The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-08
REFLECTING ON OFFICERS
CLAIMED THAT NO ACCURATE,
INFORMATION CAN BE
OBTAINED.
STATEMENT FROM COL. BURGWYN
Says He Has Made Complete Reports ia Detail
Giving Tho Most Minute Facts With
Reference 10 Formation Of Reg
iment and its Conditions.

The following very extraordinary spe-
cial telegram came into the News ana
Observer office from our Washington cor
respondent ut II O'Clock last night:
Washington. ID. c., July 7.-(Special.)
The Second North Carolina regiment
is keeping the War Department guess
ing. In other words no one is able
to tell anything about the requirements.
1t is almost impossible to learn anything
concerning the actual condition of the
regiments. and when information is
asked for it is indefinite and unsatisfac-
tory. War Department officials are at
a loss to know what to do. with regl-
ments. When only thoroughly equipped
and well drilled men are being sent to
the front. the department is taking no
chances. and this being the case no one
can tell when the Second North Carolina
regiment will be called upon to go to
Cuba.
This telegram is in sense a reflection
of the Second North Carolina regiment,
and upon its commanders particularly
1t seems that somebody in the War De-
partment. or some other department in
Washington. takes Il special delight in
North Carolina troops. 1t will he re-
membered that it was reported that
North Carolina was unable to get up
its two regiments and other erroneous
publications have been made from time
to time.
Soon after the above dispatch was re-
ceived last night. a reporter went to see
Colonel VIM. H. S. Burgwyn, the col
1t was II o'clock and the Colonel had
retired, but when appraised of the CON
tents of the Washington special, he
came out and read the message very
carefully and calmly Then turning to the
reporter. he said. Il cannot understand
those statements. They are said to
come from the War Department, and
this / cannot understand"
'.There is absolutely no foundation
for such statements. to the contrary the
War Department in Washington knows
in detail every thing about the Second
regiment As to the War Department
asking for information and getting in
definite and unsatisfactory replies. it
has not asked for any information.
have not waited for the department TO
ask for information concerning the regi-
ment. / have made full tri-monthly re-
ports on the 10th. Goth and Both of
June, and on July 4th, | mailed
to the department n full and
infinitely complete monthly report. show
.1g every single change that had taken
place in the regiment. This report
showed every single man-every com
missioned officer. every man commits
stoned officer and every private. incind-
ing all the recruits in every company in
the regiment.
| have made reports on the vaccination
of the regiment, showing from time to
time the exact condition of the men.
have even sent to the department
copy Of every general order that has
been issued. | began first to send my
reports in duplicate to the Gulf DIVISION
HEADQUARTERS at Atlanta and to the de-
partment at Washington, but was adj
vsed to send only one report, and send
that to Atlanta. l sent, however, my
monthly report in duplicate to Washing
ton and Atlanta"
"As to the condition of the regiment.
continued Col. Burgwyn, Il regard it
as one of the finest volunteer regiments,
one Of the best drilled and best disci-
plined, considering the short time it has
been in camp. that have ever seen. and
this is the general comment of military
visitors to the camp"
The regiment is not yet fully equipped
because some acquisitions / have made
have not yet ebeen granted, but / hope
soon to have perfect and thorough
equipment
General A. d. C0wles. the Lieutenant
Colonel of the regiment, was seen and
endorsed every statement that Col Bur
gwyn had made.
1.-The regiment is recruited to within
thirty men of its maximum, and when
all these recruits are equipped, / do not
hesitate to say that the Second North
Carolina regiment will compare favorably
with any regiment in the volunteer SER
vice." said Col. Cowles. ''and ! can see
no shadow of justification for the state
ments i'm the Washington Dispatch"