davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-05
INDIANA'S DESIRE THE GUARDS
DUTY.

There can be no doubt that the people of
Indiana earnestly desire the appointment of
General Mckee to the position of hrigadier
general of volunteers. They would regard
his appointment as a special recognition of
the State of Indiana by the President.
Those who have military experience in the
late war are confident that General Mckee
possesses in a high degree the qualifica-
tons which are necessary to- make a capable
officer. He has not only Tbeen connected
with the National Guard many years, but
he has made the science of war a study.
The Journal believes that his appointment
will have most salutary influence upon
the troops now being raised in this State.
1t may be added that there is no reason to
believe that his name will not be sent to
the Senate by the President among the first
brigadiers selected from the National Guard
in the States. Thus far the President mas
made no such selections.
In this connection the Journal feels called
upon to say that some of the threats which
are made to the effect that the National
Guard will not go if it cannot go as now
organized are not only indiscreet, but are
pF6Juulcldl 10 the highest interests OF the
State Men have been called to the field;
the National Guard claimed the first right
to enter the service as an organization.
That privilege has been accorded it. If cor
rectly reported some of its officers declare
that they will not go unless they can so
under conditions which satisfy them Such
men seem to forget the dictates of patriot
ISM They place personal considerations
above the honor of the country The same
spirit in front of the enemy would lead
them to refuse to go into action if not led
by the men of their choice Such conduct
is utterly subversive of discipline, and would
demoralize the best body of men in the
world.
The Journal is confident that when the
officers of the guard the effect of such
threats they will use their influence to dis
countenance that spirit of INSTRUMENTATION
which underlies them. The United States
has called for troops to maintain the honor
of the Nation for the guard to give out
that it will not respond to that call unless
it can have certain organization and the
officers of it's choice would involve it in dis
grace and dishonor a State which has al
ways been prompt to respond to the calls
of the Nation in seasons of public peril.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-05

Colonel Smiths staff. when asked whether
replied: Wen. Id hate to say. because /
am not In possession of the fact. but from
his appearance strongly suspected that he
Lieutenant Colonel Thayer. of the Second
r. giment, has returned from his home at
Greenfield. where he went to recruit some
men to help till the gap In the Second Reg
iment, with ten flne-iooking boys, all of
whom PASSED their examinations highly and
viii soon be mustered into the regular army
with the rest without ado.
dozen of the boys Of Company II. of the
Second Regiment who deserted, have re-
turned and they reported that twelve more
were following them. The citizens of Frank
lin made it TOO hot for them to stay at
home
News comes 10 The Second Regiment head
quarters that the boys of Company /. from
Sheridan who returned to their homes have
received through the mails from the town
fox bottles filled with milk and equipped
err
Company f, of Winchester. which has had
eighteen assertions to date. received nine
of them back yesterday and the returning
deserters brought the news that twenty more
men from that town would come in to-day
anxious to serve in the company. When the
boys got home the citizens gave them
tin-horn serenade and in the procession that
met them was a white flag with the word
"deserters" in large letters upon it, Third
Sergeant Shockney. who was one of the men.
him pointedly that unless he came back to
camp she wouldn't live with him. This was
enough for the sergeant and last evening he
Strolled into camp
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-05

necessary for an army in the field. The
STATS of brigades divisions and corps, as
provided bysthe Hull act, are the same
were those of the armies during the civil
war on both sides. In actual service it was
found that three officers with the rank of
captain and four or five aids were sufficient.
Upon that experience the Hull law is based.
To muster in brigade with several staff
officers with the rank of major or colonel
and embracing engineer, signal and ord
nance officers necessary in an independent
army would not tend to efficiency and would
make the organization extremely cumber
some and expensive. A brigade attached to
corps or division has no use for engineer
ing, observation and ordnance officers upon
its staff. Uniformity in an army is neces-
sary. 1t would not do to have as many
kinds of stats as there are States furnish
ing troops. There must be law to apply
to all. For that purpose the Hull act has
been passed. 1t is the result of the ex-
perience of men who have served in the
field, regulars and volunteers alike. 1t may
be added that neither law nor order recog-
nizes state brigades, but regiments, bat
talions, batteries and troops of cavalry are
called for
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-05
JUSTICE TO THE NORTH.
Southern Newspaper Deprecntes
Unfair Sectional LtferaEces.

Columbia Is. CD State tDem)
The North. quite as much as the South,
will be willing 10 do more than its share
of the fighting. 1t does not need the aid
is naturally glad to find basis for re-
union and comradeship with section
which, despite past enmities. it really
admireS and respects We are not very
greater North that lies to the west of IT
the war spirit is strong and sincere, and
when the call for men is made our Rock
Hill contemporary will be impressed by
the magnifcence of the response
Many OF these States have large and
marching at days notice. and. at least
half a dozen of them have already appro-
priated from half million to million
dollars each to equip volunteers ana other
wise contribute to the common cause X
money be the measure Of sincerity-as IT
so often is--the North shows a profound
sincerity iH this matter.
1t is not in good taste and Ii Is not
in good spirit 10 intimate that the North
is asking the South to do what it would
asking the South to do anything. We will
be satisfied if this section shall do It's part
as well as the North. There are mean and
sordid and urustriotic men there. and
sentiment and sneer at noble impulses-hut
we are ourselves not exempt from such
ills. The masses are sound in Dosh Sec
tons.
This is time for knitting 'ogether the
men of the North and the men of the
South. too long estranged-not for rancid
prejudices. We have a common cause. q
most honorable cause. md a duty that APP
peals to all of us alike. The people Of the
South. we are sure will turn to Ii with the
the duty, not alone of themselves, but Of
the American people.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-05

The regular army officers have waited
long for promotions, and everybody should
BE glad that their opportunity has come.
Some OF them served in the civil war. some
have had dangerous service among the In
dams, others have known nothing OF actual
war because Of the reign of peace, but all
have been ready to go when the call came.
Stationed. many of them, for years at re-
mote posts. with few of the pleasures of life
within reach and none of the excitements
of actual service, they have doubtless found
their lives rather dull and unsatisfactory,
and have longed for the opportunity to show
their military quality and prove the value
Of their special training. The most Of these
men are West Point graduates, and rep
rehensible tendency 10 speak disparaglngly
Of West Pointers is shown In certain quar-
tiers. They should. on the contrary. stand
high in public esteem. They have been ed
ucated BY the government for precisely
such emergencies as new confront us, and
the government only does It's duty 70 itself
ard to them when It sends them to the front
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-05
WASTHEIR DAY
GUARD OFFICERS SEIZE THEIR LAST
CHANCE 10 TALK.
Caucuses and Threats to Drop Out I'm
less Things Are Done as
They Want Them
APPOINTMENT OF GEN. M'KEE
LATE WASHINGTON ADvICEs LEAVE
1T IN DOUBT.
Cutters Places More than Filled by
Men Anxious to Go Into
the Service.
WARM RECEPTIONS At HOME
hios
SURGEONS WHO OBJECT TO TAKING
A LOWER RANK.
---A------
Cutters Places More than Filled by
Men Anxious to Go Into
the Service.
WARM RECEPTIONS At HOME
SURGEONS WHO OBJECT TO TAKING
A LOWER RANK.
Lieutenant May in Command of the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES for Mus
tering Men In To-Day

The transformat icn of Indianas National
Guard into United States troops begins this
morning by Lieutenant May. L. S. A, who
will muster every man in from colonies
downward The last day that some of the
officers and troops will pass as militiamen
was employed in the case of the officers of
some regiments in passing resolutions at
mess tables and in star chamber sessions
which would, were they enrolled as regular
army troops, cause them to be cashiered.
The resolutions and remarks made publicly
to men in civil life were in the nature of
protests against the existing laws govern
ing the army of the Nation. Criticisms di-
rected against everyone connected with the
administration of these laws were made
openly, though probably with no thought
of the effect that would follow such decla-
rations in the way of drawing unfavorable
comment on Indiana because of such con-
duct from its soldiers, whose first military
duty as has been proverbially stated, is to
obey 1t is stated by dispassionate men that
the conduct of some of the officers at Camp
Mount is largely responsible for this con-
dition of affairs. These are said to be
the men who have been fomenting
most of the criticism. While this may not
be fact, such actions on the part of the
leaders of the troops leaves them open to
invidious criticism and the best minds claim
that the honor of the State, even, demands
that such child's play should cease, and that
they should be soldiers in fact, fit to wear
the livery of their country with honor. For
several years it has been the watchword in
some quarters that the National Guard
was of no practical value and that when
actual fighting was to be done the troops
supported by the State would be found
good for nothing but, parade work. Thus it
is urged, it behooves the guards to care
for their own reputation and prove that in
an emergency they are fit to do something
besides draw rations and march up and
down asphalted streets.
1t is stated upon excellent authority that
atmore than one regimental mess last night
itSwas agreed that they should be mustered
in with the present brigade formation or
not at all. The, privates do not participate
in this feeling to any great extent, and even
il any considerable number of them should
threaten to follow their officers out of
camp, the State is full of good able bodied
men who are aching for a chance to take
their places
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-05

The desire for news is natural at all
times among a people who take an intelli-
gent interest in public affairs. In this coun-
try it has been stimulated by systematic
process of collecting and disseminating news
and by an exceptionally enterprising press
When war is added to these causes the pop
uiar craving fer news becomes abnormal.
1t is to be expected that newspapers should
do all in reason to meet this demand, yet
there is a limit beyond which they should
not wish to go, or if they do should not be
permitted to go. This limit is the publica-
ton of information useful to the enemy.
There has been too much of this in time
of peace, and now that we have foreign
war on our hands it is a source of embar-
rassment and danger to the government.
During many weeks previous to the COM
Notifications were published to an extent
that must have been exceedingly crafty
ing to the military attaches of the Spanish
legation in Washington and other Spanish
spies. Since the war began, at least until
within a few days. every act, decision and
order of the naval authorities and every
movement of ships has been exploited
with much publicity as if they related
to holiday excursion or naval parade in
stead of a foreign war with a watchful, willy
and treacherous enemy. While we have
been guessing day after day and week after
week as to the whereabouts of the Span
ish navy, deceived and befogged by contra
dictory dispatches. evidently designed for
that purpose, all Europe. including Spain,
has known within few hours of every
decision of our board of strategy and every
movement of our squadrons. This is all
wrong. The public has no right to any in
formation that may be useful to the enemy
and while the press can hardly be expected
to discriminate in such matters or blamed
for publishing all the news it can get, it
should not complain of orders making
traband all information relating to military
or naval operations calculated to benefit the
enemy. The government authorities have
been much too lax in giving out such in
formation, or permitting it to be given
out by subordinates. 1t is time to stop TAX
ing the world into our confidence and fur
nishing the enemy with our state secrets
and plans of campaign.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-05

DIR. r. w. Garstang. who has for five
years past been connected with the In
dianapolis Light Artillery as surgeon. is
very much exercised over the fact that he
was relegated TO a second assistant sur
geonship in the Third Regiment, while in
Lis opinion he is entitled to much higher
position. DR.. Garstang last night announced
his intention to accept the inevitable and go
dutifully to the front He, however stated
shat he wished his position before the peo-
pie of Indianapolis to be fully known Men
who have not seen half the length of service
that he has have been made his superiors
The proper course to have been pursued in
the matter, he believes, should have been to
have allowed those surgeons who were en-
titled to recognition by seniority to have
received their commissions after which IL
there was no vacancies for them they could
have resigned with feeling thar they had
attained the positions they had StriVen for.
AS an indication of the injustice practiced
DR.. Garstang states that there were APP
who had served less than two years IN the
corps and who only graduated as medicos
last month. In addition to this he states
that Dr.. Barcus, who has been assigned
to the Second Regiment. is a homeopathic
physician and his muster is contrary to
army rules. which prescribe that none but
a regular physician (alopath) will be allowed
to become member of any army medical
corps One of the rules in the army Is that
"all examinations must be made by alo-
night William Garstang. superintendent of
motive power of the Big Four Railway
telegraphed to Senator Fairbanks. calling
his attention to this technical violation of
the cause of all the trouble, not in the army
officers, but In politics.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-05
SEAT OF AUTHORITY TRANSFERRED
united States Officials Now in Com
mand-New Guard to BE Organized.

UuhEU 80 ne organized.
The seat of operations of the Indiana
National Guard has been transferred from
the offices of Governor Mount, Adiutant
General Gore and Quartermaster General
Richardson, in the Statehouse, to Camp
Mount. Captain May, the mastering of
hcer, and Captain Wal1eman, medical ex-
aminer have begun their work. AS soon as
1t is done the troops will pass entirely out
of the command of the Governor and his
associates. Quartermaster General Richard
son will continue supplying subsistence to
the soldiers until they are mustered into the
United States service; then the new quar-
rermaSter, to be appointed by the President
will assume that duty
AS soon as the troops leave INDIANAPOLIS
and 1T is believed now that they will not be
mere another week, arrangements will be
made for the organization of another In
diana National Guard. With the mastering
into the United States service of the men at
Camp Mount the Indiana National Guard
goes out of existence There will then be the
same need for new guard that there has
been for the old in time of peace. 1t Is not
companies being organized will be taken into
the guard. They have been organized for
the specific purpose of taking hand in the
war with Spain, and it is not believed that
they will care to become part of the state
guard and formed into as many regiments
they will make 1t is not likely that the
new guard will get to go to the front in case
of a second call. as the preference would
then be given to the volunteers.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-05
WILL GO TO WASHINGTON.
Indiana Troops VIII Not Remain
Much Longer.

1t is at last decided that Washington is
to be the place where the Indiana troops
will rendezvous. This final information
came to General Mckee from Senator Fair
banks in Washington, stating that on the
day that the muster of the Indiana troops
is completed the whole brigade will be
shipped at once to Washington for further
orders.
There has been for some time past con-
siderable doubt prevailing here as to the
point to which the soldiers were to be sent
and also the period of time they would he
quartered at the fair grounds. This in
formation, coming as 1t does from a high
authority, puts the matter al rest ON both
points in the minds of both the public and
the soldiers themselves. The move to Wash :
ington will be . popular one all around, as
when it was first intimated that Atlanta
would be the objective point the news was
received with very little enthusiasm. The
information has not been made public as
yet, and it is probable the soldiers in Camp
Mount will receive their first intimation as
to the briefness of their stay at home in
these columns to-day.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-05

Baltimore American

bdlI1UlOTo AfIctiCdii
One Of the best things Secretary Alger
has done was in getting President Frank
Thomson, of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
TO take charge of the transportation
branch of the military service. This assures
the speedy movement of troops. and places
one of the most important questions in sE7
hands. of railroad genius.
Many remember the story which was cur
rent not many years ago concerning a GER
tain visit to Secretary Stanton in war times
President Thomas A. Scott, 1T the Pennsyl-
vania, had been appointed assistant secre-
tary of war by President LincoTs and he
took with him TO the secretary of war a
smooth-faced slim-bodied, modest youth
who had not reached the voting age, and
when Secretary Stanton looked at the young
man he thought a joke was being played
upon him: but after the young man had
quietly explained all the secretary asked
for. and much more besides. the feeling was
turned into fervent admiration, and this In
creased as the war went on. and young
Thomson accomplished wonders In railroad
construction and operation. His achieve
ment in keeping the lines below Nashville
open in the face OF the enemy, and safely
transporting $50 cars, containing twenty
thousand troops of the Eleventh and
Twelfth Army Corps, for the relief of Chat
tanooga, was one of the great deeds of the
war. But he did much more that showed
wonderful resource and energy.
To-day, with all the experience OF years,
no will be Of priceless service TO the gov
eminent, and he Is the kind OF man who will
risk his life. as he frequeAtlNy did III the
sixties IN doing all he cah Tor the flag.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-05
JOHNSON COMES MARCHING BACK.
Some Return to Camp and Others
Take Places of the ..Quittera.',


Yesterday, rainy and chilly, was the most
dismal day that the camp has passed
through, and the spirits of the boys were
depressed in consequence but the compa-
MES whose quarters border on the driveway
lie; ng p from he entrance to the grounds
turned out for three cheers to the new re-
cruits, twenty-five i'm number, who had
come from Montpelier 10 fill the gap in
Company +, OF the Fourth Regiment, from
Ossian, which was made by deserters. The
seven recruits from MartinsvilIe also had
a warm reception. AS a matter of fact, the
majority of those who stepped aside" are
beginning to come back. Some declare that
they simply went home to vote. others say
that they have changed their minds while
others frankly admit that their home peo-
pie made life such burden to them that
they We're glad 10 come back
z AT no time during the day did the boys
nave occasion TO tuln out to jeer at desert
ers they have for the last two days. For
ty-six men was the sum total of the brigade
loss yesterday and these were all men who
Of their parents, or men who knew that
they would be unable TO pass the physical
examination. The loss was distributed even
~ among all the regiments so that their
absence was hardly noticed, except among
their intimate friends.
tiers in the Second Regiment He is the boy
who deserted and went home and was told
by his father 70 return to camp imnpdiateA
~. and that II he had not railroad fare 10
walk. all of which was told in the Journal
yesterday morning. One Of the officers or
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-05
AS TO DIR. WRIGHT.
He Declines to Go as RegimentaI
SurUeOu

Surgeon.
Yesterday DR.. Wakeman stated that there
was no provision made in the regular army
for a brigade surgeon. and this pregnant
statement was the. cause OF much specula-
ton as to what disposition would be made
Of Colonel William NJ. Wright in the federal
muster. 1t was openly stated in all quar-
tiers that this practically killed all chances
for him being enlisted. Lieutenant May,
when interviewed on this subject stated
that such was the case, but that if Colonel
Wright desired to go to the front as a regi-
mental surgeon he would be glad to muster
him in This Colonel Wright refuses to do,
as he has claimed all along that the men
now in subordinate positions should be pro-
noted and not degraded. He said that
sooner than be mustered in as a regimental
surgeon and thus usurp some other man S
service altogether. General Mckee, how
ever, in conversation with a reporter, put
an entirely different phase on the situation.
The reporter asked: General, it is under
stood that under the regular army rules
there is no provision made for a brigade
means the retirement of Colonel Wright, is
that so?"
We'll" said the general. You just wait
and see this isn't the end of the matter"
Am / to infer from this asked the re-
porter, that / will be justified in making
the statement that Colonel Wright will be
continued as brigade surgeon2
In reply General Mckee smiled and said
Colonel Wright will stay with this brigade.
and. moreover, the medical staff has al
ready been selected" At the same time he
handed the reporter the list printed else
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-05

General Harrison chose his own time.
place and occasion for declaring his views
regarding the present war. After declining
repeated and urgent requests for an express
sion. he finally accepted the humble duty
of presenting flag TO an Indiana Bat
terry and made it the occasion of one of the
ciearest and strongest statements regard
ing the animus and ethics of the war that
has been made at all. General Harrison,
though once soldier. is now a man of
peace phianthropist at heart and con-
sistent Christian. but he finds no difficulty in
seeing that the path of duty. as we'll as of
patriotism, lies in prosecuting this war to
its logical conclusion. which means, as all
men know, the expulsion of Spain from the
western hemisphere and the higher exalta-
ton of the principles of personal liberty
and free government.