The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-11
sTAFFs OF MAJOR GENERALS.
Many Applications for Positions
Seweu Assigned Il Command.

MANY Applications lot
SewelI Assigned Command.
WASHINGTON May 10.-Several of the
new major generals were at the War De-
partment to-day endeavoring 10 arrange for
the detail of their stats and other matters
necessary to their taking up active service
Among them were Generals Lee. Wilson
and Wheeler. General Lee probably is under
more pressure than any of his brother
major generals in the appointment of his
staff. There are at least twenty applicants
for every place, a tribute to the popularity
of the general He declared to-day that he
had not yet been able to complete his selec-
ton. The engineer officers nominated yes
terday for promotion were selected with
view to their assignment to staff duty. In
cluded in the list is Captain VIM. NJ. Black,
at present one of the commissioners of the
District of Columbia who was nominated
lieutenant colonel. Colonel Black has
nigh reputation as a scientific and capable
engineer officer and several of the new
major generals are anxious to secure his
assignment to duty on their staffs. Colonel
Black was among the first engineer officers
TO volunteer for active service and expected
to relnquish the important post of commits
sioner of the District of Columbia.
Major General Sewell has been assigned
to command the concentration camp near
Falls Church, Va. This is taken as an in
dication that the general has concluded to
accept his military commission. risking his
tenure of office as Il senator thereby. The
order issued from the War Department to-
day reads follows: The following
named officers should be ordered to report
to the adjutant general for duty with troops
to go into camp at Washington, D. c.:
To-
Poland, Kent, Young, Randall Schwan
and Bates" Preparations are being rushed
to put the Falls Church grounds into shape
for the reception of the volunteers. Engi-
neers from the War Department went out
yesterday to the neighborhood of Falls
Church and located definitely the great
camp Oh which will be concentrated from
$1,000 to 10000 United States troops within
the next week or two. The tract selected
Will embldce about 400 acres of splendid
land, Well watered and wooded and will af-
ford accommC dations for all the soldiers
comprised within the Presidents first order
None or the corps commands has yet been
assigned hnalIy, although the entire list of
commanders has been prepared. The three
CIVILIAN major generals are not to receive
Sucn commands, but are assigned to di-
visions, Generals Lee, Wilson and Wheeler
gong TO Chattanooga for DUTY under Cen
eral Brooke, who Will undoubtedly command
one OF the army corps. The volunteers Will
take up the camps occupied by the regu-
lars at Chickamauga Park just as soon as
they can be got there so that the movement
Should be begun Immediately. Nine brig
adler generals nave been assigned TO duty
under Major General Brooke. The follow
ing will lick the raw recruits into shape al
Camp George II. Thomas: Brigadier Gen
erals Briggs, Compton, Burt, Surger, Henry,
Lawton, Chafee and Davis. Brigadier Gen
eral Snyder has been ordered 10 New Or
leans General Schwan, who is one of the
brlgadier generals assigned to duty at the
Washington concentration camp, is at pres
ent principal aid to Adjutant General Cor
bin and has just been promoted to the grade
of brigadier general.
Changes in the central mobilizing points
of the volunteers from those announced by
the War Department yesterday already
have been made in a number OF cases.
These have been made necessary for sew
eral reasons, the main one being the de-
cisiOn reached to begin at once an active
campaign in Cuba and to send troops to the
Philippines. Those from Montana, said Sem
ator Carter, who was at the War DEPART
ment this morning, will be assigned to pro-
coed promptly to San Francisco for passage
to Manila. There is a full regiment OF yoO
men fully equipped and ready for service.
1t is said also that regiment OF infantry
from Colorado in all probability will be or
dered to the Philippines.
Orders have been given for 10000 ham,
mocks for the use of the army, and to be
furnished Immediately, beginning within the
next fortnight Experts have reported that
a hammock is an absolute necessity in a
Cuban campaign. IL is the only iHednS 10
escape the vermin which otherwise make
sleep impossible to the soldier and nd it it. is
dampness of the dark rich soil.
Reports received at Adjutant General
Corbin's office up to this morning show
that "a 345 men had been mustered into the
volunteer army of the United States 1t is
probable, however, by this time that the
actual number mustered in is about 10000 in
round numbers.
Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt is uncertain
whether his trough riders will be in read
mess to go with the first expedition to Cuba
or not, the shipping of the equipment in
time for them to join being the chief obsta-
Gle in sight.
Major General Joseph Wheeler is the, first
of the newly-appointed major generals to
take the field. He has spent his last day
at the Capitol until his army service IS
ended and left Washington at IL O'Clock
this morning for Chattanooga to take his
command.