The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-24
Venerable and Gallant
Organization T h a t
Helps Make History.
IS BATTLE SCARED.
Grandsires Of Youthful
Heroes Went Through
Bloody Strife Beneath
Its Proud Banner.

The Richmond Grays. which. prior
to organization in 1912 of the Rich
rnond Grays Battalion, in military
parlance were known as Company A,
First Regiment Infantry. Virginia
volunteers. is one Of the oldest mill
tary organizations in Virginia and Its
history in war and peace has been
one that has Justly made many hun
dred men proud of having been In
its ranks Ii has always been a
body whose quick and cheerful re-
spnnse To the call Of duty on every
occasion has won the admiration and
resnect of those who are familiar
with It's sofdierly bearing and notable
achlevexzaaniS-- ~
1t was on June Ia. 1874, Al mfii-
tarv hall. on the site OF which now
stands the First market, that the
martial world gave birth to such
noble body whose praiseworfhy con :
duct has many times added 1ustre to
the glorious record Of Virginia
On the eventful night of Its birth,
Colonel Darlington presided over the
deliberations Of the forty-hve men
present. among whom were the fol-
lowing: Captain H, l. Brooke,
Lieutenant Robert G. Scott, Jr-. Titus
c. Rice, Thomas +. AuEust- James
Gardner, s. T. Barksdale. O. +.
Weieigcr, John r. Allen. Louis J..
Rossieux, Idann H Greanor. r. w
Hunter, l. Iottier. Jr- S, M Bailey.
Lewis Gtnter, Jacob Ezekiel Gardner
G.. Thompson, r. E. Starke, George y.
Sad ,er. Thomas l. Riddick, Miles T.
Phillips and ------- Butler. shbstan-
s,al and successful merchants, the
pick and flower OF its society. whose
enthusiasm and jealous regard Tor the
advancement of Richmond and Viz
ginia has given their beloved city and
state Just cause to be proud OF them
III. l. Brooks was the first captain
of the First Virginia Regiment and
did active duty during hosuIttes with
Mexico. At the outbreak OF the Me1i-
can war. the Csrays volunteered their
services to the United States govern
ment. and although they were not ac-
cepted as an organization. many OF
its men enlisted in the army ann
first faced the deadly perils OF war
under the command OF Captain Roo-
ert G. Scott. participating In many
battles.
ENTERTAINED IN GOTHAM
August IL. 1859, the Grays went TO
New York, where they were lavisniy
entertained by the Seventh Regiment
National Guard, the crack organiza-
ton that had escorted President Mon
roe's remains to Richmond the year
before,
In 1889, when the news reacheu
Richmond that an lnsurrectton had
broken out at Harper's Ferry. the
Grays within a few hours were on
their way to the seat Of trouble, but
on arrival at Washington were re-
called by Governor Wise. the repe-
lion having been overcome
They were. however, later sent to
act as special guard at the execution
OF John Brown, who raised the IN
surrection.
Saturday night. April 20, 1861. the
Grays were ordered TO Norfolk, leav-
ing on the morning OF Sunday, April
2lst Familiarity known as Pawnee
Sunday, so called from the rumor
that a Federal gunboat Of that name
was on its way TO attack Richmond.
They were under the command OF
Captain wyatt NJ. Elliott. who had
been with the company since 1S47'
They had a train containing about
twenty large cannon.
On arrival at Norfolk they discov-
cred that the navy yard had been
abandoned by the Federals. and 2.lo0
cannon were found there.
They were soon thereafter attached
as Company G to the Twelfth Var.
ginia Infantry, Of Mahone's Brigade
which regiment was commanded by
Colonel d. A. Weisiger. who after