The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-02


odd residents of Richmond remember
the famous Washington Artillery, of
New Orleans. that came to this city to
defend 1T and the State of Virginia In
the early days of '6l. and these men
have always held n warm place in tho
hearts of people here, for Drawer
congregation of men never trod Vir-
GINA soil.
Only few of the original members
of this famous command are now liv-
up in the Crescent City. just as tho
old Richmond Light Infantry Blues
keep together here. Much of what Is
left of the Washington Artillery as it
ginia is here to-day. and no command
that has come up to the reunion Will
receive werner welcome.
The grizzled heroes of forty six years
ago reached the city several days ago.
\ curious and interesting thing about
their pilgrimage to Richmond this year
Is something of a RESEMBLANCE to their
hrst trip to the capital of the Con-
federacy. They left New Orleans on
the same day of the month and about
the same hour of the day that the old
command left in 1861. and at least
twenty of the same old boys were in
the party. among them w. J. Behan
3. F. Eshleman, John Holmes B. C.
Jaques, A. r. Blakely. Sumpter Turner
j. ~ Chataron. u. w. Pipes John Mill
Ter and ~. S Coward.
iOrtS-SN Years Ago.
The trip in 1861 was different and reuuir-,
ed more time on Monday May 81, 1851
| the four companies of the Washington Ar.
| tiilery left New Orleans for Richmond. Va.
! on the day previous tSunday, May 26th),
they had enlisted for the War Between the
states. and thus had taken the first step
IN the long and uninterrupted career OF
glorious triumphs with had SO distinguished
their predecessors in the Mexican War.
The fifth company of the Washington
Artillery was assigned TO the Army of Ten
It,.u ,..lNn
as C. II, slocomb j. A. Chalaron and
Naught. they attained that distinction that
| marked them as the highest exemplars OF
patriotic devotion and self sacrifice.
Early In the conflict the five companies
OF this battalion gave promise of the gal
lantry which gained them the honor oc
being specially mentioned by the command
ing general on almost every battlefield OF
Virginia and the West. Arduous service
and fierce battles soon made them seasoned
veterans, and the records OF the Civil War
casts effulgcnce the career of the
Battalion Washington Artillery that proves
them worthy representatives of this veterans
of 1916.
The washington Artillery, of this city. is
distinguished as being the oldest organiza-
ton in the State of Louisiana.
In 1870 the Washington Regiment was
commanded by Colonel Persifer f. Smith
and WAS composed of Infantry. artillery and
cavalry.
The Washington Artillery in 1888, 1899
and 1910 was known as the Native Anleri-
can Artillery, and commanded by Cap
tain tafterward Generalo +. L.. Tracy. In
l.1S4l the battery was attached IT. o.
Washington Battalion, of which C. f. Hozey
was major and j. b. Walton adjutant.. In
| lS42 Henry Forno became captain of the bat
terry and Tracy promoted to major. In 1874
the Washington Battalion augmented
by the transfer from the Louisiana Legion
| of three companies-Orleans Cadets. Cap
| tain Glenn: Louisiana Grays Captain Breed
I love- and Orleans Grenadiers, Captain Lums-
| den and became the Washington Regiment.
under Colonel Smith, Lieutenant-Colonel j.
| Il. Walton and Major Allen Hill. This orr
| ganzation entered service In the Mexican
| War in 1916. Shortly after the war tho
| battery adopted its present name of WASH
| ington Artillery, and the roster contained
! such we'll known names as Samuel j. Peters.
James A, CALDWELL Wagner. Leeds. Frsret.
Storey. Christy, Starke, Shaw. Bullet and
! others.
The frs, service performed by the WASH
| ington Artillery in 1851 was the capture OF
| the united States arsenal at Baton Rouge,
after leaving this city the steamer Ma
/ tional, January 9th.
| BY a singular concdent this famous bat
| TALON will leave here Tomorrow evening.
| Monday, May 27th for Richmond, Va, to
attend the reunion. Just forty-stx years after,
! on the same day of the week tAfondayl
| and the Identical day of the month Cthe
27th day of May) 1t left for Richmond.