The Indianapolis journal., 1899-01-17
BEST-DRILLED REGIMENT
161sT INDIANA NOW A CRACK VOL
UNTEER ORGANIZATION.
Col. Durbin Trying to Make 1t Excel
the Men and Officers.
-orrespondence OF the IndlanapolIs journal.

Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal.
CAMP COLUMBIA, near Havana, Cuba,
Jan. II, with the One-hundred-and-sixtys
first Indiana Volunteers.-Ihis regiment has
at last got its camp in an up-to-date mili-
tary condition and has begun with squad
drills working about three and half hours
daily Colonel Durbin is determined to keep
his command above the standard of volun-
teer regiments, and it can be truly said OF
this crack organization that but few regu-
lars are as well drilled as the boys of the
One-hundred- -and-sixty-flrst Indiana.
The statement sent from this camp by
the Associated Press correspondent to the
effect that Companies l. and G had been
placed under arrest for carrying Cuban flags
in the parade of Jan. u is wholly untrue. Z
The dispatch printed in several Indiana
newspapers crediting this regiment with
eleven cases of smallpox is also false. The
Northumberland first has three cases
of smallpox we'll isolated, and there is no
fear that the disease will spread. The en-
tire regiment will be marched to the beach
tomorrow for a bath.
L. c. Baird late captain OF Company T.,
will leave tomorrow for his home in Jeffer-
sonville. First Lieutenant j. w. Fortune
will be appointed in his stead. Orderly
Sergeant McCauley will be commissioned
second lieutenant Of Company E.
Lieutenant Anheire, of Company /, from
Monticello Lieutenant Owens, of Company
K, from Columbus. and Lieutenant Welch.
of Company B, from Mount Vernon, are
serving with the Tenth Regular Infantry
on provost duty in the city of Havana
Lieutenant jackson, of Company D, from
Madison, was detailed for a time on special
duty as police inspector Of Havana.
Captain Crosby, Of Company -, IS sick in
the Second Division hospital. Lieutenant
buchanan IS in command of the company.
Company is acting body guard to
General Lee at headquarters and Company
is doing provost duty at Marainao.
The nrst sergeanIs of THIS command as q
rule know a JOKE when the fun Is on some
one else but to-day the tables were turned
them and privateS no longer dare to
smile IN the nrst sergeants tenes 1t came
about in this way. The adjutant asked Tor
detail of one man from each company,
and only one company responded. In conse-
quence eleven oroerly sergeants were given
half day on the wood pie.
Corporal Joseph Mcdonald. of Company
L. has been promoted to the rank of SER
geant and Private w. w. Simpson to that
Of corporal.
Privates August Larson, Warren Hixon,
Andrew Cromly and Gustav F4estal, of Com
pany l., have returned from furloughs
granted them while their command was in
the States.
Captain Quinn. of Company H. is in the
division hospital.
Company ii is now the largest company
in this regiment, having ninety-six men on
duty.
Corporal Fred Beale, OF Company H, has
been promoted to the rank of sergeant and
Sergeant G. r. Hunt has been appointed
orderly sergeant Privates Alexander, Nc
Coy, Neike and Pearsey, of Company II,
have been promoted to the rank Of COR
poral. Company II has but two men in di-
vision hospital
Corporal Thomas Kefer and Private
Walter Clemmons of Company T. have arr
rived in Savannah, Ga, from sick furloughs
and are doing provost guard duty there until
the next transport leaves for Cuba. Cor
poral Kiefer has been absent from his COM
pany in hospital and at home for the past
four months and his face will be a new
feature in camp on his return.
L. L. WHITSITT,
Company 13 United States Volunteer Signal
Corps.