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| 134 ment took part in the inaugural proceedings with enthusiasm. The President of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad gave a special train to carry the command to Washington. In Washington their headquarters were at Marine's Hall, and they carried their own caterer along. In the inaugural procession there were 900 Maryland troops. Of these, one-half belonged to the Fifth Regiment. There were under the command of Colonel Brown, 354 muskets, a band and drum corps of 54, and the field and company officers. The regiment was uniformed in heavy marching order with overcoats, knapsacks and blankets. Their uniform was gray and the men wore gilded helmets. The showy uniforms of the officers and their waving plumes, altogether made a very martial appearance. Commenting on the great parade, which included United States regulars, and the best drilled and equipped militia regiments in the country, the New York Herald said: "The conspicuous organizations in General Fitzhugh Lee's division were the Fifth Maryland and the Sixty-ninth New York regiments. The former has had all done for it that the local pride, public spirit and opulence of Baltimore could reasonably accomplish, and the general make-up and bearing of the command and its proficiency in marching and the manual of arms today, were fully up to its standard, and were a pleasant sight to see." After the return to Baltimore, Colonel Brown issued an order congratulating the regiment on its fine appearance in the inaugural parade. Soon after this Lieutenant-Colonel J. D. Lipscomb resigned his commission because of ill-health. He had entered as sergeant of Company B when the regiment was formed. About the time of Lieutenant-Colonel Lipscomb's resignation, Lawrason Riggs was elected first lieutenant of Company G. On April 6 Captain Charles D. Gaither, of Company G, was elected lieutenant-colonel to succeed Lieutenant-Colonel Lipscomb, and Captain Wm. A. Boykin, of Company K, was elected major. The new lieutenant-colonel is a son of George R. .Gaither, who had been formerly lieutenant-colonel of the regiment. He had been nine years a member of the regiment, and for four years an officer. Major Boykin is a Virginian by birth, and had |