The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-13
SOLDIERS COME HOME
A PORTION OF THOSE AT SULLIVAN
RETURNED YESTERDAY.
No More Companies VIII BE Released
Till the Governor Returns from
Danville, ky.

yesterday morning., Snortiy Delorc II
o'clock, a larger crowd than usual assem-
bled in front of the gates leading into the
sheds at the Union Station. There was
much jostling and craning of necks to-
wards the west. There were many pretty
young ladies in the crowd. At a quarter
of IL O'Clock there came the sounds of two
deep signals of a locomotives whistle. fol-.
lowed by the putting of an engine coming
from the west. 1t was the /. & V. reg
ular train, bearing three companies of the
Indianapolis militia who have been seeing
service in the mining districts since a
week ago last Saturday. Three coaches
, were filed with the soldier boys, and the
| platforms between the cars were filled with
| those who could hardly wait for the train
to stop to allow them to get off and once
more put down their feet on Indianapolis
soil. When the train stopped there was a
great rush from the cars and much jostling
| among those who hoped to get a chance
to shake hands with the boys. Many were
the parents of the soldier boys. The men
as they filed out from the coaches formed
in line and made ready TO march to the
| Statehouse to be reviewed by Adjutant-
| general Robbins.
The following Indianapolis companies sta
| toned at Sullivan received word Monday
evening to break camp and make ready for
the return home: Company d, Second Reg
iment, Light Infantry, Captain Condo;
Company M, Second Regiment, Captain
Buckner. and Company NJ, Third Regiment,
Captain Porter. The companies came I'M
der charge of Lieutenant Colonel Smith, of
this city, Major Thayer, of Greenfield, and
Adjutant Seguin- The troops took the
midnight train from Sullivan for Vim
cennes There the 7. & ". train was taken
for this city.
The ride was a long and dusty one, and
this. with the experiences at the scene Of
trouble, gave the troops a very dust-be-
grimmed appearance. When they left the
city the cleanliness and neatness of their
uniforms was noted by all, but on their
return yesterday 1t would have been
doubted that these were the same troops.
The clothing was not the only thing
changed. All had seen active service, and
the story was told by faces which had
a profusion of faces covered with stunted
boards and mustaches. The colcred troops
composing Companies NJ, of the Second and
Third regiments. did not show the effect
of the suns attacks as did their white
companions.
When Lieutenant Colonel Smith gave the
the Union Station, looking neither to the
right nor to the left at their friends who
were crowding almost upon them Their
appearance along the line of march to the
Statehouse was greeted with cheers by
those on the streets The troops marched
to the east steps of the Statehouse, where
they were met by Acknowledgment Rob
bins. After Lieutenant Colonel Smith
handed a report to the former he dismissed
their homes and donning citizens clothes.
The rest of the day was spent in renew
ing acquaintance and the telling Of expert
enceS to crowds of listeners.
The recalling of all the troops probably
depends upon, the action of the. strikers
on the scale of wages adopted at
o. Though the Indiana miners do not be-
long to the national organization, yet they
are out on a sympathetic strike, and will
strikes in the other States, are settled.
The Princeton and Evansville companies
left for home at the same time that the
indianapolis companies started. for this
city. Five companies still remain at Sulli-
van, among them being Company A, Sec
ond Regiment, and a squad of the Light
During the absence Of Governor Mat
thews. who went to Danville, KY, Monday
probably influence the recall of the re-
mainder Of the troops.
Governor Matthews is of the opinion that
IL the troubles are not settled by the con-
ference at Columbus, o., that the citizens
or the State at large should demand that
t tRa eptfa With a the min sGrne Tn The % pro a srs,
OF the operators and the railroads has been
protected at a cost of 5000 to the State,
Il Il ll6 II Iidhluk lew dll6IlplS u
end the trouble. 1t is the general opinion
of those at the Statehouse and of the coal
dealers that the miners will accept the
scale of wages adopted at Columbus, O.
A reporter found Lieutenant Colonel Har-
ry b. Smith, of the Second Regiment, who
is just off duty in Sullivan county, sitting
in front of his house on B~ellefontaine street
taking a rest. His face was Drowned with
exposure and he had the appearance of one
to whom a good nights sleep had been a
stranger, but when the men of the Indiana
Legion who have been on duty in the dis
turbed districts were referred to he at
once became enthusiastic. 9TH Journal
cannot say too much in praise of the State
troops in duty" said he. Without indi-
vidual exception their conduct was all that
such veterans as Colonel Ross. who has
seen veterans, could ask. Under gross in
suit and reviling they carried themselves
with silent and soldierly dignity. On every
occasion they responded with a~lacrity to
every call of duty, which was incessant and
severe. They did not complain of the pri-
vations. One night, when called unexpect-
edly by an alarm, the men were in line in
eleven minutes. Being intelligent young
men,, they realized to a man the impor-
lance of their mission. and no man ever
forgot it. They stood the fatigue marvel
ously. One detachment marched eighteen
miles over a rough country in search OF the
lawless in about eight hours. The slurs
which came back regarding the two colored
companies were SANDERS. The colored men
behaved as gallantly and did their duty as
promptly and effectively as the white men.
Their care of their camp was particularly
commendable. The white soldiers treated
them as comrades.
You cannot" continued Colonel Smith,
accord too much praise to General Nc
Kee. If possible, he was a better officer on
duty than in the muster. There could be no
better officer than Col. James r. Ross. His
experience on the field years ago was of
great value to us, and his GOODNESS and
soldierly conduct were contagious. Quar-
term-aster-general Compton did all that a
man could do in his position. The supply
of food was ample and of the best quality
for such an expedition, and he was always
where wanted. OF course, there were no
had, but of hard bread, bacon, coffee and
sugar there was, after the first day or two,
an abundance Of the best. To the last the
men were eager to do their duty, men often
asking their officers to be permitted to &c
when detachments were sent out"
do you think the presence of troops was
necessary
ANY man of sense who saw the work OF
the law-breakerS-a quarter of a mile sid.
ing of coal cars derailed by having the
spikes drawn, leaving the rails to spread
and let the cars down upon the ties. cars
turned over and the like, must decide tina
the troops were necessary. Near Alum
Cave a score Of carloads of coal were
burned by taking the oiled waste used as q
packing for the car boxes, and, after fas.
ting it on fire, so that nothing but the iron
and ashes were left. There was no fiction
about the report of the attempt to blow UT
General Mckee car with dynamite. That
the fuse went out was providential. At the
five mining places visited. the companies
i had but one Store-at Alum Cave, so the
complaint of 'pluck-me' stores is not by any