The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-23
EXAMINE THEM At HOME
GEN. CORBIS's INSTRUCTIONS AS TO
THE sECoND-CALL COMPANIES.
Troops at Fair Grounds Next Week
THE Backus appointment.


officer for this State arrived in the city
yesterday and took up his headquarters
with Lieutenant Peterson. on North Illinois
street. One of his first duties was to call
on Governor Mount. with whom he had a
lorg but not very satisfactory talk on the
subject of the new recruiting. This WAS
due to the lack of knowledge as to details,
which both of them felt at the time. How
ever. it was definitely settled that the Of
fetal call for the two companies and one
regiment of infantry would be made to-day,
as stated in the Journal of yesterday. The
following towns, as already stated in these
columns, were officially notified that COM
panies from the several places would be
given the preference under the present call,
as follows: Mount Vernon, Jeffersonville,
Madison, Columbus, Lawrenceburg, Rich
mond, New Castle, Shelbyvile. Rushville
Hammond, Michigan City and Monticello
The company which was to be granted 10
Corydon under the plan of the Governor has
disintegrated. and the place reserved for
that town is now vacant, and will be filled
as the emergency arises.
While the towns enumerated above have
all assured the Governor that they have
their companies organized, the Governor
does not propose to waste any time catering
to the whims that the troops in any of the
towns may develop. The mastering must
be done strictly according to rules, and no
favorites will be played under any circum-
stances. If it is found that there are two
companies in any town that refuse to con-
solidate or which dispute the right of the
other to represent the town, the Governor
will recognize neither, but will take an
other company from the first available point
where there is a company organized.
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS RECEIVED.
Later in the day Lieutenant Waterman
received specific instructions from the War
Department the subject of the methods
to be pursued in recruiting the Indiana
troops in telegram sent by Adjutant Gem
eral H. c. Corbin from the War Department.
at Washington. The message was as fol-
lows:
You will proceed to Indianapolis to
muster into the United States service un-
der the Presidents second CALL May 20, at
the rendezvous indicated by the Governor
two separate companies of infantry organ
lied indicated below and an additional
one regiment of infantry. to consist of one
colonel. one lieutenant colonel two majors,
one adjutant extra lieutenanO, one quar-
ternaster, one surgeon, two assistant
surgeons first lieutenants), one chaplain
one sergeant major one quartermasrer
sergeant, one chief musician, two principal
twelve companies of one captain, first lieu
tenant. second lieutenant, first sergeant, one
quartermaster sergeant, four sergeants'
twelve corporals, two musicians, one ar
tificer, one wagner, eighty-four prlvates'
maximum, and seventy-four, minimum.
1.-The Governor has been requested to APP
point a board of three reputable physicians
for the purpose only of examining the regi-
mental medical officers nominated by him.
The members of the board are to receive
$40 day and travelling expenses from their
respective homes to the place designated
for the meeting of the board and return
The regimental medical officers Will then De
mustered and assist you with the physical
examinations of the men OF their own or
other organizations. Send separate lsts
direct to the Quartermaster general ana
chief of ordnance. respectively; for the sup
plies needed. Confer with the Governor
concerning details affecting the comfort
shelter subsistence of the organization and
the order in which they should be moblllzed
for muster. Blanks have been mailed TO the
adjutant general of the State report dally
progress at o'clock p. m. and final COM
pletion of muster, when the commanding
officer will report to the adJutant general
Of the ARM army n l9I a examination and
be filled to maximum with qualihed men at
the home station.
The tenor of these instructions complexities
matters from the Governors standpoint, as
the statement has been made from the ex-
ecutive Office that the troops will be sent
here by companies for examination and
muster. This arrangement, according to
the instructions of Lieutenant Waterman
and the rules and regulations of the army,
is impracticable, as the regulations express
ly provide that the government cannot un-
dertake to furnish transportation or SUBJ
sistence for troops which have not first been
examined and pronounced fit for enlistment.
Thus it will be seen that the work of the
examiners must be done in the towns in
xxyl,;ob nix cd a
a result the plans of the Governor will have
to be revised. The medical board referred
to in the telegram to Lieutenant Waterman
will be the same one that examined sur
geons for the first call for troops, and it
will pronounce on the fitness of the surgeons
to do the work, although it is the present
intention of the Governor to have them also
do the examining of the recruits, he not
being advised of the wishes of the War De-
partment as yet The plan of the govern
ment has many advantages over the method
pursued at the last encampment, as the only
men brought here will be men who have
passed the physical requirements and who
lack only the oath to make them in reality
soldiers
AT CAMP MOUNT NEXT WEEK.
The troops will be brought here by COM
panies as soon as examined, and will be at
once quartered in the fair grounds. Quar-
termaster General Richardson has made ar
rangements by which the entire south side
of the fair grounds is TO be given over to
the use of the troops whenever they shall
come here, and that event is fixed for not
later than early next week.
The matter of the appointments for the
new regiment remains the same as 1t has
for the last few days. AS stated in yes
terday's Journal. the appointments, while
not given out officially stated by the
is much adverse criticism about the State
house over the appointment of Victor NJ.
Backus 10 the lieutenant colonelcy, caused
by various things that have appeared in the
case, and the statement is made openly that
he owes his appointment, when 1t comes,
solely to the Governor, who has been i'm
portuned quite strongly not to appoint
him as he has been solicited by the best
element of the city to appoint Lieutenant
Peterson.
In the case of the new regiment there
will be marked difference in the mobiliza-
ton of it as compared to the former CEN
tering of troops at Camp Mount. These
troops will be equipped completely by the
government as intimated in the telegram
10 Lieutenant Waterman, and orders will
be sent to-day for the necessary supplies
of clothing, arms. tentage and commissary
supplies. The time is short in which TO
provide the latter item. and when the troops
are mobilized here AT the fair grounds many
people will study the efficiency of the fed
for the men, and compare them to the ex-
periences of the first troops under the state
officers for the first few days