Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-07

between East Capitol and A streets norm
and LIST and I'd streets east using IL aiso
as a clubroom. The uniform aooPteo
was of blue satinette. which at nrst was
trimmed with yellow, for in their zeal
they had forgotten that red was the ar,
tillery color, while the yellow belonged
to the cavalry arm. Red was later SUD
stituted. Bell buttons on the breast ana
down the trousers leg and Jaunty caps,
white belts, from which depended small
swords loaned them by Col. Henderson
of the Marine Corps, completed thelr
dress Many of the uniforms were nome
made while others were made by tallors'
and it is related that the boys secured the
wherewithal by various means, one OF
them cutting a field of oats on the site
of Grant row on East Capitol street TO
get the money. Headed by boy drummers
and fifers from the marine barracks, in
their red jackets. and drawing two small
cannon, they attracted as much attcn-
ton on parade as older organizations
The firing of the guns for saluting pur-
poses always took the crowd and Their
proficiency was increased by practice.
Their services were often sought and sell
dom refused when salute was required.
and military professions at that period
were not complete unless the Rough and
Ready boys were in line. And indeed
they received every encouragement from
the public. On one occasion the commit
tee arranging procession, as an induce
ment for their appearance. procured new
carriages for their guns. And it may be
said they had never-failing friend in
the general public.
Seldom was there procession in which
they did not appear. They We're wont
to run ahead of professions, drawing the
guns with ropes and firing at the street
corners notifying the public of the APP
proach Of the procession. AS they be-
came accustomed to the use of the guns.
often in their anxiety that they should
make louder report. lump of sod was
rammed down on the cartridge and the
muZzle pointed to the ground in order to
make the piece kick up in the air. But
during the cOmpany's existence only one
accident happened and that was not
chargeable to handling the gun. There
were seven pounds of loose powder at
their armory north of the Library. and
a spark blew into it and caused an ex-
plosion in which r. Fl. Lee and George
Sage and colored man were burned
about the face. !
On the laying Of the corner stone Of
the Washington Monument July 4. 1s4S
they were near the head Of the line di-
rectly behind the Eagle Artillery of Bal
timore under Capt. George P. Kane
which fired the national salute there
The Rough and Ready Boys were some
what disappointed in not firing the main
salute but. believing that they should
hook. They also participated in the in
auguration of "Old Rough and Ready"
Gen. Taylor. and attracted as much at
tentiOn in that picturesque procession as
any organization i'm the line. On one
Fourth of July their annual picnic was
held at Mulligans Hill directly opposite
the present Mount Olivet cemetery, and
it proved to be very interesting occa-
sion. When the time was not spent in
firing their guns, drilling and feasting,
they wandered over that section and
found imbedded in the earth AN Old can
lieved to have been left there during the
British invasion of the capital in August
1914
AS the boys reached their majority they
dropped out and found their way into the
older military companies and not a few
became active members of the Columbia
Fire Company. in whose engine house the
guns were kept for several years. Dur
ing the civil war Rough and Ready boys
could be found on each side.
=
After sixty years but. few remain OF
this company. Capt. s. w. Robinson. one
OF. four brothers. three of whom are dead.
has resided in Washington nearly all of
his life, and is still living in his eighty
fourth year. at 11O7 18th street. From
1852 he was connected with the Office of
superintendent of the Capitol. from
which he went into the service and was
captain of a company he raised for the
second District regiment, till ill-health
forced him 10 resign. After spending
fourteen years in the brick-mak-
ing business he returned to serv-
ice at the Capitol, where he has
been continuously employed for nearly
forty years. His brother BushrOd, now