The Saint Paul globe., 1898-08-29
TAKESISSUE WITH PHELPS
PRIVATE OF THE FOURTEENTH
SAYS MEN ARE UNITED
Ninety Per Cent of Them Are Anx-
iOus to Get Back to Their Private
Interests Since the War Is Closed,
but the Officers Cow Some of the
Weak-Kneed Into Submission
Officers Like Their Fat Salaries.

Officers Like Their Fat Salaries.
To The st. Paul Globe
CAMP GEO. H. THOMAS, Ga, Aug.
2e.-In an issue of The G of some
late date you published an interview
had with Sergeant A w. Phelps, of
Company f, Fourteenth Minnesota
volunteers, home on a furlough, which
l wish to correct, as 1T does not even
express his own mind, or it has made
rapid changes on the way from camp to
st. Paul.
In the first place. I, in behalf of 80
per cent of the boys, brand the state
ment that the Fourteenth wishes to
do garrison duty in Cuba" or else
where, as lie, and known to be so
when made by him. Why he made
such statement is a question which
the members of his company are un-
able to solve, as he was one of the
fornost to work against it while in
camp. He may have been afraid to
state the truth, fearing the result in
case it should reach the eyes of the
officers. If that is the case, we pity
his lack of courage and would not care
to Vouch for his actions when called
into battle. Or, perhaps, the Minnesota
breeZes were SO bracing as to make
him forget the true state Of affairs,
and the sentiment of the boys of the
Fourteenth regiment, or any other regi-
ment in camp, upon the question of
garrison duty.
Since hostilities have ceased and
peace Is in sight, the officers of our
regiment have considered the privates
as a nonentity in deciding the question
OF our regiment doing garrison duty.
They held meeting among them
selves to see how they stood on the
or,d
large majority vote, to tender the serv-
ices of the whole regiment to the presi-
dent for garrison duty.
Now, why did they take this action?
Why was the question raised? Why
mot await and abide the result that
would be sure to follow? Why not wait
until the president decided what should
be done and who should go or stay?
Why did they not find out the senti-
ment of the privates, II 1T was deemed
necessary to tender our services? Why
take any action at all when we have
enlisted for two years, if 1t Is not to
be left to us to decide whether we de-
sire to go or not2
These questions might be answered
by asking a few more questions:
What is the average monthly salary
five dollars per month. What was
their monthly salary as civilians? To
our personal knowledge, $2S to $3.50.
AS soon as the fact Of rendering our
services were known, several privates
started and attempted to circulate a
petition stating, in substance that the
signers would rather be mustered out,
If left to them, than do garrison duty
These were promptly suppressed, and
Corporal Harris, a lawyer from Duluth,
Of Company @, placed in the guard
house and charges preferred against
him OF 1nstigating a revolt. A day or
two after he was taken before Gen
breckenridge, and was told by him, so
we are informed, that the wishes of
the privates would be respected so far
as he could aid them.
Since, Corporal Harris was presented
with an honorable" discharge, for
ed. Maybe to get his legal knowledge
and ability out Of the way, who knows?
Another instance is that Of Sergeant
Kidder, of Company F. He went into
neigh!boring company street and in
quired about the petition, and what
was being done by others in the mat
ter. He was ordered to be arrested
but Capt. Baxter, of Company F. In
terfered, and he was given twenty
four hours to undo what he had done"
No further action was taken in that
case.
[ cite these instances to show how
the officers of our and other regiments,
I understand, take away, under the
cloak Of military law, what few liber-
ties and privileges a private has to
right the wrongs done him.
Would these officers resign their COM
missions, In case the Fourteenth did
not go, and join as a private to serve
their country and receive $3.50?
If their only desire Is to be loyal,
and they have no pecuniary object in
view, why not join the regulars and
go to Cuba and serve out their term
Of two years?
We cannot blame them for wanting
their fat snaps. Uncle Sam is a sure
paynaster, and the war is over, you
know. But the charge we hold against
them is the total disregard they show
and have shown towards the privates,
numbering over 1900, furthering the
interests Of themselves, numbering
some so.
What would be the result, from a
pecuniary standpoint, should these so
officers succeed in forcing the balance
Of the regiment into garrison duty?
Everyone knows that the volunteer
army Is not made UP of a class Of men
who cannot gain a livelihood, but is
made UP of the working classes and
professional and business men, and
when they join as privates at $1560
per month they make a great sacrifice
of business interests.
Then, again, they have mothers and
fathers depending upon them for sup
port, others mortgages to meet. Can
this be done with $3.50?
The bulk Of the young men are now
in the prime Of life, and two years Of
garrison duty in idleness will certainly
be detrimental to their future welfare
and prospects. All to fill the pockets
of these half a hundred of7Ners.
The object for which they entered
they sacrifice longer?
Garrison duty should be assigned to
the regular army. A volunteer army
volunteers in time Of danger and ac-
tion. After danger is over and peace
declared their duty is at an end.
The regulars are composed Of men
who make a soldiers life their bust
ness, and in most cases are men who
find it hard to gain a livelihood else
where.
Several of the captains took a poll,
after the trouble started, of their COM
panies. In one instance, one particular
captain lined his men into company
front and then asked a question like
this, in substance: How many in
my company wish to disgrace me, the
regiment and state by desiring to go
home, and back out when we have
an opportunity to do garrison duty?''
In this instance. only two had cour-
age enough to resent the insult and
step forward. At least 80 per cent Of
his company wish to go home.
This is the treatment we get from
the officers of our grand and glorious
C~@ nvHI ol.fl