The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-29
MUSTER WILL COME SOON
SURGEONS FOR THE MEDICAL EXAM-
NATION ALREADY NAMED. II
Curtts Declines to BE "a Nfajor--Did
Not want Her Sweetheart to Enlist
Contract for AmbuIanccs.

The prompt action taken by the officers
of the Indiana National Guard and the mass
of protesting kilograms that went to Wash
ington from prominent people, when the an
nouilcement was made in the Journal yes
terday morning that the authorities IN
Washington were about to appoint Colonei
Lawton as br;gadier general of the Indiana
troops must have been very gratifying 70
Brigadier General Mckee, who Is the un-
doubted choice OF Indiana for this impor-
tant position in the states volunteer army.
The telegram in the Journal was the
principal topic of conversation in the camp
as soon as the papers reached there in the
morning The colonies of the four regiments
composing the brigade were not slow In sz-
ing up the situation, and headed by Colonel
Harry B. Smith, of the Second Regiment
they set to work to circumvent what they
considered an undue influence at Washing
ton, an influence which threatens to deprive
General Mckee of a position he had earned
on his merits. Down town many men OF
prominence began to shower kilograms on
Senator Fairbanks, the Indiana representa-
tives and other people of influence at the
national capital and the tenor OF these
communications was all TO the effect that
the failure to appoint General Mckee would
be disastrous to the esprit de corps of the
Indiana militia, besides being very unjust
act in itself Chairman Hernly, of the Re
publican state committee, came in later in
the day and he announced a. purpose Of
going to washington and presenting the
protest of the State. Governor Mount sent
several vigorous messages to Senator Fair
banks, asking him to use every influence
at his command to secure the appointment
of General Mckee. In the afternoon John
B. Cockrum, who was the sender of one of
the kilograms to Washington. received the
following reply from Senator Farbanks
Shall certainly ask for Mcxee's appoints
ment." Governor Mount received a telegram
late in the day from Washington which
informed him that he should name the In
diana brigadier. So it is now settled that
General Mckee will lead the Hoosler sol
diers to the front.
General Mckee, it may be said very SIM
cerey, had no part whatever in the upris-
ing in his behalf yesterday. He declined to
enter into any scramble for the position.
and he did not even give sanction in this
instance to the zeal of the officers under
him. He went about his duties, without Civ
ing the matter further thought.
AS a result of the hard work of the off,
GERS, Camp Mount yesterday began to take
on more of the cognizance of discipline.
The word that Lieutenant May, of the reg
ular army, had been appointed mastering
officer. quickly spread throughout the
camp, and as there is to be an extensive
wedding out process before the troops move
the men were on their good behavior, so
anxious is every one of them to go to war.
The muster will probably begin tomorrow
or Monday. Lieutenant May stated that the
surgeon from the regular army, detailed TO
make the physical examinations, would not
arrive in this city till tomorrow. No time
will be lost in the work after he arrives. AS
there are probably five hundred men in
camp who must be turned down because
there are too many for the quota, the phys
ical examination will be unusually rigid.
The authorities from the Governor down
are still in the dark as to the time when
the word is to be given to march. A bulle-
tin posted in the camp announcing that
General Mics thought the Indiana soldiers
might be kept in camp a month longer be-
fore being sent to a central point for
mobilization. was received in disgust by
most of the blue-coated boys who read ii.
private letter from one of the Indiana
representatives in Congress yesterday sai1
that the entire delegation at the capital
was striving to secure the assignment OF
the Indiana brigade to the Washington
camping ground
The total number of men in camp IL still
problematical, and the brigade officers can
furnish no accurate information in this re-
speet. Rations are being served Tor 4500.
Without the new companies there are 4,1sg
including all the line and staff officers As
sistant Adjutant General Frank thought
that 4.S00 would be fair approximate
figure. No complete reports are being made
and statistics of satisfying nature will not
be furnished till to-day. There arc constant
additions and departures from the regi-
ments. The full quota of the brigade, as far
as number of companies goes, was COM
pleted yesterday when General Mckee des-
ignated and assigned the volunteer compa-
nies as follows:
Frankfort. as Company c, Second Regi-
ment.
Upton, as Company /, Fourth Regiment.
Huntington, as Company X. Fourth Regi-
ment.
Anderson. Company L. Fourth Regi-
ment.
Martinsville as Company k Second Regi-
ment.
Plymouth. as company NJ. Third Resi-
ment.
vincennes Cadets. as Company L. First
Regiment.