The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-24

w j
tails. To these three men is due the
credit for the foundation of the system
of to-day, bat General Carnahan brought
the Guard L to the standard it has al
ways maintained.
1t was own TO his efforts that the first
regiments were organized and the first en-
campments held The first encampment of
the Indiana National Guard was held under
the auspices of the Raper Commandery,
knights Templars. of this city. Competi-
tive drills composed the greater part Of
the programme. There were crack drill
companies here from all over the cOun-
try This encampment was followed by
others, until now they a regular part
of the National Guards life.
1t has not been definitely decided just
where the encampment this summer will
be held but it is probable that the army
post grounds will be used. The govern
ment has given permission to the guard
to use the grounds any time between June
and September. These grounds are ad-
mirably suited for such work and the
officials think themselves very fortunate
in securing them. There is little doubt
that the offer will be accepted by the
State.
During the last twenty years. or since -he
formation of the regiments, the State has
found it necessary to call the troops TO
its aid but few times. and when it has
been necessary to call them out they have
always aquitted themselves with honor.
There have been threatened outbreaks sew
eral times for which the troops have been
ordered under arms, but the instances are
few where they have left the armories.
Timid civil officers have hesitated about
calling the military branch until too
late. and the name of Indiana has suffered
from one end of the country to the other
when, had the civil authorities shown the
same zeal and earnestness the militia has
always displayed, many of the blots on the
States name would have been avoided.
TWO ACTIVE YEARS.
The years 1898 and 1894 were exceptionally
active ones for the State troops. and on all
of these calls the local battalion was or
dered out In September of 1898 the sol
diers were ordered to Roby to prevent
prize fight. No fight was attempted, for
the appearance of the troops had the de-
sired effect and they were only there a
day of two.
During the months of June and July 1894,
nearly all of the troops in the state were
in active service. The coal strikes in the
southern part of the State and the railroad
strikes in the northern part combined to
produce constant calls for troops. During
these two months forty companies
duty at an expense of $i19l1. At this time
Col. James r. Ross was commanding the
Second Regiment, and il left here at $50
D. m. Saturday, June 2 The day following
was exceedingly quiet, but some strenuous
times were had after this with the strik-
ing miners, who were determined to out
wit the soldiers. There was fortunately
no one killed or wounded in the many Skin
mishes which took place.
The second tour of active duty INDUCED
in by the soldiers that summer occurred
July g. in the northern part of the State
at Hammond. The direct seat of the
trouble in Chicago and was due TO
the American Railway Union strike The
strikers were stopping all trains that at
tempted TO move in Chicago and the gov
eminent ordered out troops The trouble
finally overfiowed into Hammond, Lake
county. and only a short distance from Chi
cago The sheriff sent repeated requests
FOR soldiers. and Governor Matthews or
dered out fifteen companies. While the
service there was hard, there was no fight
ing to speak of. and when peace was re-
stored the troops came home.
The men of the National Guard of to-
day are governed by the same rules and
regulations as the regular army and the
militia now is simply an auxiliary of the
army; and whenever orders are issued to
the regular army the state troops all over
the country receive them. All equipment
and arms are now furnished by the govern
ment and are the same as used by the
United States soldiers. All of the militia
companies have the latest improved Krag-
Jorsensen rifles. The uniforms are also
the same. 1t is said by those who visited
the maneuvers which were held by the
government at West Point, KY, last fall,
that 1t was a hard matter to tell the reg
ular soldiers from the National Guard
men of this city. They were all dressed
alike and the local soldiers had that pc