The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-29

In two more days the United States
monitor Nantucket will be ready for war.
Last night at 11:55 o'clock the last plank
was laid on her deck, and the machinery
has already been thoroughly overhauled
and repaired. The only work now to be
done will pc in the way of caulking and
scraping the deck. This will be done by
Saturday and the monitor will then be
turned over TO the government.
In accordance with orders received last
night from Washington, steam Will BE-
gotten up this morning at { o'clock and
about 9 O'Clock the machinery Will be
tested.
WILMINGTON's COLORED COMPA-
MES.
Captain ]. G. Smith and Captain David
SaSser, who are raising companies Tor
the war, rendered their services TO Gov
ernOr Russell and yeSteray they recelF-
ed "A telegram from Adjutant General
Cowles informing them that their compa-
mics would be accepted and to go ahead,
recruit their companies up to the re-
quiref number of "a men ana max All
necessary arrangements
Captain SasSer'S company Will meet TO-
night at 8 o'clock at Love and char1ty
hail on Seventh street, near Church. he
wants all cOlored citizens in sympathy
with the movement to be present.
Collector John G. Dancey, one OF the
leading men of his race in North Caro-
lima. stated last night that he had no
doubt that both companies would be re-
cruited up to the full limit. He says
there DIS a great deal of enthusiasm
among cOlOrcd men and that not only
are they anxious to 20 into the war to
avenge the heinOus destruction of the
Maine, but to avenge the assassination
of General Macco. who. he declares, was
the greatest general the Negro race ever
VOLUNTEERING GOES on.
General cowIes this afternoon re-
ceived d telegram from Captain 7;
Robertson. of the Hornets Nest Rlhe-
men, of Charlotte. saying:
Il am nearly ready with the company.
Captain j. G. Bessent, of Winston, cap
tain Og the Forsyth Rifles, t~elegraphed:
The GoIdsboro Rifles failed to volun-
teer. so the Winston company takes its
place in the FIRST regiment of volunteers.
All companies Of the FOurth regiment
save one, volunteered.
1t is the belief that Colonel }. r. Arm
field. who is colonel of the Fourth regl-
ment. North Carolina State Guard, and
an excellent officer, viii command the
first volunteers. He is the Only colonel
of the guard who made a full tender or
his regiment as volunteers. 1t may be
that his regimental officers will get APP
~pOintmentS. 1t is strange, but true, thdt
only one company of the Guard east OF
Raleigh volunteered, this being Compan
H, of the First regiment, at GreenVllle.
H MAXTON GUARDS VOLUNTEER
Especial 10 L he 4lcSStIStl'j
Maxton. n. c.. April 27.-At a meeting
of the Maxton Guards tonight Tuesday
the following resolution was adopted:
I'VE, the members of the MaXton
Guards. Company E.. Second regiment,
fully approaching the oathS of our en-
liStment taken in time of peace and not
unmindful of the responsibility Whlch
rests on us as an organization IN time OF
war. do volunteer as COmpany II, Second
regiment. North Carolina State Guard,
to follow the said regiment under OFFICERS
of our own selection whereeVer they may
lead. We stand ever ready TO OBEY any
GERS and will defend to the last that flag
that symbolizes all that is for the lib
erty of our country and her honor
TO MOBILIZE AT RALEIGH.
Especial to The MessengerD
Raleigh. N. c.. April 27.Governor Rus
were in conference until I p. m. Then
Raleigh was settled on as the place OF
rendezvous after earnest by
Adjutant General CoWles ana Major
HAYES and also by Auditor II. w. Aver.
1t was commended by these gentlemen
that the troops probably would be in the
state but a few weeks; that the arsenal
with an it's supplies, including tents, IS
here; that Raleigh is central and that
the expense of mobilization of troops
here would be less. Governor Russell
yielded after holding out to the last for
Wilmington. He agreed upon the eX-
press condition that if these volunteers
remained in the state he would insist on
the secretary of wars sending themt TO the
coast for it's defense. 1t was also with
the understanding that Raleigh furnish
Il site for the camp.
Governor Russell will issue his order
tomorrow for the volunteers TO rendeZ-
yous at , o'clock Saturday afternoon. He
will then know if Raleigh gives the
camp a site.
COLORED ARTILIERYMEN.
Am interesting decision was made by
the governor and board today, that the
heavy artillery battery called for snail De
comnosed of negroes. There will really
be six companies of these and Captaln
Taylor's company, of Charlotte, of the
State Guard. is accepted as one of these
companies. OF course, heavy artillery
are armed with rifles and drill like in
fantry.
]. A. Bird. of Madison county, tenders
a full company of volunteers and so do
CT. l.. Gibson. of MontObola and L. II.
Briggs. Jr., of Elizabeth City.
The adjutant general desires that at
tention be called to. the fact that the
minimum strength of an infantry COM
pany. including officers, is ~, and the
maximum S4.
THE NEGRO VOLUNTEERS.
At II O'Clock tonight / interviewed Al
iutant General Cow1es. He was making
up 4 colored battery of heavy artillery,
and said the companies at Wilmington,
tWo), Charlotte, Raleigh (two), at New
Bern. Reiisville and Winston. eight in
all, had been telegraphed to, and that
responses had come from the two at
Raleigh, one each at New Bern and
Charlotte. Only two more are needed
and the first two Offering complete COM
panfes will be accepted. Negroe here
are enthusiastic at news that their con-
tingent will compose the heavy battery,
They hope to be mobilized at Wrights-
vile or Wilmington.
General Cowles spoke about the com
mand of the two regiments of volunteers
and said If he We're the governor ne
would put an army officer from North
Carolina in command of each, and that
as to the first regimen he would GER
tainly make Captain J. A. Armfield, of
StateSville. lieutenant colonel.
]. w. Cooper, Jr., of Murphy. tonight
offered an infantry company of eighty
four men.
Volunteering is certainly lively now.
The organization of a battery of heavy
artillery is one captain. one first lieuten-
ant, two second lo~eutenants, one first