The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-09
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

The Arsenal and that Regiment of Soldiers.
To the Editor OF the indianapolis Journal
It has for many years seemed strange to us
that Indiana, as a State. should have taken so
little interest in the United States army and
navy. This is especially exemplifed by the
very small number of commissioned officers
from the State in either branch of the service.
In the army she has no general officer, only six
field and staff officers and twenty-five captains
and lieutenants in artillery. infantry and caval-
~; this, out of $500 army officers the active
list In this particular part of the State, the in
terest in the army appears to be increasing rap
idly and it is pleasant to see. except for the &C
companying effort to force away the only part
of the army likely to be located here for a long
time to come; namely, the company of ordnance
soldiers now stationed at the arsenal. whole
regiment of infantry is wanted forthwith and it
must have 900 men.
Each of the twenty-five regiments of infantry
now in the service has maximum of only $50
men, and they average about $50. This little
fact reduces the anticipated expenditures from
81, 900 per day to $500 or less. The expenditures
for forage certainly could not enrich many of
the farmers in the vicinity, as only FIVE officers
are mounted in infantry regiment. and they
are allowed ten horses altogether. Their forage
bill would amodnt to total of $50 per month.
Little nothing would be spent here by the
government for rations, and nothing for cloth
ing. Half of the latter for the whole army is
now made in Indiana at the quartermaster's
depot, at Jeffersonville, as are, also, army
wagons required on the frontier. The subsst-
ence depot for this military division is at Chica
go. and all groceries and rations-everythin of
the kind except fresh beef-is, and would be,
purchased there, unless Indianapolis dealers can
underbid Chicago contractors Five hundred
pounds of beef per day, and the little in
eidental shopping, would be the principal extent
of the pecuniary advantage to Indianapolis
Even the beer and billiard saloons would fail
to realize the full measure of their expectations,
because nowadays regiments have their own
amusement rooms for the enlisted men, with
periodicals, books, games of all kinds. chess,
checkers, cards, billiards, hot coffee sandwiches,
and In some cases beer.
1t is not pleasant to cast any shadows over the
rosy hued picture of coming prosperity from gov
eminent disbursements presented by some of
our enterprising newspapers. but. unwholesome
or unpleasant. truth is better than these flights
of fancy which grievonsly misead u.s. 1t would
be nice to have regiment here, even with five
hundred men, instead of thousand with fine
band discourslng stirring military airs; to wit
ness the dress parades, reviews and drills; but
it is not exactly understood where the shooting,
for the instruction of the regulars and militia is
to be done. Certainly not within the
arsenal grounds, which lie in the very
midst of the city. There would be
sorrow than fun in the list of casualties recorded.
Target pracGlCe, at ranges IrOIu lUU TO 1,UUU
yards, is now most important element in the
instruction of soldiers, and has, for several
years. been faithfully pursued in our army.
Grounds for this work must be located near the
post, so to be quickly reached at all times by
SQUADS detachments and companies.
Indianapolis really needs cavalry regiment.
Each of these regiments has 900 men, and each
man has a horse; each of the 80 or 40 officers has
two horses The expenditures for mounts and
remounts would be something pleasing to con-
md hasa
enormous amount of Indiana oats, corn, hay and
straw in year: unless the thrifty government,
looking for lowest bidders should buy the stuff in
Chicago.
1t is greatly to be regretted that our papers
have been wheedled into clamoring so loudly for
an infantry regiment A cavalry regiment is
the thing wanted, and the petitions to Congress
and the Secretary of the War should be changed
forthwith. Cavalry regiments have bands, and
there is no finer sight in the world than dress
parade of eight nine hundred mounted men,
with the band on beautiful white horses, march
ing in front Of the line. playing delightful airs,
without touch of hand to bride rein-horses
marching with as keen an appreciation of the
correct military method of doing things as any
of the Notwithstanding at the end of the
line, by pressure of the troopers knee, and
marching back to position on the right with
step and air that is grand to see.
Let us have white horses for the band; all
black horses for one of the troops, all bay horses
for another. chestnut in third. grey in the
fourth, etc They must all have long tails
sweeping the ground. This should all be in
cluded in the petition to the Secretary of War,
so as to have everything start out right. We do
not want to put in any postscripts. There is
nothing equal to letting your wishes be known.
A ten-line order will do the whole business.
The argument against the arsenal for shooting
instruction will not apply to the case of cavalry
regiment, because. having horses to ride, they
can 90 without difficulty to the target grounds,
which the government will have to purchase out
of the city, and fit UP properly for regulars and
militia. The Senators and members of Congress
should be requested to introduce bill at once
appropriating million dollars for this purpose,
and half million for stables. ETC., for the corn
eaters. This, with the half million required to
fit the arsenal buildings for the soldiers and
officers will do very we'll for commencement
1t is astonishing what an economical thing this
is going to be for the government
There are several other large cities that have
been pleading for troops for years, even for
enough to garrison the military posts now located
within their limits, and vet do not get them.
Cincinnati has labored faithfully in that direc.
ton during the past year, and has great need of
protection from rioters occasionally; but only
one company of artillery is kept there. Chicago
wants troops; Detroit wants more; New Orleans
has one company of artillery, and Pittsburg
ought to have some, but they are not forthcom-
ing. They all seem to be needed elsewhere;
the plains. in Arizona and Utah, at forts on the
seacoast, and on the Mexican frontier.
ANY effort to have regiment stationed in In
dianapolis is waste of time; it will not be done;
it cannot be done unless the Senators and Repre-
sentativeS get bill passed enlisting q regiment
for the special Purpose of disseminating eighty
cent dollars to needy community. The bill
should require the War Department to enlist
1000 men in this regiment and that the dsburse-
meEt should not be less than ST. 900 per day in
Indianapolis. Then we would be happy
The military strategcal value of indianapolis
must be recognized by anyone who looks at the
map, but the general government can make full
use of all its advantages in that respect. The
number of railroads branching out in all direc-
Toledo Cleveland, Columbus. Pittsburg Cincin-
natl, Louisville and st. Louis make this specu-
liariy desirable point for the location Of mill
tary depots This is especially true of that expen-
dnance supplies, stored at arsenals The in
terror location of Indianapolis possesses the re-