The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-12-23
They get Their Money and
Discharge Papers,
AND QUICKLYEvACUATE THE CITY
The First Regiment Was Mustered Out
Tuesday, But II Hitch in the Pay-R0n
Caused Delay in the Second Until
Wednesday.-Ot Notes.

The soldiers Of the First Mississip-
pi regiment were paid off and mus
tered out last Tuesday afternoon.
| The pay masters, five in number,
arrived Monday with their several
assistants, the money having reached
here the day before. The iron safes
containing the precious stuff were
deposited in tie Office of the South
ern Express Company, where a
guard was kept over them until the
money became the property of the
soldiers.
The distribution of the crisp, new
bills and bright, shining silver took
! place in the vacant store house next
to Wade's tin-sEOp and in the rear
of the Southern Express Company's
office, in the Bethel block Each
company was marched up in line
before the houses, and one by one
the soldiers were ushered into the
presence of the paymasterS, where
they were given their hard-earned
wealth.
The paying-off, of course, made
the soldiers happy as they received
on an average Of $40 apiece, or a
total of something like $4,000 for
the regiment. But the "shOutin'
time" came when they were formed
in line, company at time, and
given their discharge papers by the
Captains. This took place on the
streets, Immediately after they had
received their pay, 1t wac quite
amusing to see the boys as they
marched up 70 their Captain when
their names were called out and
received the bit of paper showing
that Uncle Sam has relinquished
his hold on them as volunteer sol
diers and they were free to go and
do as they please. Their happiness
and enthusiasm at quitting the ser
vice was intense, and many of them
vowed that Uncle Sam wouldn't
get then any more"
The work of mastering out and
paying off the First regiment was
flushed late in the afternoon, and
most of the soldiers took the trains
shortly afterwards for their respec.
tive homes. Only a comparative
few remained over night, and but
little disorder prevailed, but the
preparations that had been made by
both the civil and military anthori-
les for any disturbances thaG might
take place, no doubt had much to do
with the comparative good Oruer
hat prevailed. A provost guard
was furnished from the second regi-
ment, and Sheriff Hight had on
fifteen deputies, while the police
force was increased to fifty. Three
falcons, Peyton's, Ragan's and Sell
lars-be it said to their credit
closed their doors Monday, and
remained closed until the soldiers
left town.
Second Regiment Disappointed.
The Second regiment was sOrely
disappointed Tuesday when it was
discovered that mistake had been
made in making out their payroll,
and that they could not be paid off
on that day. All sorts of rumors
were in circulation for while, one
being that matters could not be
re. ad iusted for ten days at least, and
another that they would be retained
in the service until all the volunteer
regiments were mustered out. To
say that they were dissatisfied would
but feebly express it; they were hot,
and neither were they backward in
giving vent to their opinions. AS
they had turned in all of their equip
ments and burned their straw bed
dlngs, they found it hard matter to
get places to pillow their heads or
rest their tired limbs that night,
The error in the payroll, it is said,
was caused by the carelessness of a
negro paymaster at Jacksonville,
Fla, who turned in his report show
ing that the Second regiment
had all been paid, when, in fact,
some of the boys had refused to
receive money passing through his
hands.
The officers set about to arrange
matters as speedily as possible, and
kilograms were sent to Washington
telling the condition of the boys and
urging that orders be given for the
immediate muster out of the regi-
/; ment. Wednesday morning mes
sage came from headquarters order
ing that the men be paid off accord
Ing TO the pay-rOIl as lldue Oul, Ine
difference amounting to only q few
, dollars for each man.
The news spread rapidly and set
the men wild with delight. They
soon thronged West Seventh street,
shouting and yelling at the top of
their voices, hugging each other
with Joy, and bursting cannon fire.
a crackers. The companies were
! speedily formed in line, and the
paying off and mastering out begun
> at about o'clock and was finished
20 late in the evening. Most OF the
men took the trains that night fol
!, their respective homes, and Wed
!. nesday morning our streets were
almost clear of blue-coats.
COT. MONTGOMERY HONORED.