A Guide to the Order and Letter Book of the First Regiment of Virginia Volunteers, 1884-1889, 1903 #26194

Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia
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Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
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Processed by: Craig S. Moore

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Preferred Citation

Order and Letter Book of the First Regiment of Virginia Volunteers, 1884-1889, 1903. Accession 26194. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the Office of the Adjutant General on October 3, 1964.

The General Assembly passed an act on March 29, 1871 to provide for the organization of the Volunteer Militia of the State, and to repeal existing laws concerning the same. The militia, known as the Virginia Volunteers, was to consist of volunteers to be called into service in case of war, invasion, riots, etc. On March 17, 1884, another act was passed by the General Assembly to provide for the organization, maintenance and government of the Virginia volunteers. This act stipulated that the Virginia Volunteers should consist of no more than sixty companies of infantry, eight batteries of artillery, and ten troops of cavalry.

On June 23, 1903, the Mayor of Richmond requested assistance from the Governor to suppress the riots as a result of the strike by the motormen and conductors of the Virginia Passenger and Power Company. The 70th regiment of Virginia Volunteers commanded by Col. George Wayne Anderson and the Richmond Light Infantry Blues Battalion were ordered to report for duty. The regiment was ordered to protect the property of the company.

Scope and Content

Contains general & special orders, circulars, and correspondence issued by various commanders of the First Regiment of the Virginia Volunteers between October 1, 1884, and August 31, 1889.

Contents List

Order and Letter Book of the First Regiment of Virginia Volunteers, 1884-1889, 1903 .

Volume I

Extent: 1 v. (297 p.).

The material documents resignations, court martials, requests for muster rolls, appointments, relief of duty, parades, inspections, elections of officers, and other activities of the regiment. The orders and correspondence were issued by Charles J. Anderson, Col. Commanding 1st Regiment; M. L. Spotswood, Lt. Col. and later Col. Commanding 1st Regiment; J.H. Derbyshire, 1st Lt., Co. B & Acting Adjutant; Tazewell Ellett, Lt. Col. Commanding 1st Regiment; and J.V. Bidgood, Lt. Col. Commanding 1st Regiment.

This volume also includes a loose 5-page report from an unknown source (possibly Col. George Wayne Anderson, Commanding the 70th Regiment) written on Richmond Grays stationary dated July 31, 1903. The report details the actions taken by Companies A and C of the 70th Regiment Virginia Volunteers against a mob which assembled on June 23, 1903, in the City of Richmond. The last page of the report includes a rough map of the area in which the confrontation took place.