Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-06


to BE Mustered Out-Offcers Like the
Salaries.
To the Editor of the Register
Camp Wetherill, Greenville, S. c.,
December 27.-When the Second West
Virginia regiment entered the service
of the United States, there was not in
the entire volunteer army a regiment
which was more anxious to be re-
tanned in the service. Things, how
ever, have changed; the war is over,
public attention has been taken from
the troops and there is now not pri-
vate or non-commissioned officer who
desires to serve out his two years. The
greater portion OF the men in the regi-
ment are from farm and shop, school
and office, and do not wish to play SOL
der any longer. They enlisted to
fight, not to do police duty in the
malarial pens of Cuba. All of the SOL
diers are dissatisfied. The Second
West Virginia regiment is the most
dissatisfied and disconnected in the
service. All the men are angry and
cursing because there is a probability
Of further keeping them away from
their homes and business, and the
government has no moral right to re-
tain them. They are men who left
their homes because of the emergency
of the country; now that emergency
is past and it is a downright injustice
to compel them to remain in the SER
vice, after all possibility of gaining
distinction or promotion is gone.
James A. Bibby, a sergeant of Com
pany l, is now a citizen" He was a
nephew Of Governor Atkinson, and Of
course had the necessary pull to get
out.
The second member Of this regiment
was killed Tuesday. His name was
Frank Mugridge, of Company B. The
two Mugridge brothers, the only sons
Of blind father, are both dead. One
died at Camp Mead, the other one,
Frank, was soon to receive a discharge
to go home and care for his afflicted
father. But, alas, what poem of sor-
row this is. He was in the woods prac-
ticing target shooting with a small
pistol when a provost guard of the
Two Hundred and Third New York
yelled at him and his companion. The
boy started to run when the guard
fired a Springfield rifle. The ball tore
a frightful hole through Mugridge's
body, causing instant death, and seri-
ously wounding his companion, who
was running just ahead in the narrow
path. There is an effort being made
to shield the murderer, whose name is
Mattice, and he will likely go scot free
for committing crime which deserves
death If this Internal work of muir
der tho Second 10
will be mustered out by and by.
The soldiers are now being treated
to novel performance. AS I said al
most every soldier in the regiment is
more than anxious to quit this farcial
soldierly and return to their former
vocation. Vexed by the sluggishness
of Uncle Sans machinery, and in
spired by restless yearning 10 return
home, a big fellow named Floyd, of
Company l., the Sankey of the soldier
band, got up petition to the polite
ianS at Washington to be mustered out
The petition recited that they were
volunteers and citizens who enlisted
to aid their country in time of national
peril, and they did not wish TO play
soldier and be national guardsmen..
Nine hundred and eighty Of the boys
signed that petition-the entire regf-
ment excepting the sick and absent.
The colonel hearing of the petition
seized it, and arrested Floyd. who
now walks majesticaly around the bull
ring in front of the coloneis tent,
which he will be obliged to repeat
three hours a day for three weeks.
Floyd weighs over 200 pounds, and he
takes his punishment with is much
dignity as did the famous Hindoo
King, Pontus, before Alexander the
Great. He is quite old, having two
sons in this regiment. He is a hero
with the boys, who are making elabor-
ate preparations to treat him to a big
New Years dinner. Think of the out
rageous manner in which this man has
been treated? He violated military
law, but it is a piece of Internal irony
to think that a lot of officers wish to
continue drawing their big salaries,
may with impunity send hired agent
to Washington to connive to keep the
regiment in service, while privates are
penned up like wild beasts when they
honestly petition to be sent home.
The boys think that Governor Atkin-
sun 10 WIZ h41S W dOAO tASIl, anu ILSy
have sworn vengeance against him.
The mention OF his name calls forth a
torrent Of molten profanity worse
than a dying sea pirate. If we are
compelled to remain two years, re-
member. Yves, we will be home and
will even things up.
A PRIVATE SOLDIER.
To the Editor of the Register.