The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-26

War, to the members of Battery A, is not
] merely the possibility of a romantic episode
| to be read of at the freside: it is the pros
| pect of a grim and stern reality, which may
| mean hardship and suffering, bullets
wounds, and even death. Yet tive strained
| relations with Spain and the imminence OF
| an armed struggle have stimulated activity
to an unusual degree at the battery 5
armory, corner of Senate avenue and Six
| teenth street. The boys are coming out in
| full force on drill nights; the earnestness
with which they go through their maneu-
| vers and the loving manner in which they
brush up their uniforms and polish their
sabres, bespeak not only determination
TO be ready il war shall come, but almost
a hope that it will come.
1t is an open secret among members of
the artillery that Captain Curtis has re-
ceived instructions to fill up the battery S
roster and make arrangements to mobilize
his men on short notice in case Of an
emergency. Whether or not such orders
have been received these things are being
done. The battery now numbers seventy
men besides the commissioned officers.
which is just five short of the maximum
number allowed a six-gun battery. Fifteen
of these men have been recruited during the
last month and more than replacing the
thirteen who, for various reasons, were re-
Gently dropped from the roster. Great care
is exercised in the accepting of new candi-
dates, not only as TO their physical condi-
ton, but as TO their personal character.
In time of war 81 man who is tough may
make a brave soldier, but in times of peace
the indianapolis Light Artillery is a social
as well as military organization, and does
not care to cumber itself now with unde-
sirable material There enough young
men anxious to join the Light Artillery who
are eligible in every respect, and in whom
the present war talk has stimulated the
military spirit, to give the battery its full
complement of men. Some of the new re-
cruits have already taken the oath of all
legiance to the flag and been mustered into
Battery A; the others will be sworn in as
soon as the probationary period required by
the Light Artillery as "a social organization
expires
Captain Curtis has his company so thor
oughly organized that the men may be
modified at an hours notice The sergeant
of each section has the name, home and
business addresses and most available tele-
phone number of each of the eleven men
under his charge. He carries these data
with him constantly, The captain has his
sergeants as thoroughly in hand so that
if a call is issued the captain notifies the
sergeants, the sergeantS the men and in
less than an hour the boys will be at the
armory uniformed and in marching order.
At the time of the coal strike in south
ern Indiana the system was found to work
perfectly, and the battery was at the State
house, armed and uniformed, an hour and
a half after the first order was issued.
In the matter of equipment the battery
is and has been for years. in common with
other artillery companies elsewhere much
behind the times. This criticism applies
only to the guns, for the battery has every
thing else. The four field pieces at the
armory are of the antiquated muzzle-load-
ing variety, and in a war such as the pros
pective one would be they would be of little
more value than so many popgunS. But mere,
also, the officers have been forehanded, and
arrangements have been made with certain
institutions whereby, in case or need, at the
receipt of q telegram, four new breech-
leaders, entirely up to date in pattern Will
be loaded on fatcars and landed in Indian
terry has never been able to obtain from
the government it's needs in this respect,
but Captain Curtis says that in case his
company should be ordered to the front ne
has no doubt the War Department will take
measures to supply it with proper guns.
GIVING OLD TACTICS A REST.
The battery is just now doing but little
drilling around the piece" The manual
for breech-loaders is, in the matter of load
ing and firing, entirely different from that
used for the old-style guns and will have
to be learned anew in case of active service
or when the battery does get its new field
pieces. Only nine men are required to
section in manipulating breech-loaders,
while it takes eleven to handle a muZZle-
loader But the mounting and dismounting,
limbering and Numbering, the foot move
ments and all other maneuvers are exactly
the same, and the new men are working
hard to become proficient in them. But,
however unavailable the old-faShioned pop
guns may be, the Artillery has three war
engines whose excellence for real action is
not to be Sneezed at. These are the three
Gatling guns. Two of them are kept at the
Statehouse, the other, beautiful modern
weapon fresh from the foundry, is kept at
the armory. 1t takes five men to handle
one of these machines according to strict
regulations, though smaller number would
avail in pinch" The new Calling gun
and the new ambulance are dividing atten-
ton just now among the young artillery
other if war does come to pass. 1t is the
object to render the company as proficient
as possible in the Calling gun drill. The
new men are distributed among the squads
of old hands and put through their PAGES
every drill night. Captain Curtis is be-
Hever in the old drill around the piece as an
q k
ness and skill, even if otherwise useless in
modern warfare But there is SO much
necessary in order. to pass inspection, that
the popguns for the most part keep their
places, decorously ranged against the walls.
apoIis Light Artillery is ready for war
from its captain to the rawest recruit
among the priyates. The boys talk Of It;
dream of it and plan for it. The older and
wiser heads do not admit that they hope
for it, but even they "thaw out" on occa-
'the battery" will do when President Nc
Kinley let's loose the dogs of war. A long
list of victories on the drill field, such as
no other military company in the country
is able to boast, has given the men of Bat
terry A unlimited confidence in their Prov
ess. They do not pretend to believe that
contest with blank cartridges for a money
prize is the same thing as a real battle
with real shot and shell, but they are no
longer able to enter prize drills ri d fta1r
been experienced by pseudo-riva1 organlzas,,,
tons, that no other artillery company will
compete for prize where the indianapolis
company is entered. So, like Alexander,
they sigh for more worlds to conquer
There seem to be none save, perchance, on
the field of battle, and there they will go
if opportunity offers. Captain Curtis
vouches for his company. He says not one
will stand back if the call is issued. The
boys are fully as proud of their captain
as he of them. Captain Curtis bears high
reputation as militia officer and the mem
bers of his company consider that nothing
less than a generalship will satisfy his
merit if there is an actual outbreak of hos
The other officers of Battery A are
Charles Garrard and Edward Johnson, first
lieutenants and Harry Callan, second lieu
tenant. They have been in the battery for
years and are thoroughly up in the tactlcs.
Among the other members of the company
there are dozen of the old-timerS VINO
have helped to win prizes in many compe-
titions who are competent to take the com
mand of companies and who, in case Off
GERS are needed will doubtless be commits
stoned Right now both officers and men
believe their chances of being called out 10
he excellent and there is no mind among
them to neglect the opportunity when 1t
comes.
RELATIVE TO COMMODORE SCHLEY.
A Cousiu John Schley, Speaks of the
Naval Commanders.