Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-17
NATIONAL GUARD OF DELAWARE.
interest BEING Revived liz the Wilmington
Companies of the First Ravjn,nf

interest Being Revived liz the Wilmington
companies Of the First Regiment.
While for some months companies of
the Fist Regiment, National Guard of
delaware, in the lower part OF the
state, have beenf showing marked i'm
provement, it is only recently that this
spirit manifested itself in Wilmington,
NOW all OF the companies here are max.
ing con,mendable progress, and in
short time the First Battalion will be
In the same good shape which made it
conspicuous for efficiency before the
breathing out of the war with Spain.
This wal, as is we'll known, demoral-
ized the regiment. Many OF the men
nlisted in the United States service,
when the call was made, but at the
expiration OF their terms of enlistment
with Uncle Sam large majority we're
anxious to quit the service. Conse
quently, when it came to taking ac-
count of stock, the First Regiment,
National Guard of Delaware, which was
practically out of existence during the
war, was only fragment of its former
self. Some of the companies had melted
away entirely and what was left Of the
other companies was very small
But Col. Townsend and the other
officers were not discouraged and by
hard work, which necessitated the put
ting into operation of tho wedding
prooess-that is, getting rid Of material
which was anxious 10 Withdraw or was
not desirable-a solid foundation was
laid. About all of the men were dis
charged who wanted to quit the service
and others who neglected their duty
were also counted out Many of those
who were discharged were compelled
to ask for theii discharges on account
OF business matters, and, therefore, no
reflection rests upon them. Others were
useless ornaments and ihe regiment
was better oil without them. There
were few, however, who were granted
discharges in order to settle disputes
which arose, the action being taken as
il was not desirable to have contro-
versies in the ranks.
Go. q is now one of the most active.
During the past two weeks six men
have enlisted and tho members are
getting themselves into good military
trim. CAPT. Matlack, who is in
command Of the company, is also in
command Of the battalion during the
absence OF Lieut. Col. Charles M.
Stevenson, being the senior officer of
the battalion, and he is taking "a great
deal of interest in the matter of making
the battalion efficient. Thomas 9.
Hogue, the second lieutenant of the
company, who has a long and honorable
record, having served during the
| Spanish war and assisted materially in
building up the ranks when recruits
were noeded, has, on account of business
matters, rendered his resignation to
Col. Townsend, who will probably ac-
cept it this week and order an election
for tho company to select his successor
| Tomorrow night there will be n
meeting of the officers OF the First bat
TALON at the armory, WHEN the matter
uf participating in the parade on
Memorial Day will be discussed and
some definite conclusion reached. 1t is
likely that the battalion will decide to
| participate. 1t now has nearl,' its full
| quota, the men are we'll drilled and it
can make fine showing, and there is
no doubt but that the appearance of
| the troops on the streets would please
the people, 1t is desirable to have
every commissioned officer of the bat
talon at this meeting.