The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-14
COL. III. b. SMITH HERE.

His Regiment May Move Shortly to
Charleston, s. e..
Col. Harry b. Smith, of the One-hundred-
and-fifty-eighth Regiment, now in camp at
Chickamauga arrived in this city on leave
of absence yesterday noon His visit is the
result of desire on his part to see his
family before leaving for what he believes
will be active service at the front, but while
here he will improve the opportunity to
straighten out his accounts with the State.
which have never been thoroughly over
hauled since he assumed command of the
old Second Regiment as successor to Col.
James r. Ross The political situation is
dead issue with him at this time, and he
says he has not given the recent attempt to
GUST him from Office one minutes attention
and has not heard a word about it, except
what he has read in the papers. He is SIM
ply attending to his present duties, giving
them the same careful attention he has al
ways given his business affairs in civil life.
The assembly tent recently sent to the
regiment by the Commercial Club is, he
thinks, one of the finest things ever given
to a body of soldiers and the liberal use the
men make of it indicates how much it is APP
preciated by them. The regiment has excel
lent bathing facilities which are furnished
by an enterprising business man at NOM
inal cost. The regimental canteen has only
been in operation, under regimental control,
since the first of the month, but has so far
been of financial benefit to the regiment.
The suter in charge issues Indianapolis
beer, paying into the treasury of the regi-
ment 81 on every keg of beer sold. Strin-
gent rules are in force to the hours dur
ing which the canteen may be in operation
and the men are given no opportunity to
become intoxicated The men nave right
to maintain a cdnteen under the United
States army regulations. There has been
but one case of desertion in the regiment,
and that one was Sergeant McHenry, or
Rochester, who, however returned to duty
within twenty days and is now in camp UNI
der arrest, awaiting trial by court-rnartiai.
According to information received by Col.
Smith, his regiment will be moved in Few
days to Charleston, 5. G., where the men
will be loaded on transports and sent TO
Porto Rico. While there is nothing official
in this statement, every regiment has re-
ceived it's transportation and received orders
to deposit all extra camp equipage with the
quartermaster in readiness for moving in
few days The commissary department is
under good management, and the men get
masters department is not so satisfactory
on account of the scarcity of equipment
In Colonel Smiths opinion, there is llkely
to be some disappointment in the State
house when the government settles with the
State for the equipment issued to the
men sent out under the first call lie pc
lieVes the government will refuse to be
mulcted for the original value of lot OF
old uniforms. the days OF usefulness or
which have long since passed. he is equaily
sure the outfits will not be charged against
the men, who were compelled TO take them
when the regiment left for the front.
As the visit of the colonel is purely in or
der to see his wife and family, he intends
to enjoy their society as much as possible
in the few days he has at MS disposal t ana
ton He will leave for his post OF duty
Saturday morning.