The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-06-28
WITH THE TROOPS
At MIAMI, FLA.
The Alabama Boys are Now in General
Lees Command.
THE CENSORSHIP IS RIGID
,,.p n oiI.i n4.
And No Inkling Of the Soldiers DeStina-
ton Can Be Made Public.
NEW COURTMARTIAL WAS FORMED
To Try Eight Prisoners for Breaking Some of
the Strict Military Regulations Private
Pressbey viii be Arraigned for
DesertiOn- Killed.
Special Dispatch to The Age-Herald.


Miami, Fla. June Glowing to the rig
idity of the censorship general throughout
this state 1t is impossible TO send by mail
or wire even hint of the movement of the
troops to this point. Their prospective des-
tination or numerical strength and even
incidents of a civil nature in which the
military are concerned can only escape the
blue pencil of the government experts by
cutting out all the military side.
S. G. Mum, a civilian. who is the war
department representative here, is an ex-
ceedingly clever gentleman unofflcially, but
he is also exceedingly alert in his 'Musco-
vite' business and the newspaper men are
at their wits end to put up copy of gem
eral interest without treading on the de-
partmental corns. :.
The most important item here will prob
ably pass muster. as it has already been
sent out from Washington; that is, the
corps change of the division, with Lee as
commander. While General Coppinger had
become very popular with the southern
volunteers, there Is no gainsaying the APP
parent fact that they are very much pleased
with the change to a southern gentleman.
With the change of corps has come much
speculation to their destination, and
the troops are now as much al sea in re-
gard to the service in which they will be
engaged as they were month ago. The
camp is ideal, and not recognizing the COM
plants of a small section of the COM
munity engaged in supplying the soldiers
with ammunition calculated to stir up their
fighting qualities when the quantity. is over
the average, the military occupancy of
Miami has SO far been highly satisfactory.
Made Things Lively
A section of the troops Ghe censor for
bids the name of the regimenO made things
lvley outside of the northern limits of the
city one night last week. and as a result
Colonies Mabry and Stems are making in
quiries.
An unfortunate incident happened on
Sunday providing the first military funeral
for the division. Private Joseph Scott,
Company M, First Louisiana, was killed
with a shotgun by c. II. Sgsbee, a citizen,
in self-defense. The life was taken after
great provocation and when Sgsbee. APP
pretended losing his own. A coroner's jury
entirely acquitted him. On Monday morn
ing Scott was buried by his company with
military honors. the funeral service being
performed by Chaplain Lyman of the regi-
ment. After the obsequies, Captain Ellis
severely lectured his men on the subject
them. The accident, with more stringent
regulations, has had a good effect, and the
rougher element inclind to be boisterous.
are now more amenable to the usages of
society when away from the discipline of
camp.
An order today formed a new courtmar
tial with Lieutenant Colonel Mcdonald of
the First Alabama, as president, and
Texas captain judge advocate. There are
eight prisoners to be brought before the
courtmartial. including one case of deser-
ton, which has already obtained publicity,
Private Pressbey of the First Louisiana.
The others are minor offences.
Penalty of Death
The penalty for desertion is death, but
owing to the circumstances of this case,
and the fact that Pressbey was a volun-
teer, it is believed that the extreme pen
atty will not be imposed.
From the point whence the troops were
moved to this place is a long distance. and
it seems longer through the method of
transportation employed, but all OF the
men have stood the journey and very few
sick are reported If anything could be
guaranteed to cure them it would be the
change The climate is delightful and the
situation is charming. Miami is the south
ern terminus of the east coast of the Flor
ida railroad. and in situation, atmosphere
and general surroundings is a magnificent
selection for its present purpose. Unlike
other camps in the south there is no de-
vitalizing influences in the climate, the
air being dry and bracing and the fierce
rays of the summer sun tempered by
| steady sea breeze. The city is well paved
| severed and supplied with good water.
These last civic acquisitions have been eX-
tended to the encampment, making it the
only camp in the country with an arti-
fetal water supply and complete sanitary
sytesm. These advantages need no ex-
PLANTATION.
The beach is "at the DOORS of the camp
and is extensively patronized morning and
evening by the troops, who are delighted to
find the Atlantic ocean so neighborly. The
bracing air and salt water bathing is
bound to have a beneficial effect within
week and the presumption is general that
Surgeon Major Appel and staff will have
a snecure.
Time of Drills
The hottest part of the day is between
7:30 and a. M. before the refreshing sea
breeze springs up, and. owing to the tenn
perature difference after the hour named,
the time of drills has heen changed to
cause the troops the least discomfort. The
nights pleasantly cool and inconvenient
insects are few in the camp Prior to
the arrival of the division the ground had
all been laid off in regular avenues and
cleared. What little remains to be done
will be accomplished by the troops them
selves in few days There is only one
drawback, the deep sand which makes
marching heavy. but to this the men are
! becoming accustomed, and in the manifold
| advantage they forget the disadvantages Of
| sand and heat In the city the glare from
| the lime, white Macadamzed roads is very
| trying to the eyes, and compelling a run
| on green spectacles at the drug stores, but
| at the encampment which extends from the
beach north alongs the railroad track, the
ground is covered with a darker sand and
the troops do not experience the ocular
| inconvenience, common in the city.
The division and brigade headquarters
are situated on an elevated green plat to
The east of the principal hotel and sloping
to the waters edge. A similar place studded
with cocoanut and date palms and kiz sed
by the breath of the sea will be chosen
for the site of the division hospital.
All the men OF the Alabama regiments are