The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-07-06
OLD TIME MILITIA,

| o1Ll LIME MllllIA.
The following historical article, of
rare interest, is from the pen Of Miss
Ellen Larned, the Windham historian:
our subject takes us back to the
very beginnings of New England. Our
Pilgrim ancestors brought with them no
trained company Of soldiers but from
the flrst Were obliged to depend upon
their own courage and firearms for de-
Tense from savage enemies. 1t was q
most favoring Providence that included
| among those plain civilians and crafts
men the martial Miles Standish-the
last man likely to be with them--the one
they most needed But for his courage
and skill in training others it seems
almost impossible that the Pilgrims
could have stood their ground. As soon
as possible all the men capable Of bear
| ing arms We're enrolled in military COM
| panies-the beginning of New England
volunteer service-which as early as
| 1922 held their general muster" or
training at Plymouth.
| The Massachusetts Bay colony was
| equally prompt in military organization
all white men of sixteen years and
upward enrolled for service. Sixty
four men We're required for COM
pany, smaller towns uniting to complete
the number, each company electing its
captain. The companies OF one county
contributed regiment, which had
power to choose a sergeant major. A
major general chosen by the general as
eembly commanded the whole militia
force of the colony Their first gene
raj MUSTER was held on Boston Com
mon in 1888. three regiments Of 500 men
each, headed by Governor Winthrop
and the deputy governor, In 1911 a
general training was held which lasted
two days, when, says Governor Win
throp, sit was observed that there was
no man drunk, though there was plenty
of wine and strong beer in the town.
not an oath sworn, no quarrel nor any
harm done"
CONNECTICUT PIONEER SOL
DIERS.
AT the first settlement of Connecticut
every man was called to be a soldier.
The hostile attitude of the Pequots
brought almost immediate warfare.
Survival of the fittest' seemed only at
tainable by humiliation of the less fit.
The little band that marched from the
three infant towns were commanded
by one who seemed like Standish, raised
for this emergency-Capt. John Mason.
He saw that a decisive blow was need
ed, and he gave it, and Connecticut
plantations were saved when her whole
population was less than Gideon's army
that served Israel AS population in
creased and new towns sprang up,
stringent military regulations were en-
forced Every household kept on hand
its supply of firearms. every man took
his turn in scouting and guarding, and
bore his part in the prescribed monthly
training and general muster on PEN
atty Of heavy fine, Thus by constant
vigilance and discipline the colonists
were enabled to carry through the ter
rible contest, known as king Philips
war" AS the Canaanites had to be
removed to make way for the chosen
people so our aborfgines were doomed
to give place to the glo-saxon.
out, the contest for life or death was in
evitably victory for the whites only
at a great loss of life and property.
However much this result may be dep
recated, we may give credit to the cour-
age and endurance of tsa colonial milf
tia, which in hair a century after first
settlement. with 10 preparation but the
ordinary militia training and no help
from the mother country, was able to
subfue such invidious and desperate
enemies-Capt. Benz. Church stands out
as the hero in this contest, to be linked
with standish and Mason in grateful
remembrance.
In Great Britan's wars with France
and Spain the colonists were called to
bear part, not only guarding their
own towns from skulking Canadian and
Mohawk Indians, but sending men for
the protection of the frontier. All this
discipline and the ever-present sense OF |
its necessity made our militia service |
most effective. The best and strongest |
men in all the towns were elected lead |
ers and it's power ranked with those of |
the church and town meeting, but it |
was not till 1899 that Connecticuts force |
was formally organized. Thirteen regi-
,nents were then constituted, each with |
it's commissioned officers and troop of |
horse Our Windham county militia |
made up of the Fifth and Eleventh reg
iments, which for more than century |
the military with the rest |
Of the county The other New England |
colonies We're equally alert and careful |
in military preparation, and were thus
a BILE to carry through such a renlarka- |
BILE achievement as the capture of |
.ousburgh in 1A4 to assist the Eng