THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B - e^ THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B 1788 Governor's Independent Volunteer Troop of Horse Guards 1911 Troop B Cavalry Connecticut National Guard 1917 Edited by James L. Howard THE CASE, LOCKWOOD & BRAINARD CO. HARTFORD, CONN. 19 2 1 b4 COPYRIGHTED SEPTEMBER 1921 The Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company. To our Forebears of the Revolution PREFACE One evening last winter several officers of the old Troop were discussing old times and the Produce of Scotland. One former captain produced a bound book containing typewritten copies of the several histories read at our annual gatherings — histories written by our wittiest members. " Why not print them and let all the old bunch regale them- selves ? " " Why not put in a lot of photographs to make the recollec- tions more vivid ? " " Why not tell the story of the Horse Guard, since we hold the old charter?" This chronicle is an attempt to answer those questions. In the appendix will be found a list of authorities consulted — particularly with reference to the earlier period. It would be ungracious not to take advantage of this oppor- tunity gratefully to acknowledge the interested co-operation of Mr. Godard, State Librarian, Miss Prickett of the State Library, Mr. Bates of the Connecticut Historical Society, Mr. Dwyer of the office of the Secretary of State, and Adjutant General Cole; all of whom have most courteously placed original state records and manuscripts at the disposal of the Editor. IX CONTENTS PREFACE HORSE GUARD Page I The Revolutionary Prelude l II The Charter lo III The Charter Members ....... 17 IV The First Quarter Century ...... 31 V Gala Days 40 VI Coma 47 VII Convalescence . 56 TROOP B VIII The New Life IX The Hills of Lebanon . X The Great Annihilation XI All Roads Lead to Hampton XII Putting Rhode Island on the Map XIII On to Mexico .... XIV Arizona Days .... XV The Border Patrol XVI "We Have Kept the Faith" 6S 81 95 114 129 140 165 195 206 APPENDICES A Officers Commissioned under the Charter . . . 210 B Troop B Register, 1911-1919 218 C Bibliography 248 Index 250 XI ILLUSTRATIONS Surrender of Burgoyne ...... Frontispiece Facing Page The Petition 8-9 The Charter lo-ii The First Election ......... 12 Royal Horse Guard ......... 13 The Apocryphal Charter ........ 16 The Second Flag .......... 17 Major John Caldwell 18 Major Thomas Y. Seymour ........ 19 Map of Hartford — 1788 28 Major Caldwell's Resignation ....... 32 Major T. Y. Seymour's Election ....... 33 Major Ledlie's Commission ........ 39 Major James T. Pratt ......... 46 Major Frank Cowles ......... 58 The New Flag .......... 59 Captain Howard and Lieutenant Davis ..... 66 The Troop ........... 67 Escorting President Taft ........ 67 The First Camp .......... 74 Niantic — 191 1 75 Sergeant Myers giving 'em — instructions ..... 78 The Third Squad 78 Troop B at Niantic 79 Camp at Marlborough ......... 88 Major Francis C. Marshall 89 Marlborough again ......... 89 Cleaning up .......... . 92 Lebanon Green .......... 92 Father and the Boys ......... 93 Good Discipline at Water Call ....... 93 Detraining .......... lOO On the Road loi Corporal Mills et al 104 Close Harmony .......... 104 Frank Cheney's Gang ......... 105 Bus Whitmore and Family ........ 105 Sergeants Hughes and Myers ....... 108 Sergeant Gadd .......... 109 Camp at Tispaquin 109 An Evening Meal . 118 Troop B at Hampton ......••• ii9 Repelling the Charge 122 Major General Leonard Wood ....... 123 Second U. S. Cavalry Camp 123 The Hartford Freight Yards Cooks Dean and Gusky Come and Get It . Federal Inspection Troop Street at Quonset The Happy Squad Ofif for Mexico! . Packing Up .... Captain Davis and Blarney . The Captain and the Commander Nogales, Arizona . Nogales, Mexico . Hughes Park Cemetery Ridge Receiving Instructions . The Mess Shed The Troop Street . Doc. Bailey .... Thomas W. Carter Bulkeley, Westbrook, Cheney, Hu William J. Hamersley . Federal Inspection at Arivaca University Club Drill and Horse Exercise Federal Inspection, Nogales . The Old Trough, Nogales . Skirmish Drills Ruby, Arizona Hitting the Trail . Arivaca .... Camp at Arivaca . Saturday Inspection at Arivaca Officers' Quarters . Jess Harris .... The Grand Stand . The Base-ball Bleachers Arivaca Chapel Arivaca Adobe Bronco Busting Troop B Recruits Mother Dexter's Children Cutler and Myers Map of Pima and Santa Cruz Count Bear Valley .... The Stone House and Tres Bell Watching the Round up Montana Camp Watering at Arivaca Creek . Trinity and Yale in Troop B The Troop and its Armory . ghes -Chi lotes :ies T rail Page 132 132 133 136 137 137 146 147 ISO 151 152 152 153 153 154 154 iSS 155 162 163 164 i6s i6s 170 171 171 174 17s 175 176 176 177 184 184 184 184 18s 185 i8s 190 190 191 19s 196 197 202 202 203 206 207 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B THE REVOLUTIONARY PRELUDE "America and Great Britain against the world ! " A strange toast to have heard in the year of our Lord 1777. The British Army of the North had just been defeated at Sara- toga and the terms of surrender had been agreed upon and executed by Gates and Burgoyne, The utmost courtesy and good feeling prevailed. Gates even acquiesced in Burgoyne's suggestion that the bitter pill be softened by avoiding the term " surrender " and calling the agreement, " The Saratoga Con- vention." The American officers invited General Burgoyne and his fellow officers to dine. General Burgoyne was called upon for a toast. Every voice was for the moment hushed into the deepest attention, as he rose and gave — "America and Great Britain against the world ! " In accordance with the terms of the surrender, the " Con- vention " troops were started across Massachusetts for Boston. Gen. Gates' confidence in a young cavalry officer Captain Thomas Y. Seymour of Hartford, led to the selection of the latter to escort General Burgoyne to Boston. The people of New Eng- land had become exasperated at the reports of British barbarities particularly the alleged offer of a reward to Indians for American scalps. In one town, en route, an old woman, gaining access to the famous prisoner, shook her finger in his face and exclaimed in a shrill voice: " Neow what'U ye give for Yankee scalps ? " Captain Seymour, however, guarded his prisoner so tactfully and pleasantly that upon reaching Boston General Burgoyne presented him with a pair of silver-mounted cavalry pistols and a fine leopard skin.* Seymour had, at this time, just been promoted. On January 10, 1777, he had left his studies at Yale and accepted a commis- * Hollister's Hist, of Conn., Vol. ii, p. 329. THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B sion as Lieutenant of Cavalry in Colonel Elisha Sheldon's regi- ment of Light Dragoons, being attached to the troop commanded by Captain Jean Louis de Vemejout. Captain de Verne j out's troop had been detached from Sheldon's regiment and had served with much activity and credit under Gates in the Burgoyne campaign. On October 20, 1777, according to Major Tallmadge, Captain de Vemejout " run away." f The reasons for this precipitate action are not a matter of record, but it is safe to say that his successor, Captain Seymour, immediately restored whatever confidence may have been shaken by this sudden defection. In his noted painting of The Surrender of Burgoyne Trum- bull depicts Captain Seymour mounted on a charger. Though Seymour resigned his commission November 23, 1778, and took up the practice of law in Hartford, he did not lose his interest in things military but exerted himself to organize a mounted guard for the protection and escort of the Governor of Connecticut. While at first this escort was quite informal, the continuing success of the project justified a petition to the General Assembly of 1788 to legalize its privileges and responsibilities. Since its early history Hartford had maintained a mounted guard. In 1658, Major John Mason, the colony's military chief, had effected the organization in Hartford County of a troop of horse consisting of thirty-seven members with Captain Richard Lord in command. Captain Lord was one of the original proprietors, coming from Cambridge to Hartford in 1636, That he was distinguished in civil affairs as well as in the Indian Wars is evidenced by his epitaph : — * " The bright Starre of our Cavallrie lyes here: Unto the State, a Counselour full Deare And to ye Truth a Friend of Sweet Content, To Hartford Towne a silver Ornament. Who can deny to Poore he was Reliefe, And in composing Paroxysmes was Chiefe To Marchantes as a Patterne he might stand, Adventring dangers new by Sea and Land." t Revolutionary Records. * Memorial Hist. Hfd. Co., Vol. i, p. 249. THE REVOLUTIONARY PRELUDE The third commander was Captain Samuel Talcott, later a Colonel commanding a regiment in the French and Indian Wars. It was during his captaincy — October 31, 1687 — that Sir Edmond Andros visited Hartford for the purpose of purloining the charter of Connecticut. " The troop of horse of that county conducted him honorably, from the ferry, through Wethersfield, up to Hartford, "t but history fails to produce any evidence that Captain Talcott and his comrades aided and abetted Sir Edmond in his unsuccessful attempt. The members of this original troop were allowed to train in their respective towns of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield, but were regarded as " one entire troop, consisting of several parts, who are to unite and attend the General Training as one entire body of horse." From 1739 until the Revolution the troop was under the orders of the commanding officer of the local infantry regiment. In 1776 five regiments of " light horse " were constituted in the state and the independent troop disappeared from view — even- tually to be revived by Captain Seymour following his return to Hartford. March 2d, 1778, Congress passed a resolve recommending to the young men of property and spirit and of a cultivated under- standing in several of the states to form themselves into volun- teer troops of light cavalry, to serve at their own expense, except in the articles of provisions and forage, and to join the main army. Governor Trumbull forwarded the proposal to the several cavalry commanders in the state but nothing developed. In fact only one troop of this description was organized — by General Nelson in Virginia — but the retreat of the British from Phila- delphia to New York rendered its services unnecessary. Con- gress thanked these volunteers for their " brave, generous, and patriotic efforts in the cause of their country ;" and the whole plan was speedily abandoned. But the idea of this elite, self-sustaining, volunteer troop of horse remained fixed in the minds of Captain Seymour, John Caldwell, the Bull brothers, and other prominent citizens of Hartford, many of whose names appear in the records of the General Assembly of 1771 as memorialists in the petition for t Bulkcley's " Will & Doom," p. 69. 3 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B the charter of the Governor's Guard — later, for the sake of dis- tinction, known as the First Company, Governor's Foot Guard. These gentlemen conceived it to be a polite and agreeable task to ride out in company for the purpose of attending the Gover- nor into the city and of escorting other visitors of military repu- tation. The newspapers of that period contained scant local news. Obviously those few citizens who were so unfortunate as to be away from Main Street when anything happened could pick up the day's news by stepping around to a public house. The young bloods gathered at David Bull's " Bunch of Grapes " Tavern opposite the Court House, while the elderly men who belonged to the Seven Copper Club congregated at Moses Butler's place just across the Little River. Mr. Butler ran a very respectable tavern, charged seven coppers for half a mug of flip, and closed his doors to all except travelers at nine o'clock. There was no object, therefore, in wasting valuable newspaper space on what everybody already knew. The first page was devoted to despatches recounting the activities of Parliament, the second and third to despatches from Boston, Providence, Stonington, New London, New Haven, Peekskill, Albany, Phila- delphia and Baltimore, and to an occasional proclamation by Congress or by Governor Trumbull. The fourth page was re- served for advertisements — rewards for return of " Lost, strayed or stolen," be it slave, wife or horse. Caleb Bull's dry goods are displayed under the heading " Look for Love and buy for Money." John Caldwell has just received a consignment of West India Rum. William Lawrence, " Being under Necessity of raising a sum of Money immediately, would esteem it a Favour of those that are indebted to him by Note or Book, to make Pay- ments without Delay." These were the prominent well-to-do citi- zens of the town, and it must have been due to a gentlemanly aver- sion to detail rather than to parsimony on their part that the editor was forced to make a weekly announcement " Ready Money is expected for inserting Advertisements in this Paper." So, little space could be spared for local news. The event must be of a nature appealing to local pride if it is to squeeze its way into print. The Connecticut Courant of Tuesday, November i8, 1777, appreciates the compliment to Hartford in the presence of a THE REVOLUTIONARY PRELUDE gentleman of nation-wide reputation and proudly grants space to announce that " On Friday last passed through this town, es- corted by a party of Light Dragoons, the Hon. JOHN HAN- COCK, Esq., President of the American Congress, with his Lady, on his way to Boston, after an absence, on public business, of more than two years and a half." The repeated yearly re-election of the same state officials wore on the Editor's nerves — " Too much space wasted on old stuff," perhaps he said. The Courant of May 19, 1778, recounts the re- election of Governor Trumbull, his deputy and assistants, but the " Roll of Representatives cannot be inserted this week for want of room." Small wonder there is no room to name those who may have attended the inauguration. Lafayette gets one agate line for passing through Hartford on December 6, 1778, and Sam Adams is similarly recognized in the following month. But May 5, 1780, gives an opportunity to see the local gentle- men extending the hospitality of the town. " The Marquis de La Fayette arrived here last Friday evening, and left the town early on Saturday morning on his way to the army at Morris Town, escorted by a party of the 2d Regt. of Dragoons and attended by several officers of the Continental Army and a num- ber of respectable Inhabitants of this and the neighboring Towns. The Artillery Company saluted with thirteen cannon and every mark of respect and esteem was expressed for the Marquis that the shortness of the time would permit." A similar but more elaborate ceremony in September of the same year welcomed " their Excellencies Gov. Trumbull, Gen. Washington, Count Rochambeau and Admiral Ternay — with the Marquis de La Fayette, Gen. Knox and several other officers of distinction from the Allied Armies . . . The corps of Guards and Artillery were on duty, and saluted with thirteen Cannon on the arrival and departure of these Gentlemen." A repetition of this enthusiastic sentiment found expression in honoring Washington and Rochambeau, before and after the famous conference held at the Webb House in Wethersfield in May, 1781. In August of the same year Trumbull set out for Danbury to take a sum of hard money to the soldiers as well as to meet with his Council. His diary of this trip has given rise to the mis- THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B conception that he was escorted by a Company of Governor's Guards — probably Horse Guards as " unless the unreasonable assumption be adopted that this journey of 184 miles was made at the pace of a walk the Guard which did escort duty was one of horse and not of foot." In reality he followed his usual practice of accepting a volun- teer escort and in this particular case a paid guard to protect the funds ; to quote from his diary of Aug. 9, 1781 — " Capt. Norton, with Wild, two Olmsteads, and Goodwin, Guards." The Council of Safety usually prescribed the guard to escort the paymaster. The Council on August 8, resolved : " That the Committee of Pay Table be, and they are hereby directed to draw on the Trea- surer, in favour of Capt. Selah Norton for the sum of Forty five pounds in Lawfull Silver money to enable him to pay the ex- pence of Escorting his Excellency the Gov'' to Danbury and Convey the money sent on to pay to the Connecticut Line, he to be accountable." On another occasion Captain Norton, when carrying funds to pay the soldiers in the western part of the State, was directed to take with him "A Guard of five men properly Armed with Sword & Pistols for the Security of the Same and to assist in Carrying the money." On arrival at Danbury Governor Trumbull directed Lt. Col. Eli Mygatt of the i6th Militia Regiment to furnish him a guard of twenty men. The Governor's diary reads, " Tuesday, 14th. Fair — cool — Guards set at night." These twenty men were de- tailed from the Danbury company of the i6th Militia Regiment, and the payroll is certified for duty Aug. 13 to Aug. 23, a total expense of £22 15s 2d. The misconception as to the identity of this guard may have been strengthened by the entry of Friday, 17th, " Capt. Hillhouse came — P. M. Council — orders given, for Gov*. Guards, etc. Capt. Cook came in.", from which it was deduced that the Governor's Guards were with him. That they had on the con- trary remained at home, is evidenced by the next entry ; " Satur- day, i8th, A. M. Council. Col°. Trumbull returned. Mr. Cook went with Orders to officers of Gov". Guards, Hartford." These orders directed Captain Jonathan Bull, commanding the Gover- nor's Guards (First Company, Foot), to march his command on Danbury, but the Council of Safety, sitting at Danbury on Aug. 22, decided this move was unnecessary, and " Resolved that his THE REVOLUTIONARY PRELUDE Excellency be desired to Issue his orders to Capt. Jonathan Bull to Countermand the orders given for marching his Company to Danbury, and that he hold his s^ Company in Readiness to March upon the Shortest notice." The Governor left Danbury on the 23rd, stopping with Colonel Mosely at Southbury, and with Capt. Cowles at Farmington. On the 25th he " set out at 8 o'clo. — came into Hartford at 10 o'clock from Farmington. Lt. Bull of Gov^ Guards and Brown came with me. Capt. Jon'^ Bull met us on the way. — Capt. Norton Escorted me out and back." The popularity of the mounted escort continued to increase. The Governor's diary of Monday, Oct. 8, 1781, contains the entry ; " Came from home, accompanied by Mr. Jesse Brown — at Alvord's, Bolton, were met by Ezekial Williams, Esq""* Sherif — with Mr. Dod, his deputy, Capt. Jon^^ Bull, Capt. Fred Bull, Capt. Caleb Bull, Jun"", Mr. Ralph Pomeroy, Mr. Tyley — arrived at Hartford at sunset." Coming to his inauguration in 1783 he notes : " May 7th, set from Home 9 oclo. A. M. in comp" Col">. W'°% Col° Jn. T-U., waiter Nat Brown, Judge Huntington — Sherifs of N. L. & Windham Counties dined at Alford's — ex 5/10 — Came to my lodgings before 6 oclo. P. M. — large number of Gentl" came out with the Sheriffs of Hartford & Litchfield Counties to meet us. 13 Cannon fired at coming in." Early in May, 1783, the Proclamation for the Cessation of Hostilities was made the occasion for a glittering parade and general rejoicing, a patriotic oration being delivered by the Honorable Chauncey Goodrich. During the evening celebration the fireworks ignited the State House, " but by the favor of heaven, and the manly exertions of the inhabitants, aided by gentlemen from a distance, to whom many thanks are due, it was finally extinguished." This event ushered in Jonathan Trumbull's last term as gover- nor. The closing ceremonies of that term were impressive. The General Assembly in May, 1784, presented an address to the Governor and accepted a report of a special committee headed by Oliver Wolcott, Jr., to the effect that " Gen^ Douglass and Gen' Sage be desired by this Assembly to accompany Gov"" Trumbull to his seat in Lebanon — That the sheriff of Hartford County be directed to wait on Gov. Trumbull & the Gentlemen that shall attend him to Lebanon, — That the Governor's Guard be ordered THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B to escort Gov'' Trumbull to the River when he shall leave the Town." Some one drew a line through the words " to the River " with the result that " A body of Guards and a number of private gentlemen accompanied him several miles from town as the last tribute of their respect and affection for his official character." Three years later this escort of private gentlemen is beginning to take concrete form. The Courant of August 13, 1787, informs its readers that "A proposal has been made to establish a Volun- teer Troop of Cavalry in the county of Hartford, to be called the Governor's Horse Guard. As it is expected to be composed of some of the officers of the late army and other patriotic citizens, it is presumed it may soon become as respectable in appearance and discipline as the corps of a similar consistency and establish- ment commanded by Col. Michael Wentworth in Portsmouth, Col. Sw^an in Boston, Col. Morris in New York, and Col. Miles in Philadelphia." This proposal took the form of the following petition : " To His Excellency, the Governor, and the Honorable the General Assembly, of the State of Connecticut, convened at Hartford, on the second Thursday of May, A.D. 1788: " The Memorial of the Subscribers all Inhabitants of the Town of Hartford, in the County of Hartford, and living within the Limits of the City of Hartford, humbly sheweth: that they are for the most part legally exempted from constituting the Military Force of this State, having been commissioned or Stafif officers during the late warr, or are now holding some Civil office which by Law gives an Exemption ; that they have observed with regret that the ardor for military Discipline possessed by the militia during the warr hath since the peace very much de- creased, that they feel an ambition to contribute as much as possible to its Revival. The memorialists have therefore asso- ciated together, to address your Honors on the occasion, to re- quest that they may have a separate military Establishment, and be formed into a Troop of volunteer Horse, or Light Dragoons to be called by the Name of the Governor's Independent, volun- teer Troop of Horse Guards, whose particular Duty shall be to attend upon and escort the Governor of the State in times of peace and warr, and in lieu thereof be exempted from every other kind of militar}^ responsibility and in Case your Honors 8 -^.^.-^ ^',_;; .;^_. .^.^.;./^ ^^ ..<::„, ^, ^. -^. v^ '"'JT ^^^ :^A..^ /'r^^ ^ ^w .=*- ,^^,-,i.-.Jj^^',^^ V^ -<>,^pt-^^^,<<.^^ V-'^'*'*-<4v /^.^^C .rrii^rJ^ C'^'l^^ '/^ , >■, y^' ' .'•-V 1 he iVtition MS Conn. State Library y'?-^ ^ -1? V ' 1 ^ " iS' ' — - - ■■' '^nttirri-tigjt ,u cutifHm'C Endorsement on Petition THE REVOLUTIONARY PRELUDE shall think proper to establish said Troop, as afores'', that a Day may be appointed for choosing the officers of the same and when chozen and commissioned according to Law, that said officers may have power to augment said Troop by Enlistment so that it may consist of Sixty men, Rank and File and that it may be entitled to the same powers and privileges that other Troops of Horse in this State by Law have and enjoy, and your me- morialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray, " Dated at Hartford the ist Day of May A D 1788. " John Caldwell, John Morgan, Charles Phelps, Oliver Wool- cot, Jun"", Peter Colt, James Bull, Hez^ Bull, Thos. Bull, Asa Hopkins, William Mosely, Rod Olcott, Caleb Bull, Jun% W^ Lawrance, Chauncey Goodrich, Sam' Lawrance, Hez. Merrell, Wm. Knox, Horatio Wales, Bar. Deane, Jos. Hart, Richd. Hart, Richd. Goodman, Tim. Burr, Dan'l Goodwin, Sam'l Marsh, Jr., Sam'l Burr, John Chenevard, Jr., Ashbel Welles, Jr., Thos. Y, Seymour, Ephraim Root, and Sam' W. Pomeroy." The original signed petition does not appear in the archives. A copy was presented to the General Assembly for consideration, the petition was granted, and the copy duly endorsed. The filing page bears the inscription, " Capt. Seymour's Copy," with a line drawn through it, indicating, perhaps, that Capt. Seymour had retained the original as a souvenir of the consummation of his long cherished ambition. II THE CHARTER " State of Connecticut At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut in America, holden at Hartford in said State on the second Thurs- day of May being the eighth Day of said Month, and continued by Adjournments until the twenty-ninth Day of May aforesaid A. D. 1788 " Upon the Memorial of John Caldwell, etc., shewing to this Assembly that they have associated together for the purpose of being formed into an Independent Volunteer Troop of Horse, or Light Dragoons to be under the immediate Command of his Excellency the Governor of the State, and requesting to be established accordingly as per Memorial on File. Resolved that the Memorialists John Caldwell, John Morgan, Charles Phelps, Oliver Woolcot, Jun., Peter Colt, James Bull, Hezekiah Bull, Thos. Bull, Asa Hopkins, William Mosely, Rod. Olcott, Caleb Bull, Jun., William Lawrance, Chauncey Goodrich, Saml. Lawrance, Hezekiah Merrell, William Knox, Horatio Whales, Bar. Deane, Jos. Hart, Richard Hart, Richd. Goodman, Tim. Burr, Dan' Goodwin, Saml. Marsh, Jun., Saml. Burr, John Chenevard, Jun., Ashbel Welles, Jun., Thos. Y. Seymour, Ephraim Root and Saml. W"". Pomeroy, be and they are hereby constituted a Troop of Light Dragoons by the Name of the Gov- ernor's Independent Volunteer Troop of Horse Guards, to be sub- ject to the orders of the Governor and to attend upon, and escort him in times of peace and warr, and at all times as occasion may require be furnished with sufficient Horses proper for said Ser- vice, with necessary Equipments, and be dressed in uniform all at their own Expense and in Lieu thereof be exempted from every other kind of military Duty, and said Troop shall consist of one Captain, two Lieutenants, one Cornet, one Quartermaster-Ser- jeant, three Drill Serjeants and four Corporals, and Sixty Priv- ates, with power to the officers of said Troop, so soon as they shall be chosen and commissioned, by Enlistment, to augment the same to said number, provided always that in consequence of such 10 . .. ,y,f. ^^,. ,, y ...... ^^ yO< f^'^y-^^'-y- yy>^^ .^.^^^. ' ^^^-- — y. ^ ■ r. y / ( ^ ->» . Pi yjli-rr-y •>^. ./^ •'» ^ /^ /- -O^e-^j, :?- • ^' /..^Ti y,^ - <^^4: ^^^■u., ^--'< 7 x' ^ ^v..^,^.^.,X -^-^ y.^-^^/ X>/-''.^ • >^ ^ -«: -»■>. ^^ % :..^ ,/ ^.^'-^'^Z' — ^ .-^^^A- -pX*^,^..,^ ,w*.-.-*»*' ^«-i-^-•^C• ^-v The I'"irst l^ltction MS Conn. State Library THE CHARTER and the new organization was effected along Royal lines as to uniform and personnel. In his historical oration at the Centennial Celebration of the Horse Guard, May 8, 1888, Hon. William E. Simonds said: " Your flags have always proclaimed your origin in 1778. Ten years ago, that question being mooted, living past members of the Guard who had served under your second flag with older mem- bers who had served under the first, testified to the declarations of illustrious charter members. Governor Oliver Wolcott, Jr., among them, that your flags have told the truth in this regard." He then quotes from Governor Trumbull's Danbury diary, which has been recited in the preceding chapter*, and concludes that, " There is other evidence of the Revolutionary origin of the Horse Guards, but this suffices." The best testimony appears to be the statement as to the inscription on the original flag. It is an honorable tradition and it is to be regretted that there is insufficient tangible evi- dence to refute the conclusion that the organization based on the charter granted by the 1788 General Assembly was preceded by nothing more concrete than the Governor's " escort of private gentlemen." If the Horse Guard had had an existence during the Revo- lution as a troop of horse in active service its record would have appeared in the official documents of the war. If the Horse Guard had had an organization during the Revolution similar to that of the First Company, Governor's Foot Guard, its activities would have been noted in the news- papers of the day and in the minutes of the Council of Safety, a careful search of which fails to reveal any such reference. If the Horse Guard had had an organization similar to that of the Foot Guard, authorizing exemption from certain classes of military duty, its name would have been included in a memorial to the General Assembly of 1780 signed by twenty-two inhabi- tants of Hartford, showing : " That your members are by law obliged to do military duty, perform actual service and lyable to all detachments as will be needed to fill up the continental army as for the state service and tours of duty in militia : when at the same time the company in said town commonly called his Excellency's Guards or the Cadet company do not hold them- * Page 5 13 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B selves lyable to perform any kind of military duty (except waiting on the Governor and the Assembly at the general elec- tion, etc.) . . . and creates much uneasiness and discon- tent among the people as said company briefly consists of able- bodied, effective men, in the prime of life and of liberal fortunes. Whereupon your memorialists humbly pray your honors . to subject the aforesaid Cadet company to the same duties, ser- vices and detachments as the militia of this state are lyable to With an organization similar to the Foot Guard its name would have been included in an act of the General Assembly of May, 1781, directing the enrollment of additional troops for active service: "... and that the said two regiments the two companies Governor's Guards [Foot Guard of Hartford and New Haven] the independent Company of Norwich, the Matross Companies of Hartford, Middletown, Norwich and Pomfret, and as many of the sea-coast guards (except a suitable garrison for the forts) as will make up the number of twenty-one hundred men be ordered to hold themselves in readiness to march on the order of his Excellency the Governor . . . and said two Companies of Gov's. Guards, Independent Co., and Matross Co.'s and all volunteers who shall engage in the service . shall be considered as having done a tour of duty . . . ." But the men who petitioned for the Horse Guard charter had for the most part seen active service with the military forces under Washington, Putnam, Gates, Parsons, or Ledyard. Their names had appeared on the muster rolls from Bunker Hill and Long Island to Saratoga and Yorktown. These men were veterans before they invited the attention of the General Assembly to the observation that the ardor for military discipline had since the peace very much decreased. Not till then did they ask to be allowed — at their own expense — to support the prestige and dignity of the Governor and General Assembly of Connecticut! A peculiar outburst of pride in an ancient and honorable institution induced, in more recent years, the preparation of a lithographed charter purporting to be a copy of the original. For the sake of curiosity this lithograph is reproduced. Although the orthography is modern, the body of the lithograph follows the original very closely with the exception that the year of the 14 THE CHARTER General Assembly is given as 1778. This apocryphal charter bears the facsimile signature of Jonathan Trumbull whose photo- graph adorns the ornamental heading between the word " Char- ter " and the words, " Granted May 1778." The brilliant, patriotic career of Governor Trumbull ended August 17, 1785, two years before the proposal to establish a Volunteer Troop of Cavalry had reached the eyes of the public through the medium of the weekly newspaper. This production bears one mark of identification ; " Lith. of Bingham & Dodd, 155 Main Str., Hartford, Conn." The city directories for the years 1863 to 1866 show Bingham & Dodd at that address, thus suggesting the approximate date of the engrav- ing. The following extract from the minutes of a meeting of the company held January 21, 1862, is of interest in this connec- tion — " Maj. Boardman presented 100 One Hundred Beautifully printed Charters. Cost of the same being $40. Dollars. A Vote was taken on how they should be distributed. Voted that each Member should pay into the Clerk forty cts. (the first Cost) for each copy taken." The first mention of the charter date is found in the 1855 city directory, and may have been inserted to distinguish between this troop and another cavalry company, recently formed, which claimed ownership of the original charter by right of adoption.* The legend therein exploited, " Chartered May 8, 1778," was not without precedent, and no one to the present day has corrected the error. Repetition creates authority and a show of truth. The older State Registers credit the First Company, Horse, with being " chartered 1788," but the compiler succumbed in 1900 and allowed the change to 1778. The earliest known printed copy of the constitution and by- laws of the Horse Guard was published in 1874 when the Troop was under the command of Major C. B. Boardman. This copy contains no reference to date of incorporation but a revision made by Captain F. M. Warren, Lieut. W. W. Whitehead and Ser- geant G. P. Hurd, and adopted January 25, 1894, refers to the charter as granted May, 1778. A further revision by Adjutant George E. Smart, Lieut. Wm. H. Shannon, Sergt. Major C. M. D. Broad well, Q. M. Sgt. Harry A. Treadwell and Corporal F. * See Chapter VI. IS THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B L. Purinton, adopted January 23, 1900, makes Article I of the Constitution read, " This troop, chartered May 17, 1778, shall be known as Troop ' A,' Governor's Guards." The Second Com- pany, Governor's Horse Guards of New Haven, had been trans- ferred to the Connecticut National Guard as Troop "A," and ob- jected to the confusion of title, so an amendment of April 7, 1908, restored the previous designation, but continued ..the myth of 1778. A close observer will note that Jonathan Trumbull has lifted a warning finger exclaiming, " Veritatem dies aperit ! " 16 p -^ ,^^ j'-^ '■^AX Th:)) y\S^ ^'' //;>„:, ^A. ,.,,r,,,/ky' y/^,/ /'/ii^ /.l,,r^ „.,.',..,„/.. ■ ^.,/.y'. /.„/ - /r/.','.,/..t ■y,.;y. . . ,./„//,',/'../.,.. /.,,■ ,„. / ■ ■ K|'SIiI\f Major Caldwell's Resignation MS Conn. State Library .^ >:^^ y-i: ^ ^ / X^/'^. ^^.^ ^^^1^..'-^ ^yc.^^... Major T. Y. Seymour's Election MS Conn. State Library THE FIRST QUARTER CENTURY " The next day (Thursday) was the general election. The General Assembly organized and proceeded to the meeting- house to hear the election sermon. It was the longest procession I had ever seen. It was headed by the military; then followed the sheriff with his sword, the governor, Senate, and members of the House of Representatives, two and two; and then singly walked President Stiles, dressed in a full black gown, cocked hat, and full-bottomed white wig. Then came the clergy, two and two. I should think there were two hundred ministers, dressed in black, and after them walked the citizens. Such an imposing procession I had never seen." This troop of horse had now definitely superseded the " Escort of private gentlemen." Major Caldwell had marched his troop to Wethersfield and had escorted Governor Huntington back to the capitol. The Courant of May 14, 1792, evidences the results of training and discipline : " On Thursday last the annual election for this state was held in this city. On Wednesday afternoon the Governor was escorted from Wethersfield by the company of horse under command of Major Seymour. . . . The military appearance of the guards with a number of new evolu- tions exhibited by the horse-guards, who were unusually well mounted, produced a fine effect and commanded the unanimous applause of a vast concourse of spectators. . . ." Succeeding years witnessed similar demonstrations. Com- menting on the last inauguration of the elder Oliver Wolcott in 1797, the newspaper relates: "The procession was preceded by a Band of Music, a Company of Cadets commanded by Major Day ; and escorted by a Company of Horse commanded by Major Hart; both of which companies exhibited proofs of a strict attention to discipline and reflected honour on their officers." The inauguration of Jonathan Trumbull, 2nd, in 1798 was conducted with much pomp and splendor. He had been Lieu- tenant Governor under Oliver Wolcott and had succeeded to the gubernatorial office upon the death of the latter December i, 1797. According to the Courant of May 14, 1798: "Last Thursday the annual election of the officers of the State Gov- ernment was held in this city. On the day preceding, Lieut. Gov. Trumbull escorted by the usual suite of the Sheriffs and Constables and a number of Gentlemen, reached the eastern bank 33 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B of Connecticut river about four o'clock in the afternoon, when he was met by the Officers of the Governor's Horse Guards and a Band of Music. The Governor was rowed across the river in a Barge, by four Captains of Vessels, preceded by a boat con- taining the Band of Music, and his suite, and followed by a Barge with the Officers of the Guards. ". . . The procession then formed in the usual manner, and the Governor was escorted to Maj. Ripley's Tavern by the company of Horse Guards commanded by Maj. Hart. On elec- tion day the procession formed at the State House and preceded by the Governor's Company of Foot Guards, commanded by Capt. Day, and the Band of Music, and escorted by the Horse Guards, moved to the North Meeting House. . . ." The following Independence Day was the occasion of a great celebration. The Horse Guard, commanded by Major Daniel Jones, the Foot Guard by Captain Root, the Light Com- pany by Captain Clark, the Artillery Company by Captain Timothy Burr, Jr., " under arms and in compleat uniform paraded on the Court House Square " and escorted the members of the Cincinnati to their favorite tavern. The military com- panies had a spread at South Green. "After dinner they per- formed a great variety of evolutions and firings in a manner truly honorable to themselves and highly gratifying to a numerous collection of spectators." Again, on August second of the same year, the unheralded approach of President Adams caused a hurry call to be sent out. Major Jones assembled the Horse Guard and galloped to Wethersfield, meeting the President and escorting him back. The Foot Guard joined in at South Green, and the escort advanced on David Bull's Tavern. The official records of the Horse Guard were some years ago destroyed by fire or otherwise dissipated so that it has been impossible to discover the complete membership from year to year. However, the Connecticut Historical Society has a roster of 1798 which reveals the names of several who subsequently held higher offices in the troop : — " Return of the Governor's Independent Volunteer Troop of Horse Guards — Dec. 1798 34 THE FIRST QUARTER CENTURY Capt. Daniel Jones Compleat 1st Lt . William Knox « 2d Lt. Henry Seymour *t Cornel : John McNeight it QrM'- Serjeant George Pratt « Serjeant William D. Bull << (( Tho^ Sanford, Jn' « << David Greenleaf « Corporal Elisha Lewis (< << William W. Bull Pistols Want'g (< Samuel Ledlie Compleat << Selden Chapman Absent Lemuel Adams Compleat Isaac Bliss <( John Barnard, Jn"" (( Josiah Buck, Jn"" Pistols wanting George Benton Deficient Nath' Blake Compleat Joshua P. Burnham << Dan' Buck, Jn"" i< John Chenevard, Jn'" << Josiah Capin Pistols wanting James Fortune Compleat Aron Gaylord Compleat William Howe <( Norman Knox « Daniel Kilbourn Absent Samuel Marsh, Jn' Compleat Eben'" Moore (( Rod'' Olcott « George J. Patten Deficient Benjamin Pratt Compleat Joseph Pratt, Jn"" << Robert Ramsdell It Norman Smith u William Talcott a William Wetmore tt Thomas Wells Deficient Gustavus Upson Compleat John Dodd, Jn-- ) Michael Olcott - Lately joined Henry Keyes William Church Musician Gurdon Olcott " The three lately joined are equiping themselves. Hartford, Dec' 24th, 1798 Dan Jones Capt. Horse Guards." 35 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B Daniel Jones served in the Revolution commencing May 23, 1775. In 1777 he is listed as a conductor transporting commis- sary supplies to the Continental Army. There is no traceable record of his career after he left the Horse Guards. The news- paper advertisements of the period indicate that he was a pros- perous merchant selling everything from rum and gunpowder to school books and paper hangings. The Boardman collection of manuscripts in the State Library contains a scrap of paper (item 5308) which affords an opportunity to note the change which the lapse of five years produces in the personnel. "Non Commissioned officers, privates & Musick of the Governor's Horse Guards 1803. Michael Olcott, Q.M.C. Nat'l Blake / ^ ^ Aaron Gaylord j ^^^^^^• James Fortune J. P. Burnham Josiah Capin George D. Patten Asa Allen J°° Barnard, Jn"" Josiah Buck, Jn'' George Benton Barz^ D. Buck James Babcock Winthrop Buck John Chenevard, Jh Sam' Caldwell Normand Dexter John Dodd, Jr. Elihu Faxon William Greenleaf W" Jones Henry Keyes Norman Knox Sam' Marsh John Mather Corp'^. Benj^ Pratt Joseph Pratt, Jr. Henry Peterson Robert Ramsdell Normand Smith George Steel Freeman Sheperd Moses Tryon, Jr. James Thomas Henry Wyles Thomas Wells Freeman Webster W"^ Church ) Caleb Church >- Musick Joseph Atwell ) Sgt. N. Blake You will warn the Non Comiss officers, privates & Musick of the H. Guards to appear at the City Hall in this city on Tuesday the i6th inst at 2 o'clock p m to agree upon a substitute for the present Uni- form & other business of conse- quence to the The reverse side of this sheet of paper bears the notation: " Henry Seymour requests Capt. Stewart to call on Mr. Jno Hulett in Cedar Street N. York & ask the favour of Mr. Hulett 36 THE FIRST QUARTER CENTURY to recommend him to the man who blows the Horn for the Band who is acquainted with French Horns & useing of them, to go with you & choose a pair, that are perfect in their chords when blown together, strong neat & well finished, suitable for the Company of Horse Guards ; to cost from 25 to 30 dollars the pair — Concert Horns or Bugle Horns are not wanted — 'though those who blow the concert Horns may be good Judges in chooseing F. Horns for the Cavalry — they should be free from bruises & of a size if possible." The uniform selected at the meeting mentioned in this paper was probably patterned after that of the French Hussar ; grena- dier bear skin hat, blue cloth coat trimmed with gold lace and reaching to the saddle and bright blue pants. This is corroborated to some extent by Edward Augustus Kendall in his much quoted " Travels through the Northern Parts of the United States in the Year 1807 and 1808." The first chapter of this book presents such an attractive picture of Election Day that a partial repetition needs no apology. " An object of immediate attraction was the great festival of Connecticut, called the Day of General Election, and popularly the Election-day, held annually in the city of Hartford, on the second Thursday in May. Having remained in New York till the tenth of the same month, I proceeded, on commencing my journey, direct to Hartford. The distance, by land, is a little more than a hundred and twenty miles. " The election-day is at present that on which, at the meeting of the general assembly, the written votes of the freemen, for a governor, lieutenant-governor, and other officers appointed to be chosen, are counted, the result declared and the persons elected sworn to perform the duties of their respective offices. " I reached Hartford at noon, on Wednesday the nineteenthf of May. The city is on the west bank of the Connecticut, forty- five miles above its mouth. The governor, whose family resi- dence is on the east side of the river, at some distance from Hartford, was expected to arrive in the evening. This gentle- man, whose name is Jonathan Trumbull, is the son of the late Governor Jonathan Trumbull ; and though the election is annual. t Mr. Kendall must have reached Hartford on the thirteenth day of May if he witnessed this inauguration. 37 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B he has himself been three or four years in office, and will almost certainly so continue during the remainder of his life.* It was known that the votes were at this time in his favour. " The governor has volunteer companies of guards, both horse and foot. In the afternoon, the horse were drawn up on the banks of the river, to receive him, and escort him to his lodgings. He came before sunset ; and the fineness of the evening, the beauty of the river, the respectable appearance of the governor and of the troop, the dignity of the occasion, and the decorum observed, united to gratify the spectator. The colour of the clothes of the troop was blue. The governor, though on horseback, was dressed in black ; but he wore a cockade, in a hat which I did not like the less, because it was in its form rather of the old school than of the new. " In the morning, the foot-guards were paraded in front of the state-house, where they afterward remained under arms, while the troop of horse occupied the street which is on the south side of the building. The clothing of the foot was scarlet, with white waistcoats and pantaloons ; and their appearance and de- meanor were military. "At a'bout eleven o'clock his excellency entered the state- house, and shortly after took his place at the head of a pro- cession, which was made to a meeting-house or church, at something less than half a mile distance. The procession was on foot; and was composed of the person of the governor, together with the lieutenant-governor, assistants, high-sheriffs, members of the lower house of assembly, and, unless with acci- dental exceptions, all the clergy of the state. It was preceded by the foot-guards and followed by the horse; and attended by gazers, that considering the size and population of the city, may be said to have been numerous." After describing the church service the narrative continues: "Arrived in front of the state-house, the military formed on each side of the street ; and, as the governor passed them, pre- sented arms. The several parts of the procession now separated ; each retiring to a dinner prepared for itself, at an adjoining inn. . . . Soon after six o'clock, the military fired three feux de joies, and were then dismissed. . * Gov. Trumbull was first elected in 1798. He served eleven consecu- tive years and died Aug. 7, 1809. 38 TT» b U Oi o y (§^ s ^ g ^ s: - ^^^^ I .&v^ 2j id ^ \^4$ -5^1 ^c> " >^^v, V.^r^ 1^44^ ^ •» ..<», r.i M^ THE FIRST QUARTER CENTURY " The whole day, like the morning, and like the evening which preceded it, was fine. In Hartford, the degree of bustle was sufficient to give an air of importance to the scene; a scene, that taken altogether, was not unfitted to leave on the mind a pleasing and respectful impression." The Horse Guard on this occasion was commanded by Lieu- tenant Michael Olcott, Major Henry Seymour having resigned, and the new major, Samuel Ledlie, not being in active command. Major Ledlie's efforts to maintain and even improve the efficiency of the troop were rewarded by the Courant in its account of the 1808 inauguration: "It would be doing an injustice not to observe that the military exhibitions, although the weather was unpleasant, exceeded any thing of the kind which we have witnessed on any similar occasion." 39 GALA DAYS To those who have beheved in the recent origin of the contest between companies of the Governor's Guards for the right to lead the Election Day parade, certain early nineteenth century records will prove illuminating. The Foot Guard had long chafed under the subordinate rank given its commandant — that of captain — the Horse Guard having since its incorporation a captain " with the rank of Major." The General Assembly of May, 1809, had therefore been persuaded to enact " that the captains of the Companies of the Governor's Foot Guards shall have the rank of Major, in the same manner as is provided for the Horse Guards." Now the fight was on in earnest. The Horse Guard Com- mandant could no longer look down with scorn on his subordinate of the Foot. To quote a Foot Guard historian of fifty years ago: " They were all elegant gentlemen, and possessing one quali- fication for the episcopate, — ' they were given to hospitality ;' — with legs under their mahogany, what imperial times we should have had in gossipping, until the cock crew, about the old Guard! When Major Goodwin commanded the Foot Guard, Major Hart commanded the Horse, and, when Major Goodwin and Major Hart met, Greek met Greek, Bonaparte met Welling- ton : they were both martinets ; both knew all military tactics and etiquette from alpha to omega; both were self-willed men; both were too opinionated to accept an umpire; and a high old con- troversy arose between them as to which of their two commands was entitled to the right, on election parade. They fought it out in the streets, by maneuvers and counter-maneuvers, by marches and counter-marches, worthy of a Marlborough or Frederick the Great." The War of 1812 failed to arouse much enthusiasm in New England, and left the Horse Guard virtually unscathed. Very few members found their way into active service, and those only for a few months. 40 GALA DAYS The question of Federal control over the state militia was a very serious one. Prior to the declaration of war the President was authorized by Congress to require of the executives of the several states and territories appropriate measures to prepare for active service their respective proportions of one hundred thousand militia, Connecticut's quota being- fixed at three thou- sand. This was agreeable to Governor Griswold, but when Major General Dearborn requisitioned for a certain number of companies to be placed under the command of officers of the regular establishment the Governor was loath to agree to the propriety of transferring units of Connecticut Militia to Federal control unless the appropriate higher militia officers were accepted with them. His position was based upon that provision of the constitu- tion which gave Congress power " To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, and for governing such parts of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively the appointment of officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress." Furthermore the proposed invasion of Canada did not appeal to the New Englanders who foresaw their defenseless coast towns the prey of the ravaging invader as they had been during the Revolution. Congress had power to call forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrection and repel invasions, but General Dearborn's further call for troops to join in the proposed attack upon Canada did not seem to accord with any of these exigencies. It had not yet been established that the President should be the sole judge of the imminence of invasion, nor was it admitted that an attack upon Canada was the best means of repelling or forestalling invasion. This attitude might be classed as a strict interpretation of the Constitution. The Federalists, predominant in Connecticut and Massachusetts, were opposed to the war, but their behavior hardly justified President Madison's expression, " The seditious opposition in Mass. & Con^" * A fairer statement appears in his fourth annual message, November 4^ 1812: "It is obvious that if the authority of the United States to call into service and * Madison to Jefiferson, Aug. 17, 1812. 41 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B command the militia for the pubHc defense can be thus frustrated, even in a state of declared war and of course under appre- hensions of invasion preceding war, they are not one nation for the purpose most of all requiring it, and that the public safety may have no other resource than in those large and permanent military establishments which are forbidden by the principles of our free government, and against the necessity of which the militia were meant to be a constitutional bulwark." Notwithstanding this early reluctance, Connecticut furnished 694 officers and 9236 enlisted men of the militia to Federal service during the war, besides 156 officers and 1600 enlisted men in the regular army. For home defense the General Assembly at its October, 1812, session had passed an act for the voluntary enlistment from, exempts and from the militia of a military corps to suppress insurrection, repel invasion, and compel obedience to the laws of the state and of the United States. This was designated the Corps of Volunteer Exempts and consisted of two regiments of infantry, four companies of artillery and four troops of horse. Many Horse Guard veterans found their way into this corps : prominent among them were John Caldwell, Colonel of the 3rd Regiment; Michael Olcott and Xormand Smith, Captain and Cornet, respectively, of the ist Company of Cavalry, attached to the Brigade; Normand Knox, Theodore Dwight, James Bull, Isaac Bliss, Ephraim Root, and others. The era of good feeling, ushered in with the inauguration of James Monroe in 1817, is well illustrated by his reception in Hartford in June of that year. The story is told by S. Putnam Waldo in ' The Tour of James Monroe, President of the United States, through the Northern and Eastern States, in 1817; etc." " The President proceeded toward the city of Hartford ; and at about a mile south of the city, he and his suite left their carriage, and, elegantly mounted on horseback, approached it. " His reception in this place, did credit to the taste and patriotism of the citizens. " On Alonday, the 23rd, from previous arrangement, the first Company of the Governor's Horse Guards, under the command of Maj. Buck, repaired to Wethersfield, about four miles from this city, to receive the President. A large concourse of citizens from this and the neighbouring towns, also assembled there, and 42 GALA DAYS escorted the President to the south green in this city, where the Hartford Artillery, commanded by Capt. Ripley; the East Hart- ford Artillery, commanded by Capt. Olmsted; the Simsbury Artillery, commanded by Capt. Humphrey ; the whole commanded by Col. Johnson, fired a national salute. He was then received 'by the first Company of the Governor's Foot Guards, commanded by Major Goodwin; Capt, Johnson's, Capt. Wadsworth's, Capt. Rockwell's, Capt. Ellsworth's, and Capt. Brown's Infantry Com- panies, under the command of Col. Loomis, and a detachment of Cavalry, under command of Col. Gleason ; and the whole of the immense assemblage of soldiers and citizens, escorted the President over the city bridge, which was elegantly ornamented with three lofty arches, thrown over it, composed of evergreen and laurel, in imitation of the triumphal arches of Rome, under which the benefactors of the Commonwealth passed. " From the centre arch was suspended a label, ' March 4th, 181 7.' As the President passed the bridge, he was in the most animated manner, cheered by the citizens. An elegant flag waved over the arches, with the letter M ; it being the same letter reversed, which on election day meant WOLCOTT. " He was escorted by this numerous assemblage to Morgan's CoiTee House, where he received the congratulations and the address of the citizens delivered by John Morgan, Esq., senior Alderman ; to which he gave an elegant, appropriate, and impres- sive answer. He then, with General Swift, and his private Secretary, Mr. Mason, reviewed the elegant line of troops drawn up in Main Street. He soon after visited the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, expressed his admiration of the astonishing progress of the pupils, and retired to his lodgings amidst the most numerous collection of soldiers and citizens ever witnessed in Hartford. The whole was an unequivocal expression of public sentiment. It shews that James Monroe is the man whom ' the people delight to honour.' " For sixty years following the adoption of the State Constitu- tion in 1818, New Haven shared with Hartford the honors of the annual election, the ceremonies in the even years being held in the former city. Biennial elections commenced in 1877 with the elimination of New Haven as a joint capital, so that ever since the adoption of the Constitution Hartford has seen the inaugural ceremonies in the odd years. 43 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B The year 1818 was the last even year for Hartford. Luckily the Governor elect was coming from the western part of the state, for the spring freshet and ice had carried away the bridge over the Connecticut. The parade was held with snow on the ground a foot deep. The similarity of the election day parades throughout the century forbids repetitious accounts. The Horse Guard seldom failed to ride out to welcome the Governor elect. If he approached from Lebanon or Hebron the Guard lined up on the river bank or ventured across the bridge through East Hartford ; if from Norwich or Lyme, the candidate was saluted at the Wethersfield ferry; if New Haven was his starting point, Wethersfield green found him no longer without a military escort; if from Litchfield way the Guard was awaiting his arrival at Mills's tavern five miles out in West Hartford, or as a special compliment to a charter member, at Elm Tree Inn in Farmington. The Pocket Register for 1825, the first published directory of Hartford, devotes considerable space to the relation of the visit of General the Marquis de La Fayette to Hartford, Sep- tember 24, 1824. The General was expected in town Friday night and the city was well illuminated, especially Morgan and Main Streets and State House Square. But he was behind his schedule and spent Friday night in Stafford, proceeding the next morning under the escort of a local troop of horse as far as King's Tavern in Vernon. There he was received by the First Company, Governor's Horse Guard, Major John E. Hart com- manding, and was escorted to Hartford. To quote from the Courant of September 7, 1824: *'A superb arch stood erected on the west side of the State House adorned with ever-greens ; upon a transparent ground was inscribed ' Welcome LaFayette ' — within the scroll, at one end of the arch, was the inscription * York Town ' — upon the other, ' Monmouth ' . . . . "About 10 o'clock A. M. a discharge of artillery, and the ringing of bells, put it beyond a doubt that the General had indeed arrived. A carriage was furnished by Daniel Wadsworth, Esq., who, with Henry L. Ellsworth, Esq. one of the city com- mittee had attended him from Stafford. He passed the bridge across Connecticut river, attended by his son George Washington 44 GALA DAYS Fayette, Mr. Vasseur, his secretary, and Mr. Colders, under the escort of the First Company of Horse Guards. At the entrance of Morgan-street was erected an elegant arch, extending across the road, composed of ever-greens, with an inscription * Our Illustrious Citizen, La Fayette,' upon canvass — this again sur- mounted with the American colours. " The procession moved up Morgan-street to its intersection with Main-street; here the crowded assemblage of citizens com- menced the acclamations of * Welcome LaFayette ' . . . . He alighted at Bennett's Hotel where he was received by the Mayor of the City and His Excellency Governor Wolcott. An address by the former was presented in behalf of the corporation of the city, and by his Excellency in the name of the state. . . . " The General's answers were expressed with much sensi- bility They proceeded to review the troops. As the carriage commenced its movement up Main-street, we were struck with a reflection upon the interesting coincidence that on this very spot where stood his carriage. Gen. Washington first met Gen. Rochambeau, at the head of the French Army, after their arrival from France to aid in the cause of the revolution. Here Washington and Hamilton, and several other American officers first shook hands in the presence of LaFayette with the officers of the French army." The military under the command of Gen. Johnson exceeded a thousand in number and with difficulty made its way through the immense crowd. A reception was held in the Senate Cham- ber where " Hundreds of Ladies were introduced to the General, and were taken by the hand in the most affectionate manner." LaFayette's reply to the address of welcome is reported as follows : " Sir, — I feel very happy in viewing such resource of strength in New-England, which resources should be cherished with union, as there is such a powerful opposition abroad to your free principles. I am delighted with the manifestation of feeling shown towards me ; — pleased with the moral habits and char- acter of the people of the State, exhibiting in action a pure Republic. I am also highly gratified with the fine appearance of your military." After reviewing the troops Lafayette held another reception at the mansion of Daniel Wadsworth and departed by steam boat OLIVER ELLSWORTH for New York " amidst the salute of 45 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B cannon, and the shouts of thousands of gratified and grateful spectators." The Horse Guard was much chagrined that the Foot Guard should have been singled out for special commendation as to its discipline and appearance, and set about to rectify this condi- tion. Drills were held Tuesday and Friday evenings at Allyn's Hall, and when Major Pratt turned out to escort Governor elect Tomlinson in 1827, the subsequent account was a source of lively interest and gratification. " The appearance of the military was highly creditable, and particularly the improvement in the dress, equipment, and performances of the Horse Guards was such as to attract general attention." In June, 1833, President Jackson, accompanied by several members of his cabinet and other prominent gentlemen, was greeted in Hartford by a tremendous assemblage. The President entered the city from the direction of Berlin where he was received by the military, his arrival being announced by a national salute from the artillery and the ringing of bells. The parade formed in the following order: Horse Guard, Major Denslow Squadron of Cavalry, Colonel Phelps Revolutionary officers and soldiers Light Artillery Regiment, Colonel Mather Light Infantry Regiment, Colonel Pitkin Rifle Regiment, Colonel Roberts Foot Guard, Major Day President and party The line of march was north on Main to Morgan, to Front^ to State, to Asylum, to Trumbull, to Pearl, to Prospect, to School — dismissed. 46 Major James T. Pratt VI COMA There is a statue on Bushnell Park which bears the inscrip- tion — HORACE WELLS THE DISCOVERER OF ANESTHESIA DECEMBER 1844 This discovery marked the beginning of a somnolent period which did not fail to impress its mark on the Horse Guard. The organization disappeared from public view. It is not even recorded among those present to do honor to President Polk on the occasion of his visit to Hartford in June, 1847; nor did it participate in the celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence; nor in the inauguration of Governor Joseph Trumbull in 1849; "o^ in that of Governor Seymour in 185 1 and in 1853. The preparations for this last inauguration indicate a com- plete absence of interest on the part of the Horse Guard. A stray sheet of paper was recently given to the Connecticut His- torical Society bearing the following report : — "At a second meeting of the Committee of Arrange- ments held at their room on Wednesday evening, April 27, 1853, the following officers presided. " Jos. Pratt, Chairman & Ezra Dow, Secty. when Colo. S. A. Cooley was nominated as a candidate for the office of Chief Marshall on the day of election and without a dissenting voice he was declared elected — A form of pro- gramme was then made out and approved. "A Committee was appointed to confer with the Major & officers of the ist Co. Governors Foot Guards to ascertain if the course pursued by the Committee of Arrangements rec'' their approval — said Committee per- formed the duty assigned them & the arrangements with some slight modifications were approved & it was unani- mously agreed that the said Committee of Arrangements & Gov. Foot Guards would act in concert & perform their various duties in a manner honorable both to ourselves & to the City which we represent. "Attest " Ezra Dow, Sect." 47 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B In fact, for some years prior to this period there had been noticeable a decline in that activity which was so much in evi- dence in the earlier days. The Bicentennial of the founding of Hartford, celebrated November 9, 1835, was deprived of the pleasure of witnessing their picturesque appearance; General Winfield Scott, in February, 1838, managed to get through Hart- ford without their assistance ; and Vice President R. M. Johnson was escorted by every local military unit excepting the Horse Guard when he paid a visit to the city in October, 1843. Their absence was deplored. Citizens interested in military affairs and horsemanship sought to revive this splendid feature of the activities of the city and state. In August, 1853, Joseph Pratt and others organized a cavalry company consisting of over one hundred members, embracing some of the city's most active and enterprising young men, many of whom still retained a nominal membership in the Horse Guard. On the last day of that month they voted to adopt the charter of the Governor's Independent Volunteer Troop of Horse Guards, which was con- sidered not to have become extinct although it had laid dormant for several years. To secure recognition they approached the Governor through his Aide, Colonel Colt, with the result that the following direc- tions were issued : " Captain General's Office Hartford, Sept. i, 1853. "Sir: On receipt of this order you are hereby commanded to give legal warning to all the members of the ist Co. Governor's Horse Guards, to meet at the City of Hartford on the 5th day of September, at such hour and place as you may appoint, and when so assembled lead them to a nomination by ballot of a Major Commandant of said Company, and in like manner to fill all vacancies : and due return make of your doings to this office. " Thomas H. Seymour, Capt. Gen\ " Col. Samuel Colt Aid de Camp." * The meeting was held at Gilman's Saloon on the evening of September fifth, and those present elected their officers and non- commissioned personnel : * Executive Journal. 48 COMA Major Commandant Samuel Colt Captain & ist Lieutenant Henry B. Beach 2d Lieutenant Horace Ensworth Cornet Joseph Pratt Sergeants Samuel F. Jones, Horace [ohnson, D. K. Reade and W. M. Carter Corporals James M. Sparrell, Seth King, E. J. Main and D. J. Brace The Governor duly issued commissions as of September i, 1853, to the four gentlemen first named as officers of the First Company, Governor's Horse Guards, these appointments being subsequently confirmed by the General Assembly. The ensuing winter was devoted to military exercise and the obtaining of equipment. An early public appearance in the following spring is thus recited in the Hartford Daily Times of May 3, 1854: "THE HORSE GUARDS " The first Company Governor's Horse Guards, Col. Colt commander were on duty yesterday in drill dress. It is a very fine company, and makes a good appearance on duty. It has been organized at considerable expense, and our citizens generally are gratified at the result of the efforts that have been made to establish it. Such a company was wanted here, and we hope it will be sus- tained. "Another company, commanded by Major Boardman, claiming to be the first Company Governor's Horse Guards, was also on duty yesterday in full uniform. It appears that this Company had died out. For eight years it had not appeared on duty. Early last year, however, the new Company was organized — the Governor disbanded the old one, and the charter of the ist Co. Governor's Horse Guards was accepted by the more recent organiza- tion. If we understand the matter correctly. Major Boardman, who had never surrendered his commission, or been superseded, thought the new movements were too fast for him, or not quite courteous enough, and he claimed that his company was still in existence — that the charter could not be taken by another — that he had ever been ready to parade with a company, when necessary — and that he would not ' surrender.' As an evidence of his views of the matter, he appeared on the streets yesterday with a fine mounted company in full uniform." 49 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B This new organization practiced daily. On May 5, with Major Colt in command, it was on parade and made a fine appearance. On the following day Lt. Col. Colt was busy with his position as aid to the retiring governor, and Captain Ens- worth led the troop with forty-six men in the saddle, besides the band. Considering the short time that this company had had to drill, they acquitted themselves with great credit. Captain Ensworth proved to be an excellent tactical officer with thorough knowledge of his duties. The newly elected governor had two troops on his hands each claiming the privilege of serving him as the First Company, Governor's Horse Guard. Being somewhat in a quandary he exercised his discretion by leaving the solution to the General Assembly. The journal of that body shows that the following message from His Excellency the Governor, relating to the First Company, Governor's Horse Guards in the city of Hartford, was received by the hand of Henry B. Graves, His Excellency's private secretary : — " Executive Office New Haven, June 23, 1854. " To the Senate and House of Representatives " I deem it my duty to call the attention of the Legislature to the situation of the Governor's Horse Guards in the City of Hartford. " In the year 1778 [sic] the General Assembly granted a charter to John Caldwell and others, under which the first com- pany of Governor's Horse Guards was organized. " In 1845, Henry Boardman was commissioned Major Com- mandant of the company. Other officers were commissioned at the same time. " From such information as I have been able to obtain, I am satisfied that the company was rarely, if at any time, called out for exercise or review, from the year 1845, until the pro- ceedings were had to which I invite the attention of the General Assembly. In July, 1853, an application was made to Governor Seymour, by Joseph Pratt and others, to be organized into a company of Cavalry, to be annexed to the first regiment of Con- necticut Militia. " This was accompanied with a recommendation from Brigadier General Geer, and is on file in the Secretary's office. 50 COMA I am not able to find that any action was had upon this applica- tion. " I find, upon the records of this ofiice, an order, dated Sept. I, 1853, by the Captain General, to his aid, Col. Samuel Colt, to lead the first Company of Governor's Horse Guards to a choice of officers, specifying the office of Major Commandant, and to fill vacancies. " In pursuance of this order, I have reason to believe that Col. S. Colt called out a body of men, a part of whom had belonged to the first company of Horse Guards and a part were those who had signed the application to be organized into a Company, to which reference has been made, and all of whom claimed to belong to said first Company of Horse Guards. Col. Colt proceeded to the choice of a Major Commandant, Captain, 2d Lieutenant and Cornet, and made a return of the same to the Captain General, and on the twentieth of April, 1854, Governor Pond ordered commissions to be issued to the officers thus chosen. " I understand that Major Colt has in this way, under his command a large company, in complete uniform, and well equipped. " There is no record evidence that Major Boardman and the other officers who were commissioned in 1845, have ever been discharged. " It is said there is in existence a paper purporting to be a copy from the record of this office, certified by the late Execu- tive Secretary, of an order of the Captain General, discharging Major Boardman. " Nothing of the kind, however, is to be found upon the records. Major Boardman claims he has never been discharged, and that the first Company of Horse Guards under his command has recently been enlarged by regular enlistment, constituting a large company, in full uniform and well equipped. " He has made a return to me of the choice of two officers to fill vacancies. " It is claimed in behalf of the other Company, that the order for a choice of a Major Commandant, of itself, operated as a discharge of Major Boardman. It is claimed on the other side that a Company could not be organized as that commanded by Major Colt was organized. 51 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B " The Legislature will readily see that a question of great importance is involved in these proceedings, and one which can- not be divisionably settled, except by the action of your Hon. body. Possibly, in the course of the ensuing year, there may be occasion to call out the first Company of Governor's Horse Guards to preserve the peace, or to enforce the law of the land. A mistake, either in the Magistrate, in the order calling out the Company, or in those who should act under it, might be attended with the most serious consequences. " It is very important, particularly at the present time, that the services of both these fine Companies should be retained. I therefore recommend a careful examination of the subject, a confirmation, by the General Assembly, of the proceedings of one of these Companies, whichever shall be entitled to it, under the original charter, to which reference has been made, and an organization of the other Company, either as an additional Com- pany of Governor's Horse Guards or as a Company of Cavalry, to be annexed to the first regiment of Connecticut Militia. " HENRY DUTTON." The responsive action taken by the General Assembly in 1854 is entitled, "An act authorizing the Governor to designate what company shall be ' First Company Governor's Horse Guards '." " Whereas the first company of governor's horse guards is organized under a special charter as a military corps, subject only to the orders of the governor, and for the special purpose of performing escort duty for him, in time of peace and war, therefore, " Resolved by this Assembly, that such company as his excellency the governor shall recognize as the first company of governor's horse guards be and the same is hereby declared entitled to all the privileges and immunities conferred by the charter of said Company, and that such further action as may be necessary in the premises belongs of right to the executive." This act was passed June 28, 1854. In the Fourth of July parade the week following, the procession was headed by the FIRST COMPANY, GOVERNOR'S HORSE GUARD, MAJOR SAMUEL COLT, COMMANDING. That inventive genius, the founder of Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, was the grandson of Major Caldwell, the Troop's first commander. 52 COMA In August Governor Button decided definitely to settle the question in accordance with the authority given him by the General Assembly, and summoned Colonel Colt and Major Boardman for a conference. " Major Boardman," queried the Governor, " you have commanded the First Company, Governor's Horse Guard, since 1845?" " Yes, your Excellency." " Is it true that you have not paraded your command since 1847?" " That is true, sir, but during that period I have received no orders from the governor directing me to parade my command." " Were you in readiness to turn out if ordered? " " I beg to be excused," replied the Major, " from answering that question." " But it is a very pertinent question," the Governor persisted. " Of what use is a governor's guard if he cannot rely on it? " " Well, sir, I think we could have turned out a few men at any time." " How many? " " I am not sure." " Wouldn't the records show just how many? " " I am afraid the records were not quite up to date," the Major stammered. " The records were kept very imperfectly ? " suggested the Governor. " Yes, sir, it has been difficult to keep up interest in the organization." " That state of affairs," the Governor retorted, " is generally caused by lack of interest on the part of the commanding officer. I am told that an order was issued last year giving you your discharge. Did that not give you some clew as to the turn affairs were taking?" " I have never received such an order, Governor, and there is no record of it in the Adjutant General's office." " Colonel Colt, did you ever see this order? " " No, Governor, but I was given to understand that such an order had been issued when I was instructed to lead the com- pany to the election of a new commandant." " Did you yourself assemble the company for that purpose?" 53 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B " No, sir, the warning was served by Samuel A. Butler." " Were the names of those present and voting checked with the muster roll of the troop?" " No, sir, I don't believe there was any list of members." " Then you do not know whether those who voted for you were duly qualified to vote under the instructions issued to you ? " " I was not seeking votes," the Colonel replied somewhat testily, " my election as commandant was quite unsolicited. I felt, however, that Hartford should have something better than a comatose troop of cavalry and I was willing to do my share in putting some life into it." Major Boardman jumped to his feet, but the Governor with a smile waved him back to his chair. " Be calm, gentlemen, I think this question can be settled amicably. I am far from satisfied that the original company is extinct although I must confess that its pulse has become very weak. But I believe the crisis is past and recovery probable. Even if it had expired I don't see how a new company could appropriate the charter without some action by the legislature. The election of Colonel Colt seems to be a trifle irregular. I say this with all due respect. Colonel, for I do not for a moment question your sincerity and integrity in this matter, and I am fully cognizant of your many benefactions to the citizens of Hartford as well as the enviable reputation you have brought to the city and state. " I wish to think this matter over, gentlemen," the Governor concluded. " I will send each of you a resume of this discussion and add to it my decision." This promise was duly fulfilled. On August 8, the Governor instructed his aid, Colonel Henry C. Robinson, to deliver attested copies of his decision to Messrs. Boardman and Colt. The decision which followed a report of the hearing read as follows : " I do therefore hereby recognize the company of which Henry Boardman was commissioned to be the Major Commandant to be the First Company of Governor's Horse Guards and the said Henry Boardman to be the Major Commandant thereof & I do hereby discharge all other Companies and all persons claiming to be officers thereof from all right & authority to act as the 54 COMA First Company of Governor's Horse Guards or officers thereof, with liberty however to said body of men claiming to be organ- ized under Samuel Colt as Major Commandant to form a Com- pany of Cavalry to be attached to the first Regiment of the First Brigade of the Militia as originally requested. " Henry Dutton." Shortly afterward Colonel Colt left for Russia on a business mission, and the members of the new cavalry company spent the winter discussing its future and calling themselves the Sey- mour Horse Guards, since they could not be the Governor's Horse Guards. In April, 1855, it decided to join the militia and the troop was re-organized as Cavalry Company A attached to the First Regiment, First Brigade. Horace Ensworth was elected and commissioned captain, Joseph Pratt, Horace Johnson and Daniel K. Reade, lieutenants. A fire in Sisson's Block, January 30, 1855, damaged the uniforms and equipment of the original company which had its quarters on the third floor, but the losses were quickly replaced, and the organization was rapidly recruited to full strength. The rude awakening of the preceding year seemed to put new life into the troop. In the inaugural parade of May 3, 1855, they were out in full numbers and attracted general attention with their new uniforms, handsome horses and martial music. This year at the head of the column was the FIRST COMPANY, GOVERNOR'S HORSE GUARD, MAJOR HENRY BOARDMAN, COMMANDING. 55 VII CONVALESCENCE The outbreak of the Civil War naturally turned the eyes of the people to more serious military duties than those exemplified by the Governor's Guards. The Horse Guard did not vote to offer its services for active duty but several members joined the volunteer companies which were being formed over night. Some served for the first short three months period only, others stayed in service through to 1865. With peace came a renewal of interest in the more osten- tatious forms of military display. The Hartford Times of May 2, 1867, records the inaugural parade with the comments: " Major James Waters is one of the best cavalry commanders we have ever seen in our streets, and the condition of his com- pany shows that it is well commanded." During the next twenty years, aside from the inaugural parades, the Horse Guards formed a part of the escort for Presi- dent Johnson in June, 1867 ; for General Sheridan in October of the same year; and in August, 1874, for ex-Governor Mar- shall Jewell on the occasion of his return from a diplomatic mission in Russia. Major Boardman had just secured new uniforms: bear-skin cap ornamented with a rosette and gilt eagle, dark blue single breasted coat with brass buttons, and trousers of sky blue doeskin with straps under the instep; all trimmed with orange colored piping. The officers substituted the more comfortable chapeaux for the bear skins, and bufif colored doeskin breeches " worn inside of top boots," for the less elegant trousers. The members liked the new get-up and paraded eighty strong. Among the enlisted personnel at that time were : — CONVALESCENCE A. H, Adams H. C. Alderman J. H. Alvord A. E. Bayington B. F. Bidwell C. Boice F. S. Bragg A. F. Brewer L. D. Buck E. L. Burnham Seymour Case Fred Chester Geo. Clark Frank Cowles W. T. Curtis T. S. Dart Albert Deming C. A. Deming J. N. Denny C. H. Dillings Henry Fields E. F. Griswold R. S. Griswold T. W. Griswold W. P. Griswold W. N. Hall H. C. Hanmer H. C. Hoskins H. T. Hoskins H. iP. Hoskins T. E. Hubbard W. G. Hubbard C. E. Hubburer B. Keeney F, S. Kenyon L. A. Ladd E. Lawrence F. A. Leane F. G. Loomis F. D. McLean W. H. McLean C. E. Main H. H. Main J. O. Merrill b. D. Monroe H. D. Nearing C. L. Noble Henry Palmer G. B. Phelps S. A. Porter C. O. Purinton F. D. Rockwell J. B. Rockwell H. W. Rowley B. J. Seymour Wm. Simpson, Jr. J. W. Spencer A. Stebbins Jno. Stevens J. H. Stoddard, Jr. S. E. Stoughton E. E. Sweetser Joseph Tallcott b. N. Thrall O. J. Tobie A. R. Waterman D. W. Wells James H. White J. N. Wilson Battle Flag Day, September 17, 1879, one of the most memorable in Hartford's history, witnessed a great military spectacle assembled for the purpose of placing Connecticut's battle flags in the new Capitol. Enthusiasm and applause for the Civil War veterans were repeated when the Army of the Potomac held its reunion in Hartford, June eighth and ninth, 1881 ; and again in September, 1886, when the Memorial Arch was dedicated. A revival of earlier inauguration pageants was seen in May, 1886, at the great Legislative Reunion. A member of the 57 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B General Assembly of 1824 led the legislators, followed by repre- sentatives of every General Assembly from 1825 to the assembly then in session, and the Governor's Guards were unusually bril- liant in their accustomed role. On May 8, 1888^ a great occasion was made of the centennial celebration of the incorporation of the Horse Guard. The Second Company came up from New Haven to join in the festivities and the parade column was formed as follows: Wethersfield Band, mounted Major Frank Cowles and Staff First Company, Governor's Horse Guard, Captain Hubbard CARRIAGES Governor Lounsbury, Adjutant General Fox, Executive Secretary McLean, Quartermaster General Charles Olm- sted, Surgeon General Charles James Fox, Commissary General Charles H. Pine, Paymaster General John B. Clapp, Colonels S. B. Home, S. G. Blakeman, J. D. Chaffee, E. H, Matthewson, Assistant Adjutant General George M. White, and Assistant Quartermaster General H. C. Morgan. Wallingford National Band Second Company, Governor's Horse Guard, Major H. H. Strong Flags were generally displayed along the line of march, and crowds lined Main street and liberally applauded the troopers. In the evening about four hundred guests and hosts sat down to a banquet served in Allyn Hall. The galleries were thronged with spectators, the majority being ladies, who listened to the addresses and watched the festivities with evident interest. The after-dinner toasts met with responses lasting far into the night. Major Cowles introduced the orator of the occasion, Hon. William E. Simonds, who gave an elaborate history of the command from its inception. General Henry C. Ehvight acted as toastmaster and the responses were as follows: " The State of Connecticut," Lieutenant Governor James L, Howard " The City of Hartford," Mayor John G. Root " The Second Company," Major H. H. Strong 58 Major Frank C'owlcs Oldest Surviving Member (1921) u^ x; H CONVALESCENCE " Ex-Governors of the State," Ex-Lieutenant Governor George G. Sill " The Governor's Foot Guard," Major John C. Kinney and Judge Advocate E. H. Hyde, Jr. " The Connecticut National Guard," Brigadier General Charles P. Graham " The First Regiment," Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Thompson " The Putnam Phalanx," Major Joseph Warner and Judge Advocate Charles H. Clarke " The Press," Honorable A. E. Burr " The Bar of the State," Colonel Charles M. Joslyn " The Clergy," Reverend William DeLoss Love, Jr. " The Ex-Members," General Alexander Harbison Major Cowles was given the chief credit, to which he was surely entitled, for the admirable manner in which all the details were arranged and executed. The addresses have been published in a memorial pamphlet, " Centennial of the First Company, Governor's Horse Guard." The blowing-up of the " Maine " in Havana harbor on the night of February 15th, 1898, crystallized American sentiment, long sympathetic toward Cuba, now excited into a demand for war against Spain, President McKinley was loath to throw the country, frightfully unprepared, into war, and desired first to exhaust every diplomatic means, meanwhile exerting every effort to place the army and navy in fighting trim. It was not until the latter part of April that diplomatic relations were severed and a call for volunteers issued. But meanwhile local patriotism was running high. The Horse Guard was the first organization in this state, it is reported, to offer its services. 59 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B " HEADQUARTERS FIRST COMPANY GOVERNOR'S HORSE GUARD Hartford, Conn., March 8, 1898. " Hon. Lorin A. Cooke, " Governor of the State of Connecticut, "Commander-in-Chief of the Governor's Guard; and the Connecticut National Guard. " Your Excellency : — " I have the honor to herewith most respectfully report, that at a largely attended meeting of my command, held on Monday evening, March 7th, 1898; 'It was unani- mously resolved that we tender our services to your Excellency, in the event of any emergency which may arise through the severance of the present friendly rela- tions existing between this country and Spain.' " I have the honor to be, " Very respectfully, " Your obedient servant, " Gilbert P. Hurd, " Major Commanding." Unfortunately for its chance of glory on the battlefield^ no cavalry was required from Connecticut. In fact the call for troops was virtually limited to National Guard organizations. This led Major Hurd to discuss the advisability of transferring his troop to the National Guard, a step which he claimed had been contemplated " the past three years and only awaited the opportune time." The question was agitated at various times but it was not until April 4, 1901, that Major Hurd could report to Adjutant General Cole that the command had unanimously voted to apply for a transfer provided the charter should not be removed. The General Assembly then in session had passed an act authorizing the re-organization of either or both companies of the Governor's Horse Guard as cavalry attached to the Connecti- cut National Guard. The Second Company of New Haven promptly took advantage of the opportunity and became Troop A. The officers of the First company appeared before the Military Committee where Major Hurd and others endorsed the project in behalf of the members. But Lieutenant Charles B. Rhodes, second in command, unexpectedly voiced an opposition suffi- ciently effective to bring about another indefinite postponement; 60 CONVALESCENCE although Major Hurd explained that the opposition was purely personal on the part of Rhodes who had no authority from the members to take such a stand. So the First Company returned to its duties as a military escort. It was selected to act as the personal escort of President Roosevelt when he visited Hartford, August 22, 1902. It joined with the First and Second Companies of the Foot in escorting Governor Abiram Chamberlain to St. Louis to attend the Louisiana Purchase Exposition during Connecticut week, October 9th to 14th, 1904. The splendor of the unique uniforms of the Governor's Guards together with their excellent discipline attracted unusual attention and applause, and by common consent the Connecticut delegation carried off the palm. Another excur- sion was undertaken in 1907, this time to attend the tercentennial celebration of the first permanent settlement in the United States, at Jamestown, Virginia. A duty of a somewhat different nature was sought by the Horse Guard at the official opening of the stone bridge over the Connecticut river, connecting Hartford and East Hartford. The bridge was opened for traffic in December, 1907, but the formal dedication did not begin until October 6th, 1908. All Hartford declared a three days' vacation, each day twenty-four hours short. Civic and military parades by day, fireworks and confetti by night, rivalled the Mardi Gras of New Orleans. Thomas Hooker and his faithful band of colonists, struggling through the wilds of Elast Hartford, reached the bank of the Long river, to be greeted by the Indians with various unearthly noises described by the program as warwhoops. The faithful band was canoed across the river by the friendly Indians and founded Hartford to the accompaniment of riotous applause by thousands of its citizens. The members of the Horse Guard had been sworn in as special mounted police and performed this trying duty with admirable tact, receiving engrossed resolutions of appreciation and praise from the Court of Common Council as well as from the Board of Police Commissioners. The clever exhibition of the Guard on this occasion started a revival of public interest in an organization which had grad- ually been drifting into that state of existence which had characterized the early years of Major Boardman's incumbency. 61 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B But the new movement did not take on the guise of usurpa- tion, as had been the case with Colonel Colt's attempt; nor did it resemble the half-hearted inclination of 1898 and 1901 — half- hearted in spite of the efforts of Major Hurd, himself an old National Guardsman. The new movement was a sincere endeavor to instil fresh blood and new hfe into an organization with an ancient and honorable history, — to build up the Horse Guard from within, — keeping in mind and heart a single purpose, namely, to have a command which could be called upon for serious duty, and to have that command second to none in efficiency. This project was no sooner launched than definite steps were taken to put it into effect, as the following letter indicates : "Hartford, Conn., February 2, 191 1. "Dear Sir: — As one who has shown considerable interest in the question of the formation of a cavalry troop in Hartford, you are earnestly requested to be present at the University Club on Monday evening, February 6th, at 7 o'clock sharp. " The purpose of this meeting will be for those inter- ested to apply in a body for membership in the First Company, Governor's Horse Guards on that evening. It is absolutely essential for the success of this plan that every man who intends to join this organization and wishes to promote its success should be present on this occasion. It is extremely probable that the question as to whether the move will succeed or fail will depend upon the number of men present at this time. " You are urged to bring with you any friend who would be likely to join us. The Adjutant General of the State has promised to come to the meeting of the Horse Guards at which this matter will come up. The meeting will be short, and there will be an opportunity afterward to fulfill any other engagements you may have for that evening. " BY THE COMMITTEE. " The following men have signified their intention of joining this proposed troop: — 62 CONVALESCENCE "Arthur W. Allen Owen Morgan Lewis A. Storrs Walter B. Allen Thomas W. Russell Edison Lewis Dudley C. Graves H. A, Perkins Frederick Woolley H. Wyckoff Mills John Carter Rowley George B. Ward Charles E. Smith Walter L. Goodwin B. E. Lyons Paul Waterman R. W. Myers G. W. Cheney R. B. Bulkeley W. E. Card M. G. Bulkeley, Jr. J. E. Hewes R. D. Cutler F. Parsons " The older members of the Horse Guard at first resented the ambitious designs of the newer recruits, but gradually they came to see that the proposed move would be of inestimable benefit to the command. After an initial failure the recruits sent out another letter: "Hartford, Conn., February i6, 1911. " To the New Members of the First Company Governor's Horse Guards : — " It must have been very evident to everyone who was present at the Meeting of the First Company Governor's Horse Guards last Monday evening, that the organization of that command as a troop of cavalry in the National Guard of this State was merely postponed temporarily, and not defeated. " The new members must not be in the least discouraged by the result of that Meeting, and should be only the more strongly influenced to stay in the game. The senti- ment of the State authorities, of the community in general, and the desire of the United States government, are sup- porting us in the purpose to make this Command an effi- cient and workmanlike troop — and, perhaps, a squadron — that will be a credit to the city and the state. " We have reason to believe that sentiment is changing in our favor among the older members of the Command, now that they more thoroughly understand our spirit and our purpose. In short, things are coming our way. " It is proposed to present the same \'ote for action at the next regular monthly business meeting of the Horse Guards, which will take place Monday evening, March 6th. The fact that the Vote was defeated at the last meeting, among other reasons by the unavoidable absence of a few of us, should make every man realize keenly that it is of the highest importance that he should be on hand, 63 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B and on hand promptly. In order that we may have a chance before the meeting to know just where we stand, you are requested to come to the University Ckib for supper at 6 o'clock sharp, Monday evening, March 6th. Please impress this date in large type on your memory. If you cannot go to the Club to supper, telephone some of the undersigned, and arrange to meet us at the Armory. Remember that proxies don't count. "At the Meeting next Monday night, after drill, some of our friends are to be proposed for membership and we should make every effort to be present. " Richard J. Goodman Thomas \V. Russell J. H. Kelso Davis Arthur W. Allen Edison Lewis Francis Parsons." This letter proved to be truly prophetic. On March 6, 191 1, the members of the First Company, Governor's Horse Guard, voted by an overwhelming majority to apply to the Adjutant General for re-organization into a troop of cavalry attached to the Connecticut National Guard. 64 VIII THE NEW LIFE NINETEEN ELEVEN " State of Connecticut Adjutant General's Office, "Hartford, March 6, 191 1 " Special Orders, No. 39. " I. The 1st Company, Governor's Horse Guard, having made application to The Adjutant General to be mustered into the Connecticut National Guard as a Troop of Cavalry, as provided in Section 3070 of the General Statutes are hereby accepted and designated ' Troop B, Cavalry, Connecticut National Guard.' "2. Lieutenant Colonel Richard J. Goodman, ist Infantry, is detailed as enlisting officer, and Major Heman A. Tyler, Jr., Medical Corps, and Captain William H. Van Strander, IMedical Corps, as medical examiners. Colonel Goodman will arrange for the mustering in of these men at the earliest opportunity, in order that they may be ready for the inspection required by paragraph 141, Militia Regulations. " 3. The Assistant Quartermaster General is directed to take possession of all State property issued to the ist Company, Governor's Horse Guard. " By order of the Governor, " George M. Cole, "Adjutant General." Colonel Goodman mustered in the initial members and ordered them to report for federal inspection by Captain Charles W. Fenton, 2d Cavalry, U. S. Army, on March 13th. On April 6th Captain James L. Howard, then on the retired list, was nominated for the Captaincy, and Captain J. H. Kelso Davis for first lieutenant. These two officers had held successively the position of Adjutant of the First Connecticut Infantry and had seen many years of service in the National Guard. 65 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B Captain Howard's record of service as certified by The Adjutant General on January 6, 1918, follows — " En. Pvt. Battery A, 14 May 1898; mustered into U.S. service as Pvt., Batt'y A, ist C.V. Art'y 19 May 1898; mustered out 25 Oct. 1898; discharged, platoon disbanded 30 Nov. 1898; 1st Lieutenant, Commissary, ist Inf. 6 Apr. 1903 ; Capt. and Adjutant 29 Oct. 1903 ; retired i Mch. 1907; detailed Captain, Troop B, Cav., 7 Apr. 191 1; assigned to permanent command 17 April 191 1 ; commis- sioned Major for War purposes, S.O. 140, A.G.O., 191 5, 29 Oct. 1915; transferred to Reserve, C. N. G, with rank of Major 2 Nov. 1915; mustered into U. S. Service 4 Sept. 1916; Brigade Adjutant, 5th Sept.; Brig., Nogales, Ariz.; ordered to Nogales 6 Sept. 1916; reported 13 Sept. 1916; assigned Adjutant, 5th Sept.; Brigade, 15 Sept. 19.16; assigned Adjutant, 3d Brig., i6th Prov. Divn., 25 Sept. 1916; Adjutant, ist Brig., 12th Prov. Divn., Ft. Sam Houston, 13 Oct. 1916; mustered out of Federal Service, Sam Houston, 11 Nov. 1916; transferred to N.G. Reserve, 22 Nov. 1916; assigned to active duty in com- mand of 1st Separate Squadron Conn. Cavalry, 23 May 1917; called into U.S. Service, 25 July 1917; drafted into U.S. Service, 5 Aug. 1917. " Service in Conn. National Guard continuous from May 14, 1898 to Nov. 30, 1898; from April 6, 1903 to March i, 1907; from April 7, 1911 to Nov. 2, 1915; from Sept. 4, 1916 to Nov. II, 1916, and from May 23, 1917 to Aug. 5, 1 91 7. Total 9 years, 4 months, 7 days." Captain Davis' record furnished April 5, 1918, follows — "Appointed 2nd Lieutenant, Battalion Quartermaster, 1st Infantry, 5 Nov. 1903; ist Lieutenant, Battalion Adjutant, 31 Jan. 1906; Captain and Commissary, 11 June 1906; retired 8 Mar. 1907; assigned Captain and Adjutant, 1st Infantry, 6 Feb. 1909; returned to retired list, 11 Mar. 191 1 ; assigned 1st Lieutenant, Troop B, Cavalry, 17 Apr. 191 1 ; Captain, 3 Nov. 1915 ; called into U.S. Service GO. 18, A.G.O., 20 June 1916; Mexican Border duty at Nogales and Arivaca, Arizona ; mustered out at West Hartford, 28 Oct. 1916; retired list S.O. 142, A. GO. 1916, I Nov. 1916. " Service in Connecticut National Guard continuous from Nov. 5, 1903 to March 8, 1907; from Feb. 6, 1909 to March 11, 191 1, and from April 17, 191 1 to November I, 1916." 66 The Troop Escorting Pres. Taft and Gov. Baldwin Xatior.al Colors, Seigt. Cole State Colors, Sergt. Shearer THE NEW LIFE The first printed roster of Troop B Cavalry, C. N. G., shows the following names: Captain James L. Howard; ist Lieut. J. H. Kelso Davis; First Sergeant Warner B. Day; Q.M. Sergeant George E. Cole ; Sergeants Rawdon W. Myers, Francis Parsons^ Francis J. Shearer, Edgar F. Waterman; Cooks Benja- min G. Allen, Charles W. Watson; Farrier Frank B. Aninger; Trumpeters Adolph Anderson, George F. Haynes ; Clerk John W. Joy. First Squad Corporal Edison Lewis Private Henry Austin G. B. A. Baker C. D. Cheney T. C. Hoge Joseph A. Kunz D. Goodrich Markham A. E. Parsons Henry L B. Rice Second Squad Corporal William T. Coholan Private A. R. Couch John D. Cutter, Jr. A. Morton Dexter Hart Fenn Owen Morgan Henry A. Perkins Lee C. Robens Thomas W. Russell Third Squad Corporal Ralph D. Cutler Private M. G. Bulkeley, Jr. A. Raymond Ellis Charles H. Howell Charles W. Javnes H. Wyckoff M'iUs Curtis L. Sheldon Stillman F. Westbrook Fourth Squad Corporal Edwin C. Dickenson Private Richard B. Bulkeley George W. Cheney Richard H. Deming E. Welles Eddy George E. Ward Harold B. Whitmore Fred F. Woolley Winthrop Haviland Fifth Squad Corporal Anson T. McCook Private Lucius B. Barbour Dudley C. Graves Harold G. Holcombe E. H. Parsons Harry Silverman George S. Spencer Lester G. Welcher George H. Whitaker, Jr. Sixth Squad Corporal Harold L. Pope Private Arthur W. Allen Frank D. Cheney Francis T. Fenn Albert C. Grinnell J. Ellicott Hewes David K. Strong Francis E. Waterman George A. Williams Among the original members whose names do not appear on this roster are Paul Waterman and Arthur H. Griswold who almost immediately accepted commissions in the Medical Corps; 67 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B Harold G. Hart, who accepted a commission in the First Infantry; Walter E. Gard, J. Albert Oakes, John J. Powell and Lewis A. Storrs. At each anniversary dinner it became the custom to listen to a record of the events of the preceding year, compiled and read by an annually-appointed historian. The first such dinner was held at the Hartford Golf Club March 2, 1912, the invited guests including: Hon. Morgan G. Bulkeley, General George M. Cole, Colonel Edward Schulze, Lt. Col. Richard J. Goodman, Major William Wright, ist Cavalry, N.G.N.Y. and his adjutant, Lieut. Thomas B. Clark, Jr., Captain Francis C. Marshall, U. S. Cavalry, Inspector-Instructor of New England Cavalry, Captain Luzerne Ludington, commanding Troop A of New Haven, with his two lieutenants, William J. Bradnack and Frank E. Wolfe, and William Denton, U. S. Cavalry, Sergeant-instructor. Sergeant Francis Parsons (formerly Colonel and Asst. Q.M. General, State of Connecticut) had been prevailed upon to tell the members of the Troop what had happened to them during the year then past. His history follows : Captain Howard and other Gentlemen : — The returned missionary was addressing the Sunday School. " My friends," he said, " in China human life is of very little account. When a man is condemned to die, it is the easiest thing in the world for him to hire someone else to be beheaded in his place. In fact," he added, to drive the point home, " I have known hundreds of poor fellows who made their living by thus acting as substitutes." Gentlemen, tonight I am a substitute, a proxy, an alter ego, a stop-gap, a second fiddle standing in the shoes — to mix metaphors — standing in the rather tight shoes of Frank Water- man, your real historian, who in his excessive and uncalled-for modesty has trumped up an out-of-town engagement in order that he should not have to make this speech. Tonight I owe most everything to his assistance, and if I have anything of interest to say, the credit is his, while for the faults the blame is mine alone, I feel a good deal like the actor who was discussing with a retired army man the perils of their respective professions, " How," said the general, " would you like to be standing here 68 THE NEW LIFE with the shells bursting all around you ? " " Well," replied the actor, " that would depend upon the age of the eggs." Before I finish, I may be thankful that this is an eggless meal. In these days, it is the fashion for the historical investigator to consult old manuscripts, diaries, letters and newspapers for his data. I have kept a diary myself sometimes when I hap- pened to think of it and had plenty of time. The first item I find in it about the Troop is the first written record that I can find anywhere about our organization. Under Wednesday, January i8th, 1911, I find this entry: " In the evening went to Cavalry Troop meeting and meeting of Center Church Men's Club " — a combination of war and religion that shows how versatile I can be. This, I believe, was the meeting at the University Club, where a good many of us signed a paper expressing our intention to join the First Company Governor's Horse Guard. But before this, however, the matter had been talked over by many of us, and seriously considered. I want right here to express the gratitude we must all feel to Lieut. Davis for the energy, enthusiasm, and confidence that the desired results would come about which possessed him during all this time and which he communicated to the rest of us in no small degree. It is extremely probable that had it not been for him the psychological moment would have passed and no aggres- sive action taken. To Col. Goodman's unvarying interest in the good of the service, we also owe much for his advice and assistance during these ante bellum days. There was another meeting at the University Club — perhaps two others — at one of which Captain Wright of Squadron A of New York gave us a talk, but my intermittent diary fails to mention them, and Frank Waterman's Scrap-Book has no record. In February and March there were several crises in the military fever. It was the evening of the 6th of February, you will remember, that thirty strong we pursued our dignified and un-exhilarated march from the University Club to the State Armory and, while waiting for admission to the meeting of the Horse Guards, enjoyed the hospitality of our good friend, and we believe, our advocate, the Adjutant-General, to whom we delight to do honor this evening. We owe him many thanks for 69 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B his interest, for his encouragement, and, not the least for his persuasiveness. Since the night of February 6th, 191 1, I have always felt that the general really ought to have been a lawyer, but the law's loss is the state's gain. Well, we joined the Horse Guards, stating our position in all frankness and in all good faith. Our application for enlistment went through at once and we were taken in — I mean, sworn in — twenty-eight of us, two discouraged souls having disap- peared during the evening. On February 9th, the Hartford Courant came out with a long article on us, having the somewhat sarcastic head-line : " HORSE GUARDS MAY BECOME CAVALRY." From this article the reader got the impression that we were all gilded youths. We were certainly not gilded, and I can personally testify that with some of us eager and callow youth was a thing of the past ; but we had got things going at any rate. However, Monday, the 13th, was an unlucky day. The Horse Guards had a long and somewhat vigorous meeting and the proposition to go into the National Guard was defeated by a vote of 36 to ^^. Nevertheless, we were not yet dead. There was more conversation, more consultation with our guide, counsellor and friend. Col. Goodman, and on Monday evening, March 6th, the First Company Governor's Horse Guard voted, 52 to 17, to make application to the Adjutant-General to be enrolled as a troop of cavalry in the National Guard under Section 3070 of the General Statutes. After the vote, our general came in, con- gratulated us, poured oil upon the somewhat troubled waters, and we were happy. To be " in " was enough. We were not as par- ticular as Tim Maloney when the Recruiting Sergeant asked him why he wouldn't enlist unless he was sent to the Seventy-Fifth Infantry. " Bec'ase," said Tim, " I want to be near me brudder and he's in de Seventy-sixt'." In the next few days the examining surgeons put us all to the blush by looking us over more closely than we had prob- ably been looked over since the day we were born, and Col. Goodman did the rest. I suppose that Capt. Fenton had seen " rookies " before, but he probably had never seen a handsomer lot than those that assembled for his benefit at the Armory on Monday evening, March 13th, 191 1. It is true that many hats came down over 70 THE NEW LIFE many ears; that many Adam's apples failed to be concealed by gaping collars, and that the high-water qualities of many riding breeches were only hidden by puttees, but our good looks could not be disguised by such purely technical details. All our thoughts were not taken up with the present hap- penings, however; we were also thinking of the future. Even before we had gone into the National Guard, Col. Goodman, with his characteristic foresight, had drawn and caused to be introduced into the General Assembly a resolution sufficiently vague, sufficiently broad, sufficiently generous providing for an appropriation to be used in the purchase of land and the erection of riding shed and stables for this organization. This resolu- tion came to a hearing before the Appropriations Committee on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 21st. For a fortnight before the hearing Frank Waterman had been busy working out plans and getting estimates for the structure we desired, and all of these we flashed upon the Com- mittee, supported by the irresistible arguments in favor of the proposition that came so readily to our lips. The hearing seemed to us to go well, and the Committee appeared to be sufficiently impressed, but we were later to learn, if we did not know it already, that the game of politics has to be fought with other weapons than logic. Probably the most momentous evening after our organization as a Troop was that of April 6, 191 1, when, by unanimous and enthusiastic vote, we nominated James L. Howard to be our Captain and J. H. Kelso Davis to be our First Lieutenant. Doubtless, our well-loved Lieutenant would object to my shower- ing any more bouquets upon him, but I cannot refrain from saying that Capt. Howard's nomination was a thing that we not only rejoiced in at the time, but have congratulated ourselves upon ever since. Fortunate we were that he was willing to come to us. We not only do what he tells us because we have to, but because we want to. When he speaks everybody jumps ; when he doesn't speak we wonder what has gone wrong, but our mis- takes are not mistakes of intention. We don't often get a chance to assure him in words of our loyalty, but tonight we can do so with a fair grace, and say, moreover, that wherever he will go, there will be husky specimens back of him. May he live forever and serve as Captain as long as he lives I 71 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B And so we went on to learn ; in fact we had been learning a little during March. This was the time at which the politeness of our Squad leaders was at its height, in spite of all that Col. Goodman had been able to do. I have sometimes wondered what would have happened to that over-courteous Squad leader had Col. Goodman or Capt. Howard overheard him when, in instruct- ing Trooper Perkins, he suggested diffidently : " Pardon me, Professor, but kindly depress the butt of your piece a trifle while standing at the right shoulder." Doubtless, Henry was as much embarassed at this mild correction as Miss Susie Simpkins was at the church sociable when the old deacon, who was making the announcements, electrified the audience by saying: "Miss Susie Simpkins will now sing ' Put me in my Little Bed ' accompanied by the minister." However, we learned a good deal, and were soon ready for our spring Field Day, which was Thursday, May 20th. Again, we were the subject of a sarcastic head-line. On the morning of that day, the Courant printed above an article about us a scare-head : " CAVALRY TO MOVE BY AUTOMOBILE." We put our pride in our pockets, however, for the automobile was certainly a good scheme. Not one foundered by the way- side or cast a shoe. I will not go into statistics, for this is no place for them. It is enough to say that, for a bunch of greenhorns, we did well at the butts, and many of those who did not qualify that day kept at it till they did. Our automobile flight, however, did not pass unnoticed, except by the Courant alone. An anonymous poet, who signed himself " Muddyard Coupling," perpetrated this verse, entitled "Auto-Cavalry," which I will read, because, while some of you may have heard it, many have not, and it is far from bad. 72 THE NEW LIFE AUTO-CAVALRY Up at five in the morning — going to Troopers' school, Cranking a damned old auto — instead of cleaning a mule, Driving a Packard 40, never a beggar forgets It's only the pick of the C.N.G. that handles the dear little pets. They send us along where the roads are, we couldn't go where they ain't. ' We're fond of Macadam and Asphalt for that doesn't dirty our paint. We're Hell bent on fashion and style, on " swagger " and " make-up " and " fit " And we fancies ourselves with our autos, somebody — We guess we are it. If a buck hasn't an auto we drills him and teaches him how to behave And if he can't buy one we kills him and rattles him into his grave. You've got to come up to our standard, and you can't be an ordinary cuss. Do you say there is " class " to the "Dough-boys " — Then By God you should travel with us. The auto horn's screaming around us, the motors amoaning below, We're outside the City's limits — and we're out where we can let her go, And the wind is as thin as a whip-lash that carries away to the plains The stink from the darn old exhaust — the jinglety-jink of the chains. There's a wheel busted ofi the first car and the second is smashed up a bit — The Captain's a swearing around us, and the Lieutenant is throwing a fit — The sweat's running out of our shirt sleeves — the sun's burning holes in our face. And the whole of the outfit's astraining to put the car back in its place. Up at five in the morning — going to Troopers' school, Cranking a damned old auto — instead of cleaning a mule, Driving a " Packard 40 " never a beggar forgets It's only the pick of the C.N.G. that handles the dear little pets. — Muddyard Coupling. 73 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B After Field Day, camp began to loom on the horizon. We drilled through June, without a murmur, knowing that we were greenhorns, willing to work overtime in order that our friends of the infantry should not have occasion for too much criticism or derision. We struggled with the ceremonies of guard mount- ing; we learned how to pack a saddle; we discovered which was the front and which was the rear of the shelter tent — and Edgar Waterman and I incidentally found that the longest shelter tent would not let our feet come inside. George Cole was everywhere at once, the 'busiest citizen in Hartford, but always ready to help the next man and always in good humor. How Sunny George does it, I don't know, but I do know one thing and that is that we've got the best Quartermaster Sergeant in New England. At last the camp chests were all packed and the baggage detail, with Sergeant Cole sitting on the lid, broke the Sabbath and also my best shaving glass. Monday morning, July 17, at the crack of dawn, so many alarm clocks went off all over town that the fire department nearly turned out. We gathered for hasty breakfasts around the genial thermos bottles, carefully filled the night before, and soon, in the dewy freshness of the morning, (as the poets say) automobiles, bicycles and footsteps were moving swiftly toward the armory. We reached Niantic in good order. We were busy at once and stayed busy for five days and some nights. The first morning, you will recollect, we met our horses socially for the first time. It was an interesting occasion, both for the meeters and the met. Our experiences were so varied, and some of them so humiliating, that I will not particularize. I will only take this occasion to tell ' Sarge " Myers that he will never flatter me again into taking a horse of suspicious character, by saying that I ought to assume any such chances, rather than leave them for some one else, because in my long-gone boyhood I once owned a pony. Some day I will get even with " Hurry-up." How well he deserved that nickname. He had a hard job, but he was on to it all the time and kept us on ours too. Frank Waterman has a detailed record of every day's hap- penings, but I will not weary you with a dry report. Looking back upon that week, the memories that come to us are chiefly memories of good hard physical work, of inability to sit down 74 2\Iarkliaui Kuuz Graves Hoge Rice A. E. Parsons E. X. Parsons C. D. Cheney Graves Anderson E. Waterman Bulkeley Russell Wainwright Xiantic — 191 1 THE NEW LIFE comfortably during the first few days, of the fun of drilling mounted on the big parade ground, the drill getting faster and faster each day till by the end of the week, we were not to be sneezed at. There was a sham battle too in the thunderstorm, and advance guard work, and there was one glorious afternoon in the Oswegatchie Woods, where, broken into squads and details, we rode through the wood roads looking for a lost horse. We did not find the horse, but we learned a thing or two about reconnoitering duty and we had a good time. Our enthusiasm as horsemen was now aroused to a good high pitch. For a good part of this afternoon, Deming and I were alone together, and I had the greatest difficulty in restraining him from jumping every fence and stonewall that we encountered, though he, I believe, had never ridden until a few days before camp. I care- fully explained to him that I didn't care so much about him, but I didn't want to have the horse killed, and he obeyed me promptly, but evidently with reluctance and more in sorrow than in anger. Fire-fighting was not so much fun, but it was a beneficial experience nevertheless. Probably we saved a few acres of brush and trees, and we did it in an altruistic spirit not at all like John, who was standing with his wife and children in front of the lions' cage, when, his wife thinking to test his love, said to him: "John, if those hons should break out, whom would you save first — me or the children ? " and John answered without an instant's hesitation : " Me ! " We took great pride to ourselves that when the first call came out of a clear sky just at supper time, we were mounted and riding out of the reservation six minutes after the order was received. Speaking of supper reminds me of the kitchen; speaking of the kitchen reminds me inevitably of that " team of experts," as they say in the Men & Religion Forward Movement, — Allen and Watson, worthy successors of Weber and Fields, Mutt and Jeflf, and other famous partnerships — Watson, who staid sober all the week, poor chap, out of fear of Allen, to whom I delegated the task of keeping him in order ; and Allen, the inimitable, who dispensed food, philosophy, advice and liver pills with an uner- ring impartiality, whose motto, which he had frequent occasion to invoke, was : " Whatever you do, don't worry," and who, 75 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B when I accused him of putting an extra allowance of saltpeter in our coffee, said he intended it as a compliment. The literary style of Allen's conversation was an exceedingly interesting study to me. You could not say that there was anything in it in the least reminiscent of the subtlety and indirectness of Henry James, nor could Kipling at his worst touch him. Anyone who wanted to hear a specimen of vigorous barn-yard English, plentifully interspersed with the most nitrogenous kind of profanity, could have had his desire if he happened to be around the kitchen when Allen and the loud-mouthed cook of the Signal Corps were engaging in a little repartee across the ice boxes. Altogether the kitchen job was not all work, but, please Capt. Howard, don't detail me to it again. I have served my time. We were worked so hard that when night came, most of us were ready to sleep, and yet we were not entirely dead in the evening. Cosy Beach and even New London saw some of us. Do we not all remember the night that Arthur Allen returned barely in time for taps from an excursion to New Lx)ndon, and fell over a carefully constructed pile of tin plates, considerately arranged by his tent mates just inside his tent door in anticipa- tion of his arrival? His fall sounded like the collapse of a cast iron stove, and I understand that he felt it was his duty to go out and explain it all to each member of the Guard. Perhaps the most prominent of the evening noises was Aninger's imitation of a mare's whinny, which was so realistic that when they heard it all the horses on the picket line forgot they were not stallions and tried to break away. You will remember, too, the Friday night when the rumor got abroad that we were to be visited, for purposes of initiation into camp life, by the infantry and Signal Corps friends. Effec- tive and interesting preparations were made to receive them. Guards were doubled ; lariats and their heavy metal pins were placed conveniently by our various cots, and we waited — but waited in vain — somewhat to our disappointment, for nothing came our way except a few somewhat irresponsible strollers. In our own tent we went to sleep in peace, for Lewis slept on one side of the tent-flap and Aninger on the other, and we know it would take the entire First Regiment a considerable time to get past those two seasoned and muscular individuals. 76 THE NEW LIFE We ought not to boast, but we could not fail to see that at camp we made an excellent showing. Our superior officers in the brigade told us so and the figures proved it. It was a sun-burned, hard and business-like crowd that sat along the edge of the station platform Saturday afternoon waiting for the train for home. Doubtless, the most lasting effect of our week under canvas so far as the Troop as a body is concerned was the fact that it welded us together as nothing else could. At the end of those days, we were a homogeneous, compact body. We had an esprit de corps ; we had a certain education in common in life as a soldier, short though it was. Perhaps some of you think that after camp things quieted down. Not altogether so, though possibly most of you have not realized it. But with the Armory Committee charged with the duty of trying to persuade the state to put some real money into a riding shed, there was much doing. The Appropriations Com- mittee of the General Assembly was about to report. Would it report favorably on our resolution? It did not. It turned us down ; but hope was not altogether lost. It is revealing no secrets to say that in the Senate there was strong antagonism to the unfavorable report on many armories, including our own, and to favorable reports on others in communities where members of the Appropriations Committee appeared to reside. Taking such advantage of this situation as legitimately could be taken, your Committee, which had enlisted the Machiavellian services of Tommy Russell, that astute politician, did the best it could with its senatorial friends, and the result was that the Senate passed a substitute resolution providing a reasonable appropriation for a riding shed and stables. But, alas, when this resolution got to the House, with others, it was voted down. Back it came to the Senate on disagreeing action, the favorable report of the Appropriations Committee on a few armories which was defeated by the Senate having been passed by the House. It was then that the Appropriations Com- mittee began to be seriously disturbed through fear that the Senate would adhere to its former vote and kill the whole matter on disagreeing action. Under these circumstances, we were in a position to get something by way of compromise, and Tommy Russell, who was in charge of the situation, pulled out of the 17 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B fire an appropriation of $12,000 for two years for the care of horses and rent of an armory or riding shed. We were thankful to get it, and though we have not yet used it, we shall probably need it before the next session. In the meantime, we have had our political experience. Even before the opening of the drill season in the autumn, the question of the armory was taken up by us on our own responsibility. As you all know, an Armory Committee was appointed which was divided into sub-committees. These com- mittees have done much work, and our two architects, Ellis and Waterman, have labored long and faithfully over the plans and specifications. One site which we were on the point of buying proved on investigation unfit for the structure. It soon became evident that we could not get a building erected by spring, and the matter is still in abeyance. In a large financial undertaking of this kind, it is just as well to go slowly, but there can be no sort of doubt that the armory and horses are only a question of time. Soon may that time come ! On Sunday evening, October 22nd, we arrayed ourselves for the first time in our full dress costumes in order to attend vesper service at the Church of the Immaculate Conception with the City Battalion of the First Regiment and the Signal Corps. We had appreciated our good looks before, but we never knew how really handsome we were until we looked at each other arrayed in those blue and yellow uniforms ; perhaps some of us, however, may have sympathized with George, who came home one evening in his new spring suit. " Why, George," said his wife, " What's the matter with your coat? It waves all up and down the back." " I mentioned that to the tailor," he replied, " but he said you had to expect that in a surge suit." The drill season began November 7th, and that night at our meeting the armory plans were decided upon. I hesitate to say much about our record with the revolver, it would sound too much like bragging. But during November automobiles were pressed into service again to take us to the pistol range at South Manchester, where on Saturdays and some- times on other week-day afternoons, we blazed away at the targets until the early twilight made it impossible to see. When the record was made up, we were surprised but not displeased. 78 » *^» 'ir^iin^, Sergeant Myers giving 'em — instructions ! The Tliinl Squad Sheldon Jaynes P.ulkiky Kllis C. II. IIiAvcll C'utk-r Mills WcstlncM.k THE NEW LIFE Aside from the inspection by Captain Marshall January 30th, there is little more of interest to mention. And so, gentlemen, we are close upon the Troop's first birth- day. And yet I venture to remind you that it is by no means the first birthday of this organization. We have a history of which I have not spoken. As a matter of fact, the first of next May will be the one hundred and twenty-fourth anniversary of the incorporation of the old command. The charter of the First Company Governor's Horse Guards is dated May i, 1788. That charter, I am confident, is part of our legal organism. But long before the command was chartered it existed as a volunteer troop of horse. Its old flag bears the date 1778. It saw service in the state during the War of the Revolution. Many of its early members served with distinction and gallantry in that war in the Continental Army. It seems to me it is worth while not entirely to lose contact with this old record, so closely interwoven with the history of this city and state. If I may presume, in the presence of my superiors, upon a little brief ofiiciousness, I would express the opinion — which is only my personal opinion, though I know others here share it — that it will be for the advantage of the Troop to perpetuate the old character of the command, as a bodyguard to his excellency the governor. Such a character will, it seems to me, carry with it a certain dignity and distinction — will differentiate the Troop from other National Guard organizations and give it an individuality of its own. I even go so far as to hope that some day we will revive for festal occasions the old light dragoon uniform of Revolu- tionary days. Lined up in that gorgeous costume alongside even so magnificent an outfit as the City Troop of Philadelphia, we would make those Philadelphia lawyers look like thirty cents. Perhaps I have strayed beyond my province — and yet all this is history or has to do with it. I am going even a step farther. To make an Irish remark, I am sure there is history ahead of as well as behind us. In the year just ending we have formed a fund of common memories — little things, perhaps, but they will last through the years. We have lived together. We have made new friendships and drawn tighter the ties of old intimacies. Henceforth, there will always be something about a man who has served with us in this command that will somehow set him a little apart from other men we know. There is a 79 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B bond between us. And then, too, we have learned our lessons of loyalty to our officers and our Troop, of self-control, of swift and unquestioning obedience. We have found that it is only through the absolute subordination of our own wills to a higher authority that efficiency comes. We have perhaps formed an idea of what a terribly efficient weapon this Troop as we hope to make it — as we are making it — would be in the hands of a captain like ours, in time of need. What am I driving at and what does all this mean ? It means of course this: That already this Troop has a pride in its organ- ization and its work, an esprit de corps, traditions of its own — a personality, like the personality of an individual. Already these traditions, this personality, are reaching out into the future. Men who come into the command will have to conform to them. We who have been troopers of the state for a year, all of us who are here tonight, have been present at the making of history — history of which the results will one day be seen. For, some time, this Troop will see active service. None of us may see it — all of us may see it — some of us may see it — but it will come. How the Troop will bear itself in the crisis for which all our work is only the preparation depends upon the standards which we set at the beginning, for ourselves and those who come after us. For conduct depends upon character just as much in a troop of cavalry as in an individual. So even if we shall not be in the troop when that active service comes, we who are here now will have our share in that work and our responsi- bility for it, because of the spirit and traditions which we have now our part in forming. Let us then, without conceit or vainglory, but in humble- ness of spirit, yet with a proper pride, set our standards high, not unmindful of an honorable past, not forgetful of our responsi- bility for the future — and oh. General Cole, if there's a row any- where, please let us get into it. 80 IX THE HILLS OF LEBANON NINETEEN TWELVE A great boon and uplift to the troop was the arrival of Captain Francis C. Marshall as Inspector-Instructor. His duties included the supervision of all the cavalry of New England but his headquarters shortly after his assignment were moved to Hartford so that Troop B received more than its share of the benefits accruing from close association with him. The advantages arising from this association are epitomized in a letter from the troop commander at the time of his transfer to other duty : — " Hartford, September 4, 1914. " My dear Major : — There is not a member of Troop B who does not share with me a feeling of personal loss in the termination of your tour of duty with us. While we have considerable pride in our achievements during the short period of our existence, yet we still have sufficient modesty to realize that a great part of our success has been due to your interested and interesting efforts in our behalf. The enclosed offering is consequently a very small measure of our appreciation, but you may rest assured that it carries with it a great deal of gratitude and affection. " Cordially yours, J. L. Howard, " Captain Cavalry C. N. G. Commanding Troop B. " Major F. C. Marshall. United States Army." Captain Marshall was promoted to the rank of Major Septem- ber 3, 1912, Lieutenant Colonel July i, 1916 and Colonel June 22, 191 7. In December of the latter year he was commissioned a Brigadier General in the National Army and commanded a brigade during the latter part of the Meuse-Argonne offensive in October-November, 1918. 81 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B Colonel Marshall has always been a deep student of military affairs. In 1916 Trinity College of Hartford recognized his ability by conferring upon him the degree of Master of Arts. Without disloyalty to the first Inspector-Instructor it may be said that his successor occupied as warm a place in the affection of the members of the organization. Captain Thomas A. Roberts succeeded Major Marshall in 19 14 and ably continued the course of advice and instruction. Captain Roberts received his Majority in February, 1917, his Lieutenant Colonelcy in August of the same year, and was made a temporary Colonel in January, 1918. For a time he served as acting G-i at the general headquarters of the American Expeditionary Forces in Chaumont, later being assigned to the command of a regiment. He received the Distinguished Service Medal for his able work in France. Sergeant Richard J. Hughes was detailed as Sergeant- Instructor to Troop B June 12, 191 2, and was of great assistance in educating the men in the care of horses and equipment and other duties of a cavalryman. His close association with the individual members gave them an invaluable opportunity of learning a great deal of the detailed life of the soldier that could be secured in no other way without long experience in the ranks of the regular cavalry. A good illustration of the orderly methods induced by the Sergeant-Instructor is contained in the orders for the maneuvers of 1912: — TROOP B CAVALRY CONNECTICUT NATIONAL GUARD. Orders No. 3 Hartford, July 3, igi2. I. The members of this Command are hereby ordered to report at their armory Saturday, July 27th, at 12 o'clock noon, armed and equipped for eight days' field duty, six days of which (July 29th to August 3rd inclusive) are in compliance with G. O. No. 2z, A. G. O., c. s. and S. O. No. 118 A. G. O., c. s. This duty being in accordance with law, any member absent without satisfactory excuse will be fined $5.00 for each day's absence. 82 THE HILLS OF LEBANON Each Trooper will obtain luncheon on July 27th before the assembly as no rations will be issued until arrival at first camp. The bill of dress will be — campaign hat with hat cord and corps badge, olive drab coat, breeches, and shirt, leggings, tan shoes, spurs, rifle, revolver, and saber, web belt, and suspenders. The field kit is shown in the enclosed circular, and all articles therein enumerated will be taken except overcoat, ammunition rations, and picket pin. Lieutenant Davis is assigned to duty as Quartermaster and Commissary. The duties of the several squads will rotate daily according to their position in column. Immediately after the formation of the Troop each day the Chiefs of Platoons and Squad Leaders will be assembled in front of the Troop and will be required to report their duties for the next 24 hours. The first squad will constitute the Guard Squad. Upon arrival in camp the squad leader will place one man on guard on the picket line and report to the Troop Com- mander for further instructions. The Guard Squad will be available for all duty in connection with the stables and the squad leader will report to the Stable Sergeant for instructions. He will ascertain the time the cooks are to be called, will make an inspection roll call at 11 P. M., will see that all lights are extinguished at Taps, and will inspect the sinks once every two hours during the day. The second squad will erect the tents of the Officers and First Sergeant, take them down in the morning and assist in loading and unloading the wagons carrying them. The third squad will be the Kitchen Squad. They will erect the cook tent and secure wood and water for the cooks. The Squad Leader will report to the Mess Ser- geant for instructions. The fourth squad will dig the latrine and erect the neces- sary screen. The fifth squad will construct an incinerator for dis- posing of all the wastes of the camp, and will assist in unloading the stable wagon. The sixth squad will take charge of the led horses, and will constitute the Provost Guard during the march. The Squad Leader will report to the Troop Commander for instructions, remaining back with all men who fall out, and no man may fall out without permission from a com- missioned officer. Following arrival in camp, each squad will take its normal position when directed by the Troop Commander. 83 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B During the march at each halt each Squad Leader under the supervision of the Chief of Platoon will inspect the packs of the men of his squad and the horses' feet and report to the Chief of Platoon, who will in turn report the result of such inspection to the Troop Commander. Soldiers are forbidden to enter premises of citizens, namely, orchards, yards, or houses, except by permission of a com- missioned officer, and must commit no act of depredation on private property. It is hoped that during this field work the members of this Command will so conduct themselves as to prove to the citizens that they can be relied upon to respect all property and personal rights. All Officers will be held responsible for the enforcement of this regulation and will arrest offenders, and promptly report any violation of it. The strictest attention must be given to the details of personal hygiene and proper rest must be secured at night. In exercise during excessive heat green leaves or a wet handkerchief should be placed inside the hat in order to prevent prostration. No food or beverages may be consumed other than those issued or approved by the proper Officers. Special attention is directed to the fact that latrines will be promptly prepared at all camping places, and only those places designated for that purpose may be used. Mail for members of the Command should be addressed until Friday, August 2nd, care Troop B, Cavalry, C. N. G., Marl- borough, Conn. II. The following appointments are hereby made : — To be Lance Corporal, Private C. L. Sheldon, to be Saddler, Private P. S. Wainwright. III. Drills are ordered at the State Armory as follows : — Tues- day, July 9, at 8 P, M. ; Tuesday, July i6, at 7 P. M, ; Friday, July 26, at 8 P. M. J. L. HOWARD, Captain. In his report of this tour of duty as medical officer, dated August 31, 1912, First Lieutenant Paul Waterman commented as follows — " The discipline and morale of the command was of the best, rendering easy the application of sanitary principles, permitting almost no criticism in sanitary matters, and requiring only the comment of the medical officer upon modification of 84 THE HILLS OF LEBANON method for its performance, the sole faults arising from lack of instruction or previous experience in the easiest means of attain- ing the desired ends." Francis Waterman was called upon to record the year's history. Captain Howard and other Gentlemen : — An Irish barrister, who was evidently prepared for every pos- sible emergency, is alleged to have addressed the presiding judge as follows : " Your Honor, I shall first absolutely prove to the jury that the prisoner could not have committed the crime with which he is charged. If that does not convince the jury, I shall show that he was insane when he committed it. If that fails, I shall prove an alibi." Gentlemen, it is similarly my desire to convince you that I have compiled this history without criminal intent. After Ser- geant Parsons' lyric flights a year ago, this effusion, I fear, will fall like an anti-climax. Last year he found my old shoes pinched his feet — this year I find his new shoes hard to fill. It is not comfortable to sit in the seats of the mighty — or even to make an attempt upon his shoes, as I must tonight. I have tried " ironing out my crumpled paragraphs, starching up the limp ones and crimping and plaiting a little sometimes " — but it won't do — The result looks more like a boiler maker's work than that of a lapidary. Dr. Holmes once said, " Writing is like shooting with a rifle, you may hit your reader's mind or miss it — but talking is like playing at a mark with the pipe of an engine, if it is within reach and you have time enough, you can't help hitting it." But I would add — sometimes with astonishing results to the speaker ! Our gallant Captain detailed me to this forlorn hope and I must storm your gleaming breast-works tonight — or fall overcome by the egg-shell fire Francis Parsons so strongly deprecated a year ago. While I try to combine the statistician and the clown in one, I shall try to remember that brevity is not only the soul of wit, but an extremely useful military virtue; especially when exer- cised on a full stomach. Therefore, having locked the doors and stufifed the key hole against all but our own Court Reporter, Ralph Wolf, we will proceed: 85 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B I find that this chronology begins with that memorable first anniversary dinner of ours held on March 3rd, 1912, in this very room, — and that the newspapers of the day describe the year old infant, as having passed through its measles, mumps and whooping cough — and become a lusty youngster. The members entertained a large number of distinguished guests and Sergeant Parsons added the " sauce piquante " to the meal with his never-to-be-forgotten history. The other speeches centered with one thought and one mind upon our crying need of an armory of our own. I do not remember whether toward the end — it was very wet inside or out — but that is another story. Much discussion and thought are generally sure to bring results, and so it proved in this case. Our Association, under its able officers, began arrangements for the purchase of land, and the planning of an armory. On April 26th the land was purchased — the first step taken toward our heart's desire. In the month of April the Troop could boast the goodly number of fourteen men eligible to hold the commission of Second Lieutenant, and from that list, on April 3rd, Corporal Clifford Cheney, was unanimously nominated for our Second Lieutenant. Troop B honored itself in honoring him, and I want right here to express the gratitude we all feel to our three officers — than whom there are none better in the state — for their service, interest and enthusiasm in the common cause. It is all sure to bring results — that some day may make Troop B famous. Saturday, May loth, we saw history repeating itself in the picture of the " automobile cavalry " entraining for its second field day at Rockville. There we got acquainted again with our shooting irons. Somehow the butts suffered more than last year — when we seemed to have had the luck of greenhorns. How- ever, the scores were not bad, when the final tale was told. By the middle of May, through our Captain's initiative and generosity, the Troop became possessed of twenty excellent Kentucky bred horses. I am sure that Sergeant Frank Shearer and his assistants will not forget our resulting three-ringed circus days of ground and lofty tumbling. But having found our legs at last, so to speak, we will soon wean our minds from the thought of much longer acting as foot-cavalry. 86 THE HILLS OF LEBANON Foot-cavalry we were, however, in solemn earnest, when on May 30th the Troop for the first time participated in Memorial Day parade as dismounted escorts of the G, A. R. Spectators and friends gave generous praise and applause, and the inevitable rain dampened only the new dress uniforms and not the temper or enthusiasm of the men. But by the time we had returned to the Armory I'm sure we felt like the Irishman when he was asked if he was not very wet "Arrah, O'i don't care about being wet, but, plaze, yer 'anner, O'im very dhry ! " Early in July we saw a published report that the War Depart- ment had approved the suggestion that two new troops of militia cavalry be organized in Connecticut, so as to make a complete squadron, and that the plan is favored of stationing one troop at Bridgeport and the other with Troop B in Hartford. If that is true we will begin feeling like a nucleus. Our prescribed annual eight days of field duty fell on the dates of July 27 to August 3rd inclusive, during which time it was proposed that the Troop work out a theoretical campaign of invasion in the enemy's country on the east side of the Connecti- cut River. I do not wish to weary you with a dry report, for in looking back upon that week, your own memories will prob- ably carry you to much pleasanter fields of thought than those my pages can supply. You remember how auspiciously the troop began on that pleasant Saturday afternoon when accompanied by Major Mar- shall, Lieut. Waterman, and Sergeants Hughes and Denton, and other guides, counsellors and friends, you marched out of Hart- ford in fine array. What matter if the street gamins called us " College Heroes," strike breakers or boy scouts? Both men and horses were ready for " a fight or a frolic," and soon the former discovered that life was not " all beer and skittles," and the latter that it was occasionally possible to discharge their plebian loads, Perhaps we started with the idea of being a company of swash- buckling horsemen — a collection of Brom-Bones to terrify the countryside. We were mistaken, and I'll cite two instances: — Mills remembers how his horse developed a hankering for the lawns and door yards of private residences — and a newspaper clipping records the outcome of the altercation between this trooper and his mount. Both took incontinently to a field of tobacco. The trooper remained and the horse left, and I leave 87 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B you to judge which was the most addicted to the weed. I have heard that WilHams affirmed that the orders to dismount came from hindquarters — but I hope you will forgive him and me for mentioning it. Poor Strong was the other victim. It is remarkable that such a redoubtable horseman should be thrown. But thrown he was — and then the Doctor trussed him up in splints until he looked like an animated gabion. Notwithstanding his earnest pleas to be put on duty, he was put in an automobile and shipped to Hartford, only to turn up, however, fresh and blooming, Sun- day morning at Silver Lane — to wave us a sad and fond fare- well. The landing in South Manchester was accompanied with a terrible thirst — it is said — but discipline prevailed. The real work began and continued seven days — and several nights. Sunday following was no day of rest, but any work was welcome after a night equal to one " With Peary at the Pole." The day was devoted to patrol duty in hostile territory, and although the men were exposed only to a theoretical baptism of fire, yet nearly all bit the dust — and much of it — before reaching Marlborough. If any of you had been asked that after- noon whether you were dry — you would have agreed with the Irish jarvey in his reply: "Dhry? Did yer honor say dhry? I'm so dhry that if yez slapped me back yid see the dust flyin' out ov me mouth ! " However, nature has recompenses, for the troopers were wet enough soon after, in swimming and in the rain. All the charms of that undoubtedly beautiful camp-site by the lake were nearly washed out of mind when many troopers came near being washed out of their tents that night. In fact, by this time the case of many a trooper was such that chastened by the rain and work, and disguised in uniform, it would have been a wise servant — back home — that would know her own master. I am told that Francis Parsons recognized this dilemma, and that on this rainy evening as he was dropping on all fours and crawling humbly into his little " dog-tent,"' with a tear — or perhaps a drop of rain — in either eye, he was heard to murmur mournfully — " What would my wife say if she should see me now ! " Monday began as nature's wash-day at camp, nevertheless, life there was a busy one. There was plenty of bare-back riding to water, dressing of tents, receiving visitors, being photographed, 88 u .r & Major Francis C. Marshall Marlborough again THE HILLS OF LEBANON and cleaning equipment, besides a general meeting to discuss the patrol problems of the preceding day. The evening ended with a prolonged song-f est — a harmonious prelude to Taps. Our own First Sergeant — Warner Day — that melodious Bulbul — and leader of our Choral Club — was always efficiently supported during the trip by his bevy of trained song birds. Who will forget " My Adaline," " Down Mobile," " In the Gloaming," and many other classic gems rendered with telling effect when the sun was low? During these days the horses were learning a thing or two. We will take the experience of Henry Perkins : His horse's wits went wool-gathering one day and he declined to be mounted. Was he mounted ? He was. Henry approached him " unbe- knowst like " over a bale of hay handy alongside, and before that horse's sensory perceptions could give the alarm and the woolly wits order a flank movement, Henry was triumphantly and firmly fixed in the saddle. That horse probably will be on the mental qui-vive whenever another professor heaves in sight. Tuesday morning the camp and a couple of shaving mirrors were blithely broken and the long surprise ride to Lebanon begun. Whenever possible the stores by the wayside were freely plun- dered and ginger pop, pickles, cakes and gum disappeared to the mutual joy of storekeepers and troopers. At Lebanon, watering horses developed into literal " fatigue duty " with the water three-quarters of a mile away. However, "All's well that ends well," and when stomachs were well filled the world seemed brighter, and soon thereafter no one cared anyway, because all were asleep, except the unenvied guard. Wednesday witnessed intricate maneuvers through hostile territory on the way to Columbia. Many still remember that good Samaritan who freely gave to the troopers all that he had of his refreshments — may his memory remain green and flourish as the Bay tree ! With an early arrival in camp and greater skill in pitching it and watering horses, there was more leisure to enjoy the site beside Columbia Lake — the most beautiful of all the trip. It was during this afternoon that Machiavellian Tommy Russell was haled from his ambush. We suspect that he planned to have his engagement announced at a time when he would be safely hid away, and where the news would follow and percolate 89 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B but slowly. Well, he received his reward and rode around the camp on the enthusiastic shoulders of his sympathizing friends. In connection with this event I will read to you a New York newspaper notice. I am not certain whether the statement is intended to be sarcastic or whether the printer's devil merely pied the form, anyway here it is: "HARTFORD TROOP FULL OF GINGER, NEW CAVALRY ORGANIZATION SHOWS MUCH ENERGY — THREE ENGAGEMENTS ANNOUNCED." Truly, engagements in this troop have ripened as frequently as blackberries in June if such activities call for notice from New York ! The engagement of our beloved Captain — and toastmaster tonight — caps the climax. And I am sure it is not at all inap- propriate for us all once more to tender him our hearty congratu- lations and good wishes. May his shadow never grow less! But to return to our story: Thursday, August ist, camp was broken under dull and drizzling skies and the troop, forming column, began the retreat across country through Gilead, and at noon the town lay glistening under the brilliant sunshine of the clearing skies. During the halt there, if the Captain had relaxed discipline, I am sure we would have found that distinguished member of our choral club — "Art " Allen — looking for the " Balm of Gilead," as in his college days, and perhaps searching later for the Bingo farm far down the road. If there is any- thing going on "Art " is generally right in the middle of it, but this time is was only ginger-pop. On the arrival at Marlborough the men, notwithstanding a pursuing enemy, voted it the best day yet. The night passed without other discomfort than that of some who tried to sleep belted, booted and spurred, ready for the expected attack. Friday was a red-letter day. General Cole and Col, Schulze, and many friends and relations motored out from Hartford. There was a thorough inspection and some patrolling in the morning. But in the afternoon things began to really happen when the enemy attacked the camp. At 2 P. M. " To Horse " rang out and the camp became a hive of orderly commotion. Two platoons hiked out on the double quick. Fiery " Hurry Up " leading his men " Hell bent for election." Meanwhile the third platoon, struggling desperately with the horses, saddles and equipment, and under a murderous fire, brought everything 90 THE HILLS OF LEBANON away in gallant style. The camp having melted away, the equipment pied, and the enemy defeated, the victors — not with- out casualties — returned to the field and spent the rest of the afternoon sorting out themselves and their equipment. In this engagement I understand that Moore first bled for his country, and that others suflFered dislocated feelings and scattered wits. The result was almost equal to the experience of some army men when a caisson blew up. " I understand," said the officer to Tommy Atkins, " that you and Private Perkins were calm and collected." " Well, sir," replied Tommy, " I was calm, but poor Perkins was collected." In looking backwards upon the fight I am inclined to make the same comment as the old veteran who was asked what struck him most forcibly when all was over and he had time to look back upon the battle, "Ah," said he, reflectively, " I think, sir, — that what struck me most forcibly, sir, was the bullets that missed me." Breaking camp Saturday morning the troop, in column, moved by a round-about but beautiful wood road to South Manchester where it was met, welcomed, and inspected by Mayor Cheney and Col. Goodman. The day was surpassingly fine, but I feared it preceded a dampish evening. Your historian understands that some of that "Balm of Gilead " which could not previously be found, was discovered growing plentiful late Saturday evening in the neighborhood of South Manchester: Lieutenant Water- man could doubtless advise as to the proper antidotes for too much " balm " and in some quarters the suspicion amounts to certainty that it was he who prescribed the well-remembered pickle, the sandwich, and the cup of coflfee next morning, while the Captain prescribed the 4 o'clock Reveille. Thus fortified, at about 6 A. M., the Troopers struck camp and the home stretch almost simultaneously. They arrived three hours afterwards and sur- prised many friends who had expected a later entry. By noon, horses and equipment had been disposed of and the men, some of whom acting like sleep-walkers — were dismissed, — to go probably first to a big tub, next to a big meal, and then to a big sleep. In fact, some of the men arrived here as thin as down- stream shad ; and many a lusty trooper who started out — stuffed, sleek and shining, returned home looking leathery, copper bot- tomed and double riveted. The more serious comment on this trip may be summed up 91 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B briefly. The result has been to promote our enthusiasm in the Troop. There was a total absence of sickness, and the men were always ready to devastate the table three times a day. Not a little of the success of the rations was due to the work of Lieut. Davis in charge of commissariat, to faithful Sergeant Cole, and to Cook Dean. The whole Troop greatly benefited in the way of horsemanship and cavalry training, and especially in the rapidity of making camp. My next notes show that during part of September and October we blazed away with our revolvers, and to some purpose as the later figures of merit show. On September 27th a dozen of us, chaperoned by Sergeant Hughes, attended the State Rifle and Revolver Matches at the East Haven range. We had to play a waiting game in more senses than one, and the result was dis- appointing. The revolver match was postponed and in the rifle matches we were clearly outclassed. May next fall tell another story ! On October i6th the contracts were signed for the new Armory and riding hall. As it will be when shortly completed, the building will provide only the absolute essentials for the Troop in temporary quarters, — and yet how glad we'll be to drill at last on four feet instead of two ! On Sunday evening, October 27th, we arrayed ourselves in our purple and fine linen in order to attend Vesper service at the Church of the Immaculate Conception with the City Battal- ion of the First Regiment and the Spanish War Veterans. We were doubtless so fine that our gold and glitter would have shocked old Cotton Mather or the other stern New England worthies of the past, and have cast suspicion on our probable future state. On November 2nd the postponed state revolver match was held at the East Haven range. Troop B representatives went down not more than one-third their former strength, but for- tunately were pitted against not more than one-third the original number of contestants. We carried off the best five of the ten medals to be won, and since the winning scores compare favor- ably with those of preceding years, we can feel highly encour- aged in this department of our work for the future. George Cole and my Sergeant brother — two of the most faithful workers in the Troop — certainly well deserved their reward 92 I kaiiw.L; 111 Gadd Ward Rej'nolds Lebanon Green E. VV'aterman F. Parsons Howard Davis C L). Cheney Father and the Bovs Good Discipline at Water Call THE HILLS OF LEBANON that day. Perhaps we will be permitted to brag a little — if we show well — to crow gently — now that we are in luck — just as we hope we are ready to pay up, to own up, and to shut up when we are beaten ! In the record of rifle and revolver practice for the year we must hide our diminished heads, for the rifle record of 83.38 and the revolver record of 112 are both poorer, the former being a drop of 9%, and the latter a drop of 8% below the published figures of last year. For standing in armory and field instruc- tion work during the year, Troop B was awarded the bronze shield and pendant for unattached organizations on a figure of merit of 83.89. The Troop received a perfect mark in average membership, number of drills, care of state and government prop- erty, knowledge of officers in Field Service Regulations, drill in close order and sanitation. It also received 14 out of a possible 15 for military courtesy and discipline. A comparison of the records shows that we top the figures of all except the Hospital Corps, and we may, therefore, this time forgive the peculiarly infelicitous phrase of one newspaper in its statement that " Troop B attains some unusual destructions in the figure of merit." The drill season began November 12th and that night we ratified all acts of our Committee regarding the purchase of land, contracts for building and the borrowing of money. On December nth the Troop took part in a review for General Barbour. The occasion from our viewpoint was mem- orable for the combining in an infantry battalion drill of a troop of cavalry, a division of naval militia, an ambulance company, and the Signal Corps. On January 8th, 1913, Troop B for the first time appeared mounted on parade. The Troop made a fine appearance, leading the escort of his Excellency, Governor Baldwin, to his second inaugural at the State Capitol. Notwithstanding the heavy rain and a saluting battery that threatened to decimate our ranks, we came off with flying colors. Meanwhile our Armory Committee has not been idle, and though " The best laid plans o' mice and men oft gang agley," we feel confident that the statesmen on Capitol Hill will see our side of the question more clearly and lend us a generous and helping hand this year. 93 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B Aside from the inspection by Major Marshall on March 4th there is little more to add. I think I can close with no better quotation than the follow- ing statement by Major Marshall — a statement that is a part of our present history but that we may hope will be equally well — or even better — deserved in the future. The Major said: "In my capacity as instructor-inspector to the organized cavalry militia of New England, I have come into close contact with all the organizations in that district, have seen them in their armories and in camp, at work and at play, and while the personnel and spirit of all of them is commendably high — (and it is no disparagement to any of them to say this) — for earnestness, for faithful attendance on their duties, for intelli- gent appreciation of instruction, B Troop of Hartford stands easily first. In their Armory work they are all there, on the job every Tuesday night. In camp, they worked hard, every day and all day. . . . They were out to learn the trade, they realized that their time was limited and they wanted to show a maximum of improvement. ... I only wish that the real character of this organization could be known to all citizens of Connecticut, as I know it, and that they could realize the neces- sity of a small body of intelligent and well-trained cavalry to the National Defense." 94 X THE GREAT ANNIHILATION NINETEEN THIRTEEN Dearly Beloved Brethren: What system shall I adopt in telling such a story of the last year as I can — chronological, biological, zoological or tauto- logical? I suppose I might get a point or two from our dis- tinguished ancestors Adam and Eve, who, as recounted in one of the recently discovered chapters of Genesis, were discussing the spring fashions as they sat in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden. " My dear," said Adam, lighting a fresh cigar, " which system of dressmaking do you favor?" "Well," replied Eve thoughtfully, " they all have their merits, but the loose-leaf system is good enough for me." I assure you that I feel very humble at this attempt at the writing of history. In fact, Uriah Heep is a peacock compared with myself at the present moment. I wish I were as self- confident as the small boy who was absorbed in drawing a picture and in reply to his mother's question said it was a picture of God. " Why, Johnny," exclaimed his shocked mother, " that isn't right. Besides, you can't do it; nobody knows how God looks." " Well," said Johnny, with a confidence I envy, " when I get through this they will." Well, now, let us get down to the near-facts of last year and stay chronological as long as it seems to go. To be strictly accurate, as every historian ought to be, this history should begin with an account of the close of our last annual dinner. However, the bill for breakage is still a painful financial recollection, and I am sure His Excellency, the Gov- ernor, who is something of a historian himself, will agree with me that even in these days of historical accuracy, the historian should not lose his sense of proportion. So, with this delicately veiled allusion, let us draw the veil of oblivion over that fleeting but busy hour of the past. 95 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B This expensive banquet occurred on April 12th. At that time we were all wondering whether the General Assembly would make an appropriation sufficient to take over, or get a lien on, the Armory, then practically finished, into which we had put a good deal of money of our own and a good deal more that we had borrowed. It would take a long time to tell of the vicissitudes of our various bills and of the ramifications of politics that entered into their varying fortunes from day to day.* Our officers and many of our troopers worked hard for the accomplishment of this purpose that meant so much to us but no one will begrudge the special mention of two men, who bore, I think, the brunt of the responsibility, who plotted by night and labored by day — Morgan Bulkeley and Harry Reynolds. They deserve well of the Troop, for the job they had on hand was no child's play. The Of^cers and Armory Committee took the Appropriations Committee over the Armory on April 22d, and the latter com- mittee made a favorable report on an appropriation of $35,ocx) as part reimbursement. This appropriation, tied up with other far larger ones for similar purposes passed the Senate early in May and the House, after a stormy session, on May 28th. The aggregate of the amounts so voted for armories in various cities of the State, was $457,000. The Governor had previously sug- gested to the General Assembly a scheme of state taxation which would have cared for this and other heavy demands upon the State, but that suggestion was not adopted and in the financial situation that existed — a debt, if I remember correctly, of ♦WAR DEPARTMENT Office of the Chief of Staff Washington, January i8th, 1913. Dear General : — We are very anxious, as you know, to get more cavalry in the militia. I understand that Troop B is having some difficulty in securing assistance; my information indicates that this organization is an excel- lent one, made up of a high type of men, and that they are spending a lot of their own money. It seems to me that their initiative ought to be encouraged, and as much done as possible to help them out. What are facts and what are the difficulties? They have not written to me, but I have heard of the matter through friends. With kind regards, Very sincerely, (Signed) Leonard Wood. General George M. Cole, Hartford, Conn. 96 THE GREAT ANNIHILATION about $11,000,000 against the surplus that once existed, and no particular means in sight of paying the debt — in this situa- tion the chief magistrate of the State could only do one thing, much as we believe he would have liked to have aided his old body-guard, had his wise suggestions been adopted. Though, looking at the matter from our standpoint, we were, of course, disappointed, we must admit that His Excellency was absolutely right. We are loyal to him always and everywhere, — as a matter of course as soldiers, as a matter of principle as civilians. Only just to keep the subject in his mind when he is next elected we might say in passing, now that we have him with us, that for the privilege of serving the State we've raised ourselves and borrowed almost $100,000 and the interest keeps on ticking all the time. As to interest, however, we are fairly well taken care of for the present, for two bills were passed, one on the last day of the session, which help us to pay the rent and keep the wolf from the door for two years at least. Perhaps the world in general did not notice anything in particular about the 6th of May. Down town business went on about at usual. A brakeman got his toe pinched in the East Hartford freight yards, where this same accident happens every weekday and sometimes on Sundays. There was a fire, in quite the daily custom, in the Hebrew district, around the corner of Windsor and Pleasant streets. It was rumored, as usual, that we would intervene in Mexico. For most people it was just the same as any old day. But in the calendar of Troop B it should be marked with a white stone, for on the night of that day we drilled in our new Armory for the first time. It was a perfectly quiet and dignified occasion, without excitement or celebration, the drill being devoted to reviving our recollections of shelter tent pitching, but none the less we who were there were present at the making of history. It was the beginning of a custom that will continue through the years, gathering its traditions about it as these years go on. By a strange coincidence. Memorial Day last year fell on May 30th. It was a beautiful afternoon and the parade, in which we participated, dismounted, was a good one. We were in front of the Naval Preserves and behind the ambulance corps and pulled through the afternoon without calling for help upon either. 97 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B The stage for the next scene in the drama of the last eleven months is set in that quiet, but celebrated village of the Connecti- cut Valley, East Haddam, the home of famous men — the home, to be explicit, of Nathan Hale, Horace Johnson, and Harry Rey- nolds. Here we opened a bridge and also a keg — but no harm resulted except that Bob Gadd sang, " Maryland, My Maryland," seventeen times by actual count at an unholy hour of the night. The plot of this scene was largely equestrian in character. Our old friends, " Skidoo " and " Number 7 " had light comedy roles that furnished much that was of intense personal interest to ourselves and a great deal that was amusing to the crowd, but the chief excitement centered about positively the last public appearance in a military capacity of old " Number i." Surely that fool of a horse, carrying our picket line and galloping wildly for Hartford up the tracks of the Valley Railroad, was the cause of more mental distress, physical exercise, perspira- tion and profanity than any other incident of a hot and lively day. The Captain is a humane man but if he had happened to have any cartridges in his jeans when Number i had been recaptured for the third or fourth time I think a supporter of the Huerta government in the gentle Villa's hands would stand a better chance of life than Number i would have had that afternoon. Well, the bridge was successfully opened, Skidoo and Percy running away together during the parade, of which our Captain, God bless him, recently returned from his honeymoon, was Marshal, the Troop being under the command of Lieutenant Davis. The only thing that marred the day for us was the thought, that occurred to all of us, of our Harry Reynolds, who had provided so well for our welcome and comfort, lying con- valescing from pneumonia in the hospital. The First Company Governor's Foot Guard Stafif turned to, like the good fellows they are, and helped Edgar Waterman load our baggage on the home-bound train, which some of us took, others making a late start with the horses for East Hampton — among the latter Dick Bulkeley riding the kindly Number 7. Dick is, of course, one of our best riders. Shall we ever forget his bareback perform- ance with a thoroughly frightened animal at Marlboro? (Loud cries of "Never!" please.) But after that weary day, in the romantic dimness of that starlit night, something happened to 98 THE GREAT ANNIHILATION Dick. Perhaps, like heroes of the Civil War, he fell asleep in his saddle. If so, he was rudely awakened, for his saddle turned beneath him. Number 7 deposited him quietly in the road, and disappeared in the June night in the direction whence he had come. To George Ward belongs the credit of the rescue. George, having tracked Number 7 in the dust like an Indian, was found by Lieutenant Davis and other anxious searchers up a side road holding the missing horse, the saddle beneath his belly — Number 7's belly, that it, not George's. When the detachment of the Troop reached East Hampton about midnight they were certainly ready for the beefsteak dinner which Lieutenant Cheney, who had been over the ground a few days before, had, with his customary thoughtfulness, provided. Some of the officers and non-coms, had been expecting to start that Saturday night for a course of instruction with the Regulars at Fort Ethan Allen, but the exigencies of the Mexican situation necessitated the calling ofif of this. Perhaps it was just as well for they would have been a tired bunch. The curtain rises again. Scene: An Armory in West Hart- ford. Time: Four-thirty A. M., July 27, 1913. Members of Troop B Cavalry, C. N. G. discovered in various stages of dis- habille, hunger, haste, and happiness. Edgar Waterman : Holy hemlock ! That was the hardest hay I ever slept on. Fred Woolley: Anybody seen my bridle? Arthur Allen: Is it time to begin to get ready yet? Bob Gadd : " Maryland, My Maryland — " George Cole : Hurry up, now ! What in blank are you fellows doing? Do you think this is a blankety-blank Sunday School picnic ? Fall in ! If we had any idea, however, that this was a Sunday School picnic, we were laboring under as serious a misapprehension as our young friend Johnny, whom I mentioned a moment ago, and who when going to bed one night unexpectedly asked his mother if his father was in the fruit business. " Certainly not, Johnny," said his mother. " What put that idea into your head? " " Well," said the small boy, " father and I took a walk the other day and met Mr. Jones, and all he and father talked about were peaches, pippins and dates." Most of us, in fact, who had been on manoeuvers before did not expect a picnic, but as it turned out most of you will 99 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B agree with me in the opinion that we had last summer the most instructive and the most interesting summer expedition of our three years. We were met at the station by our guide, counsellor, chaperon and friend, Captain Biddle, and conveyed by him safely to Middleboro, Mass. In the photograph album, which Frank Waterman has religiously kept, you may see some very good pictures of our detraining and formation on that dusty green near the railroad station, though these pictures do not show the gyrations, lasting five minutes or so, which Markham and a Squadron A horse indulged in, assisted from time to time by Captain Biddle. That evening saw us safely in camp in our pyramidal tents on the shores of Lake Tispaquin, our neighbors from New Haven not far away from us and the rest of the New England cavalry in the woods and fields on our left. That night, after a swim in the lake and a dinner in Doc Deane's most approved style (assisted by Mess-Sergeant Pope, with whom I, who have also had that job, sympathize) we gathered around Warner Day, Westy, Art Allen and other sweet singers who poured forth upon the unaccustomed airs of Massachusetts the familiar strains of " Moonlight Bay," " Lord Jeffrey Amherst," " Drink a High Ball," " Sweet Rosy O'Grady " and that ultra-refined chantey of the horse-soldier, " Cavalry, Cavalry." I will not weary or detain you with a detailed account of the incidents of every day. Each one of you can recall pictures of those busy days more vivid than any I can draw, most of these pictures being etched on a background of dust — pictures of columns of horsemen half hidden in yellow clouds ; of the merciful cool spring near Dexter's old home that saved some of us from a thirsty death ; of that gypsy-like camp on the shores of Mary's Pond, and of Austin Cheney drying his newly washed underclothes on a fence rail before the fire of our Massachusetts friends ; visions of the shore of Mary's Pond itself at the bathing hour thronged with the naked figures of all the cavalry of New England. It was after that camp, you will remember, that we attacked and captured Rochester on empty stomachs and an hour or two later met with that Christian gentleman and Good Samaritan, Mr. Humphreys, who knew Dexter when he was young and innocent, lOO :3 o THE GREAT ANNIHILATION and who fed us on crackers and milk that tasted more hke nectar and ambrosia than anything I, for one, have ever eaten. Long Hfe to Mr. Humphreys ! And if he ever wants a friend all he will have to do will be to telephone to Hartford. You remember, too, that camp in the rainy twilight at Clear Lake where our strenuous efforts at cooking our own suppers — Allen always excepted — were interrupted by the firing of the outposts and the appearance of a blue automobile chased at break-neck speed by a daring cavalryman, who emptied his blank cartridges into it and captured it. Some of you remember that night's patrol which located the enemy's camp and was fired on at close quarters, but retreated to safety, the most serious result being that the Captain was awakened at three A. M., and, inci- dentally, the writer, who happened to sleep in the tent of a Corporal of the Guard and badly needed a night's rest. The next day, you will recollect, came the famous battle of Middle- boro, which occurred in the town itself and not, as per schedule, in the fields beyond it. This upset the well laid cavalry plans and demoralized the town. It was our first taste of real sham warfare. We participated in charges, messages and retreats. Lieutenant Davis led one glorious charge of the old Third Platoon down one of the Middleboro streets, where there ought now to be a tablet to our memory. Nothing more reckless and gallant occurred during the whole campaign and nothing in which the spirit of self-sacrifice was more evident. We were entirely wiped out but died gloriously. The Light Brigade at Balaclava was not in it. And so we went home after eight days of life in the open, — having slept on the ground and cooked our own food — Allen always excepted — and having received in those eight days more of an inkling about real war conditions than we could have learned from books in a year even under Major Marshall's vigorous and capable tutelage. I cannot leave the story of that week without special mention of the officers' patrol, which under Lieutenant Cheney made such a remarkable record for the distance it covered and the information it obtained. They penetrated, you will remember, to the enemy's camp, got inside the lines, counted the tents and heard the band play "Annie Laurie." I understand that some of them ate absolutely less than nothing, particularly Edgar lOI THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B Waterman and Parsons, who always got their food cooked to the edible stage just as the order to mount came. Really there should have been added to Lieutenant Cheney's official report of this patrol the somewhat more informal account which Bob Gadd gave the night of his return to his comrades of the old Sixth Squad, gathered afifectionally about him, as after a partial bath and the first square meal for two days, with a large cigar in his mouth, he leaned against the tent pole and let the honeyed words flow forth. I assure you that it was a vivid and thrilling story. There were frequent regrets that a stenographer was not present. But I have now to confess that there was a stenogra- pher who pretended to be asleep in the corner of the tent, and it is from her, — I mean his, — notes that the following extract is quoted : *' I tell you, fellers," said Gadd, " Lieutenant Cheney is sure a dandy. He was everywhere and saw everything and he kept us all up to the mark but was blame nice about it, too. One time we were going along a road and all of a sudden he came galloping back — he'd been up with the point — and he says, ' Here come some of the enemy, boys, right down the road. Turn into this farmyard and hide till they get past,' he says. * Beat it, now !' So we beat it, all excited, into the farmyard and back of the house there was a cow tied. Well, sir, when that cow saw us wild Indians come tearing around the corner of the house she sure thought judgment day was come. Her tail and head went up, she bust the rope she was tied with, and off she went. We rode on a ways and after the Blues had gone by, the Lieutenant says, 'What become of the cow?' he says, and Haviland, just as if it was news says, ' She ran away. Sir.' ' Well,' says the Lieutenant, ' we got to respect the rights of private ownership,' he says. ' Haviland,' he says, knowing of course that Haviland was a farmer, ' you go find that cow and bring her home and tie her up,' he says. Well, Haviland went off and we waited awhile and then started back, and when we came up to the house, there was Haviland and his horse and the cow coming up, a foot at a time, from a swamp. It certainly was a funny sight, for Haviland, — he has a reach, you know — he had the cow's tail in one hand and one of her horns in the other, with his bridle around his shoulder, and he was twisting her tail to make her go and steering her by the horns, 102 THE GREAT ANNIHILATION and his old horse was sidling along beside them, with his ears pricked up, looking at the cow and wondering what in h — 11 was the matter ! " Perhaps it is hardly fair to limit your official recollections to one group. Many amusing and exciting incidents occurred in all the squads, 'but the historian was so intimately associated with what Gadd calls the Old Sixth Squad that it is hard for him to get away from that efficient body of troopers. The energies of this squad were chiefly occupied in cooking for Art Allen and getting him ready in time for the various events. " Good Lord, Art! " exclaimed Westbrook one morning just as assembly was sounding, " I believe you've got your shoes on the wrong feet." " Well, gosh ding it all," retorted Arthur, " they're the only feet I've got to put 'em on ! " Speaking of Arthur's feet reminds me, if you will pardon the personal reminiscence, of that early morning when, with infinite labor I had brought from Tispaquin Pond a bucket of pure, fresh water, partly for the general use of the squad but chiefly for my own shaving purposes, I set it down and after going to borrow a razor returned to find Arthur washing his feet in it. But Arthur was not the only one who had his troubles. There was your last historian, Frank Waterman, for instance, of whom I would not speak as intimately as I am going to except for the fact that I have it in for him because last year he called my previous history a " lyric flight." The nature of Frank's troubles may be inferred from this graceful bit of verse which Westbrook, whom perhaps you did not all know was a real poet, wrote : " Of all the docs, Frank, Who've served you the best Doc Deane was the first When the grand old Troop messed, But the last shall be first. So let's drink him a toast; Doc Rexall's the fellow Who's moved you the most." Well, those were happy days together from July 27th to August 3d, when we came singing home to the Armory. It is undoubtedly more comfortable to sleep in a soft bed with a well- 103 THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF TROOP B appointed bath room handy, and a certainity in one's mind that breakfast, prepared by some one else, will be ready in the morning. But amid these luxuries I am sure the thoughts of all of us have often turned with a kind of homesick feeling to those summer days of hard exercise and nights of song and slumber 'way down on Cape Cod. But I must pass rapidly on, for I find that memory is leading me astray down many pleasant by-paths and that I am taking up time that should more properly be devoted to our distinguished guests. With September came shooting at East Haven on September i6th, October nth and October 31st. Some of us had gone through our qualification course on June 28th. In our shooting we attained an average of 70.74 — not quite as good as the 83.38 of last year when the course was easier, but better than any single organization except Company F of the Second Infantry. We hold for the second year the bronze shield awarded to the unattached organization making the best score. In the spring a team composed of Wainwright, Shearer, Cole, Dexter and Whitmore had vanquished the Field and Staff of the First Infantry and the same team on April 30th, except that Sheldon shot in Cole's place, defeated the Signal Corps. The next month Moore, Shearer, Sheldon, Dexter and Whitmore pulled a match with the Naval Militia out of the fire, and in the Cole Medal Shoot in the fall Day and Wainwright both took medals. To the fall shooting at East Haven most of us went by automobile, often spending the nights before in New Haven at the Graduates' Club, or in that mythical shore resort, the " Fire- stone Inn." They were fairly jovial parties and one was made memorable for your historian by a piece of sea-green pie, con- sumed with sundry other solid and liquid refreshment at Heub's in New Haven, which aforesaid pie deprived his State and his office of his services for the ensuing fortnight. There were sundry mild suppers at Mory's after the shooting. These were the precoursers, in a way, of informal gatherings of squads and parties that have been sprinkled through the fall and winter. They are not parts of our official history, but they are neverthe- less a part of the life of the year. Who that participated will ever forget that party of Markham's at his baronial hall in West- chester, where " Charlie," with his delicate stories officiated, and 104 Corporal ]Mills et al McLaughlin OTomior Deppen Cutter Westbrook Mills '^nfv .... r:?- . >