. An illustrated history of our war with Spain : its causes, incidents, and results. its pro-visions, issued a proclamation calling for two-year volunteers^the total number apportioned among the states according topopulation. Measures were taken for the enlistment of aslarge a proportion as possible of the I^ational Guard in theUnited States Army, the purpose being to amalgamate theregulars and volunteers as soon as possible. The requisitions made by Secretary Alger on the stategovernors calling for 125,000 volunteers, met with instantand adequate response, but also not a little adverse critic
. An illustrated history of our war with Spain : its causes, incidents, and results. its pro-visions, issued a proclamation calling for two-year volunteers^the total number apportioned among the states according topopulation. Measures were taken for the enlistment of aslarge a proportion as possible of the I^ational Guard in theUnited States Army, the purpose being to amalgamate theregulars and volunteers as soon as possible. The requisitions made by Secretary Alger on the stategovernors calling for 125,000 volunteers, met with instantand adequate response, but also not a little adverse criticismfrom the Ivational Guardsmen, whose jealousy of the regulararmy had much to do with the defeat of the first Hull bill forits reorganization to meet requirements. By the provisions ofthat measure, the regular armys war strength would have beenraised to 104,000 men. In his telegraphic call SecretaryAlger declared that preference would be given to regiments ofthe IvTational Guard or state militia, for the reason that theywere armed, presumably equipped and drilled. In issuing his. THE CALL TO WAR. A Grand Army Veteran of the Civil War bringing his son into a recruiting office in a country town to answer to the call for volunteers in the war with Spain. FRICTION BETWEEN REGULARS AND VOLUNTEERS 519 coiiflriiiatory letter, however, the Secretary of War said thatJ:he men eaUed for were to be enlisted in the United Statesservice, their state organizations being preserved as long asthey remained in their own states. The result was that manyregiments manifested a decided reluctance to act under an un-certainty as to the necessity of giving up their organizations. It was not so much a conflict between State and Federalelements as a conflict between amateurs and professionals, andwhen the fact was thoroughly understood there was no uncer-tainty as to results. Whatever the influence of the NationalGuard, the Federal government could ill-afford to have menenlisted as volunteers who would
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidillustratedh, bookyear1898
