Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-01

TaE LIGHT INFANTRT-Last nigh very in
SSIeST,1ng ceremony took place at the Armory of
.e w SSnington Light Infantry, the veteran corps
OF our District volunteer military Soon after :
o'clock the members Of the corps began to assembIe
In ,ne Armory, and before o'clock the room was
well nlled with visiting friends of the corps and
ABOUT sixty members in full uniform Among
the visitors present we noticed Major General ri
Weightman, commanding the militia under
we recent organization; Col. w Hickey formerly
OF the independent regiment: Major p F. Bacon.
also OF that regiment; Lieut. Smead, U g Army
ahu others. Soon after : O'Clock the conn many was
Io,heo, and body of gentlemen in two ranks
thtered the Armory, halted and faced the COM
pany, when they were introduced as company
OF the Washington Light Infantry, by Capt
laws, IN a few appropriate remarks. Lieut..
Chapln, OF the new corps, responded in behalf Of
niseompany, apologies for the absence of Capt
A 6oddard, which was the result of circumstances
beyond his control. Soon after the tap of a drum
was beard, and the ex-meInbers entered the
rOom-Mackey, the veteran drum-majOr Of the
old infantry, leading and beating the taps upon
ms drum. They halted, faced, and Were intro
survey of the body of veterans reminded
those present of their first drills In 1896 They
Were then young and active men, and now
though they might be called a band of sturdy
veterans and are calculated to do good service in
time OF need, most or them began to display the
tfhls OF Mes autumn Their purpose was to
present to the IOHHg Infantry testimonial from
The ''Otd Guard, - splendid Stand of Colors
The company flag Is a beautiful spec men of the
Workmanship OF T. A. Gibbs, Of Baltimore; is Of
SIX OF the first quality, colOrs 'warranted not TO
run ~ the stars OF gold neatly arranged; the staff
ornaments of solid silver are the exquisite work
manshfP Of our fellow-ciizen, ii. o Hood, and
well represents the skill of Washington me chan
les The ''Old Guard" was under the command
Of Hiram Rlchey, the former Orderly Sergeant;
the Tag was borne by Ensign Mead; the markers
colors OF blue silk, with the initials w. l., l. in
gold and numbered by two old members After
the Introduction of the company by Capt Davis
the presentation of the colors was made by ex- 1t
Mexican, chairman Of the committee who spoke
follows
O1fesrS and Members Of the Washington Light
IHfaHtTy.-Gentemen: have been appointed by
the ex-members of the corps now residing in this
city (many of whom are now before you) to be
on this occasion, their organ of communication
with You. Permit me to say that am proud of
my position, and deeply sensible of the response
The ex-members of the company, the old
guard - as think they entitled to be called
who from various causes have withdrawn them
selves from active participation in its dutes as
well as Its pleasures, have not become Indifferent
or cold towards their ''early love, - for whilst
their affections are less ardent as result of time
II Is not less warm and sincere, because tempered
by the admOnishing inrOads of age There are
some mere who were present at its birth, and gave
LIE and energy to its being-others who Joined in
we oaptisnat ceremonies which placed il into
line as a military corps of citizen soldiery:
ana OF which | know | may say that our citizens
are proud, and on which they NAV RELY | do not
say this as tattering expression of Iaudation
but as truth justly merited, and [ do assure Won
we ex-menbers feel il sensi bly, as YOU who now
constitute the corps.
When look back to the early DAYS Of the
corps, and recOllect the anxieties as well as the
Pleasures we then enjoyed together, we feel some
81 the spirit that then animated us more partcu-
ldfIy so, when We see, as we often do, the COM
pany on parade, and hear 1.-The sOul-stirring drum
ana the shrill hfe, we are for the moment young
again, and the desire srs within us to be in yonr
ranks, with the ..musket on our shoulders and
the bayOnet by our side;'' but time with many Of
US, hath stitched the limbs and made dim the
EUEThf 49, -fa.I.-
that your ranks be filed, as they now are bv
youthful energy and manly activity Nearly
Wehty-Iour years are now passed since the first
pdrade-when some Of you who I now address
We're not born, and many, whose names stand on
Tue roll OF the company, have been gathered to
their fathers-to join the triumphant army i'm
another and better world | must say that We
the Old Guard-have kept a constant eve on the
company, and have been gratifed at it's advance
Hent- Like fond parent who gave il existence,
and aided Its youthful developments we now
look with pride and satisfaction at its present
manhood, and may the corps so continue in the
march OF time, long after the ex-members have
left the busy paths OF life, and YOU too having
assumed our places, have the pleasure which we
now enjoy, To meet the company as we do In
some Tar distant day, to look back, to this the
present.
In the summer Of 1896 it was stated in the pa
FeTs that the Balti more and Ohio Railroad Cr,p
Pahy intended TO give complimentary trip To
some OF the volunteer companies from Baltimore
TO Washington, on the 18th of September There
was not, at that time, any company here to give
luchi an escort. or extend 10 them the hand of
brother soldier. About the fist Of August a few
BaldmoTeans who resided here as they met
talked over this Intended visit they started list
Tor subscribers to organize in a body to receive
then, SO that some little show of attention and
good viii might be made; a number of names
were soon obtained, and d call for : meeting mini
hsbed, which was promptly responded to; and 50
popular was the move that at the second meeting
the proposition 20 organize as a uniformed yolune
teer corps was carried by acclanation Ia 2
crowded meetingi the preliminary arrangements
a do larra
draft constitution and select a suitable uniform
the same as now worn by the company with some
slight changes. This was all dsne Ia u few eve
nIBgs, AID when sufficient number stood pledu ed
20 uniform, then, and not until then we re the first
officers elected. For six weeks meetings were
held nearly every evening, for business and drill
and IL and I o'clock often found us so enoaOed.
aad on the 18th Of September, 1896 the company
m ide its first parade in full uniform with FORTY
i've muskets. IL was a proud day with many Of
US, and this feeling was warmly expressed by our
citizens IL was not "a time that tried Insn's
so Ils," for 1t was friends meeting friends but II
did try our endurance; and if we did not sweat
from fear, sometimes do, we did most
h-ely from excessive heat and excitement
could, If the occasion permitted recount many
OF the early "reminiscences of the cOrps-the trials
an difficulties encountered and overcome in its
for natiOu; the ups and the downs in the first ten
ye Of the career Of the company; of the numer-
Gus agreeable evenings spent in trshsacting bust
ness or the more active duties Of the drill of the
many pleasant days enjoyed ana friendsbips
formed, Ia our visits to other cities; the cordial
ana warm receptions received and the incidents
Of those occasions; Of the delightful excursions
the beautiful Potomac; of the beauty and CAV
ETY. Of the social meetings devoted 70 pleasure by
the votaries OF TerPsichOre In the dizzy mazes Of
the dance. We were then, as hope YOU are now
a band OF brothers, aud the friendships then
formed endure 20 the present. This is the true
princi pie, this is one of the causes Of the con-
tinued life OF the company; and so long as IL is
cherished, success will attend your exertions
with these predatory remarks, | will now perform
the most important part Of my duty, and thus full
nil the purpose Of the ex-mem6ers of the corps in
meeting YOU al this time .'
Capt, Davis, permit me to present to you, and
through you to the Washington Light Infantry
this stand of colOrs a testimonial from the ex-
members Of the corps to express in this material
form the sentiments OF pleasure and pride they
continne to feel towards the company, and 10
show that although not with you as members they
have not forgotten old associations not unmindful
of the continued exertions Of its members which
has brought il to It's present honorable coalition
In the selection OF a suitable object to present
which would be alike satisfactory to them and IT
il hoped acceptable to the corps, II concluded
that this flag would be the most proper; for