Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-30
LEE STANDS ALONE.
GEN. ALGER CRITICIsEs COMMAND
Err OF EVERY OTHER CAMP.
SHOWS GENERAL LEES HIGH STANDING
Thought to Clearly Indicate He is
Going to Cubn-The Third May he
I'm Richmond This week-General
Military News.
Military News.

Friends OF General Fitzhugh Lee in
Richmond. and the number is the same
as that Of the city's inhabitants, were
enthusiastic last night over an interview
which Secretary Alger had with the WASH
ington correspondent Of the New York
Journal Sunday, in the course OF which
the War Secretary paid General Lee
high compliment. placing him. in point OF
efficiency at the head OF the list OF corps
commanders.
HIGH TRIBUTE TO LEE.
Discussing the camps and the conditions
prevailing at each, Secretary Alger says;
THAT at Tampa was in charge of Cen
eral Coppinger, a regular army man. That
at Chickamauga, where there has been
the most sickness, was in charge Of Gene
raj Brooke. a regular army officer. And
when General Brooke was relieved he was
succeeded by General Wade. and Wade
was succeeded by general Breckenridge
both of the regular army. Camp Alger
was in charge of General Graham. The
camp at Jacksonville was in charge OF
General Fitzhugh Lee, who is graduate
of West Point, and has turned out TO be
| the best corps commander we have. He
| has kept his command in better shape
than any Of the others"
"He had the advantage of Artesian
wells" was suggested.
He had no advantage at ALL" retorted
the Secretary, sharply. He simply did
his duty. and looked after the health of
his men as he should. He ordered the
adoption of certain simple sanitary regu-
lations. and saw to it that they were
obeyed. The result was that he kept his
great army corps, stationed as 1t was
where one would naturally expect disease
to break out, with only per cent. OF MS
men sick while camps further North have
been overrun win disease
The encomiums passed upon General
Lee by the Secretary Of War indicate
clearly the high estimate placed upon him
by the department, and since every other
corps commander in the army, with the
sole exception of General Shafter, came in
for sharp criticism. it would seem quite
clear that none of them are TO receive
high command in the future, and that
General Lee will be at the head of the
army OF occupation in Cuba. But this has
not been doubted for some time.
MUSTER THE THIRD OUT.
Inc Dy wire 10 llS
Dispatch from Washington yesterday, TO
the effect that the Third Virginia was TO
be mustered out at once, was not un-
expected as strong efforts have been |
making In behalf Of the regiment. The |
work of mastering out will consume |
some time probably a week. or longer
1t Is presumed the regiment will be |
brought here before it is mustered out, |
as the order issued by the Secretary OF |
War for the instruction Of muster-out |
officers says regiments will, as a rule, |
be marched to their State capitals before
being mustered out. If the rule is adopt
ed. the Third will probably be here be-
fore the week ends. or early next week.
There is a possibility, it is thought OF
the men being given a thirty-days' fur
Tough prior 10 being ordered here for
muster out. This was done in the case
Of one of the New York regiments, and
probably, also, in others.
A NEW REGIMENT.
1t has been suggested to the Governor
to use his influence to have mustered out
of the service all the men in the Virginia
regiments who desire to be mustered out.
and to have those who remain in service
formed into a single regiment The Gov
ernor has not yet signifed his opinion of
likelihood of his advocating it. Its adop-
ton would mean the complete disorgani-
cation of the Virginia troops, and the
reelection of new officers, from colonel
down.
The programme seems to be as outlined
in the Dispatch d month ago-the Third
to be mustered out. the Second and
Fourth TO go to Cuba.
With the mastering out of the Third.
Colonel Male will, it is presumed, resume
the discharge of his duties as Adjutant-
General Northumberland 10
Lane Stern having been acting Adjutant-
General during Colonel Males absence
with his regiment.
LIEUT.. HOBSON'S BROTHER HERE.
Mr.. S. A. Hobson of Tuscaloosa. Ala,
is in the city, at Murphy's. Mr.. Hob
son is q brother Of Lieutenant Richmond
p Hobson, of Merrimac fame. and in
his quiet demeanor, as well as in personal
appearance, much resembles the naval
hero.
Mr.. Hobson discussed the story of his
brothers exploit at some length. He
emphasized more strongly than has ever
been done in any Of the published ac-
counts, the fact that Lieutenant Hob
son nor his crew knew whether the Mer-
rimac was blown up by themselves or by
a mine III tue CHdlll4t4' II seems " NC
the opinion of Mr.. Hobson that the latter
was the case.
Regarding the rumors Of the approach
ing marriage of his brother, Mr.. Hob
son said that Richmond had a habit
Of acting as best man for different Of
icers in the navy when they were mar
RED, and after this little affair at San
iago. the young ladies, who acted with
him at the matrimonial altar. naturally
alluded To the incident and their friends
md the enterprising newspaper man did
he rest"
Mr.. Hobson will remain in Richmond
several days
Death of William Mason. ;
The death AT the State Farm on Thurs
lay last of William Mason was particu- Z
arly sad one, as was thee crime that | {