Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-02
THE GALLANT FIRST.
LEAVES FRONTS history PRIOR TO
THE RECENT uNPLEiSAN NESS.
Tho Organization Existed NJ Far Back as
'5e and Marched with the
Seventh New York.
written for tho DIspa,cn.l

In the introduction 10 MS account OF
the Howitzers their hearty historogra-
pher. w. p F., has this Just observation
Our duty is TO recur to first principles
and look to the causes, judge OF the mo-
tiyes, and observe the particular condi-
tions which may have combined to bring
about certain results"
In applying the above he ascribes the
origin of the First Regiment Of Volunteers
in Richmond to the visit of the Seventh
Regiment of the National Guard OF New
York, when they escorted hither the re-
mains OF President Monroe. IN July. 1888:
W. z. 2. says: Previous to this event
the volunteer companies of the town " re
all independent organizations, uniformed
according to their several tancies and act
ing under separate and distinct authori-
ties The consequence was not only an
entire absence of unity aud general esprit
do corps. but an unworthy amount OF en-
vious rivalry and self-assertion prevailed
among some of the companies.
But q change WAS now ut hand. when the
military men of the city came to observe
the appearance of that splendid array Of
citizen soldlery from sister State-all
uniformed alike. moving company by
company unit of precision and dlscl-
pline-they began to consider OF the mat
ter. II was not long before some
of the promir ent military men or the city
met in consultation on the situation. and
the first thing that impressed them was
the necessity of forming more companies.
At the same time tho feeling in
favor of consolidating the military into
single regiment was daily gaining strength.
In due time this was done, and Thomas Z.
August, one Of the most popular Young
men OF Richmond. was made colonel"
THE REGIMENT IN 1853.
The writer had some personal knowledge
of the military affairs of Richmond. and
thought it strange that the intelligent
gentlemen who lad been engaged IN them
should have been SO long derelict and so
far behind the age. as is above represented,
but as w. =. II. is generally so we'll posted
and regarded az such high authority he
felt no disposition to gainsay his state
ments. But soon after reading them he
had occasion to look tor an entirely differ
ent purpose into the report made at the
time of the visit OF the splendid Seventh
Regiment. and 1t there appeared that the
First Regiment of Virginia Volunteers,
under the command of Colonel August,
was IN the procession on that memorable
5th of July. 1853, together with the famous
Seventh itself
Our First Regiment on that day was COM
posed as follows:
Virginia Rifles. Captain A. Lybrock, G5
men.
Rocky-Ridge Rifles, Captain ]. b. Clop-
ton, 50 men.
Montgomery Guard Captain P. I. Moore,
As men.
National Guard. Captain j. II. Johnson,
81 men.
Junior Blues, Captain L. +. BossieuI, 81
men.
Richmond Light-Infantry Blues, Captain
William II. Fry - men.
Richmond Grays, Captain W. VI. Elliott,
As men.
Public Guard, Lieutenant Gay. 46 men.
Some of these companies were not regu-
lar members of the said regiment. Captain
ClOptons was from Manchester. Lieuten-
ant Gay commanded the Public Guard be-
cause Captain nimmock was the chief
marshal. Moreover, Colonel August pre-
sided at the banquet (at the new Gallego
Mills, and was no doubt selected for that
position on account of his military rank.
BAD EXISTED FOR YEARS.
On the second day July 9Th the Seventh
Regiment was reviewed on the Capitol
Square by Governor Wise. attended by
Colonel August. Then Colonel
Cary commanded detail of our First Regi-
ment, who paraded in honor OF the Be-
yenth.
These facts led to some further e1ami-
nation of newspaper files. from which 1t
was ascertained that the First Virginia
Regiment of Volunteers had an existence
several years previous TO 1853 aud was
once. as far back az 1852, under command
OF Colonel Waiter Gwynn.
". Z. y. further says: SO strong had
been the impression made by the visit OF
the Seventh Regimen. that the ne1 or
ganlzation adopted even the color of its
uniform. and now. instead OF the motley
array lately TO be seen on the streets OF
Richmond whenever there was military
parade the companies of the ne,cly- formed
regiment were uniformed in what was AZ
forwards known as the Confederate gray"
Yes. all the companies except the old
historic Blues did adopt the gray uni
forms. but CAPTAIN Llliotts Grays had paid
special attention to their northern visitors
of the same color: they gave them cola,
ton on the Capitol Square and chartered
a steamboat and escorted them part OF
their way down James river.
LASTING BENEFIT.
There con be no doubt that the presence
and performances here of such model SOL
diers was Of great and lasting benefit 10
all the military OF Richmond. Besides her
companies already mentioned there were
at that time several Others Viz, the Young
Guard Battalion, under Major John Ii.
RlchgNson: Guards of the Metropolis, j.
W. Wyatt. orderly sergeant. DC.
The correct origin of our First Regiment
Of Volunteers may yet be ascertaiued.
RIcnMoND March 90, 1898. NJ.