The evening times., 1898-09-09

District Of Columbia Volunteer Infantry,
in fact dates back on.y 10 April %, 1885,
when President Mckinley signed the
declaration Of war with Spain. Feeling
ran high in he District at the many acts
of brutality and treachery on the part Of
the Spanish officials and soldiery, and
the men of the First Regiment, many Of
them members of the National Guard.
fiocked TO the armories and periodically
and en- Enthusiastically rendered their serv-
ices to the Government.
On April p the District National Guard
was assembled. and on the following day
when the President called for 600 vol
unteers n. Harries rendered the serv-
ice of the en.ire Guard, it thus being
one of he very first military organiza-
tions to respond to the call During
the afternoon Of April % the District Ma
tional Guard received an order from the
War Department, calling the organza-
ton into active service.
'Ac,inG on that order. on April p. the
Guard was ordered out for duty by Gen.
Harries. GUaTGsmtn who were in the
Government departments. the navy yard
and those employed by private parties Sc
cured leaves Of absence. while some
gave up their positions. At that time the
Guard consisted OF TWO regiments, the
First Separate Battalion Icooredl and
a foot battery. forming one brigade A
portion Of the National Guard. under
orders 10 so into camp in the Sol
diers' Home grounds. marched to the
gates OF TIA picturesque enclosure, but
being fused aGmittance by the Home
authorities the detachment, disappointed
and chagrined. marched back 10 their
aTm0ries
There is small chapter of unwritten
history connected with the resembling of
the order calling out the District Ma
uonal Guard. which has just come to
light Secretary of the Navy Long call
upon Secretary Alger and was informed
uhat a. had been determined to utilize the
entire force Of District militia in the
war with Spain. Secretary Long demur-
red and stated that many of the militia
men We're employed in the gun factory at
the Washington navy yard and In lie
order calling them out to serve as yoIun-
teers had partially paralyzed the impor-
uant work Of that very important in>ti-
tuition at time when their services were
sorely needed for the manufacture Of ord
nance.
Similar complaints We're made by the
heads of other executive departments AS
many Of their clerks Were enro led in the
Guard. the secretaries stated that their
absence would seriously interfere with
the work of the departments Upon these
representations the order was counter
nanded, and the l. 400 District Guards
men, who had reported for duty with
alacrity, were informed that they would
not be mustered into the service of their
country
On April p the Secretary of War an
ncunced that the quota Of troops from
The District of Columbia would be one
hssfr
Adjutant General Heyl was selected to
muster i'm the battalion at once
. on the following day. April 2S. General
Harries and the District Commissioners
succeeded in having the quota of troops
from the District increased TO one regi-
nent.
General Harries made the announce
rnent on May that the new regiment
was not a National Guard organization
but volunteer regiment and recruits
could therefore he selected from sources
outside of the ranks of the Guard. Re-
cruiting then began in earnest and many
young men who had never been connect
ed with the National Guard enlisted for
service at the front with the First Regi-
rnent.
Wednesday, May 4, found the recruit.
ing officer still hard at work. Secretary
Alger informed Col Harries that a por-
tion Of the regiment would be ordered
INTO camp on lDe loliOHlTS MOnGaN.
On May 6, a report was in circulation
that the regiment would be encamped al
Fort Washington, or on the Potomac
near the fort 1t was stated that the
District Regiment would number 9T2 Of.
fcers and enlisted men-twelye com
panies, at the minimum strength of a
men TO each company. il was shown 10y
Major Bell that in mastering in regi-
ment Of infantry the District of Colum-
hfa had Furnished In tp
Presidents call for volunteers. a larger
compare tive quota than any State OF
Territory.
On May 10, the mastering in of the regi.
ment began. The surgeons objected to a
large number OF men from the different
companies Of the National Guard and il
became necessary to seek for recruits
elsewhere than in the ranks of the guard
Col, Harries assumed formal command OF
the regiment and il was announced that
the first company, Capt Simonson com.
nanding, was ready to be mustered into
the service Of the United Ctates.
On May 10, Adjt. Gen Corbin issued the
formal order that the District of Colum-
bia should furnish one regiment of in
fantry of twelve companies, Of II enlisted
men each, and that the regiment would
go into camp in Virginia, near Dunn
LorlnG- on the same afternoon Can't
Otto Slmonson's company was mustered
in and went into camp in the National
Guard armOry, over Center Market
On May u. three companies were mus.
tered in and slept on their arms in the
srmOry. They were Company A, Emmet
Guard, Capt Harry Walsh; Company b
Capt. w. T. H. King, and the Mortor
Cadets, Capt. G. Fred HodgsOn. These
with Company F. Capt. Simonson. al
ready in the service. were formed into Z
battalion, under the command of Major
d. Emmet Irell Ii was discovered thai
there was decided mixture of clothing
In the battalion. Some men had infantrS
trousers ana others were equipped witt
those OF the cavalry and artillery a
report was current that the four corn.
panies would go into camp in the Smith.
sonian Grounds.
On May I3 the First Battalion, Major
Urell commanding, was ordered to camr
near Woodburn Manor, Fairfax County,
Virginia Company L. Capt England
mustered in.
On May 16 Company p, Capt. King,
was selected as color company. and a
rogimental flag was placed in its keep
ting by delegation of ladies, headed by
Mrs. w. T. III. king, wife of the cap
tain and Mrs. John Houston
On May H. Company L. Capt Graham,
reached camp
On May is the remaining companies ar
rived I'm camp and completed the regi-
mental formation The last company to
reach camp was that commanded by
Capt. Charles Domer, the Fencibles, Com
pany c, of the regiment The fine ap-
pearance of the men of this company
ELECTED favorable comment Col Harries
assumed command of the regiment which
was ordered 10 leave for Camp Thomas.
n 1frlrn Co