Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-03

District Troops that Responded to Pres
ident Linc0ln's First Call.

GUARDING THE CAPITOL.
District Troops that Responded to Pres.
ident Lincoln's First Call.
THE ANDERSON RIFLES IN THE THREE MONTHS
sERvICE-DUTY AT THE CHAIN BRIDGE
A cow THAT CREATED CoNsTERNATIoN-THE
sLEMMER GUARDS.
From member of the Anderson Rifles, one OF
the District volunteer companies that entered
the three months service, STAR reporter OBJ
tanned the following story of the services rem
dered by that organization. The Anderson
Rifles, company "A, was organized in Deem
Der, 1860, and its officers were commissioned
by President Buchanan on the 9th of January,
1851. 1t formed apart of the 9Th regiment of the
militia of the District of Columbia, commanded
by Col. Richard 8. Cox. 1t was named after the
gallant Major Anderson, the hero of Sumter
The eighth comprised the following companies:
Capt. VIM. Stewards troop of cavalry, Potomac
Light Infantry, Capt. ]. s. McKenny; Company
A, Anderson Rifles, Capt. c. III. Rodier; Com
pany b, Anderson Rifles, Capt F. w. Jones;
Darlington Home GUARDS, Capt. James God
.he BeTrg
President Lincoln, and on the 18th of April,
1861, was mustered into the service of the
Irwin Mcdowell then mastering officer and
formed Company A of
THE FIRST BATTALION D. G. VOLS
commanded by Major j. McHenry Holdings
worth, whose command consisted of company
A, Anderson Rifles, Capt Rodier; company B.
Darlington Home Guards, Capt. Goddard; COM
pany G, Capt. Robert Boyd, and company d,
Andrew Johnson Guards, Capt. McBlair. The
Ianck. SURGEON: TYer souiba seraean 1sa mato1
and John Dougherty, Q. NJ. sergeant. Conn
pany A was on duty six days before the Balti-
more riots, April 18th, which fact proves con-
cusively that the troops from Pennsylvania
and Massachusetts were not the first in the
field, as has so often been claimed for them.
Company A continued doing guard and patrol
duty until when the grand move was begun 1t
was ordered by Gen. Charles p. Stone to cross
crossed early in the evening of May "a, 1861,
and threw out picl1ets as far Waggaman's
farm farm, on h the Leesbarg pike where prvases
Messrs. Ball and Kirby, of the Fairfax
Mounted Guard, who were on picket duty
there. These men were
THE FIRST UNIFORMED PRISONERS
taken. They were delivered the next morning
to Gen. Mansfield, who, according to the Gus
tom then in vogue, swore them and let them
go. Scarcely had the excitement occasioned by
the capture of Ball and Kirby subsidized, when
the command was startled by the sharp report
of rifle. The long roll was sounded, aud every
man stood ready expecting q visit from the
friends OF Ball and Kirby, but on Investigation
1t was found to be a false alarm. Private BOOr-
man, on duty on the pike, mistoOk the tread of a
COW in the pines for that of a cavalryman. and,
away at the supposed "Reb," much to the sur
prise of the COW and to the discomfort of the
camp. ana ne mad good cause himself to regret
his nasty shot, Tor ever after he was saluted
with "who shot the cow?' The company
manned for five days in charge of the bridge,
when they were relieved by Captain Goddard's
company and some of Major Carrington's COM
mand. 1t was then ordered to take post at
BROOKS farm, and
GUARD THE FORD
connecting the Virginia and Maryland shores.
iraYY Il ia el info limo
10th, naming the post Camp Stone. in honor of
their general, and remained there until relieved
by some companies of the Sd Michigan. AS
Ellsworth's Zouaves were known by the name
OF EllswOrths pet lambs, Company a somehow
obtained the name OF Stones pet rams. After
being relieved by the Sd Michigan they were
OF service July 18th, 1861. Capt. Rodier then
entered the LIST regiment. District of Columbia
volunteers, Col. James A. TAFT, and, being acct
dentally wounded by comrade, fingered
for some time and died from the effects of his
wound. Lieuts. Mason and Lipscomb have
both answered their last rOll-call. Lieut.. j. E.
krouse Is the only surviving officer. Ensign
w. n. Hutchins deserves great credit tor the
interest he has taken in the reorganization of
the company. Out of 101 men the company
cannot muster more than so of its roll. They
purpose to form permanent organization and
to celebrate their 10Th anniversary on the 18th
OF April.
The Siemmer Guards.
At the meeting, Wednesday evening, of the
surviving members of the Semmer Guards
those present talked over old times, and
showed much interest in the approaching re-
union. The Slemmer Guards was one of the
companies formed under the first call for
$4,000 troops made on april 10Th and pub
lished on the 10th. a meeting, called by Capt
Henry NJ Knight, for the purpose of organizing
a company, was held in the Thorn building,
9TH street, below Odu Fellows Hall on the
night of April 10th, and the com pany was at
once formed. Capt. Knight occupied the chair
and Mr.. X. j. Beall acted secretary. The min
uies of that meeting were read at Wednesday
night 5 meeting by Mr. Beall. They showed that
Capt Knight was elected captain, with Michael
Smith, John L. Dom, and II. b. McElfresh lieu
comprised 103 men. While the men were being
enrolled Col. Chas. Z. Stone, who had inspected
Company sSn1p W, Ill l., l., tzouaves1 In the hall
informed what had been done, he
took the names of the officers and
the commissions were at once issued to them
The company adjourned to meet the following
morning, April 18th, to march to the War
department., but from some cause they were
muster-out roll was exhibited at Wednesdays
meeting. Thirty-four men wern marked as
dead; two marked as having died in the service.
Members recalled how they performed their
first duty, going at double quick to the Treas
ury, guarding the Long bridge and the Arsenal;
their march into Virginia and the campaign
with Pat;erson-72 out of the 1913 volunteering
TO go-and their return here for muster OUT
July 22d. Capt. Knight found on his return
the 1st District regiment
Company ID, Union Regiment.
Company ID, Union regiment, was organized
at the hall of Franklin Fire company (now No.
2. engine company, on ID street, near 10TH Oh
April 18th, 1861, and was composed mostly of
members OF that company aud their friends,
Capt. John McCleiiand was elected captain.
with Alex. TAFT, j. ii. Dubant and James A.
Posey lieGtenants, with Mr.. j. III. ShakelfOrd
as orderly sergeant The company numbering
in ali 81 men. entered the service April
10th, 1867, aud when the battaiions were or
ganized IL entered the second battalion, Major
J. Gray Jewell, and under him served at Seneca,
Md, Tor 20 days. One popularity of this COM
pany was that the ages were about equally rep-
resented. About One-third of the members
were over 80 years OF age; one-third between
II and 80 and oue-tbird between is and 81.
vi the commissioned officers Mr. Posey {now in
the vest is the only one living. There are 20
members OF the company known to be living in
the city.
Rit of Gas History.
Editor OF THE E.VENING STAR.
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