New Britain Herald Newspaper, October 19, 1923, Page 17

NEW BRITAIN GRAYS FIRST MILTARY (0 (Continued from Teath Page) go oFf like a rattling long drawn eut peal of thunder. This done the com- pany were wmarched off fo other ground to repeat thelr exercises As long as the twelve rounds of ammuy- pition lasted. The whele resembled meodern Fourth of July, bul was tiy mere amusing, less dangerous and “leas annoying e’ Bmith's histery of 4 s P 195) I presume that the Plainville Light Infantry company is the one above re- ferred to as 'Grenadiers” Mortimer A Warren of Collinsville, a native of New Britain, remembers one Train- ing Day when our Ragshag Infantry was reviewed at the junction of Maln and East Main street. The line formed on the Fast side of Main and extended from the Firickland House ecorner across East Main, facing the east with the old Nerth Meeting House on the left while Main and the old Stone Store were in the rear The eom pany was reviewed two or three times when the boys wanted a little more fun. As Warren remembers them they were an outlandishly dressed and outlandishly behaving company and the boys called them the Ragshag and Bobtailed company, Y find that they are so referred to in various publications. Loren D. Pen field of this city also remembers hav- ing seen the Ragshags on review at the same place, - The law of 1847 did away with all of the nonuniformed in fantry. Their last officers in New Britain in 1847 were Edward Tubbs, captain; and Lemuel Penfield, ensign. Prior to 1848 the Fourtesnth Regiment In- cluded Farmington, Bouthington, Kensington, New Britain, Aven and that part of Canton which 1§ now Collingville. Of the alx places in this territory, Southington, Plainville (in Farmington) and New Britain were the only places which maintained a light infentry company. These com- panies all had their training days, but they did not necessarily mingle with the Ragshag companies. The three parishes of Berlin each held their training days within their own terri- tory, but for their regimental encamp- | ments or field days, New Britain and Kensington went in one direction with the Fourteenth and Worthington went in another direction with the Sixth Regiment. Divicsion Into Classes, In 1247 the militia was divided into two classes, the active and the inac- tive. The active was that portion Who as volunteers organized for military duty. The inactive members were those who by the payment of a com- mutation or military tax of one dol- lar a year. (Later raised to two dol- lars) were exempted from military duty. This was the beginning of whn;t is now known as the “Personal tax.” The Connecticut State Register from year to vear contains statistics of the militia, but it gives no location for the different companies prior to | 1848, By referring to the statistics of the Fourteenth regiment and looking over the names of the officers for the three ! Light Infantry companies. the New Britaln company can be identi- fled by names which are known to have been New Britain men. Henry Andrews, lleutenant, | | From the latter part of 1847 the| | New Britain Grays were known as Infantry Company A, First Regiment, and are readily identified in the later registers. It s to be re gretied that the adjutant general s of fice at Hartford has no complete vee- ! ord of our early militia. Twenty.twe are reported in the year 1847 for Caplain Levi O Smith's company, but there s o roster of these men of ree: | ord, 1 have received from the ed jutant general’'s office & copy of the roster of officers in Company A, First Connecticut Regiment, for the years| 1865-6-7-5. The Connectiout Register ' has no complets roster for 1856 V-l,l‘ ! but my copy from the adiutant gen-| leral enables me to compile a com.| plete roster of the officers of the New | | Hritain Grays from 1837 to 1858 in. | elusive ! Officors of the Now Fritaln Grays. 1837-~Henry L. Bidwell, Capt I Themas Tracy, Ldeut.; Aaren C. Andrews, Ens | 1885.9—Thomas Traey, Capt | othy & Wetmor, Ldeut; Gladden Ens 1340—Thomas Tracy, Capt Time, Williams, Lieut ; Walter Gladden, Gladden, Capt ; Buel H Ldeut,; Robert G. Wil liams, Ens, | 1842~ Walter Gladden, Capt en L. Strickland, Lieut; G. Willlams, Ens 1543.4.5—8tephen L Btriekland, | Capt,; Levi O, S8mith, Lieut; Sherman Steele, Ens. 1846—Levi O. Bmith, Capt.; Sherman Steels, Lieut; 8 L. Strickland, Ens. 1847—Levi O. Emith, Capt; Fherman Bteele, 1st Lieut; Edwin M, Lan. dera, 2nd Lieut ; Joshua R, King, Srd Lieut, 1348.9—Edwin M. Landers, Capt; Joshua R. King, 1st Lieut; Wal. ter Gladden, 2nd Lieut; G. W. Strickland, 3rd Lieut 1850—Joshua R. King, Capt. Fred. orick WV, Hart, 1st Lieut,; Charles Bassett, 2nd Lieut.; Phillp Cor- { bin, 2rd Lieut i!l*l-—lnnhun R. King, Capt; Hubert H M. Butler, 1st Lievt, Charles | Bassett, 2nd Lieut.; Clinton Bron- | son, 3rd Lieut 1852-3—Frederick W. Hart, Capt; Hubert M. Butler, 1st Lieut; Charles Bassett, 2nd Lieut.; Clin- ton Bronson, 3rd Tieut 1854—Lucius L. Sperry, Capt.; Charles Bassett, 1st Lieut.; €lin- ton Bronson, 2nd Lieut.: John E b e ] [Healthy Children, flappy and Full of Joyful Life | Do this for the kiddies if you want to keep their tender little bowels open and stop them from getting fretfyl and feverish Get an inexpensive package of good, old-fashioned vegetable Celery King at vour druggist's today. Brew a cup of delicious tea and give to the chil- dren as directed. You'll like, it yourself, too, for it not only purifies the blood, but keeps stomach, liver and bowels in first class shape Drink a cup every other nlgh’ for three weeks and your whole being will be filled with the joy of living. It's simply splendid. Tim- Walter Bteph. Robart 'Custom Made SUITS and officially | 1856 NEW BRITAIN DAILY HERALD, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1928 Woodrul, S5d Liewt Luelus L. Sperry, Capt.; Charies ' fantyy Bascelt, 1t Lieut.; Clinton Brea son, Tnd Lieut; J. 8§ Woodrult. drd Liewt Lucius L. Sperry, Capt.; J. B Woodruft, 16t Lieut; BN H Por. | ter, 2nd Lieut; 8 H. Carpenter, Srd Liewt Lueius L E. Weodruff. ¥ Porter nd Lieut.; penter, Srd Lieut 1888, Dee. 1-—=No ecaplain 1556 Sperry, Capt; John Ist Ldeut; BN M 1867 Jdohn Woodruff, 1st Lieut.; Bil H. Por-| The New Britain Bamuel Clrpu\—.lu erganized In 1837 with Henry L Bidwell as captain, Aceording to the Memeorial History | lleutenant, and Aaron €. Andrews, en ter, 2nd Lieut ter, 3rd Lieut Charge Accounts Gladly Offered of Hartford county 1868, whereby there is no apparent break in the continuity of the com- | pany Henry B Bidwell, while & resident Bamuel Car-|of New Britain, was an officer in the | Plainville company E. [sign in 1582 and captain in 1533-4-6 page 154, the In- | sign companies of Plainiville | nel far awad Bidwell and Traey were wear! and | neighbors in Stanier Quarter and An 1800 |drews lived on the Farmingten yead Heary 1 Bidwell has & military record of thirty-ons years the longest for any N known 18 me having heen en-|as follows infantry company Thomas Traey His ree 1832 a8 above stated and o ing the Civil War as caplain of 3 New Govt. vompany early in 1562 1t is stated 1o the Memeorial History of Hartford Count@ Vel 1 “A company of iafanty organized in 18607 ynder Capl. Josh- va R, King became Company A, and was known ad the New Britain Graye Britain man began in ed dur page 184 M- DA Penmy Mrs (Continued on Page 21.) RUMMAGE SALE — WoOR M S of TRINITY METHODISY CHURCH Fow Home Missions TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY APTERNOON Nest Mook —Booth Block, Matn Streed fhote Who Have Awicles To Donate, Please Notify Phone 2254 William Manee. Phone 36038.2 Mys. Oharles P. Symonds. 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