Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-02-20

the ranks of this regiment that did so
solely for the pay he expected to re-
ceive. | do not believe there was Il
enlistment that vas not prompted
by patriotic motives. 1t was said of us
that we were wild and woody western
ers; that we were thugs ana despera-
does; that we would be insubordinate,
and that we would rape and burn and
pillage. But our record from the date
of our enlistment until today, gives the
lie to that statement. For Sobriety, for
obedience to orders, for g~entlemanly
conduct upon all occasions do not be-
lieve our record is surpassed by any
regiment in the voluntary organization,
and for efficiency in drill and for general
fitness and preparedness for active
service, we have received the medal of
honor and the need of praise of every
officer who has inspected us.
1t does not matter whether we stood
guard in the rain, hail and sleet at Pres
colt, FIT. Reno, Lexington or Albany, or
stormed the enemy'S intrenchment at El
Caney. We are a part OF the great
volunteer army that has brought luster
and renown to the American army, and
compelled respect toour government at
home and abroad as it never was res
pected before, and as a consequence our
flag today waves over the grandest. the
freest and the best government the sun
shine anywhere shines upon. Is have
said, the record of this regiment is a
proud m from every point of view, and
| am proud of it. | am proud of the
commissioned officers, and l am proud
of the non-commissioned officers, and |
am proud of the enlisted men. With a
few exceptions, they have all performed
their duty faithfully and well. l am
proud to be the colonel of such regiment.
| have held several honorable positions
in my life, such as a member of the con-
gress of the United States, the governor
ship of a territory and others that /
might mention, but none that | prize so
highly as the one l hold now. l would
not be doing justice to myself, or justice
to the officers and men of the regiment,
however, did | fail to state that there
have been some unpleasant features.
Some of the men have not at all times
conducted themselves as they should
have done. and this is also true of some
the officers, but taking the regiment as
a whole. there is little in it's conduct to
regret. In n respect this regiment
has a remarkable and, | believe, and UNI
paralleled record, and that is, that out
of 1,3Os officers and men sworn into the
service last July it has lost but five men
by death. No other regiment can equal
that, and this, some of you may think,
can be accounted for m the ground that
the lei were all of strong, robust con
situations and of good habits, but | tell
you it is due, in a great measure, to the
watchful care of your officers, who have
looked after your welfare and seen that
you were well clothed, well sheltered,
well fed and well cared for. They have
looked after your welfare when you
were asleep.
Now, fellow soldiers, | come to the
place where l am to tell you what call
you together for. You are soon to be
mustered out of the service and return
to your homes. The order has been
issued, and so soon as the rolls can be
made up you will be paid and given
transportation home. l hope you will
lose no time in taking up your accus-
toned advocations, and live to be good and
worthy citizens; and when your country
calls you again | hope and believe you
| will respond with the same alacrity you
did six months ago. Now, while you
remain in the service l want you
to cheerfully obey every lawful com
mand that is given you, and do
nothing that will tarnish your good name
or the good name of the regiment. Let
us go home with honor if we do not with
glory. And now l want to thank you,
one and all. officers and men, for the
kindness you have shown me and for the
promptness with which you have obeyed
my orders, which no doubt have some
times seemed UNNECESSARILY harsh, and
last, but not least, l want to thank you
all for the honor your prompt enlist
ment and faithful service has reflected
upon the territories from which you
came. Every soldier of the 1st terrific
rial regiment, whose service has been
faithful and honest, and who receives an
honorable discharge, will have with him
in that discharge a document that will
serve as a recommendation for any posi-
ton he seeks that he is capable of filling.
| now publicly bid you all farewell and
God speed, and if any of you ever visit
Phoenix, Ariz., invite you to call upon
me at my home"