Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-04
HOODS IMMUNES.

II is announced In the New Orleans
papers that Colonel John b. Hood has
nearly completed the raising OF a reg-
ment OF immunes, and that 1t will be
mustered into service within a short
| time.
| The Colonel is a son OF that distinguish
ed Texan who rose 10 high rank in the
than once ELECTED special praise from
| Gen. X. Il. Lee. The men that have been
enlisted by the Colonel are citizens of
Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas,
| Florida, and Alabama, with a sprinkling
| of others from other States. So, that
| regiment will conform very closely, in
deed to what Congress intended in au-
thorizing the formation of regiments OF
immunes.
1t may be doubted II all Of Hoods men
will enjoy immunity from the fevers that
prevail upon the coast of Cuba; but GER
tainly it would seem that they are far
less liable TO contract them than most
other persons would be.
one of the senators from Florida said
not long ago that the only man who is
immune" is dead man, and that may
be so. speaking in the strictest possible
sense; but it stands to reason that those
who have spent ali their lives upon the
lowlands of the Gulf States would be
better able to withstand the facilitating
climate Of the West Indies than men who
have always resided in Virginia and
West Virginia. for instance.
And so, while we look with favor upon
the raising of immune regiments in ter
ritory like that canvassed by Colonel
Hood, 1t seems absurd to hope to get
many. if any, suitable recruits in this
part of the country. And we cannot but
warn our friends who are thinking Of
volunteering in such commands that they
are taking extraordinary risk. Should
they enroll themselves as ''immunes,"
they will be considered fit for duty in the
West Indies as acclimated troops. No
such consideration will be shown them
as to troops that make no profession of
enjoying comparative immunity from
West Indian diseases. Commanders will
be justified in expecting of professed i'm
munes service they would not require
of other soldiers.
Again, we insist, that the War Office |
will be blamable If it chooses as officers
of immunes men who are unused to the |
heat and burden of southern summers. |
officers are, at times, expected to see, |
hear, and think for their men; but how |
can they do so if, under the rule of proba- |
bilities, they are going to be the very |
first TO fall sick?
The proposition Of young Hood to form |
a regiment of immunes is said to have |
given rise to the scheme which was
finally enacted into law authorizing the |
formation of ten such regiments. Now
it would be well to take care TO follow
Colonel Hood in selecting the men for
this service.
Further, we think 1t would be nothing
but fair to credit the States furnishing
the immunes with the numbers thus fur
nished as a part of their quota under
the Presidents second call, There ought
to be no difficulty in doing this. The
muster officers could ask each man to
declare in what State he held citizenship
and the facts thus ascertained could be
certified TO the War Office, and each
State credited accordingly. The arrange,
ment would be fair to all concerned, and
would remove at least one Of the objec-
tons now urged in the far South against
the formation of such regiments. But as
for Virginia, we say that there are very
few, If any, immunes here.