USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Concord > History of Concord, New Hampshire, from the original grant in seventeen hundred and twenty-five to the opening of the twentieth century, Volume I > Part 72
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91
47
67.
2.14
2.14
August.
91
68.4
3.62
3.62
September.
SS
35
62.3
.76
.76
October.
80
26
49.1
1.79
3
.20
1.99
November.
63
13
37.2
2.18
7
.59
2.77
December.
59
-17
28.
2.51
18
1.46
3.97
Year.
1884
91
-17
46.5
28.04
98
8.55
36.59
1885
January.
61
-17
21.1
2.25
21
2.20
4.45
February.
44
-11
15.7
2.00
13
1.50
3.50
March.
56
-11
23.3
.15
11
.73
.88
April.
SS
19
47.7
2.44
1
.10
2.54
May.
85
27
55.4
2.18
2.18
June.
88
39
64.5
4.85
4.85
July
91
50
69.3
2.15
2.15
August.
S4
39
64.4
5.32
5.32
September.
82
36
56.6
.96
.96
October.
73
27
49.4
3.63
3.63
November.
63
4
39.5
2.97
6
.68
3.65
December.
58
3
28.2
2.42
15
1.18
3.60
Year.
1885
91
-17
44.7
31.32
67
6.39
37.71
1886
January.
57
-20
23.5
2.94
21
1.98
4.92
February.
65
-13
23.1
3.84
4
.43
4.27
March.
60
-- 8
31.9
2.10
12
1.17
3.27
April.
86
23
50.4
1.58
T
.08
1.66
May.
80
32
56.
2.22
2.22
June.
79
43
62.1
2.48
2.48
July.
92
46
67.7
2.56
2.56
August.
89
42
66.2
3.49
3.49
September.
84
35
59.2
4.25
4.25
October.
78
21
49.8
2.66
2.66
November.
72
17
39.1
3.24
5
.57
3.81
December.
49
-1
23.7
1.62
22
1.68
3.30
Year.
1886
92
-20
46.2
32.98
64
5.91
38.89
1887
January.
49
-19
19.1
1.18
27
2.17
3.35
February.
50
-S
24.1
2.25
29
2.61
4.86
March.
57
-4
28.1
1.54
20
1.50
3.04
April.
77
14
41.4
2.36
8
.58
2.94
May.
92
37
60.3
2.33
2.33
June.
89
41
64.1
4.56
4.56
July.
93
56
73.7
7.84
7.84
August.
83
45
64.5
7.68
7.68
September.
79
32
56.4
.82
.82
October.
70
22
48.8
1.71
1.71
November.
72
16
37.9
3.70
3.70
December.
57
-2
29.7
2.56
16
1.06
3.62
Year.
1887
93
-19
45.8
38.53
100
7.92
46.45
May.
S4
30
54.8
3.07
3.07
676
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
TEMPERATURE-Degrees.
PRECIPITATION-Inches.
Maxi- mum.
Mini- mum.
Mean.
Rain- fall.
Snow- fall.
Melted snow.
Total.
1888
January.
40
-16
14.8
1.34
38
3.59
4.93
February,
56
-- 12
23.5
2.17
17
1.52
3.69
March.
56
2
28.8
2.02
32
2.90
4.92
April,
86
15
41.5
2.07
8
.77
2.84
May.
81
29
54.5
4.48
4.48
June.
94
42
66.
2.57
2.57
July.
85
49
66.7
.96
.96
August.
89
45
66.8
3.67
3.67
September.
76
28
57.2
10.97
10.97
October.
64
26
43.8
5.60
T
.03
5.63
November.
74
3
38.8
3.78
5
.37
4.15
December.
54
-4
29.9
2.83
5
.69
3.52
Year.
18SS
94
-16
44.4
42.46
105
9.87
52.33
1889
January.
56
-3
29.2
2.11
13
1.71
3.82
February.
50
-14
21.2
.94
12
.84
1.78
March.
61
8
35.3
2.21
4
.30
2.51
April.
79
23
48.6
1.79
3
.30
2.09
May.
92
33
59.6
2.46
2.46
June.
85
44
66.6
4.21
4.21
July.
85
51
67.8
5.63
5.63
August.
82
46
64.7
1.57
1.57
September.
82
37
61.1
3.86
3.86
October.
71
17
45.1
4.21
4.21
November.
66
16
40.3
4.83
2
.15
4.98
December.
58
0
31.4
3.20
9
.68
3.88
Year.
1889
92
-14
47.7
37.02
43
3.98
41.00
1890
January.
61
-7
25.
1.47
13
1.41
2.88
February.
55
-7
28.1
2.92
12
1.28
4.20
March.
61
-7
30.1
2.46
29
3.23
5.69
April.
75
19
43.8
1.88
1.88
May.
80
33
57.2
5.05
5.05
June.
87
42
62.4
2.56
2.56
July.
91
45
68.8
3.98
3.98
August.
88
46
66.2
3.56
3.56
September.
80
31
60.5
4.65
4.65
October.
75
29
47.5
7.76
7.76
November.
64
8
35.6
1.42
T
.07
1.49
December.
39
-- 11
17.1
27
3.83
3.83
Year.
1890
91
-- 11
45.3
37.71
S1
9.82
47.53
1891
January.
46
-- 6
24.3
3.93
22
1.78
5.71
February.
52
-- 9
25.9
1.70
20
1.84
3.54
March,
52
-4
30.1
3.27
12
.92
4.19
April.
80
18
46.2
1.17
10
1.24
2.41
May.
88
32
55.2
2.34
2.34
June.
96
38
63.5
3.32
3.32
July.
90
46
66.5.
3.34
3.34
August.
87
45
67.6
2.95
2.95
September.
85
39
63.5
2.09
2.09
October.
83
22
47.3
2.63
2.63
November.
63
4
37.3
1,63
1
.10
1.73
December.
56
5
34.7
3.91
2
.20
4.11
Year.
1891
96
-9
46.9
32.28
67
6.08
38.36
677
WEATHER RECORD.
TEMPERATURE-Degrees.
PRECIPITATION-Inches.
Maxi- mum.
Mini- mnm.
Mean.
Rain- fall.
Snow- fall.
Melted snow.
Total.
1892
Jannary.
4S
-8
22.6
2.72
15
1.26
3.98
February.
50
-5
24.7
15
1.70
1.70
March.
53
7
29.7
.91
13
1.09
2.00
April.
71
22
45.8
.76
.76
May.
78
27
53.8
6.24
T
6.24
June.
93
40
68.2
3.00
3.00
July.
91
46
69.5
2.50
2.50
August.
90
52
67.5
9.00
9.00
September.
76
34
58.8
1.98
1.98
October.
73
28
48.
1.29
1.29
November.
62
15
35.5
3.25
9
1.08
4.33
December.
41
-7
21.
.60
3
.44
1.04
Year.
1892
93
-S
45.5
32.25
55
5.57
37.82
1893
January.
45
-15
12.1
1.68
12
.91
2.59
February.
50
-12
19.5
.70
59
4.78
5.48
March.
48
0
27.5
2.17
2
.41
2 58
April.
62
14
37.8
1.97
5
.50
2.47
May.
90
32
53.4
4.15
4.15
June.
SS
45
64.2
2 18
2.18
July.
86
45
66.1
3.13
3.13
August.
86
45
65.
4.11
4.11
September.
75
33
53.5
1.38
1.38
October.
71
19
49.
4.77
4.77
November.
59
S
33.4
2.14
5
.39
2.53
December.
45
-12
19.3
2.07
19
1.96
4.03
Year.
1893
90
-15
41.9
30.45
102
8.95
39.40
1894
January.
45
-8
20.
1 21
16
1.46
2.67
February.
49
-19
19.9
.03
22
2.22
2.25
March.
70
11
36.
.53
2
.63
1.16
April.
73
13
44.9
1.01
5
.63
1.64
May.
84
33
55.2
4.79
4.79
June.
91
40
66.1
1.84
1.89
July.
96
45
70.4
2.89
2.89
August.
90
35
64.5
.65
.65
September.
87
32
60.7
2.26
2.26
October.
71
28
50.7
2 79
2.79
November.
61
9
33.3
.77
9
1.01
1.78
December.
53
-10
25.6
.70
20
2.17
2.87
Year.
1894
96
-19
45.8
19.52
74
8.12
27.64
1895
Jannary.
42
-9
20.3
.58
18
2.67
3.25
February.
45
-15
17.8
10
.56
.56
March.
50
-1
29 6
1.13
13
1.14
2.27
April.
79
22
44.6
4.23
3
.29
4.52
May.
91
31
61.9
2.12
2.12
June.
95
45
68.5
1.98
1.98
July.
92
41
66.7
3.52
3.52
August.
89
38
66.1
3.85
3.85
September.
91
27
60.5
2 34
2.34
October.
18
44.5
4.09
4.09
November.
72
13
39.
5.12
4
.47
5.59
December.
58
-13
28.8
3.27
9
.74
4.01
Year.
1895
95
-15
45.8
32.23
57
5.87
38.10
678
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
TEMPERATURE-Degrees.
PRECIPITATION-Inches.
Maxi- mum.
Mini- mum.
Mean.
Rain- fall.
Snow- fall.
Melted snow.
Total.
1896
January.
43
-17
18.8
.04
10
1.19
1.23
February.
47
-21
22.6
3.77
24
2.03
5.80
March.
56
-5
28.1
3.43
31
3.12
6.55
April.
S3
21
46.5
.72
3
.30
1.02
May.
91
32
59.2
3.34
3.34
June.
89
34
61.2
2.35
2.35
July.
94
45
70.1
3.10
3.10
August.
93
38
67.6
3.75
3.75
September.
S7
33
58.3
4.92
4.92
October.
72
24
46.
4.00
4.00
November.
71
14
41.2
2.77
2
.20
2.97
December.
49
-6
23.8
.81
1
.15
.96
Year.
1896
94
-21
45.3
33.00
71
6.99
39.99
1897
January.
52
-7
24.1
.99
27
2.73
3.72
February.
47
-11
25.4
.85
16
1.64
2.49
March.
53
-10
31.5
1.82
16
2.05
3.87
April.
85
17
47.3
2.38
2.38
May.
78
34
57.7
3.93
3.93
June.
S9
34
60.3
8.35
S.35
July.
98
42
70.5
8.56
8.56
August.
85
37
64.4
3.58
3.58
September.
90
28
57.3
1.22
1.22
October.
83
18
47.3
.58
.58
November.
62
-1
34.6
4.74
10.5
1.85
6.59
December.
59
-9
26.4
4.19
9.3
.55
4.74
Year.
1897
98
-11
45.7
41.19
78.8
8.82
50.01
189S
January.
50
-24
19.7
1.79
33.7
3.15
4.94
February.
52
-32
24.9
.83
22.0
3.43
4.26
March.
62
8
37.3
.57
2.9
.27
.84
April.
70
12
41.6
3.95
5.5
.29
4.24
May.
83
27
55.4
2.92
2.92
June.
89
35
65.6
3.10
3.10
July.
96
38
70.9
1.31
1.31
August.
92
39
69.4
4.74
4.74
September.
89
31
61.3
5.89
5.89
October.
83
22
50.3
5.56
5.56
November.
58
13
37.0
4.13
18.3
1.83
5.96
December.
48
-19
23.3
1.32
11.8
.94
2.26
Year.
1898
96
-32
46.5
36.11
94.2
9.91
46.02
1899
January.
52
-17
20.6
.99
8.8
1.56
2.55
February.
51
-18
20.7
.40
24.0
2.00
2.40
March.
56
0
28.0
1.85
38.1
4.03
5.88
April.
86
14
42.9
.94
2.2
.25
1.19
May.
88
28
55.5
.32
.32
Junc.
94
37
66.4
1.04
1.04
July.
97
39
69.5
4.35
4.35
August.
91
38
66.9
1.93
1.93
September.
81
28
57.2
4.38
4.38
October.
77
22
49.4
.83
.83
November.
61
11
34.5
1.64
5.3
.71
2.35
December.
60
-2
28.6
1.29
.6
.06
1.35
Year.
1899
97
-18
45.2
19.96
79.0
8.61
28.57
679
WEATHER RECORD.
TEMPERATURE-Degrees.
PRECIPITATION-Inches.
Maxi- mun.
Mini- mum.
Mean.
Rain- fall.
Snow- fall.
Melted snow.
Total.
1900
January.
52
-16
20.9
2.28
27.6
2.60
4.88
February.
51
-16
21.5
3.96
13,2
1.09
5.05
March.
53
-5
26.9
3.03
14.9
2.27
5.30
April.
80
20
43.7
.90
.90
May.
92
22
52.6
2,36
2.36
June.
94
34
66.3
1.79
1.79
July.
96
43
70.6
1.74
1.74
August.
94
41
68.3
2.76
2.76
September.
91
31
61.2
2.68
2.68
October.
81
18
53.3
2.19
2.19
November.
67
S
39.1
4.61
5.6
.61
5.22
December.
52
-9
23.6
1.09
2.8
.20
1.29
Year.
1900
96
-16
45.8
29.39
64.1
6.77
36.16
The first snow storms, amounting to an inch or more, were as follows:
Year.
Month.
Inches.
Year.
Month.
Inches.
1856
November 15
2
1879
November
3
12
1857
November 16
1
1880
December
1
S
1858
November 13
1
1881
November 15
3
1859
November 12
37
1883
December 2
1.5
1861
November 23
1
1884
October
31
3
1862
November 7
2
1885
November 23
1
1863
December 11
6
1886
November 13
5
1864
November 13
4
1SS7
December 15
1
1865
October
27
3
1888
November 25
5
1866
November 23
4
1889
November 27
2
1867
November 16
2
1890
December 3
1
1868
October
17
3
1891
November 26
1
1869
November 23 October 31
1
1893
November 20
3
1871
November 10
S
1894
November 6
1
1872
-
November 22
7
1895
November 2
4
1873
November 12
5
1896
November 21
2
1874
November 20
4
1897
November 12
4
1875
November 14
7
1898
November 10
1.5
1876
December 9
10
1899
November 11
2.2
1877
November 29
3
1900
November 25
1.5
1878
December 4
1
1882
November 17
2
1860
December 4
1
1892
November 5
2
1870
680
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
NOTES IN REGARD TO SLEIGHING.
1861-'62. Sleighing December 1-3; and from December 23.
1862-63. December 6-14; January 14, one day ; January 29- February 24; and March 1-25.
1863-'64. December 17-February 25; March 1, 2; April 11- 13,-seventy-six days.
1864-'65. December 10-March 16,-ninety-seven days.
1865-'66. December 10 and 11. Ended February 22.
1866-'67. December 16-24; December 27-
1867-'68. Twelve inches of snow April 7. April 11, excellent sleighing.
1868-'69. Began December 5.
1869-'70. December 8-28. Further dates not given.
1870-'71. Sleighing for three wecks.
1871-'72. About thirteen weeks.
1872-'73. Began November 29.
1873-'74. Began November 13.
1875-'76.
Began February 4.
1878-'79.
Began December 22.
1879-'80.
Began December 14.
1881-'82. Began January 2.
1883-'84. Began December 19.
1884-'85. About a week in December; December 31, ground bare.
1885-'86. About a week in December; December 31, ground bare.
1886-'87. December 7-April 3,-one hundred and eighteen days.
1887-'88. December 18-March 24,-ninety-eight days.
1888-'89. January 21-March 4,-forty-three days.
1889-'90. December 14-16; January 12-February 5; Febru- ary 19-26; March 3-10,-forty-four days.
1890-'91. December 3-March 14,-one hundred and two days.
1891-'92. January 7-February 23, forty-eight days.
1892-'93. January 10-March 17,-sixty-seven days.
1893-'94. Began December 3.
1894-'95. November 14, 15; December 2-13; December 27- March 17,-ninety-five days.
1895-'96. December 5-19; January 24-February 27; March 3 March 23,-seventy-one days.
1896-'97. January 21-March 18,-fifty-seven days.
1897-'98. January 1-March 5,-sixty-four days.
681
MISCELLANEOUS PHENOMENA.
1898-'99. November 27-April 4,-one hundred and twenty- nine days.
1899-1900. January 1-March 23,-eighty-two days.
MISCELLANEOUS PHENOMENA.
1857. January 23 and 24. The mercury dropped to 32 and 37 degrees below zero, respectively.
May 17. Snow fell mixed with rain. The hills about Con- cord were white with snow.
1858. May 17. Precisely same weather as last year on this day.
1859. January 11. The minimum temperature 35 below zero.
1862. February 24. Rain, hail, snow, thunder, lightning, and high wind.
1863. November 14-18. Rainfall of 4.46 inches, causing a freshet on the Merrimack.
1864. April 10-13. Snowfall of 16 inches. For more than three weeks previous to April 14 the wind was uninterruptedly east. In surrounding towns snow fell to the depth of 1 1-2 to 2 1-2 feet. Good sleighing in Concord from the 11th to the 13th.
June and July. Excessive drought.
1865. September. Extreme drought; worse than last year. October. The drought is unprecedented.
1867. August 2, 3. Rainfall of 3.24 inches.
1868. February. Probably the coldest month of which any record exists in the state.
March 6. The mercury fell below zero for the thirty-fifth time this winter.
September 4. Rainfall of 3.65 inches.
1869. October 3, 4. Rainfall of 7.40 inches, of which 4 inches fell between 12: 30 and 2:30 p. m. on the 4th. (This was the storm that caused the great slide on Tripyramid mountain in Waterville, the scar of which is still visible from neigh- boring hills.)
1870. April 17-19. Rainfall of 2.30 inches. Great freshet on the Merrimack.
1871.
October 20. Four smart shocks of earthquake at 11 : 30 a. m. April 8. A very hot day; at 11:30 a. m. the mercury reached 92.
1872.
March 5. A very cold day ; maximum-2, minimum-16, mean-9.
March 31. Excellent sleighing. Snow, except on the prin- cipal streets, from 2 to 4 fect decp.
682
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
1872. August 10-17. A succession of thunder showers, probably the severest ever remembered in New England.
November 18. A very heavy shock of earthquake at 2:05 p. m.
1874. April 25 and 26, 12 inches of snow fell.
1875. February 13. Minimum temperature 34 below zero.
1876. January 1. A remarkably warm day; maximum 72, mini- mum 58, mean 65,-almost exactly the temperature of July 4, 1875, which was: maximum 74, minimum 57, mean 65.5.
1878. January 8. Minimum temperature, 35 below zero.
December 12. Great freshet.
1881. June 7. Hard frosts generally through the state.
September 6. Dark day.
1882. September 21-24. A rainfall of 4.10 inches, the heaviest since October, 1869.
December 19. The heaviest earthquake shock ever remem- bered occurred about 5:20 p. m.
1884. November 23. Two heavy shocks of earthquake, the first about 12:30, and the second about fifteen minutes later.
1885. June 29. A thunder storm in which 2.75 inches of rain fell, of which more than 2.5 inches fell in two and one half hours. August 4. A rainfall of 2.45 inches, of which 2 inches fell in about two hours.
1887. June 30. Earthquake at 5: 09 p. m.
July 23, 24. Rainfall of 5.11 inches, of which over 4 inches fell between 9 p. m., 23d, and 8 a. m., 24th.
1888. March 12, 13. Snowfall of about 28 inches accompanied by an castern galc.
1889. July 30. Hurricane at 12 m., which did much damage at the South end, and uprooted many trees, notably the great elm in front of the residence of Mr. J. C. A. Hill.
1890. March 28. A shock of earthquake. Heavy rumbling lasted about thirty seconds.
1891. May 1. A smart shock of earthquake at 7: 07 p. m., lasting about three seconds.
1892. May 1. Earthquake at 7: 30 a. m.
1895. April 15. Great freshet. The rainfall was as follows:
April 13. . 17 of an inch.
April 14. 2.14 inches.
1896. March 1. Great freshet. The following is the record of rain : February 29. 1.64 inches. March 1. 1.06 inches.
683
MISCELLANEOUS PHENOMENA.
1897. May 27. Slight earthquake shock about 10: 15 p. m.
June 9. Rainfall of 2.20 inches, and on June 10, 2.59 inches. Between 9 a. m., 9th, and 9 a. m., 10th, 4.42 inches fell,-the greatest rainfall since October 3 and 4, 1869, when 5.70 inches fell in twenty-four hours. September 25. Slight earthquake about 1 p. m.
1898. February 1. A great blizzard. Snowfall of about 15 inches. February 3. Minimum temperature 32 below zero.
July 25. Earthquake at 6: 10 p. m.
September 19. Smoke from great fires in the West covered the whole region. The odor was very marked.
September 23. About 2 inches of rain fell between 8 and 10 p. m.
November 27. Snowfall of 15 inches with northeast gale, in which the steamer Portland was lost.
1899. August 25. A severe shock of earthquake, passing from southeast to northwest at 4: 47 a. m.
APPENDIX.
THE GOVERNOR'S HORSE GUARDS.
JAMES O. LYFORD.
There lives in the memory of the older inhabitants of the state a fascinating story of this famous military corps. Its remarkable per- sonnel, its attractive uniforms, its striking parades, its regal hospi- tality, its brilliant fetes, its patriotic public spirit, are a tradition pre- served only in the recollections, now dim, of the few survivors and their contemporaries. Yet as a corporation it still exists, and could its last and living commander summon the spirits of the departed to one more reunion, he would assemble such a company as a state sel- dom marshals of her distinguished sons in one organization. A pres- ident of the United States would be there, and, keeping him com- pany, would be United States senators, congressmen, governors, judges, leaders at the bar, clergymen of mark, college professors, eminent physicians, captains of industry, bankers, business men, and many whose names have since become household words in the history of New Hampshire. Looking at its roster one is struck by the prom- inent men who composed its rank and file, its staff, and its honorary members. They were or became leaders of public opinion, makers of laws, eminent in statecraft, scholars of rank, financiers, orators, and for more than a generation leading men of the state. Yet the active life of the organization was little more than six years, but such years ! They sufficed for many a tale of military splendor, of royal enter- tainment, and of captivating pageants. Concord was the scene of their social functions, and the governor's annual inauguration the event of their martial display. Other places welcomed their appear- ance, but the capital city knew them best and furnished the ranking company of the corps. The preamble of their constitution, promul- gated at their first annual meeting at Concord, January 11, 1860, gives the inspiration which called the organization into being. It reads as follows :
ยท We, whose names are hereunto annexed, being deeply impressed with the advantages to be derived from the formation of a military organization which shall embrace among its members gentlemen from every section of the state, and which, while promoting social inter- course, and extending the bonds of friendship among us, shall, by the excellence of its discipline as a company, and the honorable conduct
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ii
THE GOVERNOR'S HORSE GUARDS.
of its members as individuals, strengthen the government under which we live, hereby associate ourselves as a corps of cavalry, and establish and declare this constitution.
The motto of the corps was " Pro Duce et Republica."
The annual parade was in June, and the occasion the inaugura- tion of the governor of the state. The corps was also to parade at such other times as were demanded by the laws of the state, the vote of the corps, or the bidding of the commanding officer.
Ex-President Franklin Pierce was honorary colonel, and the offi- cers of the corps at its first parade were : George Stark, Nashua, col- onel commanding: A. Herbert Bellows, Concord, lieutenant-colonel ; Henry O. Kent, Lancaster, major; Thomas J. Whipple, Laconia, adjutant ; Frank Fuller, Portsmouth, paymaster; Joseph Wentworth, Sandwich, quartermaster; George A. Pillsbury, Concord, assistant quartermaster ; Charles P. Gage, Concord, surgeon : J. C. Eastman, Hampstead, assistant surgeon ; M. W. Willis, Nashua, chaplain ; Henry E. Parker, Concord, assistant chaplain; Frank S. Fiske, Keene, sergeant-major; Charles A. Tufts, Dover, quartermaster ser- geant : S. H. Dumas, Concord, commissary ; Natt Head, Hooksett, chief bugler; Gilbert Bullock, Concord, armorer ; True Garland, Pittsfield, standard bearer; R. P. J. Tenney, Pittsfield, and J. C. Bean, Enfield, standard guards. J. C. A. Hill, Concord, was treas- urer, and J. E. Lang, Concord, clerk.
The first officers of Company A, which was the Concord company, were John H. George, captain ; Edward H. Rollins, first lieutenant ; Benjamin Grover, second lieutenant; Josiah B. Sanborn, first ser- geant; Calvin C. Webster, second sergeant; Eleazer Jackson, third sergeant ; Calvin Gage, fourth sergeant; Charles H. Norton, first cor- poral: George H. Hutchins, second corporal ; Warren Clark, third corporal ; Peter Dudley, fourth corporal.
Colonel Bellows was the originator of the Horse Guards, and gave much time and money to preliminary effort in behalf of the corps. He was exceedingly patient and thoughtful as to the equipment and uniform, and for the latter finally chose that of the French Imperial Hussars. The arms were a cavalry sabre and two pistols.
Of the first officers of the corps Colonel Henry O. Kent of Lancas- ter alone is living. At the time of its organization he was clerk of the New Hampshire house of representatives, a position he had held for five years, giving him a wide acquaintance in the state. In 1854 he graduated from Norwich university, then a famous military academy. His personal popularity and technical knowledge of mili- tary tactics led the active promoters of the organization to propose him for major of the corps, to which position he was unanimously
iii
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
elected. During the last three years of the activities of the corps lie was in command, in 1863 with the rank of major, and in 1864 and 1865 with the rank of colonel. To his interest and pride in the corps is due the preservation of such data of its organization and work as are now available.
The uniform of the field was a white dolman, green body jacket and trousers, shako and pompon, gray astrachan fur and gold lace trimmings ; that of the line, staff, and members, blue jackets and trousers, red dolman, and yellow worsted lace trimmings. The entire outfit of the chief bugler was brilliant scarlet. Each officer and man had rolled behind the saddle for immediate use a large gray, woolen, waterproof horseman's cloak lined with scarlet. The housings of the field were scarlet and gold; of the corps, blue and yellow. The late Peter Sanborn wore his cloak on the streets of Concord for years afterwards.
The parade on " Election Day" in June was one of the events of the year. At this the governor-elect was received in line, with the gov- ernor in a barouche drawn by four or six horses, either near the resi- dence of Joseph B. Walker at the North end or at some point at the South end of the city, accompanied by a few distinguished guests. The column paraded Main and State streets, leaving the dignitarics at the state house, the field officers accompanying the governor into the hall of the house of representatives, the Guards lining the walk from Main street to the state house. After the inauguration there were dress-parade and review in front of the state house. Then the corps with its guests repaired to the Eagle or Phenix hall, where an elegant banquet was served by some Boston caterer, followed by speeches. The music of twenty or thirty pieces was also mounted, and was generally Hall's band of Boston. Only a few bands were drilled to play on horseback, for the guiding of the horses had to be by the fcet. Major Lewis Downing, Jr., was musical director, en- gaging and directing the music, and Natt Head, afterwards governor, was the gorgeous chief bugler, riding ahead and sounding the calls. At the inauguration of 1861 the Fisherville Cornet band was engaged by the Guards. John C. Linehan, who was a member of this band, thus described the reception of the proposition made to the band by the Horse Guards to furnish music :
It was received with solemn silence. There was good reason for the solemnity. Not half a dozen members had ever mounted a horse, and now, men grown, to be expected to ride and play too, it was too much, and the proposition too sudden. However, an answer had to be given, and opinions were called for. Mr. Currier, the director, said he would vote to accept the offer on one condition, namely, that if a horse could be found large enough to move the whole band, giv-
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THE GOVERNOR'S HORSE GUARDS.
ing him a place in the centre, he would vote yes, otherwise no. Other suggestions were made, among them one from John Mitchell to have wooden horses made mounted on trucks and drawn by one section of the real article. He thought it would be an improvement on the original, as the files would be straighter and the hoofs of the horses would be always near the ground. The temptation was too strong nevertheless. It was a great incentive, that of playing at the head of such a body of men. The offer was accepted, horses procured, and the band went into training. The plain near the academy on the Boscawen side of Fisherville was selected as the drill ground, and the boys went at it. It was a moving spectacle. The moving, however, for a time was from the horses to the ground. It seemed like a premonition of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, but they perse- vered and succeeded.
At the last parade in 1865 the music was by the Concord Brigade band, mounted on white horses. The other function was social. At the annual meeting in January, filling out the day, reports were received and officers chosen for the year ensuing. A grand military ball occupied the evening, graced by the governor and by the state dignitaries with notable guests, and anticipated by all the society women and grand dames of the state. Phenix hall was profusely decorated. A superb supper was served at the Phenix or Eagle hotel, and the occasion was the social event of the year.
The first ball of the Guards was at its first anniversary. The Manchester Mirror in describing it says: "It was by far the most brilliant entertainment of the kind ever witnessed in New Hampshire. In the magnificence of its preparations and decorations it was a pat- tern of the Tigers' ball in the Boston theater, or the one given to the Prince of Wales. It stepped out into a new line of action for this state, not equaled in New England by anything we had known except in Boston. The decorations were superb beyond description, and the music of Hall's band ravished all ears. Such a galaxy of charming, elegantly dressed, beautiful ladies never before assembled in the city of Concord."
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