The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-06

case OF trOuOlc. ne Sthte dCSoiutueis
proceeded to adopt such measures as In
her judgment would meet the wishes of
the people. During the Revolutionary war
public mandatory OF arms had been
established at the Point-Of-F Fork, or con
iluence of the Rivanna and James rivers.
This was not now thought q desirable
location. Accordingly one Of the first acts
of the General Assembly, in view OF the
state of feeling just referred to, ordered
the establishment of mandatory OF
arms on a large scale al Richmond. This
was in January. 1898. and as soon as II
was finished, the arms and machinery
were removed from the Point-ot-Fork IN
Fluvanna county to that town. The
ruins of this beautiful building are still
10 be seen on the canal near the Trede'
gar Works. 1t was destroyed by fire at
the fall of Richmond in April, 1860,
and part of the ground on which
it stood has recently been sold by the
State TO the proprietors Of the 1redegar
Iron Works. The next step taken by the
State was to provide for the protection
of her public buildings, the arsenal, peni-
Tertiary, and magazine, by authorizing
the creation of public guard. ms
was q volunteer organization ana con
sisted of only about forty men, including
a CAPTAIN, one lieutenant, and sergeant
Anterior to this the artitlcers and olner
workmen employed at the maauiactory
had been organized into military com
pany. the officers being appointed by the
/ Governor. Time and experience soon
showed that this small force was not ade'
qua,e TO the duties required OF them.
Accordingly, at the session OF lSoo-lSOl'
NJ the instance of Governor Monroe, the
General Assembly authorized the creation
/ of new guard, to be composed OF one
captain, two lieutenanis, the requisite
number of sergeants, surgeon, and
seycntv-five enlisted men. The officers
were appointed by the Governor, and The
mems terms of enlistment and the disci-
pine of the corps were based upon the
/ regulations of the United States Army.
/ Under the terms OF enlistment this com
pany conld only serve for three years
accordingly, we find that in 1904 an act
was passed continuing the state Guard'
/ but reducing its force 10 siXty-eight
privates. one captain, one lieutenant, ana
! one ensign. How long this continued
we are not informed, but many now lV-
ing recolleCt what was called years ago,
the barrack soldiers CORPS OF about
sixty eight men, with captain, two lieu.
! tenants, and the necessary complement OF
non.commissi0nedo officers.
This company OF Virginia regulars
was i'm commission from the date of lis
first organization down 10 the breaking
cut of the late war in 1861 Under It's
accomplished commandant Capt. Charles
| Dimmock, it was an honor to the STATE,
and a living testimonial to his worth as a
man, and his merits rs an officer. All
these years its duties had been to guard
the pubic property. In addition to these
requirements, it was regarded as a sort
of nucleus or rallying point, about which
might be gathered a stronger force
should circumstances ever require il. It.
presence in the midst Of the community
inspired certain sense of security; a
base upon which the volunteers might
depend in case Of need