New-York tribune., 1902-01-12
OLD GUARD VETERANS.
MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE SEEN SER
VICE AS OFFICERS-THEIR AR
MORY CLUBHOUSE.
MORY CLUBHOUSE.

- The days Of military service for the members Of
the Old Guard are over. They have served their
time in the army. in the navy. or in the National
Guard, and they look upon the Old Guard Head
quarters a home of veterans. Their armory in
Forty-ninth-st and Broadway Is the place where
the 80 members OF the organization meet and dis
cuss the personal and organization experiences
which to make up the picturesque history of
the battalion. Membership be obtained only
by honorably discharged officers. soldiers and
sailors OF the United States Army and Navy,
by who have served five years in
the National Guard of any State. On the roll
there five brigader generals, nineteen
colonels thirteen majors and more than hundred
captains and leutenants. The armory has fine
drill floor the walls of which decorated with
portraits Of members and pictures Of scenes in the
history of the Guard. library. Office and a
large and handsomely furnished drawing in
which the regular meetings are held. The commits
sary department contains range and several
tables, and although its appearance is unpreten-
tious. II IS known 10 rank high restaurant. On
the drill floor is an alcove, on a rack is barrel
and it q tray with glasses. That" said a
member, pointing the barrel rs cider. Every
year winter weather sets in. barrel
is put tap. and when il is empty another is put
up. We have had four barrels far this season."
The member wished 1t understood. however. that
The Old Guard did not drink cider TO the exclu-
sion OF all other beverages. but that it popular
with some of the members.
The armory, while IT is a club in many respects.
are no checks to sign. Members order what they
want TO drink. but asked TO pay
for it I'VE play billiards Switchboard as we
would at home" said a member. "and order our
drink in the same way. Every man is a member of
the Old Guard family, and this place is his home
much It is his club
The OLD Guard was organized from the veterans
Of the Light Guard and the City Guard Of New
York. These companies were formed respectively
in 1926 and 1893
The organization received its charter In 1868. at
which time a battalion OF companies
formed. 1t is an independent organization, subject
10 orders except those of the Governor, and al
though its uniform is the most striking of any
that it Will make them conspicuous targets
before armed enemy. The Old Guard parades
every year the anniversary Of its organization.
April o. and November %, Evacuation Day. Uni
forms brushed up. buttons and gold lace bur-
nished and swords and muskets polished with much
rare for these occasions, and the Old Guard, with
us fine band in the lead and its ranks of white
coated big men, who lock taller because OF the
bearskin hats, fails 10 attract admiring at
tention
The charter members were George w Mclean
Charles A Stetson. Josiah Hedden, David d. Hart
Lewis D. Ruckley. Henry Motion George Brady
AllieTl Emanuel B. Hart. NJ. A: Wheeiock Wliian
Hen9y Geg Spear e vs. aT4 EUGENE ISaR and
Daniel II. Burdett These. were designated as
ssrved Captains VINCENT and McATde ,4f. in the
First Division of the New-York state Allntla.
The first bah given by the Old Guard took place
the Academy Of Music in April, 1853 and ts nrss
adopted early in its career was at the funeral OF
General Robert Anderson, the hero or Fort sumter
frst Commanding officer and remained in that po-
sition until he died in February. 1888 He was sue
commander i April. 1893. Soon after the death OF
na3E on Goe 0en me s Brss Young
member of the organization, was elected major
inscribed silver rings on its colors but its records
show that the Guard has had many hard contests
Burgesses Corps the Governors Foot Guard. the
Troy Citizens Corps, the Utica Citizens Corps and
known National Guard bodies 1t has also encoun-
tered the City Guard of Atlanta the CharestSn ton
Worcester Continentals 1t has marched. dinea
and Honorable ARTILLERY of Boston and the Hon
durable Artillery of London; 1T haJ attended IN,
has acted as guard OF honor to many HSins S d ana
many dead men Of fame. and despite the haTd.
away with flying coors. undismayed and ready
In January. iss8, the Old Guard evacuated the
old armory in Fourteenth and under m the sss es,
d 0F t Sr m sry eI ths pafadd S n In fun for to it's
present armory; On that evening the dedicatlon .
helped the old soldiers in the housewarmng cere-
The officers of the Old Guard are: Major g. Ellis
Briggs, commandant; First Lieutenant Robert P
Lyon, adjutant; First Lieutenant William B. smith,
afde-de-camp; Captain Rastus 5 Ransom. Judge
advocate; Captain Homer H Warner, surgeon;
Captain William H. Seaich, quartermaster; Captain
Henry White chief of engineers; Captain James p
HaIsted' 'paymasteT; Captain William r. Brixey
inspector OF rife practice; First Lieutenant w d.
II. Heyzer, assistant quartermaster; First Lieu
tenant W. L. Jaques. assistant commissary.
nuaI reception and ball of The Old Guard will take
place at the Metropolitan Opera House, and the
the occasion the most successful in the history of
Old Guard entertainments.