New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1898-09-10
HOODS IMMUNES.
Santiago De Cuba Auy Il

Santiago De Cuba, Aug L. 1898.
MAJ jon General Shafter stung by finding
himself criticised on every hand, because
of his blundcrs III the campaign against
Santiago is striving to hurt other men.
- Time and again, to use the barrack-
room parlance he has "crawled' Colonel
| Hood, and made it appear that every in
discretion committed by the soldiers was
made by some of our regiment. OF course
it was without foundation, and there was
no great trouble in showing the major
general that the regulars were concerned
in the brawls This, in itself, is enough
to convince any one that the ma or gen
cral has no respect for volunteers, and
believes they are not worth consideration.
When Colonel Hood landed here, and
reported to the major general, he was
astounded to hear that august person de
clare that III New Orleans, Hoods Regi
ment had disgraccd itself. Colonel Hood
explained, and begged the generals in
dulgence to the extent of reading news
papers, hut the leader Of the Fifth Army
Corps refused to discuss the matter, say
ing no was convinced of the truth of the
first report that Hoods Regiment had
disgraccd itself.
When Colonel Hood was told to police
the city with his regiment, he set out in n
deliberate manner intending to keep
peace at any cost, and his men behind
him were of such stamp that they showed
natives and drunken soldiers that order
must be maintained. | have seen our men
go out ON provost in the hottest hours of
the day during the rains, and at night |
working hard rounding up lawless and
drunken men. They took every chance,
and though they did their duty we'll |
Ma jor General Shafter could not see the
soldier like conduct of our men. lie went
on Grumblng, whether the mon were
right or not.
Colonel Sargent = regiment came and |
of course the first night they stole out of
tho lines, and quite a number got plenty |
OF this cheap rum here. II made them |
drunk and quarrclsonc but our men took |
them in charge, and returned them back
to their lines. That was all that was
needed, but the next day Major General
Shafter fumcd and stormcd about the
immunes, and Colonel Hood came in for
his after breakfast admonishing.
The other night, near tho bull pen, whore
the army mules are cOrrallcd, Corporal
Bickwell, of Sargents regiment in
drunken fit, made an assault on some
female, and from what can understand
has placed himself in II serious position
A provost from the First Battalion, led
by Lieutenant Parkinson, Of Company b.
hunted the man down, and after chase
IF eight hours captured the corporal
The next morning the story got to the
ears Of Ma jor General Shaftcr, and he has
not finished crying down the immune re
yiments. From an authority that | do not
ioubt. he has gone further than expected,
having applied to Washington to have the
regiments Of Hood and Sargent disbandod
n disgrace.
The talk is around the city about the
major general telegraphing this to the
secretary of war, and | know that there
$ not an officer within 100 miles OF this
place who would decline the opportunity
If leaving the command of this blunderer.
feel satisfied that no attention will be
,aid to tho major general in Washington,
or he will be busy explaining on his own
account, and before ho is through he will
'orget immunes and everything else.
While | arm in no position to repeat,
word for word, the sentiments Of officers
know this much, that application has
)een made in delicate way for the
'egiment of Colonel Hood to garrison
Havana. It is half way asserted that our
BOYS will go there, and the argument being
Used il that Hoods men are thorough I
mmunes, and can stand the climate there
)etter than any other regiment.
From people around the palace | am told
hat Colonel Hood has not taken these
criticisms in the best of humOr he has
old Major General Shafter that he does
lot propose being blamed for every mis-
lemeanor, and that he would rather be
eleved of the task OF policing this place.
ERNEST WALDRIaE. {