The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-01

New Quartermaster's Duty-UnifOrms
for the Troops.

Lieut.. M. r. Peterson, u. S.. A., arrived
in town last evening from Lafayette, where
he has been assigned as professor of mill
tary science and tactics since March Is. In
Lieutenant Peterson's case the federal au-
thorities made the same mistake with re-
gard to his orders as they have in several
other matters, and yesterday he received
orders to proceed to Evansville to act as
quartermaster and commissary for the In
diana volunteers. Knowing privately that
the troops were assembled at Camp Mount,
he telegraphed for new instructions and re-
ceived a reply from Washington yesterday
to come to indianapolis. He arrived here
too late in the evening to visit the camp
and took up his quarters with Captain
Black, of the recruiting station in this city.
His first duty to-day will, he says, be to
call on General Mckee and pay his respects.
He will then look over the field to see just
on what points the equipment Of the troops
is weak. His specific orders he does not
expect to receive for a day or two yet, and
cannot state authoritatively as to whether
the Indiana troops will go to the front in
their present uniforms or will be furnished
with new ones. His impression is, however,
that only those now without uniforms and
other equipment will be supplied, and that
material for this purpose will be drawn
through Major Barnett from the Jefferson
vile supply depot. His duties do not include
the supplying of arms or ammunition, which
comes from the Ordnance Department.
In discussing the assertion recently made
hat the uniforms of the state troops are
practically government property, Lieutenant
Peterson stated that the plan under which
they were furnished was that the govern
ment appropriated certain sums to the use
of state troops throughout the country, the
apportionment for each State being regu-
1nfa1 hy Tho arah "a xoan AnIicfA1 Ihn 70
and above one hundred to each congress-
man. The use made of this money is not
dictated by the government, and it can he
applied to the purchase of uniforms, blank
cts, tents, horses, or whatsoever the StaIe
authorities may deem most essential to the
efficiency of the troops In this sense only
has the government any interest in the
equipment of the state troops.
In speaking of the suggestion made by
admission to the grounds next week by
the general public would rest entirely with
the federal officers in charge, Lieut.. Peter
son explained that as mastering oIIcer for
the government. Lieut.. Mays authority
would be supreme at the camp. He further
stated that when the troops are mustered
in Lieut.. Mays orders will allow him to
muster in all troops and including ali Off
GERS from colonel down. 1t is not in his
power, however, to commission General
Mckee, whose authority for the command
of the Indiana brigade must be forwarded
from the War Department at Washington.
In the interval of time that must elapse
AtOAAA NAAC AA0oN(A AAS ~ = AN IAoOPo LIZA
General Mckee is commissioned, the latter
will have no standing as a federal officer at
Camp Mount. Therefore it devolves on
Lieut.. May to administer affairs until Gen.
Mckee is again placed in authority.
Lieut.. Mays Instructions, 1t is understood,
VIII give him a wide scope of discretion in
the matter of accepting officers for federal
service.
Lieutenant Peterson is a native of North
Carolina, from which State he was APP
pointed to West Point. His education not
only includes q full course at that institu-
ton, but a two years applied course at
Fort Leavenworth He is thirty-two years
old and has been promoted to the rank of
first lieutenant since the recent passage
of the congressional bill authorizing an in
crease in the regular army. He was a
classmate at West Point with Lieut.. Davis,
who brought the Vincennes Cadets to this
city. He is also a friend of Captain Black,
detailed on recruiting service in this city,
and Assistant Surgeon William j. Wake
man. who will conduct the medical examin-
ations in this city. The latter officer is for
ty-three years of age, appointed to West
Point from Connecticut, and has been sta
toned in nearly every military post in the
United States.