The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-12-30


COLONEL SLOAN ASSUMES CoMMAND-In obe-
dience to orders dress parade Of the First
Regiment of Virginia Volunteers took place in
front Of the City Hall yesterday afternoon.
Owing to the incement weather the regiment
did not muster half its strength. but about
two hundred braved the rain and really pre-
scnted handsome appearance. The comDa-
nies appearing on the ground were arranged
in the following order: Company i, Captain
Bass Ton the right; Company c, Captain An
derson; Company 4. Lieutenant Phillips
commanding; Company \, Captain CTarl-
shaw; Company G, Captain EeIu'a; Conn
pany d, Captain OrGway. Company i was
lot represented. The co!ors chose of Com
pany AZ were carried by Company l., Ser
geant Brown, Of Company B, acting rs ensign.
The field officers present were Colonel Sloan
and Major Whitehead.
At dress parade Colonel Sloan assumed
command Of the regiment in the following
address, which was read by the Aijuian:
Soldiers Of the First Regiment:
BY the unanimous vote OF the officers re-
presenting the several companies Of the re@i-
mcnt. and by virtue OF Il commission from the
commandcr-in-chicf, the Governor OF orr
State, hereby assume command. Lii accept
ing this responsible position ! feel dcenly
sensible OF the great honor you have bestowed
upon mc, and shall cnGeavor by untiling en-
erGy and zeal to merit your entire confidence
and esteem.
For progress and perfection must engage
the hearty cooperation of all composing the
regiment. remembering that no Greatness is
attained by fits and starts, but that we must
have some definite object in view, 10 ne
gained by system and regularity.
You are the cllstodians OF the public
peace; and while all iuflactionS Of orderare
ut all times to be deprecated, let your motto
be "semper puratus." Let obedience to
orders be the first military law; and Ie: your
devotion to the service prove vou to he in
earnest. 1t is moral and not physical force
that will make our power felt. "A desire
elnanating from moral power rules even the
sword, gives to battles all they can have of
lustrc, and to warriors their only glory"
Be faithful to the high bcqlcstS Of the
great and good. Emulate the virtues of our
r0rriors, whose graves scar the soil Of our
good old Commonwealth. Their deeds must
ever be cherished. Remember, ''tho petals
of the flowers Wither that fruit !l!uy FORM"
Take for your example the ''.t:el star in
the armament Of great names eS"-iite ma" OF
the prrest patriotism, alike q hero, 4 states
man, ana NnllStiau SchtiSiiEn'-iht "'"'W
tai Lee. Let Il generous and higll-toncd
rivalry exist between You, having i'll view
the advancement and good of yotr regiment.
Determine that a. rigid discipline, strict
laws, and an unwayering observance Of them
under any and every circumstance within
the -p"lo of pIactibility and safety, arc abso-
lutely necessary 10 yuut i'rospeiitr and eS--
istence as an organization Of Jenilemen-so'-
ders. Combine the soldier with the citizen.
Give me the benefit of your counsels
pledge myself as your commanding Off
Ger at all times to do and dare for you, ask
ing in return generous indulgence for my
MISUNDERSTANDING something to the
possibility of error, something to the contin-
gencies which human visOn1ray not take in.
have the honor to be, your obetiient SER
want, JonN \. SLOAN,
Colonel Commanding Regiment.