Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-08
LOCAL ITE IL 8.


tial snirit-the reyisal of the laws for organi-
ling the militia, and the renewal OF the mus
ters so long fallen into dlsuse-make the
Volunteer Corps of city military, SUBJECTS, at
this time. of more than usual interest. In
keeping with the age and spirit OF the
times" we furnish our readers this morn
ing with a summary account OF the Nolun-
teer Military of Alexandria, for the past
hundred years.
We mention below how well our I'D city
did her part in the old French and the Revo-
lutionary wars. In those times, a u1ltorm
Volunteer Company, in time OF peace, was
unknown. At the approach OF danger, men
were ALWAYS found ready to shoulder their
rifles and organize at once for action, and
when the immediate occasion was over which
called for their services, they ceased to DE
soldiers But in those days, military train
iny was not required to make soldiers
First the savage foe, and afterwards French
and British enemies, kept our people ever
ON the alert, and the constant presence OF
danger was Il training for the camp and field
for which these degenerate days furnish
but sorry substitute, in our militia mus
ters. Every man was a soldier from ncces-
sty; already Injured to the tolls and prlv;-
tons of a soldiers life, it needed bat few
DAYS organization TO make them veterans.
When population began to Increase, bring
inc the people into closer proximity; when
the close of the revolution, and the removal
Of the Indians removed danger from each
mans hearthStone. then personal vigilance
was relaxed, and citizens ceased to be citizen
soldiers, except in name. The annual recur-
renee Of militia musters, still maintained the
military spirit.
At first, it was attempted to uniform the
militia, and even as late as at Leglonary
Court, l7th of March, 1903, it was
"ORDERED.-That the uniform Of the Battalion
Companies Of the second Legion OF Militia Of tho
District of Columbia. be dark blue coat. of ordi-
nary length, cape and lappcl5 of the same, white
metal buttons, with white waiStcoat and panta.
looms, round black hat, and shoes
But this attempt never succeeded. Long
previous to this. the Legislature Of Virginia.
in 1893, passed law which Is cmlnently
suggestive to their successors, and which
gave rise to the first Alexandria Volunteer
Company which was ever raised III time vi
peace The law was as follows:
C.. Z.
and advantage in establishing well disciplined
Militia, to annex to each battalion light com
puny to be formed Of young men OF eighteen to
Twenty-Five wears Of age, whose activity and do
nestle circumstances will admit of frequency
of training not practicable or convenient Tor the
Militia in general, aud returning I" The man
body on their arrival at the latter period Will he
constantly giving thereto Il military pride ana cN.
pcricncc from which the best of consequences will
g. 't,,,t. ,r.r,sT hn
longing to the said light companies, shall wear,
while on duty, such caps and uniforms as the En-
ccutive shall direct to be purchased by the com
handing officer Of the battalion. out of the money
arising on delnqucnts.
Under this law, the following call appear
ed in the columbian Mirror" Of August
3rd, 1893:
THE LIGHT INFANTRY COMPANY. as
also those who are DESTROYS OF joining the sainc'
arc requested to meet AT Mr.. Abers Tavern, on
Tuesday evening next, at o'clock, for the pur-
pose Of considering al the uniform proposed s.
OF Mtdnhy Compal'eS, this Company was
the fruitful parent. Several other Compa-
MES of Militia adopted the military hat and
cross belts, and early in the present ccntnry,
besides the artillery and rifle companies,
Alexandria had two infantry companies
Out Of these finally grew two other compa-
nies-frst. "The Bines," that, under Cap
tains Miller, DeneaIe, and Mcknight, sub
sisted until after the war Of lSl2-'l4, when
they were succeeded by the independent
Bit!ex." that, under Captains Thompson,
PAGE, Snowicn, and others. rlvaIlrtl their
predecessors, and existed until 1923. The
other old company. "The Light h.I"nt'y,"
800. -. ,-r,,, AZ. Iiistnr npI pinj.
del. subsiS,ed until about 1873. The "La-
Gyette Light Mtamtry' first appeared under
Captain Minor. in lS222, and went down III
1925. The "Aicrand1'u independent l"i-
untetsx' first appeared III lS2O, and under
CAPTAINS Harmon and Brockctt Subsistcd
until $3.50. 1t WIS the last Of the old Inian-
try companies, and responded calamity to Il
call made upon it by She President, t" put
down the once celebrated Snow riot" in
Washington
In 1912, after an interval Of seven years,
during which Alexandria had been without
Il volunteer company, Il meeting was held III
llydraulion Hall to organize Il corps Of in
fanry, which ii was proposed to call the
Eagle Guards" On a later and better
suggestion, the new company was called the
".MOum rrIHcn GHuydS,' and made their
first parade. in beautiful uniform, and at
tracing much attention, in 1872. Under
Captains Snyder, LlmmOnd, Price, Field,
Taylor, AaiIbv, DeNaughn, and Smith, the
Guards during the dule~t times, have made
the FourtI. o! July sound like Independence
day, with their gay uniform and stirring
drum and fife, when, but for them the day
would have passed by unnorced save as the
dulest day Of hot July. Whenever called
upon to patrol or scout, to dispense an un-
lawful gathering .! negroes, make u naval
expedition against the gIl!-nettrrS or answer
n call of the Governor TO protect the jail AT
CharleStown, they have been always prompt
to respond to the call Of duty. We noticed
some time since the handsome uniform now
in progress of manufacture for them. Ar
raved in their new Eahiiiments, they will
contest the palm OF superiority with any
company in this section Of country.
The fletcher Guards Capt. &. I. Whit
tin gtun, have been recently organized, and
rive promise already Of mach efficiency.
They have noble examples before them III
their predecessors.
Of T,ooy& Of Horse, we have had but few
During the Revolution, Il troop attached to
the regiment of Mad Anthony Wayne was
enlisted in this vicinity. and did good scr
wee. The Whiskcv Boys, in tT94, deHed
the authority of the Federal Government
and in prompt response 90 the call Of the
Executive for Virginia volunteers, a troop Of
Il