Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-27
THE OLD LIGHT INFANTRY.
A Celebration OF Its Semi.Centeunta
Proposed for Next Septembcr.

At the meeting of the veterans of company A,
Washington Light Infantry corps. Thursday
night after the organization was perfected and
business relating to the coming celebration of
the "muster in" in 1861 had been disposed OF,
Col. w. G. Moore and the officers Of the Wash.
ington Light Infantry corps were invited into
the room. Col. Lemuel Towers OF the Veterans,
after notifying the visitors that permanent
association of the veterans had been formed,
gave brief account Of the old organization.
I'm 1880 or 81" he said, "a military
company was formed. consisting princi-
pally Of printers, bookbinders and other.
Cen. Dur Green, called the National " Cadets.
and w. w. Moore, father OF our Col. VIM. G.
Moore, commanding the Washington Light In
fantry Corps, was elected captain. The Cadets
escorted Gen. Jackson, then President, to Fred
ericksburg, Va, to lay the cornerstone Of the
went to Baltimore in stages to attend the fune-
raj of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, one of the
signers OF the Declaration of Independence.
the military fever broke out again. (You all
know that the fever comes and goes like fever
and ague, for from 1885 TO 1856 there have
been at least one hundred companies organized
and disbanded in the District of Coiumbia)
The members of the cadets with others formed
A. Blake, who was the first sergeant of
parade on the l2th Of september, 1886. twenty:
company was the first to step forward,
shoulder to shoulder, keeping step TO the music
the hsorT Tine 70
ever known, and to record the greatest progress
ever made by man for man, and 1t was our duty
ton Light Infantry Battalion, and we did it.
For the manner in which we executed our duty
we refer TO the records OF our country. Now
comes the ending Of the second twenty-five
years. and we are here to Join hands the old with
the new, to properly celebrate the 5Oth anniver-
sary of our existence o military organization.
Should a hp Df
September, 1885, we would show q sight rarely
witnessed, by parading members OF the old
to the formation of the new corps. We leave
the whole matter in the hands Of the Washing
ever they may deem most suitable for the S occa
sion Will be carried to successful conclusion"
COL. MooRE's RESPONSE
Col Moore responded, rendering his congrat-
ulations Of his command to those who q Quar-
ter a century ago were the first to enter the SER
wee of their country. Many claims of priority
organization of Pennsylvania, whom distin-
guished Senator backed. He, however, was Off.
BY sae Ms that
Light Infantry. Few, he said, knew the diff
cuIties surrounding them in 1881. It required
no little courage in 1881 to say that they were
for the Union, for the most OF our population
were allied by ties of blood and marriage to
those who were in the southern states, but they
had rallied to the cause Of the country and de-
termfned TO save the capital This action on the
part OF the veterans OF course was the end OF the
battalion organization during the war. The
present org anization dates from 1871: He pre-
dicted an enjoyable semi-centennial cele6ra-
ton OF the Organization Of the corps next Sep
TENDER. On behalf Of the Washington Light
Infantry organization he rendered the use of
the armory 70 the veterans.
THE C0RPs IN 1851.
Col. Towers related some "reminiscences Of
1851. He said that not Q member of the old
corps favored the election Of Mr.. Lincoln, but in
Ton, talk aA
Mr. Lincoln would not be inaugurated, the true
feelings OF the membership was made apparent.
Little Harry Gorburt, since deceased, proposed
to place motto on the dag, 'Our Gag now and
forever" and it was done. In few weeks the
armory was burned, and many lost their uni
forms. The corps was left without home. The
people got up benent at the Smithsonian, and
Bud Morgan sang patriotic song, which was
Missed. he, himself, was offered position and
work for the south. The armory was fitted up
on Pennsylvania avenue, near 10th street
The necessity OF an Injunction June By Col: Stone
feel safe In sleeping UNDER" can readily be
realized by those who knew the state Of feeling.