The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-05-14
The officers of these regi

ments. The officers Of these regi-
ments were. by the law, selected
and commissioned by the Secretary and
not by the President. Col. Leonard Wood,
Col Jay l.. TORY. and Col. Melvin Grigs-
by were respectively appointed to command
them. On the 18th day of May, Congress
also empowered the Secretary Of War to
organize volunteer brigade of engineers,
to consist of not more than three regi-
ments. and to aggregate not more than
$500 men. The officers of these regiments
were appointed, under the law, by the
President, with the consent of the Senate
and under such rules and regulations as
might be prescribed by the Secretary of
War. The same act authorized the or
ganization Of an additional volunteer force
of not exceeding 10000 enlisted men pos
sessing immunity from the diseases Incl
dent to tropical climates. For these So
called immune regiments the officers were
to be appointed by the President. by and
with the advice and consent of the Sen
ate.
1.-The first call for troops-125.OOO men
was issued on April 23. This levy was
apportioned by law among the States ac-
cording to population, and was confined
first to the militia thereof where such or
CARNATIONS existed, and then to the citi-
zens at large. The War Department was
at once overwhelmed by tenders of service
from every section of the country and ev-
cry State in the Union. Numerous pro-
tests against this policy of limitation We're
received. Veterans of the civil VARIED
erals and Confederates alike-were espe-
cially insistent. The applications were as
universal as they were enthusiastic. The
question was, not what States would be
called upon for troops, but how many of
the thousands of men applying could be
accepted?
1.-The War Department favored the rec
ognition of the State Militia. Considera-
tons of justice required that those men
whose enthusiasm had inspired their en-
trance into State military organizations
should, when the crisis occurred, be given
the first opportunity for active service
For this reason il was thought that they
were entitled to preference above others
who were eager to enter the service. The
Governors of the several States were there
fore Informed that members of the State
militia would be the first mustered. The
War Department especially enjoined the
State Governors to inform the members
of the militia that enlistment must be en-
tirely voluntary, and not through any feel
ing of esprit de corps or compulsion. This
instruction was given to relieve from any
reflection upon their patriotism or cour-
age those who could not leave their homes
except at great sacrifice.
'On the 25th of May the President is
sued the second call for volunteers-15.
600 men. Events proved that these addi-
tional troops were not needed, as 10000
volunteers did not leave the United States.
Still this great force, of course known to
the Spanish Government, must have had
its influence in bringing about so speedy
4 conclusion Of the war.
1.-The number of men furnished by the
several States under the first and second
calls, including the 16 regiments with spe-
cial qualifications recruited at large, is
given in the following table: