Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-20
rD1r.v JANUARY 20, 1899.
so1n1Ens COMING HOME.

,r.o ara now but two Virginia reei-
r,ents in service. one OF 'h'Se 49,
rourth stationed near Haoaha'
cher "a the Sixth (coloreO' WIN ne"O'
quarters near Macon. Ga ..s
7. s,ems that both of these regiments
aoor IN he mustered out 1t IS ny
.,.,s, % the great majority of their en-
wstod men that the government sh'"
~ soon as possible, relieve theni u iu'
thor service. and permit them TO IV'"''
% their homes and business Vocauo'S'
o.. tro suppose most Of the COMMISSION
"a oocers would be glad TO continue III
tho employment of Uncle sam ""iiio
,oroor. vet we know there are some OIL
dcers who will rejoice when 'ne' "'o
leased from further duty
For some Of these officers ana loi
Some Of the enlisted men, too there VIII
ho more or less enchanting prospectus
., commissions in the regular army.
7. &C. certain that the regular army VIII
10 ,areelv increased. and many oihcers
win have to be appointed from an'''s
the volunteers. or from persons VINO are
g., o,vn life. The West Pointers now III
.ho army will all be "shoved up IN
rarr and hundreds Of leutenancies VIII
Tins become open to new appointees'
Wa Gather from the expressions OF
the washington correspondents mat
other things being equal men who nave
been in the military service OF the coun-
try will have the preference when 'hes'
commissions are given out.
OF course each appoiptee will nave t'
s,and an examination as to his quahh
cations. but we presume that the eX
animation will be nothing like so sever
as that to which the West Point cade'
are subjected. Still some sort OF eN
animation will be required, and mas
much as ii is certain that the applicant
will be many, we guess that the exam
ming board will be used as an instrumeh
10 thin out the number.
~ one thing we feel certain-anu till
IS that. outside of the list OF west fon
Graduates. there is plenty Of good ms
,er,al vherewith to fill all the subord
not. n,aces the President will have
b,s command. There are numerous graz
yates OF military schools, ana many u
,,,a officers who are not graduate
xbo are capable of rendering the coul
try good service in the regular arm
And then. too, there are not few ems
al men who have been serving In u
regu,ar army who are well qualified al
worthy TO have commissions
For those men who wish to contin
soldering and who cannot hope to
cure commissions, there will be openin
enough in the ranks of the regular arm
And Of such openings there viii be
abundance for many, many years
come.
our country will require scores Of rel
ments 10 keep the peace in the terrific
she has conquered, and it will be dil
cult to secure enough volunteers to Ike
their ranks nned This probability I
War OfHce recognizes. and thereto
provision is TO be made for formi
commands OF native troops. In dol
that we should be following the exam
OF Great Britain, which could never
her armys ranks without resorting
conscription, but for the natives Of c.
ouered territory. who are ready enot
20 enter her service.
The return Of the Virginia soldiers
start afresh discussion as TO what Is
be done about organizing, or reorg
izlng, our State volunteers. In the
ter OF the Blues Battalion we SUPP
there will be the least discussion
Blues hold a charter from the Legi
ture. which gives them valuable pl
leges. And so we may surely rec
upon having the Blues with us ae
wearing new laurels but dressed In
distinctive and extraordinarily All
tive uniform.
Our people want 20 see the First Il
men In "shp-sEape" again. Gray
forms are awaiting them here, ant
would be a day Of general rejoicing
'fhe Old First" to appear once nor
such uniforms as they wore when
left Richmond, In 1861. for the ba
field OF Manassas.
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