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 war, 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

sufficient Horses proper for said Service, 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-

Sergeant, three Drill Sergeants and four Corporals, and Sixty Privates, 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 Enlistment, the other Military

Companies in the Town of Hartford out of which they may be enlisted, are not reduced below the

number of Sixty four Rank and File, and said Troop shall have power to choose their said

officers on Monday the igth day of May instant, being led to a Choice by the Lieutenant Colonel

Commandant of the First Regiment of Militia in this State, and it shall be in the power of the

officers chosen on said Day, when Commissioned to call out said Troop as often as they shall

think proper to perfect the same in military Discipline, and the Names of the officers that may or

shall be chosen as afores'd, shall by s'd Lieutenant Colonel be returned to the present General

Assembly, and in case any of said Troop shall neglect to obey the orders of their said officers,

they shall be subject to the same penalties that other Troops of Horse in this State are by Law,

liable to suffer for neglect, or Disobedience; and the Captain of said Troop shall have the Rank

of Major and this Resolve shall continue in force during the pleasure of the General Assembly &

no longer.

                                        "Passed in the Lower House

                                                                                                 Test James Davenport,

                                                                                                 Clerk Concur in the Upper House

                                                                                                 Test George Wyllys, Secret'y."

   On the DARK DAY, when candles were lighted during the midday session of the General

Assembly, the Infantry Commandant called a meeting as directed and reported:

   "To the Honorable General Assembly now convened at Hartford

   "In pursuance of an Act of Assembly passed the present Session instituting a Troop of Light

Dragoons by the Name of the Governor's Independent Volunteer Troop of Horse Guard, I led

said Troop to the Choice of Officers as in said Act directed, when they made choice of John

Caldwell for their Captain, Thomas Y. Seymour for their first Lieutenant,  Charles Phelps for

their second Lieutenant and Timothy Burr for their Cornet by a Majority of the Votes of said

Troop.

   "Dated at Hartford this 19* Day of May 1788

     Hezh. Wyllys Lieut Col  Comd 1st Regiment."

     The reverse side bears the endorsement: "

    In the Lower House May 1788

   "The within return of the choice of Military Officers is accepted & approved & his Excellency

the Governor is desired to commissionate the Officers therein named accordingly

                                                                             " Test James Davenport Clerk                                

                                                                                Concur in the Upper House

                                                                               Test George Wyllys Secret'y."

   A call for the, completion of the troop organization was issued in the Courant of July 14, 1788:

"The Governor's Independent Volunteer Troop of Horse Guards are requested to meet at Fred

Bull's tavern on Thursday next at 4 o'clock, p. m., for the purpose of choosing the non-

commissioned officers of said Troop and to transact such other business as shall be found

necessary."

   The next issue July 21, 1788 is completely filled with a letter from Philadelphia recounting

the Grand Federal Procession celebrating Independence Day, so that the result of that meeting

has not become a matter of permanent record.

   Tradition has it that the new organization took for its prototype the Royal Horse Guards of

England. The Royal Regiment of Horse Guards was raised in 1661 in the reign of King Charles

the Second, immediately following the Restoration. Upon the disbanding of the Army of the

Commonwealth the Duke of York proposed to the Council " that they should write to His

Majesty, and desire him to stop the disbanding of the General's Troop of Horse Guards, and the

Regiment of Foott, which were to have been payd off that day, and that he would rather think of

raising more men for the security of his Person and Government."

   Accordingly the regiment was mustered on February 16, 1661, under the command of the

XXth Earl of Oxford through the centuries the name of the first commander has clung to the

organization which is still known as the " Oxford Blues."

   The conception of a body guard to the King may have inspired in the minds of the colonists

the idea of a body guard to the governor. Emulation may have been excited by the martial

history of the Oxford Blues from Sedgemoor and the Battle of the Boyne to Fontenoy and

Hamburg. Perhaps the fact that during the American Revolution the Royal Horse rusticated in

England and enjoyed a lack of popularity with George III,  made for its popularity with the

Americans.

   At all events separation from the mother country did not inculcate a feeling that all things

English should be proscribed, 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 members 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 evidence 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 Revolution 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 newspapers 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 inhabitants 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 themselves lyable to perform

any kind of military duty (except waiting on the Governor and the Assembly at the general

election, etc.) and creates much uneasiness and discontent 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, services 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 General

Assembly is given as 1778. This apocryphal charter bears the facsimile signature of  Jonathan

Trumbull whose photograph adorns the ornamental heading between the word "  Charter " 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 engraving. The following extract from the

minutes of a meeting of the company held January 21, 1862, is of interest in this connection  "

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 bylaws 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, Lient. W. W. Whitehead and Sergeant 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. Broadwell, Q. M. Sgt. Harry A.

Treadwell and Corporol 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 Company, Governor's Horse Guards of New Haven,  had been

transferred to the Connecticut National Guard as Troop "A," and objected 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! "

·        See Chapter VI.

III

THE CHARTER MEMBERS

   The prominent positions in civil affairs held by the memorialists are well illustrated by the

personnel of the Hartford Common Council elected March 31, 1788. Of its membership of

twelve, seven were charter members of the Horse Guard: Messrs. Deane, Colt,  Caldwell,

Goodrich, Morgan, Wolcott and Seymour.

   Three members, Caleb Bull, Jr., Peter Colt, and Thomas Y. Seymour, were enrolled in the

Connecticut State Society of the Cincinnati composed of officers who had served in the

American Army during the War of the Revolution.

  Seven were graduates of Yale College at a time when an opportunity for higher education was

looked upon as a rare privilege; Colt, Goodrich, Morgan, Moseley, Root, Seymour, and

Wolcott.

   Fifteen were direct descendants of the "original proprietors" of Hartford and the two 

neighboring towns.

   John Caldwell was born in Hartford, December 21, 1755, his father and grandfather having

emigrated from Beith, in North Britain, and settled in Hartford about 1725. He was probably the

youngest charter member of the Governor's Foot Guard, organized and incorporated in 1771. He

may have been one of those of whom an historian of the Foot Guard remarked; "Seventeen

years later a number of the same men, having gained in age and flesh and being tired of

marching on foot, became incorporators of the First Company of Horse Guards." He was the

first Major of the Governor's Horse Guard, resigning his commission in 1791.

   Caldwell was a liberal, public spirited citizen of comfortable fortune and served his 

community well during the Revolutionary period and for half a century thereafter. In1792 the

incorporators of the Hartford Bank elected him president, a position of trust and responsibility

which he ably filled until his resignation in 1819. In this work he was supported by the Horse

Guard, fourteen of the sixty-eight original stockholders and six of the nine members of the first

directorate being charter members. Another charter member was appointed cashier. His ability

made him much sought after and his name appears in connection with many public enterprises

including the building of the State House in 1794; the supervision of the construction of the

bridge and causeway to East Hartford; the incorporation in 1816 of " The Connecticut Asylum

for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons." In addition to these activities,

Caldwell had been elected twenty times to the General Assembly.

   Before the general advent of marine insurance, his large interests in the West Indian and

European trade, as well as the ownership of several vessels, led Major Caldwell to become an

underwriter. The pernicious activities of French privateers in 1797 and 1798 caused the Major

serious losses and only the War of 1812 was needed to complete the havoc. Thereafter he lived

in a retired fashion at his home on Main Street. May 26, 1838, witnessed the end of a useful,

patriotic life.

   Thomas Y. Seymour's brilliant record during the earlier years of the Revolution has already

been mentioned. He was born June 19, 1757 the son of Thomas Seymour, a descendant of one

of Hartford's " original proprietors." Colonel Thomas Seymour had served in the cavalry during

the Revolution and when Hartford was incorporated as a city in1784 he was elected its first

Mayor. His subsequent twenty-eight years of service in the same capacity represents a period

more than three times as long as that of any of his many successors.

   After the lapse of three months of his senior year at college, Thomas Y. Seymour accepted a

commission in the cavalry, remaining in service until the end of 1778. The following year he

studied law in Philadelphia, returning to Hartford and being admitted to the bar in1780. In 1781

he married his first cousin, Mary Ann, eldest child of Colonel William Ledyard, of Groton

fame. She died within a year. In 1784 he married Miss Susan Bull who presented him with five

sons and three daughters.

    Major Seymour succeeded Major Caldwell in command of the Horse Guard and resigned in

1795 because of the other pressing duties of public life. He represented Hartford in the General

Assembly from 1795 to 1806, and was State's Attorney from 1796 to 1807. Failing health

compelled him to retire from active life, and he finally succumbed May 16, 1811.

  His widow's efforts to secure a pension were delayed because of the fact that Seymour   did not

remain in the army until the end of the war. Among many letters written in her support by

prominent men, the following * is of peculiar interest: 

   " New Haven, 11 Aug. 1836 " Mr. Jesse Charlton

   "Sir:

  " Your letter of the 9th is received, and in reply I have to say that I left the service in  February,

1777, about the time that Col. Sheldon's Regiment of Light Horse in which Mr. T. Y. Seymour

commanded a company of troop, was raised. I therefore had personally no knowledge of his

military service. But his reputation for gallantry and faithful conduct was such and so

unquestioned that I felt myself perfectly justified in introducing his portrait in the picture of the

surrender of Burgoyne, and I have not the smallest doubt that his widow has a just title to

whatever compensation the Government of the United States are accustomed to bestow upon

the widows of their meritorious deceased officers of the Revolutionary War. With hearty wishes

that Mrs. Seymour's application may be successful, I am, sir

  " Your obedient servant, " Jno. Trumbull."

   Lieutenant Charles Phelps seems not to have left any very definite record behind him. The only

Charles Phelps who appears from this state as having served in the Revolution is one by that

name resident of Hartland who was in Colonel Hinman's Regiment in 1775 and served at the

siege of Boston. He was in Colonel Huntington's Regiment in 1776,  taking part in the Battle of

Long Island August 27th of that year, being taken prisoner. He was released in the succeeding

year and remained in service until May 26, 1780.

   It is probable that he moved to Hartford after the war and that his prominent military service

during the revolution justified his election to commissioned office in the Horse Guard. Phelps

resigned his commission in March 1791 and moved away from Hartford.

   Cornet Timothy Burr had seen service in the Revolution. In May 1775, he was in Capt. 

Dimon's company of Col. Beebe's regiment in Fairfield. In 1777 he was a member of Captain 

Hill's Company of Colonel Samuel Whiting's regiment of militia " for a short campaign at  the

Fishkills." From 1779 to 1781 he was " Conductor of Transportation Express from  the

Continental Army."

   Samuel Burr was with his cousin Timothy in 1775, and in 1777 was a sergeant in Captain

Bartram's Company. He was on duty in September 1781 at West Point as a member of Colonel

Canfield's militia regiment.

   Samuel was born Jan. 14, 1745, the son of Thomas. Timothy was baptized Nov. 12, 1749, the

son of Moses. Their grandfather, Thomas, was a grandson of Benjamin Burr, one of the "

original proprietors."

   Samuel had a son Samuel born in 1778. Timothy had a son Timothy born in 1772. An earlier

historian has selected the second Samuel and the second Timothy as the Burrs who signed the

Horse Guard petition, and has inferred that they were brothers. The second Samuel at that time

was ten years old. If the apocryphal charter of 1778 is admitted in evidence, Samuel, Jr., had not

yet seen the light of day. In 1788 Timothy, Jr., was approaching the age of sixteen. It is quite

possible that he might have enlisted in the Horse Guard at that early age but it is hardly probable

that he would have been elected to a commissioned office in preference to several men who had

seen service in the war.

   Due to this identity of names the first Timothy, the charter member, has been credited  with the

brilliant military career of his son commencing in the Connecticut Militia and culminating in the

War of 1812 as Commissary General of the Western Army. In the centennial history of the

Hartford Bank, 1792-1892, the chapter devoted to the original directorate contains a biographical

sketch of General Timothy Burr. It is not unreasonable to assume that the financial geniuses of

early Hartford preferred the mature advice of the elder Timothy to that of the boy of twenty.

   Timothy, senior, was a prosperous merchant of Hartford. A statement that he remained 

actively connected with the Horse Guard for about fifteen years is not borne out by the records.

In the nominations made for promotion in May 1791, his name was inadvertently omitted, but

his commission as Second Lieutenant as of May, 1791 was confirmed by the General Assembly

of May, 1792, in the latter part of which year he resigned. He died August 19, 1799. His older

cousin Samuel kept the largest store in Hartford on Burr Street, now North Main Street. He died

in 1792.

   Timothy Burr, Jr. (the descriptive " Jr. " was always attached to his name until his father's

death), was never a member of the Horse Guard. In Green's Register for the State of

Connecticut for the year 1797 Timothy Burr, Jr., appears as a Captain in the First Regiment of

Militia; in 1800 and 1801 having dropped the "Jr." as Captain of the Matross Company of the

First Regiment; in 1802 and 1803 as second Major, in 1804 as first Major, in 1805-6-7 as

Lieutenant Colonel commanding the First Regiment. He was Brigadier General Timothy Burr,

commanding First Brigade 'from 1807 to 1810, after which year his name disappears from the

state rolls.

   Thomas Bull, born in 1605, accompanied the Reverend Thomas Hooker to Hartford in 1636.

His many descendants bore their share of the civil and military burdens of the Colony. His,great

grandson Caleb was the father of nine sons; six were among the petitioners for the Foot Guard

Charter in 1771, and four signed the Horse Guard memorial in 1788.

   Caleb Bull, Jr., the eldest son, born January 16, 1746, is frequently mentioned in Governor

Trumbull's diary as one of his " escort of private gentlemen." He accepted a captain's

commission in Colonel Webb's regiment January i, 1777, and the records show that he resigned

March 23, 1778. His service for the state did not however cease with this formal resignation.

The records of the Council of Safety July 13, 1779, show that a letter was received from Caleb

Bull by express dated Stratford, July 12, 1779, informing the Governor that the enemy had

landed at Norwalk and had burnt the whole town excepting a  few scattering houses. Captain

Bull continued for some time in observation of the enemy and  organized a daily dispatch service

with a chain of expresses fourteen or fifteen miles apart  to ride stages and deliver over their

letters from one to another so as to send them forward  with the greatest possible celerity. He

was, therefore, instrumental in keeping Governor Trumbull and the Council of Safety promptly

informed as to the enemy's movements along the coast. After the war he served the city in many

ways until his death February 14, 1797.     

* Seymour Family in the Revolution.

   James Bull, born October 13, 1751, was a commissary in the Northern Army in 1777. He  died

September 3, 1820.

   Hezekiah Bull was born May 24, 1758. His name does not appear in the Revolutionary 

records of the Army or the Navy but it is certain that he saw service on the seas during the war.

He died May 26, 1821.

   Thomas Bull, born June 5, 1765, was too young to see service during the Revolution. He 

appears to have been active in the civic life of Hartford from the close of the war to his death,

March 4, 1830.

   John Chenevard, Jr., was associated with his father, Captain John Chenevard as a merchant in

the West India trade. He was born in 1770, and was the youngest charter member of the Horse

Guard. He died April 19, 1808.

   Peter Colt was born March 28, 1744, and was a member of the class of 1764 Yale College. To

those who believe that the food at Commons is a modern cause for grievance it may be of

interest to note that Peter was taken acutely ill under circumstances best told by a contemporary.

Monday, April 16, 1764, Colonel Hubbard addressed a letter to Ezra Stiles:

"Last Saturday being at Court, about noon we were surprised with a very melancholly Story

from College, 82 of the Students were seized with violent vomitings, great Thirst,  Weakness in

the Extremeties and some with Spasms, and other Symptoms of Poison. By the Use of Emetics,

Oleaginous and mucilaginous Draughts they are recovered, saving that some are yet weak in

their joynts and affected in their Eyes. The Physicians conjecture it to be Arsenic, mixed with

the Cake, on which they all breakfasted . . . There has been as yet no Enquiry by the Civil

Authority, hoping Something may transpire that may be taken hold of."

   President Clap's investigation indicated that the cause was "either some accident or some

strong Physic put into the Victuals with a Design to bring a Slur upon the Provisions made in

the Hall . .Specially since it appears under oath that some of the Scholars manifested a

pleasure in what befell Commons as hoping that it might be a means of getting Rid of them, and

one of them went to one of the Cooks on the Lords day and offered her a Dollar if she would

poison or Physic the Commons again, provided she would let him know the time, and added

that if it was done once more there would be an end of Commons."

   At the outbreak of the war Colt served as military secretary to Major General David Wooster

and later as assistant to Commissaries, Colonel Jonathan Fitch and Colonel Joseph Trumbull.

August 9, 1777, he was made Deputy Commissary of Purchases for the Eastern Department for

the Army of the United States, and was thereafter associated with Colonel Jeremiah

Wadsworth, supplying the French troops under Rochambeau from 1780 until the end of the

war.

   From 1789 to 1793 Colt was State Treasurer. In the latter year he moved to New Jersey 

where, except for a short residence in New York State, he engaged in manufacture until his 

death March 16, 1824.

   Most students of the Revolution recall the names of its battle leaders. Few histories recount the

prodigious work of the service of supply. Peter Colt was a powerful factor in keeping the

Continental soldier alive. That his contemporaries recognized his merit was evidenced by his

election to'the Society of the Cincinnati.

   Barnabas Deane is less well known than his brother Silas who was one of the American

Commissioners to France during the Revolution and was instrumental in getting Lafayette and

other French officers to give so much to the American Cause.

   Barnabas was born in Groton in 1742. At an early age he moved to Wethersfield but lived

most of his life in Hartford. In 1775 ne was ensign and lieutenant in Captain Chester's company,

and his name is found in the list of men who marched from the Connecticut towns in April of

that year " for the Relief of  Boston in the Lexington Alarm." His name next appears among those

who effected the capture of Fort Ticonderoga in April and May of the same year: "Twenty days'

service in going to Crown Point & Ty to assist in supporting & Reinforcing the Garrison there &

in Raising men & Sending up Provisions &c in company with Col. Webb & Porter." Moneys

were advanced out of the Public Treasury of the Colony of Connecticut, but Barnabas did not 

seem to be as well supplied with worldly goods as Silas. Barnabas had an account with the 

Colony of £4-5-4 ½ while big brother Silas had £380.

   In 1776 he owned the privateer sloop " Revenge," carrying eight guns and a crew of sixty-four

men, but this venture met with indifferent success, the sloop being destroyed by the British in

the Penobscot in 1779. Barnabas Deane & Co., developed a large general merchandise business,

with General Nathaniel Greene and Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth as silent partners. These

partners supplied the greater part of the capital and their identity was carefully concealed

because of their military prominence. No breath of scandal attached itself to the enterprise, but

General Greene withdrew in 1781. Colonel Wadsworth, on the other hand, maintained the

partnership until the death of Deane Dec. 6, 1794.

*Yale Biographies, third series, p. 57.

   Richard Goodman and Ashbel Welles, Jr., both served in Lt. Charles Seymour's company in

General Wolcott's brigade near Peekskill in the spring of 1777. In August each of these men

received one pound, according to the muster roll, for participating in an excursion on the Sound.

Lt. Seymour's brief entries indicate that little has changed in a century and a half, excepting that

Seymour and his company were not obliged to wait for the boat train: "Aug. 14, Rec'd. £67.

Aug. 15, March with 58 men including officers towards New York. Aug. 16, Set sail from New

Haven . . . Arrived att New York late 7 o'clock." Goodman died in 1845 at the age of 84, the last

surviving charter member. Ashbel Welles, Jr., was born January 15, 1758. After the war he kept

a tavern on Main Street north of the State House. He died August 5, 1819.

   Chauncey Goodrich was born in Durham October 20, 1759, and was graduated from Yale in

the class of 1776, his brilliant qualities justifying his subsequent employment there as a Tutor.

He was admitted to the bar at Hartford in 1781, and immediately sprang into prominence,

delivering the patriotic oration on the occasion of the celebration of peace in 1783. Ten years

later he went from the state legislature to the national house of representatives resigning in 1801.

After several terms in the state senate he was elected to the Senate of the United States, taking an

active part in the discussion of the various events which culminated in the War of 1812.

   While holding the office of Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut, he was chosen to head the

state's delegation to the famous Hartford convention of 1814.

   Commenting on his death which occurred August 18, 1815, one of Hartford's leading journals

said: "His judgment was so guided by rectitude, that of all men living he was, perhaps, the only

one to whom his worst enemy (if enemy he had) would have confided the decision of a

controversy, sooner than to his best friend."

   Daniel Goodwin was also a charter member of the Foot Guard, and kept a general store

opposite William Burr's in the north part of the city. He was born in 1745 and died in 1790.

   Joseph Hart was born in Saybrook, January 13, 1755. In May 1776 his name appears as 

adjutant of the First Regiment of Light Horse and in the following year as Lt. Colonel of  the 8th

Regiment, Connecticut Line. He came to Hartford in 1785 and opened a store at the River ("Dry

Goods at wholesale, New York fine and superfine flour,") being connected through marriage

and business with the most noted families of Hartford. He succeeded to the command of the

Horse Guard in 1794 and held that position for four years. He was lost overboard at sea in 1810.

   Richard Hart was the son of Joseph Hart's brother, William Hart, who served as a Major

during the Revolution and was several times candidate for Governor. Major William Hart was

associated for many years in business with Major Joseph Hart. Richard Hart was born in

Hartford, January 15, 1768, and died at Saybrook, January 13, 1837.

   Asa Hopkins was born in Waterbury, Sept. I, 1757. He married and settled in Hartford,

employing himself as a bookseller and druggist on the east side of Main Street north of the

bridge. He sold " Drugs,  Medicine, wine, sugar, all kinds of teas, groceries, dye stuff, painters

colors, gold leaf &c."

   William Knox, baptized September 16, 1764, was a manufacturer of saddles and harnesses.

He died in 1803.

   Samuel and William Lawrence were sons of John Lawrence, for twenty years Treasurer of

Connecticut. Samuel was baptized March 27, 1763. He was engaged in the hardware trade and

his name frequently appears as an underwriter of marine risks in company with -Thomas Bull,

John Morgan, James Caldwell and others.

   William's baptismal record bears the date December 29, 1751. He was a very prosperous dry

goods merchant and engaged in the social as well as business activities of the town. In 1801, he

was taxed $3.00 for " A two-wheeled carriage, having a top; on wood springs."He owned an"

Umbrella from India " the first one in town. It was a clumsy affair carried by a servant who

walked behind the ladies: William Lawrence lived to the age of seventy.

   Samuel Marsh, Jr., was born May 18, 1766, too late to see Revolutionary service. He was a

successful business man in Hartford until his death in 1830.

   Hezekiah Merrill appears to have been dilatory in reaching the age of discretion. It is recorded

of him that: "In the evening next after the i6th Day of July instant being the Evening next

following the Lord's Day one William Clark, Hezekiah Merrel and John Indicott all of Hartford

convened together in Company with others in the street or  highway in the Town of Hartford in a

Rude and Turbulent manner; against the Peace of our Lord the King, etc." "Guilty œ4-2-0." *

   This happened in 1769 but his sterling worth was later recognized by his election to the office

of City Treasurer when Hartford was incorporated, and by his appointment as first Cashier of

the Hartford Bank in 1792, receiving the munificent annual salary of $500. Notwithstanding a

raise of $300 he gave up his bank duties in 1799. Earlier in life he had sold drugs, books and

stationery " at the sign of the Unicorn and Mortar, a few rods south of the court house," but now

he decided to try the grocery business " particularly rum, brandy, wine and raisins." He did not 

survive long enough to give this a thorough trial, dying in 1801.

  * Boardman Manuscript Collection, Item 1031.

   John Morgan was born in Killingworth June 27, 1753. He completed his undergraduate course

at Yale in 1772 and was given the degree of Master of Arts in 1778. Coming to Hartford in

1781 he immediately took a prominent part in its early commercial enterprises. Ten Horse

Guard members assisted him with their subscriptions to the new State House. Morgan Street

was named after him and the first bridge across the Connecticut recognized him as its principal

proprietor. As warden of Christ Church he was its most liberal contributor.

  Following his death, September 19, 1842, it was said of him: "He is remembered as a 

gentleman of the old school, an aristocrat in feeling and bearing, original and direct in 

conversation, and vigorous and straight-forward in action."

   William Moseley was born in Hampton June 20, 1755, and was graduated from Yale  in 1777.

He became prominent in the practice of law in Hartford. He was a brother-in-law of Chauncey

Goodrich, both these gentlemen having married daughters of the elder  Governor Wolcott. That

he handled some of Good-rich's important financial transactions  is apparent from the following

  " C. Goodrich

  To copying Genl Washington's Address Errors Excepted

  Hfd., June 12, 1784.   Receipt

  In behalf of C. Goodrich, William Moseley." Mosely died in June 1824.

  A William Moseley served in Captain George Markham's Company on duty in New London

and Groton in September 1781. The identity of this record with the charter member is not,

however, definitely established.

   Roderic Olcott, the son of Samuel Olcott and cousin of John Chenevard, Jr., was born in 

Hartford, May 3, 1766, and died August 3, 1801. He was a half-brother of Michael Olcott who

subsequently became commandant of the Horse Guard.

   Samuel Wyllys Pomeroy was the son of a wealthy merchant of Hartford and was born in 

Hebron in 1765. He became interested in the western reserve and in 1832 founded the town of

Pomeroy, Ohio, reaching prominence as a coal baron. He died in Cincinnati in 1841.

   Ephraim Root was born in Coventry October 6, 1762, was graduated from Yale twenty years

later and took up the practice of law in Hartford, being returned to seven sessions of the General

Assembly. He died in Hartford, March 24, 1825.

   Horatio Wales was born in Windham February 21, 1763, and was only seventeen years old

when he served in Captain Barnard's Company of the Third Regiment, Connecticut Line at "

Connecticut Village above the Robinson House, Hudson River." In September 1781 he was

with Colonel Ledyard in the defense of Groton and was captured by the British. His wearing

apparel and such articles as he had with him were stripped from him by the enemy, the cost of

which he subsequently recovered from the State:

   "Hartford, Feb'y- 6th, 1782.

   This may certify that Horatio Wales went into Fort Griswold as a volunteer on the 6th day of

Sept. 1781, and was in the fort when it was taken by the Enemy.

  Wm Latham, Capt. Artily."

  Hartford, February 2oth, 1782.

   Recd an order on Treasurer for six pounds, three shillings on the 2/6.  Tax in full of the 

above accol.

  Horatio Wales. The above acco* sworn to.

  Certified

  Finn Wadsworth, Compt."

  Oliver Wolcott, Jr., is too well known to warrant more than a brief comment. He was born

January 4, 1760 and entered Yale in the class of 1778.

   In April 1777 his studies were broken in upon, by a call to a less peaceful scene than the

groves of Yale. He had gone to Litchfield on a visit to his mother, his father being absent

attending Congress, when the news arrived that a large body of the British under Tryon, had

landed and marched to Danbury to destroy the Continental stores. Awakened at midnight by the

summons to repair to the rendezvous of the militia, he armed himself; and his mother furnishing

his knapsack with provisions and a blanket, hastened his departure and dismissed him with the

charge " to conduct like a good soldier."

   The party to which he was attached reached the enemy at Wilton where a skirmish took place,

in which as well as in the subsequent attacks during the retreat of the British, Wolcott

participated.*

* Gibbs Memoirs of the Federal Administrations, Vol. I, p. 13.

   Returning to college he completed his course and went again into the field as a volunteer aid

to his father Brigadier General Oliver Wolcott. In 1779 he accepted a quartermaster's 

commission. On becoming of age in January, 1781, he was admitted to the bar at Hartford, and

during the same year received the degree of Master of Arts from Yale. Thereafter during the war

he served as clerk and member of the Committee of Pay Table. In May 1788 he was appointed

State Comptroller of Public Accounts, in the following year Auditor of the U. S. Treasury

Department, serving under Alexander Hamilton, two years later Comptroller of the Treasury.

   In 1791 Wolcott was offered the presidency of the United States Bank but declined," 

preferring the public service and believing that such a station would be deemed unsuitable for a

young man without property."

   Upon the resignation of Alexander Hamilton in 1795 Wolcott entered Washington's  cabinet as

Secretary of the Treasury, and continued in the same position in the Adams administration,

resigning in December, 1800, as he and the President were not entirely in accord. President

Adams, however, in recognition of his ability appointed him a circuit judge, under the

provisions of the new judiciary act, in which capacity he served for a year.

   For the next fifteen years he held no public office but, while in business in New York as a

merchant, maintained an intelligent interest in public affairs. In the conduct of the second war

with Great Britain he separated himself from most of his former party associates by actively

supporting the government.

   As a consequence his first candidacy for the office of Governor of Connecticut in 1816 met 

defeat, but in the succeeding election he was successful and continued in office for ten years. 

During his incumbency the new constitution of Connecticut was framed and approved. As 

president of the Constitutional Convention he is credited with having prepared the original draft

of the constitution the adoption of which is considered the most important act of his

administration. He retired from public life in 1827 and died at his New York home June 1, 1833.

   These were the citizens who founded the Governor's Independent Volunteer Troop of Horse

Guards.

   George Washington took the oath of office as first president of the United States at New 

York, April 30, 1789. In October he decided to take advantage of a recess of Congress to visit

the New England States, " with a view to observe the situation of the country, and in a hope of

perfectly reestablishing my health, which a series of indispositions has much impaired." * He

traveled in his own carriage, his retinue consisting of Major Jackson, Mr. Lear, and six servants.

* Letter to Thos. Jefferson, N. Y., 13 Oct. 1789, Sparks Vol. X, p. 41

   His diary contains the first authentic record of the appearance of the Horse Guard for escort

duty. On October 19, 1789, it conveys the information that the President left New Haven and

passed through Wallingford and Durham on the way to Middletown where he was the recipient

of a noon day entertainment.

   "Having dined, we set out with the same Escort (who conducted us into town) about 3 o'clock

for Hartford, and passing through a Parish of Middletown and Weathersfield, we arrived at

Harfd. about sundown. At Weathersfield we were met by a party of the Hartford light horse, and

a number of Gentlemen from the same place with Col Wadsworth at their head, and escorted to

Bull's Tavern, where we lodged."

   The American Mercury of October 26, 1789, relates: "The illustrious President of the U. S.

with his suite arrived in this city Monday last escorted by the Governor's troop of  Horse Guards

dressed in an elegant uniform, and by a large number of Gentlemen on horseback."

   On his return trip the President spent the night of November ninth in Hartford, but there

appears to have been no formality connected with his entry or departure.

   The "elegant uniform" mentioned in the newspaper has been described elsewhere as 

consisting of "A bear skin dragoon hat, white broadcloth coat brilliant with lace and braid of

gold, red belt above tight pants, and boots with yellow tops."

   That this definition does not tally in all respects with a description reminiscent of two years

later may be due to a change in uniform or to an inaccurate recollection.

   "Armsmear," a memorial to Colonel Samuel Colt, quotes a letter addressed to the President of

the Connecticut Historical Society by Mrs. Anstes Lee in 1855, then living at Wickford, R. I.

   In May 1791 Mrs. Lee made the journey to Hartford on horseback in company with her 

brother, Daniel Updike, carriages at that time being rarely used as the roads were so bad that it

was impracticable to travel on them with comfort or safety. They reached Hartford the day

before election day, resting at David Bull's " Bunch of Grapes " Tavern 

   " This being the day previous to the general election, the city became quite thronged with

people from all parts of the State. In the afternoon, Governor Wolcott was  expected to arrive.

This event seemed to awaken -great interest and appearance of parade.

   "A troop of horse and a great number of citizens on horseback constituted the cavalcade to

escort his Excellency into the city. The company of horse made an imposing appearance. The

riders were dressed in caps, with a brass plate, and feathers in them, short jackets, or coats,

short-clothes and high gaiters. I think the color was deep blue faced with red. The horses were

very fine, and Mr. Pomeroy said they were of two hundred dollars value each, which was a great

price at that time. After tea, say an hour before sunset, it was announced that the Governor and

procession were entering the city; all thronged the windows to view it. The Governor came in at

the head of the military on a single horse, dressed in a full suit of black, and then followed the

cavalry and the citizens on horseback, two and two abreast. When he arrived in front of the

State House he alighted, ascended, and stood on the spacious front step. The military passed and

saluted the Governor by a discharge of their pistols over his head. After the salute, the Governor

walked to a public house near.

   Samuel Huntington was governor at this time and Oliver Wolcott, lieutenant governor.

General Wolcott became governor on the death of Governor Huntington, January 5, 1796.

   "The next day (Thursday) was the general election. The General Assembly organized and

proceeded to the meetinghouse 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 evolutions 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. Commenting 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 Lieutenant 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 Government 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 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 containing- 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 election 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  Company 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 companies had a spread at South Green. "After

dinner they performed 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

 The three lately joined are equiping themselves.

                                                                     Hartford, Decf 24th, 1798

                                                                     Dan Jones Capt.

                                                                     Horse Guards."

   Daniel Jones served in the Revolution commencing May 23, 1775. In 1777 he is listed as a 

conductor transporting commissary supplies to the Continental Army. There is no traceable 

record of his career after he left the Horse Guards. The newspaper advertisements of the period

indicate that he was a prosperous 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.

    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 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; grenadier 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 nineteenth of May. The city is on the west

bank of the Connecticut, forty-five miles above its mouth. The governor, whose family 

residence is on the east side of the river, at some distance from Hartford, was expected to arrive

in the evening. This gentleman, whose name is Jonathan Trumbull, is the son of the late

Governor Jonathan Trumbull; and though the election is annual.

   Mr. Kendall must have reached Hartford on the thirteenth day of May if he witnessed this

inauguration 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 demeanor 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 procession, 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 accidental 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,

presented 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 consecutive years and died  Aug.

7, 1809.

   "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 Lieutenant 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."

V

GALA DAYS

   To those who have believed 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 Commandant 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 qualification for the episcopate, ' they 

were given to hospitality;'  with legs under their mahogany, what imperial times we should have

had in gossiping, 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 Wellington : 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 controversy 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.

   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 thousand.

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 constitution 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 command the militia for the public

defense can be thus frustrated, even in a state of declared war and of course under apprehensions

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."

  * Madison to Jefferson, Aug. 17, 1812.

   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 Normand 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 Monday, 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 escorted the President to the south green in this

city, where the Hartford Artillery, commanded by Capt. Ripley; the East Hartford 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 Companies,

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, 1817.' 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 Coffee 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 impressive 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 Constitution 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.

   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, September

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 commanding, 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 committee had attended him from

Stafford. He passed the bridge across Connecticut river, attended by his  son George Washington

 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 surmounted with the American colours.

   "The procession moved up Morgan-street to its intersection with Main-street; here the

crowded assemblage of citizens commenced 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 sensibility. 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

Chamber 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 character 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 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 condition.

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.

VI

COMA

There is a statue on Bushnell Park which bears the inscription:

HORACE WELLS

THE DISCOVERER OF

ANAESTHESIA

 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;

nor in that of Governor Seymour in 1851 and in 1853.

   The preparations for this last inauguration indicate a complete absence of interest on  the part

of the Horse Guard. A stray sheet of paper was recently given to the Connecticut Historical

Society bearing the following report: 

   "At a second meeting of the Committee of Arrangements 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 programme 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 reca their 

approval said Committee performed the duty assigned them & the arrangements with some

slight modifications were approved & it was unanimously 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."

In fact, for some years prior to this period there had been noticeable a decline in that activity

which was so much in evidence 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 

Hartford 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 considered

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 directions were issued:

   "Captain General's Office .   Hartford, Sept. 1, 1853. "Sir:

  On receipt of this order you are hereby commanded to give legal warning to all the members of

the 1st 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. Genl. " 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 noncommissioned personnel:

    * Executive Journal.

   The Governor duly issued commissions as of September 1, 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 sustained.

    "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 1st

Co. Governor's Horse Guards was accepted by the more recent organization. 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."

   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 Ellsworth 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 Ellsworth 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 company of Governor's Horse Guards was organized.

   "In 1845, Henry Boardman was commissioned Major Commandant 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 proceedings

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 Connecticut Militia.

   "This was accompanied with a recommendation from Brigadier General Geer, and is on file in

the Secretary's office.

   I am not able to find that any action was had upon this application.

   "I find, upon the records of this office, an order, dated Sept. 1, 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 Executive 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.

   "The Legislature will readily see that a question of great importance is involved in these 

proceedings, and one which cannot 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 Company 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.

   In August Governor Dutton 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 company to the election of a new commandant."

   "Did you yourself assemble the company for that purpose?"

   "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

   First Company of Governor's Horse Guards or officers thereof, with liberty however to said

body of men claiming to be organized under Samuel Colt as Major Commandant to form a

Company of Cavalry to be attached to the first Regiment of the First Brigade of the Militia as

originally requested.

"Henry Button."

   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 Seymour

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.

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 ostentatious 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 company 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 President Johnson in June, 1867; for General Sheridan in October of the

same year; and in August, 1874, for ex-Governor Marshall 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 buff

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: 

  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 General Assembly of 1824 led the legislators, followed by 

representatives of every General Assembly from 1825 to the assembly then in session, and the

Governor's Guards were unusually brilliant 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. Dwight 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

   " 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 isth, 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.   ______

 "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 unanimously 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 relations existing between this country and Spain.'

" I havethe honor to be,

  " Very respectfully,

  " Your obedient servant,

"Gilbert P. Kurd,

"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 Connecticut

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

sufficiently effective to bring about another indefinite postponement; 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 6th 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 excursion 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 East 

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 gradually been drifting into that state of existence which had 

characterized the early years of Major Boardman's incumbency.

   But the new movement did not take on the guise of usurpation, as had been the case with

Colonel Colt's attempt; nor did it resemble the half-hearted inclination of 1898 and 1901  

halfhearted in spite of the efforts of Major Hurd, himself an old National Guardsman.

   The new movement was a sincere endeavor to instill fresh blood and new life 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:

  Dear Sir: 

  "Hartford, Conn., February 2, 1911.

  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 interested 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: 

  Owen Morgan Walter B. Alien Edison Lewis H. A. Perkins H. Wyckoff Mills George B. Ward

Walter L. Goodwin Paul Waterman G. W. Cheney W. E. Card J. E. Hewes F. Parsons "

  "Arthur W. Alien Lewis A. Storrs Thomas W. Russell Dudley C. Graves Frederick Woolley

John Carter Rowley Charles E. Smith B. E. Lyons R. W. Myers R. B. Bulkeley M. G. Bulkeley,

Jr. R. D. Cutler

   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 16, 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 sentiment of the State

authorities, of the community in general, and the desire of the United States government, are

supporting us in the purpose to make this Command an efficient 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 Vote 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, 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 Club 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 W. Russell

J. H. Kelso Davis

Arthur W. Allen  

Edison Lewis

Francis Parsons"

   This letter proved to the truly prophetic. On March 6, 1911, 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.

VIII

 THE NEW LIFE

NINETEEN   ELEVEN

                     " State of Connecticut

                   Adjutant General's Office,

                    "Hartford, March 6, 1911

" Special Orders,

No. 39.

   "1. 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 Herman A. Tyler, Jr., Medical Corps, and Captain William H. Van Strander, Medical

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 I3th. On April 6th

Captain James L_1_Ijaaaid, then on the retired list, was nominated for the Captain, and Captain

JJ J 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.

   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; ist

Lieutenant, Commissary, ist Inf. 6 Apr. 1903; Capt. and Adjutant 29 Oct. 1903; retired I Mch.

1907; detailed Captain, Troop B, Cav., 7 Apr. 1911; assigned to permanent command 17 April

1911; commissioned Major for War purposes, S.O. 140, A.G.O., 1915, 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. 1916; assigned

Adjutant, 3d Brig., i6th Prov. Divn., 25 Sept. 1916; Adjutant, ist Brig., I2th Prov. Divn., Ft.

Sam Houston, 13 Oct. 1916; mustered out of Federal Service, Sam Houston, n Nov. 1916;

transferred to N.G. Reserve, 22 Nov. 1916; assigned to active duty in command of ist 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, 1917. Total 9 years, 4 months, 7 days."

  Captain Davis' record furnished April 5, 1918, follows 

  "Appointed 2nd Lieutenant, Battalion Quartermaster, ist Infantry, 5 Nov. 1903; 1st Lieutenant,

Battalion Adjutant, 31 Jan. 1906; Captain and Commissary, n June 1906; retired 8 Mar. 1907;

assigned Captain and Adjutant, ist Infantry, 6 Feb. 1909; returned to retired list, n Mar. 1911;

assigned ist Lieutenant, Troop B, Cavalry, 17 Apr. 1911; Captain, 3 Nov.  1915; called into U.S.

Service G.O. 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.G.O. 1916, 1 Nov. 1916.

   "Service in Connecticut National Guard continuous from Nov. 5, 1903 to March 8, 1907; 

from Feb. 6, 1909 to March n, 1911, and from April 17, 1911 to November 1, 1916." 

CPT HOWARD  LT DAVIS

  TROOP PHOTO

  ESCORT TAFT AND BALDWIN

   The first printed roster of Troop E 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 Benjamin G. Alien, Charles W. Watson; Farrier Frank B. Aninger;

Trumpeters Adolph Anderson, George F. Haynes; Clerk John W. Joy.

   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;

Harold G. Hart, who accepted a commission in the First Infantry; Walter E. Card, 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, 1st 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 Waterman,

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 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

happened 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 18th, 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 aggressive 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 his interest, for his encouragement, and, not the least for his

persuasiveness. Since the night of  February 6th, 1911, 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 disappeared 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 I3th, 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 33. 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, congratulated us, poured oil upon the

somewhat troubled waters, and we were happy. To be " in " was enough. We were not as

particular as Tim Maloney when the Recruiting Sergeant asked him why he wouldn't enlist

unless he was sent to the Seventy-Fifth Infantry. "Because," said Tim, "I want to be near me

brudder and he's in the Seventy-sixth"

   In the next few days the examining surgeons put us all to the blush by looking us over more

closely than we had probably 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, 1911. It is true that many hats came down over 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 happenings, 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 resolution came to a hearing before the Appropriations Committee on the

afternoon of Tuesday, March 2ist.

  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 Committee,

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,

1911, 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 showering 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 mistakes 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!

   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

instructing 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 embarrassed 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 wayside 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.

 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 off 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.

   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 mounting ; 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 happenings, 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 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 carefully

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 lions 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, Alien and

Watson, worthy successors of Weber and Fields, Mutt and Jeff, 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 Alien, the inimitable, who dispensed food, philosophy, advice

and liver pills with an unerring impartiality, whose motto, which he had frequent occasion to

invoke, was: "Whatever you do, don't worry," and who, 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 Alien 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 London, and fell over a carefully constructed pile of tin plates, considerately

arranged by his tent mates just inside his tent door in anticipation 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.

Effective 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.

   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 Committee 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 Committee 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 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 committees 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 sometimes 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.



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 birthday. 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 1, 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 officiousness, 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 

Revolutionary 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 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 organization 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 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 responsibility 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 humbleness of spirit, yet with a proper pride,

set our standards high, not unmindful of an honorable past, not forgetful of our responsibility

for the future and oh, General Cole, if there's a row anywhere, please let us get into it.





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 September 3, 1912, Lieutenant Colonel

July 1, 1916 and Colonel June 22, 1917. 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.



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 1914 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, 1912, 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, 1912.

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. 23, 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.





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 Commander 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 Sergeant for instructions.



The fourth squad will dig the latrine and erect the necessary screen.



The fifth squad will construct an incinerator for disposing 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 commissioned officer 



Following arrival in camp, each squad will take its normal position when directed by the

Troop Commander.



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 commissioned 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., Marlborough, 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: Tuesday, July 9, at 8 P. M.; Tuesday,

July 16, 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

method for its performance, the sole faults arising from lack of instruction or previous 

experience in the easiest means of attaining 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 possible 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 Sergeant 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

exercised on a full stomach. Therefore, having locked the doors and stuffed the key hole against

all but our own Court Reporters-Ralph Wolf, we will proceed:



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

11th, 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. 

However, 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.



Foot-cavalry we were, however, in solemn earnest, when on May 3oth 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 dry! "



Early in July we saw a published report that the War Department 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 Connecticut River. I do not wish to weary

you with a dry report, for in looking back upon that week, your own memories will probably

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 Marshall, Lieut. Waterman, and Sergeants Hughes and Denton, and

other guides, counselors and friends, you marched out of Hartford 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 swashbuckling 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 you to judge which was the most addicted to the weed. I have

heard that Williams 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, Sunday

morning at Silver Lane to wave us a sad and fond farewell. 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 afternoon 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, and 

cleaning equipment, besides a general meeting to discuss the patrol problems of the preceding 

day. The evening ended with a prolonged song-fest 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 "unbeknowst 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 quivive 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

plundered 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 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 inappropriate for us all once more to tender him our hearty congratulations

and good wishes. May his shadow never grow less!



But to return to our story: Thursday, August 1st, 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" Alien 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 anything

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 away in gallant style. The camp having melted away, the 

equipment pied, and the enemy defeated, the victors not without 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 suffered

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 Waterman 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 coffee 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 surprised 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 downstream shad; and many a lusty trooper who started out stuffed, sleek 

and shining, returned home looking leathery, copper bottomed and double riveted.



The more serious comment on this trip may be summed up 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

disappointing. 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 Battalion 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

fortunately 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

favorably with those of preceding years, we can feel highly encouraged 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 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 instruction 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 property,

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 I2th 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 memorable 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.



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 following 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 intelligent 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 necessity of a small body of

intelligent and well-trained cavalry to the National Defense."



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 tautological? I suppose I might get a point or two from our 

distinguished 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 Governor, 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.



This expensive banquet occurred on April I2th. 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 Officers and Armory Committee took the Appropriations Committee over the Armory on

April 22d, and the latter committee made a favorable report on an appropriation of $35,000 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 suggested 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 18th, 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 excellent 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. about $11,000,000 against the surplus that once existed, and no particular

means in sight of paying the debt in this situation 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.



The stage for the next scene in the drama of the last eleven months is set in that quiet, but

celebrated village of the Connecticut Valley, East Haddam, the home of famous men the home, 

to be explicit, of Nathan Hale, Horace Johnson, and Harry Reynolds. 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 1." 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, perspiration 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 1 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 1 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 convalescing from pneumonia in the

hospital. The First Company Governor's Foot Guard Staff 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 performance 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 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 Alien, but the exigencies of the Mexican

situation necessitated the calling off 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 Hartford. Time: Four-thirty A. M., July

27, 1913. Members of Troop B Cavalry, C. N. G. discovered in various stages of dishabille,

hunger, haste, and happiness.



Edgar Waterman: Holy hemlock! That was the hardest hay I ever slept on.

Fred Woolley: Anybody seen my bridle? Arthur Alien: 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 maneuvers before did not expect a picnic, but as it

turned out most of you will 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, counselor, 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, and who fed us on crackers

and milk that tasted more like nectar and ambrosia than anything I, for one, have ever eaten.

Long life 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 Alien 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, incidentally, 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 

Middleboro, 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 Alien 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 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 affectionally 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 stenographer 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, and his old horse was

sidling along beside them, with his ears pricked up, looking at the cow and wondering what in

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 Alien 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 brou