Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-24
MILITARY SYNONYMS.
A List Of Local Names. Etc, Of United
States Volunteer Organizations.

The adjutant general Of the army has pub
lished recently book entitled, List of Syno-
nyms of Organizations in the Volunteer
Service of the United States during the
Years 1851, 49,, '63, "a, and '65." This
work, an octave OF 3O1 pages, compiled
from the official records by Mr.. John T. Fallon,
of the adjutant generals Office, is designed to
furnish Information concerning names borne
by certain volunteer organizations In addition
to their regular or final designations.
The compilation will, no doubt, be very useful
ia preparing statements of service of claimants
In pension and bounty cases and the like Old
soldiers, naturally enough, often remember
their regiments or companies better by their
local names" or the names of some Iavorite
commanders than by the official numbered
designations given them by the War depart
ment, and they are inclined to use the "syno-
nyms" in stating their cases. The printed list
comprises as rule, local names proper, prior
official titles. and designations of batteries and
independent companies and battalions by
names of their commanding officers. These ara
made to refer in an opposite column to their
I'm the first days of the war; when the raising
OF troops was considered more important than
the manner of raising them, commands were
recruited under various designations, they re-
ceiving shortly afterward official numbers from
the government The patriotism OF the times
is illustrated by the names chosen by the troops
surging to the 'front.' Patronymics of Presi.
dents, prominent generals and patriotic and in
nuential citizens, and titles OF political clubs
significant terms as blues, cadets, chasseurs,
dragons. grays, guards, hussars, lancers, le-
gions, light infantry, rangers, rifles, zoaaves,
ETC. Often again the nationality of com mand
or place where raised would show as aconspicu-
ous feature in its name.
The list is arranged by states, followed by Q
general alphabetical arrangement, the latter
serving also as an index to the former. Mis-
souri, requires thirty pages for its display, while
New YORK and are and
list exhibits quite number Of independent
hone-guard companies. Three pages are allot-
ted TO the District of Columbia. Prominent
among the District names are those of the com.
panies that served in the early days of the war.
In this "'piping time of peace" with the lapse OF
81, the occurrences OF those days are little
thought of by those even who took part in
them: The chain of events that so rapidly fol.
lowed the Inauguration OF President Lincoln
called tor the immediate protection OF the ma
tional capital. and these companies responded
FOR h asey entered the
months, some. as many will remember, in the
early pnrt OF April, 1851, before the arrival OF
dtoPs eneri Charles stone. served 1 them ah
terms Of service In the District and Vicinity
The infantry companies, it appears from the
from one to eight. inclusive, which were COM
nsanded by ]. McH. HolIingsworth, J. Grey
Jewell, John K smead, Lemuel Towen, Charles
Arthur Balbaeh, respectively.
As a matter Of interest 70 our readers we give
here list Of the psnsss 81 IN number With
son Rifles, Goa, Chas. II. Redier; ANDREW John
soa Guards, j. h. McBlair; Cameron Guards,
Goddard; Constitutional Guards, William 81
Degyes District Union Rifles, Chas. J. Morrison;
Henderson, Guards g: !; L. Eoxweai; Jackson
Rifies, Alexander Rutherford; Metropolitan
Rifles VIM. a. Nalley; National Guard, Go. "A.
ana aar 1a e. d meKi Ss ss
T. Ed. Clark; National Guasd, Co. &, Richard