Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-22
THE TRIP GIVEN OUT.
OUR CAVALRY WILL NOT
GO TO INAUGURATION.
Grand-Marsbal Mcmahon De-
ciines to Give Them the
Post Of Special Escort.

The officers OF the First Regiment OF
Cavalry OF q meeting held yesterday al
ternoon decided TO abandon the pro-
posed trip Of this organization to Wash
ington on the occasion OF Cleveland'sin-
auguration. This action, which was very
reluctantly taken. was the result OF
Colonel w. F. Wickham's unsuccessful
efforts to procure for the troopers the
honored position of special escort to the
Prcsident-elect
The Colonel, who first conceived the
idea, was exceedingly enthusiastic about
the scheme, and exerted himself to the
utmost to carry it to a successful com
pletion. He realized that the Virginia
cavalrymen, if granted the request to
act az escort for Grover, would be
brought prominently before the military
world and would reflect the greatest
credit upon the citizen soldiery Of the
Old Dominion.
COLONEL wICKHAM'S LETTERS.
Colonel Wickham did not apprehend
the slightest trouble in procuring funds
10 meet the expenses of the trip, as he
knew the plan would meet with popular
favor. He accordingly wrote TO Presl-
dcnt-elect Cleveland enclosing as ere
dentials letter from Governor Mchln-
new rendering the services OF his com
mand. Receiving no reply to this he
had q conference with the Inaugural
Committee at Washington, and enlisted
the services OF the Virginia delegation
in Congress to aid him in his efforts.
Upon being told that the whole matter
of assigning troops their positions in line
was in the hands Of Grand-Marshal
General Martin II. Mcmahon, Colonel
Wickham sent his application direct to
this official.
On receiving no reply to this letter,
and having seen in the New York HOTH
of the 18th nn interview with General
McMahon to the effect that no single
command should have the position as
special escort Colonel Wickham tele-
grained him on the 18th instant asking
the Marshal to advise him if he had re-
ceived the Colonel's letter.
GENERAL M'MAHoN's LETTER.
General Mcmahon replied on Friday
that nc had mailed his reply to Colonel
Wickham's letter, and it was received
Yesterday morning. 1t reads:
"My Dear nel.-Your letter of
the 10Th instant, accompanied by COM
munications from his Excellency Gov
ernor Mckinney and from the Virginia
delegation in Congress, is received.
at would give me great pleasure,
both for the reasons assigned 10y you ana
for many others, ii | could assign to
your regiment the post Of special escort
10 the President | find, however,
upon consultation with the committee
here and with other gentlemen expe-
rienced in such matters, that precedent
has established, and on principle. l
think. what should constitute the
troops who accompany the Presi-
dent-elect from the White House to
the Capitol prior to the inauguration.
II is considered that the troops directly
under the command OF the President
should alone constitute the escort.
Hen,e at previous inauguratons the
REGULARS of all branches OF the service
and the troops of the District of Column
bia. which are under the immediate
command of the President OF the United
States, have been alone selected.
q do not think it proper, upon the
advice of the committee, to depart from
this practice.
in the march from the Capitol after