The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-10
One VIII Be Among Those Left for
Coast Defense and Re-
serve Duty.
TWO MAY MOVE THIS EVENING
WILL BE MUSTERED IN BY REGI-
MENTS TODAY.
Mckee Declines to BE Colonel of the
First-Battery Mustered In
MATTERS at Camp.

General Miles has definitely stated his
purpose with regard to the Indiana volun-
teers. for such they will he to-day. In
circular letter issued yesterday from Wash
ington. which, however, has not as yet
come to the official knowledge of Lieutenant
May. it stated that one regiment of in
fantry and one battery OF light artillery
would be moved to Washington. there to
await further orders with other troops
which will rendezvous at that place. AL
though not officially aware of the order.
Lieutenant May yesterday designated the
regiment that should be assigned to that
duty. 1t will be Colonel Gunders Fourth
Regiment and Battery e, of Fort Wayne.
1t is expected that they will be used largely
for coast defense work but will be avail
able for any service in or out of this coun-
try.
AS already announced two regiments of
infantry and one battery of light artillery
are ordered to proceed at once, upon being
properly equipped, to Chickamauga
National Park, Georgia, from which place
it is expected that they will be moved
eventually to either Mobile or Tampa. 1t
is looked on as more than likely that the
troops sent to ChickamaUga Park will be
the first ones to see active service in Cuba.
Lieutenant May has decided accordingly
that the honor of Indiana in Cuba is to be
upheld by the men of the Second md Third
Regiments and the Indianapolis Light ar
tilery, known officially as Battery a, The
battery, instead Of going to the front as
detached body, will be A|lalgamated with
the Second Regiment as an auxiliary COM
pany. General Miles also stated in his COM
munication that one regiment was to be
held subject to the needs of department
commanders and for coast defense and as
reserves. BY this it is meant that the regi-
ment thus assigned will stay at home sub
ject to orders from any of the department
commanders, either those of the Missouri,
the Lakes the East. The regiment which
is slated for this duty is the First Regi-
ment which is just now without d COM
mander.
1t is hoped that the regiments that are as
signed to Chckamauga Park will be able
to leave the city tonight, and all arrange
ments are being made looking to that end.
Much apprehension is felt over the possi-
bility of the delay in the arrival of the
equipment which is ordered for the troops,
and a unique plan has been devised for
equipping them in such an emergency. 1t
has been suggested to Lieutenant May, with
a possibility of adoption by him, that in
view of the orders given in the case of the
First Regiment, by which they will be kept
at Camp Mount indefinitely, that in order to
move the troops on schedule time it will be
proper to take some of the equipment tenn
porarily from that regiment and thus al
low the Second and Third Regiments to get
away promptly. In addition to this it has
been pointed out to Lieutenant May that
there is considerable in the way of equip
ment stored away in the Statehouse, such
as belts, knapsacks, tents and other equip
ment, which can no doubt be made avail
able in this emergency. The Third Regi-
ment is all ready for moving with the ex-
ception of equipment. All of its men have
been examined and all companies are full.
The Second Regiment is still short about
twenty men in Company B, all of the other
companies having full quota. In Com
pany F, where Sunday night there were
eighteen men lacking, the loss was made
up by the arrival last night Of Lieutenant
Conlxlin, who brought in the necessary
number of able-bodied men, fourteen of
whom were from Union City, the -est hav-
ing been secured in Winchester. Strong
efforts are being made by the regimental
leaders and Colonel Smith to fill up the gap
in Company B. 1t was confidently stated
curing all the men needed in time for mus
ter to-day.
Thus it will be seen that all arrangements
have been made for all the regiments now
at the fair grounds, and there is a quiet air
of conviction about the camp that by to-
night half of the Indiana National Guard
will have departed for the South, while it
is also possible that the Fourth Regiment
d Il for chi
ton, although this move depends on the
contingency that there will be enough
equipment at hand to supply them.
1t was authoritatvely stated last evening
by one of the officers most closely inter
ested in the movement to Chiekamauga that
the arrangements had been made to send
the troops to that point tonight over the
Louisville division of the Pennsylvania and
thence over the Southern Railway to Chat
tanooga which point is practically con-
tiguous to the National Park
BOOKED FOR PHILIPPINES.
A Journal dispatch from Washington last
night said that in the original assignment
of regiments made by the War Department
Yesterday one of the Indiana regiments
was scheduled for the Philippine islands,
but this arrangement did not hold, and
there was some doubt last evening as to
whether Indiana will have the honor of con-
tributing to that expedition. AS matters now
stand one regiment of infantry and one light
battery will go to Washington and two regi-
ments and one battery will be sent TO Chick
amauga. The destination of the other regi-
ment is uncertain. 1t is especially desirable
that the Indiana troops be mustered in at
the earliest possible moment says the dis
patch. Time gained there will be of adj
vantage to the boys In assignment to actual