afterward energetic in putting it into
successful operation.

The next State to provide for a Naval Militia was Pennsylvania, whose
legislature made the necessary law in 1889. On the same day the
legislature of Rhode Island "established a naval battalion to be
attached to the Rhode Island militia." In New York, in 1889, a State
Naval Militia of three battalions of naval reserve artillery and a
naval reserve torpedo corps, to consist of not less than four
companies to a battalion, was established.

[Illustration: Cruiser "Columbia" (Commerce Destroyer).]

The practical work of the Naval Militia began in 1890, when the
Massachusetts battalion drilled on the receiving-ship "Wabash," and
the New York battalion on the receiving-ship "Minnesota."

A very decided impetus was given to the movement in 1891 by the
appropriation by Congress of $25,000 for arms and equipments for the
Naval Militia, leaving the disbursement of the money to the discretion
of the Secretary of the Navy. Within the year California, North
Carolina, Texas, and Maryland joined the States having battalions of
Naval Militia, and at its close the force numbered 1,149 men. Progress
was made also in 1891 in the method of drilling and instructing the
members of some of the battalions. Those of New York, Massachusetts,
and Rhode Island spent several days aboard the vessels of the Squadron
of Evolution, under the command of Rear-Admiral J. C. Walker, and were
given practice with the guns and boats, and participated in the ship's
routine duties.

Further appropriations of $25,000 each for the Naval Militia were made
in 1892 and 1893. The legislatures of Vermont and South Carolina
provided for battalions of the Naval Militia in 1892, and those which
had been authorized, but not yet organized, in Maryland and
Pennsylvania, were formed. During the summer of 1892 the members of
the North Carolina Naval Militia were drilled on board the "Newark."
The "Wabash," the "Chicago," and the "Atlanta" were used for drills by
the Massachusetts battalions, and those of New York received their
instruction on the "New Hampshire," the "Chicago," and the "Atlanta."
The California Naval Militia drilled on board the "Charleston."

The Naval Militia was increased in 1893 by battalions formed in North
Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, Georgia, and Connecticut, under laws of
these various legislatures of that year, and the force numbered 2,376
officers and men. New Jersey and Virginia,