Morning journal and courier., 1891-09-15

m1DDafY or Obn6f EGat04. s,4
 During 1916 the company minutes in the orderly book name the organization, ssThe New Haven Light Infantry"
 From 1917 to 1847 the company is des- ignated as "the Second Flank company, Second Regiment infantry.n From 1847 to 1850 the name is entered as the First company, Second regiment infantry, and for the remainder of the period the name is Company A.
 Singular as it may appear, the popular the orderly book during 1886 and 1887 ,and then in connection with it's regimental title.
 For the prosperity of 8 military company in times of peace it is especially necessary that the company be commanded by wise, gentlemanly and executive men. The Grays have been truly fortunate in having for so long period succession of such officers. They were often severely tried, but were never found wanting in dignity and character.
 The second period in the history of the New Haven Grays began with the election of Charles T. Candee as captain in 1854 and continued to the close of Captain Ed | ward E. Bradley's administration in 1868. This may properly be called the war pe- | riod of the company. In 1854, Franklin Pierce being president, l Stephen A. Douglass brought before the | senate of the United States bill to organ l ize the territories of Kansas and Nebraska. In the bill was clause providing that the people of these territories should decide l for themselves whether the states should be free or slave-holding. This was vir- | tual repeal of the Missouri compromise, which brought peace to the country by de- | claring that from this territory only free states should be formed.
 | The bill aroused in full force all the sec tional antagonisms of the country. It was violently opposed in congress, but was adopted and received the presidents sigma | ture.
 Kansas now became the battle field of freedom and slavery, and the conflict, which was forced upon the nation, con- tinued until slavery was abolished through l out the land.
 New political parties were formed in l 1854, and the Free Soil and American party were both active in promulgating l their principles In this unsettled condi- tion of the country the wisest men saw, but little way before them, bloodshed and war. During this and the following year larger accessions were made to the Grays by the enlisting of many of the most influential men of the city. These with the notable names already upon the | roll of members, comprised company, which for ability and social position has rarely been equalled in any community. I will mention few of these men: Samuel E. Merwin, jr, E. Walter Osborne, Alfred H. Terry, James M. Townsend, James M. Woodward, John L. Treat, Arthur D. Os- borne, A. o. Hendrick, David J. Peck, John c. Bradley, Franklin w. Fish, Henry G. Lewis and N. D. Sperry.
 The fortieth anniversary of the company was celebrated in 1856, with great en- thusiasm and success. At the banquet Minot A. Osborn was toastmaster. After the nine usual and regular toasts had been responded to by distinguished members of the company and guests, volunteer senti- ments were presented. Major Alfred H. Terry, with the future evidently before him, presented the toast, "The New Ha ven Grays." In the hour of trial, may they be as immovable as the gray granite hills of their native New England. In 1856 Lieutenant William H. Steele was elected to succeed Captain Candee, who afterward became colonel of the Second regiment Soon after his election, Captain Steele re- moved to Hartford and the interests ot the company were practically assigned tc Lieutenant E. Walter Osborn, who was elected captain January, 1859.
 | Captain Osborn was an officer of remark l hearted, quick of perception, prompt tt act, high spirited and devoted to the com. pany.
 He was unusually well supported by First Lieutenant A. c. Stevens, Second Lieutenant George L. Northrop and Order ly A. c. Hendrick.
 For more than two years Captain Os borne and his officers had labored to per feet the Grays in the company manual, ,ant | a1, hs s~ 4IzG private was competent to act as orderly sergeant.
 The fruits of this faithfulness were soo1 apparent. The over-wrought feelings O north and south, during the presidentia campaign and the election of Abraham Lincoln, eliminated in the formation O the southern confederacy, in February 1861. One month later President Lincol was inaugurated, and on the 14th of Apri confederates. The next day the presiden called for 75,OOO three months vol unteers. The Grays responded, ant became part of the "Second Connecticu Volunteers" commanded by Colonel Terry The regiment remained in camp until Ma, 10, when they left for Washington, wher they arrived May IA. On the 21st of Jul, the regiment formed part of the Union Re serve at the battle of Bull Run and, no being in the engagement until near it close, suffered little loss. The time fo which the company enlisted expired be fore the battle of Bull Run. The regimen therefore deposited it's arms in Washing ton and returned to New Haven wher they were mustered out August 5, 1861.
 While the Grays were in service the pas members formed the Veteran Grays' as sociation, to care for the armory and to b. of service to the absent company and t. their families. About one hundred ant fifty prominent Grays joined this associa ton.
 Soon after the Grays returned from tht war they organized as an independen company, with Captain Osborne as com mander. The company soon had a full complement of able men.
 In August, 1862, Captain Osborne re signed, again to go forth in the defense O his country, and, as it proved, to die. H was commissioned major of the Fifteenth regiment.
 At meeting at this time, Sergeant Mer win and Secretary Sloat were authorized to recruit for the Twenty y-seventh Con necticut, under the prestige of the Nev Haven Grays.
 In February, 1863, the company voted to join the state militia, which was nov organized, and at 8 subsequent meeting enthusiastically elected s. B. Merwin, jr. captain.
 The company was peculiarly fortunat, in their choice of captain. He had Tar, administrative and social qualities, and i may be truly said that every member o the company was loyal and ready to serv, him to the utmost of his ability.
 Captain Merwin devoted his time and money unsparingly to the interests of the company and many of our best citi zens soon regarded it an honor to joir it's ranks. The company and it's com mander were especially interested in Com pany A, New Haven Grsys, Twenty seventh Connecticut Volunteers, whict was mustered into the service October 1862. The ieutenant colonel, major, three ieutenants and many of the rank and file had been honored members of tn. Grays in former years.
 Their time of service was nearly com pleted; yet, before they were mustered out, they were to suffer great sorrow ant loss. In June, the confederates invaded Pennsylvania ,and the army of the Pc tomac pushed forward to strike it's foe By the 1st of July, the armies were con centrated at Gettysburg, and the battl' began. It ragged fercely for three days with a final victory for the union forces The Twenty-seventh Connecticut los \ l heavily Aroonp &ba L;Jla3 r,ora ;,,