Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-04
A comparison Pleasing to Maine.

In Speaking VI eAit iiSNSS'oiS NNf-'
in getting the great volunteer army
ready for the active service of war and
the reasons why the Southern quotas
were not ready so promptly as those
from the northern states, the Boston
Transcript has an editorial utteranco
that draws a comparison very pleasing
TO Maine, which is so proud of the
splendid regiment now representing II
at Chickamauga. From such reliable
and conservative source the compli-
ment is of high value in showing us as
others see US. We quote freely from
the article.
on one day recently there entered
the Chickamauga camp three regi-
bne from Arkansas, and one from
Mississippi and their conditions illus
trated the capacity of their respective
states for organization and the status
of their ante bellum militia. The first
Maine Infantry marched in nearly 100
strong, three solid well set up bat
talicns, completely uniformed and
equipped. Not a gaiter button was
missing. Every man carried 20 rounds
of ammunition, and the regiment
brought with it all the tents necessary
and ten days rations. 1t had a band
I
hospital corps. All its field and staff
were mounted. The regiment left the
marched at once to the place selected
for its camp, pitched its tents and set
tied down to business like regulars. Its
surgeon reported a clean bin of health.
The LIST Maine Infantry was formed by
recruiting the LIST Maine Militia Regi-
ment up to the war footing at Augusta,
where it was in camp until Friday last.
The recruits We're judiciously dis
tributed among the existing companies,
and four weeks drilling and setting Up
made the regiment homogeneous.
The 2nd Arkansas Volunteers, which
entered camp in company with the lst
Maine, was in marked contrast with it
in every respect. The governor Of
Arkansas, taking time by the foreock.
began to raise this regiment in March,
judging correctly enough that war with
Spain was inevitable. Yet it reached
Chickamauga this week only partly
armed. partly uniformed With band.
but without sufficient tents to shelter
more than half its men. The material
of which the regiment is composed is
excellent. but it will take weeks to lick
is into shape for service in the field.
The Mississippi regiment was, like
that from Maine, formed on a militia
regiment. but the resemblance ended
here; for it came into camp without
arms of any kind. 1t had 10 leave its
rifles in Mississippi 10 be used i'll drill
ing another regiment now being raised.
The state had not at the opening Of
the war modern equipments sufficient
for putting two regiments in the field
A study of the militia data of the
three states mentioned IS instructive.
Maine had an organized militia force of
1861 officers and men out Of l043oI
males liable to military service, Jan. ].
1895 Arkansas with 205, 800 males liable
to military service had an organized
force of but 94S officers ana men.
Mississippi made as bad a showing, for
her national guard actually in service
232 900 liable to service. There We're
great differences in the personnel of
the three forces and in their organiza ,
ton as we'll. The Maine militia were
pronounced recently by an officer of til.
regular army as physically the hand
soonest body Of men he had ever seen
under arms. Fine physique and intelli-
gence were seen throughout the organ
liza tion. Maine divided her militia into
two compact infantry regiments
capable of expansion to the war foot
ing with little trouble Kansas and
Mississippi had all three arms of the
service in their slender militia organic
ations with the result that no one
was strong enough to be more than
a nucleus.
The majority Of the men in then
regiments today are just SO much raw
| material. That Southerners make good
soldiers nobody will deny, but save in
| Virginia there is little aptitude for or
ganization in the South. Consequently
| the Southern states take more time
| than those of the North in organizing
| their military resources. The governor
| Of South Carolina sent message tC
| the President that 600 South Caro-
| linans We're ready to meet the Span
| iards should the latter be armed witt
| such potent weapons as buzz saws
yet his state is conspicuously back
ward in filling its quota It's people be
| yond question are enthusiastic anC