Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-12
THE GALLANT BLUES.
"REMINISCENCES OF THIS COMMAND,
NOW NEARLY a CENTURY OLD.
York Regiment at tho Time OF
President Monroe's Burial.
twri,ien for tho Digpaica.l

celebrating others: but soon they will ap-
%propnately and crcdiiablv celebrate them
ss.ves. and all others viii gladly partici-
pase IN showing honor TO them. They
have been long distinguished tor patriot
ISM, lberaIity. and hospitality, nnd how
these OVERLOOKED when tho splendid
Seventh Regiment Of New York escorted
hr.her the remains OF X-Presidoat James
Monroe in July, 1858. Having dipped into
the records Of that date and refreshed nv
memory, let me give yOu some recol.ec-
tiors of the past.
Nv first acqualntance with tho military
of Richmond goes back rfty-0od years. t.
1871. | got into the militia. bat was never
IN the volunteers. Stlil. | knew oil their
commissions officers and a great many,
perhaps most OF their members. No doubt
j bad seen some of them paraeing PRIOR 10
Jsfl. July 5th Of that year the volunteer
companies that took partln honorin@ that
day for the Fourth We're the ioii0Wiue
The Biucs, under Captain George W. MIN
ford the G~rCnadlers, under Captain James
LYONS and Licutcuants H.. G.. Stauard and
August prooably Nai.l; the scarlet
Guard, under Captain GCorgc W. Goodo
(John II. Munf0rd had been thor cal-
tain: the FHgettc Artillery. under captain
Charles HYDE aud Lieutenant IbomaS u.
Ellis; the Richmond Light DRAGONS, IN
der Captain Mayo; the hcnrlco mt Ora
yoons, under Captain SIcrWln Mcl.ae. 0nda
troop OF cavalry from Chesterfield. These
and the citiZCnsa.scmbIedin the lfst Zap
fist church. near tho Monumental. where
the Declaration of lud, peudcucc was read.
with suitable addeEda. by James A.. HeoGon
and an Grafton delivered by the Rev. l.. J..
Magoon. who already had quite areputa-
TO as "a speaker.
After these patriotic exercises and some
.N~.llan. .aN T.amnLHHr ffA GnHnFIHHHa 70
pared 10 Buchanan Sprlnc. N0uNhaI. =
Garden. Browns island, Clark Si1ring,
FAIRFIELD, &C., Bnd there enJoyct libt-
raj dinners with toaSts and sprcchts'
/ dined on Browns Island with the Scarlet
Guard. where also was Mr.. seldom, VINO
was then the law partner 81 captain
GoOdo.
THT blues HID THITR oNN.
I think the next company that was
formed was composed mostly of Germans,
The older companies underwent many
changes both IN officers aud mon, aui
some had rcverses. but the Blues held
their own, though they. too. had to change
their commanders and 10 Introduce new
material. They were III good conelt-3h 10
receive and welcome the Seventh ReSl-
ment. The Eighth Regiment Of National
Guard Of New York escorted the remains
III Mr. Monroe from thor tomb TO the
church in New York. but the seventh
had offered to accompany them 70 their
sinal rcsting-plaCe IN cur beautiful Holy
wood. When their offer was accepted
Colonel Durye cndeayore1 to obtain q full
turnout aud they chartered Il steamer AT
u cost Of $1,000, which they would nay.
The State of Virginia had made arrange
ments for the removal and Tc~intcrmcnt OF
the ashes OF her distinguished son ana had
u committee for the purpose. But the
City Council and q public meeting OF the
citizens also bad their respective commit
tees of cooperation, and the sum oil cl,oOJ
was specially appropriated 10 assist our
volunteers IN showing proper attention 10
their military guests. Arrangements were
made for "a grand procession and a gene
Sous banquet. and every soldier ana every
other person III Richmond was intent upon
sustaining the honor andrcpu'ation OF the
city and OF the Old Dominion.
ARRIVAL or IuE ETuAINs.
The memorable morn came clear and
bright. though warm. and after some delay
In the riyer. the expected remains, with
their grand cort o., arrived, We're taken 10
iheIr final resting placcaud the:e deposited
with appropriate honors and ceremonies.
The sol,muIty and reverence OF the occa-
& on were deep aud heartfelt, bat were
July Cquallci by the cOrdlallty ana hoepl-
iglitv that wera extended to our northern
visitors. Their number, as stated by their
Colonel. who regretted that more couid
not come, vas OLE IN eight companies.
They were hcre only one Ulght n Inc
greater part az two days ana We're quar-
tered at tho different hotels. But I'll inc
yolun GERS and a Great many citizens ,dlj
what thew could 20 lend q helping hand IN
welcoming aud providing for them.
There was hMGlrauN pluce ia richmond
large enough for the ample rcpa-t when
was 20 De- spread. but at length one whole
Ioor IN the new addition TO the G1llc-o
Mills was selected, and there the eating,
drinking. t0a,ting, aud ora'lnS. some ~
which was very ol1qucrt, TOOK place; ana
that afternoon our visitors gave some 90
Their wonderful military performances
which they repeated and even extended
the next day before they took their de-
parture Tor home. Their eyoluuons
were u revelation even TO our mlltary-nen.
TIP D~IspATCH's WELCOME.
The papers OF the city had taken re-
teAted notice Of Their intended visit and
irepared the way FOR their proper recep-
ZION. Probably the DISPATCH would IKE
TO see what II said. Here IT Is, Juno %, lS5S:
I'VE need not say that the people OF VT
GINA feel deeply the sentiment OF patriot
ism and courtesy evinccd 10y tins magnln-
cent body of soldiers. and that they VIII
lie received with the most cordial and
whole-souled hospitality Of the GA DO
,nInlon. Our volunteers Will hail them
with the most fraternal greeting ana our
citizens with an old-iashlOned ana unlNer-
ral Virginia welcome
The Blues certainly fulfilled their part ot
this pledge for the volunteers. think
that one morning they took one OF the
entire companies Of the Seventh 10 the
Towhatan House (uow Ford's) and gave
them "A fine breakfast. But nearly oil that
day (the second. 1 think they kept open
house for tho whole regiment at their
armorv IN the rear of Minors law-build-
ing on the north side of Franklin between
Twelfth and Thirteenth. TINS part was
erected after the law-bullding proper, but
llso on n part of tho Capitol Square that
had been purchased from the State. and
lhe Blues contracted for their armOry IN 1t
before u was finished. Their armory,
however, did not havo room for their
Astounding hospitality and the number OF
It's participants. so they asked Mr.. Minor
10 let them rent and pay for a room IN the
l~aw-buIldlng ABOUT ON a level WITH thelr
armory and about hall its SIZE. TINS was
the fine and airy room which the Virginia
Historical Society had occupied for Seye.
raj years aiter Its reorganization IN 1917,
though one OF It's vs. CX-sccTetarleS ana
f~ayorite histOriographers, W. +. T., SAYS II
lad no approach to q local habItatlOu "
until the city gave II one inthe Athenaum,
and be Dubbed 10 an unhappy VaGrant
Tho proprietor told the Blues that they
could not possibly pay any rent for II, but
the room was no their disposal aud u gave
him pleasure 10 extend their accOmmoda-
tons. "Mcll then" thor SAID. " come IN
md take so|lnethiu'." did 20 IN more TO
witness than 70 partgke. and my recOllcc-
tion is that Mitchell Il Tyler had lent them
very large embossed and plated show
urn. with three or tour spiPots, and which
probably held more than their own famous
blue punch-bOWl. This urn was placed IN
this room, with some cdiblcs. and kept
supplied with iced champagne. and goodly
was the number Of those who tried ats con-
tents that thirsty summey-day. Thus thew
provided al overflow for thoir crowded
symoTy
ryEN STOPPED n COURT.
| think | have some recollection % tho
blues when the postmaster. Colonel
Thomas u. Bigger. wa their captain. |
have enjoyed very many times the pleasure
OF seeing them parade and partaken Of
their hospitality az Buchanan Spring
when their historic bowl was introduced.
think II was they who one day caused a
brlot suspension OF the Circuit Court and
one OF the bon ytots of Thomas T., August.
H. L-