The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-19
MUSTER OUT WAS PEACEFUL.
BROUGHT MOI CLASH BETWEEN
OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN.


second Louisiana Regiment Is Now
No MOre-Paymasters Completed
Their work at NOon-Eight Men
Were Paid on in the Hospital.
Col. Wood Made a Speech to which
the Men Were Not Responsive.
Central Railroad Carried Away the
Omcers and the Largest Crowd of
the Men-The Plant System Made
a Good Fight and Came Out Sec
Ond.
The Second Louisiana Regiment was
mustered out of the service of the United
states yesterday at lis camp. The pay
masters were little late in getting TO
work. as they did not begin until about 10
o'clock. but all the officers and men had
been paid off by noon. Eight enlisted men
of the regiment are left behind in the
army hospital, though none Of them are
seriously III. Maj. Weiss, senior paymaster,
visited the men in the hospital and paid
them there.
Early in The morning the regiment was
formed in a hollow square in front of Col.
Elmer E. Woods quarters. IT was raining
and the rain continued throughout the
muster out Adjutant Favrot read
speech to the soldiers that had been writ
ten by the colonel. Those who heard it pro-
nousced it broad and liberal minded, bear
ing no reference to the strained relations
that have existed between the officers and
men of the regiment. The sentiment of the
speech was affecting, and it was matter
of surprise that it was not cheered by the
soldiers. It was said, however. that not
voice was raised in appiauseg and that
the words met with nothing but the unin-
terested expression of the men.
Following the adjutant's reading of the
speech Col. Wood himself addressed
few words TO the regiment, bidding the
men farewell and asking them to let him
know if he could at any time do them
service. One of the enlisted men who has
been a bitter enemy of several of the
officers of the regiment said he felt regret
that the words of the colonel, eloquent OF
good feeling for the men and expressing
the highest regard for them, should not
have aroused the men TO applause. He
said, however. that there has been such
feeling against the colonel that the final
expression he gave them was not regarded
as borne out by his interest and care of
the regiment while in the service.
The animosity of the men against some
of the officers is inexpiainable TO many
who have met the officers and found them
uniformly courteous and agreeable. Els
pecially is it difficult to comprehend that
there should be i'll feeling against Col.
Wood and Lieut.. Col. Dufour, whom many
of the citizens of Savannah have met and
found perfect gentlemen
Col Wood directed his captains to dis
miss their companies upon the conclusion
of his talk, and they were not formed
again until the paymasters We're ready to
begin giving them their money. Before
they were dismissed however, the compa-
MES Of the Third Battalion expressed
through Sergt. Vic Butte of Company e
the respect and admiration they enter
tain for him. though there was no other
incident of the muster out that conveyed
in that or "a similar way liking for the
officers.
No gifts were presented by companies
to company officers, as has been the case
with nearly every regiment that has been
mustered out at Savannah though two
or three of the company officers were CIV
en- cheers by their men after they were
paid off Railroad men who mingled in
the crowd said they perceived a change of
sentiment toward the officers, brought
about, they considered, through the adj
trouble that was half way expected be-
tween enlisted men ard officers was had,
and the muster out was peaceful.
number of the members of the regi-
ment remained over and will stay in Sa-
Vannah for several days. Others bought
tickets to the North, but far the greatest
number returned during the afternoon and
night for their homes in New Orleans
and that section. The Central Railroad
secured the largest crowd as was expect
ed, two special trains being sent out in
the afternoon. The officers left by that
route at night, TO return by way of At
lanta. The Plant System, unexpectedly
TO its competitors. forged forward, and a
special train was run. Its ticket agents
sold 2l5 tickets. The Georgia and Ala
nama and the Florida Central and PENN
sular also got a part of the business.
ABOUT $4,000 was expended in paying off
the regiment. To each of the privates was
PAID an average of $780, which was less
than ii would have been had il not been
Tor a number having received discharges
marked service not honest and faithful"
winch forfeited all right to the extra pay
received by their comrades. 1t was said
ABOUT twenty-five of the men We're 50 dis
Inatged. Others have been recently fined
ny neld courts. and the fines were de-
"ucted from their final pay.
Inc soldiers were very much in evil
uence on the streets after they were paid
vi, ana they parted from their money
Mnnout reserve or regret. All were happy
at peihs out of the service and able to
S4eiclse all the privileges of citizenship.
LYMAN clothing, trunks and vaIises were
o0usht IN profusion, the men thinking 1t
sood idea TO discard the uniform as
soon as possible.