Evening star., 1901-09-19
IN REMINISCENT MOOD
RECOLLECTIONS OF OLD-TIME COM
PANY OF DISTRICT MILITIA.
Cant. JamisOn Tells of Formation OF
Scott Guards I'm 1S54-Subse-
quent History.

Captain Baker A. Jamison, formerly OF
this city. but now a practtcing lawyer OF
New York is In the city. His appearance
here recalls the days before the war when
he was the proud young commander OF
Junior military company named the Scott
Guards" in honor of Lieutenant General
Winfield Scott.
In a recent conversation with Capt jam
ison he said: ''Oh. yes, l remember Well
those old days, from 1854 to 1857. when
there were junior military companies as
well as older ones in the city, and l was
proud of my own little band. There are
precious few Of the members living. The
Scott Guards was formed principally OF
bows whose ages ranged from about fifteen
to eighteen and the most OF them were
residents of Capitol Hill. some being en-
ployed in the Capitol. The armory was In
the building at the northeast corner OF
Louisiana avenue and 7th street. and
after we secured arms the forty or more
young soldiers drilled weekly there. Each
member was equipped with ngnt caaet
musket, the arms and equipments having
been purchased by voluntary contributions,
Gen. Scott, Gen. Cass, Mr.. Corcoran, Mrs:
Pendleton, Miss Mary Locke and others
chased in Baltimore and we had to work
industriously to secure the necessary
funds. Louis Behrends with others. be
lieve. saw Gen: Scott one day ana statea
money to make the purchase. The general
replied: Well, order the guns boys; we'll
see to the money
..The guns were ordered Immediately and
we soon made a show. And it was not
only show we made, but we were un-
consciously learning lessons which proved
useful in the civil war; for n numoeTs aosd OF the
s'The uniform was a neat and tasty one
dark blue jacket and pants with bun
stripe edged with red; jaunty infantry cap
with white and red plume for the men, ana
white and blue for the officers.
Rival Company.
'aThe Union Light Infantry, Billy Las
ce,les company, had a somewhat similar
uniform, and consequently the boys were
found at times going from one company to
the other I recall that Edward Mexican,
whose father was for many years promi-
nent in the old Washington Light 1nfan-
try. was our first orderly sergeant ana
afterward lieutenant, and at dinerent
times Ell Duvall. A. b. Williams. James
tenants. Jack Keyworth was orderly SER
geant for a time. and others | recall are
Jerome Chase, c. p. Crandell, John A
Davis. Tom and Jim Wthers, Arthur Cor
man afterward a lieutenant Of the Union
Infantry, and who has occupied seat In
the United States Senate; Tom Hepburn,
Charley Mockabee and Chas. B: Mast.
During the existence OF the company
one Of the Crandell boys and Charles d.
Mast, to whom we gave military funerals.
1--WE had many parades, and portion OF
the Marine Band, LED Dy ESputa, uSudiy
furnished the music.
sit was on the 10th of October. 1854, that
we participated with the older mn.ary
companies on a public occasion. Flior
thereto we had a very handsome SILK nag
presented to us by Mrs. Pendleton, who
resided on New Jersey avenue She was a
patron of the Columbia fire company. also.
10 fnry oh m w
to the fire and soldier boys. The flag pre-
sentation took place In front of her resi-
dence and there was pretty little speech
made by her. to which replied. and we
proudly bore away the colors.
"Our commissions, boys though we were.
bore the signatures OF President Pierce
and Jefferson Davis. and We were on
plane with the older companies. 1t 80 hap
pened with us that when the sham battle
took place on the Mall between AZ and eth
streets that In forming the District COM
panies into battalions one company In our
battalion had no ofncer whose commission
antedated mine, and / was therefore In
commands stripping over old. gray-headed
men. However. when the battle had been
fought my boys and were heartily cheer
ed by that company.
s.The benefit given us at the National
Theater was a great success, the Marine
Band: after giving n concert IT. at % the Pres,
assisting. But our greatest success was q
ball given at Carusfs saloon. It took place
during visit Of the Amoskeag Veterans
Of Manchester, N. H.. who were invited
and participated. and every military COM
pany OF the District was represented Some
officers OF the army honored us by appear
ing In uniform.
Reviewed by Gen. Scott.
IA review, too. by Gen. Scott greatly en-
eouraged the bows He had his headquar-
ters then In New York. and was In the city
q guest OF Mr.. Preston OF Kentucky, who
resided near the Police Court. After the
review the old hero made e very pretty ad-
DRESS in which he said he was but guest
OF Mr.. Preston. who was preparing for q
dinner party that evening or he would In
vite us in. Mr.. Preston then came forward
and told the general that we must come
In. We than stacked arms and 0lsd into