Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-04-27
SOUTH CAR0LINA'S QUOTA.
Secretary AIger Telegraphed the Governo
Monday.

Monday.
The State Monday.
At last the call for the volunteer
troops from this state has been re-
ceived from the war department.
Though anxiously awaited all day and
expected by mail, it came by wire
about 7.15 o'clock last evening. That
there will be prompt response to the
call of the president the events of the
past few days in this state leave no
doubt.
Here is copy of the call
WASHINGTON, April 25, 1898.
The Governor of South Carolina, Colum-
bia, S. c.:
The number of troops from your state,
under the call of the president, dated
April %, 1898, will be one regiment and
one battalion infantry and one heavy bat
terry of artillery. 1t is the wish of the
president that the regiments of the ma
tional guard or state militia shall be used
as far as their numbers will permit, for
the reason that they are armed, equipped
and drilled. Please wire as early as pos
sible what equipments, ammunition,
arms, blankets, tents, etc, you have and
what additional you will require. Please
also state when troops will he ready tor
muster into United States service. Details
to follow by mail.
r. A. ALGER, Secretary of War.
Immediately upon receipt of the
above call, Governor Ellerbe sent the
following telegram in reply:
COLUMBIA, April Is, 1898.
R. A. Alger, Secretary of War, Washing
ton, D. c.
Your telegram received. South Caro-
lima will respond to the call Of the presi-
dent. Will furnish information requested
as soon as practicable.
w. H. ELLERBE, Governor.
Later Lieutenant Stokes, U. S. A.,
and Adjutant General Watts, who
have the condition and equipment Of
the state militia forces at the tips of
their tongues, were in conference with
the governor. No further definite in
formation in regard to the matter will
be obtainable until this morning.
WHAT THE CALL MEANS.
When the terms of the presidents
call were read by the military men last
night they seemed at an utter loss to
understand what total number of vol
unteers the call meant. And they will
remain in the dark it appears until the
detailed letter referred to has been re-
ceived by the governor. 1t is general
ly understood that the call will cover
something over 1000 actual soldiers.
About all that is known of the provis-
ions of the volunteer bill is that the
minimum number of men to be allow
ed in a company will be "a; with the
three commissioned officers this will
make q total of 81 men as the mini
mum. The regiment will consist of IL
companies. This will make the mini
mum number of men, exclusive Of reg
mental officers in the South Carolina
regiment, 1,O44. The battalion will
consist of a minimum of four COM
panies. The minimum number for
the battalion is 34S. AS to the bat
terry of heavy artillery it is impossible
to say anything. In time of peace, at
present the regular army battery
usually consists of any number of men
from 65 to 165, and can be composed
of 200 or more. 1t is generally
thought that the battery will consist
of about ZIG men, and it will he under
the command most likely of an army
captain. The battery will really con-
sist of infantrymen who will simply be
called artillerymen.
There is nothing now to 60 by as to
the makeup of the troops asked for,
save the act of 1868. The minimum
number of men allowed company by
that act was 78.
The regimental officers that the gov
ernor will have to appoint, according
to leading military man, are as fol-
lows: One colonel, one lieutenant COL
onel, two majors, an adjutant, quar-
termaster, a surgeon, an assistant sur
geon, a chaplain, a sergeant major,
and quartermaster-sergeant. The
appointing authority usually leaves 1t
to the colonel to select his adjutant,
quartermaster, sergeant-maJor and
quartermaster-sergeant. The battal-
ion will have only major. AS stated
above captain from the regular army
will most likely be appointed to have
charge of the artillery.
Nothing has yet been said about the
formation of an ambulance and hos
pital detachment.