USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the city of Nashua, N.H. > Part 93
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The Guards performed escort duty at the inauguration of Gov. Nathaniel S. Berry, June 6, 1861, and again at his second inauguration June 5, 1862, and at each of the inaugurations of Gov. Joseph A. Gilmore June 4, 1863, and June 2, 1864, at which latter occasion Governor Andrews and staff of Massachusetts were present. October 14, 1864, they were ordered into camp at Manchester. Among the officers elected at their annual encampment June 13, 1864, was V. C. Gilman, captain of com- pany B. Captain Gilman was afterwards elected major of the battalion.
The next and last parade was June 8, 1865, being the inauguration of Gov .- elect Frederick Smyth. The corps proceeded to the residence of Governor Gilmore, where he and his staff were
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received into column, from thence the march was continued down Main to West street, where Gov .- elect Frederick Smyth was received, who was accompanied from Manchester by the Amoskeag Veterans, under command of Col. Chandler E. Potter.
At the conclusion of the inauguration ceremonies the corps, dismounted, formed and proceeded with the govornor, the state officials and distinguished guests to the Eagle hotel, where the annual dinner was served. The corps sustained its well earned reputation for efficiency and hospitality, so that its sun did not go down in obscurity. Company B, composed chiefly of Nashua gentlemen, took especial pride in perfecting its drill, its sabre exercise and graceful appearance in the saddle, many of its members having attended an evening riding school in Boston Wednesday evenings, returning on the theatre train, reaching home at one-thirty A. M. They also procured a French instructor in sabre exercise, who gave a lesson at the close of the riding lesson, and very soon enabled his class to go through the sabre exercise very creditably.
Dec. 20, 1865, an adjourned meeting of the Guards was held at Phenix hall, Concord, to hear the report of a committee appointed at a previous meeting "to consider the matter of enlisting the corps under the law of 1862." The records fail to show any report of this committee, but they do show a resolution passed, suspending all parades and levees in the future, unless ordered by the governor, until certain contingencies in the way of financial matters, etc., had been met and provided for by the state.
April 24, 1879, the last meeting of the Guards was held at Concord, upon the call of Col. Henry O. Kent.
George Stark (see biography) was commissioned brigadier-general of the New Hampshire militia in 1858 and assigned to the command of the third brigade, second division. He held this command until June, 1861. He was in command of the volunteer troops organized for the war stationed at Portsmouth, from May 2 to June 21, 1861. General Stark was a natural soldier, born to command, well equipped in ability and experience to do service for his country and state upon the battlefield. The circumstances that prevented him from going to the front was the regret of the loyal citizens of Nashua and throughout the state. After the war he became one of the best known railroad managers of the country. He died in Nashua in 1892.
Albin Beard was appointed brigade major under General Stark. Major Beard had been identi- fied with the militia for many years, holding various grades of rank. He was the well-known, able editor of the Nashua Telegraph for more than forty years. He used a pointed pen as well as the sword in the interest of his town and state. He did valuable service in strengthening the military spirit and patriotism of Nashua. He was active in all public affairs, a great worker ; in these days he would have been called a hustler of the most hustling type. (A full biographical sketch appears in this volume.)
The Nashua Light Guards was organized in 1866 by D. J. Flanders as captain, Lemuel M. Jack- man as first lieutenant, James A. Cobb, second lieutenant. Lieutenant Cobb succeeded Captain Flanders in 1868. Lieutenant Jackman resigning his position, Charles T. Southwick succeeded him. L. S. Woodbury was commissioned second lieutenant, Aug. 31, 1868. The company was disbanded in 1869. The Nashua Light Guards was the only company in existence for more than ten years after the war. The military spirit of the public seemed to be seeking a rest from the intense excitement of the days of war's alarms. The men who went to the front and experienced the ser- vice of real soldiers in the grim work of death on the battlefields from Bull Run to Appomattox had little enthusiasm for holiday parade of play soldiers. This was a natural condition of the public mind. Four years of bloodshed and of sorrow over the loss of beloved ones whose lives had paid the price of liberty and the glory of our country had made peace the boon most desired. For nearly ten years the pomp and glory of the military of Nashua was a thing of the past. By the legislature of 1878 a change in the military laws of the state was enacted changing the name of the militia to "the national guard of New Hampshire." The necessity for a more complete formation of the military of the state had begun to be recognized and a revival of the military spirit to find expression.
In the fall of 1877 a military company was organized under the name of the Nashua City Guards and fifty-eight of the brightest and best young men of Nashua were enrolled as members. The com- pany was first assigned to the First regiment, New Hampshire militia, Col. John J. Dillon. In the re-organization of the military under the name of the New Hampshire National Guard, April 1, 1878,
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the company was transferred to the Second regiment, Col. D. M. White commanding. The credit of the inception and work of organizing this company is due almost wholly to George W. Badger, a veteran soldier and one of Nashua's best known and most public spirited citizens. He secured the naines to the enrollment and the organization having been completed Mr. Badger solicited funds for the purchase of arms for the company, raising nearly $1,000 for this purpose. The first meeting of this company, and the meetings for nearly a year subsequently, were in the old armory in the attic of the City Hall building. In 1869 the Grand Army hall in Laton building, Railroad square, was used for a drill room, and room on the second floor of the same building occupied for property room. The officers elected at the first meeting, and commissioned on the twenty-third day of October, 1877, were Elbridge J. Copp (see biography ), captain ; Augustus D. Ayling, first lieutenant; William L. Hall, second lieutenant. Captain Copp and Lieutenant Ayling were veterans of the war, both having served more than three years and both in the capacity of adjutant for the last year or more of their service. The first served in the Third New Hampshire volunteers, and the last named in the Twenty- fourth Massachusetts volunteers. If any military company more than another deserved the support of the public the Nashua City Guards were surely entitled to this distinction. The days and nights of its members were given to drill for weeks and months. Climbing laboriously the long winding stairs into the old armory in the City Hall attic night after night for drill was not thought too great a task. The most rigid discipline was from the first insisted upon; there was but one standard set by the officers of the company and that was perfection of drill and discipline. The men in the company generally recognized the necessity of thorough discipline and cheerfully rendered implicit obedience. The real military esprit du corps was, from the first, characteristic of this company. Upon entering the armory the members taking on, voluntarily, the character of a soldier, left behind them their identity as citizens. This extreme punctiliousness, however, was at first objected to by some few of the company but the result achieved and progress made soon brought all into line and they gave their hearty support and co-operation in this method of making a real military company. The writer, who was in a position to know, does not hesitate to say, unreservedly, that never was there a more representative company of young citizens in Nashua or in the state; nor one which gave more enthusi- asm to the work or succeeded in a higher degree in perfecting and maintaining a model military organ- ization. The Nashua City Guards probably attained as near to the high standard of regular troops in drill and discipline as any military company ever organized in the country. For years under the systematic inspection and markings of the inspector-general of the state this company stood at the head of all other organizations. July 1, 1879, Captain Copp was promoted to major of the Second regiment, subsequently to lieutenant-colonel, and later to the colonelcy of the regiment. Lieutenant Ayling succeeded Captain Copp in command of the company, holding the position till July 25, 1879, when he became adjutant-general of the state. This position he has held to the present time. General Ayling was well equipped for the position to which he was appointed in natural ability and experience. He has gracefully and efficiently filled the office of adjutant-general and chief of the governor's staff for nearly twenty years. To him the state is greatly indebted for the efficiency of the national guard today. His method of conducting the business of his department has been strictly military and punctilious. He believes not only in the spirit of the military law, but in the letter of the law as well. He has a full conception of the meaning of military discipline, but he demands of others only that which he exacts of himself. Alfred E. Hunt was appointed second lieutenant Feb. 5, 1879, and promoted to first lieutenant July 1, 1879. He was commissioned captain July 25 of the same year. Captain Hunt was a very efficient and popular commander. The company fully sustained its high standard under his command. He brought with him into the company a valuable experience from his military training as an officer in the military battalion in the school of technology in Boston. At the time of his connection with the City Guards his business was that of chemist at the works of the Nashua Iron and Steel company. Removing from Nashua to Pittsburg, Pa., he became eminently successful in his business.
William H. Cheever was commissioned second lieutenant of the company, July 1, 1379, and pro- moted to first lieutenant, July 25, of the same year. Lieutenant Cheever had proved himself a valu- able member of the company, rising from the ranks through the various grades of corporal, sergeant. orderly sergeant, to that of lieutenant, always the model soldier, grasping with ease the principles of military drill and discipline. He did an important part in placing the Nashua City Guards at the
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head of the military organizations of the state. In 1884 Lieutenant Cheever was appointed major and assistant inspector-general on the staff of Gen. D. M. White. In December, 1885, he was com- missioned by Governor Currier inspector of rifle practice. This branch of the service had not been given the attention that its importance demanded. Major Cheever's conception of the needs of the military service very soon brought practical results through his systematic and vigorous methods, a practical system of rifle practice was established which has since been in use, and has placed the New Hampshire military in the front rank of sharpshooters of the national guard of the country.
May 3, 1881, Jason E. Tolles was commissioned captain of the Nashua City Guards. Captain Tolles had risen from the ranks and was the last commanding officer of the company. Captain Tolles was commissioned adjutant of the Second regiment, July 1, 1884 ; promoted to major, May 5, 1885, and to lieutenant-colonel, Aug. 5, 1887, and to colonel of the regiment, Aug. 31, 1894, having held all ranks from that of private in the City Guards, and proved himself to be a popular and efficient offi- cer, always the courteous soldier and gentleman, and never over-confident of his own abilities. The writer when captain commanding the City Guards thought he saw in Private Tolles the requisite material for an officer and offered him the position of corporal. This offer was at first declined by Mr. Tolles who expressed himself as fearing that he would not be able to fill the position. At the present writing he is mayor of the city of Nashua and also has the honor of commanding one of the finest regiments of the national guard in the country and will undoubtedly wear the star of the brig- adier in the service of his state before the end of his military service.
Andrew J. Tuck was appointed second lieutenant of the City Guards July 25, 1879. He had pre- viously held the position of hospital steward of the Second regiment. Lieutenant Tuck's connection with the military was not of long duration but during his service he was always found at his post, always soldierly and efficient. He has been for some years and is at the present time in the insur- ance and real estate business.
The first year of the company's organization a muster of the Second regiment under the com- mand of Col. D. M. White was held at Nashua. The camp ground was at Fairmount heights. The Nashua City Guards, Capt. E. J. Copp commanding, assumed the responsibility of all arrangements for camp and providing rations for the five hundred men of the regiment during the three days' en- campment. This, as may be understood, was a contract of no small proportions, but the company, with the hearty co-operation of citizens, proved equal to the emergency, fully sustaining the reputa- tion Nashua has ever held for hospitality. The work of providing the immense amount of food was systematically organized and carried forward to success. Committees were appointed for each ward for soliciting food from house to house and for providing for the delivery of same at the camp at the proper time. The whole city became interested in the work and very few refusals were met by the boys on the committee for soliciting. Bread, beans, meats, doughnuts, pies and cakes, literally by the cartload, were dispatched to the camp-ground during the three days of the camp. Two large tents hired for the occasion from Boston were erected with a cook-house built between the two for the commissary department. One tent was for the men, the other for the officers of the regiment and the guests. Under the direction of George W. Badger, the chief commissary of the camp, this most interesting feature of the camp was a great success. The second day of the encampment Governor Cheney, Adjutant-General Head, Mayor Williams and many prominent citizens were guests at dinner. One chief feature of the dinner, in the recollection of the writer, was two roast pigs in all the beauty of their corporeity, with all the usual culinary fixings. That the occasion was one of great enjoy- ment for everyone present goes without saying. This camp was a great event in the history of the Nashua City Guards and is one of the pleasantest recollections of the members of the company.
The crowning glory of the military service of the City Guards was the memorable trip to York- town, October, 1881, in participation in the centennial celebration by the thirteen original states of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. The appropriation by the legislature of our state provided for the sending of the governor and his staff, and a battalion of three companies with field officers, staff and band. The selection of the companies was from those of highest standing as determined by the report of the inspector-general. The companies selected were the Nashua City Guards, Co. F, Capt. J. E. Tolles, Second regiment ; Co. K, Captain Tetley, Third regiment, and the Strafford Guards of Dover, Captain Demeritt, First regiment. The commanding officer selected was Lieut .- Col. E. J. Copp of the Second regiment. Preparations for the trip were made in detail by General Ayling and
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Colonel Copp. A side-wheel steamer belonging to the Stonington line was chartered and arrange- ments made for the embarking of the command at Providence, R. I. A contract was made with Hop- kins & Sears, caterers, of Providence, for the important office of supplying the inner man. It is said that through the stomach and good digestion come happiness; then, surely, our caterers were not responsible for any unhappiness of the New Hampshire boys on this trip. Through the courtesy and at the suggestion of Governor Bell, Colonel Copp issued invitations for a limited number of citi- zens to join the expedition. Quite a number of Nashua citizens accepted the invitation. Among those who enjoyed this memorable trip were Dr. S. G. Dearborn, George F. Andrews and William H. Reed. Nashua was represented upon Governor Bell's staff by General Ayling, adjutant-general, and Gen. Elbert Wheeler, inspector-general.
Upon arriving in Providence the New Hampshire battalion was met by the officers of the Rhode Island military drawn up in line on Monument square. From here the New Hampshire military were escorted to the new and elegant building of the Veteran association of Providence, where a royal reception and banquet was tendered them. Governor Littlefield of Rhode Island made a speech of welcome and Governor Bell made a reply that for appropriateness and finished rhetoric could not be excelled. Every New Hampshire man present was proud of the governor of their state. Although entirely unexpected, Governor Bell's speech was a model of excellence; he appeared a living encyclopedia of facts of history, citing New Hampshire's and Rhode Island's joint services in the Wars of the Revolution and the Rebellion, where Rhode Island and New Hampshire regiments fought side by side, and of the services of the distinguished sons of Rhode Island with those of our own New Hampshire.
After the banquet the battalion marched to the wharf where the steamer Francis lay waiting with steam up. All on board, about five P. M., the vessel was steaming down the river. Sunday morning found the expedition well on its way out on the broad Atlantic out of sight of land, a new experience for most of the New Hampshire lads. There was a smooth sea but a treacherous swell; the day was beautiful for those who could get on their sea legs, but the grandeur of the mighty deep and the beauty of the day had no charins for many of those on board. Many a brave man went down that day and night under that terrible malady, seasickness, the commanding officer of the expedition leading the whole command in the intensity of his wretchedness. The services held that Sunday morning on the deck of the steamer by Chaplain Powers was attended by a select few. Monday morning Cape Charles was sighted, and ere long Fortress Monroe came into view, the captain of the vessel taking the ship up along the shore off the historic but now obsolete fortress. The sight was an interesting one to the younger generation of soldier boys, whose knowledge of the war in which it took so prominent a part was from their school books or the stories of their fathers. Soon the steamer was in the still waters of the York river where sea sickness was forgotten and happiness reigned. After a beautiful ride up the river, Yorktown was reached about four P. M., Monday. The old town that had gone to sleep after the last gun of the Civil War had ceased reverberating, was now alive, and the scenes of war days re-enacted. War ships with bristling guns and transports, gay with bunting and alive with soldiers of another generation filled the harbor. The flags of France, England and Germany floated over their representative war ships anchored alongside those of a fleet of our own navy, the entire North Atlantic squadron. Camp had been established near the Moore house, the scene of the surrender of Cornwallis.
The celebration, covering a period of three days, was a rare experience for our New Hampshire soldiery. Representing one of the thirteen original states, they felt the inspiration of the hour, and well filled the position to which they had been assigned. After the ceremony of laying the corner- stone of the monument, the closing event of the celebration was a grand review of the military by the president and cabinet and the foreign embassy representative of the Lafayettes, the Rochambeaus and the von Steubens. That Nashua and the state had reason to be proud of their military is attested by the universal praise given by officers high in rank and by the press generally. Upon the review, after passing the reviewing stand, General Hancock despatched a mounted aid to inquire what troops these were; returning with the information to the reviewing stand the aid was again sent to the head of the column of the New Hampshire contingent, and, saluting the commander, said, "General Hancock's compliments, and he requests your presence at the banquet this afternoon on
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board the flag ship Vandalia to be given to the foreign embassy." Colonel Copp replied, "Say to General Hancock I thank him for this compliment to the military of New Hampshire."
The following is taken from the official organ of the army and navy, the "Army and Navy Journal :"
"The Granite State, first on the list of the thirteen originals, contributed a battalion of three companies, twenty full files, equipped in a handsome blue uniform, under Lieut .- Col. E. J. Copp of the Second regiment, state troops. These companies were selected as the very best in the state, and well they fulfilled their mission. They passed in solid front receiving round after round of applause. It is said that good goods are made up in small parcels, and here was an exemplification of the old adage, for the New Hampshire battalion though small received a place second to none in the passage."
The command embarked on the steamer Francis, Thursday afternoon, for home. A head wind and a rolling sea made the return voyage a repetition of the outward passage; sea-sickness was general and no little alarm prevailed among the more timid of those on board. Many of the party adjusted life preservers and prepared themselves for the worst, fully believing that the ship and all on board would go to the bottom of the sea. Providence was reached in safety about noon on Saturday and soon all were en route by rail for home.
The citizens of Nashua, from the organization of the company to the end, took pride in giving to the City Guards their united support. Its honorary membership included more than one hundred of the leading citizens of the city. The social features were no small part of the strength of the com- pany, as indeed it must be in all volunteer military organizations in time of peace. The "annual concert and ball" of the Nashua City Guards became the social event of the city, patronized by the fashion and wealth of Nashua. The company was disbanded at the end of its five years' service.
An attempt was made to continue the organization as an independent military company for social purposes. The social features, however, crystalized into a club known as the City Guards Veteran association, the military part soon dropping out and disappearing.
Company I, Foster Rifles, Second regiment, was organized in the spring of 1879. The company was named in honor of Gen. John G. Foster, Nashua's most illustrious soldier. James A. Cobb was commissioned captain, Edward H. Parmenter, first lieutenant, and Judson A. Sawyer, second lieu- tenant, April 3, 1879. From the first inception and organization of the company, these three officers exhibited an enthusiasm and devotion to their duties rarely excelled. They were all veteran soldiers of the war of 1861. Experience has demonstrated that the ideal militia officer is one who has seen actual service and retains his military enthusiasm in the ranks of the militia. With these conditions in this organization there could be no other result than a most excellent military company. It has retained its organization to the present day ; and through all the years it has maintained the high standing it first attained. Each annual inspection by the inspector-general finds the company in the same excellent condition, although there have been many changes among the officers and in the ranks the same military enthusiasm and company pride continues to exist. An inspection by the inspector- general of to-day is quite a different thing from that of the old inspections of the militia days. It means something more than a superficial examination of the company. It now means a rigid, critical examination of every detail in the soldier, the uniform, arms and equipment, as well as the drill and discipline of the company. First, the general appearance of officers and men in line, the position of the soldier in detail, from the angle of each foot to the elevation of the chin, poise of the head and direction of the eyes, the exact position of the arms and hands and fingers in clasping their sword or rifle, and on to the manual of arms and evolution of the company. It is not too much to say of this company that it is not excelled by any other organization in the state. Company I has also carried off the honors in rifle practice and sharpshooting for several successive years; Lieutenant Degnan taking the prize gold medal at every competitive rifle practice for the past ten years, and holding the regimental and state badges. The company holds all trophies offered by the state for marksmanship and sharpshooting.
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