The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-06
NO REASON IS ASSIGNED
BY DEPARTMENT IIEADQUART
ERS FOR THE TRANSFER OF
TIE COMPANIES.
BOYS AT ST. SlM0N'S WELL PLACED
Writes Col, Burgwyn-'No More Sick Leave fo
Soldiers in Hospital Here, Must be
Sent Directly to their Compa-
MES When Discharged.

Company NJ. Captain j. w. Cooper. of
Murphy and Company f, Captain 5. j.
Cobb, Of Lumber Bridge, recently sent
to Fort Mel hcrson, GA, to do garrison:
duty. have been relieved and ordered to
report to Colonel Burgwyn ut st.
Simon's. No reason was assigned by
department headquarters for the trans
fer, but it is presumed that the two
companies were found to be not yet Suf-
ficiently well drilled and they were ac-
cordingly ordered to rejoin the regiment,
where opportunities for drill will be bet
ter than at Fort Mcpherson. An Off
Ger connected with the Department of
the Gulf gave the following version of
the affair to the Atlanta Journal:
Il would prefer you not to say why
the North Carolina volunteers were
sent away. but if you insist on doing
so give them due credit for what there
is in them. They are nice crowd OF
fellows. and with proper training and
experience which only comes with time,
there is no doubt they will make as eff
ficient soldiers as there are in the SER
vice. but as new men and being volun-
teers they can be excused for some lax
ity in enforcing the army regulations.
when the North Carolina men ar
rived they were placed in charge as
was intended. 1t was not many days,
however. before they were relieved of
some of their responsibility. They al
lowed soldiers to go and come as they
pleased in and out of tn. fort. ana as
for the guardhouse. their discipline was
something like Il farce comedy. They
let prisoners escape, and men supposed
to be confined came and went at will
This went on several GAYS. and raw re-
cruits who had just joined the army
were put in rs guards at the army
prison.
'As | said. these men are brave lads.
and in fight would be Il credit TO their
country. but they are not sufficiently
trained yet to set example ut IA piece
like Fort Mcpherson, where recruits are
daily coming in and men are joining
the regular army in which they are ex-
pected to toe the line. The boys will
have better time in st. Simons any
way. than here. where all this sickness
abides, and have no doubt that the ar
engagements, will be most satisfactory
all around"
In justice to the men this statement
should perhaps he taken with a grain
estimabe but somewhat loquacIous army
officer it is hardly probable that sol
diers were allowed to come and go at
Will or that prisoners were turned
loose for the pure pleasure of seeing
them rum The unfortunate part of the
business is that it will injure the stand
ing of the regiment with headquarters.
though it must be confessed that head
quarters had not previously showed Il
disposition to make pet of it.
Surgeon Brooks yesterday received
a letter from Colonel Burgwyn, now ut
Camp John Il. Gordon. st. Smons
Colonel Burgwyn writes that the camp
is pitched near the seashore and the
boys are well pleased with their quar-
ters. The letter instructed Surgeon
Brooks that no more leaves of absence
to go home were to be granted patients
convalescent in the hospital here. hut
that when sufficiently recovered to travel
they shall be sent directly to their com
panies in squads of not less than five
Transportation blanks were enclosed for
the return of the men to their companies
and one squad will he sent this week in
accordance with instructions. People
who have friends in the hospital will
have to visit them here if they wish to
see them. Surgeon Brooks also received
IL letter from Walter Byrd. whose death
was enormously reported Il few days ago,
dated August 3D. in which Mr.. Byrd
stated that he was improving.