Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-07-08

The Alexandria Light Infantry, "Fn
Company, Third Regiment, was organ
lied eighteen or nineteen years ago,
with about forty-fve active members,
mostly young men between eighteen
and thirty, who had received semi
military training at st. Johns Acade-
my, under Professor Richard L. (now
Father Carne. 1t was then and has
really since been the only military
company in Alexandra since the
breaking out OF the war-Alexandria
then furnishing, and fer the greater
part of the time keeping up the organi-
cations of four or five infantry compa-
MES, and one of artillery. The con-
mand was rendered Mr.. Francis Lee
Smith, jr., lawyer, who, as one of the
V. NJ. l. boys, saw active service in the
battle of New Market up in the valley
Colonel Smith retained command until
the Third Regiment was formed, and
he was made its major and later or
lieutenant. colonel, which he afterwards
resigned to give more time to his pro-
fession. He was succeeded by First
Lieutenant George McBurney, jr., who,
after two or three years, resign ed, and
the command was rendered Mr.. Geo.
A. Mushbach.
During the time the company had
grown from about forty five active
members to sixty five, had increased
their equipment and become housed in
substantial building erected for them
aud paid for out of the treasury Of the
organization. They first paraded on
Washington's birthday in 1878 or '79.
They attended several fairs, marched
in the Thomas Statue unveiling, also
several other Washington professions,
and the Baltimore Oriole. Their first
competitive drill was at the Lynchburg
fair (about 1881, and they took the first
prize. The company then grew and
mustered eighty-odd men at W;nches-
ter, and again ninety-odd. The armory
was rebuilt, giving them the largest
drill hall in the State. They thea at
tended the Philadelphia national on
campment and were among those es-
pecially mentioned as coming in for o
prize. This WAS failure. Their dril'
was sufficient but their inspection cut
them down and the prize awarded is
not worth the mention. In the ma
tional drill in Washington they were
number seven. Since then the company
has taken no part in competitive drills,
but individual drills and shoots are fre-
quent, but has generally gone out with
one of the very largest companies to be
found and have acquitted themselves
creditably. 1t was recently decided to
make the company more of social or
ganization by limiting its active men,
bership to fifty men, but there is now
talk of running the limit up to 100 only
and putting to work drill team.
Captain Mushbach resigned his cor
mission two weeks ago; it has not as
yet been acted upon.
The arms and accoutremeuta, uni
forms, ETC., are kept in the building for
moments warning. The company
has been called out several times, once
to do duty at the jail for an hour, again
twice to act as guard to the sheriff Of
another county, and again TO marcn
against Coxey's army with several
other companies of State militia. The
company was also once called 10 as
semble at the armory on the report that
negro military company from Wash
ington was TO come over with funeral.
The mayor proposed ordering them
back; they didn't come.
The company has three uniforms for
present use. The State regulation OF
gray and blue, the fatigue and fifty
dress suits of red coats, fine blue panta'
looms and white braces, with black
shakos. The present officers are Geo.