Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-09-19
NEW HOME GUARDS? NENIGO TO PETERSBURG
Status of Alexandria Home Guards
in Question--Interesting Cores
pOndence on Subject.


pOndence on Subject.
When it became positively known
that Compay G, formerly the Alex
andr:a Light Infantry, would be
mustered into the Federal service
for an indefinite period, prompt ac-
tion was taken in this city to supply
the deficiency by organizing . Home
Guard TO act in conjunction with the
police in case of emergency. Three
companies, "A", "B', and &C., were
enlisted, officers elected and dates
set for regular drills, ETC. 1t now ap.
pears that in order to give such or
ganiZations the necessary legal au-
thority to enforce the law, aud rem
der adequate service to State and City
certain formal regulations must be
conformed with which places an en-
tirely new aspect on the situation
and neceSsitateS material change
in the original plan of organization,
as the following correspondence be-
tween Captain Thomas b. Cochran Of
Company c, Alexandria Home
Guards. and Col. 10 Lane Stern Of
the Adiutant Generals office will
show:
Being Captain of company Of
Home Guards in this city, and hav-
ing no information as to the stand
ing of the same, would like you. if
possible. to give me any advice you
can as to what the State government
is going to do towards arming these
organizations. !
"We feel in Alexandria that there
viii be need for this organization
to aid the civil authorities after
Company sc" First Virginia lnfan-
try leaves here.
Thanking you for any information
YOU may bo able to give, am
Very truly yours
(SigneCD T. r. Cochran.
.c,ntain r r. Cochran.
T22 King street,
Alexandria, Va.
Dear Captain:
| presume from your letter OF the
22nd, to General Sale, which has
been referred to me for answer, that
you propose to organize company
of State Volunteers.
Congress has authorized the Secrr-
tarv Of War to furnish the Cover
nors with certain arms under condI-
tons tc he prescribed by the Secrc-
tarv of War. and the Governor o1
this State has made request Tor
> 1000 Springfield rifles, callher d.,
brt h. doe. not know whether or not
this State can conform to the c9n1i-
tions under which they may he ls'
sued. 1t is expected that a reply VIII
he made to this request within the
next few days and you will be M
formed of it.
In the event these arms cannot ne
pot.en from the Government il
strikes me that your city and coun"
tv might purchase enough rifles 10
supplv a company as these obso.cte
guns are by no means costly, and
NAV he found at junk shops in differ
ent parts of the country. and II there
is any trouble in getting them from
the Secretary of War. you might
make some investigation along TINS
line.
As YOU are so near to Washing
ton. YOU might see Mr.. Carlln ana
have him put in word for your
company. ] should like to know, II
YOU do take such step, what rer'y
you get"
Yours very truly,
(Signed) JOE LANE STERN
Lieut.. Col. State Inspector
On the both. Capt. Cochran again
addressed Col. Stern as follows:
"Dcar Colonel:
Replying to yours of recent date
VIII you kindly send me papers ini
the organization Of a company ol
State militia. also let me know II
this company will be liable for duty
such as guarding bridges and huiih
ings.
Tho company we are about TO or