Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-26
THEY WILL RESIGN.
THE REGIMENT NOT RecoNciLEo TO
THE COUNCILS ACTION.
The Dri,i-Haii Not Used Since thc Bazaar
Principal Ofncers TO Withdraw
from tho Service.

The First Virginia Regiment has not yet
become reconciled to the action OF the
City Council in granting the use of the
drilLhall OF it's armory to tho ladies of the
Confederate Memorial Bazaar without re-
gard for the convenience Of that organiza-
ton or to the wishes of its officers.
Immediately after the city's legislative
bodies took the stand they did in refer
ence to the matter there was much talk OF
the erection of new armory and OF the
resignation of tho officers Of the regiment,
or some of them at least.
Rather than have anything TO happen
that would mar the success of the fair the
whole matter was allowed to rest in stdf'i
quo. Now that the bazaar is over and its
results so satisfactory to every southerner
the question as TO what the military intend
TO do Is uppermost IN many MINDS.
STOPPED USING THE DRiIL-HALr-
There was rumor on the streets yester-
dav that the regiment had not used the
drill-hsl. IN which the big fair took place.
since the ladies' were granted permission
by the Council to occupy 1t during the
month OF April. A report also reached the
ears of DISPATCH reporter that Colonel
Henry G. Jones, Lieutenant-ColonelA A. L..
Phillips, Major j. II. Derbyshire. and per-
haps other officers Of the organization
purposed rendering their designations
and retiring from the service very
soon. The scribe at once set out
to verify or have the rumors de-
MED. He was not long in running across
one Of tho principal 'oilicers OF the reei-
men.. who said that II was fact that
the military had not occupied the drill:
hall since the bazaar, but he did
not know that any ono had been au-
thorized to state that they would not
again use the hall. The impression APP
peared to be that as the Council had caused
the regiment to move out of the drill
hall II would have to invite the soldiers
back into 1t before they would return:
This official neither affirmed nor denied
that this was the stand which mad been
taken by the militia.
TO RESIGN The LAST oP THR YEAR.
The gentleman TO whom the DISPATCH
maa was talking said that 1t was fact
that several OF the principal officers of the
regiment proposed TO quit the service by
the last of the year. One or more had In
tended doing this before now. but had
been prevailed upon to remain in the or
ganization until the real effect of the Coun-
cil's action could be seen. The officer IN
question stated that it impaired the disci-
pline and service of the regiment TO be
constantly moved about from one place 10
another, and that the recent change had
worked an injury to the service which 1t
would take six months to fully repair.
He thought the city should waive
every right and give to snch an
organization every possible advantage.
ii Richmond were menaced IL any way
the First Virginia Regiment would be the
first body TO be called upon to face the dan
ger, and for this and many other reasons II
should be allowed TO carry on It's affairs IN
an uninterrupted way and thereby keep up
the ardor and interest of Its members and
maintain its discipline. The military-man
thus conversing upon the question re-
marked that the Council had viewed tins
whole matter from sentimental ana not
business standpoint
poN'T WANT 1T TO GO DOWN.
He said that the gentlemen contenpla-
ting retirement were anxious to see the
regiment continue to grow in numbers
and strength rs an organization. ana
would regret sorely to see 1t disintegrate
or 20 down. They at the same time
realized that il is utterly impossible for
them to carry on its affairs and the VOlumc
of work necessary TO keep up its present
standard with the existing conditions con-
fronting them.