Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-10

verSary dinner the National ftlHeS vet
Grams last night did not forget their de-
ceased members and tribute was paid
them in silent toasts and speeches. The
dinner was held at Freund's, and fifty
one veterans attended.
Promptly at SIS o'clock the bugle an
nounced the dinner call, and the veterans
assembled in columns of two and march
ed to the banquet hail. While they re-
manned standing lights were ordered out.
the bugle sounded taps and the muffled
drum rolled the requiem to the dead. In
the darkness Toastmaster Lieut.. George
W. Evans announced that the National
Rifles ever pays tribute to its dead. now
encamped on the eternal shores, brave
soldiers, true comrades" At the aanclu-
sion of this ceremony the lights were
flashed and the toastmaster read the rec
ord Of the past year and announced the
death of three members since the last an
nual reunion. as follows:
Fred NJ. Thornett, charter member,
first sergeant National Rifles, June 8,
1880. to May 4, 1855, died November 10,
1913: S. Edwin Tomlinson, died Novem-
Der "a, 1913, and John T. Clements, died
May %, 1913.
Gives History of Body.
"The National Rifles, an Independent
military company Of the District Of Co
lumbia, was organized In November.
1913. under the captaincy of Frank B.
Schaeffer, an officer Of experience in the
Mexican war, under whom the company
attained reputation for excellence of drill
and military bearing, which it maintained
in the same degree of perfection to the
date Of its disarmament as an active mil
itary organization in 1906" said Toast
in nj he history
the organization.
March 8, 1881, Capt. Schaeffer resigned
and cast his lot with the Confederate
cause, taking with him practically one
half Of the membership into the southern
army. Immediately thereafter LIST Lieut..
John r. Smead. I'd Artillery, U. S. A..
then on duty with the United States coast
survey, was unanimously elected his sue
cessor, and. with the consent of the War
Department. accepted command Of the
company March 20, 1881. April Is. the
company having recruited to the full COM
plement of men required by the army
regulations, responding to the call OF
President Lincoln for 1900 volunteers,
regularly mustered into the service of
the United States, being the first troops
SO mustered under the proclamation of
the President
Formed Guard for City.
In the volunteer service the Ma
tional Rifles was known as Company
A, Sd Battalion, District of Columbia
Volunteers. Until May %. 1861. the
company. with other District of Co
lumbia Volunteers. was assigned duty
guarding the public buildings and
property in and about Washington and
south. May %. 1851. the company,
under the command of Capt Smead. by
order of Gen. Stone, u. S. A. at the
head of several military organizations.
crossed over the Long bridge into Efr-
ginia, and was the first body of troops
to invade the sacred soil of that state.
After the termination of its three
month service practically all OF the
members OF the National Rifles were
| rendered commissioned officers places
many accepted the same. After three
months service the company was mus
tered out and Capt. smead. its com
manding ofhcer. was assigned to duty
States Artillery. He was killed in
action at the second battle of Bull
Run, Va. From the ranks of the Ma
tional Rifles in 1861. numbering sixty
were issued to twenty-eight of Its
members early in the civil war. who
before its close reached the following
grades in the United States service
| One major general Of volunteers. two
| brigadier generals regular and vol
unteers; one colonel. volunteer army
five lieutenant colonies. regular and
| volunteers. six majors. regular and
volunteers; eight captains. regular and
volunteers: three lieutenants, regular
and volunteers; one civil assistan,
Typographical engineer. Army of the
Potomac: one assistant engineer. United
States Navy. The officer. Lieut. Charles
p: F. Fisher. died in the Anderson
vile. Ga, military stockade or pen.
Furnishes High Officials.
THE National Rifles have furnished
one governor for the District of Co
lumbia, Private Alexander R. Shepherd
and one Commissioner for the District
Private Frederick L. Siddons.
THE company, reorganized June 8
Ilsso, maintained the same esprit de
corps" In all the years of its existence
las an active organization. 1t became
we'll known as famous drill organiza-
petitive drill fields in various parts OF
the United States. and to the time OF
Its disbandment was the champion drill
company of the District Of Columbia
Its social functions always were liber-
ally patronized by the best and mos,
National Capital. and its membership
embraced only those whose character
and standing in the community repre-
lsented the very best type of our young
| citizenship. large percentage OF
whom. today. are prominent residents
and leading professional and business
men and most useful citizens.
Active In War With Spain.
| ...rx 49,, 49,