The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-01-04
FROM COL. C. l. SMITH.
The Lieutenant Colonel writes
from Columbus.

The letter taken from the last issue o.
the Index-What he thinks OF the
place now-The people very kind
The bank warm number Standing
Of the regiment-No men sick
Wounded man still unable to gel
abOut-Personals about the officer,
and their wives.
The following extracts are taken
from letter which was written by
Col. c. L. Smith from Columbus
Georgia and published in this week {
Index:
COLUMBUS, Ga, December 20
| To-day Is the first real evidence we
have had that we are in the Sunny
South. This morning was beautiful
but it became cloudy about noon. 1t
has been pleasant, with the mercury
playing about the so mark. Since
wrote you we have had new tail OF
that blizzard with us about every day
The coolest weather we have had was
80 degrees, but it has been damp and
disagreeable. There is a great deal of
pneumonia in this vicinity, and nearly
every one has cold. So far no case
of pneumonia has been reported in
this regiment
Not long since one case of small
pox was found in Columbus, but it
was so quickly disposed of that it
caused no excitement, and but few
people were vacinated on account of
thu - lad h
had recently come here from a town
in Alabama. She was taken to the
pest house, and / understand that she
is getting well rapidly. The utmost
precaution was taken to prevent the
spread of the disease, and it is thought
that there will not be another case.
The Columbus people are doing
what they can to make our stay here
pleasant. Once or twice week re-
ception is given, which is very much
enjoyed by those present.
Our band which is justly regarded
as the best organization Of the kind
here, is very much in demand. Be-
sides giving their tri-weekly concerts
in camp, they fill several engagements
each week in the city The Band
Boys lose no time. They spend sew
eral hours in practice each day, under
the instruction of Prof. Mestrezat,
and the progress they have made is
truly wonderful This service has
been valuable to each member.
The long looked for promotions
were received this week, and they
were genuine surprise, for every one
here expected the Governor to make
his promotions according to the rank
of the officer. This he did not do,
but named Lieut.. Horton, of Co. M,
for Captain of Co. X, promoted I'd
Lieut.. Charles w. Conner, of Co. NJ,
to 1st Lieut., of Co. M, and promoted
Corporal Walter Sweeney, of the same
Company, to the Second Lieutenancy.
There is no objection to the appoint
ment so far as those officers are con-
cerned, but it is demoralizing to the
command, and discourages other Off
GERS. There is no incentive for Off
GERS to work il promotion does not
follow rank and proficiency.
Mrs. Spillman, wife of our Colonel,
and children, reached here this week
on visit to the Colonel We now
have the wives of all of our field off
GERS with us. Some will go with their
husbands to Cuba, but others will not
go with the Regiment, but may go
later, if conditions over there prove
to be favorable after the Regiment
lands.
Captain Morrison, of Company G, is
at his home in Parkersburg, on a
short leave.
Lieutenant H. c. Higginbotham
has been granted fifteen days leave,
subject to be called back should the
Regiment be moved. Lieut.. Higgin-
botham was detained at Macon, act
ing on the staff Of Gen. Mckee and
has never been at Columbus.
Private Oldfield was accidently shot
while we were at camp Thomas and
he has never recovered. He was the
first man wounded in the Regiment.
Mrs. DR.. Hallwood, of New York,
wife of our contract surgeon, reached
here on Thursday, and is the guest
of her husband. There is nothing
especially new about Camp. None of
the boys in whom your readers are
especially interested, are sick and all
are as happy as soldiers ever are.
O. L. s.