The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-05
THE 18TH SEPARATING
ONLY THREE COMPANIES REMAIN,
AND THEY GO TODAY.
Speeches Made by Col. Smith and 9th
ers-COmpIiments to the
Commander.

Nine companies of the Ope-hundred-
| hfty-eighth Regiment were mustered out
yesterday and the others will follow this
morning. All would have been discharged
yesterday if the paymasters had completed
the examination of the accounts, but COM
pany F, Of Winchester, and Companies
and D, of Indianapolis, had to remain over
day without pay on account of necessary
delay. Six companies were paid at the
camp, and Immediately took trains for their
homes. Company H was paid the night be-
fore. Company G. of Covington, and Com
pany NJ, of Charlottesville, were discharged
at the Statehouse last evening. Most of
the men in these companies left at Ills
o'clock last night.
Colonel Smith was at the camp while the
six companies were mustered out there, and
he made brief speech to each of them. He
told the men that while it was relief to
escape from the responsibilities of his posi-
ton he could not part from the regiment
without sadness When men are associated
for six months as they had been their true
character would always come out, and he
had never been ashamed of his regiment.
Lieutenant Colonel Thayer and Adjutant
Powell also made brief talks. The boys
were begged to make themselves known to
any officer when in his neighborhood, no
matter how long in the future it may be.
Colonel Thayer gave a humorous tinge to
the farewell by remarking, TT is true that
now we have no glowing stories of our deeds
in the war, but ten years hence there will
be no one to contradict u.s." At the cloSe
of each speech the men gave three rousing
cheers.
Quite & number of officers spoke in the
highest terms of Colonel Smiths work as
the commander of the regiment. Chaplain
Christensen said: Tits due to Colonel Smith
that the One-hundred-an -ffty-eighth Regi-
ment escaped with so little sickness. Only
those who were with him understand the
constant care for his men that the colonel
exercised. At Chickamauga, when we first
camped there, Colonel Smith at once fore
saw the need of water and he, together with
Adjutant Powell, started out after supper to
find it while the others were resting from
the hard work. The spring which he found
and took possession of was productive Of
untold good to the regiment. There was no
officer anywhere who took better care OF his
men,
Adiutant Powell said: ''I have seen COL
Smith and also Colonel Thayer get up just
as they were going to eat and go down to
the messes and compel the men to clean
out their pans end do all those little things
which are so Indispensable to the health OF
body of men,"
Adjutant Powell received the thanks or
the colonel for his care of the office Of the
regiment The brunt of the work during
the past three weeks has fallen upon the
adjutant, and he has been the busiest man
in the camp. He never failed to be on hand
ana even during the furlough he went to
the hospital every day and saw that the
Mansur b. Oaks also received the thanks OF
tfSs officers for the manner in which he had
performed the duties of clerk. 1t is largely
due to him that the papers Of the regiment
are in such excellent condition.
Yesterday afternoon John O. Spahr, at
torney, on behalf of Mrs. Anna Kissell: wife
of Fred Kissell, who keeps the roadhouse
at the south gate of the fair grounds, pre-
sented to Colonel May bill for lumber
stolen by the regiment, amounting to $57l.
Colonel May wanted to know why protec-
ton was not asked for while the depreda-
said that he thought if the bill was pre-
sented within ten days it would be paid
Colonel May said that now since the One
and the One-hundred- and-fifty eighth going
he did not see how any one could be con-
victed of the theft He said that the at
torney might send the complaint to WASH
ington If he so desired
Colonel May is the one officer of tho two
regiments who willlremain in the volunteer
service for some time yet. He began to
wonder yesterday if he was actually
lieutenant colonel or only captain. Early
quiry to WashingtonTT N the evening the
reply came that he will remain in the vol
unteer service and draw the pay of lieuten-
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ifty-ninth Regiment,
when he will be properly discharged.
Nov. 10 is the day for the return or
the Observation-Disclosures Regiment
IT should not require much more than a
week to get this regiment out of the way.
It's papers are in excellent condition and
the state clothing accounts have been adj
justed. Colonel May will appoint three
physicians from the city who will work in
dependent of each other in examining the
men. This will shorten the time required
for the examination.