The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-01-11
TREATED LIKE SLAVES.
Second Regiment men are not
allowed the right to petition.

Letter from private soldier in the or
ganization-Every man in the regi-
ment wants out-rhe officers have a
good thing and want to stay-Leader
OF petitions sentenced to daily dis
grace terrible arraignment for
those who are responsible.
CAMP WETHERILL, Greenville, S. c..
Dec. 27-When the Second West Vir-
ginia regiment entered the service of
the United States, there was not 10
the entire volunteer army regiment
which was more anxious to be retain
ed in the service. Things, however
have changed; the war is over, public
attention has been taken from the
troops and there is not now private
or on-commissioned officer who de-
sires to serve out his two years. The
greater portion of the men in the regi-
ment are from farm and shop, school
and office, and do not wish to play
soldier any longer. They enlisted to
fight not to do police duty in the ma
larial pens of Cuba. All of the sol
diers are dissatisfied. The Second
West Virginia regiment is the most
dissatisfied and disconnected in the
service. All the men are angry and
cursing because there is probability
of further keeping them away from
their homes and business, and the
government has no moral right to re-
tain them. They are men who left
their homes because of the emergency
of the country; now that emergency is
past and 1t is downright injustice to
compel them TO remain in the service
after all possibility of gaining dis
tinctlon or promotion is gone.
James A. Bibby sergeant of Com
pany l, is now ''citizen. He was
nephew of Governor Atkinson and
of course had the necessary ''pull OUT
to get out.
The soldiers are now being treated
to novel performance. As | said al
most every soldier ia the regiment is
more than anxious to quit this farcical
soldering and return to his former
vocation. Vexed by the sluggishness
Of Uncle Sans machinery, and in
spired by restless yearning to return
home, big fellow named Floyd, Of
Company L., the Sankey of the soldier
band got up petition to the politi-
clans at Washington to be mustered
out. The petition recited that they
were volunteers and citizens who en-
listed to aid their country in time of
national peril, and they did not wish
to play soldier and be national guards
men. Nine hundred and eighty OF
the boys signed that petition-the en-
tire regiment excepting the sick and
absent. The colonel hearing of the
petition seized it and arrested FLOYD
who now walks majestically around
the bull ring in front of the colonel's
tent, which he will be obliged to re-
peat three hours day for three
weeks. Floyd weighs over 200 pounds
and he takes his punishment with at
much dignity as did the famous Hin
doc King, Pontus, before Alexand 81
the Great. He is quite old having
two sons in this regiment. He is d
hero with the boys, who are making
elaborate preparations to treat him tt
a big New Years dinner. Think Of
the outrageous manner in which this
man has been treated? He violated
military law but it is piece Of infer
nal irony to think that lot of officer
wish to continue drawing their bis
salaries may with impunity send 1
hired agent to Washington to connivt
to keep the regiment in service while
privates are penned up like wild
beasts when they honestly petition Il
be sent home. The boys think thai
Governor Atkinson is working to hole
them and they have sworn vengeance
against him. The mention of hi,
name calls forth torrent OF molter
profanity worse than a dying sea pi-
rate. If we are compelled to remain
two years remember, Wes., we will b.
home and will even things up.
A PRIVATE SOLDIER.