The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-23
THE RICHMOND BLUES
WILL CELEBRATE THEIR HUN
DREDrH ANyIVERsARY MAY f0TH.
The Most Ancient Military Orssni1atfon In
yirCinia-Skstch of Their career
During the Past Century.

The approaching centennial celebration
Of the Richmond Light Infantry lIues
should be an event not only TO the present
and past members OF that gallant com
mand. but 20 all the citizens OF the Old
Dominion, especially those Of the capt.
tai city Organized May 10, l195, IL mas
stood we'll the changes Of century. In
The early days Of our Republic. writes
George Wythe. Munford. when volunteer
companies were few, the ranks OF this
corps were filed to Its complement with
the elite Of the city. They were not con-
fired to the young men Of the day. but
men of all ages considered It an honor TO
be dubbed true blue
The early uniform Of the company has
been changed by time. as can be seen from
the following description of 1t as II was
In 1917: "a dark navy blue coat with
white CASHMERE facirgs on the breast ;
collars ara cuffs confined with globuar
silver buttons. having stamped On them
the coat. of-arms of Virginia. The skirt
was turned back at the corners, with
similar white faclngs and a blue cloth
star in The centre of the facings. a
broad white cashmere stripe ran down
the outer seam Of the pantalcons. They
wore white vests and stocks, black leather
caps. helmet shaped. with broad bands
of leopard skin around them. and a fox
tan over the top. A light blue plate was
In front Of the cap, surrounding the Amer
lean eagle. and emblazoned with the name
of the company and date OF commission
In white letters. on the left side there
was wide leather cockade, from which
sprung a large black plane eighteen
inches high, tipped with several inches of
white feathers"
Among those who under Captain Will
liam Richardson first wore this uniform
there were doubtless many who had
served their state and country IN the War
of Independence; indeed. there is hardly
any doubt but that some company from
Richmond, returning from Il successful
campaign, chose. rather than disband. to
coptinue in the service Of their State,
ready and anxious to win fresh laureis i'm
TIE preservation and defense of their but
tatciy-acquired sovereignty. From that
time until they were assigned, in April,
lSbl, 10 the command Of General Holmes. on
the Potomac, they were the especial boast
Of the citizens Of Richmond. ever ready
10 adOrn pageant in a time of peace and
to do their duty as soldiers to the last
In time of war.
The services Of the Blues since their or
ganization is shown i'm the speech OF
Governor Henry A. Wise delivered May
II, 1874. from which / quote: Your com
pany is the most ancient on the records
Of military organizations now extant or
surviving in the Commonwealth You
were formed and composed Of the most
respectable, sterling, gentle, ake-holding
and staiwart citizen soldiers OF the CAPT
tai in the days from 1859 to 1894. In three
eVentfui periods Of this country big with
wars and rumOrs Of wars, from 1900 TO
the present day, the company has been
enrolled and ready for duty, and has been
on duty Of actual and severe service
Your noblest was your last service for
four years In the struggle of Confederate
Virginia for self-government, constitu-
tional and sovereign rights, and for indie
pendence and existence itself. The Blues
were among the first to enlist for the war
and among the last to lay down the arms
OF the Army Of Northern Virginia at
Appomattox. In all this four years ser
vice il lost in killed, wounded, death and
disability nearly one hundred privates
and officers"
Soon after the war the few old Blues
remaining reorganized the company, but
1t was not until 1871 that the Association
was chartered.
Since they regained their identity as an
independent company the Richmond Light
Infantry Blues. at home and abroad. by
their entertainment Of visiting military
and by their soldierly bearing and good
discipline, have been a credit to their
city; notably in New York in 1877 and at
the recent Inauguration of Mr.. Cleveland
they were the recipients OF generous
applause. and were highly spoken OF By
military critics.
The celebration OF this 10th OF May is
in the hands Of different committees. ap-
pointed by the president OF the Associa-
ton, Major b. w. Richardson. This COM
pany is 50 closely connected with the
history and growth OF Richmond that It
seems TO me that II would be but proper
for the Common Council and the citizens
generally to unite with Major Richardson
in preparing for the proper observation
of its one hundredth birthday