The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-04
TEE NEVBERRY RIFEEs.
They Go to ColuInbia-Then Throw up
Their Arms and Return Home.

In his call for troops Governor Till
man ordered the Newberry Rifles t
report in Columbia. The company
must. red in about 25 men under com
mand of Capt. S. J. Mclaughlin anc
| went to Columbia on the Afternoon
train on Saturday. ,
There were some persons in NeWber
ry who thought the company shoulc
have refused to obey the order, but
there were also many Others who
thought the decision of the company
to 20 was right and proper aud the
,>niy thing to be done. TIE Herald
| and News thinks it was right apd
| proper for them TO 60 and only regrets
! they did not remain. Certainly if they
intended to disband it would have
/ been better never to gave gone.
When they reached Columbia on
crossing and marchedin double quick"
to the Penitentiary where they were
euartered for few hours. They were
soon after removed to the Hotel
Jerome.
The Columbia people seemed to OBJ
| ject to the Newberry Rifles coming to
Columbia. A heavy pressure was
| brought on them to follow the eX-
ample of the Columbia companies. The
Newberry boys, however, went on
duty and were detailed to guard the
telegraph Offices and the State House.
They remained on duty until Monday
morning when they decided to give
up their arms and resign their COM
missions and return home. They left
their guns and accoutrements and re-
turned home on Monday.
The Herald and News is free to say
that it regrets the action taken by the
Newberry Rifles. If they bad intended
to disobey orders it seems to US that it
would have been infinitely better not
to have obeyed the first order, and re-
NAMED in Newberry.
CAPT S. J. M'cAuGHR1N's STATEMENT.
The following is statement by Capt. S. J.
Mclaughlin in reference to the action of the
NewberTy Rifles:
1--WE were ordered to assemble in our armory
and report the number Of mem to the Governor.
We assembled and reported ~ men. Next or
ders were to bring my command to Columbia on
the first train. We had no right to anticipate
any further orders, so reported in Columbia rs
% some distance from the depot, opposite the
State peniteuliary, and we were ordered to march
to the State penitentary by COL Willie Jones, IN
der orders from Gov. Tillman. While on the
march crowd was seen coming from the Union
depot. Among the leaders of that crowd, we saw
friends instead of enemies and felt no apprehen-
sion from them. Just then Asst. Adjt. and In.
Gen. Watts rushed up and ordered me to bring
tioning the why's or wherefores, gave the com.
mand and it was executed. My first sergeant In
quired of me the meaning Of it. replied that
thought possibly for the purpose OF issuing us
further equipments, such as rationS, blankets,
ETC. in order to enable to catch an early train
for Darlington. I marched the uleu to the penl-
tentia-y, taking them inside. and went out to
view the situation. In company with Col Willie
told the Governor that I thought it was re.
fectiou on the company to have them Quartered
there. He replied that he ordered US there to
prevent communication with outsiders, and that
he had already made arrangements to ration us
there. asked about sleeping quarters and ne
said he had none. I told him that my command
was there to obey my orders, that we generally
made up our own minds, thought for ourselves,
and refused to allow the men to stay IN the pen
itentiary, and had already made arrangements to
quarter them at Hotel Jerome. He then gave
permission for US to be quartered @4t the hotel.
We then marched to the Union ospot, took the
electric cars for the Hotel Je-omeywhere we re-
Inained on our arms all nightsy Sunday after
noon after all the conServativssToopS except my
command and possibly one otner. had been or,
dered to Darlington, received orders to guard
the telegraph Offices until they closed, and
guard the State House that night. The orders
were executed and we were ordered to allow no
messages to pass through the Office except COM
rnercial and private telegrarns. While ooeying
orders we construed them as literally as possible,
yet allowed nothing incendiary to pass through.
"The rest Of the command was stationed.at the
Senate chamber, and four sentinels kept on
guard all night with relief every hour.
nnF1f
and had, apparently, made Up his mind to torce
US to the front in everything and placed US in
every awkward position he could.
The following letter was then prepared, our
orders having been executed, and sent to Gov.
Tillnan by our orderly:
"To His Excellency, B. R. Tillman, Governor OF
South Carolina-Dear Sir: have the honor to
inform you that we, the Newberry Rifles, have
performed the dntes assigned US in that Of guard
ing the State House and telegraph offices, the lat
ter duty being exceedingly distasteful to the en-
tire command and as the company responeed to
your order to appear here under the belief that
life and property and not for the purpose Of exer-
cisine scrutiny over the private affairs of the
citizens of South Carolina, duty not only DIS
tasteful, but in the Judgment Of the company un:
ressary and calculated to irritate the people all
the more under the present state OF affairs, and
the members Of the company not caring to be
subjected to such orders in the future, beg leave
herewith 10 lenQeT CnSll ISSlSudC1OnS, duO " say
that their arms, etc, are at your command.
S. J. McCAUGHRIN,
Capt. Newberry Rifles
G. F. WEARS, Ord. Sergt"
The following is Gov. Tillnan's reply:
capt S. J. McCaughrin-Sir: Turn over to
Col. J. G.. Watts, Assistant Adjutant and 1nspec
tor General, the arms and accoutrements in your
possession belonging to the State Immediately
Arrange fc- the delivery of all other State prop
erty you may have, as soon as practicable. Col
Watts will arrange to furnish you transportation
B. r. TILLMAN,
Gov and Com. in Chief
Approve your hotel bill and send it to me fol
payment"
After our action became known, it was unhesi
tatingly endorsed by such men as n. G. Butler, J
P Richardson, J. T. Lipscomb, Jno. C.. Haskell
and numerous others, who said that we had done
exactly right. The company left on the mex
train for bc.ue. Our guns were turned over tc
Col. Watts as per the order of Gov; Tillman-
We we're not ordered to Darlington"
STILL ANOTHER LETTER.
he following letter was written after the New
berry Rites left Columbia, and is given as in
formation. I, is taken from yesterdays News
and Courier:
"coLUMs1A, April AT S o'clock this after
noon three uniformed companies and three com
panies of citizen volunteers, quartered at the pen
itcntiary, were paraded in front OF the walls
State Senator John Gary Evans addressed then
and said that ne was present, acting IN the c2pac
| ity Of Judge Advocate General, to read the toi
lowing reply from Governor Tillnlau to Capt. S
7, McCaughriu's letter received in the morning:
Headquarters Executive Mansion,
Columbia, S. c., April ?, 1894.
Capt. S. J. Mclaughlin, Commanding Rifles
S. c.: Your communication of this date has Jus
| been received. Under the laws Of South Caro-
| liza the Governor is clothed with discretion anc
| power to call out the militia whenever, in the
J. Judgment Of the Governor, it may be necessary
and when so called into the service OF the State
the militia shall be subject to the same rules anc
articles of war as troops of the United States
| The action of your company and your daring tc
send It to me under these rules is munlty and az
| insult to the coumander-in-chief,w who was glver
| his commission by the people. The duty OF thu
soldier and the militia are soldiers, when call
ed into service is blind obedience to orders from
| his superior or not to question them in any de
| gree You have failed to learn the first lesson
and will make of you and your company an ex
| ample. Your resignation is not accepted, bu
YOU are dismissed from the service of the State
! as unworthy to wear its uniform. The arms anc
other State property in your possess!od will b
delivered to Col John Gary Watts, Assistant Ad
iutant and Inspector General and you can dep2r
| to your homes. You do not deserve it. but viii
pay your hotel bill and trust that may nevet
| be bothered with any more such band-oox ane
| holiday soldiers B. &. T1LLMAE,
| Gov and om.-iu-Chief.
At the conclusion of the reading to the troops
! there was tremendous and long continued cheer
| ing by them"