The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1904-07-05
COLTS BAND WON'T GO TO MA
NASSAS.

Has, it is Claimed, Sent in Its Resigna-
tion to the Adjutant General Soldier
Boys VIII Use Every Effort to Get
Excused Dissatisfaction.
The states proposed trip for the c.
N. g. to Manassas, Va, for weeks
camp instead Of the usual outing at
this state, does not meet with
the hearty appreciation of the Connec-
ticut National Guard in Hartford coun-
ty. The Waterbury Herald has made a
close canvass Of the available men of
the companies which are located in
Hartford, Meriden and New Britain,
and the result shows that fully one-half
the soldier boys would refuse to go so
far away from home if they dared to
offer open rebellion to their superiors.
The soldiers claim that the trip to
far away Virginia means personal dis
comfort and a danger they did not bar
gain for unless they were mustered in
to the United States service to defend
the country's interests. They feel as if
the governor and the executive staff of
the national guard should have given
the rank and file a chance to vote upon
the question. Even the officers Of the
local companies are not at all pleased
over the long trip. They realize that it
will mean one week Of athe hardest
work they have ever been called upon
to do for the commonwealth. Heretofore
the officers and the men have looked
forward to a week in camp at Mantle
as a relaxation of the hum drum ex-
istence of the daily business routine.
But the Masassas trip means lots Of
work and absolutely no pay.
At Manassas the entire national
guard will be under the orders of the
regular United States officers. The
states officers have always had a GER
tain amount OF feeling and considera-
ton for the soldier boys under their
charge, and there has been more play
than actual work every year at the Nj
antic camp ground.
The state is very foxy" to send the
guard to Manassas this summer. The
United States government will pay all
the transportation expenses and the
state viii probably save several thou
Those who have heretofore made con-
siderable money catering to the wants
of the soldiers at Mantle are very an
cry to find that their income this sum-
mer will be taken away from them.
These men have considerable influence,
but they failed to keep the powers"
from deciding to go to Virginia.
la
dissatisfaction is that the Colts band
has voted to resign from the First regi-
ment for the reason that they do not
care to go on the long and rnonotonous
trip. Several members of the band have
informed the Herald representative
that the band has forwarded its with
drawal to the adjutant general and that
the latter gentleman will be bound to
accept the resignation. The band mem
bers say that a. musician under govern
ment officers would be in an entirely
different position than they have been
for years under the orders of state Of
ficers. They also feel as if the trip to
Manassas is unnecessary, and they pre-
fer to resign.
The resignation Of Colts band means
considerable to the First regiment. It
has always been considered to be one Of
the best musical organizations in the
nation guard. The regiment will be
placed In a very peculiar position, as 1t
is not believed that any other musical
can be induced to go to
Virginia unless a contract is made with
them Cor several years work in the
future. In fact, If the entire Colts band
resigns the regiment would be obliged
to secure an organization that would be
willing to enlist in the G. N. G. for three
years. The regiment knows that it
could induce Colts band to re-enlfst af-
ter the guard returned from Virginia
so they will not be SO anxious to en-
gage another band and have a musical
on their hands they do
not care to support.
The Herald is informed that nothing
will induce the Colts members to go
on the contemplated summer trip and
the regimental commanders understood
that full well, and the adjutant gener-
ais office is said to be in a quandary
and have about decided to send the reg
iment without even attempting to enlist
a musical organization.
If the First goes in to the southern
camp with the militia from other states
and the United States regulars minus a
band they will feel sore, and the abb
sence of a band to enliven the trip will
add to the dissatisfaction that exists
all along the line.
1t will not be at all surprising If a
very large number Of the soldiers of the
First regiment resign before August.
Those who cannot resign owing to the
fact that their term Of enlistment has
not expired will, it is believed, offer all
sorts Of excuses to get out Of the diff
Guilty. The officers acknowledge that
the feeling of dissatisfaction is SO
strong that the usual good discipline Of
their commands is in a serious condi-
ton. j.
e The state has apparently made
very grave mistake, and it will discover
this fact long before it orders the ma
tional guard to board a train for far
away Virginia. Hour.
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