The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-28

Island Detached Militia and served three
months term in the war of the rebellion.
After that he completed his preparatory
studies at Lapham's Institute IN
North Scituate and then entered the Har-
ward Dental school where he graduated
with high honors in the class OF 1868
In the meantime Colonel Thornton had
resumed his military career by joining
the First Light Infantry on June - 1900,
when Colonel w w. Brown was in COM
mand He was the 1355th man 20 sign tho
books of the organization.
His first appearance on parade WIN the
Il. Il. l. was on the very day that nc
Joined On that day, June ?, 1865 the
infantry turned out to do escort duty for
His EXcellency, Governor Ambrose T.
Burnside upon his return from Newport
after his Inauguration and the close OF the
May session. :,
Eighty mon responded TO roll call
on that occasion and the parade led.by tic
American band, which Mr.. ID w. Reeves
had assumed the leadership of three
months before, was n memorable one:
The +. l.. /. had the right OF the line and
was followed by the Horse Guards and
Mechanics Rifles.
The line of march was from City Hotel
up Broad and through summer
down High and Westminster, across
Market square, down south Main, up
| Transit and then along Benefit To Gover-
nor Burnside's residence.
Colonel Thornton carried musket un-
I'll April of 1880. when nc was elected
| second lieutenant of G Company and in
tho following year captain TO succeed
| Captain C.. Henry Alexander
| As commander Of & Company, Colonel
! Thornton originated the company chow
der, " which has since been such popu
lar feature of the festivities amonf
| L. L. /. members. This and other efforts
which the new captain made 10 increase
| the spirit of hospitality and comradeshli
| in his company had tho desired effect
! and G. COmDany's membership soor
reached its limit and the organization
| took rank as one Of The best drilled and
| most efficient military organizations III
| the state.
| In April Of 1883 Captain Thornton was
| elected major and in the autumn OF that
| year the command of the organization
| came 80 him upon the resignation ol
| Colonel X. III. /. Goddard, although nc
was not commissioned as colonel himsell
until April of 1856. At the samo time
he was lieutenant colonel OF the Ilrs
Battalion Of Infantry, X |. NJ In 1881
1 when the state brigade was organlled bl
| the formation of the district regiments ol
| infantry ne was elected colonel OF th'
| First Regiment.
| lie resigned the command Of the Il. Il
| I. ON October 10 1853, and was succeeded
| by Colonel James +. Phctteplace.
| During his term Of seven years the regi
| mcnt participated in good many Inn
4 pOrtant military events and annlvorsarl"
| and entertained several OF tho mos
famous organizations OF the Unite'
| State =
In 1883 Colonel Thornton took bis com
| maud 60 New York and was I'm the parad
| on tho anniversary of the evacuation o
New York by the British. This wa
| properly known as Evacuation Day
| int the tronps from Rhode Island dubbe'
| it "Snturntion Dav" because they wcr
marched through the streets OF Gotham
in drvnching rainstorfn.
In 1856 the II. l. i. was the crack organ
izatiOn in the Philadelphia procession
~ commemorate the luOth anniversary q
the adoption OF thc constitution ard d
! l.>9 Colonel Thornton c1nmandcd th
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