The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-06-06
The Troubled Camp.
editor The Manning Times:


Editor The Manning Times:
News, fresh, sad or gay, if it is true
l know you will appreciate as edi-
tor of your valuable and interesting
paper which is circulated so far and
wide, and its readers learn from it's
columns each week the doings and
sayings of both county and State.
We wish to report the news of the
military investigation held at Packs
vile on May Gath, and in doing so we
shall endeavor to render unto Caesar
the things that are Casar's. AS you
have stated before in the columns Of
The TINES there was trouble in the
camp of the Connor Mounted Rifles
brought about by Capt. D. E. Wells
efforts to take his men to Privateer
to manpuver and withholding the
States appropriation from the COM
pany This trouble seemed to rise
to a terrible pitch until the Adju-
tant General directed Capt. D. E.
Wells and the command to assemble
at Packsville on May cath, and as
the sun rose higher in the morning
the troops began to fill the pleasant
little village of Packsville until it re-
minded US of days OF war; here and
there in squads Of soldiers you could
see them and hear them discussing
the coming issues with determina
tion in the eye of every soldier. Cap
tain Wells with some of his men from
Sumter was little apart and seemed
to be prospecting for the coming bat
tie which was delayed by the disap-
pointment Of the general not getting
off at the old Manchester depot as
agreed. We directed the convey
ance back to Packsville with notice
that he would come on the o'clock
train, and as the train slowed up at
the station there was rush to see
the general. each vieing to greet him
first, but the general was not able to
come and he sent Colonel Frost to
represent his office. This young Of
fcer was escorted to the Packsville
Academy, where the issues were
Joined by two attorneys, Capt. W.
c.. Davis, representing the Connor
Rifles, and Mr.. Mark Reynolds. rep
resenting Captain Wells. BY this
time the academy was filled to over
flowing.
Capt. w. C. Davis opened the case
with an able and forcible address.
His military training proved valu-
able factor on this special occasion.
Coupled with his legal ability he
demonstrated that the only alterna
tive was for Capt. D. E.. Wells to re-
sign his commission and deliver up
the property of the Connor Mounted
Rifles, as no captain could success
fully lead men that did not want
him.
Mr.. Mark Reynolds did the best he
could, but all to no avail.
Colonel Frost directed that every
member of the company who was On
the inspection roll (Which he called
at the time) that was opposed to 60
ing to Privateer to drill alternately
with PackSville to stand up and 80
stood up. The negative vote was
put and stood up. The remaining
portion of the company could not
vote as their names were not on the
inspection roll. \ good number of
the members that were on the in
spection roll were absent, suppose
did not learn of the meeting in time.
1t appears that forty-odd names of
the company was signed to petit
ton to the Adjutant General asking
for the resignation Of Captain Wells;
along with other complaints this was
handed to Colonel Frost. Captain
Wells handed up copy of The MAN
MING TINES to Colonel Frost, asking
him to correct the error published in
that paper by your correspondent
one week previous, when it stated
that the Adjutant General was mis-
led as to the drilling at Privateer,
etc. Colonel Frost stated that the
paper he read from was THE TINES,
edited by Senator Applet, and he
would say that the statement was
not correct.
Captain Wells presented his writ
ten resignation with agreement that
he was to deliver the property and
appropriation of the company to the
proper authority Except a small
amount for gloves and band eGpen-
ses of the committee which went to
Columbia). 1t appears that Captain
Wells had barbecue at Privateer
and an effort was made to charge the
amount against the appropriation,
but it failed After Captain Wells
resigned, the petition asking for his
resignation was not read.
1t is just to say that Colonel Frost
did his best to be fair in his decision
and kind and true to his fellow sol
der, and we extend to him our high
est appreciation for SO many kind
words for that grand and memorable
old company. the Connor Mounted
Rifles He told them he would soon
ship them new uniforms and hrag
rifles and equipments, and from all
could learn new life and fresh visor
has set in with that grand old COM
pany and when the next inspection
comes it will, as in the past, be Sec
ond to none, but always ready to
county and State.
| notice in the Sumter Herald that
Captain Wells at the barbecue at
Privateer had raised a COM
pany of fifty men there. Captain
Wells said that only two lieu
tenants were elected there to fill the
vacancies in the Connor Mounted
Rifles and men to swell the ranks of
the old company. Col. Frost told
them however if they raised the com
pany commissions would be issued.
He made an earnest appeal for unity
and thanked them for so many cour-
tesies and bade the soldiers goodbye
and Mr.. Reynolds and Colonel Frost
took the cannon ball express in the
way of a dump car to Sumter the
same evening and calmness soon set
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