The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-09-14
& MILITARY SENTATION.
Lieut.. Gel. Tillman Ordered Out Of
Camp Lee.

tCrn00n and his many friends and al
nlircrs wcrc clad to welcome him. But
before he left for Jacksonville he crea-
ted the biggest military sensation OF
the war, so far as these parts are con-
cerned 1t will be recalled that Col.
Tillman has been very active in the ef-
fort to have his regiment mustered out,
and he was returning from Washington
where he had been to see about that
matter.
During the evening lie visited Camp
Lee and had 4 pleasant social chat
with Col. Jones, Major Eaves and
other officers. Col. Jones had to come
up town and he left Major Eaves in
command Of the camp Soon after Col.
Jones departure, Colonel Tillman sta
ted that he wished to visit the Dar-
lington Guards. Manning Guards and
other companies with which he was as
Sociated when the troops were mobil-
lied mere.
lie did visit these companies, and
showed them the petition gotten mp by
the First Regiment asking to be dis
missed. He explained to them the
situation and it IS said number of the
men were pleased with what the First
Regiment had done. Colonel Tillman
had large crowd about him, when
Major Eaves approached and asked him
to withdraw from the camp as his
presence under the circumstances was
detrimental to good discipline. Col
onel Tillman positively refused to leave
and claimed that he was the superior
officer OF the major.
1illman took seat in an officer 5
tent. while Major Eaves issued orders
which called out the guard, but this
was superseded by the long roll being
sounded. and in a few minutes the reg
iment was assembled in the company
streets under arms. They were kept
there for twenty minutes when they
we're ordered to return to their tents.
While all this was going Oh Colonel
Tillman left the camp and came to the
city.
Colonel Jones expressed the follow
ing view about the matter:
From the information which | have
received from several of the officers and
men of the regiment who witnessed the
occurrence, l would say that Major
Eaves was justified in the course he
took in reference to Lieutenant Colonel
Tillman. I left the camp just at dark
and turned it over to Major Eaves,
who was the ranking officer present. "
Major Eaves authorizes the state
ment that Lieutenant Colonel Tillman
insulted the commanding officer of the
camp caves and defed his authority
and consequently he was requested to
leave the camp. Many Of the soldiers
seen on the streets this morning un-
Qualifedly condemned the action OF
Colonel Tillman. but they admit that a
few do want 70 go out. On the part Of
civilians the condemnation is even
more severe. They consider it not only
. breach Of etiquette, but an unwar-
ranted assumption Of authority. The
opinion was expressed that he would
end up before courtmartial.-CoIum-
bia Record.
WHAT TILLMAN SAYS.
When Colonel Tillman was asked
for statement in reference to
the Columbia affair he said: i
do not think it proper that | should
say anything. In fact twas unnecessa-
~ and uncalled for that other officers
should have rushed to the newspapers to
publish their grievances if any they had.
[ stopped in Columbia to see Gov. FL.
lerbe aud in the afternoon drove out
to Camp Lee with the governors secre-
tary to pay my respects to the othcers
of the camp. After had done so,
asked to visit the three companies that
were formerly under my command:
the Darlington Guards, Manning Guards
and Edisto Rifles. The reception |
was given by them was indeed crafty
ing. The boys seemed to want to 60
home and | may possibly have made
some remarks unintentionally that Of
Tended certain officers.
Iregret the whole occurrence. All
of the officers | regarded as my friends
and l hope Imay still look upon them
as such. think Maj Eaves and my
self both acted too hastily.
There is no man in South Carolina
for whom l entertain higher regard
than Col. Jones, and had he been pres
ent do not think any trouble would
ever have occurred. Maj. Eaves did
order me out Of the camp. and being his
superior officer | refused to go until |
saw fit. | told the men as I have told
them here, that if they petitioned to
go home they would be sent home. If
tnis be a crime then | am a criminal.
1t isvery improper for military affairs
to be discussed in the public print,
and regret that | have been forced to
say anything atall.
4 CoURTMARTI.AL PROBABLE.
1t is positively asserted that court
martisl will result from Lieut.. Col.
Tillman' visit to camp. Maj. Eaves
was seen Thursday regarding the affair,
and he made the anniunoement that
he would prefer charges against Lieut..
Col. Tillman If courtmartial IS
held, Lieut. Col Tillman could not be
mustered out until the finding of the
court was sent to the war department.
This action would necessarily delay
the work of mastering out the men.
a Singular Accident.
One Of the most singular of railway