The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-09

bloodshead and harm than old Ossayat.
tomie's attack on Harper's Ferry. The
town was to have been burned, and by the
light Of the blazing buildings every male
citizen caught was 10 be murdered.
As night settled terrible cloud arose,
The lightning tapped its red wings against
the black clouds. Peal after peal OF tbun-
der shook the earth, and the rain came
down in torrents. swelling the streams ad.
iaceDt to Richmond TO such an extent that
they could not be forded.
The Blues did their duty. but fortunately
Providence interfered. The roar OF the
thunder, the down-pour OF the ram. and
the swollen condition OF the streams struck
dismay TO the hearts of the dusky insur-
gents, and they failed to attack. The ring
leaders in the conspiracy were captured.
and "Gabricl's Insurrection became a
thing OF the past.
The Blues, however, were kept in SER
vice from the 30th Of August until the 18th
OF October following. James Monroe was
Governor OF Virginia at the time, and in his
message to the Legislature he took occa-
sion the following December to pay the
Blues nigh compliment.
WAR RECORD.
When the British ship-oi-war Leonard
fifty guns) attacked the Chesapeake United
States irlgate, thirty-siy grns,) while in a
state OF profound peace, the Blues, at a
meeting held at the Bell Tavern on the
29th OF June, 1907, offered their services
to the President OF the United States,
Thomas jefferson. Mr. Jefferson made n
most suitable response, thanking the Blues
in the name OF the country for what they
had done.
On the 18th OF October. 1859, Governor
Henry a. Wise ordered the Blues to Har-
per's Ferry for the purpose OF assisting in
quelling the John Brown raid. The
command reached Washington, when the
order was countermandcd, and the men
returned to Richmond. Afterwards the
Blues went TO IIarper's Ferry, and were
present when John Brown was executed.
On the morning OF the 23d OF April,
1861. the effects Of John Browns raid hay-
ing eliminated in a war between the States,
the Richmond Blues having severed their
connection with the First Virginia regi-
ment and resolved to follow their leader,
" Captain Obedah Jennings Wise, wher-
ever he might lead" and, in company
NlLU iOInIdlIN - t 'tDttih h' -hitpil
Cary, set forth for Fredericksburg ria the
Richmond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
railroad. Both companies were under the
command Of Captain Cary, and the part
played by the Blues in the tragic events OF
the times, the death OF Captain Wise, and
other dceply-interesting facts are but part
OF the history Of the war.
The following is list OF the names OF
the officers OF the company when they
went out at the commencement OF the war ::
Captain, O. Jennings Wise; First Lieu
tenant, James \. Scott; Second Lieuten-
ant, Frederick carter; Third Lieutenant,
William /. Maule. The present Supern-
tcndent Of the Almshouse, Charles L. Big
gar, was the war orderly sergeant. Before
the war closed he commanded the Blues,
having been promoted for gallantry to a
lieutcnantcy, and TO this day he has in his
office an autograph letter from General
Henry A. Wise speaking in The highest
terms OF Charley Bigger. Richmond peO-
pie know how well deserved these compll-
mentS were, gallant Charley Bigger having
lived through the stormy struggles Of war
10 become n most magnificent officer OF
public charities.
Inerc Is 80 much to write about the
Blues that further mention is postponed
until future day, when the theme will be
resumed.