New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-06
CEN MERRITT AND THE VOLUNTEERS.
PREPARATIONS FOR TAKING CHARGE OF THOSE
~ rur DEPARTMENT OF THE EAST

Action In the direction Of assuming control 81
Tho volun,ecr forces In the limits OF the Depart
rnent Of the East. as fast "a they are mustered
into IN. service OF the United States was taken
Yesterday by General Merritt. This matter was
one OF those on which he was in consultation with
rho war Department early IN the week The most
,,onorton, bodies OF troops which come within his
Department those OF tho states OF New-Nork
PENNSYLVANIA Massachusetts, and Ne"-Jersey al
though the Department includes the rest OF inc
New England States. Delaware. Maryland the
yireinias. North Carolina and the District OF CO.
lumbia.
Yesterday General Merritt dispatched two OF his
ncrsonal aids to visit State camps and 10 consider
sites for the stationing OF volunteers az part or
the United States Army. He sent Lieutenant
Harry g. Hale 10 Camp Black. at Hemps'eau
After inspecting the camp arrangements there he
will go on to Montauk Point where site Tor
ncrmonent camp has been proposed on the hills
near Fort Pond Bay. the terminus or the rahroau
Its secluded situation. the choice sanitary sur
roundlngs and tho ample space for held man~u-
vres over eight miles OF unsettled, broken coun-
try and for uninterrupted rife practice. commend
II as A most admirable place for the training or
troops
From Montauk Lieutenant Hale VIII so 10 New
London and on to South birmingham. near Bos-
ION where he will view the State Camp OF Massa-
chusetts and on his return he will go TO the Con-
necticut Camp and to Camp Townsend. at Peeks-
kill
Lieutenant r Bentley Mott. another OF General
Merritts aids started last night for Philadelphia
Ue will 90 on to the State Camp at Mount Gretna.
and viii confer with Governor Hastings and on
bis return Will visit the NewJersey troops az Sea
cart At the latter place 1t will be possible to
camp 5000 men.
II has been proposed to establish three camps
for the volunteers OF the Department of the East
at points convenient for sending the men TO the
seacoast fortihcatons. and not to keep them at
Nh Ia "A
State troops AS soon the volunteers are ordered
m the ponts where the Government Will take
then i'm hand and give them Regular Army drill
The men stationed in this city. AT Governor >
Island and the Army Building. who prohted by
Inc promotions announced yesterday. Included d
number OF the prominent Regular Army ofncers.
only one colonel In command became brigadier-
ceneral-John l. Rodgers. OF the 5th Artillery, who
T. on tho stan OF the Department OF the East as
Artillery Inspector and Ordnance Ofhcer, and also
or, sidcnt OF the Board on Regulation OF Seacoast
Artillery Fire He Is regarded as one or the most
expert artillery officers In the country His adj
yancement from the command OF the 9th Artillery
will probably lead TO the advancement OF Lieu
tena mt Colonel Tuly McCrea. now In command at
Fort Hancock. 10 be the commanding officer OF
the regiment. ,,-
~ tho Ueutena mt colonies advanced to be briga-
dlcr-generals William Ludlow. Corps or Engineers.
has been stationed in the Army building for sew
to serve on the stan of General Miles. but has
ust been assigned to the post of Chief OF Engi-
necrs on the staff of General Shafter at Tampa.
TO go with the invading army 10 Cuba. In thi,
and Sandy Hook for the defence OF the southern
entrance OF New-York Harbor. and OF sea walls
on the north and east shores OF Sandy Hook. lie
also had charge OF the Improvement OF the harbor
OF New-York and the Harlem River. the deepen
Ing of Gedney's Channel and of the removal or oh.
struetions In the East River at Hell Gate, and OF