Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-01-02
NORWICH MILITARY SPIRIT IN BATTERY B AND
COMBAT TRAIN 192nd RECT, FIELD ARTILLERY
Equipped With SIS mm c. p F. Cuns-Men Had Instructive
Tour of Duty at Camp Devens Last Summer--Col Nor
rs B. Payne Commands Regiment and Capt. William r.
Denison the Norwich Battery.

Shortly after the armistice the war de-,
organization OF the National Guard
throughout the United States.
In Connecticut during the World war
a strong home guard was organized
equipped ana trained to meet any emer-
gency that might arise during the alb
seuce from the state of the national
guard After the war this military force
was continued Notwithstanding the war
departments decision to re-organize the
national guard. This state of affairs
made recruiting Of the national guard
most difficult.
The adjutant general of the state, Bri-
gadier General George NJ. Cole, to whom
all credit Is due for the high state of eff
fciency Of the national guard that was
called into the service in 1917. did every
thing possible to encourage the reorgan-
izing Of the national guard after the ar
erutstice. Letters were sent to all old or
EanizatiOn commanders urging them to
interest themselves in the guard. Cen
orally the appeal was received with very
little interest. However, in New London
Captain David Conner, a veteran of three
wars Who had Just been discharged for
she third time from federal service, set
about recognising the 10th Co, c. A c.,
c. n. G. Recruiting was very slow, and
not until Sept. Z, 1920, was the organi-
cation federally recognized. In the
meantime Captain W. r. Denison Of Nor
witch, Conn, also a veteran of the World
war. was working on the reorganization
Of the ard Co. c. A. C, c. n. G. This
unit was fsderaIfy recognized Sept g.,
1920.
In August Of 1920 Major NJ. 3. Payne
Of New London. who was in the Connec-
ticut c. A C.. at the outbreak Of the
war and who served with The Seth regi-
raent overseas, was requested by the
ad5utant general to assist in the recruit
Ing OF the coast artillery throughout Con-
nectiCut. Major Payne consented TO do
this with the understanding that the
troops 50 recruited would be organized
as = regiment of mobile artillery. it
was agreed that this would be done If
the nilit.a bureau Of the war depart
ment would make such an allotment ta
Connect lieut.. Through the efforts OF Col.
J. Moss Ives Of Danbury, a member OF
the general staff. the war department an
nonnced that a regiment of mobile ar
tiiioTy to be equipped with 155 nm. guns
would be allotted to Connecticut. As
soon as this information was received
the recruiting of the regiment speeded up
rnent consisting Of r headquarters bat
terry. service battery three battalion com
Sat trains and six firing batteries "a &
e. \. z and F. were federally recog-
Hlzed. There are in the regiment six
teen officers and about three hundred
enlisted men who served with the 56tk
Artillery. c. A. c.. overseas.
The first duty TO be performed by the
new regiment was when it went into
camp for fifteen days at Camp Devens
Mass. last June. THIS camp in all pro-
liability IS the first and last purely in
fantry camp that the regiment will ever
participate -. The organization of the
regiment was completed too late to OBJ
tain the guns and tractors for the 1921
camp so that the work done consisted OF
infantry and small arms work.
In the future the summer encaInp-
rnents viii very likely be held at Mon
tauk Point or some such place where
long ranges for artillery firing are avail
able.
At Camp Devens the work taken ur
was rigid and will have a. lasting effect
on all who participated. Opportunities
for all kinds Of sports were provided and
enjoyed by officers and men aIfke. Tn.
first brigade review of the new Connect
cut National Guard was held while a.
Devens and was participated IN by the
1929 Artillery and the new Connect
cut regiment Of infantry which was fed
orally recognized May % 1921. Colone
Payne Of the 1920 Artillery being thu
senior officer present, was in command
If the brigade while it was being review
cd by his excellency. Governor Everett
J. Lake. commander-in-chief Of the Con
necticut National Guard.
The most striking thing regarding thu
he Epfa iVtfa
Displayed by the members OF the organ
izations. The ksenest rivalry existed Il
,he attempts Of one 10 Guido the othe
IN having the best food. the cleanes
kitchen, the best appearing outfit, th'
best disciplined unit and SO on. 1t wa
difficult for the Instructor, Major g. "
yesterday. U. S. A. at times to make
Gects4Dn az to who should receive tn
hsst marx. Altogether # probably wa
the most instructive camp ever held o
which Connecticut troops were a part.
Previous to the World war the artTi
lery of Connecticut consisted Of two feel
IrS1rsry batteries and thirteen compsn
lee oe coast artillery The coast arttI
iery companies were originally. excep
me LIST Co, New London, part Of tn
srd and 4th regiments Of infantry. Tn
Transformation from INFANTRY to coast az
tiIisry took place late In 1907.
From 1907 to 1917 the coast srtfiier
rzuTped each summer for ten days q
Forts Wright, Terry, Niche and Mans
field. These forts are located at tn
Eastern end Of Long Island sound. ]
~eS ttre intention Of the war departznen
IN Sbs event Of war that the Connsc<Acn
HIkHlsFy would take over fhese FORT
Tins ether relieving the regular troop
Hor other duttes or augmenttn8 chs na1r
Der Of regular troops as required. ]
1ulz. 1917, the Connecticut artillery wa
eslisHAfnto sszzfcss ana -was Gent 44sJfzer.