The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-04
NEW NATIONAL GUARD
GOV. MOUNT TAKES THE INITIAL
STEPS TO ORGANIZE 1T.
Attica Light Artillery Accepted
cured from the Governments.

Whlle the minds or most people have
been centered on the approaching muster
out of Indiana troops, Governor Mount
has been hard at work with the initial steps
for the creation of new National Guard
to take the place of the men who were
taken by the federal government at the
outbreak of the Spanish war. While it
has been stated in these columns for some
time past that there was no likelihood of
the old regiments being mustered into the
state service when the men were discharged
from the federal service this month, it was
expected that after wedding out the men
who were mustered in to fill the vacancies
caused by reflections and the natural in
crease to a war footing, the old organiza-
tons would be taken into the state fold
again. Such, however, appears to be not
the case according to the present plans.
AS stated previously in the Journal, the
indianapolis Light Artillery will be ac-
cepted as it stood before the war, to the ex-
tent that all men who wish to be re-enisted
will be accepted. In order, however TO
have it thoroughly understood by the mep
that the old National Guard is dead and
that the new plan involves an entire recon-
struction of the military forces of the State,
the Governor, acting on the advice of At
torney General Ketcham, has instructed
Adjutant General Gore to make out dis
charges for each man who served in the
militia I'D to the time of the federal call
for troops last spring. At present there is
large force of clerks working on the
papers, which are expected to be ready for
delivery to the men by the time they are
mustered out. Those men who are not to
be mustered out will receive their dis
charges by mail. The reason assigned by
Attorney General Ketcham for giving this
advice to the Governor was that it was de-
sirable to impress on the minds of all the
men that there no longer a National
Guard in existence, and. therefore, there
could be no state troops when there was no
organization with which they could be
identified.
The real reason for the STEP however,
was the fact that the National Guard is
not dead but is, at least a portion of it,
still on the muster rolls of the State. When
the troops of the State were turned over
to the government last May, they were all
accepted but one company, the Dana bat
terry. This band of artillerymen is still on
the muster rolls of the State and is recog-
nized by the state officers as the sole rep
resentative of the National Guard. 1t was
thought, in taking the step toward organic
ing new guard that unless all the old
regiments were taken back as they stood
the men would have some grounds for COM
plant and say that, inaSmuch as they I'D
never been mustered out by the State they
were just as much entitled to call them
selves militiamen as the Dana men. The
attorney general thought the matter over
and suggested that the best method of dis
posing of the case would be to give dis
charge papers to every man in the National
Guard except the Dana battery. In the or
ganiZation of the National Guard, however,
old lines will be oblterated and where,
heretofore, the infantry has been the chief
arm of the service, the artillery will, here
after, be the most cultivated and fostered.
The recent war has demonstrated to the
state officers that in any sort of trouble
the artillery is capable of greater execu-
ton than infantry. If the matter can be
arranged satisfactorily it is expected to or
ganize three regiments of infantry and a
full regiment of artillery. AS soon as it can
be done with prOpriety Governor Mount will
ask the government for enough of the new
breech-lOading pieces to equip the new
regiment of artillery. None of the old-fash-
Toned muzzle-loaGers will be used in the
new artillery, except for the first few
months of its existence, or until the gov
eminent is able to loan some of the guns
which Will not be needed after peace is
actually realized.
The first step toward organizing the artil-
lery other than the Dana men was taken
yesterday, when two muzzle-loading cannon
and two Calling guns were sent to the At
tlca Light Artillery as the preliminary to
the muster of that battery into the state
service. the Attica battery is recruited up
TO the full state service strength, and is
well drilled, being under the instruction of
Capt A. b. Schanz, who was formerly an
ofhcer in Battery b, of PittSburg, Pa. This
summer the Attica men went inso camp at
Lafayette and showed proficiency in all de-
partments of the artilIery work. They have
armed and equipped themselves at their
own expense, and have made formal appli-
cation to be admitted into the National
Guard. new departure will be made by
Captain SchanZ in equipping his battery,
which he believes will make it more effect
i've than 1t could be otherwise. In a letter
to the Governor he says it is his intention
TO mount all his cannonierS and make his
company flying battery, and, therefore, of
increased value in emergencies
While nothing further has been done to
organize the new National Guard, it is I'M
derstood that several other companies, al
ready organized and in shape for active
service, have been offered to the Governor
for service in the militia. So far, however,
have the arrangements for the muster of
the Attica battery been completed that Sec
rotary Wilson said yesterday except for the
actual administration of the oath the men
were in reality in the state service at pres
ent. 1t is understood that if the Governor
should need the services of men before the
new militia has been thoroughly organized
the Attica battery will consider itself at his
disposal. Another company which will be
mustered into the militia to a certainty is
the Logan Grays, an infantry company of
considerable. age and experience, located at
LoganSport. 1t is understood that all arr
rangements have been completed for this
company to be mustered among the first.