Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-12-23
Tha Volunteers of virginia.


1t has always been the fashion with the
Ignorant and vul gar 10 sheer at citizen-sol-
dlers and give the preference to those whose
only trade is war; as if the good member of
society, who strikes tor home for hearth and
kindred. had not higher. holier motive, to
direct the arm, nerve the heart, and quicken
the intellect than the recruit however long
and closely he may drllsd) whose incentive
is the wages he may receive, or the round IN
flames ladder to which his own boldness,
or his superiors loss may enable him to At
tain. Those who may be disposed to under
rate our own military advancement, and be-
lieve our young and gay civilians are inferior
in style and bearing, to the old and long
tried regiments Of Europe, would with the
opportunity OF comparing the systems, come
10 a different conclusion.
In youthful days. now long gone by, |
remember tn have thought our festival eel
ebrations the brightest and grandest on
earth; our young regiments of citizen soldiers
the very perfection of chivalry and valor-la-
ter had viewed this us the delusIon of mex
perienced imagination. History had engrav-
ed with pen of iron on tablet of adanant too
many records uf thrilling courage, untlring
perseverance, unconquerable energy III
times that tried mems souls" to doubt our
soldiers there, yet could but think they
must be inferior in drill, in movement, III
dress and equl pment to those heroes OF Eu-
ropean warfare Of whom we have heard SO
much Ample opportunity has been atfor-
ded me to prove this lar from true.
On late sad occasion (the funeral OF our
good and great representative AT the Court OF
Paris witnessed general turn out Of our
Richmond troops, and several companies
from adjacent cltles-a better military dis
play have never seen. Of course, do not
allude to numbers, or to gorgeousness OF cos
tune.
We have had no necessity TO assemble a
host rs great as u nation at war must con-
gregate; and in useless magnitcence nothing
can equal the adornment Of the Iouayes or
the Austrian Ilussars, transporting us out
romance. But our military in fine personal
appearance, in the neatness and appropriate
ness Of their uniforms, in the firm regular
step of the soldier, in the erect and noble
bearing of the fireman, could not have been
surpassed. | saw the companies form, man
Guvrc, and fall into their places i'll the mel
ancholy procession, and their evolutions were
perfect particularly that of reversing arms;
this is difficult and unusual manGuvre,
and they performed it with an ease, aqulck-
ness, and precision that was admirable,
while the young officer who swept the lines
on his well managed courser could not have
been surpassed in grace, dignity and knightly
bearing by any of those warriors whose lau-
rels freshly gathered in the Old World, have
made their names familiar rs household
words in the New.
At various times have had opportunities
Of seeing foreign military displays and ponc
have made me ashamed Of those OF my own
country. witnessed the entrance into
Paris of the Crimean troops at the close of
the war between France and Russia saw
the Emperor with his marshals, his generals
aud his cent-guards ride forth to meet them:
and not even among the Guards, esteemed
the best riders ill Europe, except the Lancers
Of the Tyrol, was there a horseman superior
10 that young Virginian Four years after,
paused at Alessandria, the stronghold of
Sardinia, and ga2ed admringly on the COM
| bined forces ni France and Piedmont, turn
ed out in full view 10 receive some regiments
of brother soldiers, which our own train had
brought from Genoa. They numbered not
| by thousands but by tens of thousands, and
yet there was not among them better ap-
pointed regiment of infantry than those
our lato emergencies have brought into no.
tee Many companies OF French soldiers
| swarmed over Mt. Gems as we mounted it's
snow covered pinnacle. They were gay with
hope, promise and expectation; and lastly the
thinned armament which had seen the days
of Magenta and Solferino entered with Us at
Turin. 81 that with ample material trjudge
from, and observation quickened by national
pride and interest, it is with no small
amount of self graduation can conscientl-
ously render this tribute to the citizen soldi-
ers of NV own native State. To their honor
and glory also be it said. they require no
press gang, no conscript laws. When it was
rumored in our midst that Virginia had need
OF tho strony arms and stout hearts of her
sons-youth and manhood tlocked to the rem
devious; not only the volunteers already en-
rolled but ever, company ordered Ia our
borders enrolled more men thnt night than
they ever before had numbered. = Hheeling
| iHiOH.