The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-12
ASKED FOR EQUIPMENT.
Captain May Wires TO Washington for
Clothing.

Another day of monotony and disap-
pointment passed over the heads of the
soldiers at Camp Mount yesterday because
Of the fact that no apparent move was
made on the part of the authorities to start
the boys to the front AS the day wore on
various new rumors were started, appa-
rently from all corners of the camp, both
regarding the movement and the destina-
ton Of the soldiers. Some went to the
length of saying that 1t was probable that
they would not be moved for ten days, at
least, which served to make the boys de-
srondent and uncomfortable generally. On
every hand it was apparent that all were
impatient to be off, and that they chafed at
the delay which has extended from day to
day. The receipt Of the news that one reg
iment was ordered to go to Mobile was dis
torted in the hands of the men to mean
that the entire body was ordered to that
point. Some said that they had official in
formation to the effect that all the troops
were to be sent to Chickamauga Park. in
stead of part Of them to New Orleans.
Then, again, the report that the State had
been unable to secure the necessary sup
plies for the troops, and that this would
cause an indefinite delay in getting the
boys away. served to deepen the gloom on
all Sides
The fact of the matter is that there has
at no time since the camp was opened been
such an absolute air of uncertainty sur
rounding the general situation with regard
to the moving of the troops as there is at
present. On all sides. from the highest Of
fcer to the lowest private. there is a gen.
uine and universal Ignorance on this point.
Colonel May stated that he had no knowl-
edge and could not form any estimate as to
how long time the troops would be COM
PEELED to wait for their supplies. All the
uniforms at the Statehouse were brought
out to camp yesterday and distributed
among the men who were without them,
but the supply was entirely too small.
Last night, feeling that it would be futile
to look further to the State to equip the
troops, and realizing that placing further
dependence in this direction meant greater
delay to the movement of the troops, which
is not at this time desirable, Colonel May
decided to break loose from the State in
the matter of furnishing equipment, and
telegraphed to the quartermaster general
at Washington instructions to send the fol-
lowing articles to Camp Mount by express,
at once, for the use of the detachment that
will be sent to New Orleans: Two thousand
blouses, two thousand pairs of trousers,
two thousand suits of underwear, two thou
sand pairs of socks and two thousand blue
flannel shirts. 1t is expected that because
the failure on the part of the State to per-
form the task imposed upon it in the way
of purchasing the supplies here in Indian
apolis, the troops will be detained here until
probably Sunday. Quartermaster General
Richardson, in consultation with Colonel
May last night stated point blank that the
State had been unable to buy the goods here
of supplying footgear for the soldiers, Col.
May expressed himself to the quartermaster
general as being willing that the men should
wear away with them their own shoes.
providing they were in good condition and
of pattern not calculated to develop ten
derness of the feet or corns. 1t was learned
that many of them were well provided with
their own shoes, while a large percentage
were practically barefooted.