New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-17
END OF THE OLD 18TH.
FINAL WORK PERFORMED AT THE
ARMORY IN BROOKLYN.
ABOUT FIFTY PER CENT OF THD MEN RE-
ENLISTED UNDER COLONEL LUscoMB-AN
ADDRESS BY COLONEL. WATSON GREETED
WITH RoARs OF APPLAUSE

ENLISTED UNDER COLONEL LUscoMB-AN
ADDRESS BY COLONEL. WATSON GREETED
WITH RoARs OF APPLAUSE
The final work OF disbanding the 18th Regiment
was performed last night al the Sumner-ave. ar
mory OF the regiment IN Brooklyn. when the
listed men received their honorable discharges and
the officers formal notice that they were on the
supernumerary list Immediately after~ard the
Cd captains or the companies were reappointed ny
Lieutenant-C Colonel Charles II. Luscomb lately lieu
tenant colonel OF the regiment, who had been Sc
lected by Governor Black reorgan!ze the 18th ana
become It's colonel
The captains at undertook the task OF get
ting their to re-enlist and swearing them In.
About 20 per OF the re-enisted at once,
but the others declined to do some saying that
they wanted nothing 20 do with service In the
18th Regiment and others declaring that they would
walt n while and how matters went. private
in Company + expressed the sentiment OF good
many of the when he said:
What. Enlist in the l3th again? Not much
We'd be called oGt Decoration Day, ana nave
brickbats and dead cats thrown at US by the popu-
lace"
That Colonel Watson is as popular with his ia'e
command shown by the fact that ut
the close OF the re-enlstment last night the COM
panes all formed and marched up TO the ofhcers
ROOM where the colonel was They crowded into
the room and chcered him 10 the echo. while he
made speech 10 them
Colonel Watson reviewed the history OF the case.
saying tina, II Full OF strange features. and
that OF the proceedings taken were simply
staggering Tho 18th told that II was DIS
banded for disobedience orders. and yet not oly
the who refused to so to Hampstead were dis
charged but also those who obcyed orders. went 10
Hampstead. and afterward returned.
The right Of changing your mind seems to have
been taken from you. The who went 10
Hampstead. but would not volunteer. are disbanded
and yet told that you are not dsbandea
for refusing 10 volunteer. but FOR dsobeynG orders
These ilogica statements from high official
| want 10 say that more responsive.
willing lot OF boys never existed. You know that
the drop OF the handkerchief you were ready
10 respond 20 any duty that you should be sent 10
perform (cheers) and you wore willing even 70 go to
Cuba though tho President could not compel you
TO go there
REIMBURSEMENT COUNsELLED.
Justice WAS sacrificed TO expedi.ncy. Tho 18th
Regiment was smashed into dust in order to force
men into volun teering. (AppauseJ The regiment
has been wiped out and now all that remains Is
TO gather the crumbs OF the old organization to-
gether and endesvor to sustain It. think It Is the
me-
Because you're whitel' shouted a voice. and
there was great applause.
Colonel we know who does want you," shouted
another The cheers and encouraging shouts TO
the colonel made a deafonins uproar for a few
Colonel Watson!" They rang through tho armory
with the utmost power OF us,y lungs. and when
the colonel again attempted TO speak a private
rosyed: Whats tho matter with Colonel Wat
SOM" and the uproar began again
Boys" said the colonel. at last. Wait me and
greet me sometimes you pass through life l
old but will iinger around these pre-
cincts awhile yet. II there Is anything on earth
can DO for an old 18th Regiment mHn call on me
and SEQ 81 don't DO It. (cheers) BE hopeful and
face the future with courage. and you'll como out
night some DAY. tCrics OF We wir) Tho people
OF this community are with VI. and lonrn from
every source that they support our stand for tho
integrity OF tho National Guard and tho individual
righ. OF each to dispose OF himself under tho
call for voiunteers-thc right OF American citizens
no, TO DO bulldosed into doing that which they do
wish TO do
Three moro cheers were given for Colonel Wat
eon and after hearty expressions OF goodwill. tho
men left the room. Some one struck up ths rrsi-
mental cong. CHEERS for the Old 18TH" and In
On instant II was ringing through tho srnory as
the men marched down tho big stairway and dis
banded.
AN ARGUMENT OVER NEWSPAPER MEN
II General order No. !. issued by Colonel LUIS
comb is any indication Of what his later orders
may b., may have a hard row TO hoe When
Newspaper men reached the armory last night AT
morer McSevin told them that they could not
come In. When they asked why. he replied
Colonel Luscomb has ordered me not 20 allow
any Newspaper TO enter the arnory to- night"
Finally newspaper man was selected. who
made a dash past the armorer and upstairs ana IN
70 the presence Of Colonel Watson who was sign
ing the roru.a. papers that were given 10 tho Of
Gcers When told OF Colonel Luscomos alleged or
der. Colonel watson replied
here yet and while am IN command newspaper
men shall have access 10 ms arin3ry, :, s.-, ..
this order from Colonel Watson. bat he dd not dis
pute It u,
e. g Mayer Inspector OF the Second Brigade. He
from to ana as the 81 men ws s
vduals were called and each received bis honorable
Kieenk Followed Major Mayer ana the new Colonel
10 each room detailed the old captain 70 take charge
Of the company again. ana H@ ma ,,e @dnresS
mentsh together. In many OF the rooms there
was only a handful Of men. but most Of the cap.
re-enis, under them The following figures were
given out by company Officers: . 80
Company A. Captain J. II. Dressed, nearly all will
Company u. Captain John T. Jennings. 40 men.
Company {. captain John A. Anderson. IS dis
'" Gompany - captain sidney Grant. 60 discharged.
nearly ali VII re-enlist. 40 ,. o.
per cent VIII re-cnlist.
rev Com "na -. captain H. \ williams p dis
charged 50 per cent WI r c1lv Van opaa IS dis
charged majority will tnlst 80
Company !. no officers. 90 discharged ~ VIII re-
enlist. - -, ,, - ,,...-s,
10 per cent VII re-enlis'-
REQUEST FOR COURT MARTIAL IGNORED.
Az a matter OF fact these figures given out by
thu officers were greatly exaggerated, as regards
any enlistment that was done last night and were
probably rosy as regards enstments for he future
como of the 1rivates after they left the armory.
$40. Ia ~, estimate that not more than hundred
ard my men in al had ie-enl!si"d. io't OF the
'.a Of Company II. for instance, refused abso-
,,.ni, 70 re enlist unless they I.ccscd assurance
maj th-y would be sent 20 the w4t. /. srein that
ma nv OF the 18TH hope, thu there IL likely
g. H.. 81 additional call Tor volunteers. taat Gov
.rnor Black will be con-. elied 70 yea 70 we ori8-
al nlon OF the l3tn and to call 4 OK iDr service
o. a militia regiment, ~: 1" "p4a"te-'
crmrnissary Jerry weinberg ann Surgeon De
L., in.fr rL.all- /. us