The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-23
THEY WERE OlsGUsTEO
THREATS OF ~DISBANDING
They Say That They Are Overlooked
Liz . White Chip and Green
Horns Sent to the Front
In Their Places.

There was disgust terrible to behold
written all over the features of every
member OF the three Butte companies Of
the National guard yesterday when a tel
egram came from Colonel Kessler to Ben
Calkins. announcing that the LIST infantry
regiment Of the guard was not wanted
by Uncle Sam. but simply a squadron of
cavalry. Colonel Kessler had been hur-
riedly to Helena the night be-
fore, and he went fully expecting he was
wanted to receive orders to assemble his
regiment, and the members OF the guard
were greatly elated. but when the infor-
nation came that they were not wanted
the disgust among the men was some
thing awful and there were threats OF
d~isbanding to be heard on every hand.
whats the use of a militia o~rganiza-
tion?'' said Captain Hin Of F company.
when he heard the news. For u years
we've been perfecting ourselves In mill
tary tactics and putting in all our spare
time preparing ourselves for just such an
emergency, and now when II comes and
there is an opportunity to get some re-
ward for our labor we're overlooked like
a white chip. and will the exception OF
two troops. greenhorns will go in our
places. ! tell you it's a shame and a dis
grace
Captain wynne OF G company was just
as sore as Captain Hill. but had very lit
tie TO say, he was too Disguised to talk.
Captain Gardner of B company was
about the only officer OF the local contin-
gent of the guard who took the bad news
c%heerfully. He refused to believe the regf-
ment would not be called on. "They'H
need u.s." said he. land we'l go, perhaps
not just now, but we go, and that pretty
soon, too"
1t was Captain Gardner's company's
drill night. and the men were out In full
force and drilled with a will. The public
is beginning to take a great interest IN
the guard. and such a crowd gathered at
the armory to watch the drill that the
company was compelled to drill in the
street. In the big crowd there were many
ladies, who were as enthusiastic as the
men.
Colonel Kessler returned last evening
from Helena very much depressed over
the immediate prospect. but confident II
Is only a matter of a short time before the
LIST infantry will be called out. When seen
upon his arrival Colonel Kessler said he
was never so disappointed in his life as
when he was informed he had not been
called to Helena to assemble the regiment.
but. instead. to be told that 1t was not
wanted. But, withal, he was disposed to
take the situation philosophically. He said
the department will not take the infantry
now, but has decided to call on Montana
for a squadron of 49 cavalrymen as her
quota of the first volunteers. but IL will
not be 30 days before the infantry Is call
ed out or 1t is demonstrated that the
| troops will not be needed. They have evil
IDENTIFY got the idea in Washington that
the war Is only going to last about 20
| days and that the first call for 100000 vol
unteers will be all that is needed. ] am
confident they are making a great error
and that another call will soon be issued,
and in that event the infantry is sure to
go. If, however, the war should be short
and no more men are needed IMAM the
first call furnishes. we shall be better of
that we did not go, as we should not nave
gotten to see any service anyway. and in
that event we would only have had a hard
and unpleasant trip for nothing On the
whole / am disposed to temper my disap-
pointment under these circumstances, for
I feel very certain we shall go In good
time, and I hope the men of the regiment
will AXE the same view and not get dis
heartened and run off to the irons and
try to enlist. for they would not get the
opportunity when they got there, and we
should have to recruit green men With
no knowledge of tactic when we are call
ed on. As IL is, our men are splendidly
drilled and will make a fine showing when
called on If they only hold together
Colonel Kessler stated that at the con-
ference with Governor Smith at the capi-
tai yesterday Adjutant General brennan
was present and plans were decided upon
for carrying out the desires OF the wal
department. Considerable difficulty was at
first encountered at first to determine just
how to 10 about the formation of the cav
airy squadron. 1t being supposed the in
fantry regiment would be wanted first. all
ARRANGEMENTS had been made to turn the
two troops of cavalry into infantry COM
panies. and when 1t was learned cavalry
was desired the problem was where would
the remainder of the squadron aside from
the two troops come from.
Troops A and b recruited to los men
each would furnish half the quota and a
mounted infantry company recently or
ganized and stationed at a point south of
Miles City could be converted into troop
c, which would leave a fourth troop to be
formed. Governor Smith asked Colonel
Kessler IL he desired to designate some
one company of infantry to be converted
into the fourth. or troop ID, hut w
that II any one company were named the
Others would all feel badly. and perhaps
resent 1t. and. besides, believing the in
fantry regiment would prefer to remain
intact, Colonel Kessler thought best to
make no recommendation and 1t was
eventually decided harmony would be
best preserved by taking the infantry
company at Missoula, which Ii organised
but not mustered in. and make 1t the
fourth troop of cavalry. The four troops
will all nave to be recruited to los each.
and Ii was decided to issue an order to-
day or as soon as the call for volunteers
is made to the effect that the cavalry
SQUADRON would be thus constituted, and
that members of the infantry companies
who desired to be transferred to the cav
airy would be given the preference In re-
cruiting the squadron. Each man is
Obliged to furnish his own horse. accord
ing to instructions from the department,
and the men later compensated for them.
Governor Smith also assured Colonel
Kessler than when the second call for
troops comes he will see that the infantry
is first to go before he will recognize any
other tender of volunteers.
The cavalry squadron will go under the
command of Lieutenant r. b. Wallace.
first lieutenant of the I'd u. 8. cavalry.
who has been for some time assigned to
duty under Governor Smith. The governor
rendered the of the squadron to
both General brennan and Colonel kess-
Ter. but both declined. preferring to re-