The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-11

4 IHE h. IL. J.. bLUES AND ,THElk ThOPOSEU
! WITHDRAWAL FROM THE FIRST REGIMENT
Upon the application Of the Blues, asking
| to be allowed to withdraw from the First tregi
ment, and setting forth their reasons there
for, Colonel Bradley T. johnson has made
| the following endorsement to the Gov
ernor Y., &
Respectfully forwarded disapproyed. The
policy of the Commonwealth is to have alEof
her volunteer forces equipped in the same
uniform. The law requires the commander
in-chief to prescribe what that UNIFORM shall
be, and requires volunteers to provide
themselves with it. The last General As
sembly authorized the Richmond City Guard
to wear uniform Of their own choosing,
but this was intended to be the only eXcep-
ton. II each company is allowed to detach
! itself from the command to which 1t is as
signed because it cannot keep up its COM
plement Of men as long as it is attached to
battalion, then every company will be en-
abled at will to get out Of q regiment by
merely letting its number OF enlisted men
fall below the minimum and claim that
it cannot recruit without being de-
tached. 1t will destroy the efficiency
of the volunteer force and disintegrate it
into independent companies or into battal-
ions, formed by companies at their own
pleasure, and which they can destroy at
will by withdrawing from the regimental
will be destructive OF all discipline aud eff
cheney. This company has been for some
time reduced in numbers, so that, num-
bering below the minimum required by law,
cannot authorize an election to fill the va
can't commissions of captain and lieutenant.
hope they will recruit before long, 80 as
to be able to organize themselves. The late
captain was brave and efficient officer; and
had been here would have disapproyed
his resignation and would have tried to pre-
vail on him to withdraw it. There is no
objection to this or any other company hay
ing a uniform which they desire for undress
purposes, or even company celebrations.
But every company must be uni
formed in the regular uniform.
The General Assembly by chapter 1872 OF
the Acts of 1875J78 especially authorized
this company "to uniform themselves IN
such manner as they or majority Of them
may decide; said uniform, &C., selected to
be in addition to that prescribed by law.
and to be used only for company purposes .
II, therefore, this application was granted,
they would be obliged to furnish themselves
with the uniform prescribed by law, and
they would be in exactly the same position
CQey are HOW. Lie Idm AcquhCa IuCAn w
provide themselves with the regulation uni
form, and in addition to that, but Gfte,
that, they may provide themselves with
the other. II, as they hope. and expect,
the old members will subscribe to furnish
them with the ancient uniform OF the
Richmond Light Infantry Blues, such equip:
ment will be no expense to the men, and
they will be in the same position as the men
of the other companies, who are required
by law to provide themselves with the regu.
lation uniform. My regiment has been suf'
fering for eighteen months for want OF an
armory, but I am assured that the city oi
Richmond will provide us one within the
next two weeks and believe when this is
done that the regiment will at once revive,
and be as efficient as any battalion OF volun.
teers in the country. therefore respect.
fully disapprove this application, and urge
the commander-in-chief to return it disap.
proved. BRADLEY L. JOHNSON,
Colonel First Regiment.
The application is now in the hands OF
the Governor, and with him rests the de.
cision of the case.