The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-08-01
COLONEL OF The THIRD
REGIMENT REPORTS
COGSWELL WRITES BLEASE OF
AIKEN CAMP PROBLEMS.
Recommends that GeOrgetowu and
Horny Companies be REIN
burSed.

from COL Julius E. CogsWell covering
the recent encampment of the Sd reg
iment in Aiken and the incidents con-
nected with the departure of the
Barnwell, Bamberg and Orangeburg
companies from camp after they were
thre only three days. Col. CogsWell
reports that the Georgetown and Hor-
ry companies served without pay and
paid for their own transportation and
Subsistence because they did not have
the required minimum, and recon-
mends that all these companies be
reimbursed.
The report of the colonel of the Sd
regiment will be interesting and is
as follows:
Col. COgsWelI's Report.
Headquarters Third S. C. Infantry,
Charleston, S. c., July 20, 1913.
The Hon. Cole. L. Blease, Governor,
Columbia. S. C.-Dear Sir: Owing to
the uncertainties as to whether there
would be an encampment and the
very short notice given the regiment
to prpare for it (only four days, in
cluding Sunday,) coupled with the
fact that the members of the regiment
are business men, who have to ar
range their civil or bread-Winning af-
fairs in advance and non-proft bear
ing duties as militiamen, the Sd re-
giment was forced by circumstances
to 90 into camp with depleted num-
bers.
The companies, which were short in
numbers, believed, and in my judg-
ment had good reasons for belieT-
ing, they void be furnished trans
portation and subsistence by the
United States government or by the
State. Soon after arrival in camp,
however, Lieut.. Boswell, U. S. A,
representing the government, and
Brig. Gen. w. w Moore, the adjutant
general, representing the State, in
formed me there would be no pay,
Transportation nor subsistence for
any company of less than the pre-
scribed minimum number, viz, 50
men and two officers. The dlsburs-
ing officer, Col o. W. Babb, was not
in camp at the time, but ne later
agreed with the above so far as the
United States government was con-
cerned.
Called Conference.
1 promptly called into conference
the company commanders Of the com
panies concerned, viz, companies E,
Barnwell, F, Georgetown; H. Con-
way, l, Bamberg, and L., Orangeburg.
We discussed the matter for two
hours but could make no impression
. on Lieut.. Boswell, who claimed that
he was present only in an advisory
capacity, nor on the adjutant general.
I did not have in camp all the or
ders issued by the adjutant general,
but I quoted as nearly as 1 could
from memory General Order No. 80,
paragraph 4, A G. o. C. S., to the ef-
feet that transportation and subsis-
tence would be provided out of the
company's share of the State appro-
priation, but to no avail. The ad1u-
tant general stood firm and would not
allow subsistence. He denied that
genral order No. 80 was issued by
him.
No Service Without Food.
All the men in the companies in
question were perfectly willing to
serve without pay, but it was a ply
sical impossibility for them to serve
eight days without food. Company L.
Orangeburg, was, in my judgment,
particularly oppressed. During the
spring inspection Company L. came
up to the standard required by the
United States government and was
so reported. Upon my requesting that
they be allowed subsistence and have
same taken out of their State allow
ance the adjutant general (for the
first time 1 believe) announced that
Company L had not come up to the
standard required by the State and
that they would not receive any part
of the State appropriation. 1t was
this that made Capt Claffy say he
thought he had better take his com
pany home. 1t was impossible for
me to hold them in camp without
food, so 1 had to consent most re-
luctantly, to allow them to return.
Company L. Bamberg, had no officer
present to represent them nor handle
them; they had to go home.
Company E, Barnwell, first tried to
fo1-,d that fhpV