The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-01-25

communication from Capt. McCaugh-
rim, and without ordering al investi-
CATION or courtmartial, so far as the
records indicate, Gov. TIllman, as
commander-in-chief of the army of
the state, issued the following order,
summarily dismissing in dishonor and
disgrace, every member Of the New
berry company:
Headquarters, Executive Mansion.
Columbia, S. c., April 2, 1894.
Capt. S. J. Mclaughlin, Commanding
Newberry Rifles.
Sir: Your communication of this
date has just been received. Under
the laws Of South Carolina the gov
ernor is clothed with "the dicretion
and power to call out the militia when
ever in the Judgment Of the governor
it may be necessary And when SO
called into the service of the state
shall be subject to the same rules and
articles Of the United States army.
The action of your company, and your
daring to send it to me under these
rules, is mutiny and all insult to the
commander-in-chie who was given
his commission by the people. The
duty Of soldier, and the militia are
soldiers, when called into service, is
blind obedience to orders from his
superior, and not to question them in
any degree. You have failed to learn
this first lesson and l will make Of
you and your company an example.
Your designations are not accepted,
but you are dismissed from the service
Of the state as unworthy TO wear its
uniform. The arms and other state
property in your possession will be
delivered to Col. j. G.. Watts, assis-
tant aljutant and Inspector general.
You do not deserve it, but will pay
your hotel bills and I trust I may
never be bothered with any more such
band box and holiday soldiers.
(Signed) B. r. Tillman,
Governor & Commander-inC Chief.
No Investigation.
AS stated, there are absolutely no
records in the governors office or. in
the office Of the adjutant and inspec-
tor general to indicate that Gov. Till
man ordered any sort Of an investiga-
ton, and no courtmartial proceedings
were instituted. The order of dis
missal was based solely on the letter
Of Capt. Mclaughlin, and nowhere
in the records do the names Of the
discharged men appear in connection
with this order. It is safe to assume,
after most careful search of all of
Gov. Tillman's papers and records re-
lating to the "Darlington war; that
he did not have before him single
name Of member Of this company,
save that of the commanding officer,
and total of 32 men were disgraced
by the special order of the chief exc
cutive without even hearing. AS the
order of discharge was issued immed-
lately on receipt Of the communiea-
ton from Capt. Mclaughlin, it is be-
lievcd that no effort was even made
to ascertain if the letter expressed
the sentiment Of every member of the
company, but all were discharged as
being unworthy to wear the uni
form -
The Men Discharged.
The following is an incomplete ros-
tcrNof the officers and members Of the
Ncwbcrry Rifles dismissed from the
service without honor by Gov. Till
man: Silas McCaughrin. captain; r.
II. Wearn, first lieutenant; W. w.
Hornsby, second lieutenant; w. A..
McFall. junior second lieutenant; G.
Frank Wearn, orderly sergeant; John
A. Eddy, Fair Pifer, Fl. H. Kinard,
Mycr Mittle, J. J. Langford, Stan
more Cash, Israel Brown, Ed Riser,
Chink Folk, George Kinard, R. M.
Taylor, John Blatz, E. S. Kingsnlore,
o. Saxon, all living; and the fol-
lowing since deceased: II. r. White,
Frank B. Lane, B. B. Hunter.