The sun., 1884-02-17
necoxnscrroxs or 4 e,nrsr sxeesR.
The state Militia Under Carpet-hax Ruie--
Now tho Reaernl oGees were EilIea.

bag administration in FlortIn caraa out strong
was in tho organization Of It's military depart |
mont The AdJatant-dsns had tho rank Of
M,jor-c'encral, and had seven Oolonels on his
stnlf. four Of whons had never soeA q days
military service There were two Maor-Gon
erals and four BriGasiicrs. Tho MAJOR Generals
were John w. ButieY and Charles NJ. Hamiitoa- |
Tho pet names Of those two varriorn wcro
Santa Rosa Butler and eHandseme Charley
Gen. Butler got his military experience while
second mato OF a soastins vessel hong before
tho war. After his appointment he visited
Boston. and attended tho theatre lhare In tho
full uniform of his rank. After the perform
nnce was over he took In tho town. and, getting
the heck driver drunk. paid him OF in Florida
Greenbaak state scrip. Gen. Hamilton had
soon service In ono Of the Pennsylvania resi-
ments, and aftarward won many laurels amid
the lurid dangers OF the Freedman's Dursau.
Tho BrigsdieyH were George L. Wentworth
J. Y. Bernard. Josiah Il. Walls. aud William NJ
Ladwith. Gen. Wentworth was m sx-Union
soldier and was said to have served on tho
staG of tho rodoubtahle BENJAMIN i. Butler.
Gen. Dernard WAS lnwysr at Tallahassee.
Gen. Wallis wns a negro black but comely; had
served with the Fifty-fourh Massachusetts.
and was the recoRnizad leader OF his race In the
State. Gen. Ledwith had been for q few days q
private soldier In the G. 8. A. His longer SER
yico would doubtless have very much pro-
tracted the civil war.
There were hundreds Of Colonss. ono at least
to every ten privates and other commissioned
officers In proportion. 1t was like filling
| hugo pepper box with cOtnmissiona. and scat
| tering them over the State. There Was no aues-
| ton as to fltness or rs to previous service.
any. All that was needed was to make tho re-
| quest and the commission was issued At once.
| For carpet bagger to DO without commits
sion OF somo kind wns TO render himself Liable
to arrest IA suspicious character.
| There were plenty of regiments OF calvary
and infantry. but no artillery. The men didn't
care to pull heavy guns through the deep sand
and money to buy horses was " mighty skasc."
| Besides that cannon made too much noise
when discharged. aud tie report would be very
apt to frighten the staff officers.
The childish delight shown by tho recipients
OF those commissions WAS laughable. One
Colonel. an intelligent lawyer Of Northern
| birth and education. wore his uniform at Long
| Branch one summer season. and strutted mp
| and down the brilliantly lish ted corridors like
n turkey go.Jbler. Like evidences Of martial
ardor were to be seen OH every side. suppose
there is hardly an album in the East but what
contains the respondent photograph OF some
Florida Colonel who was never under IRE. savc
the popping OF champagne corks.
BY tho laws OF tho State the militin COM
| prised all able bodicd male citizens between the
| ages Of Is and 45 years. without regard to race.
color. or previous condition OF servitude. They
were sworn never to leave tho State, except in
case OF an invasion. The great body OF the
militia was composed OF delighted negroes who
would march and ountcrmarch oil day through
tho hottest sun. eager as littlo children for q
now pnything. Captains commissions were
plentifully distributed among tho leading col
ored local politicians. and dusky companies
were speedily organized. Hnrdee's tactics were
regarded as supernuous. and a new text book
martial mind Of tho negro Captain. In the
uniform also there was cheer disregard Of
,Ss mos eet Slavery WAS
dery that would haye nstonishcd kome in its
palmisst days-or kalanazoe either One. a
and a review nt the Capitol. With nm unusual
regard for time on mt the rart Of the African id
asp and ss ar to Shlsa Tas II sight
ase ! s i'V Wh
and swsaty sod,Iiisry and their ,., attendant end
the startled air sounded the luenbrous appeal
weapons, and all styles OF marching. Here
caiiy mean. Of eovrse-the officers, well in
front, and officers and men each marching to a
a '"ysa 6s Rhs II
trousers were DECORATED down tho outer seams
with the reddest OF AZ rel tape. redder ribbon
fringe did duty for shoulder ,N straps c; and NJ
;, a rusty sabre OF tie. ancient days.
The ,privates we're dressed in every inagna-
brooms,icks hoe handles. old mmskets; and
erippsd shotGu9s. The cavalry m differed only
on muisback ana some on tho backs Of steers;
One old darkywith a MaIorsunIform. world
too wide for his shrunken anatomy. bestrote
M nd n
most enthusiastic APPLAUSE as he rode, up in
Of tn" G"ph M his ntsd WS,aS Snd
; halted way back in the rear. There were
Il the rn se9 n he
cot cotton hold. ready Tor deeds q daring -staivar
= = | wenches. bright in scarlet hcaddress. march
ing steadily with tho men. to the great DISCUS
of some OF tho officers.
tcniment. some Of childliko happiness. ant
t some OF grim determinntion. All were SUB
! % bystanIers wero rexarding them With hall pit,
and half contemrtuouS amusement. At tht
Gsp'e rua sos sssy Sosa hen srsF
and AT shs r"S ssSsi sn xss Sops G:ms @
and hsS ws s Sts nd
1 hs ndHms f t,s @ Is ss
!. \ Government should have regarded thomi
ooHns after thsr material
physical and mental wants. and caring for the n
until they had become able to take care o
y themselves. and not have given tbom the gray
l. est duties of citizenship and thon thrown then
!, upon their own resources. TO bo tossed abou
IL as n football by cold -booded and dishones
- politicians. who would at amy moment hav
+ sacrificed them body and soul. II by SO doini
o o they could haye climbed into power,
y or course the carpet -baggers did not over
: look the Federal offlces. That crime has neve
been eharssd uG2n them, They I'VE were p wise Wise
y the broad highway at Washington with ~
a!acrIty born o. much travail and sore hunsc,
2 the Northern District Of Florida wus Phili
q. Frazer OF New Jersey. He WAS a very dignille
y man. Of high legal nttainmcnts, and tho terro
>: OF OWL doers. Where indicted parties plea
. guilty and throw themselves upon the mercy q
x x tho Court. hs was inclined to be ms lenient a
! possible but WOO betided the follow who's
:; guirwas soii evident. and vet who persisted 1
y making o tight! Better for him that n mill
= stone had been tied around his neck and h
o thrown into tho sea than to come before JudG