The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-28
Fifth Illinois, which Was Ready to
Move, Ordered Back, and Col. Gum
der's Men Given Precedence.
ILLINOIS TROOPS DISGUSTED
ENRAGED AT THEIR COLONEL. AM
DESERVING CAMP THOMAS.
Great Dissatisfaction Among Stude-
bakers Men at Not Being Permitted
to Join the Porto Rico Expedition.

CHICKAMAUGA PARK, Ca, July e7.--
The continuous rain of to-day caused all
drill work to be abandoned for the day. and
the men generally remained in quarters.
The Third Kentucky. the Fifth Illinois and
the third battalion of the Sixteenth Pennsyl-
vania left the park early this morning under
orders to proceed to Porto Rico. but before
the Fifth Illinois had time to load for it's de-
parture rush order came from Secretary
Alger for it to return to camp and ordering
out in its stead the Observation-Disclosures
tieth Indiana. This is the second time that
the Fifth Illinois, commanded by Colonel
Culver, has been ordered back after being
under orders to go to the front. Naturally
the matter has caused very considerable
unpleasant feeling among the officers and
men of the regiment, and they would no
doubt like to have a satisfactory explana-
tion This regiment is now assigned to the
First Brigade, Second Division, First Corps,
taking the place of the Indiana regiment
ordered out,
When Major Almy, OF General Wades
staff, arrived in the camp of the One-hun-
dred-and- d-sixtieth Indiana this forenoon and
announced to Colonel Gunder that his regi-
ment had been ordered to proceed to New
port News a part of the Porto Rican
force the news was Immediately communi-
Gated to the men Of the regiment and
scenes of enthusiasm prevailed for half an
hour. The men shouted wildly and pitched
their hats up like children paying. so great
was their joy. The regiment hurriedly
packed its effects, but, seeing that it could
not get out on the cars this evening. an orr
der was sent from headquarters directing
Colonel Gunder to have his regiment break
camp early tomorrow morning and march
to the Rossville loading station. The regi-
ment will probably get away from Rossville
by noon tomorrow.
While the Hoosers were filled with joy,
a sorrier and more disgusted lot of soldiers
was never seen than the men of the Fifth
illinois, The command had been extremely
anxious to get to the front. All kinds of
unsavory charges are being openly made
against Colonel Culver. the commanding
officer, not only by privates but by subordi-
nate officers. They claim that their regi-
ment has been betrayed by Colonel Culver.
who represented to President Mckinley that
the regiment is not fit for field duty, and on
these representations the President relieved
the command from going to Porto Rico.
The subordinate officers claim that the CONE
mand is in very excellent condition and in
splendid fighting trim. AS soon as the full
situation dawned on the men to-day the
greatest disorder prevailed and there was
no sernblance of discipline. Men left the
ranks by dozens and scores. and tonight
nearly hundred members of the regiment
left camp. most of them without leave, and
went to Chattanooga. The morale OF the
regiment is shattered and many of the men
declare they will not longer serve under
Culver Efforts to restrain the men were
unavailing. One man broke his gun over
a tree and left the camp without leave.
Those in the city tonight are making things
very lively.
Many of the men do not share the feel
ing against Colonel Culver, believing that
the orders from Washington were given be-
cause Illinois is already well represented
at the front. while all the Indiana regi-
ments were in the recruiting camps till to-
day. Colonel Culver expresses great disap-
pontment at the recall of his regiment
but declines to express any opinion as to
the motives that prompted the change Of
plans.
The First Kentucky was delayed In load
ing. and did not leave Rossville until early
this morning. The regiment was followed
by the third battalion of the Sixteenth
Pennsylvania. under command of Lieut..
Col. Richards The Third Kentucky, un-
der command of Colonel Smith. loaded this
afternoon and left Chattanooga tonight for
Newport News.
No orders have been issued for other COM
mands to move. but 1t is probable that the
First Brigade of the Second Division will
get away the last of the present week. The
regiments that will be left in camp after
the departure of General Grants brigade
are:
Thirty-flrst Michigan = Col. Cornelius
Gardner.
Fifth Illinois--Colonel Culver.
First Georgia-Col. A. r. Lawton.
ne-hundred-and-fifty- Indiana
Col Harry b. Smith.
First West virginia-Col. ID. B Spiiman.
Second Ohio-Col. j. A. Kuert.
First Pennsylvania-Col. j. L. Good
Fourteenth Minnesota--Col. Charles A.
Van Duzee.
Fourteenth Minnesota-Col f. Mccoy
First South Carolina--Col j. X Alston.
Fifth Pennsylvania-Col. Thomas Burch-
field
Eighth Massachusetts-Col. e. M. Jailey
Twenty-first Kansas-Colonel I. @. Fitch.
Twelfth New York-Colonel r. w. Leon
ard
Ninth Pennsylvania-coIonel c. B. Dough-
erty.
Second MIssouri-colonel W. X. cofree.
First New Hampshire-colonel r. II.
Rolfe.
Fourteenth New York-colonel wilbur q.
Wilder.
First Missouri-colonel Edwin Il. Baldcre
Second Nebraska--colonel Charles J,
Drls
Third Tennessee Colonel ]. Perry Fyfts.
First Vermont-cclonel osman D. Clark