Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-06-09
THE NEW TRooPs.

THE NEW TROOPS.
The total immediate increase now call
ed for-volunteers. regulars and sail
ors together-was S2.74s raising the to-
tai military establishment of the United
States. including the 1900 three-months
volunteers of the call of April Is. to an
army of 156,6S1 and navy of 5000.
That increase was needed. The per-
sonnet of the navy had on March been
placed at 1860 enough for ordinary pur-
poses. but at by no means enough TO
man all the vessels to make effective a
blockade of the Atlantic and gulf sea-
ports from the Potomac to the Rio
Grande.
The regular army on April 5 had been
reported as 1e.l1s strong, but a large
part of this was in the far west and
therefore unfavorable. The loss Of army
officers by resignation, moreover, as
also in the navy, had been very great,
S13 or nearly one-third of the commis-
stoned officers having resigned, to take
Nservice with their states and the Con-.
federacy.
That these designations had been al
most wholly among the officers and that
the private soldier and common sailor
had with hardly an exception stayed in
the service was a great satisfaction to
Lincoln.
ITO the last man, so far as is known"
he declared, in speaking of the situation,
they have successfully resisted the eff
forts of those whose commands but an
hour before they obeyed as absolute
law"
visions OF three or four brigades each,
and to include cavalry as well as infan-
try. The regulars were to form two d.
visions OF two brigades each and to COM
prise eight regiments of infantry and one
each of cavalry and artillery.
GOVERNOR LETCHER'S PROCLAMA-
TON.
Fifty years ago today LIKEWISE. Gov.
John Letcher. of Virginia, issued proc
lamation authorizing the commanding
general of the state forces to call for such
volunteers as he might require. without
limitation.
This proclamation, which well expressed
the southern view of the situation, was
as follows:
"The sovereignty Of the commonwealth
of Virginia having been denied, her terri
torial rights assailed, her soil threatened
with invasion by the authorities at Wash
ington and every artifice employed which
could infame the people of the northern
states and misrepresent our purposes and
wishes, it becomes the solemn duty of ev
cry citizen of this state to prepare for
the impending conflict.
"These Misrepresentation have been
carried to such an extent that foreigners
and naturalized citizens. who but a few
years ago were denounced by the north
and deprived of essential rights. have now
been induced to enlist into regiments for
the purpose of invading this state, which
then indicated those rights and effectu-
ally resisted encroachments which threat
ened their destruction.
Against such policy and against a
force which the government at Wash
ington relying upon its numerical
strength, is now rapidly concentrating,
1T becomes the state of Virginia to pro-
pare proper safeguards.
ITO these ends and for these purposes
I do hereby authorize the commanding
general of the military forces of this
state to call out and to cause to be
mustered into the service of Virginia
from time to time. as the public ex-
igencies may require. such additional
number Of volunteers as he may deem