The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-28
THOUGHT THEY WERE HERE.
COL. WILLIE JONES EXPECTED To
FIND HIS REGIMENT.


That Had Come Before and 10 Ar
range for Others-surPrised TO
Find the Regiment Had Been Or
dered 20 Augusta to Be MusterMl
out and That the Advance Guard
Was Already There-oficers and
Men would Have Been Glad TO Be
Mustered Out at Savannah-City
Authorities Had Nothing to Do
With Keeping the second Away.
Col Willie Jones Of the Second South
Carolina Regiment was in the city yester-
day for several hours. He eft by the
Plant System for Yemassee. where he in
tended 10 await the arrival OF a detach-
ment OF his regiment that was on the way
from Havana and bound for Augusta
The Plant steamship Oiivette brought
the South Carolinians from Havana 20
Port Tampa. The men had all their bag
gage disin1ected at Mullet Key. a small
island near the entrance to Tampa bay.
Col. Jones was anxious 70 get on 10 Sa-
vannsh 10 join the attachments Of his
command that had preceded him, and to
get everything in readiness for the accom-
ingly ne left by the first train. There
might have been two or three of his on
GERS 10 accompany him had il not been
that there was but one vacant berth in the
sleeper.
when ne arrived at Savannah, Col Jones
vas astounded 10 ind that his regiment
would he mustered out al Augusta He
had received orders at Havana from his
commanding general 10 proceed to Savan-
nah 10 be mustered out When he found
that some Of his men had already gone on
! to Augusta and that they had not stopped
here al ali ne was surprised. On looking
/ up Col. Bellinger, the depot quartermasteF,
I he was apprised Of the changes that had
| been made in the original plan and that
| his regiment would be one Of those that
/ are TO be discharged from the service at
Augusta.
! The officers and men Of the South Car
| DINA regiment have a great many friends
| in Savannah. to whom their passage
I around the city was a great disappoint-
/ Inent. They had hoped the command
/ would again be camped here, and the on
| GERS and men would themselves have been
4 pleased had this been the place of muster
out.
! Dispatches have appeared in some Of the
/ South Carolina papers that were sent BY
/ correspondents among the troops These
l stated that the regiment was prevented
/ from stopping at Savannah by the quar-
antine of the city, that the authorities
| would not allow the command to come in
| 10 be mustered out. Snch z report Is
grossly erroneous. for the restrictions OF
/ the city quarantine do not become effec-
tive until April 10. Quarantine regula-
lions have had nothing to do with the
| matter 1t was simply a case Of the war
! department wanting four regiments that
taHra 10 An
| gusta, and the Second South Carolina hap
| pened TO be one Of those designated for
| that city II was not known until the
first detachment Of the command was on
its way from Port Tampa to Savannah
that it would positively be sent 10 Au-
/ gusta The four regiments to be sent
were discretionary with the depot quar-
terniaster, and ne decided it would be less
/ trouble TO send the command that was en-
| route to Savannah by rail right on
| through TO Augusta than 1t would to have
another .disembark here and take train
for that city.
Col. Jones laughed at the idea OF the
city authorities having had anything to
do with the regiment going TO Augusta
1 instead of remaining here. He knew that
1t was for no such reason, and that IL
was but a matter Of expediency. He and
all his officers and men are glad to get
back TO this country, he says, and the
whole regiment is happy in the thought
OF being soon mustered out. Col Jones
said he would ask the war department to
give his officers and men furloughs until
such time as the arrangements for mus
ter out can be completed. He is anxious
to see them all allowed to so to their
homes as soon as possible, and sees no
reason why they should have 10 remain in
camp for the month or so that will elapse
before they can be discharged.
While the Second South Carolina has
been in Cuba its colonel says the princi-
pal object of officers and men has been
TO fight of disease, and in this they were
very successful. There were but two
deaths all the while the command was
away. which was about three months
Every possible sanitary precaution was
taken, and the officers were looking as
keenly TO the preservation Of the health
of the men as were the surgeons.
The colonel was greatly impressed with
the country, but of its people he does
not think so highly. He says the Span
| iards with whom the officers and meu
came in contact were found a much finer
set than the Cubans. The spaniards seem.
ed TO like the Americans better, and
there could be no question but that the
Americans liked the Spaniards better thar
they did the Cubans
Col Jones says there need never be any
! fear that the Cubans VIII fight this coun-
try And it will not be love, he says. that
viii keep them from 1t, but fear. They
have too sincere a respect for the proves
| Of the American army TO think of bring
ing on hostlities. and any fighting they
may have will be among themselves.
The fertility of the soil was one thne
that impressed the colonel particularly
He says crops of potatoes are raised ii
forty DAYS the year round, and that thu
growth of plants is something wonderful
. A letter was handed to Col. Jones by
Gen. Douglas. his brigade commander
lust before he was leaving Havana, ant
/ of il the colonel is very proud. 1t will b
presented to the command when the colo
mel reaches Augusta. The following is tht
letter:
To the officers end soldiers of the Sec
oDd Brigade Of the First Division of The
Seventh Army Corps Comrades-The time
for our separation has cone. We ars
about to return to our homes after near.
w a year OF arduous duty together. during
the greater part of which time l have hac
tho honor 70 command YOU.