USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Sutton > The history of Sutton, New Hampshire : consisting of the historical collections of Erastus Wadleigh, Esq., and A. H. Worthen, part 1 > Part 31
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489
THE MILITIA.
(Benj. Pierce, in 1806 Brigadier-General of 4th Brigade).
The Gen. Blood referred to is doubtless the Francis Blood, Brigadier-General of the 4th Brig- ade till the close of the year 1805, succeeded in 1806 by Brigadier-General Benjamin Pierce.
The following memorandum, found folded be- tween the leaves of an ancient tavern account-book, now more than a century old, shows the names of some who were militia officers at that early period. It is headed " Oct. 18, 1787. Officers' Expences." The names are Bond Little, Ensign Everett, Lief't. Wadleigh, and in another place L'f't. J. Wadleigh, Lef't. Dodge, Thomas Wadleigh, Benjamin Phil- brick, Lef't. Samuel Messer, Capt. William Pres- sey, Lieut. Asa Nelson, Ensign Stevens. The quantity of liquor charged against each man's name shows that on this " Training Day " they had all, even the subaltern officers, to pay dearly for the honors of office. They must all "treat" the men. The quantity charged to Captain Pressey seems enormous, or, rather, fabulous-thirty-three gallons and one quart of rum, at nine shillings a gallon ! Perhaps, however, that was not too much for the occasion, since custom required him to treat every man in the company. As we have no record to show the number of men in the company, we can never know precisely what quantity of rum each man was expected or required to drink.
A N. H. Register for 1795, printed the year before, has the following:
The Militia of this State agreeably to the present arrangement, contains 3 Divisions, 6 Brigades, 27 Regiments, 54 Battalions.
490
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
The 5th, 9th, 21st, 22d, and 26th Regiments compose the 4th Brig- ade. The 4th and 5th Brigades form the 3d Division.
Amos Shepard, Esq., was Major-General of the 3d Division, Francis Blood, Esq., Brigadier-General of the 4th Brigade, Jonathan Burton, Esq., Inspec- tor and Brigade-Major of 4th Brigade, Philip Greeley, Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of 21st Regiment, Joseph Gerrish, Major of 1st Battalion of 21st Regiment.
1818.
The officers of the 3d Division were,-
Oliver Hastings, Major-General. John Duncan and Henry Sylvester, Aids. James Wells, Inspector. Abiel Wilson, Jr., Quartermaster.
The officers of the 4th Brigade were,-
Eliphalet Gay, General. Isaac Darling, Aid.
Daniel George, Inspector. Andrew Stinson, Jr., Quartermaster.
Henry B. Chase, Judge Advocate.
The officers of the 30th Regiment were,-
Philip S. Harvey, Colonel. Stephen Hoyt, Lieutenant-Colonel.
1827.
The officers of the 3d Division were,-
William Carey, of Lempster, Major-General. Bela Nettleton, of Newport, Nath'l Warner, of Unity, Aids.
491
THE MILITIA.
The officers of the 4th brigade were,- Stephen Hoyt, of Bradford, Brigadier-General. Benjamin F. Rogers, Aid. Henry Lyman, of Warner, Brigade Inspector. Charles F. Gove, of Goffstown, Judge Advocate.
The state militia at this date was divided into three divisions, in each of which were two brigades, and in the whole forty regiments.
1832.
The military strength, according to the adjutant-general's return, 9 June, 1831, was,-
Cavalry, 1,450
Artillery, 1,639
Infantry, Light Infantry, and Grenadiers, 24,884
Riflemen, 1,016
Total, including the general's staff, 28,989
The officers of the 3d Division were,-
Solomon McNiel, of Hillsborough, Major-General.
Peter Clark, Jr., of Francestown, Mark Woodbury, of An- trim, Aids.
James Butler, of Hillsborough, Division Inspector.
The officers of the 4th Brigade were,-
William P. Riddle, of Bedford, Brigadier-General.
Joseph Moore, of Manchester, Aid. Aaron Gage, of Bedford, Brigade Inspector. George Daniels, of Goffstown, Brigade Quartermaster. Charles F. Gove, of Goffstown, Judge Advocate.
The officers of the 30th Regiment were,- Anthony Colby, of New London, Colonel. John Farmer, of Fishersfield, Lieutenant-Colonel. Samuel Greenwood, of New London, Major. Perley Burpee, of Sutton, Adjutant. Samuel Durrell, of Bradford, Quartermaster.
At this date the 30th Regiment consisted of Bradford, Fishers- field, New London, Sutton, Wilmot.
492
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
1845.
Militia is organized in 4 Divisions, 8 Brigades, 42 Regiments. The 41st Regiment has not been organized.
The number of Division and Brigade officers in June. 1844, was 67. Field and Staff officers, 402. Cavalry, 965. Infantry, Light Infantry, and Grenadiers, 26,084. Artillery, 1,883. Total, 29,652.
Officers of the 3d Division :
John McNiel, of Hillsborough, Major-General. Nathan Dane, Division Inspector. Mark Gillis, Quartermaster. Dustin L. Bowers, George Barstow, Aids.
The officers of the 4th Brigade were,-
Samuel Andrews, of Hillsborough, Brigadier-General.
James H. Chase, Aid.
Benjamin Tuttle, Jr., Brigade Inspector.
Charles Conn, Brigade Quartermaster. Samuel H. Ayer, Judge Advocate.
The officers of the 30th Regiment were, --
Giles Bartlett, of Newbury, Colonel. Chester Spaulding, Lieutenant-Colonel.
Cyrus B. Leach, Major. John Cutler, of Newbury, Adjutant.
Lucas Nelson, of Newbury, Quartermaster.
Early militia officers who took the oath of allegi- ance before Jonathan Harvey :
Philip S. Harvey, Major of 2d Battalion in 30th Regiment, June 21, 1809.
William Kendrick, Captain 4th Co., Sept. 26, 1809. Joseph Pillsbury, Lieutenant 4th Co., Sept. 26, 1809. Daniel Wadleigh, Ensign 4th Co., Sept. 26, 1809. John King, Jr., Lieutenant 4tli Company, Sept. 30, 1809. John Gile, Ensign 4th Co., Sept. 30, 1809. Joseph Woodward, Captain 7th Co., Oct. 5, 1809. Jonathan Fellows, 1st Sergeant 4tl Co., Oct. 5, 1809. Abel Kimball, 2d Sergeant 7th Co., Oct. 5, 1809.
493
THE MILITIA.
John Chadwick, 3d Sergeant 7th Co., Oct. 5, 1809.
Amos Pressey, Captain of the Company of Cavalry, Sept. 11, 1810.
John Harvey, Jr., Captain of Grenadiers, Sept. 11, 1810.
Moses Pillsbury, Ensign of Grenadiers, Sept. 11, 1810.
Manly G. Woodbury, Lieutenant of Grenadiers, Oct. 22, 1810. Josiah Nichols, Fife Major in the 30th Regiment. Sept. 11, 1810. Jonathan P. Dodge, Captain of 2d Co. Infantry, July 13, 1812. Philip Emery, Lieutenant 2d Co. Infantry, July 13, 1812.
Jeremiah Twiss, Ensign 2d Co. Infantry, July 13, 1812.
John Pike, Captain of Company of Light Infantry, Dec. 25, 1812.
Israel Morrill, Lieutenant of Company of Light Infantry, March 20, 1813.
Copy of the commission of John Harvey, Jr., ensign, dated 1805:
State of New Hampshire, To John Harvey, jr., Gentlemen, Greet- ing
We reposing especial trust and confidence in your Fidelity, Cour- age, and good Conduct, do by these presents constitute and appoint you-the said John Harvey, Junior,-Ensign of the Seventh Com- pany in the 30th Regiment of Militia, in the State of New Hamp- shire. You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of an Ensign, in leading, ordering, and exercising said Com- pany in Arms, both inferior Officers and Soldiers, and to keep them in good order and discipline ; hereby commanding them to obey you as their Ensign and yourself to observe and follow such Orders and Instructions as you shall from time to time receive from the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Navy, and Military Forces of said State for the time being, or any of your superior officers for the service of said State, according to Military Rules and Discipline, pursuant to the Trust reposed in you, and to hold said Office during good Behavior.
In Testimony whereof we have caused our seal to be hereunto affixed.
Witness, John Langdon, Governor of the State, the Twenty-
494
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
Fourth Day of December, Anno Domini, 1805, and of the Inde- pendence of the United States of America the thirtieth.
By his Excellency's Command Philip Carrigain Junr. Secretary John Langdon.
At the date of this Commission Mr. Harvey was not quite 18 years of age, but he did not take the oath of office till the following March. Oath taken before Moses Hills, Esq.
His commission as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Thirtieth Regiment is dated June 29, 1822, and is signed by Gov. Samuel Bell, Samuel Sparhawk, secretary, and oath taken before Jonathan Harvey.
FIELD AND STAFF, 30TH REGIMENT N. H. MILITIA.
COLONELS.
Commissioned.
Philip S. Harvey,
July 4, 1816 ; vacated May 14, 1822.
Stephen Hoit,
June 29, 1822 ; promoted.
Martin Brockway,
June 28, 1825 ; vacated June 6, 1827.
Anthony Colby.
June 26, 1827 ; promoted.
John Farmer, July 1, 1834; vacated June 8, 1836.
Nathaniel A. Davis, ;
June 14, 1836.
Samuel Tenney,
June 17, 1836 : 66 June 26. 1838.
Jeremiah Morse,
June 29, 1838 ; 66 Dec. 21, 1840.
Samuel Thompson,
July 2, 1841 ; promoted.
Giles Bartlett, June 24, 1842; vacated June 4, 1845.
Chester Spaulding, June 30, 1845 ; 6 June 3, 1846.
Joseph B. Carr, July 6, 1846 ; 66 June 23, 1847.
Calvin Brown,
July 3, 1847 ; June -, 1848.
Benjamin P. Burpee,
June 24, 1848 ; 66 June 21, 1351.
Mason B. Presby, July 4, 1851.
495
THE MILITLA.
LIEUTENANT-COLONELS.
Commissioned.
Dec. 20, 1815.
July 4, 1816 ; promoted.
June 29, 1822; vacated June 30, 1823.
Nicholas Evans,
July 3, 1823 :
Jan. 20, 1825.
Martin Brockway, Anthony Colby,
Jan. 25, 1825 ; promoted. June 28, 1825 ;
Asa Page, Jacob Harvey,
Nathan Presby,
Nathaniel W. Presby, John Palmer,
June 26, 1827 ; vacated Nov. 26, 1828. Feb. 17, 1829 ; Feb. 20, 1830. June 25, 1830 ; " error." Sept. 24, 1830 ; vacated June 30, 1831. July 4, 1831 ; promoted.
Nathaniel A. Davis, Samuel Tenney,
Jeremiah Morse,
Samuel Thompson,
Giles Bartlett,
July 2, 1841 ; promoted.
Moses Cilley, June 24, 1842 ; vacated June 4, 1844.
Chester Spaulding,
June 30, 1844 ; promoted.
Cyrus B. Leach,
June 30, 1845 ; vacated June 11, 1846.
Calvin Brown,
July 6, 1846 ; promoted.
Benjamin P. Burpee,
July 3, 1847 : June 24, 1848 ; vacated June 21, 1851.
Timothy Morse,
John M. Hayes,
July 4, 1851; 66 April 18, 1855.
MAJORS.
Commissioned.
Stephen Hoyt,
Sept. 30, 1815 ; promoted.
John Harvey, Dec. 26, 1817 ; ..
Nicholas Evans, Jr., June 29, 1822 ;
Martin Brockway, Anthony Colby,
July 23, 1823 ; 66
Jan. 25, 1825 ;
John Tilton, June 28, 1825 ; vacated June 13, 1826. Nehemiah Emerson, Jacob Harvey, June 30, 1826; July 24, 1828. Aug. 5, 1828 ; promoted.
Nathaniel W. Presby, John Farmer,
Feb. 17, 1829; ..
June 25, 1830 ;
Samuel Greenwood, July 4, 1831 ; vacated June 30, 1833.
Philip Harvey, Stephen Hoit, John Harvey,
July 1, 1834 ; - -;
June 17, 1836 ; June 29, 1838.
496
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
Joseph Chadwick, Samuel Tenney, Jeremiah Morse,
Aug. 5, 1833 ; declines. July 1, 1834 ; promoted. -; 66
Moses Cilley,
July 2, 1841 ; 66
Thomas I. Chadwick,
June 24, 1842; declines.
Cyrus B. Leach,
June 20, 1844 ; promoted.
Jolın Cutler,
June 30, 1845 ; declines.
Joseph B. Carr,
Dec. 20, 1845 ; promoted.
Benjamin P. Burpee,
July 6, 1846 ;
Richard J. Stearns,
July 3, 1847 ; vacated June 9, 1848.
Jolın Cutler,
April 3, 1849 ; declines.
Mason B. Presby,
Aug. 31, 1849; promoted.
George W. Everett, May 21, 1852.
ADJUTANTS.
Commissioned.
Jonathan Harvey,
Sept. 5, 1809 ; vacated June 15, 1816.
Isaac Bailey,
June 15, 1816 ; promoted.
Enoch Bailey,
Ang. 16, 1821 ; vacated Aug. 20, 1822.
Simeon Bartlett,
Ang. 5, 1822; "40th Regiment."
William P. Hoyt,
Jan. 1, 1825 ; vacated Aug. 25, 1827.
Samuel Greenwood,
Aug. 25, 1827 ; promoted.
Perley Burpee, July 4, 1831 ; vacated April 3, 1833.
Stephen B. Peasley, April 3, 1833; Feb. 3, 1836.
Eli Dodge,
Feb. 4, 1836.
Samuel Teel, Aug. 3, 1836 ; vacated Aug. 8, 1837.
Albert M. Chase,
Aug. 8, 1837.
Mason W. Tappan,
Aug. 6, 1838 ; vacated Aug. 11, 1841.
Horatio W. Mason,
Aug. 11, 1841 ;
July 13, 1842.
John Cutler,
Aug. 12, 1845.
Nathaniel W. Cheney, H. N. Mason, Aug. 17, 1846 ; vacated June 23, 1847.
John Cutler,
Aug. 24, 1847 ; 66 June 27, 1849.
John M. Hayes, June 27, 1849 ; promoted.
Oren T. Hayes, May 18, 1852.
QUARTERMASTERS.
Commissioned.
Paine Davis, Sept. 13, 1814 ; vacated Dec. 13, 1816.
Samuel Thompson,
Giles Bartlett,
June 17, 1836 ;
June 29, 1838 ; 66
July 13. 1842 ; Aug. 12, 1845.
497
THE MILITIA.
David Everett,
Dec. 24, 1816.
Samuel Greenwood,
Ang. 23, 1822 ; promoted.
Perley Burpee,
Ang. 25, 1827;
July 4, 1831 ; vacated July 9, 1832.
Enoclı Page, Perley Ayer,
April 3, 1833.
Eli Dodge,
Aug. 15, 1834 ; promoted.
Beard P. Page, Feb. 4, 1836.
Albert M. Chase,
Aug. 3, 1836 ; promoted.
Mason W. Tappan,
Aug. 8, 1837 ;
Martin R. Buswell, Aug. 6, 1838.
Joseph K. Lund,
Aug. 26, 1840 ; vacated Aug. 11, 1841.
Isaiah Langley,
Aug. 11, 1841; July 13, 1842.
Lucas Nelson,
July 13, 1842 ; 66 Aug. 12, 1845.
Hiram Blanchard, Aug. 12, 1845.
Otis Jones, Aug. 17, 1846 ; vacated July 21, 1847.
Eleazer Cutler,
Ang. 24, 1847 ; vacated June 27, 1849.
Archibald M. Hayes,
Oren S. Hayes,
Aug. 21, 1849.
Aug. 20, 1850 ; promoted.
PAYMASTERS.
Commissioned.
Samuel Kimball,
Oct. 30, 1813; vacated June 27, 1817.
Eliphalet Gay, Jr., William P. Hoyt,
Aug. 23, 1822 ; promoted.
Lewis I. Bailey,
Jan. 1, 1825.
Solomon Durrell,
Aug. 25, 1827 ; promoted.
Enoch Page,
July 4, 1831 ;
July 9, 1832 ; Aug. 15, 1833; 66
Aug. 15, 1834 ;
Feb. 4, 1836.
David M. Everett,
William A. Marsh,
Aug. 3, 1836.
July 14, 1837. Aug. 8, 1837.
Thomas Brockway, Amos Whittemore, Uriah B. Person, Aug. 6. 1838. Asa Marshall, Sept. 4, 1838 ; vacated March 30, 1840. March 30, 1840.
John K. Eaton, 32
June 27, 1849.
Oren S. Hayes,
Sept. 6, 1817.
Stephen B. Peasley, Eli Dodge, Beard P. Page,
Solomon Durrell,
July 9, 1832 ; April 3, 1833.
498
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
William Smith,
Aug. 11, 1841 ; vacated July 13, 1842.
Simeon Dodge,
July 13, 1842 ;
Sept. 2, 1844.
John Ayers, Sept. 2, 1844; 66 Nov. 20, 1844.
Artemas Whitney, Nov. 20, 1844 ;
Aug. 12, 1845.
David W. Johnson,
Aug. 12, 1845.
John Teel,
Aug. 17, 1846.
Isaac W. Farmer,
Ang. 24, 1847.
John G. Hart,
Aug. 20, 1850.
SURGEONS.
Commissioned.
Caleb Burseil,
Ang. 27, 1822 ; "40th Regt."
March 30, 1825 ; promoted.
Jason H. Ames,
Aug. 25, 1827 ; July 9, 1832.
Samuel Little,
July 9, 1832 ;
Sept. 12, 1834.
John L. Fifield,
Jan. 30, 1835.
Luther Farley, Aug. 6, 1838 ; vacated March 30, 1840. Dimond Davis, March 30, 1840.
Horace Gage,
Aug. 11, 1841.
Dimond Davis, July 13, 1842 ; vacated Aug. 12, 1845.
George H. Hubbard,
Aug. 12, 1845.
Robert Lane,
Ang. 17, 1846.
George H. Hubbard, E. C. Bickford,
Ang. 30, 1848.
SURGEON'S MATES.
Commissioned.
Charles Pinney, Oct. 30, 1813; vacated June 19, 1817.
Benjamin Lovering,
June 19, 1817.
Jesse H. Foster,
Aug. 27, 1822.
John Clark,
Sept. 13, 1824 ; promoted.
Jason H. Ames,
July 27, 1825 ; 66
Jonathan Dearborn, Ang. 25, 1827 ; vacated March 24, 1830. March 24, 1830 ; . July 9, 1832.
Samuel Little, John L. Fifield,
July 9, 1832 ; promoted.
Daniel Ward,
April 4, 1835.
Paulus Tenney, Aug. 3, 1837.
Dimond Davis,
Ang. 6, 1838 ; promoted.
Sept. 25, 1847.
Henry Lyman, John Clark,
July 27, 1825; vacated Ang. 25,
499
THE MILITIA.
Ira Weston, - Osmer. George H. Hubbard,
Ebenezer Davis,
James Emery,
Aug. 17, 1846.
Samuel N. Jones,
Sept. 25, 1847.
Solomon N. Whipple,
Aug. 21, 1849.
CHAPLAINS.
Commissioned.
June 27, 1816; vacated Dec. 13, 1816.
Dec. 24, 1817.
Leonard Tracy,
Aug. 25, 1827 ; vacated Aug. 20, 1828.
Oren Tracy,
Aug. 19, 1828.
Stephen Rogers,
Aug. 6, 1838.
David Moody,
Aug. 26, 1840.
John Clark,
Aug. 11, 1841.
Jonathan Rowe, Stephen George,
Aug. 12, 1845. Aug. 17, 1846.
Mark Carpenter,
Sept. 25, 1847 ; declines.
Aug. 30, 1848.
Robert Stinson, Eben Dodge,
March 30, 1840. Aug. 11, 1841.
Aug. 25, 1842 ; promoted.
Aug. 12, 1845.
Robert Dickey, John Woods,
Robert Page,
Sept. 6, 1824 ; promoted.
July 13, 1842 ; vacated Aug. 12, 1845.
Hiram Holmes,
Aug. 21, 1849.
MUSTER DAY IN 1822.
-
The following, consisting of her own recollec- tions of what she describes, was composed by Miss Theresa Harvey, while confined to her bed by her last lingering sickness, in 1873, and written down from her dictation at that time:
To one whose memory extends back through a period of half a century no reminiscence comes more vividly to mind than that of the regimental muster of that time. In view of the struggle of real warfare that our nation has since passed through, the ancient mus- ter may seem an insignificant affair, but in the days of its prime it was the great social as well as military institution of the season. It was looked forward to with interest, not merely by military men, but by youths and maidens, boys and girls, and even by hard-working wives and mothers, albeit they were obliged to work yet harder for weeks beforehand to get the children's clothes ready, and even to repair or to help make the husband's military suit. I remember that the getting together of my father's coat was a great occasion. It was of dark blue broadcloth, cut at Concord by a tailor who was supposed to know how a colonel's coat ought to fit, but made at home by a tailoress, Mrs. Leach, who was in our house a week for that purpose. It was mostly covered with gilt lace, and his epau- lettes cost twelve dollars. Perhaps he purchased glory cheaply, but I know that, to my mind, those epaulettes always represented a great sum. The coat was further set off by an elegant ruffled shirt, the construction of which cost the skilful fingers of my youngest aunt many days' labor. Nor was it enough in those days for an officer to be generous to himself. He must treat his men generous- ly. When my father was captain, I remember that he invited his whole company to breakfast at his house on muster morning, and my mother was up all night making the necessary preparations. A
501
MUSTER DAY.
sheep was slain, cut up, and baked for the occasion, with other things to keep it company.
The 30th N. H. Regiment was composed of men from Warner, New London, Bradford, Newbury (then Fishersfield), Sutton, Wil- mot, and at one time Salisbury. For many years they mustered at Jonathan Harvey's, in Sutton. Using my best judgment, I should say that Nature made that muster-field with special reference to military display, just as much as each man's uniform was made for the same purpose ; for I do not know of another like it in Sutton, nor in any of the towns adjacent. A high table-land, embracing more than twenty acres, so level that the eye could take in the whole scene at once, is a rare thing in the broken, mountainous region I speak of. From a distance of two or three miles Kear- sarge mountain, like a commander-in-chief, with his staff of smaller hills, could, and always did, survey the pageant at leisure.
Like Christmas, muster day always began the evening before, and the clans were gathering all night. Peddlers, showmen, and other itinerants of a more or less questionable character, who fol- lowed the musters around all over the state, began to arrive. The refreshment tents, which for some days had been in process of erec- tion, were by this time well stocked with needful things to eat,- oysters, gingerbread, watermelons, honey, apples, cider, and stronger liquors.
In the afternoon the inspector-general had arrived with his suite, and was at once shown to the best apartments in the house-a large roomy mansion, built and for some years used for a tavern, as it was then termed.
The next most important arrival was Tony Clark, with his fiddle for the dancers. Before midnight the house, barns, and sheds were filled to their utmost capacity with visitors of various social grades, determined to lose no fraction of muster-day. Cesar Lewis, a col- ored man like Tony, with his wife, Dinah, was always on hand to assist in waiting on the table of the officers and gentry. The last thing that everybody in all the towns I have named invariably did, before going to bed, was to cast an eye up to the weather, to see what it promised for the morrow. In those days, if people desired to know about the weather they had to consult the weather itself ; they could not tell by looking in one of the Boston dailies, for then " Old Prob." had not established his signal stations from Mt. Wash- nigton to the peaks of the Pacific coast. Towards morning the
502
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
roads leading to the muster-field were full of vehicles of every description, loaded and packed with arms, soldiers, women, and children. The mothers must go to take care of their offspring,-and a sorry time they had of it, for to keep them out of mischief was a thing impossible. Had not the boys and girls been saving up their coppers for weeks with a view to this very occasion, and weren't they going to have a good time out of it? The possible detriment to clothing or stomach was not to be considered a moment. To those who lived near it was comfort enough to lie in bed and hear the teams go by, with shouts and occasional drum-beats, and know for a certainty that it was really muster morning. Generally the artillery was the first company we used to hear going by. One platoon of perhaps thirty men composed this company, with one twelve pound brass field piece, mounted on a blue carriage. They belonged to Warner.
On the morning that I well remember, about the year 1822, be- fore nine o'clock, Jonathan Harvey, adjutant, mounted on a splen- did horse, took his station in front of his house, and called the con- panies in their order, and as they formed escorted them to their stations on the field. First the cavalry, consisting of 100 men and horses. Their uniform was scarlet coats, buff pants, and black shakos plumed. They rode two abreast, and to them was assigned the extreme left of the field (as viewed from the west). Next came the grenadiers, in scarlet coats, white pants, and tall conical shaped black, shiny leather caps. This company was first organized by Capt. John Harvey, and, until his promotion, commanded by him, when his 1st lieutenant, Daniel Woodward, took the command. Next to the grenadiers appeared a company of riflemen, dressed in frocks like backwoodsmen. At their head, marching four abreast, were four pioneers with pikes and tomahawks. This company came from Bradford. Next came six or seven companies of infantry, armed and equipped, but not uniformed. The artillery occupied the extreme right of the field. At the head of the regiment rode John Harvey, colonel, he having just succeeded his brother. Philip S. Harvey, in the same office. The group of mounted officers con- sisted of Inspector-General Solomon McNeil with his suite, General Hoyt of Bradford, a fine looking officer, with his staff, Anthony Colby, major (Gov. Colby, recently deceased, full of years and hon- ors, and well known by all). For music each company had a bass drum, tenor drum, and fife. The cavalry had a bugle. When the
503
MUSTER DAY.
companies were all on the field, the whole was withdrawn to form to- gether a band, under the direction of a drum-major. Sometimes a Bart- lett of Warner held the office. (It is to be understood that I am writ- ing the combined recollections of two or three musters that I witnessed about the year 1822.) The music was stationed a little to the right of the centre in advance of the regiment. The adjutant formed the whole regiment in a hollow square, into which he pres- ently escorted the chaplain, surgeon, and mate. The chaplain, Rev. Oren Tracy, of New London, was a man of fine personal appear- ance, good sonorous voice, and complete master of the handsome horse he rode. He wore a cloak thrown gracefully back so as to display the star on his breast. The surgeon was sometimes Dr. Henry Lyman, of Warner, whose handsome appearance some may remember. My own recollections point more directly to the time when I saw Dr. Robert Lane, of Sutton, acting as surgeon of the muster-field. As he sat there on his horse he seemed to me the embodiment of grace and conscious power. The chaplain prayed, the whole regiment listening with uncovered heads. Then the reg- iment was placed on a line stretched across the field. Then the inspector-general and field officers advanced, the music saluting them by rapid drum-beats and three prolonged notes on the fife. Then the captains of the companies advanced and saluted their superior officers. Then the colonel said, "Attention ! battalions," and battalion drill followed. After that came inspection, a tedious process, occupying several hours. The inspector-general went through the whole regiment, and if anything was wrong, even a spot of rust on a gun, a rip in a knapsack, or if the "two spare flints " were not produced, made a note of it.
I forgot to say in its proper place that I remember Simeon Bart- lett, of Warner, present at one time as major ; at another, I think he was quartermaster. I should also mention another uniformed com- pany, the " Washington Blues," of New London. Their uniform was very handsome-dark blue, trimmed with gilt lace, and bell but- tons. All wore high neck stocks. They were at one time com- manded by Anthony Colby, at another time by one of the Burpees. Capt. John Pike also commanded one of the New London compa- nies.
The regimental flag was placed in the centre of the field, at first. After inspection, the honor of carrying the colors at the grand re- view was awarded to the company that had made the best appear-
504
HISTORY OF SUTTON.
ance in drill, discipline, and arms. That was a very exciting moment, when the captain of the fortunate company was called for- ward to receive from the hand of the inspector-general the honored flag with the accompanying words of compliment. He took it, bowed, and passed it to one of his subalterns, and perhaps that was the proudest moment of his life.
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