The Newtown bee., 1906-05-11
home on Sunday, May 6 Mrs Edso Mallory is assisting in the Care of tn little stranger
NEW MILFORD.
THE CENTENNIAL OF THE 7TH REGl
 MENT, N. Y. s. M.

THE CENTENNIAL OF THE 7TH REe1-
 MENT, N. Y. s. M.
 Editor of THE VIEWPOINT BEE: A memorable event in the history of our country has just taken place in the regiment of infantry. It may be said to have been unique, as no other large body of men in this branch of the Serv- ice has ever preserved it's identity fol so many years. The militia of the various states constitutes the home guard for the general mainten- ance of law and order when the local police find themselves unable to han dle the trouble, as is frequently the case, and are always under control of the governors of the State as the reg ular army has for it's cOmmander-in- chief the president. In 1906 when the early war spirit of young America was warm, small body of men organized have gradually grown to be the grand, old Seventh" of to-day. The record of this regiment has always been spot less, and the historian alone can &C., curately enumerate it's many Occa- sions of service both in and out of the state. In view of the rapid strides along every line of progress-taken by our glorious nation, especially during the last century when the impetus has been without precedent, it may be gratifying to many of your readers to l glance over few interesting facts not generally known, connected with the early history of this-perhaps we may say-ancient regiment. In those early coat, red trimmings with white trou- sers, and three cornered hat, with tall plume with "the powdered hair" on dress occasions, the latter especially ordered by the general commanding. In 1907 the little unpleasantness with l the mother country, eliminating in 1872, began to take shape, and we learn that 8 full regiment was then formed. The uniform, probably found to be too elaborate for any but dress occasions, was soon changed to grey, which has been the prevailing color since. The regiment seemed particu- the many clouds had disappeared. At first they were furnished with blank cartridges only, but in '34 we read that the colonel positively refused to leave the Armory until his command was provided with ball cartridges. The historian of the future will, wiJn- out doubt, relate that upon every oc- casion when the general government fOreSaw trouble and the need of an army, the ''old Seventh" invariably
 volunteered it's services for any and all duty. With equal truthfulness will he write that they were always ac- cepted, except upon one occasion and | then no particle of discredit could truthfully be sscribed to the regiment. A system of official "red tape" so ex- acting and unreasonable as we'll as grossly at variance with the position taken later, this alone prevented the Seventh regiment taking part in the l Spanish war, so-called, in Cuba. But l the writer's time, the editors space and the readers patience demand brevity. On May 5 the veterans, ot 1 whom the writer from a neighboring town was one, assembled with the Seventh" of to-day in a grand parade up Fifth avenue to the latter'S Arm ory, grand structure costing nearly regiment The memorable banquet of the evening to upward of 25OO com rades and distinguished guests, closed the largest and grandest and only celebration of the sort in the coun- try's history. The writer would be sadly remisS in his duty to his own feelings did he close without paying a justly deserved tribute to the memory of his old commanders, Col Emmons Clark and Capt George William Smith of Company H. Long since gone to their final reward, the memory of their indomitable perseverance, strict discipline and gentlemanly courtesy will ever be bright spot in the re- collections of those who knew them best.IB.
 New Milford, Conn.,, May g, '06.