The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-12

minnesota regiment. III 1901 tile SudIu
had served as an escort to Gen. James
Stockwell, who visited st. Paul. In
1859 the company visited Saltwater.
going there on the steamer City Belle.
They arrived at. noon, July A. in
heavy snow storm. By 3 o'clock p. m,
however, it had all disappeared. They
were escorted to the armory of the
Saltwater guards. and bapqueted on "a
glorious lunch with washtubs full of
champagne, on the sides. literal wash
tubs full of genuine iced champagne,
which the boys drank from tin dippers.
AS one of the members expressed it:
1--WE Toasted royalty at the Sawyer
house. returned home and woke up
signing for more washtubs full of
champagne"
On the reorganization of the Old
guard in 1858, 1t adopted the following
uniform: Dark blue frock coat single
breasted; white epaulettes. white cross
belts, carrying bayonet and cartridge
box. light blue pantaloons with wide
white stripe. bear skin hats blue over
coat with cape and red lining, white
gloves and scarlet fatigue cap. On
May 81, 1858, the citizens of Minneapo-
lis gave a banquet to the old guard
at the Nicollet house. The members
went to the city on the steamer Den
mark. The reception committee con-
sisted of Maj. Eugene Wilson, Col.
Edward Murphy and Col. E. Case. The
dinner occurred at 2:30 p, m. On July
s, 1859. the guard attended the funeral
of DR.. Charles M. Borup. one of the
earliest territorial settlers. During the
years of 1858. 1859 and 1860 the COM
pany participated in number of
street parades. They did not require
much target practice. as they were
all crack shots, and game was plenti-
full in those days
SERVICES RENDERED.
In 1857 news of the Ink Padootah
Indian massacre was received, and the
guard rendered their services = to the
governor. who could not supply
them with ammunition. In 1859
Gen. Sibley ordered out three
companies of the state militia, the
Minnesota Pioneer guard, the Stillwa-
ter and the Shields guards. They went
to Monticello, Wright county. The
march" was performed in some of
Burbank's oid-time four-horse coaches,
on cushioned seats. They were under
immediate command Of Col. John S.
Prince and Col. William S. Crooks. No
blood was shed on this expedition.
On March %, 1860, Mrs. Belanski was
hanged in ST. Paul for having poisoned
her husband. The hanging took place
in the court house square and the
Pioneer guard appeared on the scene
at the time in uniform and under
command of it's officers.
OFF FOR THE WAR.
The crucial test of the metal of
which the old guard was composed
came in 1851. Gov. Ramsey was in
Washington, April II, 1861, the day on
which the rebels fired upon Fort Sum-
ter Gov. Ramsey then and there ten
dered to President Lincoln a regiment
of troops from Minnesota and also
wired Lieut.. Gov. Donnelly to issue
call for volunteers. Gov. Donnelly at
once sent for A. T. Chamberlin, at that
time captain of the Pioneer guard,
informed him of Gov. Ramsey's teIe-
gram. and suggested that he call a
meeting of the old guard. The meeting
was called, and the members of the
first military organization in Minneso-
ia, state or territory, were promptly on
hand that evening at Z o'clock The
armory was packed with an excited
crowd of citizens, many of whom mad
come for the express purpose of
joining the guard. 1t was the unan-
imous voice of the old Pioneer guard
that it should at once recruit it's ranks.
Then Col. Joe King stepped up to the
table. signed the roll, and, to the cred
it of Minnesota, he was the first man
III tile SldIS, IL liOt III Tic - ullSO oldISS,
to volunteer for the War of the Rebel
lion.
On that evening, April 3D. 1851, sixty
names were enrolled. Within forty
eight hours the list-had swelled to 127.
and the old Minnesota Pioneer guard
passed away into history, and was re-
incarnated- as Company A.; First regi-
ment Minnesota volunteers. The proc
lamation calling for volunteers was not
issued until the 18th of April, 1861, and
the last home meeting Of the guard
was held on the evening of the 18th.
AN IMPRESSIVE REUNION.
The War of the Rebellion had been
fought to a successful ISSUE Another
war with Spain had been closed with
victory perching on the banner Of the
United States troops. On July 27. 1898,
the following members of the Old
Pioneer Guard assembled at the servi-
ces incident to the laying of the corner
stone of the new Minnesota state capt.
toll building.
Gen. John B. Sanborn, R. A Smith, H. C.
Burbank, R. l.. German, ]. M. Campbell, NJ.
c. futile, Norman Kittson, B. F. Irvine Will
liam A. Van Slyke, C. G. King, E. E. Hugh
son, j. C. Devore ]. 1. Beaumont, T. Vanettin
w. S. Combs and William Leip.
ABOUT THIS TIME
Up to the breaking out Of the war
Mime sofa had been preparing for