The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-09
THE RICHMOND BLUES.
A TINE-HONORED ORGANIZATION.


heminiScences OF the past-How the Old
Time Holiday-soIdiers Disported Them
selves-A Glance at the Days OF Slavery
and Some of its SorrowinC ETects-A Few
Hurried Notes About Times and Men That
You Will Want TO Read About.
The Richmond Light Infantry Blues is
tbs second or third oldest military organi-
zation in the United States. IL is rapidly
approaching its centennial anniversary,
and around its name hangs clusters OF rich
historic recollections, cropping out from
the shady events OF the past like ripe
punches Of grapes from the leafy coverts Of
the vine. -"
II Is hard to tell exactly when the Blues
were first organized. Prior TO 1893 the
company performed service for the State.
but the register OF the officers has been
lost. Sufficient evidence. however, was
CLEANED from living members OF the COM
pany about the year 1S41 to authoritatiyely
establish its organization certainly in the
year 1893.
THE FIRST CAPTAIN.
The late Isaac L. Cary was an old-time
- due. lie hUtN SDIIlt vi lnt llIsl Ultlli-
bers OF the famous organization, and from
his love OF the company and knowledge OF
the many tragic scenes through which It
passed he was prompted to undertake the
self-imposcd task OF becoming its hiStO-
riographer. lie procured massive blank
book, and commencing his labors, con-
tinued them from the early organization Of
the company down to the close of the war.
l,,a - L.,
mcnse pages. each one OF which would
make two printed pages of duo
decimo volume, and all the way
through is free from blot or blemishes.
The handwriting is plain and prctty-no
that the first captain OF the Blues was one
John Wilson. Survivors Of the original
command told him that in 1857 John Will
son commanded the company. but they
could not tell whether he raised the COM
pany at his own expense or whether it was
raised by the eXertions OF another man and
he elected afterwards. Time had dimmed
the recOlectionS of MIR. Cary's infOrmants
to such an extent that they could not say
whether Captain Wilson had a commits
sion or not. but they rccollected that the
uniform was red, trimmed with black.
Il
"Richmond Light Infantry" but the
uniform was changed from red TO blue i'm
1893, and by common consent the name
Blues was added to the other. Captain
William Richardson was the first captain
Of whom any record is left, and he, no
doubt. succeeded Wilson. lie was re-
elected when the blue uniform WAS adopt
ed, and this, OF course, makes hlm the first
fti of 80 bn / Of no
Richmond Light Infantry"
THE FIRST SECRETARY.
The company has always had a secretary,
whose duty il is to keep the company re-
cords. The first secretary was Mr.. George
Watt, long since dead. lie took pride in
keeping the history of the company, and
did his work faithfully. He preserved the
records carefully, and when old age drove
him from his task, he turned il over. to-
gcther with the papers, TO Mr.. Cary. The |
latter gentleman followed his predecessor
and Mr.. Andrew Pizzini caught the pen
that fell from his dying hands, taking up
the record OF the company at its rc0rgani- |
Zation after the war; When Mr.. Pizzini |
was made captain, in 1882, Mr.. Frank !
Burke, member OF the Blues. assumed !
the duties Of secretary. and will no doubt |
discharge them as faithfully rs his prede-
cesSOrs.
Mr.. Watt tells some curious facts.
PARADE PARTICULARS.
He saws that the following regulations Of
the company were rigidly observed:
Every member who shall fail TO attend
dressed in the following manner-viz., /
regimental coat and cap. ceanly brushed /
white waistcOat; short knee-brecches and
stockings; black CATERS or half-boOtS
black knee-bands and black stock: tcith
hair cOmJed, pOlcdered. and turned up be-
hind; face shared muSket and bayOnet
bright and clean, together with cartOuch-
box and hayonet-case in proper order
shall forfeit and pay the sum Of three pence
three farthings for each deficient or i'm
proper condition, and any commissioned
officer guilty of similar offence shall pay
six times the sums imposed on 4 private"
This is curious picture OF the martial
appearance and precision OF our foreiatl-
erS. The uniform OF the Blues Of to-day
would scarcely be- recognized aS IA lincal
descendant OF this, and yet it l.. The
changes have been Gradual; so much so rs
TO be almost imperceptibe. They have
giided from the old-fashioned long-tailed
blue into the short coat Of the present day
without knowing the quo mOdO OF the
change.
The cap Of the old uniform was a sugar
lOaied fur hat, with a gray foX-tail from
front to rear over the top, a leopard skin
round the brim over the fOX-til tied with
a blue ribbon behind, and having an oval
tin plate in front, upon which was painted
an eagle and stars and the name and date
OF the company. over the whole tracd a
long black plume OF ostrich-feathers tipped
with white.
DIVIDED BY POLITICS.
About the close OF Adams'S administra-
ton the company became so much con-
fused about politics that il was agreed to
form two companies out Of the one. The
r. l.. l. Blues retained the officers then in
ommand-Captain Richardson, Lieuten-
ant Dunsmore. and Ensign Henry ;.
Shore. The other company called them
selves Republican Blues, and elected John
Dixon captain, Joshua West lieutenant, |
and Richard Thompson ensign. The Re
publican Blues lived for many years, but |
the name became dlstasteful, the ranks !
decimated, and finally it disbapded. leav- !
ing the parent company to continue its |
proud career.
AN OLD-TINE INSTRUCTION AMONG SLAVES. |
The first military service that the Blues |
ever saw was in 1900. 1t was aiding to |
ouell ga rising" among the slaves. The |