USA > Massachusetts > The old First Massachusetts coast artillery in war and peace > Part 2
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the N. Y. 7th Reg., and in 1862 taken by all the organized militia of that state, in 1903 extended thruout the United States, and in 1916 officially substituted for all other titles in Massachusetts.
Why was it necessary for the Roxbury men to organize their company? Could not the U. S. regular army afford America sufficient protection in 1784? Regular army! So far as Congress could control the matter, there was no regu- lar army in 1784. A determined effort had been made the year previous to wipe the force entirely out of existence, to muster out every Continental remaining over from the Revolutionary war. Thru some oversight one single com- pany, that formerly commanded by Alexander Hamilton and now "Battery F of the 3d Field Artillery," had escaped. Perhaps because they were standing guard over valuable stores at West Point and elsewhere, perhaps because the mustering-out officer ran short of blank forms-for some unexplained reason one company survived. This single company constituted the entire U. S. army in 1784. This one company is the only military organization in America having continuous existence, which antedates the Massachu- setts Coast Artillery. Moreover the situation was only slightly better later. In 1787 there were only 1,200 regulars, in 1798, 2,100, and at the opening of the Civil War, with a national area almost equal to the present, less than 10,000. Were not Gen. Heath and the Roxbury men justified in taking steps to strengthen the forces of government?
If we may now resume the narrative, we note that the Dorchester Artillery, the 4th Company, was organized in 1786. Material was preparing out of which the future regi- ment might be built.
1786 and 1787 were years of threatening and storm in Massachusetts. In consequence of the war, people found
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themselves burdened with debts and taxes. They com- plained that the Governor's salary was too high, the senate aristocratic, the lawyers extortionate, and that the courts were instruments of oppression, especially in the collection of debts. By way of remedy they demanded the removal of the General Court from Boston, the relief of debtors, and the issue of a large amount of paper money. Daniel Shays, an ex-captain of the Continental army, placed himself at the head of a movement to secure these ends by force, and his effort has come down thru history as "Shays' rebellion."
In December, 1786, he appeared at Springfield with one thousand insurgents, resolved to break up the session of the supreme court. After forcing the adjournment of the ses- sion, the insurgents directed an attack against the arsenal in Springfield. Meanwhile the State government had sent Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, at the head of four thousand militia, amongst whom were included our artillery companies, to suppress the disorder ; and on Jan. 25, 1787,-six days after leaving Boston,-the troops arrived in season to beat off the insurgent attack. Shays and his followers were pursued as. far as Petersham, where on Feb. 9 all armed resistance was crushed out and the insurgents captured or dispersed. Since there was such abundant ground for this discontent, it is pleasing to know that the "rebels" were all pardoned, and Shays himself finally awarded a pension for his Revolution- ary services. Improved economic conditions due to the new Federal constitution soon removed all danger of such dis- order in the future. Please note, however, that winter cam- paigning in western Massachusetts is by no means an at- tractive holiday experience, and that the members of the command who engaged in this, the first, active service, manifested the same plucky devotion to duty as has char- acterized them ever since.
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When in 1788 the new United States constitution was rati- fied, Boston felt moved to celebrate the event. Gen. Ben- jamin Lincoln, who commanded the train-band division in the city, investigated and found that he had eight uniformed companies amongst his militia organizations. So the eight were directed to parade. The Dorchester Artillery were not present ; but the Roxbury and Boston companies had promi- nent places in the procession. There were three other com- panies present, infantry companies, which would have inter- ested anyone gifted with prophetic foresight. For just ninety years from that time, the three infantry companies were destined to unite with the two artillery in forming the Ist Regiment of today. Meanwhile, unconscious of the future, they are all parading in honor of the new Federal government; watch them. Grave, dignified men they are. And no wonder; for they are the social and political leaders of Boston-town. No one could hope for election to office in those days unless he had "done his bit" in the militia. They wore the Continental uniform, with cocked hats, blue coats having ample skirts, and white knickerbockers. In their movements they were majestic, slow, deliberate; seventy- five steps per minute were considered amply sufficient. It was not until 1891 that their hustling offspring completed the process of raising the military cadence to one hundred twenty per minute, with a pace thirty inches long. For weapons they carried smooth-bore flintlocks, which the dic- tionary tells us, were known as snaphaunces or "fusils," whence we have the term, "fusiliers." The musket was furnished by the State, and was the only part of the equip- ment so provided. Never mind if they were not very deadly,-they at least looked formidable. Our artillery companies drew their cannon from the "gun-house" on the common ; contrast this rough shed with the South Armory
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of today! After the martial exhibition was concluded, our forefathers betook themselves to the "Green Dragon," or the "Bunch of Grapes," or the "Exchange Coffee House " where coffee was by no means the limit, or some other popular tavern, for the military exercises which constituted the climax of the entire day.
A clear distinction existed between militia and volunteers in the foot branch of the service, the volunteers being desig- nated fusiliers or grenadiers or light infantry or rifles or cadets, and the militia being known as infantry. But the distinction was obscured in the "train of artillery." So much of technical qualification was required of the artillery- man and cavalryman that all companies of such troops had to meet the higher military standards of volunteers and were so classified. In such rosters as existed, it was customary to print the names of company officers of artillery and cav- alry, while such lists included only field officers in foot com- mands.
First mention of a battalion of artillery appears in the roster of the Ist division for 1790, when the four companies in Boston, Dorchester, Middlesex and Roxbury are so des- ignated. No field officer had yet been commissioned. This is the beginning of the Coast Artillery, the battalion and regimental organization having continued in unbroken exist- ence from 1789 to the present time. While under every militia law ever adopted by Congress, not only the Ist Com- pany but also the command as a larger unit might claim "ancient privileges" on the ground of continuous organiza- tion thruout these decades, it is just and right to state that the pride of the "Old First" has always been not to claim any privilege at all, except that of serving wherever and however it could be of the most use. At this date no bat- talion organization existed amongst the volunteer foot com-
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panies, each being an "independent" divisionary corps of infantry.
October, 1789, our companies were again in line, this time to receive and escort the President of the United States, George Washington. In October, 1793, a sadder duty sum- moned them forth. John Hancock, patriot, signer of the declaration of independence, Governor of Massachusetts, and President of the Continental Congress, had finished his long and noble career and gone to his rest. Boston loved and honored its chief citizen; the funeral parade, in which our companies participated, was an expression of heart-felt grief. The companies were again called out on July 4th, 1795, to help lay the corner-stone of the new State-house, the famous "Bulfinch front."
War clouds began to darken the political sky in 1794, war clouds generated by the titanic struggle between the French and their enemies thruout Europe. Controversies had been going on between us and both parties to the great European conflict; now this particular danger threatened from the French side. Altho most Americans had sympa- thized with the French in their revolutionary struggle, had worn tri-colored cockades and clamored for a French alli- ance, now French colors disappeared from view, men wore black, and "Hail Columbia," with "independence" for its "boast," became the popular song. As soon as America found itself involved in the threatened storm, Congress be- gan to take measures for defence and turned its attention to the militia. It is only in war-time that Congress can be induced to notice the citizen-soldiers. A law was passed May 9, 1794, directing the states to organize active regi- ments of militia and to prepare for eventualities. No action seems to have resulted from this first legislation ; and as the foreign danger intensified, a second act was passed in 1797,
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aiming to render the former law effective. Following the classical preferences of the times, the U. S. army had been rechristened, in 1792, the "legion." Each state must now organize a "legion" of its own. 80,000 was the figure set for the total strength of this force; and it is significant of Más- sachusetts' relative standing that the Commonwealth was directed to furnish 11,885 of the total-more than any other state.
Massachusetts, on June 6, 1794, directed commanders of train-band divisions to draft men from their brigades who should hold themselves in instant readiness for service, as the "minute-men" of 1775 had been selected and organized. The great prestige of George Washington, for he had con- sented to waive his seniority and to serve as Lieut .- General under Pres. Adams, helped to render this revival of the minute-men popular, and the fashionable designation of "legion" did not detract from its popularity.
On August 22, 1797, a supplementary order was issued, directing that a special regiment of such "legionaries" should be formed from the militia of each divison. The number of divisions having increased to ten, this called for ten regi- ments of active troops in Massachusetts and Maine.
While the order ostensibly affected the entire Common- wealth, in point of fact the only legionaries ever organized were in Boston. Brig .- Gen. John Winslow, a soldier of en- ergy and ability, in civil life a hardware dealer, was com- missioned to command the "legionary brigade" of Boston, and during the ten years of his incumbency the legion was so vital a factor in the city's military life that it became a fixture. Winslow's legionary brigade was organized in 1799, just as the war scare subsided. It consisted of legionary cavalry (one troop), a sub-legion of light infantry made up of two independent companies (the Fusiliers and the Bos-
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ton Light Infantry), and a sub-legion of artillery made up of the Boston and Columbian companies, now fully organ- ized as a battalion under Maj. Daniel Wild. The Roxbury and Dorchester companies did not join the legion, and now completed a battalion organization under Maj. James Rob- inson and were designated the "Battalion of Artillery, Ist Brigade, Ist Division." These two battalions, one within and the other without the legion, represent a splitting up of the 1789 battalion. On June 4, 1844, these two battalions, numbered Ist (the legionary) and 2d (the old Ist Brigade battalion) were to consolidate in the 5th Regiment of Artillery.
The legionary brigade lasted as long as Gen. Winslow continued in command. Its cavalry, light infantry and artil- lery sections continued to thrive; and in 1802, under the energetic leadership of Lt. Col. Robert Gardner, succeeded in 1804 by Thomas Badger, a regiment, consisting of three sub-legions of infantry, each commanded by a major, came into existence. In the artillery sub-legion, Maj. Wild was succeeded by Maj. John Bray in 1803, and by Maj. O. Johonnot in 1805. Meanwhile the Ist Brigade battalion of artillery was commanded by Maj. Robinson. In 1808 Gen. Winslow retired; and in 1809 the legionary brigade was re- designated "3d Brigade, Ist Division." Its three sub-legions of infantry became three infantry regiments, and these, as we shall see, contained companies destined later to form part of the Coast Artillery. The sub-legion of artillery became known as the "Battalion of Artillery, 3d Brigade," commanded by Maj. Johonnot, in 1812 by Maj. Nathan Parker, and in 1813 by Maj. William Harris. Maj. James Robinson was succeeded as commander of the Ist Brigade battalion by Maj. John Robinson in 1812, and the latter in 1814 by Maj. Isaac Gale, formerly Captain of the Roxbury
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Artillery. The 3d Brigade rendered one distinguished ser- vice to the city of Boston-it brought out and maintained Asa Fillebrown as leader of the brigade band. The 3d Brig- ade continued to be the most prominent element in Boston's militia until the reorganization of 1840.
No doubt the French war-scare and the formation of the legionary brigade stimulated militia development in Massa- chusetts. The Columbian Artillery, the 6th Company, was organized June 17, 1798; and the Washington Artillery, the 7th Company, on May 29, 1810. Happily the war clouds dissolved without doing serious damage to America. Mean- while the two battalions of artillery turned out to greet and receive President John Adams on the occasion of his visit to Boston.
Between the years of 1810 and 1819 and intermittently until 1855, Massachusetts state rosters contain a curious entry, "The Soul of the Soldiery." While one could scarcely guess the fact, this was a predecessor of the modern "train- ing school" for officers, and was maintained by the non- commissioned officers of all companies connected with the Legionary or 3d Brigade. No wonder that the Massachu- setts militia excelled the corresponding force in other states, with such a spirit stirring the breasts of the enlisted men.
By 1812 America did find itself involved in actual war. Statesmen had been laboring, and laboring successfully, for nearly a score of years to keep us at peace with France. Meanwhile circumstances conspired to stir up hostilities with France's great enemy ; and almost before men could realize the possibility of such a thing, we were engaged in the sec- ond war with England.
This is no place to discuss the cause of the struggle; Boston's artillery companies shared the sentiment of their section and regretted the condition of affairs. The war was
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unpopular in New England. But the members of the artil- lery companies, being soldiers, did "not reason why" and did put themselves into an attitude of preparedness.
Weeks ensued which men would be glad to forget. Regi- ments of regulars were enlisted in Boston and transported to the Canadian frontier as part of the successive invading forces. After the lapse of months word came back of American defeat, of the incompetence displayed by un- trained American officers, of hundreds of British putting to flight thousands of Americans. Boston itself lay open to hostile attack, with fortifications mostly in ruins, and such as there were, ungarrisoned. Then came the naval victories won by our gallant frigates, and Massachusetts breathed more freely. The enthusiasm which was craving an oppor- tunity for expression found vent in ovations to victorious sailors. During the first two years of hostilities no attack was made against the New England coast, and we now know that England deliberately refrained because of the friendly sentiments of the New England people.
The year 1814 brought a great change in the situation. England had downed Napoleon, and was at liberty to em- ploy her mammouth resources in dealing with enemies else- where. Massachusetts, because it was part of America, and more particularly because its harbors served as a base of operations for the American navy, was to feel the conse- quences of war. Invasion commenced in Maine and threat- ened to roll southward down the coast; immunity was at an end; and an attack was actually made on Gloucester. Gov. Caleb Strong waited as long as he dared, expecting the Federal Government to take the steps necessary for defend- ing our coast. When it finally became evident that Wash- ington had its hands full elsewhere and could do nothing for Boston, Gov. Strong acted.
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As the service was to be guard duty and the erecting of fortifications, and was likely to continue thru an in- definite number of months, larger units of the militia were not called out as such. No regiment went as a whole. It seemed better to draft companies, platoons, and even squads. A guard was maintained at Chelsea bridge to keep off raid- ing parties. After Sept. 8, 1814, all militia organizations were held in readiness; and between that date and Novem- ber, when the British fleet finally sailed away, every mem- ber of the five artillery companies gave some weeks to active service. Fort Independence on Castle Island and Fort Warren on Governor's Island, small works of brick and earth, constituted Boston's principal defences; these were garrisoned, and put in repair. How tremendously modern ordnance out-ranges that of a century ago! The present Fort Warren, on Georges Island, erected in 1850, is today not nearly far enough from the city it defends, not far enough out at sea; neither is its armament as long-ranged as it should be. Yet contrasted with the earlier Fort War- ren, it is very remote from Boston, and is armed with guns able to do execution at almost infinite distance. The Com- monwealth added to the defences of the harbor; land was purchased on Jeffries Point, East Boston, and another fort erected to support Independence and Warren. The legis- lature, out of compliment to the Governor, named the new work Fort Strong. Here too one must be careful not to confuse the old fort with that of the same name today on Long Island.
Historians agree in pronouncing the militia a failure in the second war with England. It must be confessed that there is much ground for such a verdict; in fact, the regu- lar army was also, for the most part, a sad failure in the same war. But in all fairness an exception should be made
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of the Massachusetts militia which manned the coast de- fences of Boston and kept the British fleet outside the har- bors of the state. The Roxbury Artillerymen and their com- rades in sister companies were prompt in responding, efficient in "digging" and other military labor, and entirely vigilant in guard duty. Their service in 1814 goes far to render the name of militia honorable.
One moment of relaxation came during the war when the battalions paraded in Boston as escort to President James Madison.
The year 1815 marked a turning point in American mili- tary history, and the artillery companies of Boston felt its influence. Danger from foreign foes was at an end; the Indians were then so far to the westward as no longer to be a serious menace. America felt free to enter upon a career of peaceful conquest-and to get rich. It is fair to note that England also began a similar stage at the same time; perhaps there was some reflex influence exerted by the mother country. The first symptom of the change was the decay of the train-band. Whereas militia service had hitherto been regarded seriously, as the most important duty of citizenship, now men laughed at it. We begin to find reference to the "corn-stalk" militia.
Decay was gnawing at the vitals of the train-band system. Ridiculous cartoons may be seen in the museum of the A. & H. Art. Co. (Matthews' "Militia Folk" and others) showing what a farce the institution had become. Men attended muster in outrageously improper clothing, armed with sticks, pitchforks, or nothing at all, and obviously treated this aspect of their patriotic duty as a gigantic bit of buf- foonery. Quarterly training or muster-day became an occa- sion more noted for the rum then consumed than for the drilling done. Early temperance societies recognized this
THE AUTHOR
MAJ. JOHN J. SPOONER Page 12
THE TRAIN-BAND, 1832. WHY IT WAS ABOLISHED
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state of affairs by including in their abstinence pledges an exception in favor of muster-day ; it was not "intemperate" to be drunk then. In our forefathers' opinion this gradual abandonment of compulsory universal military service was regarded as a mark of social progress. Will such be the ultimate verdict of history ?
Increased importance attached to the Roxbury Artillery and other volunteer companies as the train-band became in- creasingly inactive. Let us inspect them, bearing in mind that they are now the chief military reliance of the Common- wealth. Discipline, judged by modern standards, may not have been strict. Men came and went pretty much at will. But they had some discipline, while their fellow-citizens did not know what the word meant. No "basic course for of- ficers" as yet existed, and it is a fact that the higher officers were apt to be chosen more for political than military rea- sons. As the rank increased, the military attainments were apt to diminish; but amongst the company officers were found many brave and skilful soldiers. Uniform fashions had been modified by the recent war-now companies wore the shako on the head, at first of leather and later of bear- skin, the high buttoned swallow-tail coat, white webbing cross-belts with brass breast-plates, and long trousers. Each company had a distinctive uniform of its own, as different as possible from all others ; and this diversity persisted even down until after the Civil War. It was a column of com- panies, and judging from appearances, of extremely "sepa- rate" companies, that paraded to escort and welcome Lafayette in April and again on August 30, 1824; and to lay the corner-stone of Bunker Hill monument in 1825; and to inter President John Adams in July, 1826; and for the funeral of Gov. William Eustis. An enthusiastic reception was accorded by these companies to President Andrew
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Jackson, June 24, 1833. These soldiers may not have been as efficient as modern troops must be; but they made a splendid appearance on parade; and beyond question were a powerful military asset when judged by the standard of their own times.
An attempt was made to increase efficiency by issuing books of drill regulations available for all, instead of de- pending upon oral instruction. In the earliest days drill was regulated by Prussian and French systems of tactics. The first book of tactics ever prepared in English for general popular issue was written and published in 1813 by Gen. Isaac Maltby of the Massachusetts militia, for the use of Massachusetts troops. The necessity for conciseness and speed was not then recognized. For a battalion to pass from line to close column, the drill regulations of 1911 in- dicate commands as follows: "Close on first company, March, Second company, Squads right, column half right, March." Under Maltby's system this was heard: "Bat- talions will form close column of platoons on the right, in rear of the first platoon, Shoulder arms, Battalion, Form close column of platoons in rear of the right, Right face, March." Scott's famous tactics were adopted in 1834.
Maj. Joseph E. Smith succeeded to the command of the 3d Brigade battalion of artillery in 1817, Maj. Thomas J. Lobnell in 1823, Maj. Samuel Lynes in 1826, Maj. Aaron Andrews in 1830, and Maj. Horace Bacon of Cambridge in 1832. By June 29, 1834, the battalion had grown to four companies, and was for a year elevated to the dignity of a regiment. John L. White, the popular proprietor of the Union House (29 Union St.), was made Colonel, and thus became the first man ever to hold that rank in the Coast Artillery. Col. White's military career had been meteoric; in 1831 he was elected Cornet (2d Lt.) of Light Dragoons in
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the 3d Brigade; 1832 saw him Major of the Ist Infantry in the same brigade; in 1834 he became Colonel of that regi- ment; and ten weeks later, on the date given above, he transferred and was commissioned Colonel of the new artil- lery regiment. However the time was not yet ripe for regi- mental dignity. When a few months later Col. White removed from Boston and resigned his command, the organ- ization was allowed to slip back and again become a battalion. Maj. John Hoppen commanded in 1836. On April 24, 1840, the battalion was awarded the number "Ist." In 1841 William B. Perkins was elected Major, the last man to command it as a separate organization.
Meanwhile the Ist Brigade battalion was commanded by the following Majors: 1818 Joseph Hastings of Roxbury, 1822 Robert Stetson of Dorchester (an ex-Captain of the Ist Company), 1825 John Parks of Dorchester, and 1829 Jonathan White, Jr., of Weymouth. In 1831 the strength of the battalion was reduced from three to two companies, and these were temporarily attached to an infantry regi- ment (the Ist of the Ist Brigade). On June 26, 1834, the battalion organization was restored, a new company having been formed, with John Webber, an ex-Captain of the Ist Company as Major. Maj. John W. Loud of Weymouth was elected to command in 1836, and Maj. Webber again
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