The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-21
MUCH DISAPPOINTMENT IN
CAMP YESTERDAY.
SECOND REGIMENT. STILL INCOMPLETE
The Murphy Company in Bad Shape and
More than a Fifth of its Men are
Rejected. The Fayetteville
Ham Infanlfy.

4
Thursday expecting the next time they
came they would see only bare, troddeh
spaces where the troops lay.
And this expectation was shared ny
the soldiers Preparations for leaving
had been completed during the day
and when they went to bed they count.
ed ON being called nj day break TO strike
cnmp. take their tents and baggage g
the station, and by noon TO be on then
way to Tampa.
But they were disappointed, as Were
also hundreds of people who went put
10 Pullen's Park to see them off and
say good bye. The men did not go FOR
the reason that, during the night, the
War Department changed its pro-
gramme, or rather showed that ii did
not have as much programme MS people
gave it credit for,
There is gross incompetence some
where, or else there is childish and
vacilating .Slicy prevailing in the War
Department. One day one order Is
given and the next comes another utter
ly at variance with it.
thus spoke an experienced officer in
the FIRST regiment discussing the failure
of the soldiers to get off to Tampa, as
they had expected.
1t win be remembered that more than
a week ago Lieutenant Marshall. Com
missary and Qnartermaster in charge
of the camp here. was ordered to pre-
pare travel rations for the trip. This lie
did. Later he was instructed to get
transportation ready This he also did:
and Wednesday night Colonel Armfeld
was ordered to start his command to
Tampa within 4S hours.
In obedience TO this order he directed
the men to strike tents ut reveille yester-
day morning and be on board the ears
with their equipment. mt II O'Clock.
Late Thursday night however, q
telegram came to Col. Armfeld from the
Quartermaster General of the United
States Army. saying that transportation
would be arranged for in Washington
and directing him to hold his men IN
readiness until further orders.
This dispatch came too late TO be
communicated to the sleeping soldiers OF
the railroad authorities. so yesterday
morning when reveille was sounded 4
number of company tents went down
and at o'clock, the appointed hour for
loading the baggage. three trains were
standing at Pullen's Park
But it was all in vain. The tents had
to be put up again and the trains sent
TO the sidings in the city. where they
were held all through the day expecting
the orders that never came.
Several such performances as this
have brought things connected with the
movement Of troops from here almost
10 the point of the ludicrous. The men
and officers had told their friends good
bye and made all other preparations fol
departure, and now they are much
chagrined that the order should be coun.
fernandez at the eleventh hour.
The men are anxious to 60 They
expect the invasion Of Cuba by the
United States Army to begin the latter
part Of next week and they want ii
be in it. Among the officers and men
there was a general futter Of eypecta-
tion Thursday at the prospect of soon
moving to the front. And there was
citation, also for "A fact very noticeable
10 everybody during the last war. and
equally apparent among the volunteer
soldiers Of to-day, il that they are tired
Of inactien. TO the frontr' Is the uni
yersal cry.
The death Of Ensign Bagey aud the
published statements that the Cuban
reconcentrados are i'm a fearful condition
and many Of them dying Of hunger, has
wrought these brave Tar-Heels m 10 4
high pitch, and they are impatient ~
what appears to them n foolish and use
less delay. Two hours spent with the
men any of these fine afternoons will
convince the skeptical that the boys who
nave donned the livery of Uncle Sam
are anxious to fight. 1t can only BIZ
explained on the theory that the front
~ the natural place for the soldier
catnp like is unnatural and irksome.
1t may be stated also that the --latest
dispatches Indicate that the regulars
now concentrated at the Gulf ports vii
form the principal part Of the first de
tachment sent to Cuba. This will leave
the State organizations in camp for tin
present, to be rushed into Cuba as rapid.
~ as they are drilled and needed Il
hnlsh the campaign quickly.
he fact though that North Caro-.
mas First regiment is to be takef
70 the place of embarkation would show
fhat 1t IS to be among the first of lhe
State organizations to be hurried int
Cuba.
THE SECOND REGIMENT.
The dullest routine marked the dn,
ut Camp Russell Yesterday. There wa,
hardly an event to relieve the tediun
Of soldier life.
There was, of course, much specula
ton as to why the First regiment didn'i
get away, when it would get away. anf
how soon before the Second wouI,
follow the First to the front. Thes4
things were discussed much in camp n,
they were all over the city Then Their,
was the arrival Of new company il
the camp. The Murphy company. 10:
strong, under Captain J. w. Cooper. go
here yesterday morning at PIG. The,
were busy all morning putting up thci
tents mt the North end Of the camp. II
least such of them ms were not befor,
the surgeons for examination were thu,
employed.
The company is composed of man,
line looking men, all Of them noun
taineers and fine shots with rife Blu
large per cent of the company show