Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-18
"REMINISCENCES coNJuRED UP ny
1srE OLD TIRsT's REUNION.
MILL RALLY At BLASDON PARK
A Diary That Tciis Of Gaiinntry ma
Carnage CT Mary Unttlcs and fc"c~
with Iforor-phcir several Heor-
ganiaauoas.

tom or many years SA"-~"'e'
again they viii grasp the hand OF com
rsdes. each separated from the othcr N
the hurly-burly Of lie. and will exchange
among tho rustic and quiet delights Of
5laraon Park. the memories Of bloody
battlc-lclds, and OF those happier events
which served 70 brighten those dark oas +
which woro bllghtlng tho lnd they lovea
90 well end fought for so brGvely.
The veterans o. this grand Old reg'-
m,rt look forward 10 their reunion-oay
as the red-ietter day OF tho whole year
Their celebration IS not In any sense
a boIs;erous one. and, indeed. Is not un-
mixed with sadness. for tho survivors
cherish stu the memories OF hnndieoS
Of their comrades who fell during the
campaigns IN which the regiment partci-
rated 20 actively. The Committee o.
Arrangements have compiled a pro-
erammo mat is well calculated 10 enter
toIn ana delight the hearts o. tho sur
ylvors.
The following sketch OF the career OF
the old First during the war has been
written for the Dispatch by one Of It's
members:
RICHMOND'S PRIDE.
rnnr before the civil war between the
States the First Regiment formed ono
OF tho finest bodies Of citizen soldiers IN
this country. and Richmond looked on
with natural pride whenever the organi-
cation paraded its streets. preceded by
Jim Smiths Band and tho erum corps
under Drum-Major Pohle.
The regiment bore an honorable part
IN tho John Brown war IN 1852. under the
command Of Colonel Thomas i. August.
II 1860 Y. r. Moore was elected colonel
ard when the stto called its soldiers
into the field It was composed or the
following companies: Company a QRich-
mond Grass. Company y. Company c
Montgomery Guard. Irish company
COMPANY ID (Old Dominion Guard. Com
pany II Richmond Light Infantry Blues,
Company +, Company G, Company
Second Company Grays). Company J.
and Company X Virginia Rifles German
company.
The regiment numbered about 1000 men.
In April 1851. the Gravs Company -
was sent TO Norfolk; Company Z. dhe
Blues) and Company + 20 Frederick =
and they were afterwards attached 10
other commands, severely Gripping me
regiment. Two companies from Wash
ingfon were afterwards attached, as
Companies + and +. but these could not
compensate the regiment for the loss or
It's three old companies.
DIARY OF THE REGIMENT.
A summary Of the career Of the old
-. 10. fafr ft,
following diary:
April q. lsGi7-Went into camp at the
Falr-Grounds.
NAV g. 1S6l-Left for Manassas on the
cars.
June 1st-Companies p. d, G. and X
marched to Fairfax Courthouse; on out
post duty until June 2lst
July 18th Anticipated I'm Che battle Of
Bull run. lost - killed. md % wounded,
the principal loss O. that battle. the
total loss reported being 10 killed ard
b3 wounded.
July 21st.-Battie OF Manassas. under
heavy Smelling, losing or men wound
ed. The enemy being totally routed, we
expected 10 follow them to Washington,
but the powers I'm charge would not
give the desired permission, so We halted
near the banks OF the muddy creek, until
where we had q visit from Prince Je-
rome Napoleon. and our regiment was
selected TO march I'm review before him.
Aurust 1Oth.-Marchcd to Fairfax Cour
house on the 14th and 18th, where we
had sklrmishing on out posts at Falls
Church.
October l6th-Retuined 10 Centrcville
for winter quarters; doing outpost duty
here: many Of the men left us being de
tailed by the Richmond authorities, ano
the regiment was reduced 10 about q
third OF lis numbers.
March s. 1S62-Fell back from Centre
Vile, and after most trying march
reached Richmond on April 18th.
April 17th.-We were sent by steamer
10 Kings Mill Wharf and marched q
Yorktown, whore We were placed into tn,
muddy trenches; here, on April Yst,
Captain g. NJ. Ferneyhough was killed
and another wounded by tho enemy:
shells.
THE FIRST REORGANIZATION
April 26th-The regiment roorganized anc
elected new officers. Lewis Is. Williams
was made colonel.
May Sd-Left Yorktown for Williams
burg. and participated in the battle there
winning the credit OF capturing batter,
of artillery and two flags. Our loss wa
eight killed and thirty wounded, amonj
them Colonel Williams. who was lef
In the enemy's hands, badly wounded.
May 6th--Fell back from williamsburg
and after terrible tramp without ra
lions through rain and mud we reache
Long Bridge on the 9th.
May l5th-Continucd our march 10 Rich
mond and camped near Darbytown. AM
on the 9th camped near Towards Grove
Al.
the battle Of Seven Pines. losing fftee
killed and nfty-eight wounded Ate
this the regiment became nearly extinct
However, few were gotten togethe
again, and ON June 26th some forty-nv
men, under Captain George Il. Norton
toined the brigade ana participated I'm IN
seven days fight, losing eleven men kile
wounded. and missing at Frazer's farm
After these battles we reformed IN
regiment in camp near Darbytown. an
when we left there on August 10Th W
had la men In line.
FIRED. SKINNER GALLANT DEEl
Then came the march to Second Manas
eas battle. in which we participa ed o
August S0th. where Colonel Fred.
skinner charged the batteries single
handed. cutting down the enemy's CUR
ners with his Ions sword. Our loss was
KILLED. II; wounded %. ara one MISSING
Then we participated in the Marylan
campaign, Boonsboro', or souI
Mountain; then Sharp burg heard III
crack OF our rifles. Here we again los
six or eight men wounded and som
missing.
September isth-At night we recrosse
the Potomac near Shepherdstown an
moved on until .ha 2Tth, when We halle
near Winchester. Here the regiment n
celved a number OF recruits. and now "
again had over 900 men IN our ranks.
October eo;h-Left Winchester an
marched 70 Fredericksburg where v
halted on the evening OF November q