Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-11-16
THE MILITIA.

1t is fact not generally knowo, per-
haps, that though the officers of the
volunteer regiments which have been
ordered to be mustered out OF the SER
vice are making desperate efforts to
have such orders rescinded, it will not
be month before every volunteer Or
ganization will be sent home.
An officer of the regular service stat
ed in Richmond on Monday that tn ere
was DO possibility of muster out or
der being resCiuded, inasmuch as ii
was the intention of the department to
have all volunteers mustered out just
a. soon peace has been declared Gun
DIR the volunteer srmy law this will
nave to be DONE" he said. "The gov
ernment has DO right to hold volun-
teers q day after peace has been de-
clared. The government will have no
right to pay either officers or men Of
the volunteer service Is single day after
peace is formally established.
Take the case of the Fourth Virgin
is" The officer continued. The regi
ment may get to CUBA, but as soon as
peace is established it will have to be
brought back and mustered out. So,
really, it makes little difference whether
the regiment be mustered out now or
month or six weeks hence.
"As soon as peace is declared the
volunteers will be mustered out, but l
think and hope that previous to that
Congress will pass bill increasing the
regular army to 10000 or $4,000 men.
The programme is to have pass
ed as soon after Congress convenes as
possible a bill increasing the regular
establishment, as the fact is well
known that the volunteers cannot be
held after peace is established. l un-
derstand Congressman Hull, the author
of the volunteer army bill, is now al
work preparing bill to be introduced
as soon as Congress convepes, to ip-
crease the regular army. think ii
will provide for an army of 10000 or,
maybe, z, 900 men. When this law is
passed, as it is generally believed it
will be, preference will be given to both
officers and men of the volunteer SER
vice who may wish to remain in the
army.
"The government will undoubtedly
need q great many of the volunteer sol
diers-oHicers and men. But these
must be mustered out of the volunteer
service, and mustered into the regular
army. This was done at the close o.
the civil war. Gen. Miles, you know,
was brevet brigadier of volunteers,
but was made major in the regular
service. And so it will be now. Of
6cers in the volunteers will be commits
stoned in the regular service, but will
have to take two or three grades lower
rank. have lot the slightest idea
that the department will make
any effort to hold the volunteers after
peace ia formally established.
'It seems to be true, also, that the
men from the Second Regiment cannot
re mustered out of the service, and
then ealisted in the Fourth. The law
will not allow it to be done. They
could be transferred but they will not
agree to this, as they are anxious to
get their back pay, including clothing
Communication. Under the regulations
this is not given the men until they are
mustered out"
Governor Tyler, when asked
what he thought of the con-
teDtion that all volunteers mus;
be mustered out, said: II have never
before heard the question raised.
have not examined into the subj
On general principles, however, l
should say that this view is incorrect
I think the men of the volulteer army
are enlisted for two years. l thick
they are under the orders Of the
commander.in. chief for that time, u.
less sooner discharged. I may be mis-
taken, but l think not"