Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-02-08
GEORGETOWN.

Tbs National Volunteers iR GeoygetorR-
Gold and DGrkRess-.Mav as. Unole
SeM-The Council Of Iire-haention
Sgnad.
-. GEORGETOWN, February 6. 1881.
We Were invited 70 attend the meeting Of the
Nauonai Volunteers at Forrest Hall last evening,
ont having read and heard such terrible accounts
oi 'hat migratory organization, hesitated TO accept
~ snmrioning all our courage however, we
breasted the nor'westef at the specified hour, but
on cur arrival found the building wrapt In
mantle Of darkness. Curiosity got the better of
discretion, we felt that IL would never do 10
give IL upso, Mr.. Brown and peering ''areoundm
we discovered an open door. In fear and trem-
ping we entered and CROPPED our way through a
long dark passage, up several flights OF dark
staits, then through another dark passage, then
TO the right then to the left then streak Of light
through partially opened door, which we ven
tured to open, and found ourself In an assemblage
OF f,co mild. quiet, and very "gentlemanly young
gentlemen
The room was a large one AWAY mn I'm the north.
west corner Of the building, somewhere, and the
bowling of the wind, rattIing of the tin roof and
banging OF the window shutters, was the reverse
OF exhilarating. The weather, too, was Of the
most ultra northern character-bitterly uncompro-
mising-and the absence Of caloric', enough 20
chill the blood Of the most ferocous hre-eater ex
tant. In the course Of half an hour s.rsn other
young gentlemen had arrived. and after some in
formal consultation Mr.. j. T.. F. Ofutt was called
to the chair. Proceeding to Organize the George
town Division Of the National Volunteers" Mr..
H. N.
e Gazette-was elected president, Mr.. James E.
r Quit secretary, and Mr.. II w. Findlay treasu-
Ter.
Mr.. Callan, in a heat speech. returned thanh,
Tor the honor conferred upon him, and proceeded
10 say that be would publicly state the objects
and aims Of the association, as they had been
grossly misrepresented. The members were |
charged with being secesso nsts and disuni onists
They were not disunionists per So, but were for
dislrion IL the South did not get her Just rights
and he, for one, admired the patriotic step taken
hxf ha aatyor eoas GA,s.<
between their course and that Of the Colonies in
1T76, he said that because our enemies should
carry the flag Of the Union, was no reason we |
should submit. He denied the Organization WIS
secret one and said that IL was 10 AID MARYLAND
and Virginia, If they seeded in holding tn. prop
sny tchieh belongs to them. That the District |
belongs to MARYLAND, and the National Volunteers
would under those circumstances. obey the orders
Of the State Of Maryland, to which th.y o,os ale
glance "f,' said he, ''this il treason, then we
are traitors and rebels''
A report was then called for from the council |
OF fve," (whatever that ISL and Mr. Offutt re-
sponded, stating that this room had been engaged
at s. per month, and the gas would cost from
81 so to 50 so more.
week were then fixed upon 10 regular drill nights,
aud Ii was stated that no time was TO spare as
they wanted TO be uniformed and armed and turn
out with other companies on the 22d Of February;
also, that the members were expected To attend
the meetings of the association every Monday
night in Washington; and, also, that as soon an
Iotty men were enroled mere a comps would
be organized to be part Of the washington
city, brigade.
Some talk was had about uniforms, ftom which
IL appears that the 'council Of five" have recon-
mended grey homespun cloth with grey trim
mings, and Maryland State buttons :"
The president thanked the correspondent Of the |
star for directing attention to the advertisement
OF the meeting and hoped members would SO
conduct themselves as not TO be afraid of the
presence OF reporter, and make no speech or
commit no act they would not be willing to
have made public. The meeting then adjourned,
to have their FIRST ''squad drill, !" much to our
relief as our "toes were nearly froze." Not
wishing to warm them up by taking part In the
military exercises, we decamped, MI Callan pre-
pariIg to take his squad in charge.
There were no less than four alarms Of fire last
night, caused by foul chimneys. Fortunately, no
roofs were ignited, or the result would probably
have been most disastrous, az the mind was blow
ing with the violence Of hurricane at the time.
Mr.. VIM. @. Ridgely, Sr., a chief (bureau)
clerk In the Navy Department, and one Of our
Oldest and most esteemed citizens, died suddenly
last NJ ht about past IL O'Clock. He was univer.
sally beloved and respected, and his decease has
thrown a gloom en- itv