Naval militia,
An adjunct to the United States navy, first organized in New York in 1895.
By July, 1897, the militia had been organized in fifteen States bordering on the coast and
Great Lakes.
The duty of the naval militia in time of war is to man the coast and harbor defence vessels, leaving the regular force for offensive work.
The naval militia will also operate in boat squadrons with torpedoes against any hostile fleet in our waters.
In 1900 the naval militia was organized in nineteen States and in the District of Columbia, as follows:
California,
Capt. N. T. James;
Connecticut, Corn.
Fred L. Averill; District of Columbia,
Com. Robert P. Hains;
Florida,
Com. W. Fitzgerald;
Georgia,
Com. F. D. Aiken;
Illinois,
Capt. Albert A. Michelson;
Louisiana,
Com. J. W. Bostick;
Maryland,
Com. I. E. Emerson;
Maine,
Lieut. H. M. Bigelow;
Massachusetts,
Capt. W. E. McKay;
Michigan,
Com. G. Wilkes;
New Jersey, Battalion of the
East,
Com. W. Irving; Battalion of the
West,
Com. J. B. Potter; New York,
Capt. J. W. Miller;
North Carolina,
Com. F. M. Morse;
Ohio,
Lieut.-Com. W. G. Welbon, commanding 1st Battalion,
Lieut.-Com. W. E. Wirt, commanding 2d Battalion;
Oregon,
Lieut.-Com. R. E. Davis;
Pennsylvania,
Capt. J. S.
Muckle;
Rhode Island,
Com. W. M. Little;
South Carolina,
Com. R. H. Pinckney;
Virginia,
Com. H. L. Cannon.
The total enlisted force of petty officers and men on Jan. 1, 1900, was 5,309.
The Navy Department transacts all its business with the naval militia through the governors and the adjutants-general of the States.
The officer representing the Navy Department at
Washington having cognizance of naval militia matters is
Lieut.-Com. W. H. H. Southerland, U. S. N.
