The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-05-09
THE SUMTER q
FANTRY.

PANTRY.
History OF its Exploits in the Late
Campaign.
The. following is the report of Cap
tain Phelps to Gov. Tillman aEFe-
spouse to which the Governor wrote he
letter which vas published in last issue
reinstating the S. L. |. to its place 10
the State militia:
NsnarsR,SCgApri "a. 1884
To Hin Excaleacy. B. r. Iaiman,
Goyesnor snd Gomnander-iu-Chief.
golunbis, 8. G.
Sir: Herewith beg to reporttto you
the movements of my command from
the 2S:h to the 31st of March, as also
all orders received by me during that
period. On the 28tA Of N arch, the fol-
lowing telegram was received:
rCaptaaSsater Eehs Infantry-
Can your company be relied on to
uphold the Law A mob has possession
of the town Of Darlington.
B. r. Tillman, Governor"
To which I replied as follows:
eG9sss13 RH Tilnsa, Cohmbias
Sc.
..Tbe Sumter Light Iafantry will mp
bold the law.
A. c. Phelps. Captain
At 6:5ep. de- ause Gag the
following telegrsm wa reserved:
"Captain A. G. Phelps:
.Later adyices report things now
quiet al Darlington. If / need goa. will
wire. ron. B. K. Tillman, Governor. :"
On Thursday. the 2stb, the following
telegram vas received at :l0 p a..
dated Aston, S, c.:
captain a. G. Phelps, Sumter, Sc:
.TakeaYoarscompaayto Darlington
as soon ss possible and report TO Sheriff
Scarborough. Get special train from
Delgar. Preserve The peace Dat ap-
hold thelaw, and arrest all who resist
legal process.
d. r. Tillmau, Governor"
IN obedience to the above order I i'm
mediately issued orders to my COM
mand to assemble at armory armed aud
equipped for active duty. and arranged
for special train over the c. So n,
for transportation Of company, and at
$40 O'Clock left With forty-sxo nom
commissioned officers and priyates,
making, with the commissioned officers.
= total Of for.y-six, rank and file
Arriving at Darlington. (at the In
syitation of Captain Thompson, o the
Darlington Gnards) / marched nv com
mand to the aImory Of the Guards and
mmediateiyfeported tothe sheriff, wbo
statedto me that BE vas not aware that
We had. been ordered to Darlington :
that he had not requested the aid Of the
military. aud that he had no instructions
f1em yoasia reference TO- my scosapaay.
{ then returned to armory, informing
the sheriff that he would find me there
it he bad snyorders for me. After
leaving tie shelaF's Office i eonyersed
WITH some of the citizens Of tie town
ana aise made inquiries as to the situa
tion,.ad from all that Icould hear
from personal investigation and observa-
ton. I was led to believe that there was
really no need for the:company remain,
ing. and at about Z go p. 10. wired you
rs follows:
t.Governor B. R. Tillnan, Columbia,
s. c.:
81 hayeereportedt to sheriff. Every
thing qasets See nosreason for Keeping
us here. Sheriff Gays De hsssnoerdess
for our Command.
A. c. Phelps. Captain"
At about 8 p. N. | was requested to
go down 20 4he sherifs Office aodsdid
so, md the sheriff asked me a great
many questions about my command.
but the only demand that vas made
on me by the sheriff was for a guard of
twenty men and an officer to be placed
at HE residence to protect the constables
Who we're ~quartered there. be fearing
that they would be attacked. I advised
the sberif against this ; that I did not
think that there would be any need for
it. but said that if be ordered it | would
take my entire command to his house
and go into camp, as l desired to keep
them all together in case of trouble. The
sheriff then informed me that be would
no, need US for this purpose aud pre-
sumed that he was only testing the COM
mand. Returning to the armory I was
requested to 60 to the law Office Of
Messrs. Boyd & Brown where l found
in consultation the Attorney General.
Mr.. Buchanan, Sheriff Scarborough,
Mayor Dargan, Chief Constable
Cailiiard and two or there others