The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-13
UNDER HOME OFFICERS
GOVERNOR WILL HAVE NO REGULAR
ARMY MEN FOR INDIANA TROOPS.
His Plans for Forming the First Reg
iment-COIOnel Durbin's Report
OF His Trip.

Governor Mount believes that il the Indi-
ana troops go to the front they should be
off1cered by the mel who have brought the
militia up to its present high standard. He
does not favor placing regular army off,
GERS in command of these state troops. and
he was emphatic in his statement yester-
day. The Governor has been giving consid-
erable attention to q plan of campaign of
his own since the war cloud became so omi-
nous. The makeup OF the first regiment to
be sent out and the choice of commander
Tor 1t have engrossed his careful attention,
and he has about decided on his plans
which he will submit to Brigader General
Mckee and Adjutant General Gore as soon
as the first intimation of the need OF SOL
diers comes from Washington. The Gov
ernor declined to make known his plans
yesterday. 1t is generally believed by those
who are close to him that General Mckee
will be offered the colonelcy of the first
regiment sent out, with the understanding
that he is to resume his place as brigadier
commander as soon as a brigade is called
into service, if such an occasion arises. Ev
cry other officer of the regiment will be an
officer of the militia as it is at present con-
situated.
Il believe said the Governor, that these
men who have worked so hard with the
citizen soldiery and have made the guard
credit to Indiana, should have all the honor
and opportunity of serving the State and
country in time of trouble. do not care to
outline my idea of the makeup of the first
regiment Just yet. There is some doubt as
TO just how many companies will constitute
a regiment in the event Of war. Colonel
Durbin asked General Alger. when he was
in Washington, how many companies would
constitute a regiment among the state
troops, calling attention to the fact that in
some States ten companies, with member
ship of sixty in a company, composed a
regiment. In Indiana a regiment is COM
posed OF twelve companies, with a member
ship of eighty-four to company This
would give several hundred more soldiers
to an Indiana regiment than to regiment
from another State. General Alger told Col.
Dnrbin that he had not thought of that
matter. 1t is apt to play a part in determin-
ing the quota from each State"
1t is quite probable the makeup of the
first regiment 10 move will be after the
fashion described in yesterdays Journal.
The Governor says the regiment Will be Of
hcered by the best men in the militia.
The rivalry among the Indiana militiamen
10 go to war continues undated. Yesterday
lieutenant Glasscock, of the Lafayette
company, which is in the Fourth regiment,
called at the Statehouse and filed petition
asking the Governor to detail that company
with the first regiment to see service. He
was persistent and called on Colonel Will
son, the Governors secretary to lend the
influence of his name to the petition.
Among the callers at the executive office
yesterday morning were Lieutenant Davis,
United States army. stationed at VincenneS
University, and Smiley n. Chambers. Lieut..
Davis asked that battalion of students at
Purdue, De PAW and VincenneS Univer-
sity, where United States officers are sta
toned to give instruction, be formed for the
regiment to be first sent out. The Governor
thanked Lieutenant Davis for the SuggeS-
ton. He does not believe, however, that a
battalion of this kind should be sent to the
front till the militia has had its chance.
He is willing to accept the services of the
students after the States citizen soldiery
has been sent forward.
About the Statehouse some significance is
attached to Colonel Durbin's opinion that
troops would not smell the smoke of battle,
even If called out at once, till October. His
idea is that the troops would be kept in
camp during the summer, acclimated to
Southern heat and seasoned, and then sent
to Cuba in the autumn, after the yellow
fever danger is removed. He thinks the Off
Gals at Washington are impressed with the
danger and the horrors of sending Ameri-
recruits, the flower of the Nation, to SO
wretched a climate as prevails in Cuba dur
ing the summer months Not only would
there be danger to the health of the men
themselves, but there would be strong
probability of spreading yellow fever all
over the United States, forcing the Nation
to cope with pestilence as well as war.