Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-13
OLD TIMES TOLD OVER
Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the Reorgan.
lied Light Infantry.
The Story of the Marshall Hall Riot
gram and Banquet Enjoyed.

I
| at Marshall Hall last night, the occasion
being the twenty-fifth anniversary Of the
| reorganization of the Washington Light
Infantry. There was not a dull moment
from the time the Manchester loosed her
mornings at $50 till the return at mid
night. The program included an address
| by Capt. j. Tyler Powell, remarks by Lieut..
Jesse b. X. Lee, commanding company g
| or the w. l.. l. Corps; by Lieut. Geo. w.
| Evans OF the National Rifles; selections by
the orchestra; remarks by Capt. Harrison
Dingman; address by j. II. Bromwell, Rep
resentative from Ohio; song, by VIM. E.
Morgan, The Flag of Our Union Forever"
recitation, by Mr.. PulliZi; songs by Prof.
I. Wllliams-Pearman, Way Down the
Suwannee River" and Annie Laurie" and
a statement of the objects of the associa-
tion by ID. A. q. White.
History of the Infantry.
Captain Powell IN his address told how
the infantry came to be organized For
many years ii had been the custom of the
| military of Baltimore to have a grand
parade on the anniversary of the battle
| of North Point, which was fought on the
| 18th Of September 1912. During the sum-
mer of 1886 the soldier boys of Baltimore
planned railroad excursion to Washing
ton over the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
that had so recently been opened between
the two cities. Correspondence followed
and details We're arranged: Washington
| had no military company TO receive the
visitors. So number of citizens called a
meeting for the formation of a company,
with the result that in thirty days the
Washington Light Infantry was fully or
gained uniformed and equipped and pa
raced nineteen muskets on the 18th of Sep
| TENDER, 1876.
1T was a great day for Washington"
sale Captain Powell. Business was al
| most suspended. Many decorations were
hnnSnc nd h. .i-i
turned out I'm great numbers to give a
welcome to the visitors. The parade was
formed of military and civic organizations
ana under escort of the infantry paraded
through many of the principal streets TO
Apollo Hail. a large WOODEN structure
on the south side of Pennsylvania avenue
between 18th and 1872 streets, in the sec
ond story of which was large hall, where
the citizens had prepared big spread
OF everything good to eat and drink and
the soldiers and their Baltimore friends
visiting with them We're royalIy enrer-
tanned.
From that day the infantry boys were
the favorites of our citizens and from
them always received generous recognition
ard support"
The infantry took part, the speaker said.
at the corner stone ceremonies of the
Washington monument and at its dedica-
ticn; was present at the funeral at Airing
ten of George Washington Parke GUSTS
where they fired a salute at his grave.
me infantry responded April o. 1861, TO
General SCOTS call for men to defend
Washington, and served three months as
the men re-enlistng for three years In
1871, the having disbanded the COM
pany, reorganization was effected.
The Recognized Infantry.
The first parade of the new organization
occurred" said Capt. Clark, ION the morn
ing of the 4th of July, 1871. The Oldest
Inhabitants Association, marshaled by Mr.
j. I. c. Clark, met at o'clock In front of
the city hall, about 100 members being
present. Company A of the Washington
Light Infantry assembled at their armory
| on Pennsylvania avenue between 9th and
9TH streets differed by Capt VIM G.
Moore and Lieuts. Richard Lewis and
Oscar B. Hough. Headed by the battalion
drum corps, the company, numbering sixty,
rank and file, marched to the city hall,
where beautiful flag was presented TO
the company The parade was formed and,
escortng the Oldest Inhabitants Associa-
ton, marched by way of 9TH street to the
wharf and embarked on the steamer Ar
row, capt. Stackpole, for an excursion to
Mt. Vernon, numbering about 400.
The appearance of company A in their
bright new uniforms called out a great
crowd of citizens to see the soldiers-the
first that had appeared on our streets since
the close of the war. The uniform consist
ed Of high cap surmounted with a white
pompon, short dark blue coat with white
trimmings ana Wnlte duck trousers for the
men and blue cloth trousers for the officers.
The exercises at Mt. Vernon in front of
the tomb were follows: Prayer by Rev.
Septmus Tustin; reading of the Declara-
ton of Independence by ]. Carol Brent:
address by DIR. John b. Blake; reading of
Washington's farewell address by Isaac
Sunderland of company A, a son of Rev.
DIR. Sunderland. l feel that my short his
tory of the w. l.. l. would be incomplete
without reference to its first engagement
Marshall Hall Riot.
From The Evening Star Of July 6,
1871, l read the following account:
Riot at Marshall Hall.
'Disgraceful Conduct of Washington
Rowdies.
"'Co. "A" w. L. l., Attacked by Roughs
The Military Discomfit Their Assailants
1t was the desire of the members of the
Oldest Inhabitants Association and Com
pany A of the W. L. 1. to return at once to
this city Immediately after the celebration
at Mt. Vernon, but Capt. Stackpole said he
would take them to Marshall Hall, on the
opposite side of the river, whence he
stated, the steamer Wawaset would convey
his passengers to Washington.
:" AS no permission had been obtained
from the governor Maryland to land troops
within the limits of the state, the military
were marched on the pier, where they
stacked arms and were requested by Capt
Moore not to go on the soil of MARYLAND
for the reasons stated. While the infantry
were waiting on the wharf a thunder storm
arose and the rain fell in torrents until the
men We're thoroughly soaked.
Soon after this time, while Marcus Bell
colored man. and the armorer of company
A was proceeding quietly along the pier to
the shore, having a bucket in his hand, a
young rowdy threw a piece of buttered
bread In his face, and upon the colored man
demonstrating, commenced TRADE of abuse
against him, threatening to pitch the
black - into the river" The colored
man, seeing the character of the fellow,
held his peace, and went on his way toward
the dancing pavilion, still followed by the
rowdy, who finally struck at him. Still, de-
string to avoid difficulty, the colored man
started to run and was Immediately pur-
sued by half a dozen drunken roughs One
of them seized large stone and threw it,
striking the negro the head and Telling
him. Immediately the PROSTATE man was
set upon by the ruffians, one of whom
kicked him as he lay, while another struck
him with rock on the head. Finally re-
gaining his feet he again started to run,
calling loudly for help, and was again per-
sued, some shouting XIII the nigger!'
Throw him in the river!'' No damned
niger shall strike a white man." etc.
A Lively Fight.