Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-17
NAY BE DlSBANDED.
FIRST CAVALRY REcrMENr LIKE
LIZ TO BECOME A BATTALION.
ONE TROOP WITHOUT A CAPTAIN.
Not uniikeiy That Col. stern VIII
Recommend That the Hcnrico
Light Dragons re Disbanded
After the Approaching Inspection.

The First Virginia Cavalry Regiment
stands A very good show OF being dis
banded and that, too. at no distant date
The regiment now consists OF only hve
troops. one less than tho minimum num-
Der permitted by law 10 constitute
regiment. and one OF these ive--the Hen
rico Light pragoons-wiii probably be
recommended for disbandment by As
sistant-Inspector- General 10 Lane Stern.
who will inspect II on next Wednesday
evening.
This troops disbandment would seem
TO mean that the regiment would 90 by
default. also. as with four troops II would
not be allowed to continue as a regi-
ment. and would at once be converted
into battalion. 1t might be recruited
up TO a regiment again. but for a time.
at least until two more troops were
gotten in. 1t would remain a battalion
only.
The Henrlco troop. which was organized
organized some five or six years ago.
has had a career full OF vicissitudes. AT
the last annual inspection the troop mar
rowly escaped disarmament. Captain j.
w. Lockwood, adjutant OF the regiment,
was assigned 20 command the troop. ana
was subsequently elected its captain
When he took hold of the organization
its membership was only about twenty
odd. He recruited IL rapidly, and now
has on the rolls about forty men. m@~
jority OF these. however do not attend
drills, and Captain Lockwood, hndins
that his business is interfered with Sc
riously by his military duties. has been
of
captaincy. This resignation the Gov
ernor has declined TO accept, but Captain
Lockwood will insist upon its acceptance,
and has assurances that II he so insists
the resignation will be accepted.
PITY IT'S. IT'S TRUE
Captain Lockwood was approached by
a Dispatch man yesterday, and asked
what the outlook for the troops con-
tinuance was. He replied that il was
very poor. indeed. There is really no
one to take charge OF the troop" he con-
tinued. 1.-THE first lieutenant viii not do
so, and the organization is lapsing sim1
ply for the want Of some one TO drill
them. / am determined upon my with
drawal from the troop. and l believe
firmly that Colonel Stern will on Wednes-
day night find the organization below the
minimum. and will. when he renders his
report 10 tne GONtIUOIs IttohilIIHu AAtN
troop for disbandment."
Captain Lockwood expressed deep re-
greet that the condition Of the troop would
necessitate such action. and said he was
more than sorry that he was forced 10
withdraw from the organization.
The troop might be saved IL there was
anybody taking sufficient interest in II
TO keep the men together, but, without
a drillmaster Il is bound TO fail. The
men themselves have begun to lose in
terest in the organization. and, though
they are aware that to continue the eX-
istencc Of the troop they will have 10 Sc
cure another captain. they are taking no
steps to that end.
THE REGIMENTS PROSPECTS.
The First Cavalry Regiment now con-
sists Of the Stuart Horse Guard. of Rich
mond; the Henrico Light Dragons, oil
Richmond; the Surry Troop; the tltz
Lee Troop. Of Lynchburg. and the Abe
marie Light Horse. of Charlottesville.
Each Of these troops. with the exception
OF the Henrico Light Dragons, Is In
nourishing condition. Nevertheless, the
regiment. which has only existed as such
by courtesy since IL fell below the SIX
company minimum, will very probably
cease TO exist in event that the Henrico
Troop Is disbanded. unless two more com
panies are quickly gotten together.
1t is known that the Governor has had
his attention called 10 the condition oil
this regiment, as he refused some months
ago 70 issue an order for an election OF
iieutenant-colonel, taking the ground that
a commission could not be issued To a
lieutenant-colonel when the organization
which elected him was really not regi-
mcnt.