The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-07
NO NEW COONS
At FORT MACON
The Go|dsboro, Henderson,
FrankIinton and Other
Companies Fluke.
HEARD FROM SANTIAGO
HEARD FROM SANTIAGO
SEE SOMETHING AHEAD BESIDE
A FEW MONTHS AND A
GOOD TIME IN CAMP.
And Says That Nothing but Cowardice Has
Caused Them TO Back Down -Hackney's
Raleigh Men Claim that the Gov
ernor Deceived Them.

ernOr Deceived Them.
The ordinary colored citizen is inc
soldier when it means a few weeks OF
camp life with plenty of rations ana
regimentals, but he is not "a-gwine u
he thinks there is going TO be any bu'-
lets in it--at least this is about Wha'
Adjutant General COwles thinks OF some
of the North Carolina colored volun-
teer.
The General was real wrathy yester-
day for the first time since the war
started. kilograms began coming III
early i'm the day from colored captains
and lieutenants commanding companies
and squads at Goldsboro, Henderson,.
Franklinton, Greenville and other points
saving that the men had nearly all back
ed down and would not go. Some Of
the captains wanted to know if there was
no way to compel them to go.
Even Rufe Hackney's Raleigh compa-
ny failed to depart for the Fort Macon
camp.
They claim. however. that it was not
because there was a battle al Santiago.
nor for any lack of bravery that caused
them to fiuKe They say that it has al
to be commissioned captain of the com
pany. but it was ascertained yesterday
that Governor Russell had decided moi
to commission Hackney. but to appoint
n Wilmington negro instead. who. some
of the Raleigh crowd declares. is one
of the Governors political henchmen
This riled the Hackney fellows. and they
refused to go. 1t is claimed by some.
~, 4l,a DaJ
portion of them. may reconsider and go
down to-day.
General Cowles takes 10 stock in the
excuse offered by them. however. and
puts them down with the Goldsboro.
Henderson, and the othere fluking com
panieS.
1T is simply and solely DOWNRIGHT
cOwardice." said General Cowles last
night, "and / am Disguised with them
Then the General told of how they had
pleaded and begged for a regiment that
they might have the opportunity to show
their courage and patriotism.
'"They even went so far as to COM
plain some of them BITTERLY said the
general, because we were not giving
them, as they claimed. the recognition
in the organization of the North Carolina
troops that they were entitled to. so we
finally decided to give them regiment
with their own officers. and this is the
way they have treated us.
II am indignant" said the general
"and feel chagrined over the cowardice
they have displayed
ITO what do you attribute this sud-
den change in their feelings" l asked
General Cowles.
''They have heard about the battle at
Santiago" he replied. .'and they think
that possibly there may be something
else besides few months in camp for
them if they join the army. As long as
there We're no battles nor bullets to
talk about nor think about, they were
anxious to join, but since they have
heard about the Santiago battle they
are backing down. The possibility of
being called to the front is what has
frightened them Here in Raleigh
Franklinton. Henderson and Goldsboro
all backed down. and only twenty-fonr
men went from Greenville / have not
heard from Wilson, Fayetteville. Will
mington and Kinston. and suppose but
few have gone from these towns, and |
doubt if more than $50 or 200 of the so
who were ordered to Fort Macon today
have gone.
''Will you be able, you think, to make
up the regiment
''Oh, yes, think So kilograms came
to-day from Winston and other points
saying that they could have companies
ready to move within forty-eight hours.
but | feel indignant over the way these
last men have acted"
Gen. Cowles received Il telegram yes
terday from Mr.. ID. w. Patrick, presi-
dent of the Atlantic and North Carolina
Railroad, saying that inquiries were be-
ing made by officials of the Southern di-
vision as to whether or not there was
room and water ut Fort Macon sufficient
to justify the mobilization of three ia
four thousand colored troops. Mr.. Pat
rick wired that there was sufficient room
and sufficient supply of drinking water
and asked that an effort be made to get
the troops there. SO the camp at TT. Ma
con may become the headquarters for all
the colored volunteers of the South.
1t was said last night that Hackney's
men here were still talking about pro
ceeding to Fort Macon and perhaps
might leave to-day. but the authorities
think that with them the jig is up and
that they are not going.