The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-06-01
War Talk in Washington.
The Cal! for Volunteers the
Chief Topic of Discussion.
An Army Of Reserve is Che Objec,
Desired to bs Obtained by the
Call.

y Washington, May 25.-The event Of
the day in the war s,tuatioo was the
issuauce of proclamation by the Pres
idens calling for. 5000 more voiun-
teers. Il added new and stirring
phase TO the le.bargic conditions which
have prevailed Of late. and came With
almost startling uDexpectedness, even
to many of the high officials in the
army
The proclamation means not ouly the
assembling Of large force of troops.
but also the appointment Of pumber
of majer generals. brigadier generals.
colonels, majors aod staff aod field
officers for the organization Of this ad.
di.ionaI force of IS. 900 men into army
corps, divisions, brigsdes and regiments
The reasous leading up to the call
naturally we're subjects Of much con
isc,ure, as it vas at 6rst fels that the
possibility of foreign complication wss
factor in bringing aboas the new
move. Il speedily developed. however.
that the call was oos due to any serious
emergency. but vas rather in the lioe
Of getting together q large body of men
to be drilled and seasoned. and to con-
stitute = sort of second reserve, to be
draWo upon later, when the campaigns
we're fully under way
Secretary Alger stated chat the de.
termination TO issue the call had not
been reached uotil late yesterday The
merits of it have been canvassed more
or less for some weeks, bat it was not
uotil few bours before the call itself
appeared that the move was finally de-
cided upon.
Coming .hos unexpectedly the war
department had made no preparations
for executing the call, and it will be
some days before the details are worked
out as to the quotas from each State.
the calls to the respective Governors
Of States, the musteriog points and the
general points of concentration.
ALL that is settled tnas far 10 that the
,epiistments are to be thrown open.
much as they were at the outbreak OF
the civil war. and are not to be restrict
ed to the militia aud National Guard
organizations Of several States. 1t will
bean encouragement to the organiza
ton Of the independent volunteer com-
panies and regiments. These will re
tain their identity to certain extent as
State troops. as the Governors will have
the appointment of all COMPANY and
regimental of6oers, while ooly the brig
ade, division. corps and staff oficers
will be appointed by the President
While the adja,snt generals Office
had not ye; undertaken to make. up the
quotas Of the several States, the follow
ing gives ao approximate estimate OF
the quotas Of the following States (:
Alabama $500, Florida 450. Georgia
1905. L,uisiapa l.l64, Mississippi
l 1896, North Carolina l.545, South
C.rolios A4S, Virginia l,673.
The organizations and division o'
this excessive force is yet to be ar.
ranged BY the adjusan.'s geDeral'e
Office. Generally speaking. however.
the $4,000 men will suffice for the
formation Of sevensy-6ve regiments
With three regiments to a brigade,
which is the presen. basis of orgaoiza'
ton, this will make twenty-five bri-
gades In .uro. eight divisions of three
brigades. each. will be formed. aud ou'
of the eight divisions the entire force
will be divided into three army corps
This general division of course, is ten
tative. bat it shows the general forma
ton of this large body of volunteers.
The new force will require. either BY
appointment or by officers already ap-
pointed, three major generals aud about
twepty-four brigadier generals. The
Law authorizes the President to appoint
ooe major general for each army corps
aud one brigadier general for each bri
gade