The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-20
Orders Issued to Several Regiments to
Return to Their State Capitals
and BE Mustered Out.
NEWS OF VOLUNTEER CAMPS
PART OF THE 10th INDIANA NOW
TENTING AT MIDDLEToWN.
Second and Third Divisions of the
First Corps Preparing to Leave
Chickamauga Military Park.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19-Retrenchment
In nearly all branches of the army is follow
ing close on the cessation of hostilities.
Notably Is this the case in the Ordnance
Quartermaster's and Engineer Bureaus,
where the need for the supplies required
and the men employed for the exigencies of
war no longer exist. In the Ordnance Bu-
reau the force at the various arsenals is to
be reduced in all cases where this can be
accomplished without detriment to the serv-
ice. The Rock Island arsenal probably will
be affected more tran any other. There, be-
fore the war, about 24O men were employed
When the peace protocol was signed there
were, approximately, four thousand men
engaged and orders have been issued which
will reduce this number by two-thirds.
Before and during the war large numbers
of contracts were made with ordnance firms
for supplying material. In many cases these
were made conditional so that they could
be terminated within a few days after the
cessation of hostilities, and the department
has, in every case. availed itself of this
privilege. At the end of the civil war the
government had outstanding contracts for
furnishing large number of big seacoast
projectiles, but as these were regarded un-
necessary when hostilities came to an end,
dnlcdbIe arrangements were made with the
companies by which their contracts were
cancelled. At the present time contracts are
in existence also for furnishing seacoast
projectiIes. but the government is desir-
GUS of obtaining all contracted for, there
will be no necessity to resort to such ac-
ton as was taken at the close of the civil
war.
The Quartermaster's Department is dis
pensing as rapidly as possible with such of
the transports that were chartered for
which there is now no necessity. Consider
able labor is involved in this work, as a
board Of survey has to be appointed to de-
ternine the various incidental questions
that arise pending the return of the vessels
to their owners.
In the Engineers Department the services
of electricians, mechanics and laborers en-
gagged in the work of harbor and river mine
defense and of boatthen employed to patrol
the adjacent waters to warn approaching
craft of their danger, also are being dis
charged as rapidly as is consistent with the
good of the service.
Plans fer the reduction of the army are
also progressing. Orders were given to-day
for the return to their state rendezvous CT
the following named volunteer regiments:
The First Illinois Cavalry, the Fifty-second
Iowa and the First Maine Infantry, now at
Chickamauga, and the Second New York
Infantry, now at Fernandina, Fla The
First Illinois is ordered to Springfield, Ill,
the Fifty-second Iowa to Des Moines, the
First Maine to Augusta, Me- and the Sec
ond New York to Troy, N. Y. These regi-
ments were mustered into the military serv-
ice Of the government at the outbreak of
the war at the places mentioned and their
return is accepted as conclusive evidence
that they are to be mustered out. The move
ment of these regiments will begin as soon
as the necessary transportation can be pro-
vided. Another regiment which has been or
dered to return to it's recruiting rendezvous
is the First Vermont Infantry. That regi-
ment, now at Chickamauga, is under orders
to proceed to Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont,
and left Camp Thomas to-day. Similar or
ders will be issued from day to day to the
other volunteer regiments selected for mus
tering out. No official information on this
subject is obtainable at the War Depart
ment in advance of the issue of the orders.
1t is said, however, that the Third Georgia
Infantry. the Third Alabama Infantry and
the First Maryland Infantry are among the
number already selected for mastering out
A plan is under consideration for reducing
the army by skeletonizing many of the reg-
ments. This will enable the regiments to
retain their organizations until danger is
past and at the same time let tens of thou
sands of privates get home and step into
places being held open for them.
Major General Kent has been transferred
from the Fifth Army Corps to the Seventh,
and has been ordered to report to General
Lee for assignment to duty
Orders were issued this evening transfer
ring the First Ohio Volunteer Infantry from
the Fourth Corps. General Coppinger's COM
mand, at Fernandina, to the Seventh Corps.
General Lees corps. at Tampa
When Major General Shafter arrives at
Moatauk Point. Long island. next week. he
will relieve Major General Wheeler of COM
mand of the troops at that post by reason
OF seniority in rank. General Young. who
was originally in command of the camp re-
linquished the command to General wheeler
as his superior in rank, and General Wheeler
will follow the same course on the arrival
of General Shafter.
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