The age-herald., 1898-05-30
CAVALRY COMPANIES
 GO AS INFANTRY This Has Agreed on Yesterday by Oiii-
 CerS Of BIRMINGHAM BATTALION The Company Commanders Have Already
 Begun to CHANGE FROM CAVALRY TO INFANTRY Nearly All of the Old Battalion Will Go-Where They Fail to Do So, There Are
 Others to Take Their
CHANGE FROM CAVALRY TO INFANTRY

As the cavalry regiment which has been organized in Alabama for the purpose of Volunteering on the presidents second call, will not be accepted by the war depart ment, the Birmingham battalion of the regiment, and possibly the whole reg ment, will volunteer as infantry.
 The news from Washington, printed ex- clusively in yesterdays Age-Herald, to the effect that no cavalry would be accepted by the war department on the second call for volunte CTS, CT ated considerable ta k here yesterday. Only Saturday the officers of the local battalion had received dis patches from Representative Underwood and others stating that the prospects for getting the cavalry regiment called out were very good.
 But they were rot at all cast down by the news The Age-Herald brought them. Major Morson, who was to have been ma- jor of the Birmingham battalion of caval- ", went immediately to see Governor had heard nothing at all from the war de- partment on the subject. he said he felt very sure that there was no hope for the cavalry being called out.
 Major Morson immediately set about to see what action the Birmingham battalion would take. Almost to man they signi- fled their willingness to volunteer as infan- try They said that they would prefer to go as cavalry, but if the war departme it wouldn't take them as such, they were going to the front as infantry.
 Only three captains of the cavalry batal- lion had been appointed. and one of them, Captain Tom Smith, has already said he would take his company. Captain E. J. McCrossin and Captain Tom Tate are still undecided. But Lieutenants Wm. M. Walker and John T. Shugart had started Saturday to organizing infantry companies and each of them is assured of success This leaves only one more company to be filled, and Major Morson said last night that he would entertain proposals from any other party who was reasonably sure of getting up a company. All persons in- terested in the movement are to report to him today at the cavalry armory.
 There can be but little doubt that Major Morson will be appointed major of this new infantry battalion. Under the first call, the officers of the national guard as elect ed by the various companies received their commissions from the governor. But un- der the second call the companies will not have the power to elect and the appoint ment will be left entirely with the governor But while the governor will not commit himself. everybody agrees that if Major Morson works to get up the battalion, he will certainly be appointed major
 There were five companies of cavalry out side of the Birmingham battalion being or- ganized as members of the cavalry regi- ment. One each at Uniontown, Bessemer, Jasper, Selma and Montgomery. The first of these has already volunteered as in- fantry and have joined the Second regiment under Captain Walden. Nothing could be heard from the other companies yesterday and 1t is not known whether they will make the change and go with the Third regiment or not.