The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-09
THEY RE Off"
TO GO TO CHICKAMAUGA.
| Little Doubt that 1t VIII Be the Sec
Ond and Third Regiments
and Battery A.
INDIANA BRIGADE DIVIDED
FRIENDS OF M'KEE BELIEVE THIS
MEANS ILL FOR HIM,
But the Governor Believes the Divi-
sion Will Have No Effect on
His Chances.
THEY MAY MOVE TOMORROW
ANOTHER CRUSH OF VISITORS AT
CAMP YESTERDAY.
Examinations Practically Completed
Number of Men Increasing
Serious Accident.
But the Governor Believes the Divi-
sion Will Have No Effect on
His Chances.
THEY MAY MOVE TOMORROW
ANOTHER CRUSH OF VISITORS AT
CAMP YESTERDAY.
Examinations Practically Completed
Number of Men Increasing
Serious Accident.

Information of the most trustworthy,
though unofficial character, was received
through private channel at headquarters
yesterday to the effect that it is not now
probable that General Mckee will receive
an appointment as brigadier general of the
Indiana volunteers. For some time past it
has been felt by nearly every one associated
officially with General Mckee that large
element of doubt existed as to his ultimate
success in this direction Day by day the
atmosphere became perceptibly bluer, and
gradually the staff officers felt that their
position had passed from one of uncertain
ty to one of absolute failure The suspense
they were constantly in had it's effect on
them, and it was easy to see that the most
optimistic of them were anything but san
guine. Great Importance was attached by
all the members of the staff to the fact that
although day by day advices of reassuring
character were received from Washington
the expected commission of General Mckee
was withheld, and nothing definite was
known as to when it might be expected.
Even to his closest friends General Mckee
has been very reticent on this matter, re-
fusing to discuss something that he has
always claimed he had no personal or Off
claI knowledge Of In the minds of every
BODY connected with the general staff the
finishing touch in the matter was executed
yesterday by Secretary of War Alger, who
sent the following telegram to Governor
Mount:
Department of War
, Washington, D. c., May 8, 1898.
. lanes A. Mount, Governor INDIANAPOLIS
1T is the intention to order to camp George
T. Thomas, Chickamauga National Park
Ga, the first two regiments of infantry of
your state, which shall be first completely
equipped. Every effort should be exerted
ment in turn, rather than all simult aneously.
report by telegraph when first regiment
W Mhi pc ready, also any subsequent changes
IN gate as TO when regiment will be ready.
II IS the intention also to send one battery
OF light artillery to Camp Thomas.
,, ''R. A. ALGER."
Military Secretary Wilson to Captain May
at Camp Mount, with instructions to be
governed accordingly. Captain May, in
would have on his work, stated that as
YET no one regiment had been examined en-
tTely ana that its effect would be to slim
ulate all the regiments to become the first
TO get their men in shape for examination.
1t is his intention and expectation to begin
mastering this afternoon, as all medical ex-
aminations were completed The reason that
1t is not practicable to begin mastering this
morning is that an immense amount of cler-
zeal work Is necessary before the muster
CdA DSBIl Edcn one or the rolls
made up and corrected must be retran-
scrlbed on special blanks for each company
OF which there, will be three duplicates
made. This will mean in all. 1856 complete
company rolls for the brigade
AS soon as this work is completed which
Will probably be this noon, Captain Nav
VIII call the regiments out before him, and
taking each company, he will read over the
names on the roll, each man stepping out
from the ranks as his name is called. This
Is Is done In order to provide against duplica-
MAJ urHn
name appears on the rolls is actually pres
ent. He will then read the mastering oath
TO the company collectively after which
they Will be part of the United States
volunteer army. Before the sun sets to-
night the Indiana National Guard will be a
thing of the past and in it's place will he
four regiments of United States volunteers.
THE ONES THAT WILL GO.
AS the examinations of the different regi-
ments were completed at about the same
time, it is largely matter of choice in
the selection of the regiments to go to
Chickamauga Park. 1t is definitely known
now, however, that the Second and Third
regiments with Battery A, have been Sc
lected to 60 1t is expected that the equip
ment for these troops will be here to-day
and that no obstacle will intervene in the
way of the men leaving Indianapolis for
some time tomorrow. Cap
that 1t was probable that before that time
he would receive instructions to send the
rest OF the regiments to the same place if
mustered and equipped by that time. AL
though the boys have been led to expect
that their rendezvous would be in Wash
lngton. Captain May states that they will be
agreeably disappointed at the change to
ChicamauSa, which is, he says, beautiful
place, with an excellent climate where thew
VIII have plenty of room to roam and find
much pleasure that would be denied them i'm
the camp at Washington, where they would
be under much restraint and their oppor-
tunities for sightseeing few and far between.
win regard 10 the other two regiments
and Battery p, of Fort Wayne, neither the
captain nor any one else can saw authori-
tatively that their destination is Chicka-
manga Park, and the fact that the first
move made by the Indiana troops is in the
nature or a division of forces presents an
ominous feature of the chances of General
Mckee TO lead the brigade a federal or
ganization. In fact. hope had about died
in the breast of every one about head
quarters, and While expressing general re-
greet at not being allowed to serve under
+ i'm, they are all more or less reconciled t,
the inevitable. General Mckee presented
his usual unruftied countenance yesterday,
and If any one hoped to read his own pri-
Vate conclusions as to his chances for an
pointment in his face they were most sig
nally disappointed. His air of reserved
courtesy was the same as usual, and he
attended to the details of his work with the
same circumspection as has been charac-
teristic with him. To his most intimate
no more than TO the press with regard to his
position, and from his actions it was easy
10 believe that the statement he has made
on several occasions that he was more anx-
ious about the provision that should be
made Tor the members Of his staff than he
was for his own personal interests.
Late last night Lieutenant NAV. who had
previously received the reports from the diff
ferent regiments as to the amount of eolrip-
m men necessary to make them ready for the
field, telegraphed to headquarters of the
quartermaster general of the Department
OF the Missouri at Chicago, who in turn
telegraphed instruction to the officer i'm
charge of the Jeffersonville supply depot TO
send the necessary equipment in the way of
uniforms, blankets, tentage and knapsacks
Ihe saddles, harness, arms and ammunition
knives and other accoutrements We're or
dered shipped at once from the Rock Island
ILL.,, arsenal. The shipment of uniforms
from Jeffersonville, IL is expected under The
rush orders sent from Chicago will arrive
IN this city over the Pennsylvania some time
to-day or tonight. 1t is also expected that
the 1ccOutrpmenf frnu1 Rorlx Island will he