Evening star., 1901-03-04
SQUADRON A OF NEW YORK.
Widely Known Company of Cavalry
prominent in the Parade.


Among the more widely known military
organizations in the parade today was
Squadron A of cavalry New York National
Guard. There are three troops in the
squadron, each consisting of the maximum
number of seventy-five men, besides the
staff and non-commissioned staff OF this
number $50 men participated In the parade.
The squadron is commanded by Maj Oliver
B. Bridgman, the complete roster of officers
being as follows: Maj Oliver B. Bridgman,
Capt. Medwfn Leale, assistant surgeon;
First Lieut.. S. r. Bradley jr, adjutant:
First Lieut.. L. V. O'Donohue, quartermas-
ter; First Lieut.. John n. Stearns, jr., com
m1ssary; First Lieut. r. H. Sayre. l. s. A
p: First Lieut. G. Howard Dawson, vet
Urinary surgeon; First Lieut. and Assistant
Surgeon Russell Bellamy; Chaplain Rev.
d. Parker Morgan.
Troop Capt. VIM. C. Cammann, First
Lieut.. Edward l.. Patterson. Second Lieut..
Troop II-Capt. H. G. Badgley, First
Lieut.: F; c. Huntington. Second Lieut.. e.
NJ. Ward.
Troop IlI-Capt Herbert Barry. First
Lieut.. Stowe Phelps, Second Lieut.. Joseph
S. Frelinghuysen.
Squadron A is said to be the only organ
fZatfon in the state OF New York in which
all departments are filled and which has
waiting list of men who have been elected
to membership.
During the Spanish-American war the
squadron volunteered without conditions Of
any kind 95 per cent of its members 1t
was the only organization so volunteering
that was broken-that is. only portion of
1t being taken, as, according to the call
that was made, one troop of cavalry only
was taken from New York city In order
to form this troop the names Of all the men
in each troop Of the squadron were drawn
by lot. SO as to make up one troop con-
ssting of eighty-four men, an equal num-
ber being taken from each of the three. This
troop when so formed was designated
Troop A and was mustered into the United
States service. being sent to Porto Rico.
There were no men enlisted outside of It's
regularly enlisted members for service in
the war. Many Of the men afterward held
commissions in the volunteer service, some
OF them receiving commissions in the regu-
lar army, their places being filled by men,
bers OF the squadron in New York who had
not been drawn in the original lot, and were
Immediately sent forward to take the places
OF those so leaving. The majority of these
men when they came back from Porto Rico
returned Immediately to their places left
vacant In the squadron The members be-
lieve there is no organization in the country
that has record excelling this one.
At First a Single Troop.
1t was originally mustered into the Ma
tional Guard Of the state Of New York
April 2, 1889, as a single troop. designated
Troop A. National Guard, New York, con-
slsting Of flfty-three officers and men, COM
manded by Capt Charles F. Roe After
having seen service in Buffalo and Brook
lyn at the time of the riots the member
ship was increased so that 1t was formed
into two troops, designated Squadron A,
commanded by Maj. Charles F. Roe Short
ly after the third troop was organized. The
former commanding officer IS now Maj
Gen. Charles F. Roe, commanding the Ma
tional Guard of the state Of New York.
In order to obtain admission into the
squadron the candidate Is proposed and sec
onded by two members of the organization
who are intimately acquainted with him.
He then has to have at least half dozen
letters Introducing him from other men,
bers of the squadron, after which he goes
before the committee of admissions, who
then decide upon his qualifications as a
cavalryman. then going before the squad
ron at regular meeting for election. When
he is enlisted the commanding officer as
signs him to one of the troops. 1t will thus
be readily seen that the men composing
Squadron are all of the same class and
are well qualified for the work which they
have to do.