USA > Massachusetts > The old First Massachusetts coast artillery in war and peace > Part 11
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Upon the local company fell an especially cruel test. First, their new State armory came in the path of the flames and was swept to ruins-while the troops, on duty in the streets, were aware that their own civilian clothing in the lockers was going up in smoke. Worse yet, the fire spread until it involved the homes of many militiamen. The sol- diers could hardly keep their thoughts on their work, while their own loved ones were in danger, and their own house- hold effects in need of removal to places of safety; their minds wandered homeward-but the men themselves quietly kept their posts. There never has been any question about the discipline of the Corps in seasons of emergency; the 5th Company proved true to the ancient traditions.
Companies of the Corps had been visiting Washington at inauguration time ever since 1835; and almost the entire command went in honor of T. Roosevelt in 1905; finally, in 1909, the Corps went as a regiment and participated in the inaugural parade of President William H. Taft. Partic-
COL. CHARLES P. NUTTER Page 143
COL. WALTER E. LOMBARD Page 145
COL. E. DWIGHT FULLERTON Page 147
COL. GEORGE F. QUINBY Page 151
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ipants in such a parade invite comparison between them- selves and troops from many other states-military critics, such as Maj. Gen. J. Franklin Bell and Brig. Gen. E. M. Weaver, were unanimous in asserting that the Mass. Coast Artillery Corps and the West Point Cadets bore off the palm for fine military appearance, not even the N. Y. 7th doing as well.
By 1909 the Corps had settled in its custom of holding coast defence exercises at the harbor forts; consequently, it was with disappointment and even resentment that they found themselves ordered to serve as infantry in the so- called Cape maneuvers in August of that year. A difference of opinion had arisen between the Adjutant General of Mas- sachusetts and the Corps officers concerning money matters ; and this tour of duty was laid on the latter as a penalty. Soldiers must obey orders; however irksome and unwel- come the service, no one in the "blue army" could truthfully say that the "red-legged infantry" fell below their comrades in efficiency.
Col. Walter E. Lombard was in command from March 17, 1910, until Feb. 21, 1915. At the latter date he became a Major General on the retired list. Col. Lombard had been Captain of the 6th Company during the Spanish War.
In June, 1911, the War Department detailed a regular army officer to the Corps as Inspector-instructor, Capt. Russell P. Reeder being the first to perform that duty; at once the standards of instruction were improved, and the artillery work profited greatly from the presence of such a skilled teacher. Sergeant-instructors, four in number, were presently added as assistants to the commissioned officer who performed the chief duties. An immediate result of the Inspector-instructor's work was the wonderful shooting done by the 4th, 12th and other companies during the 1911 tour
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of duty. After that date all officers were required to qualify in the technical part of their work by passing regular War Department examinations. The fourth officer to fill this detail, Capt. William H. Wilson, commenced service in Jan., 1915, and soon succeeded in systematizing the work of drill and instruction to a point far beyond anything previously attempted; so that his term of duty brought about a great increase of Corps efficiency. Capt. Wilson was especially qualified for this service in that he had himself been a Na- tional Guardsman, and had entered the U. S. army from a New York regiment. Capt. Wilson not only emphasized the artillery work; he also laid stress upon matters thitherto slighted,-company administration, higher infantry, and gunners' instruction.
Again in March, 1913, the entire Corps made its custom- ary pilgrimage to Washington for the purpose of partici- pating in the Presidential inauguration, this time paying the honor to Woodrow Wilson. As in 1909, so now, they were most enthusiastically praised for their fine military appear- ance and splendid marching. On May 30, 1913, the Gate City Guard of Atlanta, Ga., visited Boston as guests of the Tigers. 1913 was the fifteenth anniversary of the regiment's service in the Spanish war; and on Sept. 20, Col. Lombard tendered a review on the Common to the veterans. On that occasion active officers marched with the veterans, in the positions which they had filled fifteen years previously. Lt. Col. Woodman was in command of the veterans, and Col. Lombard marched as Captain of the 6th Company; while Maj. Shedd led the actives. After the parade, there was a collation, followed by motion pictures, in the Armory.
So well had the 5th Company acquitted themselves at the Chelsea fire that they were one of the commands called out to maintain order at Salem when, on June 25, 1914, that
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ancient city was threatened with destruction; the emer- gency was similar to that of 1908. To the Chelsea men fell the duty of organizing a huge camp of refugees at Forest River park; and they remained in service seven days.
Joseph Hooker was born Nov. 13, 1814, and exactly one hundred years later, his loyal admirers, among whom were numbered the officers of the Coast Artillery Corps, paraded, and participated in a great meeting at Tremont Temple in honor of his memory. Capt. Isaac P. Gragg, former Captain of the Ist Company, was always the prime mover in organ- izing celebrations in memory of Hooker, and he justly felt that the event of 1914 was the culmination of his life-work. Alas! Capt. Gragg did not long survive the centennial of his beloved commander.
Edward Dwight Fullerton was elected Colonel Feb. 9, 1915, and continued in command until retired as Brigadier General, January 16, 1917; he had served as Ist Lieutenant of the 8th Company during the Spanish War.
The "House of Governors" was in session at Boston in Aug., 1915, and Gov. David I. Walsh ordered a mobilization of the militia on Aug. 26, as a compliment to the State's guests. As the authorized strength of the companies had recently been raised, the Boston papers commented upon the appearance of the Corps, in fifteen platoons of twenty files, as "wonderful," not only for numbers, but for steady marching.
President Wilson called the militia out for service on the Mexican border June 18, 1916. Massachusetts shared with New Jersey the honor of placing her full quota of organ- izations at the post of danger in the shortest time ; and since the Massachusetts quota was far larger than that of New Jersey, her record was the more creditable. On the ninth day after the troops were summoned to arms, they started for
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Texas. Of course the Coast Artillery could not be included in this great national mobilization, as they might not safely be spared from their stations at the forts. But on June 26, the day the mobile troops started south, the officers and non- commissioned officers of the Corps were assembled at the Framingham mobilization camp ("Camp Whitney") for the purpose of drilling the hundreds of recruits there gath- ered. The officers and non-commissioned officers of the 6th Inf. also took part in this work of instruction. No recruits for Mass. regiments ever constituted a finer personnel than those eager to have a share in the Mexican service. Coming from all over the state, they were uniformly willing, sober, and quick to learn, in order that they might reach the front as soon as possible. The Corps became responsible for the "2d Provisional Regiment," consisting of about one thou- sand men, destined for the 8th and 9th Inf. Regiments, and also for the cavalry, machine-guns, supply companies, field artillery, and even for the regimental bands. Wonderfully rapid progress was made, so that in two weeks, the recruits were equipped, and drilled, and ready to go forward. The Corps' recent training in company administration stood them in good stead and made possible such rapid work. Certain officers of the Corps were drafted into the U. S. service, in order to accompany the recruits on the southward journey.
With grave disorder on the Mexican border, and with the greatest war of the world's history approaching its crisis abroad, conditions were once more favorable for Congres- sional action in behalf of the militia. Since threatenings of danger were loud and insistent, the legislators were induced to take an additional forward step in rendering America's citizen-soldiers efficient. The National Defence Act, as the new law was termed, completed the process of federalization by placing the militia fully under War Department control,
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and also provided a modest rate of remuneration for armory drills, thus making it an object for men to maintain regular attendance. Massachusetts had done what she could to encourage the passage of the law, by herself adopting, dur- ing the prolonged debate on the National Defence Act, a State law offering to hand over her militia to the Federal government. Indeed by her provision for remunerating men for attendance at rendezvous drills, the Commonwealth had taken her place beside Ohio five years previously as a pioneer in paying her militia. The legislation became ef- fective on June 3, 1916, and went fully into operation on the first of the ensuing month.
Right in the midst of their tour, on June 30, the officers and men were asked to take the new Federal oath, under provisions of this act. To the officers the oath was admin- istered at Framingham, while the enlisted men were assem- bled in their armories that night, for the purpose of swearing in. Almost without exception, and then always with valid excuse, the members of the Corps assumed this additional obligation and became Federal soldiers. Headquarters, band, enlisted specialists, and twelve companies-the entire ยท Corps-were, on June 30, recognized by the War Depart- ment as federalized National Guardsmen and were entered upon the U. S. payrolls. Of all the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, the Coast Artillery Corps were the only organization to comply fully with the new requirements and be recog- nized as a unit.
Companies of the Corps volunteered their services in con- nection with exhibitions for the benefit of the Mass. Volun- teer Aid Association, which was raising funds to relieve distress amongst the families of National Guardsmen then at the border. An unusually fine military display was given at the ball-grounds in connection with a benefit ball-
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game between the Red Sox and the St. Louis teams on July 17.
Many Corps officers were detailed for recruiting duty during the summer and autumn of 1916, in an effort to raise the numbers of the regiments at the border to full war-strength. Consequently the coast defence exercises at the forts in August, 1916, were seriously handicapped. Many men were forced to perform double duty. In spite of this limitation, splendid artillery scores were made by the 2d, the 6th and other Companies, the 6th Company earn- ing the coveted Knox trophy.
Successive steps followed rapidly during the summer and autumn of 1916 to render effective the process of federaliza- tion. By order of Gov. Samuel W. McCall on July 17, the title "Massachusetts Volunteer Militia" was discontinued, and the force redesignated "National Guard, Massachu- setts." In October the War Department authorized the companies to increase their strength from seventy-eight to one hundred twelve officers and men; new regulations es- tablished standards of drill and instruction with which or- ganizations must comply in order to qualify for pay ; a Na- tional Guard reserve was created by transfer of men who had completed their three years of active service ; promotion requirements were established for officers; and an assistant Inspector-instructor was detailed to the Corps, Capt. Hugh S. Brown taking his place beside Capt. Wilson. While the new National Guard regulations raised the standard and "tightened the reins," it is a tribute to the high grade of efficiency already attained by the Corps that Federal control caused no revolutionary changes of method in the organiza- tion. As part of the federalizing process, on Dec. 9, 1916, the Militia Bureau of the War Department redesignated the command, and abolished the word Corps from its title.
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Thereafter it was the "Massachusetts Coast Artillery, Na- tional Guard." On January 16, 1917, the organization re- ceived back its old and well-loved designation, and became the Ist Coast Defense Command, Massachusetts Coast Ar- tillery, N. G .; once more Massachusetts could speak about her senior regiment as "The Old First."
George F. Quinby, a former Lieutenant of the 7th Com- pany and Captain of the 2d Company, and Major during the Spanish War, became Colonel, January 20, 1917. The events of Col. Quinby's administration,-our break with Germany on February 3, the "armed neutrality," the 5th Company's good fortune in being first of all the command to engage in active service when, for twenty-four hours they guarded the electric power-system of Chelsea against hostile interference, the declaration of war on Good Friday, April 6, and the Old First's service in the war, the revival and establishment of compulsory universal military service -must form the subject-matter of another chapter to be written at some later day.
CHAPTER X
FINALLY
If it is a long time from 1784 to 1917, it is also a long way from the independent companies of artillery and light infantry of the earlier time to the present Coast Artillery ; the militia of one hundred thirty years ago could not recog- nize itself in the National Guard of today. When in 1792 Congress passed the first militia law, it commenced a process of federalization which was to progress by successive stages until its completion in the National Defence Act of 1916; with federalization came efficiency.
In the beginning, volunteer companies which owned uni- forms separated themselves from the train-band of their day, and assumed duties and responsibilities outside of what the State demanded from every citizen. The train-band drilled not more than four times a year, and mainly on the fourth Wednesday of May-the volunteers at least thrice or fourfold that amount. In order the more easily to dis- tinguish themselves from the train-band, the volunteers be- came artillery or light infantry or grenadiers or rifles or cavalry; and each class sought proficiency in some special kind of drill.
Boston's companies of artillery were associated in a small battalion several years before the light infantry com- panies were willing to relinquish their independence; and so our regimental history begins in the artillery branch. Presently, in the days of the "legionary brigade," regimental spirit began to manifest itself among the light infantry com- panies, resulting in the Sub-legion of light infantry. The
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artillery battalion became most famous as the "Fighting First" of Civil War times, and is today primarily repre- sented by the Ist Company. From the light infantry Sub- legion there ultimately developed the old "Tiger" Ist Regi- ment, of which the 2d Company is today the senior repre- sentative. Presently a drift set in from the infantry com- mand to the artillery regiment, one company transferring after another, until even the regimental number itself passed from the former to the latter; this process is illustrated by the career of the 3d Company. Eventually Plymouth and Bristol counties made their valuable contribution to the regimental composition-the remnants of the 3d and 4th Regiments-as represented today by the 4th Company. The consolidation of 1878 welded all these elements into a single, compact, unified body, the Coast Artillery of today. While the old regiment have come under complete Federal control, and hold place in the first line of the U. S. Army, they have not in the least abated their life-long loyalty to the State which gave them birth.
"The National Guard is not only the reserve for the regular army; it is also the reserve for the police, the fire department, and life-saving service. Its members are gen- uine soldiers of peace." (Curtis Guild.) Twelve different times have units of the regiment been called out by the Commonwealth to maintain public order. On many other occasions the companies were warned to be in readiness ; indeed the headquarters of the command is the most sensi- tive barometer for registering the approach of social dis- order. Twelve times the companies actually marched forth. Curtis Guild's remark about the militia was intended to apply especially to military service in connection with great and disastrous conflagrations ; five times have the regiment performed such duty.
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But after all, it is war-time which tests the soldier. If he fails to respond in his country's hour of need, his other vir- tues are of small value. Measured by this test, regimental patriotism has shown itself to be trustworthy. In the days just prior to the attack upon Fort Sumpter, there were in existence seventeen companies which were destined some- time to become associated in the present Coast Artillery. In the seventeen companies were twelve hundred members. By some process of magic, of patriotic magic, when the alarm of war sounded, the twelve hundred militiamen mul- tiplied themselves into no less than seven thousand five hundred volunteers. The "Old First" never failed in sea- sons of public need; they were always a fighting regiment.
"Vigilantia," the regimental motto, is another name for watchfulness, for preparedness. As if the choice of a motto were prophetic, or at least significant of the regimental char- acter, the Coast Artillery have always managed to be so fully prepared that they were able to get into active service amongst the very leaders. No troops were more prompt in reaching the post of danger than the "minute men of '61"; and amongst them were our companies in the 3d and 4th and 5th and 6th Regiments. A few weeks later the Ist Mass. was the the first long-term regiment to be mustered in thruout the entire United States, the first not only in the Civil War, but in any war. Again in 1898, when National Guard regiments everywhere were actively competing for priority in volunteering, the "Ist Heavies" managed to reach their station at Fort Warren, and then to be mustered in as a regiment, before any of their rivals in Massachusetts or elsewhere. Three times, at least, was "Vigilantia" trans- lated into action.
Veterans of the old regiment have organized themselves to perpetuate cherished traditions of the past. Each of the
0
MORTAR BATTERY
NIGHT PRACTICE
DAYCHURCH
ERDICES
1.CH. FEWAS REVIDAES
THE CHAPLAIN IN ACTION, 1916
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"Civil War commands is represented by a veteran associa- tion-the Ist, the "Minute Men," the 13th, the 24th, the 42d in eastern and western sections, the 43d and others. As old age comes on with passing time, it is inevitable that associa- tions of war veterans must become less numerous and less active each year. The Coast Artillery take a real interest in the Hooker Association and the Stevenson Memorial Association. Amongst the companies, live veteran organ- izations are maintained by graduates of the Roxbury City Guard, the Boston Light Infantry (the Tiger Veteran Association, incorporated March 28, 1882), the Fusiliers, and the Pierce Lt. Guard. Indeed the Fusiliers have been a prolific source of veteran associations. The first, the Fusilier Veteran Association, was organized by leading members of the company, including five ex-Captains, in April, 1878, at the time when the company was about to pass from the Ist to the 5th Reg., and is today in full vigor and prosperity, retaining the old red-coat uniform. When this association had opened its membership to others than actual veterans, on Aug. 2, 1900, certain graduates formed a new organization of 3d Company veterans, the Independ- ent Boston Fusilier Veterans. Their numbers were small, and on July 2, 1906, in order to provide a supply of new material, they invited veterans of other Ist Reg. companies to join, and thus became transformed into the "Ist Reg. M. V. M. Veterans." The latter body now has one hundred forty members. Joe Hooker Post, No. 23, G. A. R., of Boston, and Theodore Winthrop Post, No. 35, of Chelsea, were made up largely of Ist Regiment veterans; and were always in friendly and helpful relations with the active com- mand. With our wealth of noble heritage from the past, comprising as we do all that remains of the old "Legionary Brigade" and its successor, the 3d Brigade of the Ist Divi-
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sion, once Boston's pride, and including all the 3d and 4th Regiment organizations having continuous history, it is desirable that the Coast Artillery should have an active asso- ciation of veterans which may combine the forces now scat- tered amongst the company associations; the provision in the National Defence act for a "reserve battalion" seems to open a door of possibility.
Such a history as this can have no conclusion, it can only halt for the moment; while the pages were in press, the regiment was summoned by the Nation to perform mili- tary duty. The fruit of a noble past is a useful' present. The soul of the "Old Regiment," like John Brown's of which they taught America to sing, is "marching on."
"Whatever grand deeds others do,
The 'Old First' still shall lead."
APPENDIX I GENEALOGY OF THE COAST ARTILLERY The present companies and their predecessors
THE THREE-YEAR CIVIL WAR FIRST REGIMENT
1789, Batl. of Art., Ist Div. Suffolk. 1794, Art. Batl., Ist Bri., Ist Div. (a) Aug. 22, 1797, Sub-legion of Art. and (b) three companies became Batl. of Art., Ist Bri., Ist Div. (a) Mch. 12, 1810, Sub-legion became Batl. Art., 3d Bri., Ist Div. June 26, '34, Reg. Art., 3d Bri., Ist Div. '36 Batl. Art., 3d Bri., Ist Div. Apr. 24, '40, Ist Batl. Art., Ist Bri., Ist Div. (b) 1831 companies of Batl. Art., Ist Bri., Ist Div., attached to Ist Reg. Inf., Ist Bri., Ist Div. June 26, 1834, again Batl. Art., Ist Bri., Ist Div. Apr. 24, '40, 2d Batl. Art., Ist Bri., Ist. Div. June 4, '44, Batls. united in 5th Reg. Art., Ist Bri., Ist Div. Feb. 26, '55, 2d Reg. Inf. Jan. 24, '61, Ist Reg. Inf. 1862, 42d Reg. Inf. May 18, '66, Ist Reg. Inf., Ist Bri. July 6' '76, Ist Batl. Inf., 2d Bri. Dec. 3, '78, Ist Reg. Inf., Ist Bri. Jan. I, '97, Ist Reg. Heavy Art. Nov. I, 1905, Corps of Coast Art. Nov. 15, '07, Coast Art. Corps. July 17, '16, "M. V. M." changed to "N. G., Mass." Jan. 16, '17, Ist Coast Defense Command, Mass. Coast Artillery, National Guard.
Ist (D)-Roxbury Art. organized Mch. 22, 1784, re- designated City Gd. Nov. 24, '57. 3 cos. in Civil War. Re- designated Ist Company, 1905.
2d (K)-(1) Washington Lt. Gds. or Inf. transferred from G Ist Inf. '59, disbanded '59. (2) Chadwick Lt. Inf. organized '61, disbanded '64. (3) Ware Oct., '62, disbanded
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Nov. II, '64. (4) 8Ist Unat. Co. '66, disbanded '76. (5) Boston Light Infantry transferred from A 4th Batl. Inf. '78, redesignated 2d Company, 1905.
3d (G)-(1) Bay State Art., Cambridge, 1853, dis. 1854. (2) '55, dis. '57. (3) Fusiliers from F Ist Inf. Mch. I, '59; 7th Unat. Co .; Apr. 13, '64, 25th Unat. Co. 5 cos. in Civil War. To D 5th Inf. Dec. 3, '78. (4) Taunton Lt. Gds. from C 3d Inf. '78, dis. '84. (5) Natick '84, to L 9th Inf. '88. (6) Fusiliers from D 5th Inf. Mch. 26, '88, to 3d Company, 1905.
4th (E)-(1) Dorchester Art. 1786, dis. 1844. (2) Cow- din Art. 1851. (3) '54 American Art. (4) '56 Lafayette Gd. (5) Pulaski Gds. from I 1859, dis. 1864. (6) dis. Nov. 7, '62. (7) Oct. '62, dis. Nov. II, '64. (8) Ist Unat. Co. 1864, to E '66, dis. '76. (9) New Bedford City Gds. from E 3d Inf. Dec. 3, '78, to 4th Company, 1905.
5th (H)-(1) Shields Art., Dorchester 1853, dis. 1855. (2) Mechanic Rifles from H Ist Inf., dis. '59. (3) Ward- well's Tigers '61, to F 5th Inf. '61, dis. '61. (4) Chelsea Volunteers '61, Apr. 19, dis. '64. (5) Oct., '62, dis. Aug., '63. (6) July 20, '64, dis. Nov. II, '64. (7) Chelsea Rifles, 4th Unat. Co., '63, to H May 18, '66, to L 8th Inf. Dec. 3, '78, to H 8th Inf. Dec. 21, '78. (8) Standish Gds., Plymouth from H 3d Inf., '78, dis. '83; (reorganized as D 5th Inf. '88). (9) Chelsea Rifles from H 8th Inf. June II, '83, to 5th Company, 1905.
6th (B)-(1) Columbian Art. June 17, 1798, dis. 1855. (2) Union Gds., E. Boston, transferred from H Ist Inf. & B 3d Batl. Inf. 1855, dis. 1864. (3) dis. Nov. 7, '62. (4) Medway Oct. '62, dis. Nov. 1I, '64. (5) 9th Unat. '64 to B '66, dis. Feb. 7, '72. (6) from C Sept. 20, '72, dis. '76. (7) Massachusetts Guards from B 4th Batl. Inf. '78, to 6th Company, 1905.
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7th (C)-(1) Washington Art. May 29, '10, Lt. Gds. 1855, to K 6th Inf. 1861, dis. '61. (2) to K 4th & 29th Inf., dis. '64. (3) North End True Blues from L '61, dis. '64. (4) dis. Nov. 7, '62. (5) Oct. '62, dis. Nov. 1I, '64. (6) 45th Unat. E. Boston, '66, to B '72. (7) Claflin Gds. from L Feb. 20, '72, to C 5th Inf. '78. (8) Pierce Lt. Guard from C 4th Batl. Inf. '78, to 7th Company, 1905.
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