The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-09-02
A Little Coup D'Etat.
Gen. Watts Resorts to a Bit
of Strategy.

Uou. JOIN Ooly W "'t0'
teen policemen sprinkled ad li5itum
over Marion Square, performed the
coup d'etat of his military career
Yesterday. According to orders
Charleston's colored militia turned
out with colors flying to suffer IN
spectiop. The regular annual IN
spection had already been held, but
nothing strange or unusual was ex-
pected to come out OF the orders
At 8 80 p m. the troops were
forming in line on the square and the
bass drums were being thumped
with vigor on every side The COL
ored soldiers were enjoying the mar
tial doings to their hearts content
and great crowd Of their friends
and relatives formed four living walls
around the plaza.
Gen. Watts and Gen. Stopplebeln,
in full regalia, appeared on the scene
in due time and the brigade was
turned over to them by Gen W. Il.
Robinson. it's commander. The usual
form of inspection was carried out
while the brass band discoursed vlo-
lent martial strains Gen. Watts IN
spected every company and when
every one thought it was all over the
surprise came One of the compa'
nies was ordered to lay down its
arms on the plaza. After obeylng
this order. with wide open eyes, the
soldiers were marched to one, side
and squad from another company,
with fixed bayonets, took charge.
Another and then another company
received like treatment unit! only
four companies remained under arms
and they were in charge of the mus
kets of the others. The soldiers
thus deprived of the means of de.
Tending the great Commonwealth of
South Carolina were then summarily
dismissed. There was just little
glowing and a few insubordinate
mutterings. but the fifteen cops and
the four armed companies had the
bulge on them. and Gen. Watts Sc
cured the victory.
For over year the Adjutant and
Inspector General has been trying to
get the arms Of the colored compa-
niest hat were mustered out of service
when the new enlistment law went
into effect. The companies were
notified to turn in the arms, but they
took no notice of the orders Men
were sent out to get them, but the
companies refused to turn them over,
and in some instances, it is claimed,
the men hid the guns so that they
could not be located.
Gen. Watts resorted to strategy as
a last resort. He ordered out the
militia for inspection, and included
in the order the mustered out COM
panies. The idea of grand turn
out and parade was tempting AID
the fish nibbled. When Gen. Watts
had the men dismissed and the guns
in charge of the enlisted militia
police wagon was driven across the
square Into it was stacked the
whole lot of weapons, and the load
driven off to a place of safety. The
guns number in all about two hun
dred. and thew will be shipped to
Columbia to-day.
The companies deprived Of their
arms and dismissed were: Hawkins
Rifles, Hunter Volunteers, Douglass
Light Infanyy, Governors Rife
Guards, South Carolina Rifles. Ran
dolph Rifles, Lincoln Light Infantry
and the Simpson Light Infantry.
Two companies only did not come
in on the inspection idea. Their
guns are still being held back. These
companies are: The Attucks Light
Infantry and the Lincoln Republican
Guards.
The companies now comprising
Char!estOn's part OF the Drlgade are:
Carolina Light Infantry, South Caro-
lima Volunteers, Garrison Light In
fantry aud the Mishaw Rife Guards.
The seizure of the guns on the part
cf Gen. Watts was accomplished with
the aid of Gen w. II. Robinson and.
the captains of the enlisted compan.
les. 1t was great surprise to the
colored people to see the troops
walking away empty-handed after
marching around under arms during
inspection. Gen Watts will get the
arms of the other two companies III
time. The police officers prevented
disorder during the seizure Gen.
Watts will return to Columbia to day.
o,,d Ho,,rior