Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-09
VISITORS At CAMP LEE.
Four or Five Thousand People to See
the Soldiers.
Only Five Companies So Far Have
Passed the Medical Examination,
and Company M, Of M.undsville,
May Become Company A.-The
Troops May Remain in Camp for
q Month, Awaiting Equipments.

Special TO the Register.
CHARLESTON, W. Va. May S.--This
was visitors day at Camp Lee, and fully
2,Gd0 people went TO Kanawha City from
Charleston and as many more from other
near points. Besides, the TWO excursion
trains brought in a great many people
from Gallipolis, Point Pleasant and other
places on the Ohio river
The work of putting the men through
the physical examinations went on to-day
and the surgeons hope to complete the
work by the middle of the week. Only
five companies have been examined so
far. They are companies NJ, G, A, b and
*. The first two named have been mus
tered into service The proportion of men
rejected by the examination is about one
in six. There will likely be no delay be
cause of lack of volunteers as they are
coming in every day.
Governor Atkinson received a telegram
from Secretary of War Alger this morn
ing, asking him when the West Virginia
regiment would be
READY FOR SERVICE.
The Governor replied that he thought the
regiment would be ready by Thursday Of
this week, but inquiry at the camp shows
different opirion. 1t is the belief among
the officers of the regiment and especial
~ the army mastering officer that the
regiment cannot be equipped in less time
than two weeks, and possibly it will re-
quire month The men have to be arm
ed and fully equipped for service. Some
of the acquisitions for equip nents were
sent to Washington last night, but some
of the acquisitions have not vet been
even made out. If the orders were filed
once, it would require two weeks to
get the supplies here and the regiment
fitted out. but as all the States have to
be served with equipments for their
troops, and each State has to await its
turn. West Virginia may not be served for
a month. SO the West Virginia troops
expect to be here for some time vet.
The question of
PRECEDENCE AND RANK
among the companies and battalions has
caused quite an interest among the Of
ficers and men since Lieut.. Settle has
announced that it is rule to let the com
panies and battalions take rank according
to the order of their muster. If this rule
be observed, Company NJ Of Mounds
vile, will be Company A and
rank first in the regiment: the pres
ent Third Battalion. commanded by Mai.
Shaffer will become the First Battalion
There was vigorous kicking against this
rule to-day among those companies
who rank Company NJ and
Mai. Shaffers battalion, but Lieut.. Settle
says the rule is memorable and cannot be
disregarded without the consent of the
Secretary of War. Maj. Shaffer was to-
d3N charged with SlV have
his battalion TO rank first. and to have
made an extra ordinary effort to have his
companies exa med and mustered in for
the purpose. He did not deny the charge
Col. Spillman does not attach any import
ance to this rule. He says that under the
act of Congress. the Governor has author
ity to appoint the officers and arrange the
companies as ne sees fit