The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-06
Very Interesting Paper by Colonel Henry
c. Jones.
YHY JOHNNIE WAS A GRAY-BACK."
Hbe Confederate Uniform and How IL was
Selected-Facts About the Old First.
The seventh I'm

r~osition a grand success. and now he is build
ING up the First Virginia regiment like it has
never been built before.
At one time he can be witnessed creating a
Mechanics Institute. and at the present time
he has displayed another talent by becoming
% author.
His writing capabilities are displayed in
this months Seventh Regiment Gazette, the
oescial organ Of that regiment. This journal
&c mbhshcd in New York. and in the journal
there is an excellent likeness of Colonel
Jones.
The latter contributes an interesting article,
and there is also excellent data furnished IN
der The nom de plume Of c. S. A.
Here II Is.
The events of 1s60-'65 made Confederate
gray famous the world over. But of the mil
fons who learned to love or hate it, how many
we're they who knew the origin of the uni
form2 Very few. probably. And there are
now still fewer who know that 10 the visit of
fhe seventh regiment TO Richmond and the
Frt Virginia IS due the fact that every
Johnnie was a gray-back."
Until the Seventh went to Richmond in
1859. as escort TO the body of President Mon
roe. neither the First Virginia or any other
Southern regiment had a distinctive uniform.
Zach company consulted It's own tastes. The
seventh was received with the utmost eour-
tcsy. and its appearance IN its neat gray uni
form appeared 10 make a deep impression
upon the Southern military men.
AT all events the First Virginias soon adopted
n gray Uniform. which it still retains. This
was lust al the beginning of the war, and
when a uniform was TO be adopted by the
Confederacy that of the famous First of Rich
mond was naturally taken as a model.
Seventh gray became First gray" and
thot "a ffrvp '('OpfpIprQta prQV ~ md CO in
directly the visit or the Seventh led TO the
adoption of the famous Confederate uniform.
OF q regiment whose good taste led to such
remarkable results and whose efficiency was
such that its uniform and its methods were
used IA models by a nation one would desire
10 know more.
TIL "OLD FIRST"
The "Old First" is scattered and gone. OF
Its members many. like its guests of 80, sleep
under the daisies and pines Of the South
while others bear titles won by brave deeds
ami exhibit the scars Of battle. But
out of the old First has grown a new
and splendid regiment. and. to its excellent
commander we leave the task of telling 10 the
successors of the Seventh of 1859 about the
successors Of the First of 1859.
IL IS not the purpose of this article to tell
of the First Virginia which welcomed the Sew
enth New York to Richmond long ere the
tocsin had sounded which called 10 arms the
uOhGl VI AlItliA0A al II lNOAs
This old First" mas a history of its own,
which has been told by an ADLER pen than the
writer's. But the memory of the ante-bellum
visit of the Seventh IS vet bright IN themlnds
of the good people Of this, the capital city of
our Commonwealth and WAS often referred
TO by the late Captain Louis j. Bossleux, of
the Richmond Grays, Company A, of the
present regiment. The visit of the Seventh
to Richmond was to him one of his most
pleasant memories of a forty years service.
Do - - Il A. $50 a-.-.aa
THE ORGANIZATION.
The First Virginia is composed Of six com
panies. all stationed at Richmond and quar-
tered within the samelarmOry. The regiment
was organized November 20, 1871, with the
following field officers:
John 4. Sloan, colonel: John B. Whitehead,
Northumberland Albert Ordway, major.
Both Colonel Sloan and Lieutenant-COlOne
Whitehead had served with distinction in the
Confederate army for four years. Major Ord
way had served with distinction in the United
States army from 1851 TO his being mustered
out Of service at the close of the war. Major
Ordway is now brigade commander Of the
District of Columbia.
The regiment has since its organization
done considerable service in the aid OF the
civil authorities. The most notable occasions
were in assisting in preventing the escape of
the c%onvicts. numbering about LOCO, confined
in the State pe%nitentlary. which Is located
MltllQ the corporate MINUS OF the Guy anu
about one mile from the armOry.
THE EARTHQUAKE.
The first occasion was the earthquake of
August 81, 1886. On this occasion the regl-
ment assembled at its armOry on a call from
police headquarters. The call was given at
10 O'Clock =. NJ, and the first company was
reported to the superintendent Of the peni-
tetiary within thirty minutes thereafter, and
the remainder of the regiment within one
hour.
The earthquake referred TO was the one
which was so fatal TO the city Of Charleston,
5. c.. The regiment was again called To the
penitentiary in January, 1887, on the occasion
# "a fire. which destroyed a large portion OF
the shops connected with this institution.
The call was made at 5 AN. The first com
pany reported. with thirty~siX men and two
officers, within 80 minutes after the call, and
the entire regiment within an hour and a
quarter thereafter.
The regiment attended the Centennial cele-
brstion Of July. 1876, at Philadelphia, and
was represented by d battalion at the Centen-
nal celebration at New York. April 30. 1889.
Companies A and Is were detailed by the
Governor as a part of Nlrglnla's escort OF
honor at the funeral of General T.. :. Grant.
These incidents of service are mentioned TO
show both the efficiency and esteem IN which
The State authorities hOld our organization.
There have been many other occasions IN
which portions of the regiment have been
called upon 70 perform service during the
twenty years Of its existence.
THE coLoNELs
Nearly all the colonies Of the First have
been veterans and nave served with distinc-
ton in the c.. s. A. The first colonel. John
A Sloan. was a captain; the second colonel,
Bradley r. johnson. a brigade-general; the
thId Colonel, JOIN b. Purcell, a first ser
giant when only ffteen) the fourth
colonel. Charles j. Anderson, a Virginia Mill
tsry Institute cadet: and the presentlcolonel,
~ oiicial of the forage bureau IN the Con-
Tolerate army. Colonel Anderson is now
brgade-general Of the First brigade Virginia
volunteer infantry.
The Gazette then in speaking OF Colonel
Jones saws: The present colonel, Henry &.
Jones. whose frank and manly letter TO the
Gazette Of May. 1890. is well remembered,
aud whose portrait we present. served the
Confederate States for three years under
Major Darlington. chief Of the forage
bureau.
lie enlisted in Company j after the war,
became corporal and sergeant and IN 1871 INST
lieutenant. He was elected captain IN 1878
and colonel in 1889. He is the youngest
colonel in the Virginia service, beng only
'oIlv-one years old.
The present strength Of the regiment IS $50
onlc,ers and men. This number may seem
smah 70 US. but in the South, where the COM
pduY rather than flo roOfnnapf ~ the INIT. IL |