The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-13
Adjutant Generals Department.

Under the heading "Adjutant Generals
Department, Brig. Gen. II. c. Corbin, Adiu-
tant General United States Army, in
Charge" the report says: This depart
ment, which was organized and trained to
take care Of a small regular army was re-
quired to rapidly provide for organizing and
mastering in 100000 soldiers and within six
months to muster out 1O0,O00 The adjutant
generals department of the army having fun
knowledge of the condition of the army
when the declaration of war was made. it
could not be surprised by the inability of
the departments to Immediately respond to
the demands. The economy of previous
years, by which nearly every article of
equipment not Immediately needed by the
army was disposed of and no provision made
Ior emergencies, rendered Immediate Ell
fecttVe expansion of the army impossible. In
the organization of the army for active duty
provision was made for eight corps, seven
OF which were fully equipped and placed in
the field.
The suggestion has been made and opin-
ion given that 1t would have been better to
nave organized the army and equipped the
were concentrated and modified into
brigades, divisions and corps but the War
Department had not the officers to send to
eacn State TO organize, muster, feed and
equip them nor had it officers OF sufficient
rank to command, drill and discipline the
troops while IN state camps. Early removal
OF regiments from state camps has the adj
vantage of avoiding the disturbing influences
of home locality.
During the organization and equipment
or the army a daily report by telegraph
from each camp was received. Where inn
portant deficiencies were reported the Sec
rotary OF war called attention to the fact
ana IN most cases 1t was found that such
deficiencies were due to the noneXstence of
the articles. There were about 80 regl-
mentS, batteries and separate organizations
IN the army, from only twenty-five OF which
came complaints aside from those affect
Ing the medical department. Investigation
mas shown that the most Of these COM
plants were because of lack of supplies not
ODtalnaDle at first, or were due to the mex
perience of officers in command not, so far
as we can discover, from any intentional
neglect. 1t was found necessary to go out
SIDE and appoint officers from civil life the
selections being frequently made from Off
GERS who had experience In the National
Guard, graduates from military colleges
professions fitted them for the positions for
which they were selected. The testimony
SHOWS that they We're honest and mani
rested desire to become efficient in their
duties. No one has been court martialed
ana but few dropped as incompetent
me adJutant general testified that there
mad not been a deficiency of one dollar re-
Ger, and that he wished to make it a matter
or record that in the distribution of many
millions of dollars during this war there
was yet to be made the first charge of de-
faicauon against an army officer, regular or
volunteer.
There have been very few complaints
against this department. The records and
testimony show that it has been prompt in
it's work and has added greatly to the eff
cheney of the army"