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. , 1921

THE ORIGIN AND FORTUNES OF

 TROOP B

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 themselves?"

 "Why not put in a lot of photographs to make the recollections 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 opportunity 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.

CONTENTS

PREFACE

HORSE GUARD

APPENDICES

ILLUSTRATIONS

I

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 Saratoga 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 Convention."

  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 "Convention" 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 England 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'll 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.*

* Hollister's Hist, of Conn., Vol. ii, p. 329.

   Seymour had, at this time, just been promoted. On January 10, 1777, he had left his studies at

Yale and accepted a commission as Lieutenant of Cavalry in Colonel Elisha  Sheldon's regiment

of Light Dragoons, being attached to the troop commanded by Captain Jean Louis de Vernejout.

   Captain de Vernejout'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, 1/77,  according

to Major Tallmadge, Captain de Vernejout " run away." † 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.

† Revolutionary Records.

   In his noted painting of The Surrender of Burgoyne Trumbull 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 Relief e,

                           And in composing Paroxysmes was Chiefe

                           To Marchantes as a Patterne he might stand,

                           Adventring dangers new by Sea and Land."

 ** Memorial Hist. Hfd. Co., Vol.  I, p. 249-

   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," †  but history fails to produce any evidence that Captain Talcott and his comrades

aided and abetted Sir Edmond in his unsuccessful attempt.

† Bulkeley's "Will & Doom," p. 69

   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 eventually 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 understanding in several of the states to form themselves into volunteer 

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 Philadelphia

to New York rendered its services unnecessary. Congress 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 the charter of the Governor's Guard later, for the sake of distinction, 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 Governor into the city and

of escorting other visitors of military reputation.

   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, Philadelphia and Baltimore,  and to an occasional proclamation by

Congress or by Governor Trumbull. The fourth page was reserved 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 Payments without Delay. "These were the prominent well-to-do

citizens of the town, and it must have been due to a gentlemanly aversion 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 18, 1777, appreciates the compliment to

Hartford in the presence of a gentleman of nation-wide reputation and  proudly grants space to

announce that "On Friday last passed through this town, escorted by a party of Light Dragoons,

the Hon. JOHN HANCOCK, 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 gentlemen 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 number 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

misconception 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 volunteer 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 Treasurer, in favour of Capt. Selah Norton

for the sum of Forty five pounds in Lawfull Silver money to enable him to pay the expence of

Escorting his Excellency the Govr 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 :6th 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 detailed 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 contrary remained at home, is evidenced by the next entry;"  Saturday, 18th, 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 Governor'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 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 sd 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. Jonth 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.

Jonth Bull, Capt. Fred Bull, Capt. Caleb Bull, Junr, 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 compy Col". Wms, Col  Jn. T-ll.,  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 Gentln 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 governor. 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 " Genl. Douglass and Genl. Sage be desired by this Assembly to accompany Govr

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 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

Volunteer 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 establishment commanded by Col. Michael Wentworth in

Portsmouth, Col. Swan 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 Staff 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 decreased,

that they feel an ambition to contribute as much as possible to its Revival. The memorialists have

therefore associated together, to address your Honors on the occasion, to request 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, volunteer 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

military responsibility and in Case your Honors shall think proper to establish said Troop, as

aforesd., that a Day may be appointed for choosing the officers of the same and when chosen

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 memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

    "Dated at Hartford the 1st Day of May A D 1788.

   "John Caldwell, John Morgan, Charles Phelps, Oliver Wool-cot, Junr, Peter Colt, James Bull,

Hezh Bull, Thos. Bull, Asa Hopkins, William Mosely, Rod Olcott, Caleb Bull, Junr,  Wm

Lawrance, Chauncey Goodrich, Saml. Lawrance, Hez. Merrell, Wm. Knox, Horatio Wales, Bar.

Deane, Jos. Har.t, 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'l 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. “Bulkeley's " Will & Doom," p. 69.

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 Thursday 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., showing 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 Wales, Bar. Deane, Jos. Hart, Richard Hart, Richd. Goodman,

Tim. Burr, Dan1 Goodwin, Saml. Marsh, Jun., Saml. Burr, John Chenevard, Jun., Ashbel Welles,

Jun., Thos. Y. Seymour, Ephraim Root and Saml. Wm. Pomeroy, be and they are hereby

constituted a Troop of Light Dragoons by the Name of the Governor's Independent Volunteer

Troop of Horse Guards, to be subject 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