The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-09
OUR BOYS PINING FOR HOME.


tfon Towards Securing the Discharge
Of the Second Regiment. North Caro-.
lima yolunteerS-A Special Meeting
Yesterday Afternoon-The Regiment
TO be Mustered Out.
Much sympathy has been felt mong
our people for the volunteer CT the
Second North Carolina regiment, and
especially for the members of the VIII
mington Light Infantry, now at St.
Simon's Island, Ga, owing to the fact
that the officers of the regiment were
ben on keeping the regiment in SER
vice in spite of the wishes of the men.
Our boys have ben pining to be ION
orably discharged and be allowed to
return TO their homes, and We learn
that So per cent. of the men in the reg
iment were opposed to serving longer.
They enlisted for the war and were
anxious to see active service. AS long
as there was a Spaniard in front they
would have done battle for" their coun-
try as patriots, but they never had a
chance to go to Cuba or Porto Rico,
and as the val is ove they want TO
SCI DdSh ~ ANOi III SdLOlllid dlu IcSuIliS
the more remunerative positions they
ave up to go into the army. 1t seems,
however, that the officers had the best
thing they ever had in their lives, and
contrary to the wishes of the soldiers,
these well paid officers We're united in
efforts and determination to induce the
war department to keep our boys in
the service. Such conduct or the part
of the officers is d~espicable but they
are guilty of it just the same.
Our volunteers went into the army to
be soldiers, and it is not their desire,
especially against their will, to be
forced to go to Porto Rico and Cuba to
do little less than police duty. Many
of our Wilmington boys have written
home and some of the officers as we'll,
appealing to their friends to rescue
them from their mercenary officers
who are bent on burdening them with
a service that is calling now and will
be uncomfortable later On. One of our
home boys appeals to his father to do
something for him, as he would like
to get out of the army under most any
circumstances except by deSertiOn.
The following is a letter from another
member of the Light Iifantry to Mr..
James H. ~ChadbOurn, Jr, president of
the Chamber of Commerce.:
| Co. X, End N. c.. V. Infantry, Camp
inc B. Gordon, ST. Simons Island.
Brunswick, Ga, August 26, '9S.
Dear Sir-I am tired of army life and
write to ask if you will be kind enough
to use you influence to get my dis
charge, so l will be able to return to
my work by October 1st. 1 am vast
ing my life staying here for $500 per
month and nothing to eat.
The commissioned officers are doing
their best to keep us in the service. [
don't blame them-"self preservation is
the first law Of nature" They are
making more now than ever they did
in their lives before. Why should I
suffer for their gains, he 1 am the
loser?
| Ninety-Six per cent of the men want
to be discharged. We enlisted for two
years, unless sooner discharged. The
object for which we enlisted has been
accomplished, and I hin that it is
only right hat we should be discharg-
| ed. Those who want to stay can join
| the regular army. 1 have had enough.
from our camp-tired boys hat our peo-
| pie determined to do something for
them, so president Jas. H. Chadbourn,
Jr., of the Chamber of Commerce, all
ed a special meeting Of hat body yes
terday afternoon to come to the rescue
of the soldiers.
The meeting was held at $3.50 O'Clock
with President Chadbourn presiding
and Colonel J. L. Cantwell, the secre-
tary, at his post.
The president stated the object of the
meeting and called Upon those present
to express their views.
Colonel F. w. Kerchner addressed
the meeting in favor of taking vigorous
steps to have our boys discharged. He
l said tho Norylan6 uclI1nfoorc bod hoor
discharged, and our soldiers should be
mustered out, too, as there was moth
ing to be gained by their remaining
in service. The purpose for which they
enlisted had been accomplished, the
were exposed to sickness in camp. and
as they did not want to serve longer
they should not be compelled to do so
against their will.
Colonel w. J. Woodward also made
remarks along the same line, and made
a strong talk in favor of having the
boys mustered out. He alluded to an
editorial in The New York World of
Monday showing clearly how the peo-
pie felt, and that was that now that
the war with Spain is over the volun-
teers shoul be permitted to return to
their homes.
The question as to what step should
be taken to carry out the object of the
meeting was discussed.
Colonel Woodward owe that a
committee be appointed, with the pres
ident as chairman, to be charged with
the duty of telegraphing Governor
Russell and informing him that the
Chamber of Commerce by request OF
u citizens. beg his aid in having the
Second regiment discharged, and also
request the governor to telegraph the
present status of the regiment.
The motion was adopted and the fol
lowing committee to lay the matter
before the governor was appointed
President James H. Chadbourn, Jr.
Mr.. William Gilchrist, Captain T. G
James and Colonel w. J. Woodward
The committee was givn full power
to act IN the matter.
After remarks by Captain T. c.
James and others on the object of the
meeting, the chamber adjourned.
THE SECOND REGIMENT DIS
CHARGED.