The Washington times., 1895-04-16
VETERANS OF The RIFLES.
They Celebrate the COmpany's
ThirtV-fOurth Anniversary.
JOINED WITH THEIR JUNIORS
Fifteen Of the Thirty-nins Survivors of the
Original seventv-seven Members of the
Feasted and Sang and Recalled the Times
and Events in Which They Played Part.

The National Rifles observed the thirty
fourth anniversary of its muster into the
military service of the United States with
a reunion last night at Freund's, which was
participated in by fifteen OF the thirty nine
survivors of the original company OF
seventy men.
The reunion was full OF reminiscent
happiness and joyous light 1t was noisy
with laughter aud applause; eloquent with
speech aud story; musical with song and
clinking glasses; radiant with bright faces
and merry with witandhum
The reunion was chockfulI of the spirit of
brothcrly feeling, proper in a reunion.
Old men fought their battles Ger, dwelt on
the thoughts of their absent comrades, and
in the winter OF their life called up memo
ries OF their spring.
IN TO THE BANQUET.
After the enthusiasm of their greetings
had subsided, when the amber tide in the
decanter which graced the center table
of the front parlor ebbed low, and after
ceratin comrades had played the piano till
il felt like turning its ribs over on the other
side, the goodiy company adjourned to
the feast hall. where a banquet, fit for
the gods and National Rifles was spread.
The table was placed diagonally across
the room. The light which fell through
softly tinted shades was almost thwarted
by the ferns and palms which decked the
feStal board. Rich clusters of flowers
were placed at close intervals.
There was no fOmality. There were
few dress suits, but nobody seemed to mind
it. Everybody called everybody else by
his Christian name and the eheeriest of good
humOr prevailed. There were 10 toasts.
Every body talked when, where, how,
and on what he pleased.
Those who sat around the table were:
President Edward T. Mathews, Secretary
G. Y. Atlee, Joseph AcAakin, William G.
Moore, T. H. Alexander. William d. Bald
win, G. A Brant, John T. Clement, Noble
d. Larver, William G. Phillips, I. NJ.
Shepherd, Gen. T. Il Stanton, Thomas w.
Stuart, Gilbert T. Towles, and A. T.
Britton.
1t was past midnight when the comrades
parted company.
CAREER OF THE COMPANY.
The National Rifles was organized No
vember %, 1889, at the Lafayette House,
now the Ebbitt, by fourteen young men.
The company rendered its services 10 the
United States on April -, and was mus
tered IN on Aprll 10, alSo1. Sotle OF IT'S
members joined the armies OF the Confed-
eracy, aud some attained high rank in the
Federal armies. The SURVIVORS, in addition
TO those present last night, are:
George A. Bentley, o. H Brightwell, ].
c. Clayton, Thomas G. Foster, T. A. Lay,
John B. Randolph, L. B. Dixon, w o. stod-
dard, Thomas Story, Joseph Blackwood,
A. p. Barnes. ]. C. Lay, +. H: Steele,
Major william Hawley, Alexander r. Shep-
| herd, Col. William K. Smithburg, Col. a
J. Dallas, Capt. Benjamin Hutchinson,
Col william Maynedier, ". L. Waters,
MarceIlus Bailey, John W. Kennedy, Rob-
| ert J. Morrison.
or the original company, thirty are dead
and seven unaccounted for. These are:
| Isaac D. Balch, William Chappelle, Sam
/ uel c. Hotchkiss, William p. Mccall, Gar
rett c. Moore, George 7. Woodson, and
| Miles Yetter.