Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-28

peated attempts were made to organize
military companies among the coiored citi-
were organized and drilled with the old
muskets, which were procured from loft,
woodshed and Junk SHOP" but these or
CARNATIONS were SUCCESSFULLY disbanded, one
after the other, until in the year 1880, when
Capt. Graham organized the Cadet Corps
of sixty men, and Capt. Thos. Kelly about
the same time organized the Capital City
Guard. These two companies made very
favorable impression at the Inauguration
Of President Garfield.
From that period up to the year 1887
: they were regarded as rival military Or
CARNATIONS. and well equipped in all the
Major c. A. Fleetwood succeeded to the
command of the Cadet Corps and Major
Frederick Revels to that Of the Capital
City Guard. The former as well as the
latter commanding officers were veterans
Of the civil war. and Major c. A. Fleet
wood had been presented with a medal
for conspicuous bravery on the field of
battle.
300 men, Joined forces. with the National
Guard, and consolidated into four COM
panies. Major Revslls WAS appointed COM
handing officer OF the battalion by Gen.
unable to agree upon choice. The parti-
sans of Major Fleetwood urged that in
view of his distinguished military service
in time Of war he should be in accordance
ton selected as the commanding officer.
The supporters of Major Revells, however,
remained firm in their choice and Gen.
Ordway made the appointment as stated.
Major Brooks the Successor.
Upon the death Of Maj. Revells, in Sep
tenber, 1897, he was succeeded to the COM
mand by Maj. Arthurs Brooks, who had
BEEN the ranking captain. Maj. Brooks en-
joys the distinction Of having entered the
Cadet Corps as a private at the time of its
S,1sa ma ana Close attention to
military tactics, theoretical and practical,
worked his way upward, through every
official grade to his present commanding
position OF major Of the 1st Separate Bat
TALON. He was first sergeant Of Company
A, Washington Cadet Corps, in the very
exciting drill for the Boteler cup in Oc-
tober, 1888, and, by his steadiness and pre-
cision, contributed largely to the success
He was promoted to lieutenant and one
year later. was made captain Of Company
A. In 1880 his company visited Richmond,
Va, and carried of first prize in competi-
ton with companies Of that state. In 1891
he was chosen drilmAster Of the CoIored
High School Cadets. whose efficiency III
parade and drill we'll attests his mastery
or military tactics. He is a soldierly- look
and is as straight, graceful and active as
a West Pointer.
The list Separate Battalion consists of
four companies, fifty men each. with stan,
non-commissioned staff and line officers
The armory of the LIST Separate Battalion
ID kept in military order ard under constant
inspection Of its officers, and, while the
building Is rather antique, and somewhat
the worse for age. by great care 1t has
been made to supply the need of a head
CHARTERS. The rifles of the battalion are at
all times ready for inspection, and the
painstaking care of the men was well at
tested by Maj. Tierpey at the recent in
their guns were better cared for than any
others in the brigade.
Much attention is given to rifle practice
by the men, three targets having been
put In In January for voluntary practice.