1784-1840
A group of men were assembled in the living room of a prosperous looking
Roxbury farmhouse on March 22, 1784. Altho they had met several times
previously during the winter, they showed by both word and bearing that
they were actually engaged in transacting their most important business
on the present occasion. General William Heath, owner of the house,
presided. As everyone in Roxbury well knew, the General had lately
returned from war, where he had enjoyed the privilege of close
companionship and friendship with no less a person than the commander,
Gen. George Washington, himself. Another of the company was a wealthy
young merchant of Roxbury, an ex-Cadet, John Jones Spooner, who stood in
the relationship of son-in-law to Gen. Heath. Amongst others were
Jonathan Warner and several more Revolutionary veterans; also two
prominent members of Roxbury society, Joseph Pierpont and John Swift.
Well might these men look important for they were engaged in presiding
over a birth--the birth of a National Guard company--today the oldest
National Guard company with continuous history in America.
As soon as the company had been born, and was reported to be “doing
well,” it was christened. “The Roxbury Train of Artillery” was inscribed
with due form and ceremony upon the first page of its record book. Who
was then sufficiently far-sighted to foresee that on June 30, 1916, the
same company would take the Federal oath as the “1st Company, Coast
Artillery Corps, National Guard of Massachusetts”? A company in those
days was commanded by a captain with the rank of Major; and this office
was promptly conferred upon John Jones Spooner. Jonathan Warner became
the “Captain-lieutenant,” and Joseph Pierpont and John Swift were
elected the other two lieutenants, as at that time authorized. Warrants
were issued to four sergeants; four musicians were appointed,
twenty-four men were detailed as cannoneers, eight as pioneers, three as
drivers--and when two brass four-pounder cannon had been issued to them,
the Roxbury Artillery were ready for any kind of a fight or frolic. It
was not to be until Aug. 30, 1849, that Gen. H. A. S. Dearborn would
suggest the famous motto now borne by the Company, “In time of peace
prepare for war.” No one can question however but that the sentiment of
the motto has always controlled 1st Company activities.
Major Spooner subsequently resigned his command, was succeeded by Capt.
Warner; and himself became a minister of the gospel.
Those were the days immediately following the Revolutionary war; and in
America during such seasons the commanding military official is sure to
be “general apathy.” Owing partly to the absence of other organized
companies, and partly to the skill and enthusiasm of the Roxbury men,
the Artillery were in frequent demand. On October 15, 1784, they turned
out to fire a salute in honor of a distinguished visitor, Gen.
Lafayette. The Boston Train of Artillery, afterwards the 8th Company,
came into existence May 7, 1785; and these two organizations shared the
honor of escorting the Governor and members of the General Court on July
4, 1785, and again the year following. The fact is, these were the only
two active military companies in or around Boston at the time. On one of
these occasions Gen. Heath noted concerning his protégés that they
“made a good appearance and performed their exercises well.” An army
travels upon its stomach, and a good soldier attends carefully to the
subsistence part of his work. The 1st Company displayed true soldierly
instincts by including, from the very beginning, commissary exercises
amongst their other activities,--in other words, at the conclusion of
the parade “they dined together.” Music was furnished for these military
displays by the only band then in Boston, one consisting of Hessians who
remained behind from Burgoyne’s army, under the leadership of Frederick
Granger.
Let the narrative pause a minute while we paint in a background for the
picture. Do we understand who the militia are? Citizen-soldiers,
citizens who serve as soldiers when necessary, without relinquishing
their civil occupations, part-time fighting men--such have always been
the chief reliance of free peoples when it becomes necessary to defend
their territory or to enforce their sovereign will. In British dominions
this military force received the name of “train-band” about 1600, and
began to be called “militia” in 1660. Moreover their service was both
compulsory and universal--at least it was so in theory. Each citizen was
required by law to provide himself with a “good musket or firelock, a
sufficient bayonet, and belt, two spare flints, and a knapsack.” Thus
armed and equipped, he was expected to present himself four times a year
for a day’s training.
It is customary to heap ridicule upon the militia. Cowper described
“John Gilpin” as a “train-band captain,” and taught us to laugh at him.
Yankee Doodle, with its “men and boys as thick as hasty puddin’,” is a
parody on the American militia. In truth appearances were against them
in the olden times. Their history began away back in the days when
military costume consisted of an iron hat and a steel vest. When, about
1700, armor passed out of use, the militiamen, to prove that they were
true conservatives, refused to substitute any other uniform clothing.
Consequently they did not look soldierly. But the Yankee Doodle militia
under Johnson at Lake George administered a stinging defeat to the
French regulars. We have been abundantly taught of late how American
military history fairly bristles with evidence that the militia system
is faulty. So be it. Now it is time to point out another lesson from the
same history, namely, that when American militia have fought under
favorable conditions, with some shelter, and with an auspicious
beginning to the action, they have often manifested a valor that makes
the world marvel, a valor unequalled except in the annals of legendary
warfare.
This militia existed, in 1784, thruout Massachusetts (and Maine) as nine
divisions of approximately five thousand men each. The first division
was stationed in Boston. And, alas! all divisions were temporarily
inactive.
The oldest volunteer militia company in England, as well as its
“ancient” daughter in America, have as part of their title the word
“Honorable.” Militia rendered such military service as the law demanded.
Volunteer militia went beyond this, and in addition uniformed themselves
at their own expense, drilled frequently, and held themselves in
readiness for parades and ceremonies, and, in sterner vein, for
disturbance of the peace and for war. As the basis of every volunteer
army our country raised was found the organized, volunteer militia. No
wonder that esteem and distinction have attached to this service. Since
1908 the force has borne the title, “National Guard,” a name going back
to the citizen soldiery who defended Paris in 1789 and who were
commanded by Lafayette, a name brought to this country in 1824 by
Lafayette himself and then first adopted by the N. Y. 7th Reg., and in
1862 taken by all the organized militia of that state, in 1903 extended
thruout the United States, and in 1916 officially substituted for all
other titles in Massachusetts.
Why was it necessary for the Roxbury men to organize their company?
Could not the U. S. regular army afford America sufficient protection in
1784? Regular army! So far as Congress could control the matter, there
was no regular army in 1784. A determined effort had been made the year
previous to wipe the force entirely out of existence, to muster out
every Continental remaining over from the Revolutionary war. Thru some
oversight one single company, that formerly commanded by Alexander
Hamilton and now “Battery F of the 3d Field Artillery,” had escaped.
Perhaps because they were standing guard over valuable stores at West
Point and elsewhere, perhaps because the mustering-out officer ran short
of blank forms--for some unexplained reason one company survived. This
single company constituted the entire U. S. army in 1784. This one
company is the only military organization in America having continuous
existence, which antedates the Massachusetts Coast Artillery. Moreover
the situation was only slightly better later. In 1787 there were only
1,200 regulars, in 1798, 2,100, and at the opening of the Civil War,
with a national area almost equal to the present, less than 10,000. Were
not Gen. Heath and the Roxbury men justified in taking steps to
strengthen the forces of government?
If we may now resume the narrative, we note that the Dorchester
Artillery, the 4th Company, was organized in 1786. Material was
preparing out of which the future regiment might be built.
1786 and 1787 were years of threatening and storm in Massachusetts. In
consequence of the war, people found themselves burdened with debts and
taxes. They complained that the Governor’s salary was too high, the
senate aristocratic, the lawyers extortionate, and that the courts were
instruments of oppression, especially in the collection of debts. By way
of remedy they demanded the removal of the General Court from Boston,
the relief of debtors, and the issue of a large amount of paper money.
Daniel Shays, an ex-captain of the Continental army, placed himself at
the head of a movement to secure these ends by force, and his effort has
come down thru history as “Shays’ rebellion.”
In December, 1786, he appeared at Springfield with one thousand
insurgents, resolved to break up the session of the supreme court. After
forcing the adjournment of the session, the insurgents directed an
attack against the arsenal in Springfield. Meanwhile the State
government had sent Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, at the head of four thousand
militia, amongst whom were included our artillery companies, to suppress
the disorder; and on Jan. 25, 1787,--six days after leaving Boston,--the
troops arrived in season to beat off the insurgent attack. Shays and his
followers were pursued as far as Petersham, where on Feb. 9 all armed
resistance was crushed out and the insurgents captured or dispersed.
Since there was such abundant ground for this discontent, it is pleasing
to know that the “rebels” were all pardoned, and Shays himself finally
awarded a pension for his Revolutionary services. Improved economic
conditions due to the new Federal constitution soon removed all danger
of such disorder in the future. Please note, however, that winter
campaigning in western Massachusetts is by no means an attractive
holiday experience, and that the members of the command who engaged in
this, the first, active service, manifested the same plucky devotion to
duty as has characterized them ever since.
When in 1788 the new United States constitution was ratified, Boston
felt moved to celebrate the event. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, who commanded
the train-band division in the city, investigated and found that he had
eight uniformed companies amongst his militia organizations. So the
eight were directed to parade. The Dorchester Artillery were not
present; but the Roxbury and Boston companies had prominent places in
the procession. There were three other companies present, infantry
companies, which would have interested anyone gifted with prophetic
foresight. For just ninety years from that time, the three infantry
companies were destined to unite with the two artillery in forming the
1st Regiment of today. Meanwhile, unconscious of the future, they are
all parading in honor of the new Federal government; watch them. Grave,
dignified men they are. And no wonder; for they are the social and
political leaders of Boston-town. No one could hope for election to
office in those days unless he had “done his bit” in the militia. They
wore the Continental uniform, with cocked hats, blue coats having ample
skirts, and white knickerbockers. In their movements they were majestic,
slow, deliberate; seventy-five steps per minute were considered amply
sufficient. It was not until 1891 that their hustling offspring
completed the process of raising the military cadence to one hundred
twenty per minute, with a pace thirty inches long. For weapons they
carried smooth-bore flint-locks, which the dictionary tells us, were
known as snaphaunces or “fusils,” whence we have the term, “fusiliers.”
The musket was furnished by the State, and was the only part of the
equipment so provided. Never mind if they were not very deadly,--they at
least looked formidable. Our artillery companies drew their cannon from
the “gun-house” on the common; contrast this rough shed with the South
Armory of today! After the martial exhibition was concluded, our
forefathers betook themselves to the “Green Dragon,” or the “Bunch of
Grapes,” or the “Exchange Coffee House” where coffee was by no means the
limit, or some other popular tavern, for the military exercises which
constituted the climax of the entire day.
A clear distinction existed between militia and volunteers in the foot
branch of the service, the volunteers being designated fusiliers or
grenadiers or light infantry or rifles or cadets, and the militia being
known as infantry. But the distinction was obscured in the “train of
artillery.” So much of technical qualification was required of the
artilleryman and cavalryman that all companies of such troops had to
meet the higher military standards of volunteers and were so classified.
In such rosters as existed, it was customary to print the names of
company officers of artillery and cavalry, while such lists included
only field officers in foot commands.
First mention of a battalion of artillery appears in the roster of the
1st division for 1790, when the four companies in Boston, Dorchester,
Middlesex and Roxbury are so designated. No field officer had yet been
commissioned. This is the beginning of the Coast Artillery, the
battalion and regimental organization having continued in unbroken
existence from 1789 to the present time. While under every militia law
ever adopted by Congress, not only the 1st Company but also the command
as a larger unit might claim “ancient privileges” on the ground of
continuous organization thruout these decades, it is just and right to
state that the pride of the “Old First” has always been not to claim any
privilege at all, except that of serving wherever and however it could
be of the most use. At this date no battalion organization existed
amongst the volunteer foot companies, each being an “independent”
divisionary corps of infantry.
October, 1789, our companies were again in line, this time to receive
and escort the President of the United States, George Washington. In
October, 1793, a sadder duty summoned them forth. John Hancock, patriot,
signer of the declaration of independence, Governor of Massachusetts,
and President of the Continental Congress, had finished his long and
noble career and gone to his rest. Boston loved and honored its chief
citizen; the funeral parade, in which our companies participated, was an
expression of heart-felt grief. The companies were again called out on
July 4th, 1795, to help lay the corner-stone of the new State-house, the
famous “Bulfinch front.”
War clouds began to darken the political sky in 1794, war clouds
generated by the titanic struggle between the French and their enemies
thruout Europe. Controversies had been going on between us and both
parties to the great European conflict; now this particular danger
threatened from the French side. Altho most Americans had sympathized
with the French in their revolutionary struggle, had worn tri-colored
cockades and clamored for a French alliance, now French colors
disappeared from view, men wore black, and “Hail Columbia,” with
“independence” for its “boast,” became the popular song. As soon as
America found itself involved in the threatened storm, Congress began to
take measures for defence and turned its attention to the militia. It is
only in war-time that Congress can be induced to notice the
citizen-soldiers. A law was passed May 9, 1794, directing the states to
organize active regiments of militia and to prepare for eventualities.
No action seems to have resulted from this first legislation; and as the
foreign danger intensified, a second act was passed in 1797, aiming to
render the former law effective. Following the classical preferences of
the times, the U. S. army had been rechristened, in 1792, the “legion.”
Each state must now organize a “legion” of its own. 80,000 was the
figure set for the total strength of this force; and it is significant
of Massachusetts’ relative standing that the Commonwealth was directed
to furnish 11,885 of the total--more than any other state.
Massachusetts, on June 6, 1794, directed commanders of train-band
divisions to draft men from their brigades who should hold themselves in
instant readiness for service, as the “minute-men” of 1775 had been
selected and organized. The great prestige of George Washington, for he
had consented to waive his seniority and to serve as Lieut.-General
under Pres. Adams, helped to render this revival of the minute-men
popular, and the fashionable designation of “legion” did not detract
from its popularity.
On August 22, 1797, a supplementary order was issued, directing that a
special regiment of such “legionaries” should be formed from the militia
of each division. The number of divisions having increased to ten, this
called for ten regiments of active troops in Massachusetts and Maine.
While the order ostensibly affected the entire Commonwealth, in point of
fact the only legionaries ever organized were in Boston. Brig.-Gen. John
Winslow, a soldier of energy and ability, in civil life a hardware
dealer, was commissioned to command the “legionary brigade” of Boston,
and during the ten years of his incumbency the legion was so vital a
factor in the city’s military life that it became a fixture. Winslow’s
legionary brigade was organized in 1799, just as the war scare subsided.
It consisted of legionary cavalry (one troop), a sub-legion of light
infantry made up of two independent companies (the Fusiliers and the
Boston Light Infantry), and a sub-legion of artillery made up of the
Boston and Columbian companies, now fully organized as a battalion under
Maj. Daniel Wild. The Roxbury and Dorchester companies did not join the
legion, and now completed a battalion organization under Maj. James
Robinson and were designated the “Battalion of Artillery, 1st Brigade,
1st Division.” These two battalions, one within and the other without
the legion, represent a splitting up of the 1789 battalion. On June 4,
1844, these two battalions, numbered 1st (the legionary) and 2d (the old
1st Brigade battalion) were to consolidate in the 5th Regiment of
Artillery.
The legionary brigade lasted as long as Gen. Winslow continued in
command. Its cavalry, light infantry and artillery sections continued to
thrive; and in 1802, under the energetic leadership of Lt. Col. Robert
Gardner, succeeded in 1804 by Thomas Badger, a regiment, consisting of
three sub-legions of infantry, each commanded by a major, came into
existence. In the artillery sub-legion, Maj. Wild was succeeded by Maj.
John Bray in 1803, and by Maj. O. Johonnot in 1805. Meanwhile the 1st
Brigade battalion of artillery was commanded by Maj. Robinson. In 1808
Gen. Winslow retired; and in 1809 the legionary brigade was redesignated
“3d Brigade, 1st Division.” Its three sub-legions of infantry became
three infantry regiments, and these, as we shall see, contained
companies destined later to form part of the Coast Artillery. The
sub-legion of artillery became known as the “Battalion of Artillery, 3d
Brigade,” commanded by Maj. Johonnot, in 1812 by Maj. Nathan Parker, and
in 1813 by Maj. William Harris. Maj. James Robinson was succeeded as
commander of the 1st Brigade battalion by Maj. John Robinson in 1812,
and the latter in 1814 by Maj. Isaac Gale, formerly Captain of the
Roxbury Artillery. The 3d Brigade rendered one distinguished service to
the city of Boston--it brought out and maintained Asa Fillebrown as
leader of the brigade band. The 3d Brigade continued to be the most
prominent element in Boston’s militia until the reorganization of 1840.
No doubt the French war-scare and the formation of the legionary brigade
stimulated militia development in Massachusetts. The Columbian
Artillery, the 6th Company, was organized June 17, 1798; and the
Washington Artillery, the 7th Company, on May 29, 1810. Happily the war
clouds dissolved without doing serious damage to America. Meanwhile the
two battalions of artillery turned out to greet and receive President
John Adams on the occasion of his visit to Boston.
Between the years of 1810 and 1819 and intermittently until 1855,
Massachusetts state rosters contain a curious entry, “The Soul of the
Soldiery.” While one could scarcely guess the fact, this was a
predecessor of the modern “training school” for officers, and was
maintained by the non-commissioned officers of all companies connected
with the Legionary or 3d Brigade. No wonder that the Massachusetts
militia excelled the corresponding force in other states, with such a
spirit stirring the breasts of the enlisted men.
By 1812 America did find itself involved in actual war. Statesmen had
been laboring, and laboring successfully, for nearly a score of years to
keep us at peace with France. Meanwhile circumstances conspired to stir
up hostilities with France’s great enemy; and almost before men could
realize the possibility of such a thing, we were engaged in the second
war with England.
This is no place to discuss the cause of the struggle; Boston’s
artillery companies shared the sentiment of their section and regretted
the condition of affairs. The war was unpopular in New England. But the
members of the artillery companies, being soldiers, did “not reason why”
and did put themselves into an attitude of preparedness.
Weeks ensued which men would be glad to forget. Regiments of regulars
were enlisted in Boston and transported to the Canadian frontier as part
of the successive invading forces. After the lapse of months word came
back of American defeat, of the incompetence displayed by untrained
American officers, of hundreds of British putting to flight thousands of
Americans. Boston itself lay open to hostile attack, with fortifications
mostly in ruins, and such as there were, ungarrisoned. Then came the
naval victories won by our gallant frigates, and Massachusetts breathed
more freely. The enthusiasm which was craving an opportunity for
expression found vent in ovations to victorious sailors. During the
first two years of hostilities no attack was made against the New
England coast, and we now know that England deliberately refrained
because of the friendly sentiments of the New England people.
The year 1814 brought a great change in the situation. England had
downed Napoleon, and was at liberty to employ her mammoth resources in
dealing with enemies elsewhere. Massachusetts, because it was part of
America, and more particularly because its harbors served as a base of
operations for the American navy, was to feel the consequences of war.
Invasion commenced in Maine and threatened to roll southward down the
coast; immunity was at an end; and an attack was actually made on
Gloucester. Gov. Caleb Strong waited as long as he dared, expecting the
Federal Government to take the steps necessary for defending our coast.
When it finally became evident that Washington had its hands full
elsewhere and could do nothing for Boston, Gov. Strong acted.
As the service was to be guard duty and the erecting of fortifications,
and was likely to continue thru an indefinite number of months, larger
units of the militia were not called out as such. No regiment went as a
whole. It seemed better to draft companies, platoons, and even squads. A
guard was maintained at Chelsea bridge to keep off raiding parties.
After Sept. 8, 1814, all militia organizations were held in readiness;
and between that date and November, when the British fleet finally
sailed away, every member of the five artillery companies gave some
weeks to active service. Fort Independence on Castle Island and Fort
Warren on Governor’s Island, small works of brick and earth, constituted
Boston’s principal defences; these were garrisoned, and put in repair.
How tremendously modern ordnance out-ranges that of a century ago! The
present Fort Warren, on Georges Island, erected in 1850, is today not
nearly far enough from the city it defends, not far enough out at sea;
neither is its armament as long-ranged as it should be. Yet contrasted
with the earlier Fort Warren, it is very remote from Boston, and is
armed with guns able to do execution at almost infinite distance. The
Commonwealth added to the defences of the harbor; land was purchased on
Jeffries Point, East Boston, and another fort erected to support
Independence and Warren. The legislature, out of compliment to the
Governor, named the new work Fort Strong. Here too one must be careful
not to confuse the old fort with that of the same name today on Long
Island.
Historians agree in pronouncing the militia a failure in the second war
with England. It must be confessed that there is much ground for such a
verdict; in fact, the regular army was also, for the most part, a sad
failure in the same war. But in all fairness an exception should be
made of the Massachusetts militia which manned the coast defences of
Boston and kept the British fleet outside the harbors of the state. The
Roxbury Artillerymen and their comrades in sister companies were prompt
in responding, efficient in “digging” and other military labor, and
entirely vigilant in guard duty. Their service in 1814 goes far to
render the name of militia honorable.
One moment of relaxation came during the war when the battalions paraded
in Boston as escort to President James Madison.
The year 1815 marked a turning point in American military history, and
the artillery companies of Boston felt its influence. Danger from
foreign foes was at an end; the Indians were then so far to the westward
as no longer to be a serious menace. America felt free to enter upon a
career of peaceful conquest--and to get rich. It is fair to note that
England also began a similar stage at the same time; perhaps there was
some reflex influence exerted by the mother country. The first symptom
of the change was the decay of the train-band. Whereas militia service
had hitherto been regarded seriously, as the most important duty of
citizenship, now men laughed at it. We begin to find reference to the
“corn-stalk” militia.
[Illustration: THE TRAIN-BAND, 1832. WHY IT WAS ABOLISHED]
Decay was gnawing at the vitals of the train-band system. Ridiculous
cartoons may be seen in the museum of the A. & H. Art. Co. (Matthews’
“Militia Folk” and others) showing what a farce the institution had
become. Men attended muster in outrageously improper clothing, armed
with sticks, pitchforks, or nothing at all, and obviously treated this
aspect of their patriotic duty as a gigantic bit of buffoonery.
Quarterly training or muster-day became an occasion more noted for the
rum then consumed than for the drilling done. Early temperance societies
recognized this state of affairs by including in their abstinence
pledges an exception in favor of muster-day; it was not “intemperate” to
be drunk then. In our forefathers’ opinion this gradual abandonment of
compulsory universal military service was regarded as a mark of social
progress. Will such be the ultimate verdict of history?
Increased importance attached to the Roxbury Artillery and other
volunteer companies as the train-band became increasingly inactive. Let
us inspect them, bearing in mind that they are now the chief military
reliance of the Commonwealth. Discipline, judged by modern standards,
may not have been strict. Men came and went pretty much at will. But
they had some discipline, while their fellow-citizens did not know what
the word meant. No “basic course for officers” as yet existed, and it is
a fact that the higher officers were apt to be chosen more for political
than military reasons. As the rank increased, the military attainments
were apt to diminish; but amongst the company officers were found many
brave and skilful soldiers. Uniform fashions had been modified by the
recent war--now companies wore the shako on the head, at first of
leather and later of bearskin, the high buttoned swallow-tail coat,
white webbing cross-belts with brass breast-plates, and long trousers.
Each company had a distinctive uniform of its own, as different as
possible from all others; and this diversity persisted even down until
after the Civil War. It was a column of companies, and judging from
appearances, of extremely “separate” companies, that paraded to escort
and welcome Lafayette in April and again on August 30, 1824; and to lay
the corner-stone of Bunker Hill monument in 1825; and to inter President
John Adams in July, 1826; and for the funeral of Gov. William Eustis. An
enthusiastic reception was accorded by these companies to President
Andrew Jackson, June 24, 1833. These soldiers may not have been as
efficient as modern troops must be; but they made a splendid appearance
on parade; and beyond question were a powerful military asset when
judged by the standard of their own times.
An attempt was made to increase efficiency by issuing books of drill
regulations available for all, instead of depending upon oral
instruction. In the earliest days drill was regulated by Prussian and
French systems of tactics. The first book of tactics ever prepared in
English for general popular issue was written and published in 1813 by
Gen. Isaac Maltby of the Massachusetts militia, for the use of
Massachusetts troops. The necessity for conciseness and speed was not
then recognized. For a battalion to pass from line to close column, the
drill regulations of 1911 indicate commands as follows: “Close on first
company, March, Second company, Squads right, column half right, March.”
Under Maltby’s system this was heard: “Battalions will form close column
of platoons on the right, in rear of the first platoon, Shoulder arms,
Battalion, Form close column of platoons in rear of the right, Right
face, March.” Scott’s famous tactics were adopted in 1834.
Maj. Joseph E. Smith succeeded to the command of the 3d Brigade
battalion of artillery in 1817, Maj. Thomas J. Lobnell in 1823, Maj.
Samuel Lynes in 1826, Maj. Aaron Andrews in 1830, and Maj. Horace Bacon
of Cambridge in 1832. By June 29, 1834, the battalion had grown to four
companies, and was for a year elevated to the dignity of a regiment.
John L. White, the popular proprietor of the Union House (29 Union St.),
was made Colonel, and thus became the first man ever to hold that rank
in the Coast Artillery. Col. White’s military career had been meteoric;
in 1831 he was elected Cornet (2d Lt.) of Light Dragoons in the 3d
Brigade; 1832 saw him Major of the 1st Infantry in the same brigade; in
1834 he became Colonel of that regiment; and ten weeks later, on the
date given above, he transferred and was commissioned Colonel of the new
artillery regiment. However the time was not yet ripe for regimental
dignity. When a few months later Col. White removed from Boston and
resigned his command, the organization was allowed to slip back and
again become a battalion. Maj. John Hoppen commanded in 1836. On April
24, 1840, the battalion was awarded the number “1st.” In 1841 William B.
Perkins was elected Major, the last man to command it as a separate
organization.
Meanwhile the 1st Brigade battalion was commanded by the following
Majors: 1818 Joseph Hastings of Roxbury, 1822 Robert Stetson of
Dorchester (an ex-Captain of the 1st Company), 1825 John Parks of
Dorchester, and 1829 Jonathan White, Jr., of Weymouth. In 1831 the
strength of the battalion was reduced from three to two companies, and
these were temporarily attached to an infantry regiment (the 1st of the
1st Brigade). On June 26, 1834, the battalion organization was restored,
a new company having been formed, with John Webber, an ex-Captain of the
1st Company as Major. Maj. John W. Loud of Weymouth was elected to
command in 1836, and Maj. Webber again in 1839. On April 24, 1840, the
battalion was numbered “2d.” In 1841 Samuel F. Train of Roxbury was
elected Major, the last man to command the battalion as a separate
organization. Capt. John Webber was succeeded as commander of the 1st
Company by Andrew Chase, Jr., a man destined to become first Colonel of
the new regiment. That year the battalions paraded in celebration of the
completion of Boston’s new railroad.
All the companies were called out June 11, 1837, to maintain public
order at the time of the Broad Street riot. The outbreak arose from a
clash between a funeral procession and a fire-engine company. Which
ought to have the right of way? Unfortunately racial jealousy was
present to embitter the rivalry, so that blows were exchanged and a
general fire-alarm “rung in” and disorder became wide-spread. First
honors on this occasion belong to the newly organized National Lancers,
whose horses terrified the rioters; infantry and artillery companies
acted as reserve, and subsequently policed the district.
This period of Corps history came to its conclusion when on March 24,
1840, the legislature voted a general reorganization of the militia, and
in particular disbanded the ancient train-band. In theory, the members
of the artillery battalions had been excused from the compulsory drill
done by every able-bodied man in their districts on the ground that they
were rendering more than the prescribed military service in their
volunteer organizations. In fact, the district companies and regiments
of the train-band had long since ceased to do any true drilling and were
little more than a mere name. Courage is required to abate a
long-standing abuse. New York continued to endure the train-band system
until 1862, well into the Civil War. Massachusetts faced the condition
with greater determination, and abolished the system in 1840. On March
24 the law was enacted, and on April 17 the necessary orders issued.
Thereafter the volunteer companies were the only military force existing
in the Commonwealth.