Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-07-02
CAMP FITZHUGH LEE.

bert-Strict Examinations-One of the
Privates Thought to Be Negro and
Dismissed-The Regiment to BE Moved
Into the Country.
Correspondence OF the Yorkville Enquirer.
CAMP LEE, COMPANY B, COLUMBIA,
June 30.-This morning the troops are
very much concerned over a rumor
that the camp will soon be moved from
it's present site at Shandon, to some
place about five miles out in the coun-
try, where there will be better accom-
modations for the larger body of troops
which will be assembled when the
regiment is formed. Although the
present site is by no means a model
one, yet the men find it very conven-
lent for going into the city on account
of the nearness of the street car line,
and look upon such move as an indi-
cation that the freedom with which
they have been allowed to come and
20 is to be restricted and the lines
drawn closer about them.
Yesterday the positions of all the
tents were shifted, and for several
hours after dinner the camp presented
very busy scene with the officers
laying off the ground here and there,
the men hurrying to and fro, ditching
and rearranging their canvas houses
and cleaning up everything generally,
with the result that the camp presents
this morning a much healthier and
more military appearance.
The camp has been in mourning for
the past several days on account of the
untimely death of Private Gilbert, OF
the Darlington Guards, now Company
A, 2ud S. G. V. At the time of his
death, Private Gilbert was returning
with his company from the early morn
ing march to the bathing pool, and had
arrived in sight of camp where he was
suddenly strick en- with apoplexy, leapt
into the air, fell heavily upon the
ground, and died in less than five min
utes-before a doctor could reach him.
He was buried Tuesday morning at
Elmwood cemetery, with full military
honors, being escorted to his last rest
ing place by the battalion-a squad OF
six men from Company B, acting as
pail bearers-while another squad OF
eight men from his own company fired
the parting salute over the grave OF
their dead comrade.
1t is said that Gilbert failed on the
physical examination, being thrown
out on account of a weak heart, but
managing to get another examination,
ha ! friend to stand it for him and
thus slipped into the service.
The physical examinations by the
doctors still continue to be excessively
rigid, and apparently unnecessarily so,
for fine men, strong and healthy, are
thrown out on account of being a
pound or two under the required
weight Q2O lbs. stripped) or because
they are fraction too tall for their
weight, or else because the eyes with
which they have hunted all their lives,
and with which they can see well
enough to be crack shots, cannot dis
tinguished small letters across large
room.
There has been a good deal of sus-
picion by the members Of one Of the
companies that one of their members
was a Negro, and although the sur
geon pronounced him to be white
man, and his opinion was confirmed
by people from the boys home, still
there appeared to be some doubt in
the minds of his associates, and the
dissatisfaction was so great that it was
thought best to dismiss him and ac-
cordingly he was sent home this morn
ing.
The new company under Captain
VIM. G.. Sirrene, Of Greenville, is fast
getting into shape, and will soon be on
a par with the other companies, which
were mustered into service six weeks
earlier. This is the only company in
this battalion from the up country,
being recruited mainly from Green
vile, the other companies, A, G and u
coming respectively from Darlington,
Orangeburg and Manning. A. d.