Smyrna times., 1889-12-18
WHOLE NO. 1876.
Delaware's Home Guards.
var TINE SURVIVORS CLAIM OF OVER
S25O,OOO FROM THE GOVERNMENT,


y law case which recalls tba Dao,,I-
lar circumstances under which the
9Iate OF Delaware was retained in the
Chion during the war, Thursday occu-
pea the attention of Lawyer Ernest /
l usiln, who sat in his office, 132 South
HlAth street, Philadelphia as commis-
sloner to take testimony of members
Gl Ihe old 9th and 9th Regiments of
! Delaware Volunteers. u
The case is test suit of W.N vii.
son against the United States in the
Court OF Claims at Washington w
n wilson Is justice of the peace col
lector OF claims and commissioner of
deeds ATM iddletOwn, Del. The suit is
on a claim for back pay, alleged to he
due him for military services durino,
the war as a member of the 9th Reoi9
ment Delaware Volunteers. The 9c-
tuaI amount sued for is only SI22 90
out the case in reality involves AN
amount between $3.50, 900 and $500 OOO
as there are 1900 surviving members
OF the two regiments who claim to he
entitled to back pay.
POINTS IN THE TESTIMONY.
As the records Of these two repi-
ments at Washington are sinpulaTlv
deficient, when the case came nm re-
Gently before the Court of Claims r.
was referred back for additional testi-
mOhy, and in that shape came before
the Commissioner Thursday. Tho
complainant is represented bv Jobn
w. smith OF Washington, and the Gov
ernment by Assistant United States
District Attorney John G. Cheney
Inc witnesses examined Thursday
were; William N. Wilson. of Middle
town, Del; Captain David J. Murnhv
OF Newark, Del, and HOratio G. Liovd
OF Camden. n J.
FROM the testimony it would appear
VnaI lhe regiments were formed not so
much to light against the Southern
armies as to prevent the Delaware Sc
cessIonlsts from taking the State into
the Southern ConfederaCy. During
lhe early years of the war it was testi,
ned there were two parties in Della
"are-the Peace party and the War
party. There were continual rumors
OF outhursts among the Peace partv
some OF which really came to a head
ana many OF the Delaware citizens left
thelr homes and joined the Rebel
army.
lhe loyal or War party was afraid
that Delaware would secede. and in
Oruer TO prevent such catastrODhe
companies OF hOmegunrds were or
gahlzed throughout the State. These
companies, it is claimed, were contin-
ualIy on the alert, as men of such in
as the Bayards and Saulsburvs
and even the Governor of the STATE
were known to be opposed to the war
measures of the Government if not IN
open sympathy with the Southern
cause.
ORGANIZED FOR THE ARMY.
10 such pass did the feeling be-
tween the two factions come that the
or Secretary of War
sent United States officer
70 Delaware, who organized and mus-
cred IN number of the home-puard
companies aud thereby formed the 5th
and 9Th Delaware Regiments the men
aklng the regular army oath.
These regiments did not 90 into ac-
I'VE service, but were for time kent
n the State, drilling twice week in
provided Tor them. They
we're clothed and armed by the United
states Government, but subsisted
themselves. Their duty was to watch
ne movements of the secessionists and
o be ready to suppress any secession
lslngs. In the month of June. 1863
preceding the battle of GETTYSBURG
hey We're, however, put in active ser.
ice, and were sent into MARYLAND to
'rotect the railroads from the rebel
avalry raiders.
For this duty they were paid bv the
government, but for this only. Now
hey claim that they should have been
aid for the time between the date on
ihlch they were mustered in and the
ate they went into active service as
hey were then they claim lust as
luch United States troops as though
hey were garrisoned somewhere in
he South, as they were really doing
arrlson duty in Delaware to prevent
he Delaware secessionists stealing
be State.
In support of this claim they swear
nat they We're under strict military
uty, and when any member was ab-
INT from drill be was brought in bva
uard.-FhdddeiphiG Pros.