Phoenix weekly herald., 1898-09-08
APPEAL FROM WHIPPLE BAR
RACKS.
Volunteers Tired of Garrison Duty.
Want to Fight or go Home.

Private T. X Wilcox, of Company y
now stationed at Whipple barracks, on
| behalf Of the New Mexico and Arizona
! volunteers. has sent the following''op
| letter" to delegate Fl. B. FERGUSON of
! this city and the volunteers, through
| MI Wilcox, requests that the letter be
published in the Citizen:
70 the Hon. II. B. Ferguson. delegate
to Congress from New Mexico:
The eNigincies that called this regi-
ment into existence being no longer OPP
erative, its enlisted members desire to
be returned TO their homes and usual
aVocatiOns. The restraints of military
discipline, the hard fare and monoton-
Gus duties incident to garrison life
may come easy to the professional sol
der, but they are extremely veXatiouS
and calling to men, who like ourselves.
have only taken up arms. not rs a pro
fessiOn. but as an eXpedient, not as a
matter of inclination or fitness, but
from deep sense of duty to our coun-
try. We feel that no other condition
than an actual state of war can justi-
~ or retention in Il service that falls
legitimately within the province OF reg
JIlar troops.
Once before we have sought, through
petition to reach the war department
but this recourse having been denied
Us by our officers. there would seem to
remain no other but to appeal to you
in Your capacity of congressional del
e@ate. TO use your best influences in
our behalf. There is absolutely moth
ing inviting or attractive in the con-
temptation of a hopeless military ser
vitude Of two years. Unfortunately it |
appears that because we are western
men it is assumed that we take kindly |
to the calling of arms. However true |
this might have been during the stir |
ring times of the 18th of July last no |
assumption could possibly be at greater
variance with the facts today
The peace that has been wrung by
our troops from Spain is not the achiev-
ment of any one regiment. but the
achievement of all. and as citizen sol
1iers we feel that we are entitled to |
Is fruits as well as others. We have
1een subject to orders just as much as
he troops in the trenches before San
iagO de Cuba-nO soldiers could have
lone more.
1t has been intimated that the men
II this regiment feel a reluctance in
icing mustered out. Speaking author
tatiyely for the two battaliOns of the
First Territorial infantry, in garrison
lere at Whipple Barracks l can safely
ay that if the matter were left to their
unbiased choice. 700 out of the $50
would vote for disbanding We can
eadily understand why it is that our
ur officers wish TO fill out the full
ERIN of two years-once having taken | :
old of the government teat it
; hard to jar loose. but man must
e very ObtuSe not to perceive that like
Oti0ns do not and cannot inspire the
nlisted man. The president has said
nat in the mastering out of troops. the
fishes of the men themselves shall be :
1nsulted: but if the right to express
lch wish be suppressed by the self
eelling interests of our officers. how, !
the name of all that is rational, is it
become known what our wishes are
Very sincerely yours, o
riva;e =. X WILCOX, Company y. /
ON behalf of the New Mexico and t
riz0aa volunteers. '-Afbuquerque Cit /
en-. I
The above from the Albuquerque L
itizen. is perhaps a little fast in f
eaking for the Arizona soldiers who
patriots and soldiers are not belly
hing to go home. if they are of use "
the government, even where they :,
e The war is not permanently set -
I'd. as yet. -