service in the regular
army by large majority, of strong Demo-
cratic porclivities, and curses "not loud but
deep" were poured wholesale upon the heads
of those who degraded the honorable pro-
fession of q soldier by imposing on him du-
ties which we're considered as "dirty
work for the politicians. However, sol
dier's first duty is obedience, and when the
order from Washington arrived, batteries
sc" of the first, "A' of the third, 'I' of the
fourth, sc" of the fifth artillery, turned
out promptly, in heavy marching order, and
proceeded to Portsmouth, Virginia, by
steamer, thence by rail to Columbia, South
Carolina. On arriving at Columbia the
stArtiIlery School battalion" was separated,
and the writer being at that time battery
clerk of ga" third artillery, can only describe
incidents connected with his own battery
and those with whom it lay in camp during
the campaign. The military post at Column
bia, where almost the entire regiment of the
:-LI 1oI cI,o haf<1 10
time been stationed, was found left In charge
of corporal's guard, but although there
were vacant barrick buildings battery ga"
third and battery "I'' fourth artillery, who
remained two or three days in that city, had
orders to pitch their tents and go into camp
instead of garrison. The reason of this was
soon apparent, as next morning companies
of infantry arrived from all directions, in
Guiding the ''permanent parties" from Gov
ernor's Island, New York, and Columbus,
Ohio, recruiting stations; also other batteries.
of artillery from New York Harbor and else
where.
Many old comrades met here and else
where during the campaign who had not
been together for ten or twelve years, and in
all cases under the writer's observation the
reunited friends all agreed in d-g Gov.
Chamberlain and all his crew for disgracing
the profession of arms by turning soldiers
into policemen, and many, then veterans in
the service, vowed that their present enlist
ment should be the last, and when their
times expired hept their uoa0. After passing
a few days in Columbia, Battery A, Third
artillery, received orders to proceed to
Blackville S. c., and the tents were struck
in pouring rain storm with many extra
blessings () on Gov. Chamberlain & Co.,
and on srriving at Blackville were repitched
on ground which, having been thoroughly
soaked with rain, had at any rate the adyan-
tage of being as soft as feather bed,
though not quite so conducive to health.
The rain had ceased when
the battery reached Blackville, and
Gen. Wade Hampton was making stump
speech there about that time. The train
was surrounded on reaching the depot by
his mounted escort, who rode backward and
forward, shouting: "Hurrah for Hampton"
and then gave three cheers for the "Regu-
lars" Everything said and done was in
good-natured friendly way, no insulting
words or gestures being used, and the battery
left the cars and marched to its camping
ground, and the cred Shirts" returned to
their Barbecue" A battery of the Fifth
artillery was found already stationed at
Blackville, but was shortly after ordered to
another voting precinct, leaving on election
day. Batteries sA'' and "I,'' Third artillery,
on duty at this point under command of
Major Best, First artillery, and Captains L.
Lorain and Jr- r. Myrick, Third artillery,
and their lieutenants. Early in the morning
of election day, Captain Myrich left camp
/. ,&afi fv,f ba
woods, short distance from the polling
place, with orders to take possession of the
polls whenever called upon by Major Best in
case of any riot occurring, which it was con-
fdentIy expected by the Republicans who
visited the camp would be commenced by
the white. Democrats, and battery "A' was
under orders to relieve his command at
noon.
Of course details of what was going on at
the time were not expected to be had by the
crank and fle," but before A. NJ. a rumor
reached the camp of a riot and upon reliev-
ing Capt. Myrick's command at noon, the
polls were found bristling with bayonets,
and the writer was detailed as one of e de-
tachment to relieve the men on duty. Know
ing that Capt. M. fwho not long ago COM
manded Battery sA') was a stanch Republican
nobody was surprised that he had taken pos
session of the polls, but on inquiring it was
found that the disturbance calling for this
strong measure had been caused by crowd
of white carpet baggers and negroes attack
ing q eolored Democratic club who
were quietly marching in procession
to cast their votes, and a broken stair
way was found rs evidence
of the violence of the fray. This guard was
maintained until shortly efore the close of the
poll; when everything became quiet and or
derby the battery was ordered back to camp.
Noincident worth relating occurred during the
time that battery "A'' Yves on guard but it was
remarked that the gentlemen of the vicinity
nearly all voted during its tour of duty, pro.
baby expecting there would be less llkeii-
hood af any discourtesy being shown them
when Capt. l.. (who is good Democrat and
greatly beloved by those who have served
under his command) took his post as Chief of
police for the afternoon. The result of the
election at Blackville was watched for with
curiosity by the men of the battery, and
great satisfaction was evinced when it was
announced that Gov. Hampton had been
elected at that precinct, and still greater
when it was found later that every place
where the "Artillery School Battalion" had
done policeman's duty had gone Democratic.
day or two after the election a telegram
from Charleston, carried the battery there in
great hurry, where thescitizens again cheer
ed the arrival of ethe regulars and were
glad of their protection from threatened
rising of the negro population who had been
melted by the carpet baggers into a riot, in
which the negro police had joined. using
their revolvers freely. Arriving at Charles