Semi-weekly independent., 1896-03-25
IN THE CASE OF WAR.
TROOPS AVAILABLE IN THE
VARIOUS STATES.
Investigation of the Organized Militia
of the United States Shows There
Arc 0,467,604 Soldiers Available
When Needed.
Uncle Sam Counts Warriors.

According to report on the organized
militia of the United States. which has
just been prepared by the War Depart
ment, the United Stsrfs, in case of need,
can put 9,467 ,694 men in the field. Copies
of the publication are as scarce as the pro-
verbal hens teeth. The public printer
has furnished the War Department with
only half dozen copies, and these have
been given to the President, the Secretary
of War, the Assistant Secretary of War
and the general commanding the army.
At the close of the year 1895 every
State and territory, with the exception of
Indian territory and Alaska, had an or
ganized national guard. The total force
of the militia number 1860, Of which
1O2,604 composed the infantry arm, 5,215
the cavalry. 5,267 the artillery, 6i9 special
corps and /. .443 generals and staff officers.
In many of the States last year camps
were held. and the attendance upon these
occasions ranged from % per cent in Mis-
sissippi TO % per cent in Vermont. The
total appropriation allowed the militia by
the Government amounted to 100000,
while the States during the same period
spent S2.S34,974 on these organizations.
1t is estimated that mobilization of the
militia could be effected in the different
States and territories in from three hours
in the District of Columbia 10 seventy
two hours in Oregon. other State organ
iZations assembling between these two pc
riods.
New York is far in the lead in the num-
Der of men enlisted in the national guard.
IT'S strength amounting 10 12.901 officers
and enlisted men. Pennsylvania is sec
ond, with S.4S2: Ohio third, with G493;
illinois. 6,226; South Carolina, Oil;
Massachusetts. 5.344; California, 1854;
Georgia. 4.3;J5: New Jersey, 1888; Alaba-
ma, 3,120: Indiana, 3,026 Virginia, 3,0O6;
Texas, 5000; Michigan. $50; Connect
rut, 2.11O: Wisconsin. 2.6i0: Iowa, 2,39S;
Missouri. 2,107; Minnesota. 2.O2I; Mary
land, 1850; Louisiana. 1,SS3; Kansas, l.
SO; Mississippi, 1865; Oregon, $50;
District of Columbia. 1.4T1; Kentucky,
I, 400; North Carolina, ,403; Tennessee,
1889; New Hampshire, 1850; Maine,
1857; Washington, 1,1S4; Nebraska, L.,
137; Florida. LOSS; Utah. 1OO3; Rhode
Island. 90; Arkansas, 014; West Nir-
ginia. Si5: Colorado. S;'3: Ncrmsnt, 500;
South Dakota, 19S Idaho, $50: North Da-
kota. 80; Montana, 80; Arizona, 500;
New Mexico. 40; Wyoming. 40; Nevada,
400; Delaware, 421, and Oklahoma, 1.J3.
1t is estimated in this publication that
in case of necessity. Illinois could place
So. in the field; Pennsylvania comes
next with al ,S74, and Ohio third with
$4,000; New York, 100000; Indiana,
4S1 1872: Kentucky, 361. .13I: Missouri,
$50 1000; Massachusetts, go .391: Wiscon
sin, 306,343; Texas, 100000; Virginia.
295 .440: New Jersey, 2S4 ,SS1: Georgia,
264.o11; Michigan. 100000; Iowa, 2I5,-
500; North Carolina. 100000; Mississippi,
DDS. 700; Marylind. 205.S16; Arkansas,
20J,O00 and the remainder of the States
below 100000 each.
In about twO-thirds of the States, the
publication says. the militia is armed with
she Springfield rifle and carbine of various
patterns. 4 number of the artillery mill
tia regiments are provided with Gatlng
guns and 3.2-inch breech-loading rifles,
but large proportion of the artillery arm
Hmcnt consists of 12-pOunder Napoleons,
3-inch muzzle-loading rifles, Parrot rifles
and other obsolete ordnance.
The aggregate of small arms ammuni-
tion held in reserve in addition to that in
she hands of the troops is not far from
B.000.0o0 rounds. States having Gatling
gun batteries keep on hand limited sup
ply of ammunition for these guns. The
supply for field guns is very limited, and
che quality by no means the best.