Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-24
POSSIBLY AFFECTFIRsT REGIMENT
suggestion That the Governor's
Ruling May Lead TO Disbandment.

sugrestfou That the Governor,
Ruling May Lead TO Disbandment.
The suggestion has been made that the
decision recently rendered by Governor
| Tyler in the case of Major W. FL. Sands,
who protested against his commission
being revoked because the First Regi-
ment Of Cavalry had been disbanded,
| may have the effect of disbanding the
| First Regiment. and likewise the First
| Brigade. and retiring their officers. 1t Is
| not believed. however, that any steps
| looked to this end are contemplated or
| will be taken
| Governor Tyler's predecessor in office
decided during his term that when all
| the troops in the First Cavalry Regiment
| had been disbanded save two, there was
| no longer a regiment. and that the COM
missions of the field officers were, there
fore. revoked. The code provides that
not less than six nor more than ten COM
pc nies, troops, or batteries shall consti-
tute regiment. Major Sands strongly
protested against this ruling, and recent
ly wrote the Governor strong letter on
the subject. urgently and firmly request
ing that a court of enquiry look into the
matter.
Governor Tyler. through Adjutant-Gen-
eral Male, replied to Major Sands, re-
fusing to order the court of enquiry. The
letter says in part:
Through the laws concerning the Vir-
gina volunteers are not explicit as might
be desired, the facts are that on August
3. 1897, the number Of troops in the First
Regiment of Cavalry. Virginia Volun-
teers, did not constitute a regiment as
required by law. and TO have continued
would have been clearly illegal, and
hence the dsbandment Of the regiment
was imperative. There can be no field
and staff of a regiment which does not
exist, and there being no provision in
the laws by which such officers could be
transferred TO other commands, their
commissions were necessarily revoked. IL
is not seen that any wrong has been
done TO any officer of the regiment nor
was the dsbandment thereof in any sense
a reflection upon its major.
Immediately upon the receipt of this
communication Major Sands rendered his
services to the Governor for the war
with Spain. The Governor thanked him,
and stated that there was no position to
which he could be assigned at present.
There are now but three companies in
The First Regiment-D and T., from Rich
fEOIu, duu the lilt
Others having been mustered into the
Federal service and assigned to other
regiments. The First. therefore, lacks
tfree companies Of having the minimum.
Colonel Jones, Leutenant-Colonel George |
Wayne Anderson, and Major J. H. Derby |
shire are, It is ccntended. In the same |
position as Major Sands. The same rule |
might apply to Brigadier-General Phil |
lips and his staff After the three regi- |
ments shall have been mustered into the |
Federal service there will not be one |
regiment left in the brigade.
When asked by a Dispatch reporter |
last night as to whether he would dis
band the First Regiment, Governor Tyler
declined to reply. except TO say, "Wait |
until we .inish one war before we start |
another" This indicates that the Cover
nor will not act hastily in the matter.
+, indeed. he does at all. While the
regiment has only three companies now,
this is due to the fact that the other
our have been assigned 10 the Second
'or service In the war with Spain.