New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-26
THE OLD GUARD.

the centennial anniversary of Evacuation Day,
which will take place November %. 1883, mono
are more active or viii make more elaborate prep
aratiOus than the Old Guard They are now max
ing preliminary efforts 10 form Centennial Legion
of one company from each of the original thirteen
States to take part in the celebration. The Old
Guard also have IN con emplati0n the issue OF .
centennial magazine, noting all the principal events
OF TIC Revolution and subsequent occurrences TO
promote enthusiasm in the celebration. Nearly
every night in tie han.som;ly fitted armOry at No.
l West tOurteenth-st may be seen meuiLers of the
organization comparing notes of their recoections.
From the hallway the y,-itor IL ushered into tho
main room, used for drills and receptions. The
meeting room at the Ohef eud of the large room
faces Fifth-ave., and is handsomely furnished and
fitted. Heavy ambrequns decorate the windows,
while the walls are decorated with engravIngs,
paintings of battle scenes, portraits and photo
graphs of member in groups and singly. On the
wall Of The mectiug-roon Is also suspended large
heavy bronze coat-ofarms.
To find the truth OF the old synonyme of kindly
fellowship, Each fer the other aud all for the Old
Guard one has only 70 be With them as guest at
parade, ball dinner, excursion or IN their armory.
In the ranks of the Old Guard will DO
found the men and the sons of the meu who thirty.
forty or fifty years ag0 laid the foundation
of the National Ggari Of this city by
the formation of tho cid Light Guard aud
the City Guard. OF which the latter hasigown INTO
tue uniformed and disciplined National Guard OF
the present. Colonel Ton! 1kius, the original COM
mandaut, died only yeag ago: and ms SOL, liam
O. IOmokns, % now member Among the old
memO,r rs may be found George w. BLa Ian, tho
prrscat c0mmaudalt; E-auuel i. Hatt Henry
Mcneil, George Brady, h'!E1. O.. De Luce, If. K.
Nc4iurr3y, l.. -. BUl,le~. Thomas 4. iOilnam. A.
W. Foster Eugene =. Balm. ,ieA&nter hcnuques.
Washington Had.cy, Daniel A. 5.aiht"- i. /.
Moore, W. a. Phelps. ~. n. Qu.uJy, l. :. Rogers,
Alexander Slater, William sharp. Daniel IA. Bur
de,t and Charles A. SJ'tsOn.
Previous Io So were yitlr>Snd IN TINS civ fhe
annual Trainings If the irregular militia, or the
parade OF a. regiment whose !oIty p4-4-es
aAd, s.raIgiaS ara ara -ILTe- ,t. Only 10
not % we.l-lTliied n wei.-oi-c pAn.d
A4tt4i1n or company m tAe .-cIropo.-,. colonel
". w. lonphihs "is ~ tA3l ume I'D eVuinand 81
the odd ono huudredih Militia. al. VISIT OF the
AlIdle-OWu Cadets, from Conn. c,t1t, AMI tle en-
cam ment OF the Boston Light lQtin.r, 90 Brook
lyu Heights WhIch attr2r cd throuE- of people 40
the exhibition drills, gave new impetus 10 the
ilrua,lOu OF militia conpdLlc- colonel lompkns
sent IN Ais res gua ou aAd orsl lItd an inGrpen-
oent company, whose oasis vas l-' JAoioISh IL
s.IuCtlou OF each member 80 the school OF tue SOL
aier aud The cOmhiElDs OF all OF them IN
moral excellence From iui, company
Of " IompGIns blues Was formed the military
model OF the day, anu on ills foundation was butt
AL ,nat IS low perfect ln the 'auJnai Guard.
Snow anu glitter were I'll bearded, aud simplicity
and strength married. the features Of
/
oueI TomplIns had enough in AS favor
10 c2tite uIm TO the honor tie coz ,any was not
.amed after him. bur alter Daniel D. Iompk.ns, &c
that TINE Governor OF NeW-40r colonel lonp-
kus was graduate OF Nesr Point and served IS D
Lie tenant IN the war OIL ISL. In IT, wax with
Mexico he was a Captain m the 1O.a Uuted states
Infantry, and IN the FLORIDA war nelI the same
rank N Inc I'd DragOOna
he B.ues had their aruoIy il Wooster-s:.
2 2Spes9 canal arm 9a& this lh e' t ey F 80
su ces,lul tins organization that another COM
paDy formed Oh the east SIDE OF Tie city, which
also look tne name OF tlr IompLns Blues. 10
crau OF So. he rcaiaZv Pc was nest door % the
/ B5VeCy Theatre. The rVady winch existed be,
tween Ihc two organizations u thaiu to be dubbed
/ TAG broad way AID tie DO aeacTv boys. rs the
military aruOr spread, other rival independent or
LauiZalOus were formed among them tie usuGers.
| tie independent GUARD, an tIc Ci'J 0Aiid. zap
IL o. Ql1lus retired DID lrJt. aid vas succeeded
! bv & piaiu Vincent 4 thai T.i.c t.H Lafayette
! bazaar, at Broadway and lIberty-s'., MAS al al
tvacuye feature II that part OF the city one OF Us
novelties was tue constant parade IA mont OF the
pic. of two darkIes dressed il cooked hats yellow
| Drcecles and gorgeous PEEL coats. Here was 'ug-
gest0n for distinctive uniform from thar worn by
! tho Blues No. >" which had copied the inform
/ OF the original organization. Captain Vincent
changed the blue coats Tor red ono, te caps Ior
bear-skin shak0s ana the name to " The Light
GuaGd' The bOwery uydlS never were able 10
surpAss this blt OF strategy, and t.. TEL years the
red coat was the dI5tna.yc dress Ot the Light
Guarl. In 1874 the company held out the olive
branch TO the BOwery boys BY lnWuur tnent COLI
atCn. when II was found tina. the BONcry IOmpklnS
Blues had On,y two ,nlbeI5 left l. was then
thought BEST 10 change lie uu form, a. IL resembet
closely that of tue CITY Guard, anG tie White coats
Inc famous City Guard was formed in 1898 and
il early became the rival OF the Light Guard 10
Was healthy, active rivalry that aided IL prOLCt-
lug tie interests Of Lotu organizations. he last
Captain OF The Light Guard, ds an independently
organization, vas William G.. Iompkins, son OF
tue Old captain, who was chosen IN 1859. In
1860 the Light Guard became Company
A OF the list Regiment. In the year pref
v!ous tie City Guard WIS maze Company
& OF the 9th Regiment. lie ieelin OF generous
rivalry and military fellowship was not lost By the
meIgIng OF these independent organizations INTO
thr Two regiments but II canc prominently forward
IN the formation of the Old Guard. In the Rebel
hon both OF the merged organ cations furnished
from their old members iong list or officers OK
every rank VINO won countless hOuors on many -
battlefield. Al the scot The ReDellou IN tieetdal
efforts were made TO br..g about reunion OF the
surviving members Of the Light ald cry Guards,
IN the winter or 1SG7-O~ street COMMISSIONER u ".
Mclean and niue associates obtained an act OF ~
CORPORATION rom the Legislature To organize tho
Old Guard, ana il was signed by Governor FentOn
on Apvll -. The aims ell TIE organization canned
to be enabling aad charitable. section OF tho
articles of Incorporation declares that the objects
arr to afford pecn1i4ry IeiieI 10 l1disfnt OF re-
uuced members, and their Lows @nd chiI'rthi 10
D1omote social union AID fellowship, AID preserve
and continue the rcc0e -tou OF service IN tue Light
Guard ana city Gusrd
A. inc meetlnr 10 deciGe upon uniform some oe
the members appeared IN oIIereut patterns no
Uniform finally adopted was uiat Oh The LlSh6
Guard worn IN 1911, with some additional 'r-A-
nIiugs which form q rich aud snowy sut. ] he hrst
ba | was gwen at the Academy OF Muse A9rii u,
1869. and IKE al Subsequent Odils, wa success.
In AprI, ls7o Miss scott vac chosen honorary
yIvandleIe" hose Guty 10 vas to present c1nteea
OF choice AulGs 10 certain nlllteTs who should bs
overcome at tue first parade. On Aprl ~, lsll,
occurred he Zebra iOn of the anniversary OF ns
formation of The battalion, which took shape IN "a
dinner at ths 7ist lteeimcut ArLOry, " hen tine two
organizations were formally u led, the provision
lr1.U that they should meet once syear. Inns iogm
OF parade has Drea carried cue annually ever since.
he first formal entertainment o. the O.d Glard
this winter VII b. the 3HnUa! o-ll, ~ the Academy
of Music on January Is. The Applications fox
tickets are already nun.cr0us and the committee
viii have lit,c else 10 do tIan 10 answer corle-