The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-10
LIGHT INFANTRY BLUES.
THEIR ONE HUNDRED IND THIRD
AYNITERSARY TO-DAf.
History of virginls's Crack Military o =
ganiLatlon-Some of the Men Who Have
Been Capiains-skctches of a Few.


the crack military organization of Vir-
ginia, will celebrate their one hundred
and third anniversary to-day. Usually
the 10Th Of May IS spent by them with
their numerous friends In an all-day out
ing. This year. however. the anniver-
sary falling on n Sunday II was de-
cided 10 confine the observance OF the day
10 the attending OF church services at
st. Pauls tonight where Rev. Hartley
Carmichael the new chaplain OF the
Blues Battalion. will preach a special
sermon 10 them. The members or the
Blues Association will. Of course be,
with the battalion on that occasion. In
determining the manner or celebration
the very fact that within few weeks
the Confederate reunion viii be held in
this city. induced the Blues 10 deyiate
from their usual custom and save the
expenses OF an all-day outing quite
number OF military organizations from
other states will visit Richmond during
the Confederate reunion. and the Blues
will then have ample opportunity 10 spend
their money I'm entertaining visitors.
Richmond looks back with pride upon
the past career OF the Blues. Men whose
names have been synonyms Of chvalry,
honor and heroism. have led the old
company into the thick OF the fray, and
brave sons OF the Old Dominion have
marched 10 the very brink or the cannon
under her victorious nag. Her members
have suffered hardships, defeat. and
death, but humiliation or disgrace, never.
The future Of the Blues, too. is as
bright as their past Is memorable.
Though the storm clouds or several wars
have swept over their forces and struck
down in the midst Of brilliant military
careers many OF those who proved an
honor TO their country and an inspira-
fion 10 their comrades. the Blues stiH
stand as q peer among military organi-
cations: chivalrous IN time Of peace,
answering IN the duties OF true sol
dierv. and ever willing and ready TO
step upon the scene ~ turmoil and
strife for tho protection OF the state.
HISTORY OF TIE BLUES.
on public and festive occasions the
Blues have always attracted general at
teution. They are an exceiently-druied
body. and skilled In all the movements
OF military tactics. There is a certain
uniformity Of appearance and unity OF
action about the Blues which few II any
other military organizations have. on
occasions OF public festlvity tho hand
some uniforms picturesque hats. ana
general bearing Of the men never fall
10 be tho subject OF much comment and
no wonder that Richmond should reel
proud Of the Blues. with their glorious
past. their honorable presence, ana their
encouraging future. They are fine BODY
Of men. and they number their friends
bv the thousands those handsome, chiVal-
rous. soldierly fellows whose name and
achievements have been so closely iden-
tilted with tho brilliant military record
Of the Army Of Northern Virginia.
The Richmond Light Infantry Blues IS
one Of the Oldest volunteer organizations
(Which has been IN continued seryice) In
the United States. Like the moss-cover-
ed bucket. revercd for its age, IL Is now
cherished for its antiquity, and as the
young. green moss grows heaithy upon
the old bucket. so the youth or TINS city
who have taken the places OF the ancient
of other days, put forth tn'F Nlsoio
limbs. renewing the life Of the old stock
and lsceDlng alive the spirit OF former
times.
From wear 10 year the number or those
v-bo FOUGHT I'm the ranks of the Blues
during the late war grows smaller ana
smaller. and within comparatively snort
firoo tho very last ere ~ them VIII ne
laid al rest. Among the present sur
,-ivors is a noble trio consisting or three
former CAPTAINS Of the Blues-Charlos
Purcell bigger Ezekiel j.. Levy, ana
George W. Jarvis
Colonel Charles Purcell Bigger whom
everybody knows only 20 like, was porn
I'm he citv OF Richmond on the 10th Gay
If NAV 1870 in the old homestead oil
chief Justice Marshall. rather pecu-
liar coincidence is that Colonel Bigger
was horn on the anniversary OF inc
Rlues. and was christcnod In the FAMOUS
nuncb-bowl which was owned by the
oo.-,ror,, and was afterwards destroyed
b,- fire in tho old SpOtswood Hotel yhlch
stood on the corner OF Eighth ana Nam
streets. At the firing Il the hrst gun
at Fort Sumter Colonel Bigger was ON
ciauv connected with a department Oh
Tho limited states Government, but inlihe-
diatolv resigned and enlisted IN the wal
oe FIRST sergeant Of the Richmond Light
Infantry, Rlues. lie continued IN the ser
vice of his native state ana tnat or ihe
Confederate states until 1854. when ne
was severely wounded in front or fe-
torsburr while I'm command Of the Blues
10 which position he was promoted by
order Of General Henry A. Wise, Conied-
crate States Army. Colonel hlsser is
now and has been for a number Of years
commandment Of Lee Camp soldiers Home
EZEKIEL J. LEVY.
CAPTAIN Ezekiel J. Levy was porn lI
Tho CITY Of Richmond. September Il, 1913.
HIS parents were Jacob 4. Levy and
Martha Lew. His father represented az
one time jefferson ward IN lhe 'oIiii''oN
Council. His grandfather Abram Levy,
came 10 Richmond In $50. ana the FANNY
has been identified with the interests Oh
This CITY ever since. The noble generosity
and kindness Of "Old Abraham Levy
was the theme in many home or the
generation just passed away
Ezekiel !. Levy became member OF
the Blues I'm 1856 and from the ranks was
regularly promoted from fifth corporal up
Tho beginning OF the war between the
states found him fourth sergeant. The
Blues turned out with full ranks on
what is known I'm Richmond as "Pawnee
sunday" and a few days after were sent
10 Fredericksburg. and thence 10 Aquia
Creek and vicinity on tho Potomac river.
While al Marlboro Point, two OF the
ueutenants having resigned an election
was held 10 nm vacancies thus OCCASION
ed. Ncssrs. Carter. Bigger. and Sanxay
were elected Ieutenants. and L. j. Levy
was made first sergeant.
GEORGE ". JARVIS.
Captain George W. Jarvis. who receiv-
ed his commission as captain or the
Blues from General Wise on the day OF
the surrender at AppOmattoN, sun taxes
an earnest interest In the organization.
He IS the senior member or the firm or
Jarvis & Glinn, well-known contractors
and builders I'm this city. lie has most
fntereetfnes collection OF autOgraph-paper