The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-09
Old Infantrymen Tell Of Days
Gone by.
II Was the Quarterly Meeting Of the
r. /. !. Veteran Association.
Presentation OF Col. Browns Portrait.
Address by Colonel Staples

There was the pleasantest sort OF a re-
vival OF old memories last night at Gelb
~ Norton's, among the veteran Infantry
men of the r. l. l., ancient and honor
able In fact II not In title.
1t was the occasion OF the regular quar-
terly meeting OF the veteran Association
but there was a great deal added 10 the
routine OF the business session. The
first thing added was a good supper laid
for $50 mem bers and guests, all of whom
we're present.
Among the guests were Colonel Phette-
place, Lieutenant Colonel Rose, Major
Tanner, Adjutant Matthewson and several
company and non-commissioned officers
and privates of the active organization.
With the brigade officers and civilians
were: Colonel Henry Staples, Colonel j.
G. Wyman, General Olney Arnold, ex-
Lieutenant Governor l.. B. Darling,
Colonel Henry T. Sisson, ex-Governor X.
Q. Taft, Lieutenant,Coionel A. v. war,
field, Assistant AdJutant-Generali ana
Charles A. Jackson.
Colonel Jencks of the association pre-
sided at the after-coffee exercises and
first introduced Colonel Henry Staples
who read an interestin ing and minute his
torical paper relative TO the infantry
since its organization, May IL, 1918. lie
reviewed all of the many events in which
tho Infantry has participated with so
much credit, spoke OF its various bones
or armories occupied previous to the erec-
tion of the magnificent building on South
Main street, and told stories OF Us bravery
at times of actual service.
At the organization, 1918, there were 40
members, the first commandant being
job ANGEL. The commanders have been
Captain Job Angel, 1918 to 1920. az new
mem bers admitted; Captain 5. X. Rath-
bone, 1920 to 1926; Captain John j.
Stimson, 1926 to 1929. 90 new members; (;
Captain William l. Field, 1929 TO 1880,
II new members; Captain James Shaw.
". w. Brown, 1885 to 1867, 457 new MEM
bers; Colonel G. X. Dennis, 1867 10 1874,
374 new membe Colonel X. III. |. God
dard, 1874 to 1883, 327 new members; T;
Colonel W. ii. Thornton, 1853 TO 1893, AZ
new memb bers; Colonel J. r. Phettepiaoe,
1898, now in command. The 40 names
have now grown to 25y9.
At the organization of the Veteran AS
sociation, in 1859, 355 member were enroll
ed, of whom 1856 have passed away. The
oldest living members are Chaplain Bishop
Clark, Surgeon Francis l.. Wheaton, AS
sistant Commissary James r. Dorrance.
Included in the membership OF the in
fantry are the names of five Governors.
one Secretary OF State, one Senator, six
sp' akers OF the State House OF Represen-
tatives, aud 43 members OF the House
For the city there have been eight
Mayors. eight Aldermen, eight presi-
dents of the Council, one clerk OF Com
mon Council, 40 members OF the Council,
one city clerk, two city auditors, two city
solicitors and two city marshals. For the
United States, one district attorney; for
the militia Of the State, two major gen
erals, four brigadier generals, Is brigade,
regiinental and other staff officers, IL colo
els, three lieutenant colonels, thr ee
majors and FIVE captains. The above 10
the record made up TO 1869, and not add
ed to since.
For the war OF the rebellion the in
fantry furnished 81 privates, II corporsls,
IS sergeants, two quartermaster-sergant
hospital steward, SO lieutenants, 8 ad-
jutants, 80 captains, surgeons, chap
lain, aides-de-camp, engineer, mem
bers OF signal corps, / captain OF band,
] paymaster, b quartermasters, i commis-
sary, 13 majors, lieutenantcoloneis 8
colonies, / adjutant-general, brigadier-
generals, major-general, and 10 the navy.
1 enant-commander, i ensign and
2 paymasters.
1t was a splendid address that aroused
the fondest OF memories in the breasts OF
the gray-haired veteans who could look
back half century or more to the days
OF their enlistment, and awakened new
ambition among the younger men who
have not yet given up the scarlet coats for
the blue.
PRESENTATION OF THE PORTRAIT.
Colonel Christopher Duckworth, chair.
man OF the committee on Colonel w. w.
Browns portrait, made his report and
presented the picture. 1t is a splendid
| lfie-size portrait in oil, painted by
Charles A. Jackson, and shows the old
| officer in the uniform of the Veteran AS
socistion. Colonel w. w. Brown joined
the infantry July 0, 1923, and rose from
the ranks TO the position OF commander.
| His military record was a most envia blt
one, and although gone TO last bivouac,
his name is almost the first that comes tC
| the ears of the new recruits and he is the
| patron saint OF the 4. L. l.
After the presentation remarks were
made by the, artist, Mr.. jackson, General
James Shaw, ex-Governor Royal C. Taft,
Chaplain Hopkins b. Cadv, and Mr. l.
l.. Burden Lee wound up with sinigng
1.-THE Sword of Bunker Hill.