The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-24
wortham, r. J. Bosher, b. Lorraine. J.
A. Hutchinson, and r. A Williams were


A HIitcheson and r.. A Williams were
successive captains Of this famous bat
terry
Captain williams retired after sew
eral years of service, and LieuIenane
Myers was chosen captain. captain
MYERS is son Of the late william
washington Myera. who served with
such gallantry az first lieutenant OF
Riley's battery. army of northern Nir-
ginia. during the four years OF the
CIVIL war.
Captain Myers, who was retired in
the present war with the rank OF
colonel. has an enviable record in the
Howitzers. During twenty-five years
he never was absent on parade of
the battery, and has accompanied the
Hcwitzers on every trip they took since
his enlistment. He has been leader
IN every movement which would tend
to the betterment of his command, and
always looked out for the pleasure
and comfort of his men.
During all these years, though 1t
has had much to contend with. the
battery has continued to prosper In
men ma terial and worldly goods. They
have, since being organized. partici-
pated in nearly every demonstration
or celebration that has occurred, hav-
ing taken part at Yorktown, Kings
Mountain. n. c., New York, celebration
of cornerstone of Lee monument, un-
yelling of Lee monument, A. +. Hill
monument, Soldiers and Sailors -monu-
ment, jefferson Davis refinement, and
unwilling of the monument. the stuart
monument, funeral services at Lynch
| burg Of General Jubal A. Early, sham
battles at Lynchburg and Crater. be-
sides firing salutes in honor of disttn-
euished soldiers and representatives Of
the state. and also durfhg the funeral
services of General Garfield, Prcsi-
dent Mckinley, and Vice president
Hendricks.
At Danville in 1883. they assisted in
quelling the riot and placing the city
In its accustomed peaceful condition.
They were among the first to arrive at
the state penitentiary In 1887. to guard
the prisoners at the time of the ter
rible fire there.
buried JeH Davis.
The mortal remains Of General
George T.. Pickett. President jefferson
Owls, and Colonel Lewis Williams were
borne to their last resting place in
Hollywood upon one the battery's cais-
sons.
In the spring Of 1895. 10000 opera
tives of the various coal mines near
Pocohontas went on strike. The gov
ernor being called on for troops. or
dered the Richmond Howit1ers out.
! They received orders at 10 +. NJ, May
| >. to send one platoon with three-inch
rife and a gatling gun. to pocahontas.
| Ky 1880 +. NJ. the guns has been
placed on fat cars attached to pas
| senger trait. and the comma nd left fsr
| the seat of war TO the tune of The
| Girl Left Behind Me
| The troops reached the village of
| Graham the following day at IL noon.
and remained there until the follow In &
~ 81 "a =. 70,
men and artilierFmen as well. winning
tie confidence and admiration OF the
! officers and men of the command. The
situation was relieved by their pres
enee and the good name OF the state
; was saved from being stained by blood =
| shed and riot
! March to jamestown.
! notable achievement was the
/ famous march to jamestown in 1907.
| The march was heralded over the en-
| tire country. and was pronounced by
army experts to be the greatest
achievement OF ts kind OF modern
| times. During single days march.
Miih-green- horses and men -unaccus-
toned to the work. the battery covered
! "a distance OF thlrty-eight miles in the
| rain over heavy roads. They left Rich
mond on June Tth, with orders from
Governor Swanson to he at Jamestow
on the morning Of June f2th, to take
p"iI III Inv II UAN pRFdues IHRF
/ reached there several houre ahead OF
J time. after travelling over some of the
toughest roads in Virginia
In the summer Of 1908 the Howitz-
ers, dismounted. marched from Staun-
! ton to Alexandria, "A distance Of ia
4 miles over the famous Valley pike
stopping day to visit Luray Cavernx
as, the guests of Lieutenant Governor
: ]. Taylor Ellyson. war time member
! of the battery. This region was the
! scene of Stonewall Jackson's famous
/ campaign, and Rev James Power. chap
! lain Of the battalion General Jack
sons aide. delivered many interesting
! and instructive lectures on the i'm por
! tanf gcments in that section
The outbreak of the Spanish Amerf-
! can war in 1898 found the howitzers.
a. usual, prepared and ready TO serve
i their country. They Immediately vol
unteered their services. but were not
/ accepted. because tho war department
/, at that time had no modern field pieces
with which to equip them Officers OF
/ The battery petitioned the officials at
+ Washington In vain for equipmen
their men being eager 10 get in the
/ fray in Cuba.