The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-24
RETURN OF THE THOUSAND.
- Ryan Had Four Men Follow
In the New Orleans Parade,

raj
u,r, in the New Orleans Parade.
o.;yate valentine Ryan. honorary
,.uor, If the enlisted men of the Second
s,isiana Regiment when they were mus
"a ont of the service a few days ago,
"a not have an opportunity to shine be-
are the people of New Orleans in the way
y had expected on reaching home. His
..o deserted him too quickly for the ire
..r5ops parade he anticipated being held,
"a the horse he had in waiting for him
mai city caracoled, tossed his head
"a champed his bit at the head of a
@1I,ron of four men of the regiment. The
tour who stuck to their leader were Pri-
yates William ]. Fay, j. H. Mckay, G.
/ in and R. Brittnacker-
Tbousonds of people greeted the return
/ inc soldiers as their trains pulled into the
4 aanot at New Orleans last Wednesday.
4 There was hurrahing, Misunderstanding, joy
/ ans welcomes and tears. A great dis
4 NAV of feeling and enthusiasm was given,
H tbough the soldier boys did not seem to
want any of it. When, at the urgent re-
f ouest of The committeeman who had gath
H cred to show the boys a good time, col"
Il RYAN ordered blast from the bugle 60
have the men fall in, the four who have
been named responded, and the march to
H The armory followed. Arrived there, the
H address of welcome was not forthcoming,
H and the return of the braves was a very
n slow and tame affair.
Here is what Private Ryan had TO say
10 the New Orleans Times Democrat about
a the treatment sustained by the regiment
AT the hands of the officers. The promised
fire of his charges is not very warm, and
H IL is seen that there is still the same
vagueness about his allegations:
Il wish to state, and l am sure you
must have observed, that the men on
their arrival presented an appearance wor-
thy Of the state of Louisiana. A finer body
Of men never travelled over the Georgia
n Central or Plant System Orderly
throughout the trip, every man felt CON
scious that New Orleans wished to do
them honor, and every man feels grateful
for the honors showered upon us to-day
and hopes they are worthy of the indorse-
ment Of such a grand reception. The men
OF the regiment have informed me that
they are at my disposal, and request that
! call d meeting in the near future to dis
cuss matters pertaining 10 the division
between the officers and men, in order that
the people of New Orleans may be relieved
Of the suspense of wondering over what
might be the cause of the difficulty in the
III ~
fcers of the regiment shall have every op-
portunity of clearing themselves of the
opinions thus far formed Of their actions
We have no desire to do any of the Of
ncers an injustice, and only those Off
GERS who have been at the head of the
regiment shall be considered, as they are
principally responsible for all the trouble.
The officers most prominently responsible
are Col. Wood. Lieut.. Col. Dufour, Maj
Hughes and Capt. Benners. Among the
principal causes of complaint are: We
were not properly cared for: we were
made to do guard duty in the rain. and
had to sleep in the rain; we had no exer-
else tents, while some of the other resi-
ments had two; We were forced to eat
meat which had spoiled, and many other
things happened that should not have
happened"
Valentine Ryan, before he volunteered
H was IN the Baldwin, Melville Company. He
H was a ventrloquist and a good alI-round
musical and utility man.
Col. Elmer E. Wood and other officers
oI Inc regiment reached New Orleans the
loAo"ing day. Col. Wood said some nrat.
~ sharp things TO a representative of the
lHhes-Democrat about the men who made
me trouble in the regiment and some very
ilce thlngs about the men generally. Be-
tween Col Wood and Lieut. Col Dufour
nouors rested about even as to which oc-
Vuped the higher place in the hatred of
some OF the men of the regiment Many
never hesitated to speak in the most un-
measured terms of abuses the officers had
iiedped upon them, and it seems very much
H IKE ne had adopted the Goals of fire plan
%hen Col. Dufour told the newspaper man
n tldt the regiment was "a splendid body
ol men, splendidly differed and disciplined
any KICKS now made are due 10 the rigid
uisclpllne but the splendid physical condi-
uoI VI tne men is the best proof that they
were well cared for. From the STANDPOINT
OF the officers, the worst men in the regl-
'leht are the equals of the best in any 9TH
4 fr' and when we can assist an old Second
8 LoulslanIan we will do it,"