The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-02
GOV. MOUNT SUCCESSFUL
SECRETARY OF WAR ALGER WILL,
ACCEPT COLORED BATTALION.
Cities of indianapolis, Evansville and
Terre Haute VIII Probably Con-
tribute Companies.

Governor Mounts efforts on behalf Of the
celored men who want to go to war have
been successful. Indiana is to furnish
colored battalion of four companies, with
its own officers including major, in addi-
ton to the regular quota due from the State
under the second call. Information to this
effect was received by the Governor last
nigth, to whom Senator Fairbanks sent a
telegram announcing that Secretary OF War
Alger had decided to accept battalion in
addition to the quota of 1851 men, as re-
quested by the Governor last week. Under
the recent rule of the War Department each
company is to contain JOG enlisted men,
captain and two neutenants. This means
that the State will be called on for 424 en-
listed men, four captains, eight lieutenants
and major.
When the telegram from Senator Fair
banks came last night it was too late for
the Governor to undertake to make any
plans for the formation of the battalion. 1t
can be said, however, on the authority of
the Governor, that the battalion will be
made up of colored men from all parts of
the State. 1t does not seem unlikely that
one company will be taken from Evansville,
one from Terre Haute and two from In
dianapolis, although this is not stated as
.
of Evansville, called on the Governor in be-
half of the colored men of that city. Mr..
Posey Informed him that there were many
eager to get into regiment, and Mr.. Posey
even thought of going to Washington see If
he could in any way aid the efforts that
have been made. Mr.. Posey suggested that
perhaps the War Department would au-
thorize the formation of a tri-state regi-
ment, including battalion from Indiana,
another from Kentucky and a third from
Illinois or Ohio. His suggestion was made
before the Governor had heard from Senator
Fairbanks.
Some time ago, when Governor Mount I'M
dertook to have the War Department ac-
cept a colored regiment, steps were set on
foot here to form regiment.
When the Governor received a message
saying that a regiment with its own officers
could not be accepted in addition to the
States quota, the efforts to form the regi-
ment were abandoned. There are, how
ever, several companies in embyro. Gov
ernor Mount did not say last night that he
would accept the companies that are being
formed until he had had time to give the
subject some consideration. To-day many
colored men will most likely call to confer
with him on the question. The Governors
idea is If possible, to allow each section
of the State to be represented In the forma-
ton of the battalion.
Immediately on the receipt OF Senator
Fairbanks's telegram Governor Mount in
structed Military Secretary Wilson to tele-
graph back to the senator asking If il
would not be possible to authorize the Cow
ernor to furnish two battalions instead of
the one that has been accepted. The Gov
ernor wants to give the colored people aa
much as it is possible to secure. It has been
represented to him that enough colored
volunteers can be found to make up not
only two battalionS but full three bat
TALON regiment.
The hope is expressed that the success
OF lne Governors efforts Will put an end
to the controversy that has arisen. Before
the mobilization of the Indiana National
Guard the two colored companies demanded
that they be placed back in the regiments
from which they were detached while
Mount informed the colored men that if
they were attached to white regiments as
soon as they reached the South they would
be detached and placed under white COM
manders. He offered then to allow a bat
talon to be formed, but some of the leaders
statement that the War Department could
not accept a regiment and efforts were
made to get battalion with it's own colored
officers, just what the Governor proposed in
the first place. A good many of the col
ored men.a saying that the wisdom of the
strated and that they are satisfied that
everything possible has been done. OF their
own choice the two colored companies of
the old Indiana National Guard were mus
tered out of service, so that there is no reg
ular company ready for service. 1t is sup
the old companies will re-enlist in the COM
panleS that are now to be formed.