USA > New Jersey > Passaic County > Paterson > Paterson, New Jersey : its advantages for manufacturing and residence: its industries, prominent men, banks, schools, churches, etc. > Part 9
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No visit of this kind had taken place since before the war, and the battalion decided to make it warm for them. and show that Paterson was not devoid of a military or hospitable spirit. Joint committees of the soldiers and cit- izens were appointed, and they went to work with a vim.
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PATERSON, ILLUSTRATED.
Thousands of dollars were subscribed, and the hearty co- operation of the citizens, Farragut and Chaplain Butler Posts, G. A. R., the firemen and other organizations, made the reception the hearty outpouring and friendly greeting that it was. They arrived here on the morning of June 12. The whole city was in holiday garb ; flags. streamers and bunting, were displayed from every build- ing on the line of march, and on hundreds of others out- side the line of march. When the train bearing the vis- itors rolled into the depot, cannon boomed out the signal and then it seemed as if pandemonium reigned in the city. Cheers rent the air, whistles shrieked, and bells pealed forth their volume of sound. The line of march was soon taken up and the noisy greeting continued. The fire ap- paratus had been concentrated on the line of march, and their whistles added to the din, while the applause was continuous from the beginning to the end of the march.
The parade headed for Passaic Falls where a collation was provided, and after a long rest the march was re- sumed and the Armory reached. At 4 P. M. a banquet was given to the visitors, the tables filling Washington Hall. Toasts were offered, and responses made, and the hall was then cleared for a reception and ball in the even- ing, which was attended by the best people of Paterson.
The visitors were to leave at 12 o'clock, midnight, and just before that hour the line was formed.
A committee on fireworks had been appointed, and fireworks were distributed along the route the result proved that the committee had performed their work in a thorough manner, Company C especially distinguishing itself. Such a mass of fire, bombs, rockets and Roman candles were used, that it was one continual glare from the Armory to the depot. Fifteen thousand people were on the streets, and Paterson never had a demonstration to equal it. You cannot mention the visit to a Tibbetts Vet- eran, even at this day, but he will speak of the way "they fired us out of town.
On Dec. 3d, 1884, Co. A, Capt. A. V. II. Doremus, formed part of the Provisional Batalion to act as escort in Trenton to the remains of Major General Gershom Mott Jate Commander of the Division of the National Guard of New Jersey.
Memorial Day, 1885, found the ist Brigade, N. G. N. J., in Paterson, to act as escort to the G. A. R. After the parade the Brigade marched down to Riverside to biy- ouac. Muster, inspection, and a review followed.
Our city had not witnessed a Brigade parade for over 30 years, and this one convinced our citizens and Board of Aldermen that the National Guard amounted to some- thing, for on June 15th, the latter body voted $oo to pay the Armory rent of the battalion, which the latter had pe- titioned for for several years.
On Aug. Sth of this year the battalion paraded with the whole Division of the State, in New York city, at the obsequies of General U. S. Grant, and paid their last re- spects to that great Captain.
This year also found the battalion in their first camp with the Brigade at Sea Girt, and received the instruction that is impossible to give in the Armory.
The discipline was good, and the men returned home with a better appreciation of a soldier's duties.
The battalion went into camp with a Lieut. Col. as the Legislature at its last session had passed a bill giving a battalion with three companies an officer of that rank. Major Congdon -had earned the promotion, and he was unanimously elected, and commissioned May 5th. 1885. Capt. Aaron V. II. Doremus was elected Major on the same date, but resigned July 13th.
The terms of enlistment of a large number of Co. A's men had expired, and it was decided by that company to go on an excursion before the men applied for their dis- charge. Providence, R. I., was decided on, and they left Paterson on Oct. 13th, for that city.
They were received very handsomely by the First Light Infantry of Providence ; treated to a Rhode Island clam bake down the river, tendered a reception and ball, and were well entertained and taken care of by that fine and well known organization.
The sample of men who went on that excursion seem- ed to be well liked in Providence, and the First Light Infantry decided to see what the rest of the battalion was like, so a return visit was made by that organization on Oct. 12th, 1886.
The history of the reception of the Troy Corps was re- peated in most of the programme, except the fireworks, as the visitors left on the afternoon of the second day, after a military lawn party on Colt's Hill. The battalion had been without a Major since the resignation of Major Dore- mus, until April 6th, of this year, when Capt. Samuel V. S. Muzzy, Co. A, was commissioned to fill the vacancy, and he was succeeded by Lieut. John R. Beam as Captain of that company.
The bi-centennial at Passaic gave the battalion an op- portunity to parade in our sister city, and add to the inter- est in that celebration, on June 12th, 1886, and it also gave the Major the first opportunity he had had to command the battalion.
An interstate competitive prize drill at Washington, D. C., was announced in May 1887, and Company C of the battalion concluded to enter the list of competitors. Practice drills were held, and the company took their departure for the national capital on the 23d of that month. Though not successful in capturing a prize, the company made a fine showing, and received considerable praise for their thor- ongh and solid work done on that occasion. Three offi- cers, four sergeants and sixteen files were the number des- ignated to form the competitive company, and that num- ber with a few substitutes to provide against accident, rep- resented not only the battalion, but our State as well, in this interesting competition.
They arrived home while the Memorial Day parade was on the march, and fell into the column while the latter was in motion.
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The fatal accident and death of zd Lieut. Robert J. Burke, Co. A., on May 11th, 1887. is the only loss of an officer in commission that the First Battalion has sustain- ed. Lieut. Burke was a general favorite, and his death was much regretted.
The third calamity, for so it seemed, of the year, was the resignation of Lt. Col. Congdon on July 4th. A general feeling of depression ran through the battalion, while some of the local papers and the public talked as if the organiza- tion were going to the eternal bow-wows. But the able manner in which Major Muzzy handled the battalion in camp in August of that year. 1887, soon convinced the croakers that the organization was here to stay, and was too permanent in character to live or die by the existence of one man.
The camp in that year taught a number of new men in the battalion part of a soldier's life, and so far as the sol- dierly qualities were concerned, and the use of the organi- zation as a military body, it was, if anything, stronger in . those qualities than at any time in the past.
On Sept. 17th of this year a detachment of two provis- ional companies from the battalion consolidated with the Fourth Regiment to parade with the Second Brigade in Philadelphia, at the Centennial commemoration of the adoption of the National Constitution.
On June 30th, ISSS, one provisional company took part with the First Regiment, N. G. N. J., in the dedication of the State monuments at Gettysburg, Pa., and were in camp several days on that memorable battle field.
The Centennial celebration of the inauguration of the first President of the United States, held in New York city on April 30th, ISS), brought the Division together once more, and the public press, the public themselves. and high military authority, concurred in the opinion that no State surpassed New Jersey in the appearance, equip- ments and soldierly bearing of her National Guard. It was a grand parade, and representative bodies were there from nearly every State in the Union, while it was esti- mated that a million of strangers were there as spectators. The battalion had taken part in the parade on the Centen- nial celebration of the evacuation of New York by the British, but neither the occasion, nor the day itself were equal in importance, or grander in effect, to the parade of
This year was also signalized by the 3d and best camp that the battalion had participated in. The work was harder, the discipline more strict, and the weather hotter than on any previous camp, but the command never did their duty more cheerfully. Each organization mounted Brigade guard in turn, and that guard was responsible for the protection of the camp for twenty-four hours. The work of the guard of the First Battalion was exceptionally good, and called forth commendation from Brigade Head- quarters. More prisoners were caught trying to run the guard than all of the other organizations together had caught, and though this temporarily caused a little feeling with the other organizations, their officers subsequently
acknowledged that the guard was only doing its duty. The battalion marched from camp a stronger and better organization than it had ever been in the past, and it is hoped that it may continue in this high standard.
Space does not admit of speaking at length of all the so- cial events that the battalion has been engaged in, but the annual balls that have been held were the events of the season, and were watched for eagerly by our own citizens and those of the surrounding country. The receptions to General E. Burd Grubb, General Steele, Governor Green and others ; the balls devoted to charity, the Old Ladies' Home and St. Joseph's Hospital, where thousands of dol- lars were spent, or raised for those objects, are too fresh in the minds of our citizens to require repeating, and are but the adjuncts of this organization.
Other important parades and events have been associated with the history of the battalion, but this imperfect sketch is considered sufficient to show that the First Battalion, N. G. N. J., has been and is of some use. The moral effect and patriotic influence in our city has been good, and in this grand republie it is the duty of the city, county, and state, to properly support such an organization.
Our country does not want or require a standing army, but we must rely on our private citizens, our organized, and un-organized militia; and the State is remiss in its duty if it does not see to it that its citizens are taught the first principles of defence, either for inward strife, or out- ward conflict. Had the Northern States taken as much interest in their militia and military matters as the South did. the war of the rebellion would not have lasted as long. They were prepared for the conflict by almost uni- versal military training. We were not. They were of- ficered by skilled and competent officers in a short time. We had to educate ours in the field, at the expense of blood and lives. The writer was in a company during this struggle, not fifty per cent. of whom could hit a barn door at 100 yards; how different with the First Battalion !
The use of such an organization as a school for future officers, for learning the first principles of a soldier's duties, and for the education and teachings of discipline, is worth more than it costs.
The battalion has been honored by the promotion of a number of its members to the various staff's in the State, as follows :
John W. Romaine, Colonel and Aid-de-Camp, Governor's Staff. Charles Agnew. 66 66
George W. Terriberry, " " Surgeon, Division
William Strange, Lieut. Col. and Quartermaster, "
John E. Hartley, Major and Judge Advocate. Brigade
66 Robert I. Hopper, 66
Of the officers that the battalion has been honored with. Major Aaron V. H. Doremus, Captain James Beggs. Captain and Quartermaster John H. Hindle and Lieuten- ant Robert J. Burke are now dead.
RIFLE PRACTICE OF THE FIRST BATTALION.
"The use of arms is the right of freemen," our Chap- lain told us in his Memorial sermon the other day, May
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26th, 1890, and he might have added, the knowledge of arms is the duty of freemen, and the citizen soldier, for unless the freeman or soldier has a knowledge of the use of his rifle, and its capability to perform the work for which it was constructed and placed in his hands. it is but a waste of time and words to place it there.
Given an equal number of men in two different organi- zations, one to be thoroughly drilled in the tactics, cere- monies and marching. but without the practical knowl- edge of the rifle ; the other knowing only the rudiments of the drills, and not a word about a dress parade or re- view. but with the full knowledge and use of the rifle skilled to the point of hitting the mark at 200 to 500 yards whenever they choose, and I will take my chances with the latter organization every time. The individual knowledge and use of the rifle gives the soldier confidence in himself and his organization, and makes him feel that they are invincible. The lesson of the Boer war in South Africa, where the undisciplined Dutch burghers decima- ted the splendidly formed, disciplined and armed forces of England, was a lesson that every military man ought to study. While the English soldier is no mean adversary with a rifle, the Dutch Boer in this case was eminently his superior, and hy that superiority they gained their free- dom and autonomy for their land.
It is this knowledge that has caused the officers of the First Battalion to instil in the minds of their men, both by precept and example, this fundamental principle of the skilled soldier. Some officers have considered this branch of instruction both in theory and practice, more important than other officers do, and have made it a specialty, but, as with the other history of the organization, we are not ashamed of the rifle practice of the First Battalion.
It was inaugurated one Saturday afternoon in July. ISSo, at Brinton Range near Elizabeth. The range was owned by a private association and leased on certain days by the State for the practice of the Ist Brigade. The party of officers and men that went down to the range that afternoon numbered but six or eight who expected to qualify as marksmen under the association rules, which was allowed by State regulation. Lieut. Hilton to his own surprise, as well as to the others, was the only one who did qualify, but during the balance of the season eighteen others made the requisite fifty per cent. of points and were honored with a markman's badge.
Four of the original fy are still members of the Bat- alion, viz : Capt. Wm. F. Decker, Adjutant John T. Hilton, 2d Lieut. Charles Reynolds and ex-Color Serg't. and Private Edwin S. Brown. Capt. Decker and Lieut. Reynolds have qualified each year since that and now have the proud distinction of wearing the gold cross for 10 years' marksmanship.
Captain Albert Tilt was commissioned as Inspector of Rifle Practice August 5th, ISSo. lle was very proud of his department, and by his interest and cordial co-opera- tion with the other officers of the battalion, proved himself to be an admirable acquisition to the organization. The
battalion gained a percentage of 22.88 that year which was higher than five regiments in the State, and gave us fourth place in line of merit, the highest percentage attained by any regiment or battation in the State being 44.64.
That would not do for the First Battalion, and the next year, 1881, 60 marksmen qualified, and the battalion per- centage jumped to second place in figure of merit, 51.42. or but 4.04 points below the highest.
In the figure of merit by companies, neither one of the companies then forming the battalion need hide their score sheets; Company A being the 9th in line, with a percentage of 50.00, and Company B a close roth, with a percentage of 49.84.
The State regimental figure of merit had advanced nearly 11 points over the preceding year, and the season's shooting ended with the percentage of 55.46 to shoot at the next year.
In 1882 the battalion headed the State list with S6 marksmen and a percentage of 64.13, leading the next highest organization by 23.97 points. This improvement was due to the enthusiasm of the men on the subject, en- couraged by the officers both in instruction, and the offer- ing of a battalion prize badge for the best marksman. Company B had also offered a prize badge, and Lieut. Hilton, who was acting as Inspector of Rifle Practice dur- ing the absence of Captain Tilt in Europe, was also as- signed by Captain Curie to the special duty of rifle instruc- tor to this company.
The competition for the battalion badge was general. and was anybody's race up to October, when it practically narrowed down to four competitors, and the 30th of that month, the end of the season, saw Sergeant Decker the champion marksman of the battalion. As this competi- tion was virtually the best schooling the battalion had ex- perienced, and the results were far reaching, as the knowl- edge gained there is still in use with us, I take the liberty of giving the names and scores of the competitors :
Scores. Aggregate. Percent.
Sergeant Wm. F. Decker, Co. A .. 46, 45, 45 136 90
Private Wm H. Smith, 46, 44, 43 133 88
Lieut. John T. Hilton, " B. . 45, 43. 43 131 87 81
Private Edlwin S. Brown, 44, 42, 41 127
The conditions of the match called for the aggregate of the three best scores made by any of the competitors: 5 shots at the 200, and 5 shots at the 500 yard range : mak- ing a possible of 50 points for the to shots.
Company B's badge went to Lieut. Hilton, and when through force of circumstances he was forced to resign, he had the proud satisfaction of seeing his company at the head of the State list with a percentage of 73.60: Com- pany A being third in line with a percentage of 56.11.
The battalion faced the targets in 1883 with a new com- pany, C'; and it was supposed we would lose our lead. But the men of that company were composed of soldier material and Sergeant Decker, now a Lieutenant in Com- pany C, was the principal instructor. With such ma- terial and such an instructor it was no surprise to the writer to note that the battalion were still on top, with 114
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marksmen and 61.83 as our figure of merit. leading the next regiment by 15.0) points.
Company C led the battalion, and was second in the State, by a percentage of 67.79. Company B followed next. both in battalion and State, with 64.05. and Com- pany A followed third in the battalion, and sixth in the State with 58.36.
In ISS4 nothing memorable occurred except that the scores and percentages were lower. The battalion wound up the season with 112 marksmen and a figure of merit of 57.93. the highest in the State. Company C kept her place both on Battalion and State list, by a percentage of 65.16. Company B while keeping her battalion place dropped down to fourth in the State list, and quit with 55.57.
Company A fared the worst, as she dropped to the eighth place on the State roll. and lowered her percentage to 47.76.
The year ISS5 was memorable from the large number of marksmen we had, 127. and the high percentage of the battalion, 69.55, and we were still in the lead.
It was especially memorable to Company C, as ex-Ser- geant Decker of Company A was now Captain of C, and a rifle expert, and the company rolled up the highest per- centage that had ever been achieved in the State, having 95.84 to her credit, and was the first on the State list. Company B followed second on both lists with 68.35. while Company A still kept her place on the battalion list, but went up one notch to 7th place on the State list.
The season of 1885 opened with a new Inspector for the battalion, Captain Tilt having resigned, and ex-Sergeant Edmund G. Edwards was commissioned Captain and In- spector of Rifle Practice Nov. roth, ISS5. Captain Ed- wards was a good rifle shot, and a competent instructor. His instruction aimed to school the men into calmness and judgment of their work, so that each shot would be a lesson for their next one. If, as some of the officers claim, that the scoring by the members of a battalion prac- ticing did not give the true results that paid markers out- side of the org.mization shooting would give, and that it was shown this year by the new system to be much lower in percentage, we still had the satisfaction of seeing that by the new system of paid scorers we could shoot as well as score, for we headed the State list this year with 42 marksmen, and 48.44 as our figure of merit.
Other organizations showed these low percentages also. The discharge of so many of the men of Companies A and B whose time had expired was also against us, and that fact is the more remarkable when we see that Company A had got tired of being on the bottom of the list, and had jumped to the top of both State and battalion list with a percentage of 52.60.
Company C. followed next both in State and battalion list, with 50.75, while Company B had taken a drop to third in the battalion, and seventh in the State list, with 41.64 to its credit.
In ISS7. for the first time since it gained it in ISS2. the battalion lost its lead and came in second. The Second Regiment re-organized from the old 9th Regiment, had been creeping up on us, and now led the State.
We had 29 marksmen : 123 1st class ; 25 2d class and S4 3d class shots, with a percentage of 41.30.
Our companies also lost their head and were rated on the State list as follows :
Company C, 5th, figure of merit. .43.37
A, 7th,
B, 12th. 66
.41.20 36.14
In ISS7 the battalion was again in the lead with Si marksmen, and an improved percentage of 48.03.
The offering of prize badges by Major Muzzy, Surgeon Myers, and Quartermaster Robert I. Hopper. for the best score of the season, and the establishment of a local range was no doubt the reason for this increase. The same rea- sons showed the same results in 1882, and was as strong an argument as any that could be adduced for the main- tenance of local ranges, and incentives for good scores. Corporal Deitrich. of Co. C, won the Major's badge ; Pri- vate Ranson, of Co. B. the Surgeon's badge ; and Quarter- master Sergeant Muzzy the Quartermaster's badge. Com- pany B had spurred herself and was second on the State list with 52.15 to her credit; being but 0.51 below the highest. Company C still retained her fifth place with 47.29 ; and Company had dropped to tenth place with 41.44; a higher score than last year, but the percentages had advanced along the whole line of the State.
In ISSy the battalion was still in the lead with 66 marks- men : 74 first class men : 44 second class ; and had a per- centage of 49.87. While Company B had dropped back, the position of the companies as a whole was better, for they followed each other successively: Company C being third with 52.00, Company B being fourth with 46.83. and Company A\ being fifth with 45.97 as the figures of merit.
An Inter-State match was shot at the Sea Girt range this year by teams of 12, from New York, Delaware, and New Jersey ; the First Battalion furnishing three men on the latter team, whose shooting was a credit to the organ- ization they belonged to. They made an average of 83.66 per cent. ranking second, third, and sixth place on the team, and had the balance of the men done as well New Jersey would have won the match, instead of losing it by 3 points.
As their personal scores are of interest and may be of use in the future I record them :
Score at 200 Yards. 500 Tutal.
Team No. Name.
Capt. Wm. F. Decker. 46
4)
86
3 Private John Ranson. .
41
44
85
G Color Sergeant Chas. Chinn.
43
37
80
An accident prevented Captain Decker from making a higher and the ranking score, but his work at this and other times in the past indicates that he is one of the best rifle shots in the State, and allied with Private Ranson can probably equal the score of any two men from any regi- ment or battalion in the State.
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GATLING GUN PRACTICE.
On Jan. 14, 1886, Color Sergeant Florian Oborski was commissioned as First Lieutenant and Commandant of the Gun Squad, subsequently known as the Gun Detachment.
In the same year the Inspector General of Rifle Practice reports as follows: "The efficiency of the Gatling Gun when properly handled was never better demonstrated than on August 27th last, when General Sewell ordered Gatling Gun Co. "B" on the range for practice. The gun was sighted for 300 yards, each shot, and made 52 points out of a possible 75 equal to 69 per cent."
In the year following, and the first in camp and practice for Lt. Oborski's command, he tried his hand at shooting the gun and made 41 out of the possible 50, or Sz per cent, a good beginning. He also fired 360 shots in 58 se- conds.
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