The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-25
OLD REGIMENT HAS HAD
DISTINGUISHED CAREER
Hnu Seen Service In Every Military
Call Since Its Or8nni-
xntIOn.
GnAYs DATE FROM JUNE II, 1914.
volunteered for Service In Mexican
War Under Captain Robert &. Scott
I'm 1910.

I'm 1910.
The First Virginia Regiment, which
VIII open It's new armory erected by tho
city OF Richmond for tho First Bat
talon. known as tho Richmond Grays,
on Friday night. Is one OF the most
historic military organizations In the
State. The First Regiment Association
contains In It's membership many or
the most prominent men n Richmond.
The formal opening cxerciees will take
the form Of 4 full dress drill. when tho
battalion Will appear for the iirst lime
I'm It's new FUN dress uniform of Con
federnte gray. tho drill TO be followed
by military ball. which VIII DO a
brilliant event
The First Regiment. Virginia Infan-
try, was organized May /, 1851, In the
city OF Kichmond. with Colonel Walter
Gwynn in command. The regiment. or
some OF It's companies. has taken part
III every military movement In tho city
and State from that date up to the
ptcsen. time. Some of the companies
were organized at Il much earlier date.
The Richmond Grays was organized on
Juno IL. 1874. and under the command
y.
for service In the war with Mexico.
1910
In 1858 the regiment took part In the
ceremonies incident to the removal OF
tho remains of President Monroe from
New York, and contested honora with
tho crack Seventh Regiment OF New
York. which cano down as escort to
the body OF tho former President on
that occasion.
In 1859 the regiment VAS ordered out
to assist In quelling tho disturbance
created by John Brown in his raid Mt
HarpcTs Ferry. After the capture Of
Brown the RECIPIENT was recalled, but
two OF tho companies. the Richmond
Grays and Company +. were dctach ed
TO attend tho execution OF Brown.
PROMPTLY RESPONDED
WHEN WAR broke OUT
In April, 1861, when Virginia called
upon her sons 10 rally In her defense.
the First Regiment promptly respond
ed to tho call. Tho Richmond Grays.
Company and the Richmond Blues.
being fully equipped. were detached.
The Grays. being the first company or
dered out Of Richmond. was sent TO
Norfolk and assigned to the Twelfth
Virginia Regiment. Next came the
Blues and Company T.. These two com
pnnlcs were sent to Fredericksburg and
assigned To the Forty Regiment
The remaining companies went into
service under Colonel Il. 7. Moore. and
they were reinforced BY company
from Washington. under the command
Of Captain q. Is. Sherman.
After the cloose OF the war in 1865.
the regiment was out OF commission
until December. 1871, when IL was re
organized. with John =. Sloan as colo
mel. Its first big public appearance was
At Philadelphia In the centennial cele-
bration OF 1876. when 1t met with mark
ell distinction.
DISTINGUISHED MEN
HAVE HELD COMMAND
Colonel Sloan was succeeded by Gem
er;-i Bradley Z. Johnson. an officer
who had made hnc record in the
Confederate Army. Under his COM
mtud the regiment was kept up To \
hi-h standard In discipline. Gcncrm
Johnson was succeeded by John Il
Purcell as colonel and under his com
lauut III" organization Was kept up to
q hirh state OF efficiency and partici-
nat"d in the centennial celebration anc
cncamprnent AT Yorktown. 1881. LII
ts>2 General Charles ]. Anderson WAS
elected To succeed Colonel Purcell
During tho period OF his command the
rcaimcnt. or some Of the companies
We're called upon on several occasions
TO urell disturbances, among them be-
ing the riot at Newport News but
prompt orders on the part OF Governor
I'itzhugh Lee and the quick response
from the First Regiment, two com
panies OF which We're on their wny
10 Newport News in two hours from
the time they received their orders
prevented serious consequences. and
after being on duty four days in Il,
miserable slush Of rain and snow they
were recalled.
Colonel Anderson was succeeded b.
NJ. L. Spotswood, who made AN excel
lent officer. under his command the
regiment fully sustained its past rec
ond for proficiency. winning several
prizes In competition.
EVERY COMPANY Volunteered
IN sPASIsH-AMERICAN WAR
Colonel Spotswood was succeeded by
Henry q. Jones. a most capable Of
ficer. While under his command there
were various calls made upon the mil.
itary which were promptly responded
10. /, can be- ;ruly said thit, the me n
responded for actual duty more
promptly than On dccasious of pleas
ure. and whcH the call for troops was
made for the war with Spain every
company offered It's services. but for
som" reason, never explained. all were
lot accepted, and tho regiment d.
videl up.
Three of the companies we're as
signed to the Second Virginia Regi-
ment and one to the Third Virginia
Regiment On the second call for
troops. the three remaining companies
through their commanding officer, COL
/, questcd the Governor to assign them
to duty and allow them to form and GO
In service IS the First Virginia Regi-
ment. but their services were not
needed. as the war came to close
in 4 very short time
After the war with Spain. the reRi-
ment was again reorganized In Oc-
tober. 1900. under the command OF
Colonel Anderson. II was dcsignatc1
as the Seventeen Virginia Regiment.
As the Seventeen Regiment, II was
called UP on several occasions In aid
OF the civil officers In quelling dis
turbanccs, the most noted being the
strike of the street car men In 1909 In
Richmond. The entire regiment was
on duty for about thirty days, and
performed very efficient service.
Colonel Anderson was succeeded by
William ]. Perry. August 9. 1906. I'm
der Colonel Perry the regiment has
taken part In several national and
State encampments. and to-day stands
ready to perform any duty to which 1t
may he assigned
Mrs. Victor Williams. who will aid
~, ai,,tr 10 ,,ro