The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-03
THE RANK OF
THE VOLUNTEERS.
Rule Of the War Department Discuss
ed BY the Men.
SOLDIERS MAIL LETTERS FREE,
But the Recipient Will Pay for Them
Mai. Richardson Still Remembers
His Beloved Blues - Commits
sions of other Majors.
SOLDIERS MAIL LETTERS FREE,

The question as to the manner IN whlch
the officers OF the United states Nolun-
teers should rank I'm regard TO their COM
missions continues 20 be subject OK gen
eral interest and discussion among tne
officers at Camp Lee. On May Zoth Az
iutant-General Corbin, OF washington Is
sued telegram In which he announces
the decision Of the Washington auIho''-
ties that commissions should cate iioIn
the day when the respective onlcers were
with their commands mustered ih.o e0
49, 49, IRIS Telegram read as follows:
.secretarv ~ war has decided that vol
unteer officers OF same grade rank accord
inc IN date of muster into United states
service where commissions OF such ON
GERS hear same date, relative ranke is
determined by previous length OF United
states military service under commission
and in absence OF such service by iot'
Secretary considers II very desirable thaI
Commissions bear same date as muster
in service"
rTrRTHER EXPLANATION.
This Telegram not being very pam
Governor Tyler directed that an inquiry
no sent 10 washington to obtain some
further explanation on that point. Inc
following answer was received from Al
infant General Corbin on the following
day: go
Jan officers OF Virginia regiments are
commissioned by YOU. The telegram 10
YOU OF 26th inst, was merely LOT lhio'
nation as 10 relative rank ana 10 suB.
gest where commissions have not yeI
been Issued, that they DC da'eu as VI Na'0
of actual muster IN"
This second telegram by no means re-
moved the difficulty and, slthousn con.
Ia sf decision.
Is still believed that according to the IN
ternretation OF the War Department com
MISSIONS shall be dated from the day OF
muster in.
CAPT. SHEEN THE SENIOR
Hinder this decision Capt. II. II. Sheeh
Of the Lee Rifles, OF Norfolk, Company a,
Fourth Regiment was given command OF
tho ten companies that escorted the SEQ
ond Regiment to the Union Depot yester-
dav morning. although there were sew
eral CAPTAINS I'm the swo re giments whose
commissions in the Virginia Volunteers
by far ante-date that OF Captain sheen
The commissions Issued to the officers
OF the United States Volunteers are ex-
actly OF the same form as those hereto
fore issued to the officers Of the Virginia
troops.
The Virginia military has been occu-
n
other states during the ptst. inasmuch
as the military of this Sta e has always
been named Virginia Volunteers, while
elsewhere they have been called militia
or national guard. Ii is thought, there
fore. that It might not be any more tnan
right that the commissions OF the ofil-
GERS Of the Virginia Volunteers should be
dated from the day when they were org
inally issued.
COMMISSIONS ISSUED.
Governor Tyler yesterday issued COM
missions TO Major David c. Shanks, OF
the Second Regiment and David Price, Of
the Third Regiment Infantry Virginia
Volunteers. the commissions dating from
June / 1898. Major Shanks has been First
| Lieutenant of the Eighteenth Infantry.
L. S. A., and Major Price has held the
rank Of First Lieutenant In the First Ar
| tillery. L. s. A.
Roth officers have been given leave OF
absence from the regular army IN order
| 10 accept the rank of Major with the VIZ
| ginia Volunteers during the present war
| MAJOR RICHARDSON'S KINDNESS.
Major Ben W. Richardson, president OF
tbo Rlues' Association, visited Camp Lee
| Yesterday afternoon and as ne Is AWAY
yindful 10 show his kindness and arec-
|
| him a large number of boxes Of cigarettes
,,hIcb no distributed among the members
of the two companies. He also presented
| tbem with a supply OF car tickets so
| mar the men might not be compelled 10
spend their money in making the" way
| 10 and from the camp.
Nator Richardson also gave away a
number OF war maps of cuba and all the
West Indies. the Philippines ETC.
Among the visitors az headquarters oil
| ,ba Alexandria Light Infantry, capt Az
| kinson commanding. Company f. lhllu
| Regiment, yesterday afternoon was Co'-
| onel Francis l.. Smith. OF Alexandra
STANDARD OF SUPPLIES.
The following general order which mas
| a., neen nuhlished I'm regard of the
gtonaard OF supplies and equipment ioT
| Geld service Is OF general interest az TINS
| time: - ANU,
| Adiutant-Generars once,
Washington, May %, 1888
General Orders No "a:
| THE following standard OF supplies aho
| equipment for field service Is puohsneu
| Se,. the information and guidance OF
troops in the military service Oh .n'
| t-nitsd states. The allowance is regard
| al az the maximum for field service:
| HEADQUARTERS OLE ARMY CORPS
| Three wagons for baggage, etc., OF
| pack mules.
one two-horse wagon.
one two-horse spring wagon.
Ton extra saddle horses for contingent
wants.
TWO wall tents for commanding gene
raj. a,.. =.
one wall tent for every two officers o.
| his staff. ,r,,tcro>,
Two wagons for baggage. etc. or hV'
pack mules.
| one two-horse spring wagon.
One two-horse wagon.
rive extra saddle horses for contingent
wants.
one wall tent for commanding general
one wall tent for every two oflcers o
uEADouARTERs OF A BRIGADE.
one wagon for baggage or hve pact
mules.
one two-horse spring wagon.
Two extra saddle horses for contingen
wants.
one wall tent for the commanding
general.
of his stan.
Allowance OF transportation for regi
ment of cavalry-49 wagons or IA paci
| animals 49,
Allowance OF transportation for batter,
light artillery-4 wagons.
| Allowance OF transportation Tor regl
ment of infantry-25 wagons
Supplies 10 be carried in wagons Pc