Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-20

John Sedgwick Command No. 3. claims to be
the banner command of this department in
energy and progressiveness. The colonel is
Vim. Edgar Rogers, the remaining officers
being: Mark Bunnell lieutenant colonel; Neil
Dumont major; ". II. II. Warman. surgeon;
George G. p. Wood, chaplain; J. William
Palmer. officer of day; Charles " Pettys. NJ
d.. ad.utant A. b. c. Clement, quartermaster:
John A. Frank officer of the guard; Peter
Sweeney, sentinel.
At present there are si1ty-three members on
the rolls. although it was not mustered in until
June, 1890. and it is its proud boast that there
has yet to be the first disagreement in its
councils or among its members. On last Deco
ration day Sedgwick Command took in charge
the decoration of the Is 900 soldiers graves on
Marye's Heights, Fredericksburg The COM
mand visited Fredericksburg in body, and
the mastery address delivered at the cemetery
by Col VIM. II. Michael. listened to alike by
the blue and the gray" will be long remem-
bered by those who heard il.
When Sumter was fired upon Col Rogers was
a mere STRIPPING studying law at New York in
the offices Of ex-senator Truman Smith OF Con-
necticut and Mr.. George Shea. afterward cele-
brated as one of JEFF Davis counsel. Dropping
his law books he enlisted on the day after the
first call for volunteers in a company which
later became company A, tenth New York VOL
unteers (Bendix zouaves). They went by sea to
Fortress Monroe. and their first service was in
and about Hampton. Va. The first man to be
wounded was Col. Rogers. who was shot while
Oh picket near Hampton in the month OF June,
1861. the ball SCATTERING the bone of the left
arm IN and about the shoulder Joint and could
not be ex racted. For weeks he Law in the old
Hygeia Hospital, where the Hygeia Hotel now
stands at Fortress Monroe. lowering between
life and death. Amputation could not be per-
formed because of the proximity Of the wound
and the shoulder joint, and to this alone he
owes the fact that he has two arms today
When convalescent he was sent home.
HIS wound healing. he returned to his regi-
ment at Fortress Monroe, Gov. Morgan of New
York telling him before he left that he deserved
a commission. but vas too young. In few
weeks time his wound broke out afresh and
he was declared unit for service. He then be.
came the chief clerk of Medical Director Cuy-
Ter at Chesapeake Hospital, now the Soldiers
Home. at Hampton. Va. He performed dis
tinguished work, finishing his two years term
of service there. He was admitted to the bar
| in New York in 1864. For two years he was as
| sistsnt corporation attorney of New York city;
in 1866 organized the fourth regiment n. G.. of
N. j.. and was its first colonel. During this
| time he had been resident of Jersey City. re-
moving in 1881 to Washington. ID. c., where he
| o member.
| COL rHEo. c. RAY.
Robert G. Shaw Command No. 4, has the
distinction Of having been the first command
| Of colored men organized. 1t was organized
May 10. 1890. and was named in honor Of that
gallant young soldier. Robt G.. Shaw of the
| fifty fourth Massachusetts, volunteers, who fell
at the head Of his regiment in the battle of
| Fort Wagner, Charleston Harbor. s. c., July
| IS, 1868. Shaw Con. mand was organized with
RIA haa
| none other, he having been twice reelected
Its charter members are as follows: James I.
Adams, George VI. Arnold, George II. Boston,
Fielder Carroll, David E. Chase. Joseph
Downes. Gabriel Duncan Charles b. Fisher.
| Alexander Freeman, Isaac s. Hawkins,
Richard Henderson. Meredith Jenkins, George
| Jones, Alexander O2lesby, Theodore C. Bay
George Rhodes, Jerry Robinson, Henry +.
| Saunders, James Taylor, Frank NJ. WEIGH. Its
present membership is fifty and its officers are:
Theo. c. Ray. colonel; Isaac s. Hawkins. lieu
tenant colonel; David E. Chase major, Owens
Dawson, adjutant; Thomas Curt chaplain;
Meredith jenkins, officer Of the day; George
II. Boston. quartermaster; jerry Robinson,
officer OF the guard; Richard Henderson. quar-
termaster sergeant; Charles p. Fisher, ser
geant major; James 7. Adams, color bearer;
Alexander Freeman. drum major.
Col Ray was born in Newburg. N. Y, and
when but a lad endeavored to enter the army
rs a drummer at West Point. n. l.. but Was
fused on account of his color. Desiring to be-
come a soldier he lett for France in 1860, be-
coming deeply interested in the veterans OF the
CrimesD war. From France he went to Eng
land. sailing from there to Baltimore. He
arrived in Baltimore the Sunday after the sixth
Massachusetts, regiment had been attacked on
the way through that city. Not being able to
| get to his home he returned to Europe, remain
| ing there during the summer of 1851. Going
TO England in the early fall Of that year. friends
told him that the UnitedStates government was
| organizing colored troops. He at once sailed
/ for New York, where he found the organization
| Of colored troops to be Q little premature.
However, he at length succeeded In becoming
attached to Col Charles H. Van Wyck's tenth
legion and accompanying them to Washington,
having the honor OF having been (when yet .
\ boy the first colored drill master Of colored
troops at the national capital Upon the first
| call for colored troops he entered the service
as a CORPORAL in company d. first regiment OF
United States colored troops, and was soon
promoted to be fret sergeant, the highest posi-
He participated In the engagement at wilson Q
Va, Deep Bottom, Va, New Market Heights,
Va. Fort Harrison, Va, and at the second bat
tie of Fair Oaks, Va, upon which latter field
he was shot down twice while second in COM
msnd Of his company. He now carries bullet
| IN his body ~ . reminder of that battle. His
| wound confined him in the Mcclellan Hospital,
Fortress Monroe. Va, for six month"; and when
he became convalescspt be rejoined his regi-
ment. carrying his wounded arm in . sling
But the last battle Of the great war had been
fought and he roturued At length IN urivnf -