The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-09-14
HOME OF THE RIFLEMEN.
THE BEST EQUIPPED ARMORY IN
THE STATE.
Fitted up With the Latest and Best
Equipments and Conyeuie1ces.
History of the Esihemen,

f, Fitted up With the Latest and Best
Equipments and Conyenie1ces.
History of the RifIemen.
The Forsyth Rifiemen have a model
home.
There is nothing in the State to
compete with it and it will compare
fayorablY with any armory in the
South.
The new nhome of the Rifiemen is
situated over the market house in the
municipal building, and is owned and
controlled by the Company. The
| Rifiemen paid the city $4,000 for its
erection.
The drill hall is 5Gx90 feet and is
surrounded by - lockers. These are
arranged for the safe keeping of the
uniforms, guns, knapsacks and other
equipments. Each locker has Yale
lock so as to enable each member to
keep his equipments from being mo-
Tested.
There are So incandescent lights in
the drill hall and these furnish a
beautiful light at night.
On the wall there are two black
/ boards, one for general orders and the
; other for company orders.
Attached to the drill room is dress
; furnished with a dressing case, wash
stand, etc. There is also room for
Jhe storage of the COmpany's prop
erty.
In the northeast corner Of the build
ing is Il pool room in which is to be
found one Of the Brunswick-Balk's
best combination tables.
In the southeast corner is reading
room, the floor being covered with
fslrT n il n
be found a library, newspaper files,
card and other game tables. Right
here it may be stated that no betting
is allowed. II any is done every mem
Der knows the pcnalty-that OF eXpul-
sion from the company The walls of
the room are adorned with pictures
Of Lee, Jackson, Governor Scales, Cen
erals Glenn and Cameron, past cOmpa-
ny officers, deceased members, etc.
The armory is well fitted up with
lavatories, water closets and other
convenicnceS.
The members of the company are
delighted with the Rifemen's new
homeland they have right to be.
Col. A. L. Smith, Of Charlotte, In
spcctur-GeneTal of the North Carolina
State Guard, while here last week. re-
marked that this armory was the best
in the State and among the best to be
The company now has forty-fye
members.
THE ORGANIZATION,
The Forsyth Riflemen was first or
ganized at Gcrmanton, Stokes county,
(Of which Forsyth was at that time
part) February -, 1872, by Capt. For
syth, who was afterward promoted to
I.icutenant-CoIOnelO Of the Battalion.
and was killed in a sllirmish with the
British troops on the frontiers of New
York State.
At the close of the war the company
was disbanded and returned home. 1t
was re-organized January 16, 1916, and
was Oificered by Capt. =. NJ. Henry,
who died in Washington City few
years ago. Col. Joseph Masten was
1st lieutenant and Chas. B. Ogburn
Ind lieutenant.
This company served through the
war with Mexico and was disbanded
at Norfolk, Va, in November, 184S.
The company was again re-organiZ-
ed on May 20, 1861, by Capt. Alfred II.
Belo, who was afterWard promoted to
Colonel, and served through the entire
war between the States as Company
ID, 2lst North Carolina troops, sur
rendering at Appamatox with Lee.
On March 26, 1877, there was an
other reorganization with Col. a. b.
Gorrell, of this city, as captain.
The company has had the following
list of Captains since 1877: John Il:
Nann, r.. L. Stedman, John A. Brown,
John ID. Burch, e. f. Young, S. II.
Smith, w. L. Gray, r. B. Glenn, and
the present captain, ]. G. Bessent.
The company attended the national
drill at Washington City in 1888; also
both inauguratiOns Of President
Cleveland; all encampments of the
State Guard since the war, besides
great many other celebrations.