Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-06
First Of the Major Generals to Enter
the Service.
VETERAN IN GRAY DONS TIE blue
Mr.. Roosevelt Sworn Into the
Military Service.
GROUP OF ROUGH RIDERS

Fighting Joe" Wheeler was the first Of
b the major generals of the volunteer army
to be mustered in. The oath of office was
administered to him in the office of the
chief clerk of the War Department about
neon today by Mr.. A. n. Thompson, as
sistant to the chief clerk. in the presence
of Brig. Gen. Schwan of the adjutant gen.
erals office. and Lieut. D. D. Devore. sd
Infantry. military aid to the Secretary OF
War Gen Wheeler subscribed to the usual
cath in the following words:
Il do solemnIy swear that 1 will bear
true faith and allegiance to the United
States of America and that ] will serve
them honestly and faithfully against all
their enemies whomsoever. and that 1 will
obey the orders of the President of the
United States and the orders of the officers
appointed over me. according to the rules
and articles Of war
Gen Wheeler was not only the first
major general to be mustered into the vol
rnteer army. but he was also the first ex
confederate officer to receive commission
In the Military service of the United States.
Lieut.. Deyore was The first officer of the
army to salute him his superior officer.
hich he did when he congratulated him
Upon Icing mustered in.
Gems. Lee and BreckinridEe Report.
and Joseph c. Breckenridge, inspector gen.
eral of the United States army. reported to
army headquarters this morning for duty
with the volunteers. The generals re-
ceved their commissions later in the day
and We're formally sworn into the service
of the United States
The assignments to stations of the gen.
erals has as yet not beer publicly an
nourced. although it is believed to be like
1y that General Lee will be located some
where in the south, and it is stated to be
possible that General Breckenridge may be
placed in command of the troops that are
to rendezvous in Washington. General Lee
said that the staff officers OF his command
have not yet been determined upon finally.
Mr. Algernon Sartorts. a grandson Of Gen.
L. S Grant, is to be appointed a colonel
In the volunteer army. and the present ex-
pectation is that h, will be assigned to the
staff of Maj Cen Lee, course known to
be perfectly agreeable to that gentleman.
An assignment of this character would pre-
sent the striking spectacle of the grandson
of the ccmmander-in-chief of the Union
forces in the civil war serving on the staff
of the nephew of the commander-in-chief
of the confederate forces. and would be
most substantial illustration of the fact
that there are no sectional lines in the
United States in the present war.
Mr.. Roosevelt sworn In.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roose-
Welt today sworn in by Adjutant Gen
eral Corbin as lieutenant colonel of L nited
States volunteers. to serve with the regi-
ment of mounted rifiemen. The latter IS
the official designation # the regiment. but
IT is better known as Teddy's Terrors."
being made up mainly of plainsmen. rough
r;I %
Col Roosevelt took place in the Office of
Adjutant General Corbin, a number of lead
ing army officers. senators and representa-
tives being present. Col. Roosevelt was
Warmly congratulated on his entrance up
on military life. He had previously been
subject to a rigid physical examination by
the surgeon general of the army, and had
passed it successfully.
Colonel Roosevelt has placed his resigna-
ton as assistant secretary of the navy in
the hands of Secretary Long. 1t has not
Yet been accepted. however, and Mr.. Roose-
welt Will continue his assistance to the Sec
retary of the Navy for some days, when he
will join his regiment al San Antonio.
Some of '.Teddy's TerrOrs.-
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt's Office was
crowded to overlooking about noon today
with assemblage of cowboys, plainsmen
college students and ex-policemen Of the
New York force, who are among those to
Join the command of which Mr.. Roosevelt
will be lieutenant colonel. Most of the
men were mustered in yesterday. The call
ers today consisted of party Of thirty
one. who will be sent forward to San An
tonic to join the main body of this regi-
ment. The members of the party were de-
cidedly unique in appearance.
The plainsmen and rough riders were In
troad-brimmed sombreros. and gave ur-
mistakabe evidence of their ability to
round UP a herd of refractory steers. They
we're all tall well-built, athletic fellows
brorzed from exposure and the picture of
health and endurance. There were several
young EnSlshmen in the party. who had
preferred this service as even more excit-
Ing thad roughing 1t On the plains. Three
ex-policemen of the New York force were
In the party. looking quite as stalwart as
the ranchmen.
There was sprinkling also of tender
feet. coming from the colleges and uni
versities, as well from the social CEN
tiers. as all stations have been glad to
contribute their quota to this, what Is
sometimes known as the cowboy regiment.
Colonel Roosevelt greeted each man per-
sonally, and the men were unanimous in
pronouncing him brick" This party
will probably go to San Antonio tonight,
and other parties are their way here
and will go forward rapidly.
The Fire mt Indian Head.
Naval officials not disposed to at
tribute to Spanish spies the fire which re-
suited In the destruction of between LOO
end 100 cords of wood at the Indian Head
proving grounds last week. That is the
place where all the tests of armor plate
are conducted by the Navy Department
The wood destroyed was a lot that had
been cut from the large reservation in
which the proving grounds are located
and was stored on a bluff facing the river
Just to the north of the valley where the
tests are conducted. From the fact that
considerable rain has fallen lately the
wood must have been very wet, and 1t is
not likely that the fire occurred In any
spontaneous manner.
1t is probably due. the officials say, to the
carelessness OF party of nuntsmen or to