Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-23
Expected That He Mil Be Assigned 10
His Command Monday
VIRGINIA TROOPS UNDER HIN.
No Doubt Whatever That Our Soldiers
Will Be in His Army.
ACCEPT WHATEVER is TENDERED.
Would BE willing TO GO to Cuba
Even as IA Lieutenant With squad.
point His Old STAFF and Friends.

General tltZuuEn Lee Will undoubtedly
be commissioned on Monday next a ajor-
general in the army Of the United States,
and viii lead a division or a corps to
Cuba some time next week. or this it is
understood he has been positively assured
by President Mckinley and Secretary-ot-
war Alger.
The General has not as yet received
any instructions from Washington, but
he will leave here Sunday for the national
capital, ana as soon as his commission
is issued to him will select the staff OF
nine men, who will accompany him, and
will forthwith leave Tor tho point OF
mobilization of the army assigned to
him aud start for his march through
cuba.
General Lee was seen at his home on
Park avenue last evening by a Dispatch
reporter, and asked if he had designated
or determined upon the composition of his
staff. He very promptly replied that he
had not, and then said: II wish you gen.
tlemen Of the press would let it be known
that | have no appointments to give out
now. II / receive a commission as major
general | will have but nine appointments
at my disposal. and already | have more
than four hundred applications for office.
WILL SELECT HIS OLD STAFF.
"The staff OF a major-general consists
Of an admtant-general and assistant -ad-
jutant-general, chief Of quartermasters,
a chief Of cOmmissary, a chief Of ord
nance, a chief medical officer. and three
aidesde-camp. / don't know who | will
take with me II I go TO Cuba as major
general. but i'm event that 1 do have 10
select a staf l shall certainly confine my
appointments-aIl thisgs being equaI-to
the members OF my old stan and TO my
personal friends"
Rev. Dr. Carmichael, who recently vol
unteered as chaplain on General Lees
STAFF. mas notified the General of his re-
consideration OF that tender of service.
and Of his determination 90 remain here
in his present pastOrate at St Paups
church.
Dr. Carmichael is chaplain OF the Blues
Battalion, and when he realized that war
was an assured fact he deemed 1t his
duty to 20 to the front with his COM
mand. and. believing that the Blues would
be attached TO General Lees command
he volunteered for service on the Cen
erals stan His congregation and the
ment Of his intention to go 70 war. have
interceded with him. and he has finally
Yielded TO their persuasion. and accord
lngly notified General Lee of his intention
to remain here.
WILL COMMAND VIRGINIA TROOPS
General Lee was not inclined TO dis
cuss war matters with the reporter who |
called upon him last night. but when ask |
ed II the Virginia troops would be at |
tached 10 his command If he were sent
TO cuba. he replied. Cnhesitatingly. that |
they would The General declined 10 say |
anything further concerning the matter |
but 10 Is understood thar the President 1
has assured him that the Virginians will |
De assigned to his command. and IL leaked |
out yesterday that the General antici- |
pduhs Il call to-day for troops. wired |
yesterday afternoon To Secretary Alger |
suggesting to him that he instruct all !
volunteer commands destined for Cuba |
TO uniform themselves in the very lightest
clothing possible. His suggestion. II is
understood, is tdat the men be uniformed
IN ilnen clothes, and that instead of |
heimeis they wear straw hats These
the General thinks. Will prove the most
serFlctable uniforms that can be worn in |
cuba. and Will do much toward wardinq
on disease among the soldiers.
''H'Idl Lee expressed himself as being
very much interested in the movements /
't captain Simpsons fleet. and while ne
dt present knows no more about the
movements or the fleet than has been
given 10 the public through the nress
ne says he is hopeful that the port Of
ilabana has been blockaded by it, Just
what he expects from the fleet the Gene
raj would not say. asserting when asked
as 10 the possible result Of an ATTACK
upon Habana that he was still Consul
General 10 Cuba, and hence had no right
TO speculate one way or another.
LEE AND TEE PRESIDENT
1t Is understood however. that he ba.
talked with the President and the Sec
retary Of War concerning the possihii-
ties of a naval attack upon the island
and recommended It's being made. A.
,ording 10 information received bv tho
Dispatch last night. General Lee told
Mr.. Mckinley that the Spanish sbins
which patrol the island are but rttle IN
De dreaded. and that II a fleet II United
states vessels is sent there and the shins
ire handled in skilful manner ever,
nan-of-war hying the Spanish flag In
'uban waters can be captured ReDeaf- |
IDLY, 1t is said, during his residence in
'uba, General Leo was approached by
he Spanish authorities, who took him
% task for the nOn-CaDtUre hv this pov-
'rnment OF tibusterers. and thar his in
'ariabe reply 10 the SpaHiards was that
hey themselves were 10 blame FOR not
apturng the nlibusterers when they
anded i'm cuba.
1t is said that the Spanish ships in Cr-
ldn waters. TO whom are assigned the
luty Of patrollng the coast. do NOT
latrOl at all, because OF the fact thar |
hey have but little coal and are afraid
o do much sailing for fear that when
hey burn up the supply Of fuel now on
iand they VIII be unable TO get more.
mis- TACT, II Is understood. authoritative
J. - one or many communicated to the !
PRESIDENT by General Lee and II may be.
n the light OF these facts. that Captain
sampson will so spread his fleet i'm Gu
IAN waters as to capture every one OF
he Spanish vessels now patrolllng the
cast of Cuba.
TENDERED HIS SERVICES.
General Lee when he landed al Key
y est from Habana last week. wired 10
ne authorities at Washington Am
eaying Habana; | tender my service to
his government for whatever duty may
'e called upon to perform" when asked
ast night II he would accept anything
ess than a major-generars commission.
ieneral lee very promptly referred TO
his telegram. and said: II am anxious
o return TO Cuba 10 put 10 rout the
spanish troops, and | would accept
ieutenants commission II it permitted
ne 10 lead az much as a squad into
,uba."
While. as has been stated. the General
viii not say positively that he Is going