The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-02-25
SOME NEW HAVEN HISTORY
IN INTERESTING PIPER READ BY
 HENRY T. BLAKE

Before the Historical Society Last Evening
 Importance of the old Green in New Iiaven's History-rhe Wars of Colonial Times-visits of Noted Men-F oot Guards Penetrated British Lines.
 The feature of the meeting of the New Haven Colony Historical society held in the socletys building on Grove street last evening was the reading of paper by Henry T. Blake on "The New Haven Green as a Place for Civic and Military Councils and Parades"
 Previous to the paper Judge Baldwin, the president of the society, stated that ex-Mayor J. E, Sargent had been ap- pointed a delegate to the dedication ceremonies of the new building of the American Catholic Historical society of Philadelphia, held recently, and re- quested MT. Sargent to give report of his trip. This the ex-mayor did, de- scribing the Philadelphia society and its new building. He also said that Mgr. Satolli was present and assisted at the ceremonies.
 Judge Baldwin then announced that the first in the series of lectures to be delivered at the society building under the auspices of the Historical society would be given next Friday evening by General Gordon on "The Last Days of the Confederacy,"
 MT. Blakes paper last evening was most interesting and was in substance as follows:
 During the history of New Haven there has not been a generation which has not seen soldiers armed and mus tered on the old green, from whence they marched away to war. For the first twenty years after 1928 military force was kept ready for action in an- ticipation of war with New Neither lands, and hostile expedition was fit ted out and about to start when peace was declared The same thing happen ed second time.
 "Then there was King Phillips war; from 1889 until 1897, King William s war; 1702 until I'll, Queen Anne's war; in 1739, King Georges war with Spain; 1745 until 175S, the expeditions against Canada; 1775-178S, the Revolution. Be- tween 179S and 1872 there was hardly peace, as there was during all that time trouble with France and Great Britain, which cul1ninated in the war of 1S14 From 1915 until 1S45 there was peace, and fifteen years after came the Rebellion, the last occasion on which we were compelled to drink of the bloody cup of war.
 "Let us hope that out of the dark ness of war will rise the light of arbit- rati way will 10 h11f.ip6 in fhn nineteenth century, and that with the new century may come the message of peace to all mankind.
 What was the first military organ ization of the colony is unknown, but there were dangerous aborigines, and in view of this fact the settlers brought with them from Massachusetts several veterans and these were formally in vested with the command of the mill ita. On November 5, 1889. it was order ed that all men in the colony able to bear arms be furnished with arms and appear on the green a few days after ready to drill. This was the beginning of the history of the green and of the Second company of Governors Foot Guard The town owned ai that time a supply of bikes, which were kept in 6, large chest in the meeting house. There were no uniforms then, but in 1643 it was ordered that every family in the colony should make or have made 8 coat Of padded cotton wool as a protection from the Indians arrows, but the Indians were soon after sup piled with guns and then the town or dered that the coats be sold for what they would bring. Captain Turner was the first captain of the colonys militia " force.
 In 1645 he departed for England and the ship on which he sailed was never heard of afterwards Captain Malone was appointed in his place. There was besides the captain two lieutenants, four sergeants and four corporals. The company's drummer was at that time a most important functionary, civil as well as military. He was the morning rooster, the meeting house bell. He sounded the watch at sunset and beat the reveille a half hour before daybreak, it being the duty of the watchman to wake him an hour before day break to protect him in the performance of his duty Robert was the first drummer of the colony. He felt the dignity of his office, and his temper finally became too hot for the authorities and he emil grated to Stamford. He was arrested and brought back, but it was decided that he was such an important and necessary parsonage that he was par doned. At that time the town owned three or. four small iron cannon which were referred to in the record as "the great guns.' They at first were not mounted, but the record says that Hen ry Peck and a MT. Bassett were order ed to mount them properly. There was then shooting range at Oyster Shell fields in the vicinity where Union street is to-day. Training days were fre- quento The soldiers were also obliged to exercise in athletics, such as run ming, jumping, etc.
 In May, 1647, an artillery company was formed and purchased coIors which it desired the town to adopt and pay one half the cost. The town did so the next year. What the colors were is a matter of conjecture, but they were probably the crosses of St Andrew and St George on white field In 1856 a