Evening journal., 1889-07-22
OUR NATIONAL GUARD.
HOW AND BY WHOM THE FIRST
COMPANY WAS ORGANIZED.


CANT PHI. SHERIDAN,
BRANDywINE SPRINGS, July 81.
At this time of the encampment Of the
National Guard OF Delaware, a history OF
the organization will be interesting and
useful.
The American Rifles was the first or
ganized company Of the First Regiment.
II was organized in 1875 with five mem
bers; T. H. Messenger, Samuel NJ.
Wood, j. p. Edwards and g. s. Mckee.
The organization Of a company Of militia
had been broached a year before, but
partisan wishes ended the movement.
The foundation of the company was
patriotism the leader felt impressed
that the young men Of our country
should be posted on military tactics and
be ready to render assistance in resisting
a foreign foe or quelling home insur
rection. The five original members care
fully pushed the matter and by March,
1875, had forty men on the roll. AT a
meeting held on March 13, Samuel M,
Wood was elected captain. The name
American Rifles was selected and rule
was made that all members must be
American citizens between 1S aud 40
years Of age. The first civic officers were :
President, J. p Edwards. Jr secretary,
s. M. Wood; treasurer, 7. Il.
H. Messenger. Within four months after
its organization the company had seventy
members drill room was rented in the
Friendship Engine House and on July "a,
j. p. Edwards, Jr., was elected first lieu
tenant and r. L. Bucxmaster was elected
second lieutenant. A committee was ap-
pointed in July, rs, to solicit money for
uniforms Times were hard and only
$51. 25 was received The project of a
militia company was opposed by a local
newspaper.
The members were determined to have
uniforms before July A, 1876, for the for.
nation of Centennial Legion, which had
been talked Of This legion was to COM
prise company from each state in the
Union. The state officials gave no assist
ance in the pushing forward Of the pro-
jeot. The men were also troubled for fear
their company officers should not be com
missioned. Application for commissions
was made to Governor Cochran through
Secretary of State Ignatius @. Grubb in
1875. Time was swiftly passing yet moth
ing was heard Of the matter until in Sep.
tember word was received that the secre-
tary Of state would deliver the commits
sions on payment of 81. The officers paid
the 80 and received their commissions
After this, First Lieutenaht Edwards
called on Mr. Grubb and asked him to
try IL he could secure arms and accoutre-
ments from the National Government
stores. as the company had discovered
through Senator BAyard that there were
thousands Of dollars worth of such
stores In the War Department, placed tC
the credit of Delaware. In his reply the
secretary said that the people Of Della
ware were not partial to the military
they had seen enough Of such during tn,
war, and further, he suggested that tn,
company might take the old guns then IL
the City Hall. He added that he coulc
do nothing for them. This served as
another dRmper ON the members, and
they made remarks uncomplimentary.
At this period public spirited mar
was made adjutant, General J. f.
Reynolds Through his efforts the com
pany received by the first of November,
fifty 50-calibre Springfield rides from
Washington. A fair realized $3.50, and
the work Of uniforming was accom-.
plished. The uniform WAS adopted Janu-
ary 1. 1875, and consisted of dark blue
cloth with white trimmings. Each man
paid 50 towards his own suit, no assist
ance being offered by the state.
Captain Wood thought 1t good plar
to bring the American Rifles before the
people and show them what was possible.
The company therefore paraded on Wash
ington's birthday. drill was given OF
vacant lot at Fourth and Lombard
streets before large crowd. On Decora
tion Day they again paraded with the G.
| A. r.
July Fourth drew near. Contribution
were solicited from the city and from
Council. The latter appropriated $5t
| towards the expenses OF the band, which
cost $3.50. At l1.45 on the night Of July
3 the American Rifles marched dowr
Market street TO the station, through
crowded streets. The train left fol
Philadelphia at l2. 30 o'clock. They took
quarters two blocks from the First Regi
ment Armory on Broad street. The viii
mington company compared favorably
with the others in line and kept up thu
honors of Delaware.
At this time two-thirds of the mel
were out of work and the com
panv reached perfection. On October
| 10, 1876, Delaware Day. they acted as al
escort to the governor. That the state Off
GERS were sadly lacking in their apprecia
tion of the efforts Of the military is showI
in that, while they had provided trans
portation they rejected to provide a com
missarist, and II 1t had not been for few
men the soldier boys would have gon,
hungry on that day.
On March "A, 1877, room in the Sa
vile Building, Sixth and Market streets
was rented as an armory and in '79 tn,
rifles moved to the Masonic Temple wher,
the Rrmory now is. Thomas Hart die,
on April 20, 1877. the first to die.
On July Fourth Of that year exercise.
of military character were given an,
City Council was invited to review tn
men as they passed the City Hall
Promptly at 8 o'clock the American
Rifles marched by and saluted. Council
was not there, for the members had ad
journed to neighboring hotel for re
freshments.
The railroad riots took place in Jul,
and August, 1877. Notwithstanding tina
the state officials had hitherto treate'
the American Rifles with contempt, the,
now told them TO be in readiness when
ever called upon. Captain Wood took tn
opportunity TO inform the authoritie
that inasmuch as the State Of Delawar
had never contributed a dollar to tn
support OF the military they in turn wer
equally independent and would use thei
own judgment about responding. Thei
assistance was not needed however. Ol
September IL the company participate
in the one hundreth anniversary of tn
battle Of Brandywine at Chadds Ford
In the fall Of the year 1873 Attorney
General John B. Pennineton secure