Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-08
COLONEL BoYkIN RESIGNS.
He Lcnvcs the F,inous rith Regiment
a Fortuui Letter To- General Erown.

a Foruuui Letter To- General I;rowr.
baltimore American)
Colonel William a. Boykin resigned the
command Of the Fifth Regiment Of Mary
land Saturday night. lie announced his
purpose at "A meeting Of the officers oil the
Fifth Saturday night at the Armory. and,
subsequently, sent a formal letter OF re-
slgnation 10 General Stewart Brown. Colo
mel Boykin's announcement caused a
painful impression upon the subordinate
officers of the Fifth last night. and there
was q unanimous expression or SORROW
among them. for Colonel Boykin was
we'll beloved and highly esteemed 10y
every mar in the National Guard.
In a brief address. he spoke feelingiy
OF his pleasant associations with the regi-
ment, and his deep regret In being com
PEELED to leave IT. His resignation was Il
surprise 10 them. and he was requested 10
reconsider his action anu TO WilhHrd"
his resignation, but he replied that he
could not do 20. The officers will pre-
pare suitable resolutions on the resigna-
lion of Colonel Boykin, and will present
them In hin In an engrossed form.
Colonel Boykin's immediate successor Is
Colonel Frank Markoe. His regular sue
cessor will be chosen by the officers OF
the REGIMENT. The election OF a successor
viii take place at an early meeting or
the officers. The officers may choose, If
they gee proper. a man who Is not "A
member OF the regiment as Colonel BOY
kin's successor.
Colonel Boykin was seen Saturday night
BY an American reporter, AM said: My
resignation Is solely a matter or business.
| found that | would have either to ne
elect nv business or the regiment, ami
| could not afford 10 do the former MY
business frequently has necessitated my
being out OF town when regimental mat
tiers should be attended TO. ! was no'
willing n continue As commanding officer
OF the regiment and neglect II. The regl-
ment Is now In excellent cond,uon. AMI
re personnel Is second to none in the
country. This was shown by the way the
regiment turned out when ordered to
Frostburg. | decided to send in my re-
slgno,ion al this time. because Il IL the
beginning u the year, and the season IS
now on when drills are frequent, ami
thsre are many matters demanding the
p|arson1l attention Of the commanding
officer"
HAD 1T LONG IN CONTEMPLATION.
Colonel Boykln has had this step IN
contemplated lLA Il lHN~ 'A'HHf 10
ties imposed upon him as colonel serio,N
" in,crferei with his business, and only
his love Of a military life and his warm
attachment fOrthe command. as q whole,
AMI Notwithstanding repeated sollcita-
tions Of his partners TO 10 So. has here
t1f.re prevented him from laying down
his command.
SKETCH OF THE COLONEL
Colonel Eoykln is a Virginian 10y birth.
and is a son OF General f.. VI. Boykin, of
Smithfeld. Isle OF Wight county. He.
however. claims Norfolk as his homo,
having lived there for fifteen years. H.
Is now about g years Of age, AMI has
been closely associated with Baltimore
Tor nearly twenty-five years, although ~
did not remove here until about fourteen
vears ago. lie took 20 military hi' early,
and became a member OF me Norioih
Li4ht-Artillery Blues, one ot IN" Oldest
military organizations in existence, AMI
which has always been composed Of nor,
folks most influential young mon. tie
was a member ~ the Blues for nine
wears. md was with that command I'm
iS7j. nj the Boston Contennial. and where
ne had also opportunity to see the Flfth,
little thinking then that he would one
day command this crack regiment. IT.
was also a. the philadelphia Ceutenri1'
with the Blues. and, IN passing through
baltimore the company was escorted anI
handsomely entertained 10y the Firth. The
two commands. or. rather. a part OF th'
Fifth and the Blues. marched together
in the Centennial Legion, composed -
one company from each Of the thirtee n
original states of tho Union.
WHEN NE JOINED THE FIFTH.
Colonel Boykin foinel tho Fifth lteSi-
mcut April T.. l>s2, as first lieutenant ~
COMPANY l.. He was elected captain oi
the company the following july, while
the regiment was In camp AT cape May.
He was aftCrwarl elected major. an !
then lieutenant colonel. anl IN May. $50,
was unanimously elected colonel of the
regiment. OF which ne had been IN CONF
mand as lieutenant colonel since January
!. 1870. upon ,ha resignation Of Colonel
charles X. Gather. Re has. therefore,
been in command - the regiment Tor ave
years. and. during ,hat tine. has brought
f. 70 th. highest Notch in point ~ num-
hers ana in all that pertains % iaal
ezpri, lu corps which now marks the
command. concelci 20 De second - none
in the country. and the pride n Baiti-
more AMI Of Marylanl. To bring the
regiment 10 this high Standard required a
soldier 10 Doe in command. IN al that the
word implies, ami the result has JUSTIFIED
his selection 70 the highest office in the
gift of the regiment.
colonel Boykin commanded the regi-
ment AZ Richmond on the occasion NJ the
unyriling of the Lee monument: at the
state camp at L0reley: At Raleigh, y. c.,
at Washington al the time u the secon
inauguration OF President Cleveland. AMI
at FrOstburg. Nd. where the regiment
,.,,.fn.f fbr.. .t.alG - thu T.fN nff4r
having assembled. In four hours notice.
81 per cent. Of IFS strength, thus showing
the thorough management Of the COM