Evening star., 1935-11-10

tuition, and even before the
L Capital had its own code of
laws military companies existed here
under the laws of Maryland and Vir-
giaia. depending upon that part of the
Federal territory in which the par
ticular organization was located-in
County. The former had been ceded
to the Gov ernment by Maryland and
the latter by Virginia.
One of the first military bodies
formed in that part of the District
which early was selected for the City
of Washington was carrying on at
lest as early as 1896. and in 1897
took part in welcoming here Gen.
Washington shortly after he had
retired from the presidency and was
on his way to Mount Vernon. This
organization was known as the Wash
ington Light Artillery Company and,
according to an old account printed
in one of Washington's earliest news
papers, dated March Is, 1897, met
the former President when he reached
the Capitol and saluted him with a
discharge of cannon, and later, when
the distinguished visitor was passing
the Presidents house, then under
construction, salute of Is guns was
fired.
On March 3. 1903, Congress made
1t obligatory for all male citizens be-
tween the ages of 18 and As to muster
once a month during certain seasons,
g.; -I@ l,aI, 10
to a fine of S. for neglect OF duty.
To quote one authority of the period:
THE consequence was many military
companies were formed which -four
ished for while until tired OF parade
duty, when they dissolved and re-
turned their arms to the United
States.
RY 1885 so disguised had become the
then existing military companies
IN the District of Columbia-Which
then included Alexandria-with the
slipshod and Indifferent way the
militia was handled by the officers
at muster and at other times that
they staged on June 27 of that year
what became known as a fantastic
parade, and after one has read the
following item, printed at a later
date. it is quite certain he will agree
the affair was all the word fan
tastic' implies.
This is the account in full:
'On the 9th of June. 1885, a fan
tastical parade took place in Wash
troi i,,i,,
onerous to business men. forcing them
from their avocationS. they resolved
to manifest their displeasure and op-
position to the same. Hundreds as
sembled at the City Hall, dressed-or
rather undressed-in every conceiv-
able and fantastical manner. For
days previous the commons were
diligently searched for broken-doWn
horses for the use of the command
ing officers. Old smoke stacks were
impressed for cannon and abandoned
and dilapidated carriages were forcibly
taken possession of for hospitals
Uniforms of Continentals, Shirt-tail
Rifemen Of the backwoods, smack
frocks. Quaker hats and breeches and
Joseph's coats were brought forth
from their old repositories and with
every conceivable costume of past
ages enveloped the forms of the
motley asSemblage Whitewash brushes
and Potomac herringS were resorted
to by the officers in the absence of
epauletts Ginger cakes supplied the
place of uniform buttons. Tin pans
womens caps and undresSed skins
of various animals served as head
dresses for the occasion. We recol-
lect one person, whose uniform con-
sisted Of every conceivable color and
material. Above the seat of his
breeches, through a hole In which
his white handkerchief protruded,
was a placard, with the inscription
of MY voice is still for war!' On the
knapsack of another was DR.. Dun
can and Brandeth's Pills Some had
masks of various descriptions. Others
had odd boots or shoes, some with
one and others with no shoes on.
The lame, the halt and the blind. as
well as representatives Of all nations,
were rerresented. even the female
sex HAD rnelr reprsenJatives-ln the
character of nurses-attending the
hospitals.
"The Major General, armed with a
wooden sword, about six feet long, and
mounted on a horse which had to be
lifted up from the ground. having as
sumed command. proceeded in ludi-
crouS manner to drill the regiment
in the manuel of arms-broom sticks,
corn-stalks, etc. Having carried them
through. he gave the word to form.
when every marching evolution not |
laid down in the books, and others not |
enumerated, were gone through with. |
Eventually, getting them into line.
they marched from the City Hall