The Blues Look Back 150 Years

By Allyn Tunis

The Blues, pride of Richmond and glory of Virginia, are marking 150 years of a noble career this week end. Historic commands of the Centennial Legion have joined the sesquicentennial of the famous battalion, to produce one of the most colorful and brilliant events in the long existence of that body, whose name has been linked with the very fabric of the city's traditions almost from the outset.

While the years have clouded the actual date of the Richmond Light Infanty Blues' origin, there is evidence that the first company existed in 1788, perhaps earlier, but was not commissioned. In 1789, it won official standing, when Captain William Richardson was chosen its commanding officer.

Little really is known of the Blues prior to 1793. On May 10, that year, officers were commissioned, and that date for a century has popularly been supposed to be that of the organization of the original company. General William H. Richardson, one-time adjutant-general of Virginia, is credited with fixing May 10, 1789, when his uncle, Captain Richardson, took command of the company, as the date of its founding.

In 1876, when the company separated from the First Virginia Regiment, it was granted a charter by the Legislature as an independent infantry organization. The incorporators included John S. Wise, George Wythe Munford, Isaac L. Cary, William H. Fry, Charles P. Bigger, John M. Haddon, T. R. Glazebrook, Thomas B. Bigger, William Wise Sheppard, Ezekiel J. Levy, George W. Jarvis, Thomas H. Blankenship and John F. Regnault.

The charter also provided for the creation of the Richmond Light Infantry Blues Association. First officers of this group were Colonel George Wythe Munford, president; Isaac L. Cary, vice-president; Captain Ezekiel J. Levy, treasurer, and Lieutenant Thomas H. Blankenship, secretary. A total of 116 men were elected members of the association. The list contained many formerly connected with the Blues and the names of other leading Richmonders who previously had not been identified with the military unit.

Early in 1894, the Ashby Light Horse, a troop of cavalry, which had been in existence for a few years, was maintaining its organization with difficulty. Negotiations had been in progress for some time for a consolidation of that unit with the Blues, and the formation of the two bodies into a battalion of infantry.

The Legislature granted an amendment to the Blues' charter which provided for the formation of one or more additional companies and a battalion of not less than two, nor more than six companies.

With the addition of the Ashby Light Horse members, the Blues organized Company B on May 10, 1894, and Captain Sol Cutchins, commander of the original company which had become Company A, was elected major and the first battalion commander.

In 1901, Major Cutchins resigned as commanding officer of the battalion and was succeeded by Major William L. Daughtrey Jr., who died a few months after his promotion. Since then, the Blues have had only five commanders--Major Luther L. Cheatwood, Major Edgar W. Bowles, Major Sheppard Crump, Major Mills F. Neal and the present commander, Major Robert Buford Rose.

A third company -- C -- was mustered into service on March 3, 1907. The three-company battalion, in new full-dress uniforms, was seen in public for the first time on Memorial Day, May 30, 1907, when it participated in the opening parade of a Confederate Reunion and the unveiling of J. E. B. Stuart's monument, at Monument Avenue and Lombardy Street.

The battalion came up to its present strength when Company D was organized and mustered into service on May 10, 1911. It was not until 1922, however, that a battalion headquarters company was formed and the Blues became a completely organized military unit.

For a century and a half, the Blues have taken part in practically every public patriotic demonstration and reception of distinguished visitors that has occurred in Richmond. Their career as a social organization has been notable, but they have been none the less quick to rally around the flag of the State and nation.

Back in 1808, the Blues were known as the "Light Infantry Company" of a battalion of the Nineteenth Regiment of Militia, authorized by the General Assembly in an act which provided for commissioning "not more than one company of grenadiers, light infantry, or riflemen, in each battalion of the militia of this Commonwealth."

The first active service seen by the Blues was in 1807, when the British captured an American frigate almost within the Virginia Capes, and again when they went to the front in the War of 1812.

In 1807, the company marched from Richmond to Portsmouth--120 miles--in less than five days, and it was called into service several times during the War of 1812.

The Blues went with the earliest of the troops sent to the Potomac River when the War Between the States broke out, and remained there for several months, when it was assigned to Wise's Legion, afterward called Wise's Brigade. The Richmonders saw service on the Gauley and Kanawha Rivers, in what today is West Virginia.

In February, 1862, the command was ordered to Nag's Head and thence to Roanoke Island, N. C. Brigadier-General Henry A. Wise pronounced the movement an ill-advised one and protested against it. While many of his troops were on the mainland, those on the island were pounced upon by a Federal expedition under General Ambrose E. Burnside, and after a short but severe battle the Confederates were forced to surrender.

In this action, the Blues lost their commander, Captain O. Jennings Wise, editor of the Richmond Enquirer and son of General Wise. Lieutenant Fred Carter, Sergeant George W. Jarvis and Privates Adler, Bennet, Nute, Gamble, Johnson, Ruskel and Thompson were wounded. Privates Adler and Bennet afterward died from their wounds. Fifty-one members of the company were prisoners in the hands of the enemy. This was one of the saddest events in the history of the Blues. For the moment the old company ceased to be. The survivors and former members, however, took pride and comfort in the knowledge that the command had met the supreme test of battle and had cheerfully and gladly given its best to the cause it served.

After the disaster at Roanoke Island, the Blues reorganized, and in April, 1862, went to Yorktown. They were present when McClellan landed his army before Yorktown and helped Magruder to hold his lines until Johnston arrived from Manassas.

From the summer of 1862 until September 1863, Wise's Brigade remained in the vicinity of Chaffin's Bluff. The Blues went off on expeditions into New Kent County, sometimes they were at Hanover Junction repelling raiders, again they were skirmishing in Charles City.

Wise's Brigade was ordered to Charleston, S. C., and upon debarking there, the Virginians found shells falling in the city; the enemy was bombarding the place. The Blues encamped on Johnson's Island, 1,200 yards from Fort Sumter, which was under constant fire.

In May, 1864, Wise's Brigade was transferred to Petersburg. The Blues were in that portion of the Southern forces which fell upon Butler's army. Henceforward, until General Lee's surrender April 9, 1865, there was never a day in which Richmonders were not within firing distance of the enemy, and there was not an engagement in which they did not lose men, killed and wounded.

When President McKinley called for volunteers in the Spanish-American War on April 25, 1898, Major Sol Cutchins offered the Blues' services for active duty. Company A became Company H and Company B became Company I (afterward M) of the Fourth Regiment, Virginia Volunteers. The regiment was mustered into Federal service on May 25. In June, 1898, the Blues became part of the Third Brigade, Seventh Division, Seventh Army Corps, and were stationed at Camp Cube Libre, Jacksonville, Fla.

Training and drilling under the hot Florida sun was of the most gruelling kind. Supplies furnished by foot speculators, according to Colonel John A. Cutchins in his book, "A Famous Command--The Richmond Light Infantry Blues," were inferior, camps overcrowded and insanitary and typhoid epidemics took deadly toll in every post.

The Blues remained at Jacksonville until October 25, when they were sent to Savannah and stayed there until December. When they were transferred to Havana, they were made part of the Army of Cuban Occupation. On March 25, 1899, the Virginians were returned to Savannah, and were mustered out of service on April 27, 1899.

When the Blues came back from Cuba, the battalion was reorganized, and the two companies were reformed on October 20, 1899, under Major Sol Cutchins.

For a few years, the activities of the battalion were confined to normal drills and summer encampments, except for a brief period in 1903, when its members were called upon to help suppress a strike which by lawlessness and disorder threatened to disrupt Richmond's transportation system.

Excluded as infantry when the National Guard was called out in 1916 for service along the Mexican border, the Blues became mounted infantrymen and were mustered in as the First Squadron. Virginia Cavalry, Organized Militia of Virginia. The fine old organization switched from foot to horse in order not to have a break in its continuous service record.

Having changed the nature of the organization to serve their country, the Blues began a course of training to enable them to play their part. After a period of training at Camp Stuart, near the State Fairgrounds, the battalion was sent to Brownsville, Texas, where it became part of the First Provisional Cavalry Regiment. Horses were issued the day after arrival, and men who had never before been astride of a mount took up their duties. There were no serious casualties, and on March 18, 1917, the Blues came home.

In the spring of 1917, America again was at war. The United States had joined the rest of the world to preserve democracy. The Blues' troops were sent to guard railroad property in Virginia when sabotage was feared.

In September, the squadron was detailed as a unit of the Twenty-Ninth Division, and sent to Camp McClellan, Anniston, Ala. Here it was designated as the Horse Battalion. One Hundred and Fourth Ammunition Train, composed of three companies. Troops A, B and C became Companies E, F and G, while officers and men of Troop D, the junior troop, were assigned to Companies F and G. Captain J A. Cutchins of Troop D had been relieved from duty with the squadron and appointed assistant chief of staff of the division. In June, 1918, the Ammunition Train was transferred to Camp Mills, en route to France.

Aboard a freighter, the Medic, the Blues sailed, and on July 25 the ship made its way into the harbor of Cherbourg. In the Village of Jaulnay-Clan they took up their task of soldiering in France. Later they were transferred to a training camp at Meucon. It was not until November 10 that the ammunition train received orders to move to the front. The morning of November 11 found the Richmonders aboard a train bound for Vannes. At long last they were going to the front, but they were not destined to face the enemy in actual battle--the Armistice had been signed and the fighting ended.

The World War over and home again, the battalion was re-organized and the friendships and customs of former days resumed. The celebration of the organization's 132nd anniversary, May 10, 1921, was made brilliant by the attendance of the Governor's Foot Guard of Hartford, Connecticut. This unit again will be the guests of the Blues on their 150th anniversary, and, in addition, the Second Company, Foot Guard, of New Haven, also will be on hand for the celebration.

Others of the Centennial Legionnaires expected here for the sesquicentennial include the Fifth Maryland Infantry, Baltimore; the Ancient and Honorable Artillery, Boston; The Morris Guards, Atlantic City, N. J.; the New Haven Grays, New Haven, Conn.; the Old Guard, New York City; the Putnam Phalanx, Hartford, Conn., and the State Fencibles, Philadelphia.

The Blues, always as ready for a frolic as a fight, have taken a picturesque part in many important ceremonials. They were escorts to Lafeyette in 1824, they helped to welcome a dozen Presidents, in addition to innumerable Confederate leaders, and after the World War they were chief escort of the late Marshal Foch, the French commander-in-chief, when he visited Richmond on November 23, 1921.

When the centennial for the surrender of Yorktown was celebrated on October 19, 1881, the Blues and many Northern organizations participated. They formed a part of a grand military parade in which 9,000 troops were reviewed by President Arthur and a distinguished company.

In 1882 the Blues left Richmond to take part in a parade at the annual encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, in Baltimore. Two years later they were present at dedication of the Washington Monument at the National Capital.

The Blues often have been the guests and hosts of other celebrated commands. Their anniversary celebration in 1888 was made notable by the presence of the Washington Grays.

A lasting friendship between the Blues and the Governor's Foot Guard of Connecticut sprang up in 1907 when the famous Bay State organization was entertained here at a military ball. Since then the two bodies have enchanged visits and courtesies of all kinds.

Cordial relations also developed between Richmond's famous unit and other military groups throughout the country. In 1915, the Blues were guests of the California Grays, in San Francisco. Again in 1924 the Foot Guard joined the Blues in their anniversary celebration. That same year the Blues attended the 150th anniversary celebration of the First congress in Philadelphia when a flag of membership in the Centennial legion, which is composed of military organizations that have been in existence more than 100 years, was presented the Blues by the Carpenter's Company and the City of Philadelphia.

In 1925, the Blues, accompanied by the John Marshall High School Cadet Corps Band, paid a return visit to the Foot Guard at New Haven and Hartford. En route to Connecticut, the Virginians were entertained by the Old Guard of New York.

During the visit here of the Foot Guard in 1924, plans were initiated for the Connecticut command to join the Blues on a visit to England, France and Belgium. Latere, the Putnam Phalanx was invited to participate in the journey. The Phalanx, the two companies and Foot Guards and the Blues formed a happy and completely united regiment, composed of the descendants and successors of men who had fought against one another in the '60's. They were embarked upon a mission of international good will.

That year, 1926, May 10 was celebrated in fitting form on the high seas. The following day, the Americans' vessel, the Chicago, docked at Havre, France, and a trip to Brussels was made by train. The proposed visit to England had been cancelled because of a general strike which was in progress there. The Belgians greeted the Americans with open arms and they passed in review before the late King Albert.

An imposing delegation of French officials greeted the visitors in Paris, after which they visited French battlefields and American cemeteries. This trip still is regarded as one of the most unique ever undertaken by military commands--under arms to foreign countries, in time of peace.

Upon the return of the battalion from Europe it resumed its peace-time services to city and State. It has not been called out for active service since, although Company C was ordered to Gloucester County in 1928 for duty during an outbreak of trouble among oystermen.

A visit of the Governor's Foot Guard and the Putnam Phalanx was a notable occasion when the Blues again acted as hosts on their 140th anniversary, May 10, 1929, and the Connecticut troops served as an escort to Governor John H. Trumbull of Connecticut, who came to Richmond for the event.

At that time representatives of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery, the Kentish Guards of East Greenwich, Rhode Island; the Hornet's Nest Rifles, Charlotte, N. C.; the Gate City Guard, Atlanta; the State Fencibles, Philadelphia; the Fayetteville Light Infantry, Fayetteville, N. C.; the Old Guard, New York, and the Washington Light Infantry, Charleston, S. C., also were on hand.

An impressive public event has been planned for this afternoon, when there will be a parade of the Blues and their uniformed guests from the Jackson monument, the Boulevard and Monument Avenue, to the Stadium, where there will be a review of the troops. This will be preceded with a parade of the Little Boy Blues, a newly-formed unit composed of sons of members of Richmond's crack military organization -- the Blues of the future.

No reference to the Blues' history would be complete without mention of the Blues Veterans Corp and the Ladies Auxiliary. When the Blues went to France, in 1918, they left behind a debt of $10,000. The auxiliary was organized at that time, and when the soldiers returned they found the obligation liquidated, thanks to the efforts of the auxiliary. Since then, the ladies have played an important role in aiding the Blues in various fund-raising undertakings.

The uniformed Veterans Corps was organized on February 8, 1925, and made its first public appearance on May 10 under the command of Major Clarence Wyatt.