The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-06
NO NEW ORGANIZATIONS
SECOND CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
WAS FOR RECRUITING PURPOSES.
Word Brought from Washington by
Durbin-Status of the Col
Ored Battalion.
brought from WASHINGTON

Information brought from Washington
yesterday morning by w. T. Durbin pay
master on Governor Mounts staff indicates
that Indiana will not be called on for reg
iment in addition to the men required to re-
Cruit the four regiments and two batteries
at present at least. Mr.. Durbin while in
Washington saw Adjutant General Corbin
and President Mckinney. The adjutant gen.
eraI informed him that the call for $1,000
men was made only for the purpose of re-
cruiting the regiments. Some States nota-
bly, Pennsylvania, sent only skeleton regi-
ments There were but sixty men in a COM
pany in the Pennsylvania regiments, nearly
50 per cent. short of the government maxi
mum of LOG men.
What will be done with the remainder of
Indianas quota?" he asked the adjutant
general.
Nothing will be done with the overplus,"
replied the adjutant general, until the reg
iments have all been recruited to their full
strength
This left the question open, and whether
or not the State will be asked for regi-
ment in addition to the recruits depends on
the policy of the War Department, which
in its turn is somewhat dependent on the
fortunes of the
Mr.. Durbin communicated this information
to Military Secretary Wilson, who has all
along insisted that the State would not be
called on for organizations, but simply for
men to recruit. Mr.. Durbin also ascertained
the facts with reference to the colored
troops. Indiana is included in the territory
assigned to Col. Eli l.. Higgins, who is to
organize regiment at Louisville from Ken
lucky, part of Tennessee and the Ohio val
ley. With so large a territory to draw
from, but few troops could be taken from
Indiana or any one of the other States. In
diana S allotment has been made, but
what it is Secretary Wilson was unwilling
to say until Mr. Durbin shall have made a
written report to Governor Mount this after
noon, when he viii return from Anderson
at o'clock. Mr. Durbin will include in his
report the law under which the regiments
of immunes are being recruited and writ
tea explanation from Adjutant General Cor
question. Colonel Wilson said that he had
only general idea of the conditions and
did not care to say anything that might COM
plicate the situation Last night he tele-
graphed to Colonel Higgins for information
as to what Indianas allotment is to be in
his regiment He also telegraphed to Adju-
tant General Corbin asking that Indiana
be allowed to furnish more colored troops.
President Mckinley had some pleasant
compliments to extend to Mr.. Durbin on
account of the excellent way in which In
diana has responded to the demands of the
war The President expressed himself as
particularly we'll pleased with the showing
made in Camp Alger by Colonel BarnettS
regiment.
Governor Mount has been at his farm in
Montgomery county since last Friday morn
ing. He is expected home at 1890 o'clock
this morning. This afternoon Mr. Durbin
will return from Anderson to report what
he learned at Washington.