The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-13
NO LONGER GUARDS
SOLDIERS At CAMP MOUNT ALL IN
THE UNITED STATES SERVICE,
But When They VIII Go and where
They Will Go Are Not Yet
Determined.
THAT CLASH OF AUTHORITY
1T WAS OF BRIEF DURATION, But
RATHER INTENSE.
Mastering i'm of the Last Regiments
Colonel Mays Position
Notes of the Camp.
THAT CLASH OF AUTHORITY
1T WAS OF BRIEF DURATION. But
RATHER INTENSE.

Inc lnuldud NdUOndl has pdSSeu
out of existence. and at Camp Mount are
four regiments of infantry and two batter
les of artillery, United States Volunteers,
with Colonel Gunder as the ranking Of
fcer. in command. Governor Mount last
night telephoned out to the camp to inform
Brigadier General Mckee of this fact. Gen.
Mckee is still brigadier general of the
Indiana National Guard, but there is moth
ing for him to command. He and his
friends hope that he will soon be appointed
brigadier in the federal service.
Although the troops are all in the federal
service now, their destination and the time
of departure are still problematical. The
Spanish word 'manana,' which the tire
less writer's on current topics say means
Tomorrow is about as definite an ex-
preston as any other to designate the hour
of departure, and "manana," as the Span
iards use it, means not only tomorrow, but
the day after tomorrow and so ad in
fintum. The authorities think that Sun
day, at least, will see the movement of the
regiments to other camps. Yesterday
came another change from the War Depart
ment as to destination, and those officers
? who were expecting to eat pompano or par
take of gumbo at the old French market in
New Orleans next week, will have to sat
isfy themselves with plank shad down at
Washington. At least that is the way it
seemed at o'clock this morning. Perhaps
another change will be made by the Wash
ington authorities this morning, and then
another at noon, and no telling but
the boys may be booked for the Philippines
before nightfall.
The plan for the movement of the volun-
teers, as changed yesterday, makes it prob
able that the entire brigade of the old In
diana National Guard will be transported
from this city at one time, possibly not be-
fore the middle of next week. The plan to
have two regiments of infantry and one
battery go Immediately to New Orleans,
one regiment of infantry to Mobile and one
regiment of infantry and one battery to be
assigned to the coast defense, has been dis
carded. No Indiana troops will go to New
Orleans and none will go to Mobile. The
latest advices on the subject came yester-
day to Governor Mount in the form of the
following telegram:
Changes constantly taking place in the
assignment of troops. To-day. the plan is
for two regiments anG one battery here
washington and two regiments and one
battery at Chickamauga. Our regiments
will be brigaded with the other States. L
have seen preliminary arrangements. Our
regiments are assigned to brigades COM
of troops will be sent when all are mus
tered i'm
This message seems to settle the question
as to whether the troops will be moved
from here within the next day or two. If
the two regiments and battery already mus
tered in are to be held until the First and
Fourth Regiments of the Indiana National
Guard are equipped, it may be a week be-
fore the order for the movement of the
brigade can be given. There was a PROPOSE
ton to equip the regiment which was to go
to Mobile after it reached the Mobile camp.
This plan may be carried out regarding the
two regiments which are to go to Washing
ton, though it is currently believed that the
One Hundred and Fifty-seventh and One
Hundred and Fifty-eighth Regiment,
which are already equipped, will be as
signed to this point. Arrangements may be
made for the shipment of uniforms and
arms to Chickamauga. Either plan for the
equipment of the troops after they leave
here would enable the start to be made by
this evening as all the men can be mus
tered in by that time.
Governor Mount, after very busy day,
during which he heard some things that
threatened to ruffie his customary serenity,
announced that the troops were now out of
the State of Indianas jurisdiction and from
now on the United States government must
make all provisions for feeding and equip
ping the men. Quartermaster Richardson
has closed his pantry and storeroom ana
will proceed to figure what the mobilization
has cost the State to date. He issued his
last ration yesterday. The federal govern
ment has been supplying those regiments
mustered in, and when the ceremony was
completed last night Quartermaster Peter
son took charge of the entire commissary
department.
The Governor thought that Brigadier Gen
eral Mckee could still remain in charge of
the camp till telegram came from
Adiutant General Corbin yesterday after
noon stating that no militia officer could
command federal troops. Thereupon the
Governor absolved the State from further
responsibility by sending the following tele-
gram to the secretary of war;
/ Il have the honor to inform you that the
full quota of troops allotted to Indiana UNI
der the call of the President of April %
has been mustered into the service of the
United States government. and now awaits
your orders lnasmuch as state authority
has been thus superseded | respectfully
suggest that you Immediately notify heads
Of subsistence and other departments 10
make proper provision for the further care
and maintenance of these troops from this
date"
The Governor was much annoyed at the
clash of authority in the camp, and yester-
day evening Colonel Wilson, his private sec
rotary went out to see how matters lay
and TO advise the Governor. Afterwards the
Governor said:
When we were informed of the telegram
from Washington stating that the militia
troops that meant that the State of Indi-
ana had no authority further over the
troops at the camp. L directed the quarter
master general to honor no more requisi-
tons and then sent a telegram to Secretary
Alger The State of Indiana will go no
farther in the matter of equipment of these
troops 1 will telephone these facts to Gen.
Mckee"
The Governor expressed great regret that
some of the officers at the camp had seen
fit to show so little respect for General Nc
Kee and he thought it was display of in
gratitude on their part. After hearing of
the action of Colonel Studebaker in assum-
ing command. and believing that he took
such step on the advice of Lieutenant May,
the Governor decided to hold up the com
missions of these officers till he could
and the State of Indiana great discourtesy.
Later in the day. however, these commits
sions. which had been made out, were sent
out to the camp and turned over to the men
for whom they were intended. Surgeon
Barnett is the only officer of the Third Regi-
ment whose commission is now held up. and
the Governor intends TO first ascertain II
that gentleman has been guilty of improper
conduct in commenting on the executive
action Certain remarks. attributed to the
surgeon and printed in Fort Wayne pa
per. will be hunted up. There is some oppo-
sition to the surgeon in his own regiment
on account of the cases of the men he treat
ed at St Nincents Hospital. In making out
the commissions the Governor indicated the
seniority of Colonel Gunder in the militia
organization. so that II may carry whatever
weight IL may i'm the federal organization
Il think the whole difficulty as TO the
ranking commander might have been avert
ed" said the Governor, had General Me-
Kee accepted the commission colonel of
the -sixtieth Indiana Vol
4 Is.Va hi 10