Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-10-11
THE OLD DOMINION RIFLES.

THE OLD DOMINION RIFLES.
To the Editor of the ALerandria Gazette:
Rssoing under the heading OF "Re-
trospectiob" published in a recent i'sue
Of the Gszstle, stating some inter sting
facts in the history OF the "Old Domin.
ion R,fes," Seventeen Virginia 10.
f.ntry," of Alexandria, Virginia, cal
ries we back to my boybood days some
forty years ago, and the faces and forms
of my old play mates rise visibly before
me, ss look backward aod recall the
exciting events of those stirring times.
81 many of the old company have
"orosssd the river 10 rest on the other
side" and there await the coming OF
the others who are sure to follow sooner
| or later u"tl the calling of the fiosl
roll, when II will stand once more to
/ eether and answer 10 their names before
the "Great CoOmander." Well do l
rememb the first meeting. held In
the rear office OF "Corse Brothers,
Bankers" on King street, and the three
ooys besides myself who signed cur
ns mes to the fret roll. dear old Sea-
bury benson Smith has gone and with
Mahlon H. Japney are both at peace,
while Edgar War6eld and myself are
still here awaiting our final summons.
So upon the strength of that small be-
ginning We took up the list thus
| started, and soor had q respectable
uu % Der of Alexsndris boys TO present
themselves TO usjor Montgomery d.
Corse and request bim TO be their
Captain as he had promised me he
would do II the required number OF
men signed the roll. All this hap
pened soon after the John Brown raid
upon Harper's Ferry. OF the formati, q
OF the Old Dominion r hgs, the msLy
drills 10 the old balls OF ytur city,
the psrades through the streets to show
new uniforms and the soldierly beat.
lag of toe boys 10 grey, the two weeks
visit TO Wsrrenton and the musteiine
10 at that town, and return TO Alexan-
dria, guard duty on the wharf fsciog
the old "Pawnee," picket duty on the
Washington city road, and then the
quick step out of town on the morning
of the Oath of May, 1861. All these
events are we'll remembered. and part
Of history. / remember the call for vol.
unteers TO picket the city road at Four
mile RON and expect all are still alive
who, under the charge OF Lieutenant
Fowle with Corporal Geo. Wise and a
SO lad of the Old Dominion boys did
duty ot that point aud stopped the late
travellers frcm Washington. know
that / stopped several myself,
companies. They marched TO the front
and mad TO call up the corporal before
SLOWING them to pass. And at Msnas .
sas the came squad was sent GU q
the Fl 8, picket, when we bad our first
experience of sleeping on fence rails. l
still have in my trunk the old constitu-
ton end bylaws OF tbe company as
originally formed, and In looking over
some old papers, Confederate parser,
etc., found an order from General G..
+. Bssureguard signed by Thomas
Jor Tor, A. A. G., authorizing Lieuten-
ant Y mmermap, Lieutenant Forrest and
myself to orgsuizs au independent
company in Prince William county,
aud we did r. &c nit one man at Brents-
vile, and only one, and he was put
10 the r fl ss, if remember Alright, as
the regiment was suddenly ordered to
Bull Ron, and Colonel Oorse
ordered the boys to join them
and we're engaged 10 lively little fight
at Black burns Ford on the 18th o.
july. Before dsybresk on that morn
ing, "J,f." the co'ored serve tcf Gen.
ersi Beauregard, came to my tent end
said the general wanted me and l bur
ried to him, and he handed mo dis
patch to General Ewell, who was sta
toned at Union Mills. The dispatch
read: "The enemy are advancing
hold your position" and the position
was held With the assistance OF ken
per's Battery" and the l7th Infantry
you vent up to see the little bull rur
hey. and the little bull made you run
yaw." rather think that some OF th'
boys in Alexandria will remember ths
expression, and the old lady on KIM
street, after the battle OF Manassas. AL
honor to the memory Of the "Old Do
miuion & q ss" and peace to the ashe
of those who rest. F. w.