The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-05
u always tnsidnoss ard uanotircd until
Goo iEts 10 check its abuse.
State Volunteers.

EnftS. ana Cot0feu tECopS. litHs " ' ts'@S
troops We're organized into brigade una !.
consisted OF four regiments and Two st1sa. J.
battaitons of infantry. the battalion OIL
artillery, and tvra troops of cavalry
One OK the Infantry regiments consisted
Of seven companies. one OF eight cornpa-
l.ics and the remaining two OF ten com,
panies each. The two battalions OF M
fantry consisted of two companies each.
Tie entire white force. as then organized,
Had strengs., OF lsl officers and 2.os4
enlisted men,
The colorcd force consisted OF two bat
faiions Of infantry--one OF three and tire
ether OF Eve companies. Total strength,
IS officers and 4Sf men.
The troops Of all arms were furnished
with the United States regulation undress
uniform. consisting OF. forage cop. blouse
and trousers, and, generally, With the reg
,,iatien canvas leggings. They were,
however. provided only to a. limited ex-
tent with campaign hats. overcoats, wool
"a blankets, and rubber ponchos, and
esueh OF the clothing and equipment then
n use or an hand was old, worn. and OF
little value. It lad been, with few ex-
ceptions, drawn from the general Govern
7nent from year to year for number OF
years in such small quantities each year
es TIC State, was entitled TO-
IN the matter of trnts and Otter camI,
md garrison equipage, the State was then
but poorly provided. The tents wefe
mostly old and many of them scaIcciE
IA a servicea ble condition. No 'ieid ranges
or cooking. or mess outfits or pioneer
tools were then furnished,
Such was the organization. armament.
equipment and approximately the
strength of the Virginia Volunteers al tho
time of the outbreak of the war with
snain. in April 1885, when I was called
,y,,on nv the President to furnish for
service In the United States. Army In that
war first three regiments of infantry OF
three battalions or twelve companies
each. ard later one regiment of two bat
talions or eight companies, with all the
arms. ammunition. equipment and mil
starv supplies that it might be possible:
TO furnish.
MASTERING Ia.
The troops called for were mustered in
to the service of the United States as
.,xpeditinusiy IS was possible, taking with.
then, practically all of the infantry arms
and equipments and all of the tentase
then IN the possession of the State.
The matter of organizing and assembling
our quota Of troops for active service in
the field was: attended by many difficulties
End required constant and careful WORK
on the part of those upon whom the task
tfevolved and by whom it was accom-
5liisiled in the least time and at the least
cost practicable.
In this State there was at che time OF
the Presidents call for troops no funds
out OF which the unusual expenses which
had then to be met could be even tenn.
.1orarily paid, except the civil contingent
fund and the military. fund. and the en-
tire amount paid out of both of those
-af
tizing and putting our quota of troops
tfour regiments) in a condition Tor active
service. was less than $1,000. which was
remarkably small cost when compared
with the large sums paid out by other
States In furnishing their respective
quotas of troops, which We're, in many
Instances, much smaller than that fur
1lished b, the State OF Virginia
n one State. the Legislature, OF which
was in session at the time of the Pres
tdeut's call upon the Governor of that
State for one regiment of infantry, with
out dissenting vote at once appropriat-
ed three hundred thousand dollars. ana
rtaced that sum at, the disposal of the
Governor to enable him to properly COM
My with the call that had been made
a,pon him. e
The Virginia regiments performed most
creditaEle service in the United states
Army and endured as true soldiers the
many privations and hardships incident
to army life After the conclusion OF
the war they were mustered out of the
United States service. the United States
retaining all the arms. equipments anc
tentaee which had been carried into the
Ermy.
After the war and as soon as was prac-
s;cable after the passage by Congress OF
~ act providing for the reimbursement
pf the Governors of States for expenses
Incurred by them on account of the war
with Spain (act Of Congress approved
21arch 3, 1890. an iternized account OF the
expenses incurred by the State of Virginia
on account of that war was prepared and
submitted to the Secretary Of the Treas
n-y at Washington for audit and pay
knent, and I am glad to say that that
account has been paid.
The total number of officers and enlist
ed men who served in the four virginia
regiments during all or a. portion OF the
time whose regiments were in the Gnl-
ted States service during the Spanish
American War is 1888 officers and s.l2e
enlisted menu The losses by death We're
two officers and siaty-eight enlisted men.
Two of the enlisted men committed sui
eide while on furlough, two were killed
BY civilians and sixty-four died of di-
sease. The deaths from disease We're
due in a large majority Of the cases to
typhoid fever.
In addition to these four regiments.
several other companies. both white and
colored, were formed, mostly in the State,
and were mustered into one OF more OF
the United States immune regiments.
The Reef alilstlon.
AS soon after the close of the war with
Spain as it was practicable to ascertain
when and what arms. equipments and
uniforms could be obtained from the Uni
ted States for the use Of our State troops,
khe matter OF recognizing the Virginia
Volunteers was entered upon
Under the laws. as construed by the At
torney-General OF Virginia. 1t appeared
that all of our volunteers who had served
during the war with Spain in the United
States Army had upon entering such ser
vice severed their connection with the
Virginia Volunteers, and that. therefore,
every organization of Virginia Volunteers.
the officers and enlisted men Of which had
entered the United States service. either
as a wilde practically or in sufficient