The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-04
The Company,s History.

The First Light Infantry Company was
organized and chartered May IL, 1918, and
until 1872 it kept its company formation
during these fifty-four years, the company
had in its rank the best men in the city
and State, men who have held the most
responsible positions in the State, and who
have given to the First Light Infantry
Regiment place amongst the first organ
izations in the country. In April 1872 1t
was decided to change the formation from
company to regimental, the company was
at that time under command of Capt.
Charles X. Dennis, and he was appointed
chairman of committee TO petition the
General Assembly for an amendment to
the charter, which was granted April rs,
1872, and the First Light Infantry Regi-
ment began its existence.
The members of the old +. l.. /. Com
pany were drawn up in four ranks of
equal size and drew for the letter of the
company to which they were to be as
signed the old members forming a nucleus
for new company. Major j. j. Jencks
was assigned to Compeny A. to act as com
manding officer until the company should
elect its own officers.
August, 10, 1872, Company A elected the
following officers and non-commissioned
officers Captain, Joseph III. keudrick;
first lieutenant, f. w. Waterhouse;
second lieutenant, James III. Barney; first
sergeant, G. c. Henrys; second sergeant,
u. ".
Leonard; fourth sergeant, Joseph Gar
Gran; corporals. John III. Russell, f.
Knowles, w. Scott Greene and Joseph
Baker. Jr.
During the seven years which Capt.
kendrick remained in command the COM
pauy was in a most prosperous condition.
The members of the Company look back
with pride TO the visit of the First Light
Infantry Regiment to Boston In June,
1875, when Company A paraded fifty-six
muskets, and on one other occasion the
company paraded the same number.
Lieut. Barney remained with the com
pany about one year when he was sue
ceeded by Lieut.. George +. Leonard, who
remained about the same length of time
and was succeeded by Joseph L. Snow,
who afterwards was promoted first lieu
tenant and Greenwood Soule was elected
second lieutenant In 1919. Capt. j. II.
Kendrick resigned command of Company
\ 20 accept the position of lieutenant
colonel OF the First Light Infantry Regi-
ment. The company in losing him lost u
most valuable officer, one who had kept
the command recruited up TO its full
strength and who had lent dignity TO
the Office which had won the confidence of
every member of the command.
Capt BENJAMIN l.. Hall succeeded
Capt. Kendrick aud he proved himself n
man Of splendid ability rs a commander
and thorough disciplinarian. Under
Capt. Hall the company had the proud
distinction of holding the first place In the
Rhode Island militia shortly after Capt.
Hall assumed command Amos Nj. Bowen
was elected frst-lieutenant, and I'm 1881
Charles w. Buker was elected second-lieu-
tenant. In Oct. 1852, Capt. Hall and
Lieut.. Bowen resigned and in November
Of the same year Lieut.. Buker also re-
signed. Lieut.. Hoxie, Company Is, was
detailed 10 command Company "A until
they could elect officers TO fll the vacan.
cies. In February 1888 the company elect
ei w. w. B. Hallett as captain and e; {.
Henrys rst-lieutenant, and George Baker