The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-12

Private Boylan Sick-Leaer Received
From Lieutenant CoWan-ChArges
Against Captain Cooper Of Company

From Lieutenant CoWan-Charges
Against Captain Cooper of Company
N.
A letter received in this city last
night from Lieutenant r. II. Cowan. of
Company X, Second regiment of
North Carolina Volunteers, saying our
boys are doing nicely and are pleasant
" located on the beach, and that they
greatly enjoy the invigorating sea
breezes and the refreshing bathing
facilities. The writer also states that
Messrs. John j. Conoley and A. V.
Wood, former Wilmingtonians, have
placed the boys under lasting obliga-
tions by many acts Of kindness, and
they are continually looking out for
the North Carolina boys.
Another letter received yesterday
brought the intelligence that Private
Boylan, of the Wilmington Light In
fantry, is quite sick with fever.
Tuesdays issue Of The Savannah
(Ga.,) News contained the following
article:
Camp John B. Gordon, st. Simon's
1SIdlo, So.s Au6uSt o A1CuICIIdil
Conrad, second officer of Company NJ,
Second regiment North Carolina, has
preferred charges against Captain
Cooper, his superior officer, citing him
with violation of section 81 of the ar
ticles of war in conducting himself
in a manner ~unbecoming an officer.
The charges have been received by
Colonel Burgwyn and are now in pro-
cess of Investigation.
The charges are the outcome Of an
affair which happened at Fort Nc
Pherson several days ago..
Previous to Sunday last Company
NJ was stationed at Fort Mcpherson.
They were ordered to move to st. Som
on's and the publication of these Or
ders led to a sensational publication
ID an Atlanta afternoon paper which
the men resented as being untrue and
uncalled for. This feeling seems to
have been intensified by the idea in the
minds of some of the North CAROLYN
ians hat the W. companies then To-
Gated at Fort Mcpherson were being
made entirely responsible for the al
legged misconduct of n or more
members of the cOmamnds.
The offense that Captain Cooper is
alleged to be guilty of is said to have
been committed at the residence of
Major Bubb, at present commander of
Fort Mcpherson. AS Major Bubb is
named by Lieutenant Conrad as one
of the witnesses, Colonel Burgwyn has
written to him in regard to the
charges and will await his reply be-
fore proceeding further with them.
TLo -oo&41 1or ror, rooahoI tho n,
fortunate stage where it canno be
agreeably settled. 1t is the first thing
of an unpleasant nature which has
come before Colonel Burgwyn since he
opened headquarters here and he re-
grets it seriously.
Colonel Burgwyn today restored
Private William Baber Of Company B
to his place in rank. Baber has been
under guard for sOme weeks. He was
found guilty of being absent without
leave and sentenced to six months in
prison and $40 per month fine. There
was some ~irregularity in the papers
sent up to Brigadier General Penning-
ton and he disproved the courts find
ings. Baber's restoration to ranks
followed General Pennington's decis-
ion.
Private Robert Ruth, of Company A,
is a very sick man. His life has been
hanging by a thread for several hours,
and the most careful attention is be-
ing given him.
Chaplain Osborne of the Carolinas
arrived Saturday and has the Y. M. c.
A. tent running sp%lendidly. There
are stacks of reading matter for the
boys, and every day some kind-hearted
visitor adds to the store. The tent is
always crowded and it is one Of the
most popular places on the island.
The Christian welfare of the camp is
being watched closely.
Daily drills are held on the beach,
and at almost any hour squads of
companies can be seen going through
some drill exercise on the sandy
stretch.
Company G, Of the Third Texas, is
arranging a drill team of ~thirty-two
men to give exhibition drills. They
will be practiced by Sergeant Heath
and will probably be drilled by Cap
tain Lapowski, an officer who takes
great pride in the excellence of his
men in the field.
IL Is IuuOlSu jill SOOu duInolAly lhoe
the military territory under Colonel
Burgwyn is to be considerably increas-
ed on recognition of his ability as a
commander. This proposed enlarge
ment is stated to consist of the forts
at Blackboard, Sapelo, st. Simon,
Jekyl, and Little Cumberland Islands.
At each of these, it is asid, a detach-
ment of about forty men, under a COM
missioned officer, will be stationed for
garrison duty. 1t is also thought to
be very probable now that the other
companies of the Second North Caro-