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

which he offered to the government
under his own command. 1t is hoped
that this car be accepted as part of the
quota Of men to be furnished by Illi-
nois.
A PATRIOTIC MILLIONAIRE.
ohn Jacob Astor, of New York, not
content with Offering the government
free his splendid yacht and free trans
portation for troops and supplies over
the railroads in which he is interested,
has come forward with notice that he
has raised and equipped at his w ex-
pense a battery Of artillery which he
desires to offer to the government I'M
der his own plans for service in Cuba
This offer probably will be accepted, al
II l the department has been DEL
ug with offers to raise volunteers in
this war to the aggregate number of
at least $4,000. AS the presidents au-
thOrity under the volunteers bill is to
enlist only three regiments outside Of
the regular quotas to be furnished by
the states, there is not much opportuni-
ty to accept the services of these patri-
OTIS
The order to the district militia to
go into camp at Soldiers Home was
revoked just at the m when it
was in execution, owing, it is said, to
the fact that the sudden call away of
so many employees from the depart
ments without notice threatened to
cripple the government service.
The action of the president in recon-
mending a formal declaration of war
was welcomed by officials in every di-
rection as putting the present strug-
gle on a more dignified basis and tend
ing to the avoidance of international
complications.
THE SOUTH'S QUOTA OF TROOPS.
The war department has issued a
call on the states for their quotas of
troops under the call for 1875, 900 men.
The following are the quotas of the
southern states: Alabama, two regi-
ments of infantry and one battalion;
Arkansas, two regiments of infantry;
Florida, one regiment of infantry;
Georgia, two regiments of infantry and
w light batteries; Kentucky, three
regiments Of infantry and two troops
Of cavalry; Louisiana, two regiments
OF infantry; Maryland, one regiment of
infantry and FOUR heavy batteries: Mis-
s1sslppl, two regiments of infantry;
North Carolina, two regiments of in
fantry and n heavy battery: South
Carolina, one regiment of infantry, one
battalion and n heavy battery: Ten
nessee, three regiments of infantry:
Texas, three regiments of infantry and
one regiment of cavalry; Virginia,
three regiments of infantry; West Vir-
ginia, one regiment of infantry; Dis
trict Of Columbia, one battalion.
The rendezvous for the troops to be
mustered in he service of the vOlun-
teer army in the various states and
territories has been designated by Sec
rotary Alger as follows: Alabama, Mo-
bile; Arkansas, Little Rock; Florida,
Tampa; Georgia, Atlanta; Kentucky,
Louisville; Louisiana, New Orleans;
Maryland, Baltimore; Mississippi.
Jackson; North Carolina, Raleigh:
Carolina, Charleston; Tennessee,
Nashville: Texas, Houston; Virginia,
RichmOnd; West Virginia, Martins
burg; District of Columbia, Washing
ton.
RECRUITING OFFICERS.
For the purpose of recruiting for the
volunteer as we'll as for the regular
army the department will designate in
each state and territory several cities
where recruiting under the direction
Ell army officers will be carried on. The
Hull bill, which it is expected will be-
come law tomorrow. will provide for
the Increase of the regular army on a
war footing to about so, 900 men. In
addition to these recruiting stations it
is expected the war department will
designate boards of army officers who
viii go from place to place in the state
engaged in recruiting duty.
Secretary Alger has telegraphed the
governors Of the several states that it
is n wish of the president that the
regiments of the national guard or
militia Shall be used as far as their
numbers will permit.