The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-10-05
Various Military
Matters Of Interest.
Soldiers Begin to Go Home
for Their Thirty Days
Furlough.
From The State, Sept. 20.

From The State, Sept. 80.
The sudden change IN the method
OF procedure in the mastering out of
the First South Carollna regiment
had the effect Of reducing the now
ing population Of Main street by
about 500 or 500 yesterday and by
nightfall tonight there will be anoth.
er .sdeserted village" at Geiger's
spring. The men Of the various COM
nanies are getting away asfast as
possible, and soon all that will be
/ left of the various comPsnies will be
I the 10 men from each who are to act
as guards to che camp and Go the
clerical work that has TO: be done 10
connection with the "musser out"
process
Il is suggested that the 'sobvious
reasons why. tie fnrleugh of 80 days.
is to precede she examination OF The:
men is that by this plan the results
will be more satisfactory to "UDcle.
Sam'a-the health and condition of
the men being likely to show up
muct better than they will at the
present time, after the hardships of
camp life. Thirty days is sufficient.
y long time for a good deal Of fat
tening to be done with the use OF
good wholesome food at home. And
again those sick with camp fevers
and. she Ike vii! have an opportunity
to, recover their wanted health and
strength-which. of course. will be
advantageous to both parties, and
help ne little sin reducing the posi-.
bility of claims for pensions in after
years
However. all this may be, it was
aobyious' yesterday that the fur.
lough is to take effect Immediately.
and to-day will likely be fixed as the
dsy when il commences and an order
issced setting forth the day on which
it viii expire. All who do not re-
turn on the day named will be enter.
ed on the rolls as deserters, and
while they will not be tried by court.
martial as such. yet the permanent
records Of the government will stand
against them. and for this reason. if
for no other, the men should see
10 il that they are back to camp Oh
time
Yesterday the last companies turn.
ed over their guns and other outfit to
the authorities liz charge. The part.
ing with the canteens brought forth
the only expression of regret from
some. They are of good size and
hold about two quarts each. As for
the rest of the paraphernalia, the sem.
bIance of saduess was not apparent
in the parting
The paymaster who was expected
TO arrive 10 the course of day or
two will not put in his appearance
until the 80 days is up An order
from the department countermanded
his visit, and there was some disap,
pointment in not getting bold Of q
little more sstin' for the trip home
However, the various captains were
instructed to issue passes to their
men. which amounts to the paying OF
their railroad fare home, and during
vesterday Co.'s G., i, <. L and NJ
went home
Col. Aston. too, left the city and
went to Washington What the OBJ.
ject of his visit is. is not known. but
it is said that he will probably re
ceive an appointneus in the regular
army.
Yesterday afternoon the members
of the citizens committee who have
been active in their efforts to bring
brigade or more of troops here for
encampment. left for Washington 20
presen. the claims Of the city to the
authorities at that place After the
action of council. last night. in grant
Jog the use Of ESQ. 900 gaIIous of wa.
ter daily aad In agreeing to lay the
pipes for the furnishing OF the same
from the wsser works. there seems to
be scarcely doubt that camp will
be established at Shandon The OBJ
iecs of the visit is to make doubty
sure the securing of the citv's desire.
Mayor Lipscomb accompanied the
committee.
And while these citizens are trying
to bring body of men here who will
be s benefit aud advantage to the
city, petition is being gotten up by
some coIored citizens asking the war
department not to send che troops
from Camp Meade here, as they claim
the co!ored population have no po-
lice protection against rowdy sol.
diers The recent difficulties be-
tween soldiers and negroes seems to
l~bk th;o forth The dis.