New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-01
CAPTAIN MILLER'S REPORT.
WORK OF THE STATE NAVAL MILITIA
IN THE WAR
MANIFOLD ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION
IN AND ABOUT NETWORK HARBoR
AND IN CUBAN WATERS.

AND IN CUBAN WATERS.
CAPTAIN J. w Miller. OF the Naval Militia. has
nade his report to the Adjutant-General or the
State on the part taken by that organization in the
war with Spain. He says that about Narch the
Naval Militia consisted of ~ officers and 14 men
The frs. call for service March %. when
volunteers were asked for 10 20 to League Island
"a man the monitors Jason and Nahant In five
DAYS the men were ready 10 leave, but did rot go
until Aprll T. as the Nahant was not ready TO 20
into commission before that time. The Nahant ar
rived AZ New-York on April Il. manned by the lst
Naval Battalion and was the first Of the old moni-
tors ready for actual protection The I'd Bat
talon which was fitting out the Jason. was de-
layed at League Island.
on March 81 the Secretary Of the Navy requested
tho Governor to enlist the Naval Militia to It's full
strength Recruiting was started and no difficulty
vas exporionced in obtaining men: uniforms and
enuinments were supplied to them by the State au-
thorites with extreme promptness. and the force
increased 70 oss officers and men
on the day Of thu arrival Of the Nahant at New
York the lst Naval Battalion was called upon 20
furnish a crew for another vessel the Yankee The
orders were obeyed. and l55 men were ready within
six hours.
on the following day preparatory orders were re-
ceived 70 man the United States signal stations at
Nontauk Point QuoGue end Fire Island. Lieu
tenant p T. Anderson had previously been in COM
r,,uication with Captain G. +. Goodrich. L. : y,
and had made preliminary contracts for equipment
and stores for all the Atlantic Coast Lieutenant
Andcrson's forethought and preparation left little
70 be done and the stations were manned. under
orders from Washington, on April 3, this State
being the first to report
ON April - an increase Of Afy-four petty officers
and men Of the 1T Naval Battalion was authorized
IN order properly to man the engine-room Of the
Yankee They were - enlisted, and on the
following day the Yankees crew WAS ordered on
board the New Hampshire for duty. on April .
her complement was again increased 10y seventy
men on April y the Yankees crew was mustered
ON April g the crew Of the Nahant was mustered
On Nav eight tugs. one steam launch and one
+ Yacht went duty patrollng the mine neds IN
tie Lower Bay and of Throggs Neck, ana Tor zen
under command OF Iieutenant-c Commander X. r.
Forshew performed the work In CreIlidole man
uer on Nav "A the Jason Was ready Tor sea anu
manned hV officers and =, men from the "a bdt-
f4liou and I officer and ~ men from the second
! Separate Division She reached Fishers Island
sound and remained near that place until the close
OF the war. ,,,.,
Another service performed by the Naval Militia
was the patrol work at Montauk Point The Al
l"en. Lieutenant ". II. Stayton cOmmandlng ie-
ported Passed Assistant Surgeon Macgruder. AT
Captain Miller arrived Oh the Restless subs
qGenily the latter was relieved BY the Efrida me
work Of the Nesses IN establishing quarantine
grounds. maintaining quarantine regulations. estap-
fishing and maintaining harbor regulations attend
ng 10 the landing Of troops and carrying stores 10
transports All incoming transports were met aud
taken 10 their anchorage: communication WIN
them at night prevented. incoming vessels were
taken the proper wharves. and their pdssen-
gers and supplies taken care Of while being landed
and Army. Red Cross and other stores were taken
rnisco llancous services were also performed. such
as Transporting sick officers. taking c0nvalescents