USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Candia > History of the town of Candia, Rockingham County, N.H., from its first settlement to the present time > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
By this time the sun is fast creeping along towards the western horizon ; the Light Infantry has expended all of its ammunition and the artillery has fired its last cartridge. The lower. ununiformed infantry, escorted by the troop, is now marching towards the corner.
The Light Infantry and artillery have reached their quar- ters ; the upper company of ununiformed militia, which has been drawn up under the elm and Lombardy poplar trees at the west end of the old Congregational meeting-house, have been dismissed after having been complimented for their good behaviour by the captain The men, women and chil-
10
146
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
dren, who have been greatly entertained by the stirring events of the day, are returning to their homes, and ere the sun has sunk behind the western mountains, scarcely a sound can be heard in the neighborhood, which a short half- hour before had been a scene of confusion and excitement.
The above is a faint description of the May trainings in the town as they were between the years 1820 and 1830, when the old militia system was in the height of its popu- larity and when there was the greatest number of men who were liable to perform military duty.
In those days it was the custom for the commisioned of- ficers of the Light Infantry to give the privates a supper at their residences after the May training, as a token of their appreciation of the honor of having been chosen to fill their several positions in the company. Sometimes the custom was varied by giving a breakfast on the morning of muster days.
In those times the field officers and the officers of all the companies were required to meet early in September upon the grounds which had been selected for the muster, for drill and also for the purpose of making all necessary ar- rangements for the great parade which was to take place a few days later.
THE MUSTER.
The muster of the regiment was the great military festi- val of the year. For months the boys had been saving all the money that they could scrape together and had count- ed the weeks and days which would elapse before the great event would take place. Many of the soldiers who belong- ed in Candia lived from ten to sixteen miles from the mus- ter-field when the muster took place in Chester or Ray- mond ; and they were consequently obliged to start at least an hour before day dawned ; and so, while it was yet dark and the stars were shining brightly, long lines of wagons filled with soldiers or those who were to officiate as spec- tators were passing down High Street, the North Road, along the Colcord Road and the other highways towards the great point of attraction. Many of the young men and
147
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
boys were trudging along on foot and if, perchance, a boy was lucky enough to be invited to ride sitting upon a peck measure in the rear of the wagon, he was quite willing up- on approaching a hill to jump out and walk to the top of it.
Every dwelling house along the route was lighted with at least one tallow candle, showing that the occupants were more or less interested in the approaching display ; and all the roosters crowed as loud as they could scream. Now. and then there was heard a strain of music from a bugle or a clarionet, and anon there came the report from a musket which was sometimes discharged close by and at others at a point a mile distant.
At sunrise the members of the various companies arrived upon the borders of the muster field. And now the drums are beating and the fifes are screaming, calling the soldiers of the several companies to assemble without delay. The sergeants and coporals soon bring order out of chaos and every man finds his proper position. Theadjutant, mount- ed upon his prancing steed, esco rts each company to its place in regimental line, the troop or cavalry on the extreme . right, then the artillery, next the Candia and Chester Light Infantry and last the six companies of ununiformed infantry.
The regiment is formed in two parallel lines, the colonel and the other field officers take their position in front, and then the adjutant gives the order, "Present arms." The in- fantry companies obey the order and the colonel takes com- mand of the regiment. The regimental standard is then es- corted to the field by a company of infantry under the di- rection of the adjutant, after which the regiment is formed into a hollow square. The chaplain appears upon horse- back and offers an appropriate prayer. The regiment is then brought again into line and various military exercises are performed under the direction of the colonel.
THE INSPECTION.
At about 10 o'clock the regiment is broken into compan- ies for inspection. All the field officers dismount, and lucky are the boys who get a chance to take care of the
-
148
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
horses while the inspection is in progress and enjoy a slight taste of military glory as they ride up and down the field, imagining themselves veritable colonels or majors for a brief hour. The shilling or quarter of a dollar which they receive for their proffered services, goes a great ways to- wards paying for the gingerbread, the candy and other lux- uries which they will take to their homes.
The Brigade or Division Inspector, accompanied by an aide-de-camp, appears upon the field mounted and proceeds at once to make a thorough inspection of the arms and equipments of the regiment, beginning with the cavalry. He first rides around the company and then critically ex- amines every sword, pistol and all the other equipments, one by one; and if any imperfections are discovered the aide-de-camp notes them in a book which he carries for the purpose and the delinquent is doomed to pay a fine. After completing the inspection of this arm of the service, the inspector and his aid dismount and next inspect the artil- lery. When the old cannon and all the sabres and other ac- coutrements of the members of the company have been ex- amined, the various infantry companies are attended to. The privates stand in ranks a few feet apart with their ramrods inserted loosely in the barrels of their guns. The inspector, with great formality, seizes each musket as it is presented to him and shakes it up and down vigorously to ascertain by the jingle which follows whether the barrel is clean or foul and whether there is any ramrod at all. There were no breech loaders in those days and the percus- sion cap had not been invented. Every infantry man was required to furnish himself with a flint lock musket, two spare flints and a priming wire and brush, the latter articles being necessary in case the aperture which connected the powder in the pan ofthe lock with the charge in the barrel became foul and obstructed. If the inspector succeeds in cocking the musket of ancient days and in springing its lock without difficulty no fault is found with it, no matter how old or rusty it may have become.
Many of the inspectors of those times, after examining a musket, often returned it with a stiff arm and a sudden horizontal jerk which was liable to knock the owner down
149
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
unless he was well on his guard. At the close of an exami- nation of a company some inspectors made a brief address to the captain in the course of which they gave some account of their investigations. Sometimes they criticised severely and sometimes they praised without stint. In most other cases, they pointed out a very few imperfections, but were careful to give credit where it was due. A some- what pompous inspector who officiated at a muster of the old Seventeenth regiment addressed the captain of several of the companies he had examined nearly in the following style : "Captain Blank, I have very carefully inspected your company and I am happy in being able to state that, with a very few slight exceptions, I have found that it is in excellent condition. Your company, sir, is an honor to the regiment and the State of New Hampshire. I sincerely hope and trust sir that all imperfections and deficiencies will be remedied before the next annual inspection. " Then, after making a very profound bow to the captain, the elo- quent official turns upon his heels with military precision and marches off with a majestic air to another company, the scabbard of his sword dangling against his boots and spurs. .
THE REVIEW.
After the inspection, the regiment is placed in readiness for a grand review. The Brigadier or Major General and all the members of his staff superbly mounted appear upon the grounds and ride at a moderate' pace around the regi- ment, which is formed in two parallel lines or battalions. The general, as he passes up and down the lines, carefully notes the appearance and bearings of the several companies. After performing this duty, the reviewing officers take a position opposite the centre of the regiment, the general being posted three paces in advance of his subordinate officers.
When the review was about to take place at the musters sixty years ago all the bands of the several companies were consolidated into one regimental band under the direction of the drum major. Previous to 1820, the fife and the bass
150
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
and tenor or snare drums were the principal instruments in use at trainings. The eight or ten fifes and as many bass and snare drums in the hands of the enthusiastic perform- ers must have made a great racket if not the most charming music.
As the regiment with the band at its head marched before the general each officer as he passed, saluted him by bring- ing his sword in front with the hilt on a level with his face ; then bringing it to his right and extending it outward at an angle about forty-five degrees, with the point nearly touch- ing the ground ; next by bringing it again in front ; then to its place at the shoulder.
One of the attractive features of the muster was the splendid appearance of the general and the members of his staff in their gay uniforms, which consisted of fine dark blue broadcloth coats, trimmed with gold lace, buff breeches and vests, high top boots, gold epaulets and black beavers, cocked hats,{ with black ostrich feathers. Their horses, which were the handsomest and most spirited that could be found in the region, were furnished with highly orna- mented bridles, breast plates, martingales and saddles with leopard skin housings.
The uniforms of the regimental and brigade officers cost quite a sum of money and there were some men who who aspired to high military honors who could ill afford to make the outlay, and so it became a custom with men of this class to hire uniforms and horse equipments of officers who were able to own them. The uniform of a colonel or a brigade staff officer which had been worn at a muster in one locality was very easily transported a dozen or twenty miles for the use of an officer at a muster of another regi- ment a few days later. When the officer who hired a uniform was somewhere near the size of the owner, the economical scheme to shine in borrowed plumage worked well.
THE DINNER.
While the inspection was in progress the officers and pri- vates were presented with the sum of thirty-five cents by the selectmen of the towns to which they belonged to pur-
1
151
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
chase for themselves a dinner. At a late date the sum was raised to fifty cents. Each of the uniformed companies generally dined together at the residence of some thrifty farmer and they were sure of being feasted with roast beef,- plum puddings, mince and apple pies with all the trim- mings. Before the temperance reform was inaugurated nearly all took a glass of good old West India or New Eng- land rum before they sat down to dinner. The general and his staff and the regimental officer sometimes dined to- gether at a tavern or at the residence of some prominent citizen. At the muster which took place in 1828 on Nehe- miah Colby's field, about half a mile northwest of the pres- ent railway station, Samuel D. Bell, the colonel of the regi- ment, who then resided in Chester, with the rest of the field officers dined at the residence of Lt .- Col. Samuel Cass, The brigade officers dined at the tavern near the meeting- house, which was kept by Frederick Fitts. The fore part of that muster day was cold and rainy, but the afternoon was bright and beautiful.
The old time muster was sure to attract a large number of peddlers of all sorts of goods, hats, jewelry, patent ยท medicines and books. But none of the enterprising traders were better patronized than the venders of gingerbread, candy and other sweatmeats .; Some of the peddlers sold their goods at auction and their funny jokes and comic songs, like "Betsey Baker" and "Tom Bolin" always greatly entertained the crowd of listeners.
There was a greater or lesser variety of shows at the musters. Sometimes a bear, a couple of wild cats or a live rattlesnake might have been seen for a few cents. Some- times Joe Pentland, or some other performer, gave an ex- hibition of skill upon the slack wire or the tight rope, or showed how he could eat a quantity of tow which, after burning fiercely in his stomach a few moments, could be changed into many yards of beautiful ribbon and drawn out of his mouth. At a muster in Raymond in the. Lane District, near the southwest corner of that town, in 1826, what was called "The Learned Goat, " was the principal show. A quantity of cards were arranged upon the ground nside of a tent and a common goat spelled the name of
152
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
any person by picking up " the proper letters, one by one, with its mouth." The goat was enabled to perform the trick by watching the secret signals given by the exhibitor. A hand organ, which was probably the first one ever seen in the parts, was operated by a woman. "Blind Dexter, " who was the owner of the concern, tended the door and took the change. ""Jakey Lane, " the harmless imbecile of Ray- mond, who attended the muster was transported with joy as he'stood outside of the tent and listened to the sweet sounds which issued from the organ. In his ecstacy he gave vent to his feelings by exclaiming, over and over again, "Oh how dreadful pooty that music is ain't it?" During the day Jakey gave several exhibitions to the admiring spectators on his own 'account,'by running forty or fifty rods with a long stick in one hand and his outstretched arms extended high above his head"' 'For each performance he received the sum of one cent.
Dancing was frequently one of the entertainments at the musters of many years ago. Two adventurous fiddlers who were sometime of African' descent, would establish themselves in a barn or a temporary ball room which con- sisted of a flooring"of board's laid down upon the ground in some spot near the field, and any person who would con- tribute a small sum to pay for the music could take a part in the fun. Many were the boys and girls who didn't care a bit for etiquette or dignity that sailed in just as they were, with their hats and Bonnets upon their heads ; and the way they balanced, cast off, swung round and double shuffled would have delighted the soul of the manager of a modern negro minstrel troupe. For many years previous to 1840 the owners of the fields where a muster took place had a special license from the selectmen to sell spirituous liquors by the glass. A bar-room was established in some part of the dwelling house which stood near the field and the profits from the business sometimes amounted to seventy-five dol- lars or more.
The members of the uniformed companies displayed a great degree of interest in military affairs and met together often for the' purpose of drilling, until at length the precision of their movements excited the admiration of the spectators
153
HISORY OF CANDIA.
whereas the ununiformed companies of infantry took no pains whatever to make a decent appearance upon parade. They came to the field arrayed in clothing of all varieties of material, style and color and there were scarcely any two sets of equipments which resembled each other. Some of the muskets were long and heavy, while others were light fowling pieces. At last those raw, undisciplined in- fantry companies were felt to be a disgrace to the state and many of the people contemptuously called them "Slam BangCompanies", "Flood Wood Companies," or "String Bean Companies. " About the year 1830, many young men who were compelled to perform military duty in those organiza- tions were determined to make the trainings a still greater burlesque. With this end in view, some of them appeared upon parade in their work day clothes with old hats and shoes, ragged coats and breeches. Some were barefoot and some appeared with old tin pails for canteens and some with old meal bags for knapsacks. Some pretended to be so stupid that their officers found it to be impossible to get them into straight line, and, on the march, some staggered one way and some another. All the soldiers who were- full of fun and merriment were ever respectful to their of- ficers.
In many of the towns the most stupid and incompetent members of these companies were chosen as officers and in some cases the members of the company endeavored to evade the laws requiring them to perform,military duty by neglecting to attend the meetings for the election of officers. A case of this kind occurred in the town of Raymond, in the spring of 1835. One of the ununiformed companies of that town had neglected to choose officers, whereupon Col. David Pillsbury, the commander of the regiment, appointed Capt. John Rowe of Candia, to take charge of the company. Capt. Rowe thereupon warned the Raymond men to appear on May training day near the Congregational meeting house in Candia, for military exercise. The men appeared at the appointed time. Capt. Rowe put the members of the company through a pretty severe course of discipline and marched them up and down some of the hills of the town until near sunset when they were dismissed to enjoy the pri-
154
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
vilege of trudging back to their homes, a distance of more than six miles, in their own way and manner.
At the annual muster of the regiment at Raymond in 1834, the Chester Light Infantry was accompanied to the field by the Haverhill, Mass., brass band which had been engaged for the occasion at much expense. When the review was about to take place, Col. David Pillsbury, the commander of the regiment, ordered all the bands present to be united into one, and to take a position at the head of the line under the direction of the drum major. Capt. Thomas Smith, the commander of the Chester Light Infantry, refused to allow the Haverhill band to obey the order, whereupon Col. Pillsbury ordered it to leave the field. The band accordingly retired and took up a position in an adjoining field, a few rods distant from the regiment, but beyond the jurisdiction of Col. Pillsbury. All day long the band performed at in- tervals greatly to the annoyance of the officers and mem- bers of the regiment as well as a majority of the spectators. It was well understood that the movements of the Haver- hill band were dictated by the captain and officers of the Chester Light Infantry to spite Col. Pillsbury, and with a view of breaking up the parade.
When the regiment was dismissed at night Col. Pillsbury .' left the field in company with the Lieut. Colonel of the regi- ment, Abraham Emerson, of Candia. When the two officers reached the highway they were surrounded by the Chester and Candia Light Infantry and a brisk fire of blank cartridges was opened upon Col. Pillsbury by which the plumes upon his cap were destroyed and his uniform much injured. Col. Pillsbury's horse which became much frightened clung closely to that upon which Lieut. Col. Emerson was mount- ed. Under those circumstances, no further injury could be inflicted upon Colonel Pillsbury without endangering the safety of Lieut. Col. Emerson. At this point a member of the Candia Light Infantry privately approached Lieut. Col. Emerson and requested him to leave Col. Pillsbury to his fate as the Chester Light Infantry were determined to un- horse him. Lieut. Col. Emerson refused to comply with the request and earnestly advised the members of the Candia company to obey the laws and take no part in an
155
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
attack upon Col. Pillsbury. This advice was heeded and the Chester company, finding that they could not succeed in their designs without support, marched off and Col. Pills- bury and Lieut. Col. Emerson received no further molesta- tion.
In due time a court martial was summoned to try Capt. Smith for his conduct in the affair ; but after a long investi- gation he was acquitted on the ground that there was no evidence that he had committed any act for which he could be held responsible to a military tribunal, as the alleged as- sault upon Col. Pillsbury took place after the regiment had been dismissed.
In 1840, the laws relating to the militia of the state were revised and persons having conscientious scru- ples against bearing arms, and persons between the ages of forty and forty-five were exempted from performing military duty. The law also provided that every company required to be armed with muskets or rifles, and having thirty-two rank and file should receive from the State arsen- als muskets or rifles enough to arm said company not ex- ceeding sixty-four ; that every company having sixty-four rank and file enlisted and uniformed should receive thirty- two muskets or rifles.
About the year 1845 a majority of the members of the artillery company resided in Raymond and the cannon was removed from Candia to that town.
In 1850, the Legislature passed a law abolishing all parade duty, inspections and reviews of all companies not raised by volunteer enlistments ; and provided that uniformed com- panies might remain organized or become organized by the enlistment of persons of eighteen years, and upwards. It was further enacted that instead of regimental reviews and in- spections the several brigadier generals subject to orders of the division general might order out their brigades for in- spection and review.
In 1851, the legislature passed a law to the effect that the militia of the State should not be required to perform any active duty, except in case of war or insurrection. The act also provided that, in case of such emergencies, the volun- teer uniformed companies should first be called out.
1
156
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
BRIGADE MUSTER.
During the autumn of 1850 there was a muster of the volunteer companies which belonged to the five regiments which constituted the Third Brigade upon a field near the Congregational church in Chester. The five regiments re- ferred to were the Eighth which included the companies in Derry, Londonderry, Salem, Windham and Pelham; the Eleventh which included those in Concord, Bow, Pembroke, Allenstown and Hooksett ; the Seventeenth in Chester, Candia and Raymond ; the Eighteenth those in Nottingham, Deer- field, Northwood and Pittsfield ; the Thirty-Eighth those in Chichester, Canterbury, Loudon and Northfield, The five regiments were well represented by a large number of vol- unteer companies in fine uniforms. The Cavalry, the Ar- tillery, the Chester Light Infantry and the Candia Light In- fantry represented the Seventeenth regiment. Gen. Atwood of Pelham, who commanded the Brigade was mounted upon one of the finest and most celebrated horses which was ever raised in New England, viz : the old Green Mountain Morgan stallion, a grandson of Justice Morgan the original sire of the famous Morgan breed of horses. The day was fine and there was a great concourse of spectators present. Maj. Gen. William R. Parker, the commander of the First Division outranked Gen. Atwood, and reviewed the Brigade. . At the conclusion of the review Col. Amos Hadley of Bow, an aide-de-camp of Gen. Parker, made a very spirited ad- dress to the troops. This was the last muster which took place in the western part of Rockingham county under the old military system. The military forces of the State which in 1850 consisted of forty-two regiments, dwindled down to one regiment and twelve independent companies in 1860. A year or two previous to the last mentioned date all the cannon and other military stores belonging to the state were sold under the direction of the Adjutant General. And so the old four pounder brass cannon, which had been the pride of the Artillery of the Seventeenth Regiment for forty years, and had awakened the echoes among the hills of Candia was at last sold for old junk.
157
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
THE LANE RIFLES.
In the year 1873, the legislature passed an act which pro- vided for the organization of three volunteer regiments of Light Infantry, a company of Cavalry and a full battery of Artillery. The three regiments composed a Brigade which was placed in the command of a Brigadier General. All the uniforms, arms and equipments were furnished by the state. The law also provided that these troops should re- ceive thorough instructions from some competent officer and go into camp.at Concord for the term of one week an- nually. And it was provided, that all the expenses for pro- visions for the troops at the encampment and transporta- tion back and forth should be paid by the state. This body of troops was called New Hampshire National Guards. The entire annual expense of keeping up this military system averages about forty thousand dollars.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.