Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-10

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wi marily amassed.
Nh Washington enjoys
NNRTENN\N the distinction of
VVR IAEMNN having the most COM
VL%AW\" plete and practical
NV a militia establishment
in the country. In
deed, 1t is asserted by
those In position to judge. Washington can
challenge any and every other capital in
the world to show q local military organi-
zation equal to it's own in point of thorough
ness and efficiency. These assertions need
give no offense to other militia, inasmuch
as an army officer but recently declared
that in completeness Of detail the National
Guard of the District of Columbia possessed
some modern features of military organiza-
ton for which the regular army has been
vainly clamoring for over a quarter of a
century.
The present excellent condition of the Dis
trict military, however. has not been sud
denly or quickly attained. 1t took eighty
six years for Congress to realize the neces-
sity of change in our militia law and it
was only in 1889 that the present magnifi-
cent organization was effected. But even
In the early years of the present century
washington was noted for its military. for
as far back as 1912 one gallant captain
boosted that he had met the enemy with n
hundred muskets and band of music"
In those days, as, indeed, for seyenty-fiye
years after, the District military consisted
entirely of separate and distinct companies,
the majority OF them regarding the band
ana drum major as most essential adjuncts
IN the decade following the sacking of the
national capital by the British the mar
tial spirit OF our citizens seemed to have
developed greatly, for when Gen. Lafayette
visited here in 1926. according to a recent
declaration Of the veteran Brigadier Gen.
Peter +. Bacon. who has passed his four
score OF years, the District militia had then
more uniformed men in ranks than now.
Tor at that time there We're the three Dis
trlct cities of Washington, Georgetown and
Alexandria rivaling each other in regard to
military strength and drill. Indeed. it is
one OF the proud memories Of old militia
men that Gen. Lafayette never moved from
his house without escort OF gaudily
equipped District men. who had the honor
Of acting as his body.g guard
No Early Records.
Strange to say, there are no official records
anywhere of early District military organi-
cations. and yet. lamentable as this fact
may be. its reason is plain. While the two
Oldest names of military organizations in
the District are now borne by the Washing
ton Light Infantry and National Rifles, the
organizations which first bore those names
originated as far back 1896. whereas the
present Washington Light Infantry and
National Rifles are creations of much later
years and are in no way linked with their
older namesakes, who died or were disor-
ganiZed many years ago. Indeed, unlike
other old cities. Washington cannot boast
or any ancient continuous military organi-
Zation-the old names being simply borrow
ed from the past. but only old names and
no old records survived.
The first real organized military in the
District was commanded in 1872 by Gen
Van Ness who was likewise most active
in enla rging the military about the time of
Lafayettes visit fourteen years later
Along in the forties the mounted company
known as the presidents Troop was or
gained, which afterward was commanded
by the rich butcher, Capt. Peck the first
lieutenant of the troop being Sam Owen
whose hotel on the avenue still bears his
name. Another well-known organization
about that time was the National Blues"
commanded by Captain, afterward Gen.
Bacon. but the company was well-nIgh de-
pleted By the Mexican war. fifteen of its
members becoming officers in Scotts vic
torious army. The National Rifles was re-
garded even then as a crack company, and
fiourished till 1861, when it's captain.
Schaeffer, gave up his position in enc of
the departments and, accompanied by many
Of his comrade rif1emen, Joined the southern
army.
During President Buchanan's term. when
the political situation threatened b!oodshed
great pressure was brought to bear upon
the Secretary of War. Mr.. Floyd, to re-
organize the District militia. but even when
President Buchanan gave the order, the
Secretary. whose sympathy was with the
south. refused to execute 1t. Finally, the
acting secretary of war was induced to
make the order, and commission of army
and militia officers was appointed to for1nu-
late plan of organization. which was
adopted in 1860. AS a result, Maj. Gen
Rodger c. Weightman was appointed COM
handing general. with Maj. Gems. Peter
Force and George c. Thomas as division
commanders. There were also four briga-
der generals appointed, the only surviving
one of them all being Gen. Peter F. Bacon,
who is now enjoying active good health i'm
his old residence on Indiana avenue. which
by the way, was built entirely by hand
over fifty years ago.
When the War Began.
OF course the plan of organization Of the
District militia, contemplating, as il did
two complete military divisions was too
gigantic to be practically carried out in a
community of limited numbers of arms
bearing adults. Even when the District
cont tanned the three separate cities of
Washington, Georgetown and Alexandria
and had three brigadiers, Weightman,
Thompson and Hunter, the entire military
would hardly make one full-sized brigade.
Nevertheless, when the war began among
the first to go to the front were men who
for years previous rad drilled and paraded
with District companies. In this connec-
ton the interesting fact may be mention
ed that had the District been allowed to
send brigade into the field at the begin
ming of the civil war, its commander Cen
Bacon, would have been senior. by date of
Presidents commission, to all Other general
officers on the Union side then marching
to the front, ana for that reason, perhaps
he was not allowed 10 so forth.
Under the old law of 1903 every man in
TO be called into service, and Congress vest
ed full control of the District r1ilitia in
the President of the United States who was
constituted then, as now, it's COMMANDMENT
chief. But in the District territorial Gays
that fact seemed to have been wholly for
gotten. for in 1871 the territorial legis!a ture
passed an act reorganzing the District
militia, going far as to require that the
Secretary of War shall' issue commissions
to officers. OF course the ludicrous sppc-
tacle of a newly created District legislative
council attempting to nullify and repeal an
act of Congress- and that act, too, the or
ganic act of the District. was soon settled
by an opinion of the Attorney General and
Col. Moore, who was appointed a brigaiier
general by the territorial government never
arrogated to himself either the rank or