The National tribune., 1900-10-18

drew no pay. had no rights, and had an
insurgent bullet ended his career he would
have received not a line of notice in the
report of killed and wounded, except us
n private citizen, who had been struck by
n bullet while mixing in with a matter
with which he had no business. Jordan
remained with us until the middle OF
March, 1900, and we were sorry to have
him go, bat he had to leave.
In some instances the discharged men
are of this caliber. while on the other
hand many are totally unfit for soldering
and it is well that they have to so and
give place to better men.
ORGANIZING VOLUNTEERS.
With these preliminary remarks, sug-
gesting the sort of metal of which the vol
unteer regiments are composed, 1t will be
next in order to refer to the first steps
taken toward building up n great fight
ing machine. The President called for
10 regiments, and later for 10 more, all
of which finally found their way to the
Philippines. The first 10 were officered
by men who had seen service in the army
during the Spanish-American war, and
perform the duties of their position.
The writer received his appointment as
a Lieutenant the latter part Of July, with
commission dating from July 5, and was
ordered to report without delay to the
commanding officer of the 26th Inf, u. S.
", at Plattsburg Barracks. n. Y. I ar
rived at Plattsburg few days after and
was assigned to one of the new compa-
nies. composed of 4 mere handful of men
in citizens clothes, slouchy in figure and
greatly in need of bracing up by setting up
exercises. There were about 200 men and
four or five officers at the barracks. Drills
were Immediately begun, and when re-
cruits arrived they were assigned TO one
of the companies or new company
formed, until at last the beginning for
the u new companies with one officer
each was made.
Our Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Ma
jors and some of the Captains were from
the Regular service, and were ex-
perienced in the work of organiza-
ton and drill. They knew just what
to do and how to do it quickly, for
reports were that we soon would be Or
dered to the Philippines. The Colonel had
formerly served as Captain and Colonel
in the civil war, when n young man, and
had raised a company at the outbreak of
hostilities. It was no new business to
him to bring together a body of men of
the crudeSt type and mold them into good
and effective soldiers. The Colonel had
organized and commanded the guard of
5000 men at the Worlds Fair at Chi
cago for three years, and he had many
years. experience on the plains with Miles
and Custer when Indian wars were fire.
quent. Others had records to be proud
of, and we started off with complement
of officers that would do honor to any regi-
ment.
Four drills, each Of 45 minutes, per day
were arranged, the first two ending with
10 minutes of setting-up exercises and the
last with battalion drill, when some of
the companies began to fill up.
In q few weeks after the first lot Of re-
cruits arrived at the grounds the men
were uniformed and provided with rifles.
About 20 per cent of the men had served
in the Spanish-American war, and many
of these were appointed non-commissioned
officers. The regiment grew rapidly. Of
ficers who went away for day or two
hardly knew the regiment when they re-
turned. Whole companies would be clothed
and furnished with arms and equipments