The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-12
WILL BE MAJ. PETERSON
UNLESS CAPT. BUNDY HAS STARTED
HERE FROM SANTIAGO.
Negro Companies Think They Are
Earning State MOney-Companies
Mustered In Yesterday.

week for a visit to his farm, it was with
the hope of hearing from Captain Bundy in
some way or other by the time he returned
to duty. Finding the situation to be un
changed in the interval the Governor de-
cided to precipitate matters yesterday. The
first step taken was to call Judge Bundy,
Of New Castle, to the telephone and state
the situation to him. The Governor said 1t
was desired to close all arrangements for
the regiment at once as the muster will be
completed to-day. The New Castle man.
however, still asked for delay, and only gave
way when he saw the Governor was deter
mined to carry out his purpose. Accordingly,
it was finally agreed between the Governor
and Judge Bundy to withdraw Captain
Bundy's candidacy for the majorship, pro-
viding he had not already left Santiago for
Indiana. To settle this point to the satisfac-
ton of all concerned, the Governor sent the
following message to Adjutant General Cor
bin: will you please furnish me with posi-
tive statement as to whether Capt. Omar
Bundy has left Cuba or not, as, in case he
has not, / wish to appoint Lieut.. M. B. Pc
terson, of the Sixth Infantry, to the major
ship in his stead
1t is understood if Captain Bundy is on
the way here he will be given the place, as
the Governor thinks the claim of Judge
Bundy well taken, when he said it would be
very humliating for the captain to leave
his command and come here only to learn
his place had been filled before he arrived.
To guard against this, the telegram was
sent to the adjutant general. 1t Is admitted,
however there is not the slightest chance
of hearing of his departure from Cuba, and
if the necessary permission is received from
the War Department to-day, Lieutenant
Peterson will be mustered in with Colonel
Durbin and the rest of the One-hundred-
and-sixty-first Regiment.
A letter was received by Governor Mount
yesterday, from Col. Harry B. Smith, of
the sand-ffty-eighth Regiment,
adding his testimony TO the recommendation
of Lieutenant Peterson. He referred to him
as a modest and gentlemanly officer, thor
| oughly capable and possessing the conf
dence of the entire brigade of the old
militia
ONE BATTALION SWORN IN
Governor Mount drove out to the camp
yesterday afternoon in company with Col.
c. E. Wilson and Lieutenant and Mrs. Pc
terson. The occasion of the visit was desire
to be present at the muster which was part
of the days programme. Owing to only four
of the companies having complete muster
rolls, Lieutenant Waterman decided to
swear in only one battalion, consisting of
the companies from Hammond, Mount YER
non, Madison and Shelbyville The ceremony
was conducted along the same lines adopted
by Colonel May in mastering the soldiers
under the first call. Captain Olds, of Ham
mond, succeeded in having his company
mustered in first with a view to being
senior captain of the regiment. Following
| him fho or ar MI in he nd
named The only feature lacking to those
who saw the former muster was the abb
sence of the shout, I'VE do given by the
men when taking the oath of allegiance to
the United States Lieutenant Waterman
contented himself with repeating the obli-
cation to the men, asking them to simply
drop their appraised hands in token of acqui-
escence.
A serious overturning of the Governors
plans was narrowly averted yesterday by
statement made by Lieutenant Peterson. 1t
has been from the beginning the plan of the
Governor to have Major Megrew, the senior
major of the regiment. and the possibility
of anything interfering never occurred to
! any OF the regimentaI or state officers until
IN conversation yesterday Lieutenant
! his purpose to have Major Megrew appoint
| ed senior major. On being assured it was
/ the IlSuteHdIlI ADVISED the Governor to have
the major mustered before the other officers
were, as If all the officers were mustered to-
gether the regular army officer who will be
! appointed major of the Third Battalion will
rank Major Megrew by reason Of previous
service: Accordingly, Major Megrew was
ADVISED OF the contingency. and after the
70 uncover his head and take the oath
; which made him the ranking major
| just about dusk Adjutant Tichenor. whose
! appointment was announced in the Journal
| yesterday. asked to be mustered before he
went home to settle up his affairs. and
! formula which made him soldier.
! THE COLORED TROOPS DAY DREAM
There is every chance of the colored
| troops now in camp being awakened from
a day dream when they are mustered into
the federal service to-day. 1t is the impress
sion of most of the colored men that they
are the only troops on the grounds under
pay. This conclusion is reached by a COM
| plicated line of reasoning by the officers of
the companies, who believe the two former
| colored companies of the National Guard
have been reorganized, and as the men re-
spending to call from the Governor they
are entitled 70 state pay as miiitiamen.
Most Of the officers of the old militia COM
| panieS and several of the men say they en-
lsted in the companies because it was said
! to them. they would be paid at the rate of
$l.oO day while waiting to be mustered.
| Last night, when 4 newspaper man told
| tnCih SuCu WdS HOl the case, stney were
plainly Disconnected, and announced their
| intention of seeing about it," One of the
sergeants Gained the apprehension of the
men by saying he knew what he was talk
| ing about and assuring them that they were
| all getting regular militia pay, winding up
/ with the statement: That fellow don't
know what he's talking about. Youse ali
| getting dollar and a half day That's
| the rangement we has with the Guynor.'
! When the matter was called to the atten-
ton OF the Governor that official said he
| could not imagine how there could
| be such an impression created. The
| only manner in which the old colored COM
| panies of the National Guard figured in the
| present enlistment was through his request
| 10 the war Department asking the govern
ment to accept the companies with colored
| officers in view of their long service in the
! State troops.
| The resignation of Adjutant H. K. Scott
| of the acknowledgements Regi-
| ment, is now in the hands of Governor
| Mount. This officer. who few weeks ago
was in this city recruiting for his regiment
| is bank cashier in Angola, and has served
| with the old Third Regiment for a number
| of years. The reason for his resignation
while not staetd by the Governor is thought
| to be i'll health, as when on his visit to this
city recently he was feeling bad There are
| several applications for the vacancy from
| persons in the northeastern part of the
! State, but it is thought by the Governor the
| selection will be made by Colonel Stude-
| baker from the men now serving with the
| regiment at Port Tampa City.
| Stories of desertion are rife in Camp
! Mount, but the statements of to-day are
| invariably denied tomorrow. Over-anxietv
| to keep the organization intact is the main