Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-07
rKNNsYLvANIA.s NATIONAL GUARD.
Col. VOlkmar's Report on Its Mobilisa-
ton During the HomesteaA Riots.


Col. Volkmar's Report ON It's Mobili..-
ton During the HOmesteaa Riots.
Col. ". J. yolkmar of the adjutant generals
department has sent lengthy report to the
War Department on the mobilization of the
National Guard of Pennsylvania during the
Homestead riots. After giving in detail the oc-
currences at Homestead leading up TO the re-
quest to the governor for the troops, the report
says in reference to the presence Of the guard
on that occasion:
'No more trying season, day and hour could
have been deliberately selected to test the
ability of the National Guard of Pennsylvania
to quickly assemble companies located in re-
mote farming mining regions, which were
practically inaccessible.
1.-The staff were not to be deferred by any
such obstacles The railway telegraph wires
were open, even il those Of commercial lines
were not. When necessary, therefore. messages
were sent to the nearest railway block available,
couriers there employed and dispatches car
ried through to destinations. The Associated
Press early became aware of the intended move
ment and their bulletins sometimes indirectly
warned troops, even ere official orders were re-
ceived.
The system for notifying men is unique and
very interesting. A captain in q western regi-
ment explained to me his method, which If not
UNIFORM throughout the entlre Suaru. Ii SUD
stautislly followed by many officers. The COM
pany was divided into squads. ench under charge
of sergeant. corporals and privates Of squads
being grouped, as far as practicable, according
to residence or place Of employment. In one
regiment there was a company consisting en-
tirely OF coal miners When the captain actu-
ally received his orders, Monday morning, his
men we're miles under ground among shafts ard
galleries of mines, yet the orders were communi-
Gated to the men, who dropped their mining
tools. assembled to the surface and we're soon in
their places in ranks"
The report then, after giving description
Of the state camp ut Homestead and the Car
negie works as well as the movement of the troops
to the scene Of action. continues: Next to the
zeal and efficiency of the personnel of the guard
the Incredible rapidity with which this little
army of between 5000 and 900 troops was as
sembled and transported far with all its
pnrapherna!ia may be attributed to Gov. Pat
tison. through whose two administrations the
guard has received his best thought, he having
once been soldier himself In it before he be-
came its commander-in-chief. With sagacity
and forethought he has habtually drawn around
him. among his military staff, gentlemen closely
identified with great railway lines Of thekeystone
state"
detailed account follows of the occupation
at Homestead by tho guard and Of the direct
descent made upon the town and the signal
stations established through which communi-
separate forces, either by flag, Photograph or
lantern.
During all the trying scenes at Homestead,
Col Nolkmar saws in his report. he heard
of but two fragrant violations of decency,
order and discipline. One has become notori-
through the press, but the public, he
says, has not known all the facts. Col. Volk
mar thus explains them when the guard
arrived ut Homestead the inhabitants pre-
pared an adroit plan. well calculated to in
duce the troops to affiliate with the populace.
With quiet. soldierly dignity the command
ing general frigidly declined to entertain
such overtures. He instantly became the
target for abuse. Matters reached a climax
one day when the hand of the assassin
was raised; for a moment no one could tell
who would fall beneath the next shot. and
great excitement prevailed. In Homestead
the provost guard speedily dispersed crowds
clustering about posted telegraph bulletins,
while enlisted men disposed to gather in
groups were ordered at once to their tents.
In defiance Of this order one man proposed
cheers for the assassin and WA dealt with sum-
mariy, if not il accordance with the forms of
law. There are times when immediate example
is absolutely necessary, and, although the one
20 which / alude has brought down upon the
Pennsylvania National Guard, a body. most
unmerited obloquy. it is certain that hesitation
might have easily resulted in gatherings which
could have been dispersed only by ordering one
part of the force to fire upon another"
In concluding the report Col. yolkmar says:
II desire 20 bear witness to the earnestness of
the soldicry of that state III thoroughly learning
what military duty really means. and in doing
it. 1t is not yet anything like perfect ma
chine, but it lie trying to become one and may
well serve as a good model to other COM
monwealshs. In the higher grades it is Offered
by veterans of the war of the rebellion. who
are now teaching new generation Of soldiers
how to appreciate and apply military knowledge
of today"