The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-30
MAY SEPARATE
FROM BRIGADE
Board Of Officers Of First Light
Infantry Meet.
WILL RECOMMEND ACTION.
Believe Time Has Come When the Organ
lzatIon Should End Its Dual
Character.
WILL RECOMMEND ACTION.

For long time there have been rumb-
nngs OF discomfort among many of the
members of the First Light Infantry, Of
ncers and men. as TO the restrictions
placed upon the ancient command
through It's connection with the brigade
OF Rhode Island militia. the claim being
made that through its dual nature as an
independent chartered command, and as
q portion OF the First Regiment Of the
more active militia Of the state. both in
terests suffered. and that the original
lines upon which the organization was
formed and conducted for more than half
o century were almost entirely departed
from.
When the question OF the new armory
was discussed II was stated that IN the
advent OF its erection that no Independent
command would ever go into il. This
meant the parting OF the ways for the In
fantry, and that 1t would either have TO
abandon its independent side or retire
from the brigade.
The former phase was not considered
for n moment, and TO provide against
she not remote contingency the old Cen
tral Congregational church building ON
Benefit street was purchased with the
purpose IN view OF fitting up for an ar
".
though the decision 10 retain the inde-
pendent formation was adhered to-
Last night the officers OF the Infantry
held special meeting at the armory on
South Main street 10 discuss the matter,
and voted TO --comMen6 60 the command
at It's annual meeting next Nc ndsy night
that II separate from the brigade.
The old charter OF the command. II Is
claimed, Is still I'm effect. and IL the vote
a..
will return 10 its original formation. The
charter permits 1t to have ~ companies
and IL has four. A, r, G.. and f.. OF
these p -AffA-e arc tn-tifc- First Rpgt=
ment as well as the First Light Infantry.
The former company seeded from the
Infantry and removing TO the Phenix
building on Westminster street became
simply First Regiment company. r
company was formed OF veterans to re-
place IT, but IL now the backbone or the
First Light Infantry.
AT the meeting last evening Col. Frank
w. Matteson, presided Lieut.. Townsend
acted as secretary pro tenn. Nearly all the
officers were present, including members
OF the staff. field and company officers
and n number of life members Among
those present were Maj. Johnson, Capt
Frank T. olney Of co. +: Capt A. c.Mat'
teson. Company B; Capt Tillinghast
Company C.: Capt. Brown. DR.. Jones
Lieut. Tanning. Chaplain Parker, Com.
missary Glines. Capt Albert A. Baker
J.ieuts. Washburn, Chapman. Comstock
Buxton. Lewis. Johnson and Brig. Gen
III. s. Tanner. Lieut.. Col. Wsrheld, and
Maj. b. d. Armour.
The following motion was adopted
unanimously
THAT the board OF officers should REQ.
ommend 10 the First Light Infantry reg
iment at the next quarterly meeting. Jan
.. that In the opinion, there should be a
separation from the brigade"
motion was passed that committed
be appointed to make arrangements 70,
the proposed change and Colonel Matte
son appointed Lieut.. Col II. J. Gross
Mai A. II. Johnson, Capt A. +. Brown
and Capt. A. c. Matteson. Col. Matte
son Is a member OF the committee. ex
officio.
The board OF officers will hold a short
special meeting next Monday evening
previous to the meeting OF the regiment.