The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-12-07
ANXIOUS TO GO TO CUBA
Conflicting Rumors Fill the
Fourth Regiment With
Fear and Anxiety.
MANY IMPROVEMENTS IN CAMP
Lieutenant Colonel Henry
Lehman May Resign-Ser-
geant Major Clements
Promoted.
[speeialto 4rhe Jersey city News.a

Especial to s.The Jersey City News"
GREENVTLLE. S. G., Dec. Z, lS9S.-The
Fourth Regiment has been experiencing
weather for the past week which is more
like that found in the North during No
vember. The sunny South has lost its
sun and II has rained almost steadily for
the past few days. On Sunday the
weather cleared for a few hours and then
grew rapidly colder until late ii the after
noon when quite a violent hail and snow
squall set in. The tents swayed and tugged
at their fastenings. but except in a very
few instances they held and kept fairly
dry and safe. The stoves kept all the
tents warm and comfortable, and the men
on the whole did not mind the cold snap
in the least, with the exception of the
guard. who were exposed to the full force
of the high wind. During the night
Colonel Gilmore very considerably re-
lieved a number of the unimportant posts
and ordered that they go to their quarters
during the night. 1t is such small things
as this that has made the Colonel SO
popular with the enlisted men Of the
regiment.
There seems TO be no doubt now that
the Fourth Will be among the last regi-
mcnts 70 be mustered out of the service.
The Third Regiment viii be mustered out
in a short time and this will leave the
Fourth New Jersey as the States sole
representation. An effort. viii be made to
obtain some Of the Thirds best men for
the Fourth Regiment, experience having
shown that a large number of each regf-
ment desire to remain in the service.
1t is rumored that the Second Army
Corps. will be mustered out soon. The
Fourth is not to be included in this gem
eral mastering out, but is to be brigadcd
with the Fifth Massachusetts and First
Rhode Island regiments and the brigade
attached to the Seventh Army Corps. un-
der the of Major General FItz-
hugh Lee.
If the Second Corps does not go to
Cuba it will necessitate a new dispo-
sition of the various ~brigades, and in the
new arrangement the Fourth may be
shifted from its first assignment, which
was Havana. The regiment is still hard
at work improving the camp ground for
permanent camp ground. The new mess
halls are nearly completed and a perma-
nent wooden guard house, with five cells
and a guard room. has been started.
The health of the regiment continues to
be excellent, and there is no more sick
ness than at Sea Girt or Camp Meade,
where the health of the regiment was a
wonder to everyone who had any connec-
ton with the volunteer regiments. The
tion to extended order almost exclusively,
and the work that is being lone by the
various companies and battalions IS very
good. There nave been several semi-sham
battles between the different battaiions
during the afternoon drill, and in several
of these blank cartridges have been used
with the result that the men have real
lied the use Of cover, and also to use
their ammunition wisely and effectively.
There have been no accidents notWith-
standing the rivalry between the com
panies and the zeal and ardor with which
they enter into the fighting.
Sergeant Major Clements received his
commission as a Second Lieutenant yes
terday, and was Immediately placed on
guard. Lieutenant Clements was compIi-
mented very highly on his muster out
papers by the officers. which was neees-
sary before he could be sworn into SER
vice as a commissioned officer. Sergeant
Major Mitchell of the Third Battalion also
received his commission. Among others
sworn into service in the last few alys
have been Captains Harry Ralph ard
William Dey and Lieutenants Rhoderick
and BUST. 1t is said that Lieutenant
Colonel Henry. Lehman, Jr., is contem-
plating resigning because OF matters
which require his attention at lone
Colonel Lohman is very popular and it is
hoped by the regiment as a body that he
will be able to continue with it until 1t is
mustered out. Lieutenant Steward Of
Company K, will be made guard i~nstruc-
tor in a day or 50. He Is thoroughly
guard duty and is an excellent choice for
the position.
The new rifles are expected to arrive in
as used by the regular army and will be
a vast improvement over the present
Springfield rifles, which are of the model
of 1873. Private James Murphy Of Com
pany D, while on guard Monday, caught
a colored man in the act of stealing an
overcoat while the companies were at
morning drill He arrested the man,
and when searched a loaded Colts revol-
yer was found concealed on his person.
He was delivered over to the civil authori-
ties by Lieutenant Cole. Commander of
the guard. and will be tried on the double
charge of larceny and of carrying con-
cealed weapons. which last, in a colored
man. is considered the most serious
charge. The regiment will probably be
paid on Wednesday or Thursday of the
present week for the month of November.
which will make two pay days about one
week apart.