The Russellville Democrat., 1893-12-14
A MILITARY BALL AND RECEPTION IN
LITTLE ROCK IN f835-IN-
TEReSTlN6 BIT or
HISTORY
BY DR.. Q. e. NASH.
A Company Of Small Boys All Of Whom are
Now Old Citizens and Some
Of Whom are Dead.
Roll Cali of the Company and a List of the
Ladies who Attended the Ball at
the Old Anthony House
Given by Albert
Pike.

In bnd lult OA 1000 cotuphuJ VI ShaA
boys was organized by an English artist
William Bingham. This company wa
composed of all the boys between the ages
of and IA years. The first corps of off
GERS consisted Of John q. Peay, captain,
/ q. f. Nash, first lieutenant, and II. I'll
johnson, third lieutenan the non-com
missioned officers do not recollect except
Bingham, who was ensign, as he was the
| only one who was strong enough to bear
the flag. This boy company was drilled
every mconshine night and part Of Satur.
: day evenings.
This little company in 1912 was trans
formed into what was then Pixies artillery
company. The only incident occurring of
special note in this boys company was
the escorting of
VICE PRESIDENT RICHARD NJ. JOHNSON
Kentucky steamboat to the residence of his
brother, Judge Benjamin johnson. Rich
ard M. johnson was met by the mayor and
all the state officers, all on horseback.
johnson, mounted on large bay mare, the
property Of his brother, took the head of
the column, and before starting Bingham
CFitu Out III LIS SHIii NOlCct tiicc chcctS
for old Tecumseh," and every boy
yelled as though 1t we're his
last. Col. johnson turned his horse round
and facing the boys, made low bow and
then commenced by congratulating them
on their military appearance, also their
mothers for having such stout looking
boys, so fully developed for their ages, de-
claring that the blue grass counties Of old
.nf- H.. Aa4Aa a.
His speech ended, the column moved for
ward until they halted at his excellency' s
mansion, small six room framed house,
somewhere on Scett street, "then on no
street." as there was no street but Marx
cident to the boys here occurred.
blue round about, faced with red flannel,
trousers with red stripe down the legs.
GOVERNOR JAS. S. CONWAY,
noticing the red facing, and having in
dulged little too freely in Arkansas
grape juice, cried out: "Cut that red
facing off, boys. You are not British.
You may be fighting them fellows some
day" Every boy who possessed knife
went speedily to work removing the facing.
Ensign Bingham stood with his head down
and his eyes fastened to the ground with
out saying a word Three cheers were
proposed by the governor for the slayer of
old Tecumseh, old Kentuek and
Tippacane In this cheer all the men took
part, and the boys feeble utterance was
crushed out. We were then invited to q
long table set in the governors spacious
side yard. Must l say the table fairly
groaned under its weight of rich viandsf
This might be suitable expression for the
modern feeble-legged table of this day, but
it would not be for that table, for it was
made OF strong forks driven firmly into the
ground and thick puncheons placed over
them. Now what was the bill for our
menu: A quarter of barbecued beef,
several quarters of lamb, roast turkeys,
(wild), pigs, ducks, chickens, vegetables of
all sorts grown in those days,
pumpkin pies, potatoe custards, cakes and
such fruits as were grown in the gardens,
for we had no orchards, and everything
else that could be paraded, as this was con
sidered the grandest event of the day, and
to US boys, the greatest of the age. Right
here comes in the history of
THE FIRST ARKANSAS FLAG.
Governor Conway, by this time, felt the
influence of the corn juice, which in those
days was somewhat stronger than the
grape, though not so strong as in these
days. 1t was not fighting whisky. 1t
made men happy and generous, and as an
example, the governor, after addressing
the boys in one of his
happy strains of eloquence,
and patriotism, said to Bingham: 1'Paipt
these boys $500 flag and the state shall
pay for it." The flag was painted and it
was one Of the most beautiful that went to
Mexico. AT this flag presentation
COL. EUCLID JOHNSON, WIN. R CONWAY
and several others whose names do not
now recollect made speeches. Governor
Conway, in his speech, gave his three
daughters to the three principal officers,
But none Of us could get the consent of
the girls to ratify their fathers contract.
AS was said above this company was
merged into the company afterwards called
by Capt. Albert Pike name,
'PIREs ARTILLERY"
1t was at the presentation of this flag
that the motto was selected by Governor
Conway "On one side was Count Pulaski.
on horseback, and on the other, Guards, ND
and at 'em." This determined the name Of
the company,
PULASKI GUARDS"
finer looking or drawer boys never stood
on terra ffwaa." These boys would have
distinguished themselves as much as the
boy company did who went from Tusea-
loosa, Ala, in the late war; and here a
little incident occurred with them worthy
OF note. In fight between Montgomery
and Selma the boys engaged Federal
regiment, and many were killed. Those
who were not killed were
taken prisoners, but when the Yankee
general rode up and saw his prisoners were
boys, he said Boys, go home to your
mothers; you will make good soldiers for
the government some of these days. and
they departed with this oral parole
Pike was elected captain, with some of
the young men already grown up as the
lieuteIants. This was the first time |
ever heard OF Pike having military title,
though / suppose he had one before.
THE FIRST PUBLIC EXHIBITION
this company made was on the 4th day of
July, 1912. 1t was on the grounds now
occupied by the city as a park. Ii was
then race track. We had two "laree5
pieces Of artillery ard we fired three minute
guns. very well do remember the first
gun Gnat was fired that day. 1t vas nv
duty to place blank cartridges ia the
mouth Of the cannon. had to take
stand one pace to
the right, stepping back to
my position after placing the cartridge.
Pike stood about five PAGES, and between
the two guns. With my feet fixed firmly "a
the ground and my eyes looking straight
forward, | was ready for the torch to be-
applied. Ready, aim, fire, were the words
that came TO my ears, and in an instant
my head was roaring as though a volcano
had bursted under my feet The blood
rushed out OF my ears, and the tears from
my eyes, but there | stood like a marble
statue, until Pike came up and said
l would be excused for awhile
The only incident that occurred Ia this
company that is Of interest 70 the Aid e;t;-