National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-25
THE DISTRICT MILITARY.
They Are Not Militia, But Independent COmpa-
MES Regularly Organized,
Views OF Lieut.. Evans, OF the National
Rifles,


u.,,. 49,. ,,.,,..... 80, 49,
VIVA. arc you. Vie"' hou'enanT 'n ,u0
proposed reorganization OF tne distrlcS m'ii-
tia ?" asked q REPUBLICAN reporter yester-
day of Lieut.. Evans of tho National Rifles.
6In tho frat nlace a,lov ma IN oorrect n
~, - ......, 49,, A. ;.
So"uon eiiOi V"S' 'no ne"spapeia CIV V,o
already lnterVlewed oncers nave iallen INTO
concerning our military. You speak of us as
militia, and refer to old laws passed at tho
bonirrir, of ,ho rro.ort oortrrv rolo.iyo %
~e.-,.,.' s.,,,s.t, a,tiit,. ~ a.. -
OiEani]ns anu o4u'PP'"S u,h,U'"' 40 'Ho laws
That should, as lar as applicable, govern u.s.
We are not militia never have been, and
never shall want to be, We are independent
poilitorv commando Acknowledgment ,bo torr,
..,,.,- =. -. - 80, Wv s'l -
ini'i1ia, appiios 10 Z" oouy Vi citizens OF
Banlseu, uniformed, ana equipped by the
national or state authorities, who are paid at
so much per day, and are exempt from jury
duties while enrolled as militia. We do not
come under that head by large majority.
We have met together and formed our mill
tary associations for our mutual benefit and
enjoyment, have been incorporated under tho
laws of this district as independent military
organizations, purchased and paid for, indi-
vidually, our uniforms, and are the owners,
without the consent of the national or dis
trict authorities, of valuable real estate in
this city, and pay all expenses of sustaining
our commands out Of our own pockets, and
can disband and close up business when we
think proper. So you see we arc in no sense
militia"
But do not the district authorities fur
nish you with your armsp
mo, they do not. The United States does.
On every occasion when applied to, the COM
missioners refer the request to the war depart
ment for such action as it may deem proper
Gen. Benet, who has always been a warm
personal friend of ours, has done the very
best he could for us, and given us the guns
when he could consistently do SO. The war
department has furnished us with our guns,
and it can take them from us at any time, il
the guns have not been paid for out of funds
when available for that purpose. But right
here let me say that ] think the total cost Of
the guns has been paid long since by our
older commands in the offset of expenses in
CURED by them Individually in assisting in
the burial of army and navy officers, inaugu-
ration Of presidents, unwilling of statues, &c.
ON those occasions the per diem men in the
several commands not only lost their pay
when on parade, but had TO pay their share of
the expense of band of music, usually cost
ing each command 300 for each parade"
What are your direct views concerning q
reorganization"
II regard the whole scheme a serious
dotriment to our present well arranged and
thoroughly disciplined organizations. 1t Is
an impracticable one and will not work well.
1t looks to me as if the scheme is gotten up in
the interest Of few gentlemen in this COM
munity. who are DESTROYS of positions on the
gilt. edged and brass-mounted staff that
would be part of the reorganization scheme.
We have had enough of the staff business.
With us 1t is an unnecessary appendage. We
have just got rid of an illegal one and want
no more of it."
Capt Tappan says that reorganization is
highly essential ?" replied our reporter
unfortunately for Capt Tappan, who is
an infant in the military business in this
community, and knows very little concerning
the views and opinions of the senior commands
on this subject reorganization is not con-
sidered highly essential by them. / am
quite sure that neither the Light Infantry
nor the Rifles want to be reorganized by being
thrown into q regimental formation. On
the contrary, / am of the opinion that
they will resist with oil the inhu-
ence at their command any attem pit
that may be made to deprive them of tn cir
present independent formation. WHAT must
be done in this matter must be done by an
an act of congress. There is no law at pres
emit on the statute books giving the war de-
partment the power to change the present
status of our military commands. We have
prospered for many years as at present Or
ganized. Our financial affairs are in good
shape. Our military discipline and
knowledge is of the best character, and our
execution Of the tactics is superior to that of
the several commands Of the regular army.
The names borne on our rolls are selected
from the very best element of our people.
Deprive us of our independent relations, and
throw us into regimental or brigade forma-
tions, and you will then witness the disin-
tegration of the finest organized military
companies in this country. For myself l
will say that, notwithstanding my love for
the district military and the personal efforts
/ have made to build it up l would leave it
the moment the reorganization went into
effect. Many of my comrades would do the
same thing.
L see no necessity for the change. We
have been going on, as at present organized,
Tor many years; so let us continue. l can
only repeat the remark of Col Moore, at a
recent military banquet, and say; Hands of,
gentlemen; let us alone AS to our legal
status, see no reason for raising the ques.
ton, Our position is not doubtful one. We
are, beyond doubt, subject to the orders of the
president of the United States. He is COM
mander-in-chief. This district is national
territory, and all in it are subject to tho
executive authority. His call would bring us
out at once, as it did in 1861 and at other
times. When called out by him for any
purpose whatever he can assign the COM
mandant of United States troops ut Washing
ton to command us, and this action
wound satisfy all. 1t has always been
the case when local parades or
place Us under the command of the chief or
marsby Of the Il iyiginn IN vvhi nb ha itor