The age-herald., 1898-11-01
PASSING OR THE
 FIRST ALABAMA The StalRaFt Regiment DiSbanded As an
 Organization. MEN PAID AND DISCHARGED Nothing Left at Camp Falkn0r but Tent s..... Floors and Burnt EmberS. c0MIcAt AND UNIQUE SCENES Some of the Men Played Craps, Others Got Drunk and the Sensible Ones
 - Cot Drunk-A Few Will Reinlist. -.
 
cOMIcAL AND UNIQUE SCENES


 Spanish war of 1898 is now to become mere ly the matter of record in the archives of the war department at Washington and a pleasant memory to the 1900 men who composed it.
 The last man was paid off yesterday, the last discharge given, and the last tent struck. The tent floors on which the men have been sleeping the charred remains Of the last camp fire around which the men gathered as they recounted their adven- lures of the past six months, and the we'll worn company streets, are the only marks now left to tell the tale of Camp Falkner.
 The work of paying off and mastering out the men began Sunday morning, Com panies A, G, K and l., which forms the Birmingham battalion, and Company I, be- ing taken through the process of "ahso- diering" The remaining companies were mustered out yesterday. Each company was formed in line and marched up to the paymaster's tent, where they received Uncle Sams fresh, new money, their last pay in the government service-until they begin drawing pensions.
 All the officers who have signed for any thing and who have not received their final release from the departments, receiv-
 
 received their. full pay and discharges.
 The men were paid in full everything due them which in most cases amounted to something over $SO. This was the sum of two months wages, what was left of their clothing allowance and transportation home. For this latter purpose the govern ment does not allow for railroad fare, but goes on the supposition that the men have Ilr oal, te lowed full days pay and communication of rations for every twenty miles of the jour ney he is supposed to take to get to the place where he enlisted
 Over $1OO,O0O was paid out Sunday and yesterday to this regiment, this big amount of money being kept in camp in a trunk | under strong guard.
 Immediately after a company was paid off it was marched to its company street where a general liquidation, of debts fol- lowed The officers in many cases had gone security for the men when they wish ed to borrow money, and of course they had to see that these debts were settled In nearly every instance the men paid up in full, and only few cases were heard of where one of them slipped off owing anything. After settling their debts all of
 
 an indorsement on the back by their cap- tains as to what kind of soldiers they had made during the service. In most cases they were very complimentary.
 Farewell Speeches
 After their discharge from the army each company, officers and men would go out on the drill ground to take their company parting. The following farewell order from inlN to pany:
 Headquarters First Alabama, United States Volunteer Infantry, Camp Falkner, East Lake, Ala, Oct. 3O 1858. The commanding officer takes this, the | last opportunity, to extend to the officers l and men of the First Alabama his heart | felt thanks and appreciation of the services | they have rendered during their enlistment | in the First Alabama. And I feel sure that in years to come we will all look back with pride on the record we have left behind us, and I hope and believe that each member of the First Alabama who has made a good soldier will make a good business man and worthy, honored citizen. hope that each and every member, be- | fore leaving Birmingham, will arrange the | little differences financially among them l selves, for it will go long way in making | a good record to follow him through life. | My best wishes will follow each and every | one of Eou through the walks of life. Very truly your friend, E. L. HIGDON. | Colonel Commanding First Alabama, U. s. Volunteer Infantry.
 Short addresses would then be made by | the major of the battalion to which the | company belonged, by the captain and in | some cases the lieutenants amid the con- l tinued hurrahs from the men. All of them | spoke of the binding friendships and at | tachments that had been formed during the 1 six months service of the regiment. They | thanked the men for the uniform courtesy which they had shown their officers, and said that if they would in the future make l as good citizens as they had made soldiers | during the Spanish war, that no fear could be entertained for their success and happi- ness. The parting was a sad one, and in many cases tears were seen on the sum burned faces of these stalwart soldiers. The Regiments Sick Not all of the soldiers were given their discharges, though all of the companies ana the regiment as a whole have been d.s- banded. The sick men of .the regiment are still in the service on the same footing that they have always been All of those who are not convalescent have been taken to the I4ilman hospital, where they will remain until they recover. Private Slate, of Com | pany M, who was so dangerously wounded | over month ago. was taken to the hospital | from the camp yesterday morning. He has | so far regained his strength that the long | trip of seven miles in the ambulance did | not seriously inconvenience him. All of | these men in the hospital will be given their final discharges and paid off on their re- I coyery by the war department direct. | ennn as all onnd-hyas had heaa, ga id