San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-11-24
THE ARSENAL BAND.
ITS DISSOLUTION Is A SOURCE OF
DEEP REGRET TO MUSIC
LOVERS.
Something About the Military Mu-
stefan and the Band Master,
Frederick William Lewis.
From the Globs Democrat:


regret by many citizens of st.
Louis andLinSs, fact. lovers of music
throughout the Mississipps valley.
The immediate cause of the. dis
solution is not known, but the
fact that the iWar department at
Washington has issued the order
places the men in no good position
to continue the organization.
The success Of the band was
principally attributed to F. w.
Lewis, who took charge in Decem.
ber,:.lS77 and who had previously
spent eight years with the 9th
United States Cavalry in Nebraska
Arizona, Wyoming and Kansas.
But even the great work of Mr..
Lewis as an organizer, leader and
musician could not preserve the
band.
The band has a history. The
original organized band came to
st. Louis in 1871, when the cavalry
department was removed from
Carlisle, Pa, under command of
Gen. Cuvier Grover. AT that time,
and ever since, it was known as the
Arsenal band. It was an excellent
organization Of musicians, and soon
became popular with the citizens
generally. Nearly every great
gathering where music was
one of the features, was graced
with the presence Of the military
musicians, and very large part OF
the parade, as well as concert, busi-
ness was given to the boys in blue.
This, OF course, was not agreeable
to the different leaders of bands
throughout the city, and a com.
bined effort was made to prevent
the appearance of the band when
ever competition was at all prob
able. A protest was forwarded,
and on many occasions it was even
limited that no union band would
play if the soldier boys were per-
mitted to take part in the parades
The protests seemingly had some
effect, as the band has not appeared
so frequently of late, or at least
since the musicians of the city be.
came so thoroughly organized.
General order No. 33, war de-
partment, Washington, ID. c., do
ing away with the recruiting de-
partment at David's Island, N. Y,
Columbus, o., and the cavalry depot
at Jefferson barracks, was sent out
on August Is. 1t virtually dis
solved the great Arsenal band, and
before another month passes it's
members will be scattered far and
wide. They have been given the
choice Of discharge or a transfer
to different regiments. Eleven
have chosen the former, ten the
latter, and six young men remain
under instructions. No orders in
regard to the leader, who has some.
what Of a remarkable record, have
been received from the war depart
ment, but his numerous friends in
this city, 1T is said, fully expect that
the department will consider his
many years Of faithful, earnest and
energetic service in such light as
to give him at least a living COM
petence to retire on.
Frederick William Lewis enlist
ed in New York upon the organiza-
tion Of the 10th Infantry, August
%, 1855, and was assigned to the
band Of that regiment, which
formed the advance guard that
made the memorable march from
Camp Walbach, near Fort Leaven-
worth, Kan, to Utah Territory in
1857. He organized Troop F, lst
Cavalry, Missouri Volunteers, dur
ing the month Of July, 1861, at
CarrOltOD, Green county, ILL.,,
which troop was accepted as part
Of the LIST Cavalry at jefferson Bar
racks September 6, 1861. He was
placed in command OF the regi.-
ment by Gen. S. r. Curtis on the
same day. He was made a lieu
tenant colonel and served through
the war, being mustered out
in 1865 with the rank Of
major. Afterwards he was ap-
pointed to a first lieutenancy on
the recommendation Of Gen. Grant,
but did not accept. He re-enltsteG
in the regular army later, however,
and is now band leader at Jeffer-
son Barracks. Mr.. Lewis Is a
Of the Loyal Legion Of the
United States, commandery of Mis-
souri,; Post commander Of Gen.
Lyon Post, No. 2. Department OF
G. A. R.; a Post Com
of Gen. Logan command,