The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1898-12-21

The Lieutenant Colonel ofthe
First regiment writes.

1
Rained nearly all the time-Comman.
ders are very complimentary Of the
regiment Their Brigade is the best
in the First Corps aud the regiment
claims to be the best in the Brigade
Men want out ofthe army.
The following extracts are taken
from letter written by Col. C. L.
Smith from Columbus Georgia and
published 10 the last issue of the
Fairmont Index.
Our experience has convinced us
that the South is not all sunshine.
Since we have been here we have pass
ed through some of the worst weather
seen in this country for many years.
While the majority Of the days have
been inclement, yet the weather has
never been cold-we have had nothing
more than white frosts and a very
slight skim of ice. The skies have
cleared as we write, and the day is
beautiful, but there is a sharp, cool
wind blowing, but the ground is be-
ing dried very rapidly.
The men are fixed up very comfor-
tably. Some of them have stoves,
but no stove have as yet been issued
90 the command, but no one is suffer
ing from the cold. Sickness has ma
terially decreased, and at this time no
one of our men is seriously i'll. We
have fewer men enrolled than either
the Sd Kentucky or the l60th Indiana
who are brigaded with us, and yet we
report forty more men ready for duty
than either of these regiments.
This Brigade had its first practice
march AMI review on last Tuesday,
Gen. Wiley being sick, the Brigade
was commanded by Col. Gunder, 160th
Indiana. 1t was formed in front of
the Brigade Headquarters at 1:30 p. m.
after which it was marched through
the city and was reviewed from the
porch OF the Rankin House. by Gen.
Ludlow, Division Commander. The
Regiments made a fine showing, and
the Columbus papers were very COM
plimentary in their notices. Com
handing officers regard this Brigade
as being the best in the LIST Army
Corps, and we will be pardoned for be-
lieving that the lst w. Va. Vol. Inf.
is the best Regiment in the Brigade.
Gen. Wilson, Commander of the
First Corps, visited this Brigade Off
cially on Wednesday. He inspected
the various camps, and then reviewed
the troops before Brigade Headquar-
tiers. This was not Gen. Wilson's
firse visit to Columbus. His last visit
was on the Gath day of April, 1865,
when after very hard fight, just over
the river in Alabama, he repulsed the
Confederates and marched his army
into the city. | presume his men
acted as soldiers usually do when they
entered captured city. Among the
ladies now living, who resided there
at that time, there Is some resent
ment yet existing towards Gen. Will
son, but the male portion of the in
habitants seem to have buried all ami
mosities and his reception was as cor
dial as he could have desired. The
General found quite different place
from that he captured in 1865. Then
1t was but sleepy southern country
town, with but few inhabitants,
while to-day it has increased in popu-
lation several hundred fold, and is the
seat Of number of large manufac-
tories, which give employment to
thousands of its citizens.
The more we see of Columbus the
| hot fnr In NJ hf
bad weather we have not had many
visitors, but all we have met have
given us genuine southern welcome.
Our welcome has been as cordial al
we could desire. Our society boys
have made their way into the gay
whirl, and they can spend most pleas
antly every evening they can leave
camp.
They have very strict Provost
Guard in Columbus. 1t is not needed
ia fact, but the report of the dol ngs
of some of the troops in other places,
made the authorities here more care
full.
On December 8th the told strength
of this Regiment was /, 16S, and there
were present 1,046. The rest were
absent on sick leave, ordinary furlough
and very few on what they call
French leave" There were four
assertions last month, and four deser-
tiers were arrested back at home and
returned to the Regiment. So now
we are easy on that score. The men
are beginning to learn that punish
ment will surely follow every deser-
tion, and those who have been on
French leave are returning on their
own account.
While the desire to get out Of the
service is about as strong as ever with
quite number of our men, still there
are very few applications for dis
charge being filed. These men hope
that Congress will loose no time in
recognizing the regular army, so
that the volunteers may be sent home.