The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-23
WHY H0WIi zERS
DID NOT PARADE
Were Ordered" to Turn Out and
Did Not Relish the
Innovation.
CORRESPONDING E ON SUBJECT
C0RREsP0ND ENCE ON SUBJECT
Battery Pioneer Organization, in
Celebrating Day, Did So
by Salute.

The failure OF the Richmond Howitzcrs
one OF tho city's most famous military
organizations. and one with brilliant
Confederate history. to participate in the
parade Incident to the celebration OF the
Lea birthday centennial has caused no
little comment and not a few questions
among the many friends of the battery
and the asspciation. Feeling that there
must be soma explanation for tho non
appearance OF an organization which has
always been so prompt 10 volunteer It's
services for such occasions and for moro
serious duty, representative OF The
Tiines-Dispatch called on Captain William
II. Myers, OF that command, and asked
him as to the cause.
The captain was ioath to discuss the
matter. but felt that under the circum-
stances some explanation would not be
Inappropriate. He laid stress upon the
fact that the battery had for years been
parading every year on Lees birthday
and firing salute, its bylaws provid-
ing for this annual commenorat!on Tho
battery had, he said. intended to follow
out Its usual custom, oven before re-
calling that this was the one-hundredth
anniversary. About the first Of the
year, however, the command received
an order" through the commanding
officer OF the First Battalion at Norfolk
TO parade. As 1t had for years been
celebrating Lees birthday through ad :
mration and yeneration of the man and
purely OF their own voltlon, the men
were not 4 little ncttied to receive
orders to parade. and. not recognizing
this as an official matter, 1t was de-
cided that the order would be ignored
and the battery would merely fire n
salute IA usual.
No invitation had been received to
Participate in the parade at all. although
this is usual on memorial day and similar
celebrations. At the funeral OF General
Fitzhugh Lee, Governor O'Ferrail, and
the interment OF Mrs. Davis. thu COM
mand had rendered its services. On Jan
uary 18th, following the last regular drill
before the parade, the battery received
most courteous invitation from the
Rev. Jas. Power Smith. u. D.. chairman of
the celebration committee. to participate
in tho parade, Not having been asked
In the usual manner. however. until DR..
Smiths invitation cafne. the battery de-
cided to adhere 10 It's intention.
The Correspondence.
Thue reasons given for this action arc
more fully set forth In tho following
correspondence:
captain ". VI. Myers. commanding
HowItzer Battery. Richmond, Va:
my Dear Captain,-We are arrang-
Ing for the ceieprntlon OF the one
hlindredth anniversary OF the bfrtIi-
day of General .Eotrsft r. Lee. on SAT
urday, January 18th. We feel that
there is nothing that we would not
gladly do to honor the memory OF the
great commander and Christian gem
tleman OF Virginia.
For the joint committee of the Con-
federate Memorial Literary Society
ask that tho Howitzsr Battery unite
day. January fsff. =
III you viii be kind enough to notify
me. tho order OF parade VIII be sent
TO you.
with most sincere regard for you
and all the boys OF the battery. am,
Truly yours.
"tsigned) JAS. POWER SMITH,
Chairman
To this letter Captain Myers made the
following reply, stating in some details
invitation:
Richmond. Va, Jan 18th. 1907.
REV. James Power Smith. Chairman,
City:
"My Dear Doctor.-Your kind favor
of yesterday reached me about noon
to-day.
II assure YOU that the Howitzers
are ever ready to assist In any cause
which would tend to perpetnate the
memory OF that trying period OF