The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-23

Mounted Riflemen-has beeh prepared By
Capt D E. Wells and forwarded to the Man
ming Times for publication in this week
issue. he also at the same time furnished q
copy Of same to :ois paper and requested it's
publication !:
Sumter, S. c., May %, 1900
To the Editor Of the Manoing Tines:
Will you kindly publish the followieg
statemen, of facts in reply to the article ap.
pearing in your issue of last week relative to
the Connor Mounted Rifemen Sometime
las. fall the adjutaot and inspector general
proposed that the two cavalry companies in
Clarendon county consolidate. The proposi.
ton was rejected by my company, and Gen
Floyd was 80 notified, but be again wrote,
insisting upon consolidation, advising me
that the two companies were too close to
each other to be retsiaed under the laws OF
the State. Ny company again refused TO
consolidate, aud was iostructed to advise
Gen Floyd that the company stood iu readi-
aess to disband. but would not consolidate
with Capt. Ricbardson's 3 company, as we had
the reqa aired plumber of meo, and as the dis
rance to Pamela, the muster grounds o. Capt.
Richardson, was ct least IA miles FROM macy
of the members of my company. He then
ordered me to prepare ny company for io-
spection, advising me that be would make
xoovn upon inspection what disposition be
would make eff the company. Msj Frost,
who inspected the company, insisted upon
consolidation. Ay company still refused,
and as the reason urged for consolidation was
the nearness of the two companies to each
other, proposed that We move our muster
grounds further north, and suggested Pri7a-
teer, il Sumter county, as suitable location.
Msj. Frost then agreed to submit ,5e propo-
silion to Gen. Floyd. 10 short while af.
terward received formal notification that
my company had stood a satisfactory inspec-
ton, and at the bottom of this notice was
written thereafter yoar muster grounds
will be Privateer, 10 Sam,er county, instead
OF Pecksvlle."
Upon its becoming generally known that
a change 10 the muster grounds had been
made, the members of my Company who
lived 10 Clarendon County were dissatisfied
aud was advised that some would qai, the
Company before they would move 10 Priva.
teer, and would also ask that the fund appro-
prla.ed by the Legislature be distributed
among them Not being clear as to what my
duty would be as to the money in my hand
belonging to the Company, sought advice
from the Adjataut asd Iospec,o. General,
and letter of which the following is copy,
was his advice TO mA Oh the subject
Columbia, S. c., Jan 26, 1900.
Captain D. E. Wells
Dear Sir: In reply to your icqairy as to
the distribution of the annual appropriation.
will say, that the money is iostrusted to the
care of the captain who is held personally re-
spousible for same aod be capno. divide it
among the men individually. TIE money is
appropriated to help the organization ae a
whole. Very respectfully,
J. W. Floyd, A. and l. Gen.
'beo called a meeting of my compaoy at
Packsvillc for the purpose of giving formal
notice of the change Of muster grouods
There was considerable confusion ut this
roes,ing aud macy members declared that
they would 10, drill at Pryateer aud de-
manded that such money as had belonging
to tie company be distributed anoug them
individually. read to thea Ges. Foyd's g
letter above copied.
l, was afterwards agreed that committee
be selected to interview Cen Floyd and 10
try 10 arrange g settlement o. the matter
Lieut.. HoJle, Private Bateman and myself
were chosen With tie consen, Ct Cen
Floyd TIE committee agreed ic drill osce at
Prvateer and once a: Packsville, and the dhy
for the FIRST meetiog a; PrvA,eer vas named.
Instead Of TIE mem GERS from Clarendoo
going 10 Privateer 90 the Gay named by the
committee they net at Pscksvi;e AID sen, q
comn,t,ee to me demanding tba, turn over
to the treasurer par, cf the money on hand
This 1 refused to do unless they would obey