National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-02-21
THE coNNEcrrcur VETERANS.
Another Organization Dating from,
Colonial Times.

tOlOhtnt llncas
Tho Government Foot Guards Of Con-
necticut, which also arrived yesterday,
dates from III, when charter was
granted by tho colonial legislature on the
petition Of Samuel Wyllis aud forty.threc
other patriotic citizens of Hartford TO
the general assembly of tho colony,
setting forth that as tho militia
companies turn to attend the governor
came only once in many years that the
petitioners conceive that IL would bo an
honor to the state and government to
form company to perform the duty
continually.
The Foot Guard from that was estab-
lishcd, and military company organized
named the Governors Guard" uni
formed in scarlet, turned up with black.
FOR MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS
it has fulfilled its agreement, and con
stantly performed that service for the
honor of the government" for which it
was chartered. Its first parade was in
discharge of the duty of attending upon
the general assembly at Hartford in May,
lT72, which body was pleased to put upon
its records resolution that this as
sembly. having observed and approved
their conduct and rs an encouragement
to thom. tho said company's further ex-
ertion of themselves to do honor to their
institution, and to answer the just ex-
pectations of the general assembly in
their establishment, do grant and resolve
that certain moneys which the company
have expended be refunded to them out
of the colony treasury, &c"
In May, 1902 tho company was consid-
erably enlarged, and the company allowed
to choose its own uniform.
THE FIRST UNIFORM WORN
by the company was on the occasion of its
first parade, tho present dress uniform
scarlet faced with black, with bearskin
cap and velvet leggings-and was copied
from the uniform of the Coldstream
Guards, or the Prince Regents Guards Of
England.
In 1909 the rank of tho commanding
officer was made major. In addition to
the discharge of its duty of attending
upon the general assembly aud escorting
the governor, the guard has performed
duty upon many memorable and historic
occasions "for the honor of the state,"
and in honor of the most celebrated char
acters in American history.
DURING THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE,
and in obedience to tho order of tho com
mander-in- chief, Gov. Jonathan Trum-
bull, the guard performed escort duty for
Washington, Knox, Lafayette, Admiral
Ternay. Rochambeau and their aids, upon
the occasion of their visit to Hartford,
for the purpose of consultation and per-
fecting plans for future military opera
tions against England. A little later the
guard escorted the governor (Trumbulll
n. tl.., oil a., So.
and upon his final retirement from public
life, and from the labors and cares of his
high Office, it accompanied him to his
homo in Lebanon.
Under Mai. Calvin Day. the guard led
the pageant in honor Of Gen. Jackson
then visiting Hartford.
Upon its rolls, in the list of privates as
we'll as in the list Of officers, will be
found the names of many Of tho most
prominent men in Hartford of the past
century-names honored in business life,
in politics, aud in all the professions, not
emitting the clergy.
THE COMPANY MAKES THE PROUD BOAST
which no other military organization in
the United States can make, that it has
maintained an active existence, without
break, for ia years, and has never
omitted an annual parade. Two or three
companies in other states claim greater
age, but there is not one OF them which
has not seen years of dormancy; subse'
quently being resurrected to maintain
the old name, But the First Company
Governors Foot Guards, has never had Q
hiatus or lapse, and claims to be the old
est active military organization Of the
United States.
The ofiicers Of this company are Mai
]. c. Kinney, Capt. j. G. Pratt, First
Lieut.. Il. G, Naedele, Second Lieut.. j. r.
Dwyer, Third Lieut.. +. O. Clarke, Ensign
Horace Lord. staff otlicers-C. c. Strong
paymaster; l.. Il. Finn, quartermaster
Leander Hall, commissary; DIR. Vain.
wright, surgeon; L. II. Hyde, judge advo
cate; George Folts, engineer; A. ii. En-
bier, chief Of staff Henry Bryant, in.
spector.
There are l05 men and officers, ant
several honorary members.