National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-28
THE INFANTRY RECEPTION.


TO The Editor
WASHINGTON D. c., Aug. 26.--I am afraid
your paper is little partial to the Veteran
corps, aud not so much In favor of the Ma
tional Rifles. The article in to.days edition In
reference to the parade of last night, in speak
ing of Capt. Thomason's command haltlng to
allow some cars to pass, is all bosh. | was m
eyewitness to the spectacle and feel confident
from knowledge that II was a prcmeditated
movement to not allow the National Rifles tho
right OF line. In reference to "sCOoping" tho
fireworks on the streets which the Rifles had
not passed, allow me TO say that the Rifles
paraded according TO the programme the en-.
tire route, headed by the mounted policeman,
and being the Oldest of the militia companies,
barring the Light Infantry, they of course,
should have the precedence. That there is n
rank Jealousy" is apparent to every one who
attended the competitive drill between the
two cadet companies few days ago; but just
why Capt. Thomson should say "he would
show the Rifles flank movement when the
Infantry was received l leave his many
friends to conjecture.
Capt. Moore says 81 had to follow our leader
In front of US and now does no, the same
rule apply tn Capt Thomason? The Rifles
are dubbed the "kid glove crowd" aud the
dudes by one or two companies and they
reserve the privilege of always standing. on
and are happy TO know that although they,
the National Rifles, lost the flag Mt the drill Mt
Dnhuqe, they still retain the lille of the finest
drilled company At the Garfield fair, the flag
of which was In their ranks last night. have
the honor to be member of
THE MuILIGAN GUARDS
To he Editor
In this city, II anywhere IN the union, mill
tary etiquette and army regulations should be
fully comprehendcd, and the pleasure and
comfort of several organ 2atiOns and thousands
of citizens assembled to do honor To and "wel
come home the Washington Light Infantry
should not have been left to the within or ca
| price of any company officer be he VINO he
| may. and subjected to disappointment, loss OF
time and money, which was the case with
fully 10000 persons.
| The matter of seniority in regimental, brig.
| ade &c, formations Is possibly well under
| stood by our militia, and should be looked for
| from officers who have seen active service. In
| n regimental formation the senior captain has
| the FIRST post of honor" the right Of the bat
talon; the second senior the second post of
| honor" the extreme LEFT; but in all parades of
| independent organizations. parading Jointly,
| no such rule is adopted, and common sense and
| respect for the larger number of men should be
the rule, and not that which accords to a cap
| tain whose command may be a skeleton one,
| not parading the regulation number of men to
ontitlc II 70 the appellation of company, TO the
| right of all formations simply on the ground
of seniority of commission or charter of or
| ganiZation, 10 the exclusion of officers who
| command hattalions such rs the Washington
Light Infantry and National Rifles Of this city:
and the formation made, the column put in
motion, If any change Of line of march was on
| the move, decided upon by an assembly of
officers for that purpose, Lieut.. Commanding
| oyster, of the Rifles, would have been present
and advised, but, as such was not the case, 1t
| was n gross piece of presumption, without II
| precedent, to my knowledge, for II company
| officer second in line to change direction,
break the line, and by such movement, hay
| ing also a band at their head, become the
| head of new route and leave his brother
| officers and comrades to proceed under the
| impression that the column was intact and that
| they were cscOrting their returning comrades.
| 1t is to be hoped that the captain will be
consistent on the occasion of the next regular
parade of the various organizations, If he Is
then an officer, and assume the second posi-.
| ton, the extreme left at the formation, and
should 1t not be desired by him at that time he
should be "left' anyhow. He will have no
more right to any other position, according To
his present plea, than he would have to change
his name from Thomson to Thompson and
expect his draft SO signed honorcd, Respect
| fully, AN OLD SOLDIER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 81 1884.
TO The Editor.