The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-05


twelve companies each, one battalion Of
infantry OF Two conpa MES, six ,lnat tact--
ed companies of infantry, one battalion
of artillery, consisting. Of three ,ba tter1ss,
and one troop OF cava Try.
Strength sof Forces.
The present strength ofl the voI,lnteeEs
onc'ss Enrs.d Total
rtafantrs ....--s.-- Us 1,9 y :, g ",
Artillery 10 IL le3
c,ara,rr, IS. 60
All arms. 14s 2,1S6 ,33Sf
The volunteers are now much better and
more completely: equipped than they have
eyer becn before In their history nave
| ,,-.rj,,e, +i,r wear been supplied with every
->aoesei,v for service at home or in the
field. Tho unattached companies OF IN
+ fantrv It has l,ss,l my purpose, to form
;ntn another regiment as soon as q susii-
cent number of such. companies We're or
canized.
I Ar officers arc now required to pass a
fairly thorough e1a!nina ton before being.
commissioned. aud all applicants for EN-.
I,stment are thoroughly examined physi-
caiIy by competent physicians be-
fore being received The person
rel of the. volunteers is now excellent,
and IN intelligence. knowledge OF du-
ties and general appearance they are all
that could be desired
+ BY an act Of Congress approved Sfarch
3, 1899, the Secretary of War was au-
ttorized to replace by like stores the or
dnarce stores which the volunteers from
the States and Territories carried into
the United States Army during the war
with Spain, and which We're retainer oy
the United States.
These stores included rifles. oayonets.
scahbards, cartridge belts, sall cartridges.
s1,,,-slincs. blanket bags. canteens haV--
ersacks and other articles OF equipment
and those due the State of Virginia have
t.een. nearly all returned A later act
Of Congress authorized the duartermas-
ter stores which had been carried into the
army by State troops to be replaced IN
like manner. 80
The value of the quartermaster stores
alone to be thus returned TO the State ap-
proximatcs s32 0Ga These stores are now
being returned Upon acquisitions, ana are
being returned at such times and IN sucii
quantities.. and are also sent at the eA-
pense of the United States to- .such
places in the State as the Cover
nor may desire and request liieiit
being returned in this way saves
ing. storage. in Richmond. repacklns, re-
shipping, etc A strict account having
been kept at the time that the virginia
Volunteers were mustered into the UniI-
ed States service in 1888 OF all oruuance
stores and quartegnaster stores uieA
turned over to the United States severn
ment by the State. and receipts therefor
having been taken in all cases, 1t was not
q. difficult matter. after the passage OF the
49, ~o| n
tablish the claims of this State for all
of the stores which, she had furnished the
General Government for war purposes;
and those stores, especially the ciothlne'
tentage and other guarteFmastcF stores.
were many of them quite Old much used,
and of not much yal1e when they were
turned over to the General Government IN
1895 but the General Government IS re-
placing those stores, article for article,
by like stores, which are either new or
practically as good as new and entirely
servicea;ble The quartermaster stores
now being returned include campaign
hats, fora e caps. ove.coats, blouses, can
vas, trousers, leggins. wooden blankets.
rubber ponchos cf1evrons trouser stripes,
bed sacks. conical wall tents, wall tents.
common tents, drums trumpets, DOCKS OF
record, books of instruction. packing
boxes. etc
for the present year will be, found COM
plete statements Of all stores thus re-
placed and to be replaced.
(. Arms and Equipments.
B The clothing, arms and equipments with
which the Virginia volunteers are sup
Piled by the State ara nearly all drawn
from the ordnance and quartermaster de-
partments of the United States Army, and
are charged against the sum allotted to
the State from the annual appropriation
made by Congress for providing arms
and equipments for the troops of all of
the States. The prices at which the arms
and equipments thus drawn are charged
are fixed annually by the War Depart
ment. and are announced in general or
deTs issued from the Adjutant-Generars
office at Washington. The United States
retains the ownership of these supplies,
and requires proper returns of them to be
annually made to the proper departm ents.
The troops of all arms Of our service
are supplied with United States army
regulation campaign hats. forage, caps,
blue flannel shirts blous, trousers, can
vas leggins, rubber poEchos, wooIen - AK
cts, blanket bags. haversacss, canteens,
and all articles of uniform anc equipment.
including books of record and instruction
now supplied to the regular army. Over
coats are now being Auinlsned, anG' the
headquarters OF each -egtment and sepa-
rate battalion and eacn company. troop,
md battery is furnished with a al range
and complete cooking outfit, each having
a capacity of from Y to lbs men. Com
plete sets of pioneer tools, Including axes.
picks, shovels, etc. are also furnished:
The State las row in its possession
supply of excellent tentage amply suftt-
Gent for the ercampu1ent of one fun
twelve-company r-stment. These tents
are not issued permanently to any one
company, but are ordinarily kept in the
State arsenal in Richmond. from which
place they arc issued temporarily when
needed, and afterward returned. to the
arsenal.
Our infantry is armed with the United
State Springfield breech-loading rifle
calibre "a most admirable weapon
The artillery armament consists, as 1t
has consisted for some time, OF twelve
3-inch rifles. two G-pounder brass pieces,
all Misunderstanding. and one Calling gun
and apnendages..
Two of the batteries of artillery (B and
c. have lately been furnished with full
complement of new harness.
The cavalry troop is armed with the
United States Springfield carbine and*thc