Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-09
DISTRICT VOLUNTEERS
A QUESTION DECIDED BY JUDGE
ADVOCATE GENERAL.
The City of Washington Was "the
Front" During the Early Days Of
the War Of the Rebellion.

A question of considerable interest, eS-
pecially to the District volunteers of 1861,
was today submitted to the judge advo-
cate general of the army for a decision.
The question is whether the District
of Columbia was 1.-The 'front.'" in mil
itary sense, during the first days of the civil
war. This question was raised in a rather
peculiar manner at the Washington navy
yard several days ago. Supplemental to the
above query is another as to whether the
District volunteers of 1861. who served here
before the arrival of the state troops and
regulars, were "at the 'front.' while guarding
the public buildings and the approaches to
the city while the confederates occupied
Alexandria and the country on the Virginia
side of the Potomac.
These questions were brought up in con-
nection with the applica ton for employment
leather worker in the navy yard of Mr..
Samuel H. Reeder of Odd I'd street north
west He filed his applicati ton in 1888 and
was entered on the preferred list as a
Union veteran. His discharge shows that
he served nearly three months In an indie
pendent chartered District military COM
pany. known as the Metropolitan Rifles,
commanded by Capt. w. II. Nalley. This
company with other local military bodies
was mustered into the service of the United
States in April 1861 They were mustered
out three months later in order that their
arms might be given to the Garibaldt Guard.
which arrived in Washington without
equipment.
Mr.. Reeder's Contention.
Mr.. Reeder states that his name was No.
l on the list for employment in the leather
department of the navy yard several
months ago. and that several days ago
when he called at the labor bureau he was
informed that he was No. 3 on the list.
Asking why his name had been put back
to third nlacp he informed that he
had not served at the front, while the men
whose names had been advanced had seen
actual service lat the front" One of
these. Mr.. Reeder claims was a District
volunteer of 1861, like himself who par
ticipated in skirmish with a small body
of confederates on the upper Potomac.
This action of the labor bureau of the
navy yard impelled him, he said. to refer
the matter to the War Department for. a
decision
Mr.. Reeder added that for several weeks
prior to their muster into the federal ser
vice the members of the Metropolitan
Rifles did guard duty in and about Wash
ington without a penny of compensation.
the men furnishing their own uniforms and
subsistence. During this period they es-
corted President Lincoln. with loaded
muskets. to the Capitol and while he de-
livered his inaugural address. were posted
about the building as sharpshooters to
prevent any demonstration against the
new chief magistrate. Later. when Colo
mel Ellsworth and his Zouaves were Or
dered to take and hold Alexandria. Mr..
Reeder says his company preceded the
ZouaveS as the advance guard and piloted
them to within short distance Of that city.
The Metropolitan Rifles also did outpost
duty. he added at Chain bridge. when a
force of confederates were on the opposite
side of the river.
At the outbreak of hostilities. Mr.. Reeder
says, there were III members of his COM
pany, but when the time came to swear
them into the United States service sixty
five men refused to take the oath and with
drew, leaving only fifty-two men in the
company. 1t was afterward filled to the
quota by recruits.
LAS company was chartered indie
pendent military organization and not mill
tia. the government could not call us out"
concluded Mr.. Reeder. I'VE were volun-
teers. pure and simple, and entered the
pure patriotism. Therefore. L contend that
the District volunteers of 1861 should not
be Disseminated against. / further contend
that Washington and vicinity were the
front in 1861, and that were at the
front, and l believe the judge advocate
general of the army will SO hold
The Decision
Judge Advocate Davis of the army today
said that the question of fact
and not of law He held that Washington
the front in the early part of 1861 and
that the District volunteers were lat the
front" during those days, because there
and the enemy. The latter at that time
occupied Alexandria and the Virginia hills
and shores of the Potomac.
This decision will be received with graft
fication by members of the numerous local
military companies who served prior to
response to President Lincoln's first call
for volunteers.