National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-09-02
LIEUT.. EVANS TALKS BACK.


TO The Editor.
was absent from the city Monday night
last, therefore was not present TO do honor TO
the Light Infantry, OF which was for several
years private IN It's ranks, on its return from
It's successful encampment at Long Branch.
have, however learned what occurred on that
evening, both from reading the articles IN mo
public press and from the reports given by
members Of my command, and heartily indorse
Lieut.. oysters action. Ho hlu thY PuIN'
thing under the circumstances, and MS course,
lam pleased 10 learn, has met the approval OF
the nlends and honorary members oil the com
mauds aud The citizens generally,
any attention to Capt Thomnson's card, pub
lishcd in your paper OF saturday, not dcemlng
II worthy of q reply. Capt Thomson charges
Lieut.. Oyster with being uugentlemanly. !
this community, takes the cake on that point.
| No one that knows the two has any doubt
| about IL. As to seniority there Is no such
| thing In the military standing IN M, district
| Neither Thomson nor Oyster holds com
mission by virtue OF law, nor has either OF
| them a commission sighed by a legal repre-,
! sentative Of tho people. They were cfehieu
! officers Of their respective Comtnands W the
! individual votes OF the members thereof anu
! without q commission seniority cOlh!9 lp'
nothing. Had seniority OF captain, ana gqni'
naniea been insisted on Monday night ' iil,,,
the senior captain present would nave 9I,cn
Capt. Fleetwood, and the senior colnmNnd NV
company, the colored cadets. They, by
seniority, outranked Thomson, ana Moulu
have been entitled to the right Of line II mas
always been the custom TO give the Light
Infantry ttalion the right OF line, not on
account of ita legal right but because y
Il the largest command in the city and
makes n better showing at the head OF
line. lffoniority was observed, company ol
that battalion, formerly known as the Light
Infantry corps, would he entitled to the right
of the line, and companies u, G, and u would
20 to the lClt rs these companies aud the bat
TALON were not formed until long amer the re-
organization OF the National Rifles. For the
same reason the Rifles, the next largest com
mnnd, should follow the Infantry. Again,
Capt. Thomson claims that his company Is the
senior of the Rifles. This is not so as am in
formed by the members OF Capt. Urcll,s com
pany Of veterans that his is the frat and senior
company. The Veteran corps, | am informed,
burst In August, 1883. Two of its officers,
Urcll and Harrison, and thirtyseven men
claimed the old name and to be first company,
leaving Thomson and Edgar with twonty-siX
men, or u minimum, not counting the san to
rcorganize his command, and they have not
pnrqded with but a few more since, while
two mon. 81 did this for the purpose OF vim
dicatlng and rescuting studied insult TO the
veterans oftho late war, says Thomson. How
silly this must sound to Urells "Neterans OF the
late War" composing the LIST company who
were marching In the rear of Capt. Thomson
command. have yet to hear of their boinr
insulted by the Rifles action. ON the con
they known of 1homason's trickory in time
5 they would have fallen out Of the line und
) followed tho Rifles. Brave and honest yetcr
ans are not compelled 10 constantly remind II
Q of their glorious conduct in service. Thei
, works are IL matter of record and speaks TO
themselves. The National Rifles made its re
9 cord in the late rebellion and did more,
3 think, toward suppresslng II than did the vet
! Grams of Capt ThOmasons command. Their
n are members in the Rifles recognized com
L pahy that are rs much veterans as the MON
bers of the Union Veteran Corps. This II TN
q same Thomson, think, that in u Grand Arm!
d meeting held In this city, April o 1879, said a
= as published In THE REPUBLICAN, of the l0tl
q that he would be one Of q party to go on tn
+. streets and boot and howl ut Company \ 3,
d Washington Light Infantry, until they wer
!; driven back to their armory TO get n Unhc
II States flag" Now he clings TO It's skirts o
!. every occasion, and appeals to Col. Moore 4
n pull him through.
/. The Rifles were right in taking their positlo
u on tho right of the line. They rendered a
7. escort to Col Moore direct and he accepte
" the same. II was Il return of the complimer
D. paid the Rifles by the Infantry June % last o
10 It's return from Lake MinnetOnk. II Cap
n Thomson thought Mr.. Oyster was not I'm hi
10 right place, why did lie CIhOmasOn) 70 to IN
Is leit2 Why didn't he form ON the right Of IA
s. Rifles. II was not Thomason's parade. II
had no right to form It, nor were the Rifles II
l. quired to listen TO him. lie was rudiCall
4 wrong In misleading the main body of the pro
@ ccsson from the line previously advertised b.
" him, for which action think he has bee
rs properly and severely Ccnsurcd by the pre-
N and people generally. Lieut. Oyster did nj
IN know that the line was broken until h
c. reached Thirteenth street. IL was then e
ct late for him TO return to the main body, gol
m where he knew not Respectfully,
n GEORGE W. EVANS,
us Lieutenant National Rifles.