Rock Island Argus., 1898-09-23
OF SOLDIERS.
Gov. Tanner States They Were
Merely on Leave of
Absence.
SEEMS TO BE AQUEsT1oN ABOUT IT.

Organization Ceased to be When 1t En-
tered the Service of Uncle Sam-Last
Dress Parade of the 9th at Springfield
News of the Sick-GeneraI Mention.
Asked as to whether the Rodman
Rifles would continue as an organize
tion on being formally mustered out
of the service of the United States, an
officer of Company a said: just be-
fore our departure for home from
Springfield notice bearing the sigma
ture of Gov. Tanner was posted an
nouncing that our regiment during
the war was merely on a leave of alb
sence. / think question will arise
on that point. In my opinion, when
Company a enlisted in the United
States service its existence as local
or state organization ceased" "
The boys are indignant at the treat
ment they received at the hands of
Gov. Tanner, even being obliged to
pay their fares home from Springfield.
The last dress parade of the 9th
regiment occurred at Camp Lincoln,
Springfield, Tuesday evening at 5
O'Clock. Col. Jack Foster personally
reviewed his soldiers, and at the con-
clusion, while theN regiment was in
battalion formation, took occasion to
say goodbye to the boys in a neat
speech. He said that as that was the
last time they would be together he
wanted simply to thank one and all
for doing their duty, and especially
for doing it in the honorable way they
had. He stated further that the boys
of the 9th had reflected honor upon
themselves. upon their officers and
upon their country. At the conclu-
sion of his speech three cheers were
proposed for him by the members of
the regiment and they were given
with great enthusiasm. Three cheers
were also given the regimental staff.
AnO Orderly Regiment.
Col. Foster is in receipt of a letter
from Chief of Police Castles, accord
ing to the Springfield Register, saying
that the men of the 9th were the most
orderly regiment that had yet been in
camp at Springfield, and said that
with such men nothing but success
could be their lot. Col. Foster was
very proud to receive the letter and
said that in all his travels he has tried
to have his men conduct themselves
in an orderly manner, whether among
people of a foreign nation or among
their friends, and it is evident that he
has made a success.
When the 9th landed in New York
Chaplain J. w. Ferris had a talk with
a general of the regular army, You
are of the 9th Illinois, - said the train
ed soldier. We'll, you should be
proud of your men. They are sol
diers, every inch of them. Every
time the world has heard of the 9th
Illinois it has been because of some
duty well done. They have not crept
into the newspapers because of scan
dals among the officers, wholesale
complaints from the men, or any of
the other ways in which some regi-
ments have won a yellow fame. They
have done every duty well and while
they did not do any shooting the part
they took in the war was in every
way honorable The officers have
watched them andIassure you that we
consider the record of the 9th Illinois
as true soldiers the best of any of the
volunteer regiments"
The 6th's officers presented Alfred |
A. Rummell, Geneseo private, with |
a purse Of 800 for faithful service in |
hospital duty.
Private Ed Wagner, of Company A,
who was left in hospital at SPRING |
field, telegraphed his friend, James |
O'Connor, last night that he was bet
ter. He will be home tonight.
DR.. c. +. Whiteside, assistant sur
geon of the 9th, who has been con-
fined in a Philadelphia hospital with
fever contracted in Porto Rico, while /
with the regiment, returned home to
Moline yesterday with his wife and
brother, Robert, who have been at
tending his bedside. The doctor is
still very weak, but is gradually re-
gaining his strength.
Col. Foster, on his arrival home in
Chicago yesterday, told reporter:
I'VE were five weeks on outpost duty, |
up in the mountains marching toward
San Juan. Had not the news of the
signing of the protocol reached us
when il did, we would have attacked
Lares within "a hours, and prob
ably returned with Cless men than
we have now. The city was strongly
fortified. / consider the 9th regi-
ment has returned home in as good
condition physically as any other reg
iment which went from Illinois, and
this is saying a good deal when our
part in the campaign is considered.
The men are now on 60-day furloughs
and viii be mustered out soon after
the end of that time. There has been
no kicking on our part at any time.
We are satisfied. Col. Foster has
been in the Illinois National Guard for
% years. Twice since he moved to
he has been unanimously
elected colonel of his regiment, though
the nearest company is 100 miles
away.
The article you pay the most for (;
usually lasts the longest IT. & IT,
brand of coffee is no exception The
hest is ALWAYS the cheapest