National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-11
OURDISTRIGT VOLUNTEERS
TIE OFFICERS BANQUET At MA
SONIC TEMPLE List NIGHT.

WHAT OUR VOLUNTEERS DID IN THE LATE
wAR-THEY SAVED THE CAPITAL, AND
IN SAVING IT SAVED THE NATIoN-THE
NEW AND IMPROVED WASHINGTON
CITY-C0NGREsS WILL STAND BIZ IT.
The first anniversary banquet given By the
officers Of the District OF Columbia volunteers
took place last night ct the Masonic Temple, and
was the occasion Of much enjoymen! to all who
participated In Il. The hall was handsomely
festooned with Tags of the District regiments
and among them were several that bore evidences
OF having passed through the fire and smoke Of
battle. The tabls>vas bOuntifully supplied by
the well-known caterers, Messrs. Woodbury. g.
Nesmith, with all tho delIcaciss of the season.
Among those present were Gen. Albright, OF
Pa; Gen. Mckee, Of Miss; Maj Purman, Of Fla;
Maj. Ben. Perley Poore, Col. James A. TAFT, Col.
Charles NJ. Alexander, Col Robert Boyd, Capt.
James Mason, Capt. p. NJ. Dubant, Capt Philip
Rodier, Capt. Charles Krouss, Capt. John O'Ha-
gan, Capt. p. NJ. Fisher, Capt. James B. Harro-
yer, Capt. B. F. McGraw, Capt J. Tyler Powell,
and others. Capt. P. NJ Fisher, president Of the
association Of otcers OF the District, called the
asssnblags to order, and invited Col. Charles NJ.
Alexander TO preside.
Colonel Alexander, on assuming position at the
head of the table, thanked his friends for the
honor conferred upon him, and remarked that the
officers Of tho District volunteers had assembled
to commemorate the Observation-Disclosures Of the
muster-in Of tho first District company for the
defence Of the capital. It was on tho 10th Of
April, 1861, that the first company was mustered
in, and within ten days thirty-hVe companies,
numbering about three thousand men, had
rallied to the defence of our imperIled city. Tho
District had furnished as many troops as any
State in the Union in proportion to population.
After ample justice had been done to the good
things spread before the company
The chairman proposed as tho i1rst toast, The
senior officer Of tho District OF Columbia volun-
teers, Colonel James A. Tait." The Colonel
pertinently responded, relating several interest
ing "reminiscences Of the District volunteers, and
giving some striking statistics to show that the
District had performed its whole duty during the
war.
Captain McGraw proposed "The day we cele-
brate," and called upon Captain ]. Tyler Powell
to respond, which he did in q pleasing and pa
triotie manner. He claimed that the District had
done more to contribute soldiers during the re-
bellioA than any State or Territory in proportion
to population and that but for the aacrity of tho
District troops our capital would early In the
have been a smouldering pile.
"Tho Congress of the United States" was next
proposed, and was eloquently responded to by
Gen. Mckee, of Mississippi who warmly eulo-
volunteers. He said that 1t was proud thing for
Washington that it had furnished SO many SOL
diers, and was the first to come up in the great
struggle. Congress looked kindly on this city.
The old Washington city had passed away, and
the new ono was upon US In all Its beauty, and
Congress would stand by It.
Gen. Albright, Of Pa, was next called out by
o complimentary sentiment, and spoke in high
terms OF the District volunteers, relating many
interesting incidents of the War-especially re-
ferring TO the stirring events Of the time of Mr..
Lincoln's first Inauguration. He believed the
District volunteers saved tho capital OF the ma
tior' and they would yet receive full credit for
their heroic and important services. He felt q
pride In the District of Columbia, and every
American citizen should regard 1t as the grand
centre Of political social and literary power under
the new era that had dswned upon 1t.
Major Ben Perley Poorc was next called upon,
and responded in his customary fellcitous style,
giving an interesting sketch Of the early muster
in of the District volunteers, and of the conspic-
the militia. He liked the District volunteers be-
cause they were always true to the flag, and kept
step TO the music of tho Union. They saved the
capital, and in saving 1t saved the Union. y
Several other gentlemen briefly responded to
patriotic sentiments, and during the evening let
tiers Of apology for non-attendance were read from
Governor Shepherd and other distinguished gen.
tlemen.
The festivities were kept up until midnight,
when the company retired, bearing with them the
most pleasant recolections of the first anniversary
banquet Of the District volunteer officers.