The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-27
TONGUES Of SOLDIERS TIED.
PETITIONS TO BE MUSTERED OUT
DECLARED MUTINoUS.

grnndizement-New spaper stories
of "A Great Majority of Men Want
ing to Get out. Although Denied by
Omcers. Are Absolutely True-A
Personal Letter Addressed to Sec
rotary AIgcr-CoI. LaVtOn's Camp
at Knoxville An Improvement on
the One at ChicISamaugn.
Knoxville. Tenn, Aug. 25.-The conflict
ing reports regarding the desires of the
regiments here to be mustered out of the
service, since the practical ending of the
trouble with Spain, Is fully explained in the
fact that the wishes of the officers and
men in this regard are at anupodes. Senti-
mont Is shaped in two moulds that differ
as widely as the positions of the men they
represent.
A visit to the camp Of the First Geor-
eia Regiment, clustered in white dots on
the southern slope of a high hill that COM
mands an excellent view of the city, dem
onstrates that the men are considerably
less dissatisfied, however, than they We're
at Chickamauga, where none of natures
beauties cheered them except the majestic
peaks df Lookout.
They hken the change here to what it
would be from Sahara to Paradise. In
stead of water from artesian wells, the
regiment is surrounded by sparkling
springs, and two large creeks. a few hun
dred yards in opposite directions from the
camp furnish an ideal watering place for
the stock. The Southern Railway shops
bound the camp on the north, the Brook
side Cotton Minis, Evans marble mills, gas
works and other large industries on the
south; the Knoxville and Ohio division of
the Southern Railway on the east while to
the west is a wide expanse of pines, ce-
dars, oaks. chestnuts, and other trees that
make up a typical Tennessee forest. This
furnishes an ample romping ground for
the men, which they heartily appreciate
daily by securing the surrounding coun-
try.
Under these conditions" said Capt.
George w. Drummond, of Company K,
there is little reason why the men should
be so dissatisfied as they were at Chicka-
manga. We are given everything we want,
the climate is unexcelled, the factories,
railroad trains and street cars running in
almost every direction, and all this capped
with the matchiess view of the city loom
ing up in the distance, is enough to keep
the men cheered for some time to come
While they had lost heart over the out
look and treatment they received at Chick
anfauga, they have again taken courage,
and l feel safe in saying there are few
who desire TO be mustered out of the SER
vice. In the event the government finds no
further use for them, large number de-
sire to go into the regular army. Thirty
of them have already spoken TO me on the
subject, and l am told there are others
who have expressed their intention of go
ing into the regular army If possible.
Hello! What are you doing here?" ask
ed Capt. r. S. Nell as he collared me
from the rear. Where is your 'Gyard's
uniform? Thought you fellers all went
with the 'Gyards. "
on being fully assured there was
no evil in the visit
Capt. Nell was asked as to the desires
Of his men about leaving the service. He
is looking we'll was in good spirits, and
did not hesitate to talk freely. A number
of the men have good positions awaiting
them in Savannah, he said, and are, there
fore, anxious to be mustered out. They
are not in the army for the aggrandize-
ment of officers, but from purely patri-
Otto motives and since the war Is prac-
tcally ended, they desire to resume their
places at home. Others wish to remain
in the service, however, and express no de-
sire 10 leave under any circumstances.
Lieut. Mallory believes the men, as
whole are anxious to get home. They
have no way of making known their
wishes, however, except by outside con-
versa ton, on account of which he is not
positive about his statement. The fact the
men have none 10 whom they can express
themselves except the public, readily ex-
plains how 1t is the newspapers have about
the straight of the situation when they as
sert the voice of the men Is almost unan-
imous in favor of being mustered out. one
of the Fourth Tennessee men wrote Sec
rotary Alger in an open letter, which dem
onstrates how they feel about approaching
the officers. II Is as follows:
Dear Sir Is it mutiny to circulate
petition asking TO be discharged from ser
vice? The officers Of the Fourth Tennes-
see Regiment so declare. Ninety per cents
OF the men wish to be mustered out, but
the officers claim to the world that we
are anxious to remain. They wish to
keep their jobs. They came for meroen-
ary motives. we from patriotic; we left
homes, situations, family, all because our
country called. Now we desire to return
to our farms, our stores and our mines.
None of us are seeking work, nor were
we when we came. our places await us
at home. Many men have no such places
waiting them. They desire to remain
We do not At least determine the senu-
ment of the men before you decide to re-
tain the Fourth.
Il repeat, 80 per cent. desire to go home,
and would petition to you TO be discharged,
but fear of our officers prevents. Free
dom OF expression is denied US. They
proclaim TO the world that we are salts
fed and do not allow US to tell the world
that we are not Is freedom of speech
muuny? Has the man who offers to sac
riice his life for his country less privi-
lege than the meanest criminal? We are
volunteers, not conscripts We are
proud free people, not AFFECT slaves.
I'VE came 10 serve our country, not
to crafty the ambition of a few off
GERS. our country does not need us; IL
is now the ambition Of our officers that
demands our retention In service. On
one side our farms. our mines our fam
nies--yes. our couutry-for peace has her
duties as unreleutng as war-say muster
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