Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-23

ti( - heEd OF the pEoCes'
SS - sion. to the surviv-
sSNN~ ors of the sixth Mas
sachusetts regiment. on the ground that they
we're the first defenders of the capital and
ut this reunion Of veterans at the national
capital they were especially entitled to the
honor The distinction which the commander
in-chief has conferred upon the old sixth Massa-
chusetts Is claimed by the surviving members
OF the five Pennsylvania companies which ar
rived in Washington the evening Of April IS.
1861. The sixth Massachusetts arrived on the
following evening. Their unpleasant expert
ence in Baltimore. where they were INQUIRED,
attracted the attention of the whole country
, TO them and may have caused tine impression
that they we're the first to arrive. The sixth
: Massachusetts, was regiment fully equipped
and ready for duty, while only portion OF the
Pennsylvania volunteers which were fastened
/ here TO defend the city were armed when they
arrived. The survivors Of the i've Pennsylva-
MA companies are organizing. and 1t Is an
nounced intend to insist upon their right to
head the Grand Army parade.
IL is stated to be their purpose, in case the
cOmmapder-in-chief continues to refuse TO
recognize their claim TO this honor. to march
over the route on the afternoon of the Cay
previous to the parade. The citizens OF the
District. those who were here in the anxious
DAYS of 1861 and those who have since come
here OF grown to manhood and know from the
lips of the older ones or the pages OF history
something of the fears that filed all loyal
hearts at that time, have grateful remem-
brance of the services of all the patriots
who few 10 the defense OF the city and
whose arrival caused feeling of relief.
The Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts,
soldiers may have been the first to come from
the north. still records show and citizens of
Washington cannot forget that the actual first
defenders of the capital we're troops enrolled
IN the District If il were a matter of dates
only. the survivors OF the District troops OF
1861 would be justified in insisting their
right TO head the great parade. though as a
matter o. courtesy to visitors. while not walv-
log their right to the title OF the first defend
ers, they may accord to the visitors the post o.
honor IN the parade. The service OF the Dis
trict troops as cOnservers Of the peace and de-
Tenders OF the capital began weeks before the
volunteers came from the north in fact. even
before the Inauguration Of President Lincoln.
but claim OF priority on their part may be
rested not upon such irregular but valuable
services, but the actual mastering in the three
moaihs' service OF the United States.
WHAT RECORDS SHOW.
The records show that before there was a
single soldier from the north mustered into
federal service at the outbreak of the war the
troops of the District were guarding the public
buildings, the bridges. roads aud ferries. When
1t was feared that there would be outbreak
Mt the Inauguration OF President Lincoln it
was the District militia that marched with
loaded muskets, stationed themselves on house
tops and guarded the public build
ings. prepared for any emergency The
National Guard battalion had charge of
the Capitol. and the Washington Light infan-
try guarded the approach to the White House.
while Gen. Scott. apprehensive of trouble. had
the few regulars here SO stationed as that they
could have been brought into action a; once.
The fact Is that before any northern troops az
rived here District companies were marching
up to the War Department aud mastering in
daily.
when the authorities stopped the muster
ing there were other companies waitin-S to be
sworn In and scarcely neighborhoOd in the
District where n company was not being re-
eruited. The figures of the War Department
show. too. that the District had population in
1850 OF 75.0so and furnished IA per cent of
this for the war.
WHEN THEY WE'RE MUSTERED IN.
The records Of the War Department show
the muster In OF the District companies at the
following dates:
w. A T. l. i0-e'p' L. Williams company A
April 11-Capt. W. H. Nalley. Metropolitan
Rifles, Capt 5. A. ii. NcKim. company C.
National Guard; Capt. Joseph Gerhardt, com
Pany A. Turner Rifles; Capt. A. Rutherford.
Mechanics Union Rifles; Capt. Loeffier, Wash
ington Rifles; Capt James Kelly Oh. Union
regimerr; Capt George Thistleton, company
A. Putnam Rifles.
io-SaPt- l. Y. harrington. company
A. T. r.; Capt c. H. RodIer, Anderson Rides
April l5-Capt J. r. Smead. National Rifles;
Capt p. III. King. b. y. e.; Capt e. j. l. Fox
well, Henderson Guards
April I1-Capc James Goddard. Darlington
Home Guards; Capt. 5. a. II. Marks IT, Wash
ing,on Light Guards: Capt Richard Morgan.
company ID. " c.; Capt. q. W. Miller. com
Pany G, I. r.; Capt W. ii. Degges, Constr
sutiORal Guards
April 1s-Caps. Robert Boyd. Potomac Ligh,
a. T1I.
Guards, Capt ii. VI. Knight Slemmer Guards.
April l9-Capt s. W. Owen, Presidents
Mounted Guard.
April 2O-Capt ]. F. Elder. Cameron Rifles:
Capt j. Tyler Powell, company L. ". L.
SZouaves); Capt John Mcclellan, company ID.
L. Il.
April 22-Caps. Gsmeweii, company 3. Put
nam Rifles; Capt. W. b Ferguson company F.
National Guard; Capt ). Cross. company d.
Light Infantry (howitzer corps; Capt Jas.
company b. T7rner Rifles
April 23-Capt. J. H. McBlair. Andrew John
son Guards; Capt Z. L. Morrison, District
Union Rifles
April 2i-Capt. Jas. Fletcher. company F.
Union Rifles; Capt. Robert Clark, CITY Guards
There were thirty-foar companies accepted
and IL many cases they exceeded one hundred
priyates. Most of them had been recruited nm
10 that number. Besides these there were
companies IN the various public buildings, one
S<aase. named the HamIin Guards 10 complI-
men' OF the Vice President. under Capt. las
ssss, the veteran doorkeeper.
OTHER TRooPA
The northern troops, state or United States.
had not commenced to arrive. although a de-
tachnent Of cavalry. a company of sappers and
miners, two batteries Of artillery and two COM
panies OF regular infantry had been in the city
since before the 4th Of March or shortly after
The cavalry was chartered al Burch's stables.
one battery Of artillery near the War Depart
ment and one near the city hall the sappers
and miners at Columbian armory and the in
fanfry on Z street near 9th. While the District
troops were beng mustered in companies ID
and II, second United States cavalry arrived
April Is from Texas. and company l. frs, in
fantry, on the 18th from New York
The nrsf state troops TO arrive were from
Pennsylvania. the hnggold Artillery of Read
ing, Logan Guards of Lewstown Allen Light
Infantry of Allentown, National Light Infantry
and Washington Artillery of Pottsvine.
They came in about o'clock on the evening o.
April Is BY this time no less than eighteen
of the District companies were IN service sta
toned IN the public buildings aud doing picket
duty on the bridges and the roads
The sixth Massachusetts was the next to ar
rive. on the evening of April l9 having as
stated, been moSbed in passing through BaIti-
more.