The Anaconda standard., 1899-10-24

AT length came the first official init
nation that the boys would really be
wanted. It came in the form of a tel
egram from Major J. w. brennan, then
adjutant general of the Montana ma
tional guard, and was nothing less than
waiting orders. If there had been a
nervous anxiety on the part of the
boys before, there was now a feverish
enthusiasm among them. Major Dren-
nan did not impart the authority upon
which the orders were issued, but ev-
erybody felt that the war department
must have been heard from and that
the orders meant business The com
pany commanders at once commenced
work on the awkward squad, for while
they had no authority to enlist men
they considered it wise course to
have plenty of men to draw from when
the time came, who had been put
through their first PAGES. 1t was some
time before anything more definite
came from headquarters. but in the
meantime men who hoped to be able to
get In were being drilled On almost
any street squads of new men could
pc seen daily In charge of corporal of
the militia, being given their first les
sons.
On April 20 a bulletin came to- the
standard from Washington stating
the militia would be given the prefer
@ @snce when volunteers were accepted
Ihat same day another bulletin an
nounced that the Spanish minister at
washington had been given his pass
ports and there was joy uncomfortable
among the guardsmen. The next day
bulletin brought the news that Min
lister Woodford had received his pass
ports from the Spanish government and
the news increased the joy of those
was received by the Standard a great
many of the militiamen were in front
of the Standards bulletin board and
when the Standard hung out an Ameri-
can flag, led by the boys of the militia.
the crowds In the street went wild.
That evening Colonel Kessler was
called to Helena by telegram am
nouncing that Governor Smith desired
to confer with him concerning the
guard. and when this became known
all felt it was only matter Of a few
hours before marching ordero were to
come. But there was disappointment
in store. for a bulletin from Washing
ton stated that the militia had been
accepted by the war department, but
that only squadron of cavalry was
wanted. This it was hoped was an err
ror, but Colonel Kessler telegraphed
from Helena the next day to Regi-
mental Adjutant Ben E. Calkins, in
forming him the infantry was not
wanted, and the disappointment be-
came deep seated. A gloomier set of
men could not have been found on the
continent than the Butte members of
the guard when that message came
They We're still in the dumps the next
day. April %. though hope was some
what revived that it was not all off
vet, by a message to the Standard
stating that the call for volunteers
was to be $4,000 instead of 100000, as
at first intended. At the least it'll
meant an added troop of cavalry
hn
company G commenced discussing the
accessibility of Offering themselves as
this troop Meantime the wires be-
tween Montana and Washington were
Kept hot with petitions to the war de-
partment in behalf of the whole Mon
lana regiment, and at length on the
25th came the welcome news that the
department had decided to accept a
regiment of infantry from this state.
Ihis meant that the guard would COM