The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-31
IN
SIGHT FOR MANY
SIxTY-TwO, FAILING TO ATTEND
CULPEPER CAMP, TO STAND
TRIAL.
PRIVATE UNDER ARREST
TRIED AND PLEADS GUILTY TO IN
SUBoRDINATION Bat
TALON BACK IN COOP
SHAPE.
PRIVATE UNDER ARREST

Major Lawrence r. Price. of the
First Battalion, First Infantry Regi-
ment, Virginia Volunteers last night
announced that all members of the
battalion, who had no proper cause for
failing to attend the annual encamp-
ment at Culpeper. which ended yester-
day will be arraigned before a court
martial.
There are $50 men IN the battalion,
including enlisted men and commits
stoned officers and of these only 1888
attended the encampment. sixty-two
men failing to attend for various rea-
sons. which they offered as excuses,
pleading 1t was impossible for them to
attend camp.
Major Price will o-day begin an in
Vestigation of the excuses offered by
the sixtytwo absentees. and ii is his
intention to summon every man. who
had no proper cause for remaining in
the city. Officers of the battalion last
night declared that this is the first time
IN the history of the organization that
absentees from the annual encamp-
ments have been dealt with so severe
ly.
AS commander of the battalion, Ma
Jor Price has held several conferences
with higher officers and ii is probable
the court martial proceedings VIII be-
GIN within the next two weeks. Rumors
of the action determined upon by Ma
1or Price created much excitement and
comment in military circles in Rich
mond last night.
Maintain Discipline
1t is the intention Of the command
ing officers In the Virginia Volunteers
said Major Price, ito impress upon the
milltiamen as well as upon the general
public that the soldiery Of the State Is
serious business to which there is
attached great expense In future.
strict discipline Is to be enforced and
the militia is to be conducted more
as the regular army than ever before
The militia in the United States
- to this country what a big stand
ing regular army is to a foreign ma
ton and the militia, therefore is a
necessity. Lax methods Of the past are
gradually being abolished and the mill
tia Is being trained up TO a degree of
efficiency never before attained Sixty
two men in the battalion failed to at
tend the encampment at Culpeper
believe every absentee could have at
tended. Every man who was absent
and cannot show proper cause for his
absence will be summoned before the
court martial"
GERS and enlisted men. representing
the battalion. arrived in Richmond
Yesterday afternoon at 1:45 O'Clock
from Culpeper after a week Of the
most successful camp ever held by
the battalion. The start from Gull
pepper was made at 9.s5 o'clock Ii
required just three minutes for the
men to detrain after the train stop
ped in the station. With six wagons
loaded with equipment they marched
at once to the armory and were dis
missed, dispensing without loss Of
time to their homes
First Battalion Wins Battle
The sham battle on Saturday was
won by the First Battalion under
MAYOR Price, who was pitted against
Colonel Perry at the head OF two
oatiaiions- Although Captain r. s.
Knox, United States Army. who was
chief umpire did not announce which
side won the battle, as il is not Gus
tomary to announce the winning side.
military experts who witnessed the
conflict as we'll as the enlisted men
and officers who participated agreed
that the command under Major Price
gained the victory.
The First Battalion had the ad
vantage of position, being strongly
entrenched, The two battalions un-
der Colonel Perry had to charge
across an open space where in real
warfare the men probably would have
been sent to rout by the fire of the
men In the trenches. Ten Thousand
rounds OF ammunition were used and
hundreds of spectators who came
from miles around were treated to
realistic spectacle,
Private Is Insubortlihats,.
There was one regrettable incident
in the encampment caused hy the al
legged INSTRUMENTATION OF Private
Wilkinson. Of Company b. On Fri
day afternoon the militiamen were FL
ing through the mess tents with their
pans in which their food was placed
Private Wilkinson, 1t Is charged. fail
ed To stand in line. A corporal or
dered the private in line. but II, is
stated Wilkinson refused to obey.
Captain Stack. of Company r, over
heard the argument and ordered the
corporal to place Wilkinson under
arrest. While the corporal was out
OF sight, getting his equipment and
ordering a squad into formation To
arrect the private. Wilkinson. i, IL
said. was seen whiting a club. Of
ficers state the man declared no one
would place hands ON him.
Before the corporal and squad re-
turned to arrest Wilkinson. it Is al
legged, he grew more surly and made
threats. He was taken unawares by
several privates, who sprang on him
from behind and bore him to the
ground. Wilkinson struggled SO
aercely that 1t required the combined
efforts of several Men to control him
Finally he was bound hand and foot
and placed in the guardhouse.
A court-martial was held on Sat
urday with Major King as president !
and Captain c. M. Wallace as Judge
advocate. Wilkinson was arraigned
and pleaded guilty. He was returned
to the guarfhouse. while the fndings
or the court were forwarded to Gov /
ernor Mann. who probably will re-
ceive the papers and act upon tho
findings to-day Wilkinson was
brought to Richmond yesterday nm
der guard and placed in the CITY Jail
Quartermastcr Breaks Leg.
Regimental Quartermaster Tribett |
fell in ditch Saturday night while
miiittamen In burning re-
fuse and sustained a painful fracture
OF the leg. The leg was broken dur-
ing the recent fire in Staunton and |
the bone had Just mended. Failing
with all his weight on one leg caused |
the bone to snap again in the same |
place.
Quartermaster Tribett's place was
filled by Captain David Efnstein. Of
who was attending the en-