The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-13
+ II e w A r
The Enrolment OF the Militia at WasbIng.
ton-.Scenes at the Armories

ton..Scenes at the Arm0ries
We subioin some further particulars of the
mastering into service Of the volunteers of
the District of Columbia for the defence of
the Capital, which commenced on Wednesday
and was continued Thursday. The following
is the oath administer to each man:
81, - -, do solemnly swear that I
will bear true allegiance to the United States
of America: that will serve them honestly y
and faithfully against all enemies or oppos-
sers whatsoever; that will obey the orders
of the President of the United States, and of
the officers appointed over ME, according to
the rules of the armies of the United States ::
so help me God"
Some interesting and amusing scenes oc-
Cured in the administ tration of the oath to
the men. We make mp from the Star of
Thursday evening the following:
Company a, of the Union Regiment, Can't
Darlington, LOO men, having been Drawn up in
line north of the Department building, were
inspected by Inspector General Stone, after
which Major Mcdowell, U. 5. A, called the
roll. The oath was then read, and the men
were ordered to hold up the right hand, I'M
gloved, and repeat the words OF the oath. Ten
or twelve of the men having refused to take
the oath, because they We're unwilling to be
ordered out of the District were told by the
biiity of their being SO ordered, when they
consented unanimously to be sworn in
The sixty volunteers from the Washingto ton
Light Infantry were next ordered up, when
the same forms were gone through with
Eighteen or twenty of these men refused to
take the oath the others were sworn in, and
the company left the ground in two divisions
the enlisted men III one body, and the Inaicon-
tents in another, each having an officer to
march them to the armory.
The Poto,aac Light Infantry, of George
town, Capt. Mekenney, next took their posi-
ton, numbering 53 rank and file, much less
"a ma
After roll call and when the oath was to be
administered, sixteen privates, u sergeant and
the pioneer, "seceded" from the ranks This
lett the company with less than their com =
pienent, az None were sworn in and af-
ter consultation among the officers, the COM
pany was formed in two divisions, one of
willing" and one OF unwilling spirits, and
the former taking the North and the latter
the South side of Pennsylvania avenue, they
proceeded towards Georget town at double
quick.
The Darlington Home Guards, of George
town, Capt. Goddard-54 rank and file-were
the last on the ground Being mostly heads
OF families, many Were unwilling to take the
oath OF unconditional obedience, for fearth
might be ordered out of the District &; and the
same feeling seems to have prompted some of
the disappointed ones in other com mpani-s
Those unwilling to take the oath We're ordered
outside the company, to the left of the line
SIX or eight went TO the left. Some, who said
their business avocat tions would not permit
them 10 enlist, did not want to take the oath
and did not want to take position with the
" seceders.' Major Mcdowell told them to
take a position to the right of the line then :;
when almost majority of the company SEEM
ed to have press of business on their hands
as they Immediately withdrew to the right
leaving q in line. Most of the left hand men
also seemed to consider that the most reputa-
BILE side, and came over TO the right hand men,
leaving on tae left only about three stern and
unyielding "non-swearers" So the Caring
ton Home Guards went home, unsworn.
Some OF the Georgetown men com plain that
they knew nothing of having to take an oath
or the form of oath, until their arrival at the
War department. Considerable excitement
prevailed in Georgetown all day Yesterday
and last night, and is unabated this morning
This morning AT O'Clock, the Metropolitan
Rifles, Capt. Nalley, Lieuts. Chauncey and
Lewis, sergealfts, corpOrals and 60 pri-
Yates, mus tered 1T the War Department and
reported tor duty.
At the same hour, company B, Union reg-
ment, Capt. Kelley, Its. Herbert, Hines and
Mcmillan, sergeants, 3 corporais and 65 pri-
Yates, also mustered at the same place and re-
ported for service. This company, together
with Carrington's corps, numbers l15 men all
told, and owe much OF their efficiency to the
military enterprise not only OF the company
officers, but also to their Major. J. GRAY jew
ell, who has taken no small interest in them
since their organization. A few minutes af-
forwards the Turner Rifles, Capt. Gerhardt,
Lieuts, Brown, Dill and Scam berger 5 SER
geants, corporals drummers and 6S pri-
Yates, arrived at the Department, and took
posi- ton for ins pection.
AT l0t o'clock the Washington Rifles, Can't
Balbeck, Lieuts. Leoffer and Hap seryts
eorporals, and 90 privates, arrived on the
ground, aud took position on the right of the
line, and reported for inspection.
Company B, Union regiment, having been
duly inspected, had the usual oath admins
tered to them by Major General Thomas and
not member refused to take it. The Metro
polltan Rifles were next inspected and enroll
ed, and every member of the corps took the
required oath. The Washington Rifles We're
and every man i'll the line took the required
oath.
1t ought to be remarked here that Major
McDowell, before enrolling the several com
panies, informed them that they were mus
tered into the United States service for three
months, unless discharged from service prior
to the expiration OF that term ; and that their
services were required within the limits of
the Distric. of Columbia
The Turner Rifles were then inspected by
Major Mcdowell, and enrolled into service.
Every man In this company also came prompt
ly forward when called upon to take the GA tn
of allegiance
at II o'clock NJ the Putnam Rifles, Capt.
Ihistleton, Lieuts. Magruder, Nc cEIfresh, and
boyce, two drummers, one fifer, five SER
Seahts, Tour corporals and 20 privates ar
rived at the War Department They were
enrolled into the service, and took the oath to
man, next III order after the Turner Rifles
The Putnam Rifles (Seventh Ward) voIun-
teered their services, it will be remembered,
as they We're not called into service
AS we go to press the Washingto ton Light In
fantry, the Mechanic Union Rifles Captain
Rutherfoord,) and other companies, are on
their way to the Department for enrolment.
The Spanish Expedition to St. Domingo.
The Cuban Messenger furnishes the follow
m a va Stafa he ;r IN