National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-10-15
ANCIENT COMPANIES.
Military Organizations That Are Over n
Century Old.


Among the many militia organizations
that will participate in the Yorktown ceremonies
some have histories that are of intense interest,"
and they occupy in the records of valiant deeds
positions Of honor for the participation they have
had In the earlier wars Among them may be
mentioned:
THE FIRST REGIMENT CONNECTICUT NATIONAL GUARD
which represents that venerable Commonwealth
at Yorktown, Is one of the Oldest organizations In
the country; perhaps as a purely military organl-
zalion the oldest of ALL 1t has been Identical with
the birth and growth of the colony OF Con-
necticut; has been represented in all the
early Indian wars, the French and Indian war
the Revolution, the war Of 1872 to 1915, the
Mexican war, and the war OF the rebellion; and
from its ranks have sprung Governors. Senators,
Generals, and those who have filled the highest
positions in the gin Of their fellows. The regi
ment can trace its existence without blot back
to the campaign against the Pequot Indians in
1857. when a force of ninety men was ordered to
be raised by "the Great aud General
Court" and placed under the command OF
Captain John Mason. The soldiers came
from Hartford, Wiusor, and weathersfeld,
and ut tho close of the Pequot war they were
ordered to continue to "train" ten days In each
year under the direction OF Captain Mason, and
from there truiuing -bands the subsequent
regmental organization of Hartford County in
until 1882 when an act officially proclaimed
Il the First Regiment Of militia. Il served during
the Revolution under Colonels Samuel wyllys and
Roger Newberry, and several OF its officers rose to
high rank In the Continental army; and from that
day has maintained its organization uninter-
rupted, and has contributed from It's ranks thou.
sands of drilled soldiers who have served on every
field from Bunker Hill to Appomattox IL takes to
Yorktown eight companies, numbering over
huudrad OffiCarx and yaa nd al
Lucius A. Barbour, Of Hartford, who came from the
ranks, having received his first warrant as COR
poral of Company In 1906. since which date he
has risen by steady grades to the command OF the
regiment, which he assumed June 25 1879 Colonel
Barbour is popular and indefaiigable COM
mnnder and has brought his regiment
to proficiency second TO none In the
State. It's uniform Is dark-blue coat with
scarlet faeings; trousers light blue with scarlet
stripe United States army helmet hat tthe first or
ganlzation in the country to adoptiD. Their arms
are the United States Springfield breech loading
rifles. An organization which can trace Its origin
back into the last century Is
THr FIRST CORPS OF CADETS
of the Massachusetts, Volunteer Militia was Or
ganized on the 10th OF October, 1871 as body
guard to tho Governor Of the Province OF Massa-
chusetls Bay, under the title of the "Goyernor's
Company Of Cadets" 1t had three commissioned
as ieutenant-oolonel, probably in accordance
with the custom in the British army,
which confeB similar increase OF rank
upon certain company officers of the household
troops. The first commander was Lieutenant
Colonel benjamin Pollard. whose commission,
signed by Governor william Shirley. has been
carefully preserved to the present day In
custody of the corps. One of the first duties per-
formed by the corps was TO escort Governor
n, tha do aria nf ha ri
way to Rhode Island, in 17il, and from that time
to the year l7Ii. the corps. as body guard. at
tended aud escorted the colonial governors In
the latter year Governor Thomas Hutchinson was
succeeded by Governor Thomas Gage, who arrived
on the 10th of May, and was escorted from Long
Wharf 10 the council chamber by the Cadets, then
under the command Of Lieutenant Colonel John
Hancock, II was the custom of each successive
Governor to present TO the corps n standard hay
Ing on one side the arms of the Province, and on
the other the armorial bearings of the
donor. When the British troops LEFT Bos-
ton in l776, the members, under clrcum-
stances somewhat similar to the original forma-
ion in 174l, united in military organization
known as the independent Company" under
Colonel Henry Jackson, and two years later under
command of Colonel Hitchborn, marched TO
Rhode Island, where they did duty as
part Of the forces of the Revolutionary
war. Amer the State government had
been established. the Legislature. on the
18th OF october, 1856, reorganized the corps. and
officers were commissioned as follows: Samuel
Bradford captain, with rank of lieutenant
colonel; William Scollay lieutenant, and Samuel
Cabot ensign, each with the rank Of major,
aud Martin Brimmer Sohier adJutant with
the rank of captain. The corps, under
this reorgaizaton, became part Of
the State militia and in continuation OF its funo-
ifons undor the ColOnial ff0iulf was ntlnphad IN