The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1898-09-02
CALH0UN'S LEYYER
FROM THE SUNNY SOUTH
The Montana Boys Are DESTROYS of Being
Mustered Out of Service; But Should
Hostilities Break Out Again They
Would Go to the Front.

Chlckamauga Park, Aug. 26.-NOw
that the protocol has been signed and
peace i, virtually at hand the paramount
question with the majority of the volun-
teers ls, when will they be mustered out
Of service? At least So per cent of the
men who have not seen active service
wish to bo mustered out at once and
they think 1t is the duty of the authori
ties to do so. They say, What ! Go to
Cuba and Porto Rico, Drawing the dis
ease and pest;lence of those places, fla
ishlng the WORK from which others have
taken the glory? No; it is unjust. Let
those fitted for the polico duty and
scavenger work do it. The volunteers
did not leave home and private pursuits
for such a purpose, but to uphold the
honor OF the nation; touvtnge he death
of our sailor boys, and fight for op-
pressed humanity. The sacrifices of
those at Chlckamauga, Jacksonville and
Otler points Seem to have been for
nau2ht. Will they be compelled to re-
main longer When they can serve their
country better as citizens than as they
are -dlshearl misunderstanding a life to
great extent displeasing 10 them? Yet
Ii hOstllltles were to break out anew
they would TO a man wish TO remain III
the service, hoping to be more fortunate
than before. We envy. but are not zeal.
Gus OF, our more fortunate comrades who
have seen active service. We can but
say to them, congratulations on your
noble victories! GLADLY would we have
been with yOu.'
None We're more eager for news from
the front and more happy or cheered
louder than the volunteers in training
camps when news of victories for Amer
lean arms flashed over the wires. They
rejolced with the victories; they sor-
rowed for the fatalities.
Speaking for our own regiment on the
muster-Out question. we certainly have |
reasonable excuses for being discharged. |
Ours is d special organization, different,
with the exception of only two other
regiments, from all volunteers. When
organized, owing to our dlstinctlveness
we were given to understand that we
would see active service Immediately.
In less than ten days after muster-in we
were on tho way to this place and in
three weeks after arrival we were Just
as proficient in tactics and discipline ae
we are today. None were more eager to
drill, none stepped with more sprlngy
step; but as day after day passed, and
days became weeks, we became discour-
aged. Our disappointment could easily
be seen in our faces When we were
once all langhte' and song, we are now
ii gru mhling Thousand. When equip
ments were issued the camp took on i $
former life, AZ We housht we wond
soon be on the way: but again it was tue
same old story crl +, drill, drill, or do
fatigue duty from morning until night.
Disappointed 10y false rumors; ruled
despotically by some Of he officers and
snubbed by more than one nOn-commls-
stoned tVrant, Is it wonder that we
wish to be discharged, Again, when the
government was accused of political in
reference in the selection of troops for
active service. the honorable secretary Of
war gave 1t out that all states would be
equally represented. Why should this
policy not hold good in the selection of
troops for garrison duty? AS Montana
has or soon viii haye regiment doing
this work in Manila,and rs this is double
The states quota according to popula-
Ion, IN l25,OOO volunteers, we should be
out.
One would be surprised at the amount
)f sickness in the Park; that is, until he
becomes aware OF the condition of af-
airs, and then he wonders why it is lot
worse than it really il. Our troop of 70
men on arrival has but 25 men left for ]
tuty. The rest are either on tho sick
ist, discharged or on furlougns, while we
lave had but one death. The other
roops of the third cavalry are nearly
is bad off as we are, while some of the I
infantry are even worse. All regiments
when they arrived in the Park did not
xpect to stay long, so they didn't think
t necessary to observe even the simplest
# sanitary laws When the commander
woke to the danger it was too late, and
he men had malaria in their systems.
III springs are condemned, lac to seep- !
ge. and it is necessary to haul water
i've miles, each troop or company receiv-
ng about barrel and half Added to r
his state Of affairs IS the inefficiency of
he medical department to cope with he =,
lsease. If the papers published in this
icinity were to be believed the condi-
ION would be indeed deplorable. Hap t
lily, good many reports are very much
and the existing situation i
J not so bad as apparent, and certainly
$ good as could Ee expec ed under the !,