The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-09-18

Other intertsing "reminiscences MT. Bostwick related, saying if he lived in New Haven he should join ''the Old Guard" i. e., the Second Company Governors Foot Guard, under com mand of Major Brown, (with his old Browns chief of staff), and go to At Browns chief of staq), and go to At lanta, and he was not sure if Major Brown would furnish uniform he would come from New York and go anyhow. Ex-Lieutenant Harvey Nun son, who was once elected captain, but declined, referred in his speech most feelingly and beautifully to the late true friend of the New Haven Grays, ex-Mayor Henry G. Lewis. His refer ence to that true friend of the New Haven Grays brought tears to the eyes of those who so well knew of the in- terest taken in and the battles Mayor Lewis had fought for the New Haven Grays. He hoped, Gas he knew all ac- tives would parade), all the veterans would parade on the day of and at the unveiling of the memorial statue of Henry G. Lewis.
 The present commandant of the Grays, Captain McCabe, presided as toastmaster at the seventy ninth anni- versary in question and showed him. self equal to that duty and the occa- sion and was as successful a presiding officer as he is captain of the New Ha- ven Grays and the company (with no disparagement of it's standing under other captains) never stood better than to-day. Speeches were also made by ex-Captain Townsend. ex-Captain and Major Brown, Colonel Lee and other veterans and there were stirring songs from the actives and music by the orchestra (which was very fine, espe- cially the solo on the fiute) and alto gether the time passed most enjoyably. One feature of the occasion was the presence of so many old veterans, all of whom have sons who are now also veterans or actives in the company. Among the former were Essi Stannard, who is still as active business as lots of much younger men, and Wooster A. Ensign, and among the latter ever young was Postmaster Benjamin R. English and others.
 IHe Olu CudTu Ol 1OilnGCtlcul was we'll represented in the members of the Second Company, Governors Foot Guard, as a large contingent of that company are veteran Grays. Also veterans of the war who are ex-mem- bers of the Grays were there and some of them distinguishable by the empty sleeve. It is a, well known fact that the New Haven Grays was the first com pany in the state of Connecticut who offered their services to President Lin coin in 1861. They were in their armory when the news of the firing on Sumpter was received and fin line' drilling with the noble, plucky and lamented Cap tain (afterward major) Osborn in com mand and before they "broke ranks" the company voted, offering themselves to President Lincoln, and the Grays were the only company in this state of Connecticut who went to the front in their own uniforms and their uni forms filled by the then regular mem- bers of the company and every member Out one) went to the front. Other companies in Connecticut went to the front under their own name and in their company uniforms, but did not go under their company existing off, cers or members. Some officers and members resigned and other took their places, but not an officer or member of the New Haven Grays resigned (save one) their places. All went in a body and history tells how well they did their part. As Major General Reyes wrote after the battle of Bull Run: "Connecticut may we'll be proud of Colonel Terry, the Second Connecticut regiment and the New Haven Grays."