The record-union., 1898-04-02
RESERVE ARMY.
Information Concerning Militia
of the Different States

ldIy IOl IIdblOil VI IhO w SAA
Department has in preparation pub
lication giving a great mass of infor-
nation concerning the militia of the
different States and Territories based
upon returns for 1891 1t is of partic-
ular interest at this time, in view of the
reserve army being called upon for
active military duty. For the sake
of ready reference, there has been pre-
pared a succinct summary showing the
more important features of the oper-
ations of the guard.
The total authorized strength is 1874 =
S4S more than the organized strength.
Oklahoma has the smallest force, 800,
and New York the largest.
There are regularly organized State
hospitals or ambulance corps in Cali
fornia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maine,
Massa achusetts, Minnesota, New Hamp-
shire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon,
Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and the
District of Columbia Many of the
States have very complete and eff
cient regimental, hospital and ambu-
lance corps. Signal corps are report
ed as organized in a number of States.
Official State encampments of in
struction were held in thrty-oHe States
during 1897. The duration of the en-
campment varied from two days in Ne
braska to ten days in the District of
Columbia, six days being the average
Regular troops encamped with State
troops in Alabama, California, Kansas.
Michigan, Minnesota, Tennessee, Tex
as and Vermont. Seventeen States
Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Maine,
Massachusetts. Minnesota, Montana
New Hampshire, New York North Da-
kota, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee
Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin-are re-
ported as owning their camp grounds
AS to armament, the conditions are
Infantry-All of the States except
Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana
and New York are completely armed
with the Springfield rifle, caliber 45 In
New York the Remington rifles are row
being exchanged for the Springfield
rifle, caliber 45
Cavalry-The cavalry of all the States
is armed with the Springfield carbine.
caliber 45, except Illinois, Louisiana.
Oregon, South Carolina and New Mex
leo. The Illinois cavalry is reported
same as in regular service" The
greater part of the cavalry is also
armed with the saber and revolver in
addition to the carbine.
Artillery-Thirty-on out of the tbir-
ty-nine States having artillery organ
ixations have one or more Gatling guns
Many of the States have the 80 breech
loading rifles, but a large proportion of
the artillery armament is old and out
of date
The equipment in 1897 though in
slightly better shape than the year be-
fore, is still far from complete. Con-
siderable Improvement was shown in
the care of the equipment In almost
all cases the artillery harness Is old and
practically worthless. Most of the field
and staff officers in all the States own
their mounts.
There was slight increase in 1870. in
the number of shelter tents The tent
age is reported as ample. for the entire
guard in Colorado. Connecticut, Della
ware, Kansas, Nebraska, New York,
North Carolina, Pennsylvania. Yer
mont, Washington, Wisconsin and the
District of Columbia
Weekly drills by company and field
exercises were held in many States. ard
thirty States report a regular course of
lESIruclloH DIT the nome stations during
the winter months. Guard duty was
performed in manner far from satis-
factory. There was a marked Increase
in the amount of outpost duty. Target
practice was held in thirty-four States.
Though many of the States permit
the existence of independent commands.
the tendency is more to discourage
their support or organization. particu-
larly in the vicinity of the home sta
tions of the guard, for the reason that
they absorb material that would other
wise find it's way into the ranks of the
regular organization, and beside. not