The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-05
WON'T RETURN IN A BODY.
SECOND LOUISIANA WILL GO HOME
IN sTRAGGLING PARTIES.


leans Would Have Been Sent Had
the Regiment Agreed to Return In
a Body-EnIisted Men Are Averse
10 Being Managed by the Officers
After They Are Out of the Service.
Regiment viii BE Paid or TO-mOr-
row-Canteen Funds Are Causing
Talk.
The officers of the Second Louisiana
Regiment made an effort yesterday to in
duee their men to return to New Orleans
in a body when they are mustered out, but
the men would not agree to do so. A circu-
lar was sent to each company by Col.
Elmer E. Wood, setting forth the fact
10 extend a reception to the reg
;ment on its return and asking that the
men sign a paper agreeing to return in
a body and by one route when the com
n1aud is discharged from the service. The
men were also asked to still consider
themselves as subject to discipline and TO
abide by the directions of the officers.
The wishes of the colonel and the Oft
GERS were made known TO such of the
men as cared to hear them. The first
sergeants' tents in the Second are very
large, and the companies were assembled
not half the commands even
wen in to hear The PROPOSE
ton. They had real or fancied grievances,
aud were not disposed 10 show approval
Of the plan. Comparatively few of the
men agreed to the suggestion.
An enlisted man said he knew
there were not forty men of his
own company and another COM
pany with which he is familiar who
agreed to go in the party the officers de-
sired 10 form. The lowest report heard
was from company in which two men
agree to go with the officers.
AS the time draws near for the muster
out of the regiment the men begin to show
dissatisfaction. They declare without re-
serve that some of their officers are I'M
popular, and they do not want to go home
with them. They also declare that some
of the officers have been promised free
transportation for themselves and their
horses if they induce forty men of their
companies to travel by a certain line. Such
declaration is believed to be unjust and
without foundation, yet there are many
men who credit it and think they are TO
be used to defray the expenses of their
officers home going.
Col Wood was seen last night He ridi-
eulcd the idea of the officers having had
any such proposition made by the rail
roads, and said it was absurd to think the
officers would accept it if made. The cost
OF a ticket from Savannah to New Or
leans is but 1890, and 1t is not presumed,
the colonel said, that an officer and a
gentleman would enter into such an ar
raugement, even if it We're proposed Col
Wood has himself been so careful about
such matters that he refused transporta-
ton offered a relative a day or two ago,
plelerring to pay fare than to make him
self liable TO criticism.
Il was not partial 10 any one road
said Col Wood. IAN official of one of the
roads and an employe in his department
are close friends of mine. and they have
been at camp several times. The men
may have thought from that that their
Inc was favored, and that the officers
We're trying TO induce the companies to
take some particular route home. Such
was not the case. What was wanted was
Tor the regiment to return in a body so
mat we could have a parade on reaching
New Orleans. The people of that city
are preparing a reception, and the officers
thought it would be no more than fitting
ana proper that we should return as a
military organization.
we had arranged for guns to be sent
TO point on our route home, and these
would have been picked up The COM
mana would thus have been able to march
IN martial manner through the streets
me circular was issued to induce the
men TO return in a body and to induce
them TO consider themselves amenable to
the discipline that has obtained in the
command. We would not like to have the
Ieslment go back in body, and yet be no
more than mob. There should be some
Soit OF organization, and the men should
be under the officers"
II Is not likely that the men will choose
me same route for their return home as
we orncers. The officers have arranged
LOT train but there have been no ar
IHngements made by the men, One of the
lalIfoads, representative said yesterday.
not soliciting business among the Of
Hcers' as the men are much more likely
- tfaVel by different route from that
used by the officers.
r. ne regiment is to be paid off tomorrow.
me soldiers want their money but thew
a'e Kicking about being paid off They
see'h 10 believe their receiving their nav
Hothihg more than a dodge worked by
'ue officers to make them nav no their
CdAteen checks, while, as matter of
AT u has been decided to pay all regi-
mehts camped here for March before they
are mustered out. The men do not like
,,le idea of paying their Indebtedness to
,le cahteen, one Of the men said, because
ICY 90 not see statements of the business
Uohe by the institution and do not approve
VI me plan of devoting the profits TO the
Iec'ioh OF a single tomb at New orleans
w me soldiers of the command who have
S''u IN the service. They say they would
.u'scrlbe to such a fund but they want
W. regulations that govern canteens adj
,e.td TO and the profits distributed among
vac companies 10 be used as the companies
s'e ht' That would mean a distribution
"'n'lg the soldiers in all probability
0't Wood says eighteen men of the reg
.ie" nave been lost. He approves Of the
in"" OF having all the bodies transferred
iou' wherever their resting places may
~" ne TO New Orleans, and monument
-, mark for the general grave erected. The
oohel says there Is now about $1,000 OF
,1e canteen fund in hand and about So, 900
yNea by the men. He admits that 1t will
We me best chance the canteen will have to
sel what Is due It when the men get their
ray Tor March, as there are some among