The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-16
Special to The Scranton Tribune.

Camp Alger, Dunn Loring. Va, Aug.
15.-The chief topic of general interest
and conversation here in camp this
morning is the latest order of the war
department naming Middletown, Pa,
as the new camping ground of the Sec
ond Army corps and directing Major
General Graham to carry out this pro-
vision forthwith. No one seems to re-
gret the change, and all are now look
ing towards Pennsylvania with anx-
ious eyes.
The Second division, which is sta
toned at Thoroughfare Gap and COM
manded by Major General Davis, is to
move without delay; but it is certain
that the regiments OF that division will
have some trouble in getting things in
readiness. In consequence of the re-
cent heavy rains, which have flooded
this region in every direction, the fields
and the roads at the Gap are sea of
clinging, cloggng mud which will nee
essarily retard the movements of
wagons, horses and men. This, how
ever, will delay the time of departure
but little, as the men are desirous Of
getting away as soon as they possibly
can. They will put forth mighty ef-
forts to exchange the mud and the
filth of Thoroughfare Gap for a good
swim in the pleasant Susquehanna.
AS to the First division, the news
was doubly grateful. While it is true
that this is a beautiful country in
many ways and that even serious cases
of sickness are becoming less numer-
Gus, still it cannot be denied that 1t is
anything but a fit place for an en-
campment of a large body Of troops.
40 al
geons to advise the men to take fire.
quent baths, in order to preserve their
health, but it is another thing when
there is no water to be found. There
is one question which the advanced
practical wisdom of the nineteenth
century has not yet solved that is,
how a man can take a bath without
water; and that is practically the very
question which the men of the Second
Army corps have had to solve since
they pitched their tents at Camp AL
ger. Bathing has become one of the
lost arts here, but it is confidently
hoped that short residence on Sus-
quehanna's banks will restore it.
COURT OF INQUIRY.
AS anticipated a court of inquiry has
been appointed and has met to take
testimony in regard to the trouble Gre
ated last week by members of The
Third Virginia. The court which met
last Friday and Saturday at General
Eutlers headquarters for the purpose
Of attending to preliminaiies, is one of
great dignity and importance 1t con-
siSts of Lieutenant Colonel Charles +.
Summerall, recorder; Colonel George
+. Gross, Third Missouri; Lieutenant
Colonel w. s. EdGerly, inspector gen.
eral OF the United states volunteers
and Lieutenant Colonel w. F. Duval,
chief ordnance officer. The offending
Virginia regiment and. in fact the state
of Virginia, is represented by Attorney
General A. f. Montague, Congressman
John j.. RiXey and Messrs. r. Walton
Moore, B. X. Peters and George +.
Hamilton.
TIE court is proceeding regularly and
Is hearing General Butlers side of the
case. The witnesses, as they are call
ed, siTnply tell what they know of the
trouble, and as General Butler is not
represented by council, he or Recorder
Summcrall, ask what further questions
may be necessary after the witnesses
have made their statement Colonel
Male, of the Third Virginia, is silent,
but interested spectator.at every meet
ing of the court. So far Major General
Butler, Major Strong. Major Merri-
man, Major Cooke, Major Wright,
Major Devine, Captain John C.
Brooks, chief quartermaster: Major NJ
G. Butler, DR.. Butler, Lieutenant
James Smith. First Connecticut: Pri-
Yates Gordon and Gill, of the Third
Virginia; Lieutenant Colonel Ham
mond. of that First Connecticut, and
several citizens who have stands near
the scene of the trouble, have been
examined. Most of the witnesses have
testified that there was undoubtedly
trouble that evening in the Virginia
regiment, that threats We're used, and
that violence and insubordination
were rife. The court is determined to
scar he matter to the very bottom,
ard - .ix the blame where it belongs.
JOINT CELEBRATION.
Saturday night the Seventh Ohio, the
First Connecticut, the First New Jer-
sly and the Third Virginia held a
joint celebratio They placed torch
es and candles over their tents, and
the effect was very beautiful. The
scene attracted the attention of the
hlllStllH anu tue ElSnln IennSyl-
vania. The Virgiians, in honor OF
their neighbors and friends, the Jer-
s"yites, ARRANGED their lights 50 as to
read First New Jersey Volunteers"
LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
Last night at roll call the following
important order from General Goblin
was read in the Eighth Thirteenth and
Twelfth regiments.
Headquarters. Third Brigade, First Divl-
sion, Second Army Corps, Camp Alger,
Va, Aug II, ls0S
Circular No. 10.
The attention of regimental command
ers is called to the marked increase in
the amount or whisky and beer found in
the regiments comprising this brigade.
Various methods of concealment are used
TO bring liquor into the camp, and regi-
mental commanders will strictly investi-
gate the practice and make an example
of any person enlisted man or civilian.
1t must, in Justice to the interior dis.
cipline of the Third brigade, and particu.
larly of the Thirteenth regiment, be said
that this order Is chiefly dir ected against
outsiders. those smugglers who try "a
make a living by unlawfully selling In
toNicants. There is nothing in this order
which ought to shock common sensibiity
A camp is not a Sunday school. and
while beer and whisky may have been
brought into camp against the local laws
by smart smugglers, IL is a fact well
known that the Third brigade has suf.
fered least from any evil results. This
county In which the camp is located. Is
local option district. and any yiolateI
of the LIQUOR law will be turned over tc
the civil authorities to be dealt with as