The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-01-01

ASA SASfSS 0tiN "odld WISH W sec, lthCo
places at - o'clock, and every man in
uniform, army and navy, takes part
with pride in the grand march, The
blending of colors of the different uni
forms are beautiful and always remem-
bered by those who are present. Sew
eral governors from nearby states, as
we'll as United States Army and Navy
and National Guard officers, will nt-
tend this year.
This ball is much enjoyed by the best
social set in New York, as we'll as by
the visiting guardsmen from the east
ern and southern states, who attend
every year. This grano old military
organization has great history to be
proud of, and Is famous for the cordial
welcome 1t extends to it's guests, who
come every year from Boston, Phila-
delphia, Washington. the south and
from every state this side of the Miss
issippi
In the ranks of the Old Guard can be
found many prominent bankers and
well known merchants, generals of the
army and National Guard. No doubt
this Is why one has an assured guaran-
tee of it's social success, and all New
Workers say that it is the great ball Of
the season.
The Old Guard, after occupying Its
present quarters for more than quarter
of century, on Fifth avenue and Four
tenth street, will move to it's new ar
| mory Forty ninth street and Broadway,
Saturday, January Is, 1898, at o'clock
in the afternoon. The new quarters are
large and roomy, occupying nearly the
entire block, and will be beautifully fit
ted up.
Following is a sketch Of this history
of this famous organizations:
In 1926 the Boston Light Infantry Wis
tied New York and encamped on Brook
Ign Heights. Colonel William w. Tomp-
kins, at that time in command of the
"One Hundredth Militia" inspired by
the magnificent discipline of the "Ti-
gers recruited and organized the
''Tompkins Blues" (named after the
then governor of the stated Colonel
Tompkins, graduate of West Point,
participated in the war of 1912, Seminole
war and other strifes, with heroic rec
ord, made the Blues a military model
of the day. The soldiery fervor rapidly
spread and among other companies
formed the famous City Guard in 1888
came into existence under Captain Will
liam NJ McArdle Originally a member
of the Blues) and an active rivalry aid
| ed in promoting the interests of both
organizations. Captain Tompkins retir-
| ed from the command in 1888, and was
succeeded by Edward Vincent, and then
| the organization changed it's name to
| the Light Guard Adopting the scarlet
| uniform of the Coldstream Guards of
| England (then station in Canada I'M
| der the new name and commandant, it
| for many years achieved fame and con-
| stantly added lustre to its history. In
| 1S4S-49 Lieutenants Jonathan d. Steven
| son and Ward b. Burnett of the Light
| Guard resigned, the former to command
| the first regiment sent to California and
| the latter became general of TIE New
York volunteers for the Mexican war.
Captain Vincent continued in command
| of the Light Guard for twenty-five
| years. and was succeeded by John r.
| Garland, a Virginian by birth and a
| West Point graduate, under whom the
| corps continued it's brilliant record. In
| 1859 the officer commanding was Will
! liam G. Tompkins, a son of the old COM
mander, and subsequently David ID.
| Hart was elected to the captaincy OF
| the corps.
| In 1850 the Light Guard became Com
pany A of the Seventy-first regiment,
and the City Guard (then under Captain
| Thomas T. FERRIS was made Company
C of the Ninth regiment. During the
civil war in 1861 the Seventy-first regf-
AZ. III
Run, and Captain Hart was severely
| wounded. (From the effects of these
wounds he died twenty-seven years af-
| forwards, January ., 1882 The City
Guards regiment served three years in
| the Army of the Potomac, and both
companies furnished from the old mem
bers a long list of officers of every rank
| who won countless honors on many q
| battlefield
At the close of the War of the Rebel
lion all the former independent military
| organizations of New York city had
| passed away. Efforts were made to
| bring about reunion Of the surviving
members of the Light and City Guards
and principally through the exertions
of Major George W. Mclean, an act of
incorporation was obtained from the
legislature April %, 1868. Thus the Old
| Guard came into existence to perpetu-
ate the renown and distinction COM
menced in 1926, and which has been
continued with added illustriousness.
| Major Mclean, who served period
of half century in the organization
and as battalion commander for TWEEN
ty-five years, surrendered to the Great
Commander in February, 1893 The
present commander is Major S. Ellis
Briggs.
| The ranks are filled with prominent
persons; many have served as majors
| and brigadier generals and as officers
in every rank of military life, and 9th
ers in the commercial or professional
world hold high position.
For many years the Old Guard has
had the distinguished honor of serving
as special escort to the president of the
| United States Being an independent
| military organization, the battalion Is
subject to call for active duty only by
| the commander-in-chief, the governor OF
the state of New York The part taken
by the Old Guard, in all important
events of a military or social character
is such that it enjoys national reputa.
| ton, and on conspicuous occasions its
| pracaroa or rnprpcpptatior reouiraS