The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-05-05
THE VOLUNTEERS.
Prompt Response TO the Call-Thousands
Now In Camp.

Mastering in the volunteer army and get
ting it in efficient shape for service In the
feld will be elaborate and difficult. There
are so many details and so many ques-
tiens to be disposed of constantly arising
| that doubtless it will be somewhat longer
than was anticipated when the finalities
are all completed. State officials have sent
large number OF telegrams to the War
| Department, indicating more or less dis
| satisfaction with the terms of the call
and ignorance as to its full scope and
meaning.
| Some of the State organizations wish to
| be advised in advance of where they are
| to be sent, and are opposed to any separa-
| ton of State commands.
| The War Department has received re-
quests from various quarters to amend
| or modify certain of the regulations. 1t Is
| probable that few, If any, OF these requests
can be granted. The call upon the States
was drawn up after the most careful and
conscientious consideration. 1t was the
result OF the labor OF Skilful and expert
enced military authorities, men who must
be better acquainted with all matters per-
tanning thereto than even the most eminent
of State militia officers.
No exact time could now be fixed when
the volunteer army or any portion OF it
would be IN condition for an advance
movement.
Before Wednesday OF last week Adi't-
OtH. ICIDiE Ildu received OlSpdtCneS IIOUl
the Governor of nearly every State and
Territory in response to Secretary Alger's
call for information as to the troops the
States and Territories will be expected to
furnish under the Presidents call for 125,-
600 men. The tenor of these replies shows
there is no mistaking the patriotism of the
people of this country in the present emer-
gency. On every hand there was expressed
q Willingness to come 10 the Govern
ne is aid, and the offers were IN excess
OF me present demands.
Many regiments of the National Guard
volunteers have gone into camps in their
States. Wherever they went en- route TO
camp they received Ovations.
1t is practically settled that the National
Guard of the District of Columbia will fur
nish one complete regiment of about 1, 200
mon for service in the war, and that Brig
Gen George III. Harries Will accompany the
regiment as its Colonel. When the regi-
nfent is formed 1t is probable that 1t Will be
ordered into camp for a short time until it's
services are needed at the front.
Ex-Governor Oates, of Alabama, had
conference the other day with the Presi-
dent and Secretary OF War Alger. He
urged the appointment of Gen. Fitzhugh
Lee and Gen. Joseph Wheeler as NJ iOr-
Generals OF Volunteers. Subsequently he
said he regarded these two appointments
as certain to be among the first sent in.
The President Is understood to have
practically promised to give Gen. Woodford
a commission as Major General and Col.
Fred d. Grant a commission as Brigadier.
Hon. Melvin Grigsby, Attorney Gen eral
of South Dakota, has been appointed to
command one OF the cowboy regiments
authorized by the volunteer army bill.
The three independent regiments of cav
airy authorized by the volunteer army act,
and which are 10 be composed exclusively
of frontiersmen, possessing SpecIal quail
fications as to horsemanship and marks
manship, are to be known as the LIST,
I'd, and Sd regiments of United>~St
Volunteer Cavalry. They are to be COM
posed of II troops each.
Senators Gallery and McEnery, of Louisi-
ana; Senator Mallory, OF Florida, and
Representative Davey, of louisiana, have
been consulting with reference to the rails
ing of regiments of yellow fever immuneS
in Louisiana nd other Southern States for
service in Cuba. The Secretary of War
has been most favorably impressed with
the idea, and has already signified his in
tention of accepting the regiment OF I'M
muneS raised by the son OF Gen. Hood,
the famous Confederate commander.
The difficulty of obtaining other volun-
teer regiments of this character is that
the volunteer bill passed by Congress au-
thOrized the raising of only three regi-
me1ts from the United States at large.
This exhaustS the present authorization,
and after cons lting with Secretary A1ger
it was decided to press Immediately an
amendment to the volunteer bill, to IN
crease the number of men to be raised ia
the United States Eat large" to 13 600 men.
Senator Hawley, of the Senate Committee
on Military Affairs, and Representative
Hull, of the House Committee, are both
enthusiastically in favor of this amend
ment. 1t would permit the raising and
equipment of 10000 yellow fever immunes
in Louisiana and other Southern States,
who would be especially fitted for service
in Cuba. President Mckinley has been
consulted in the matter and is decidedly
favorable to the proposition and, If it be