CHAPTER XXVIII THE MILITIA (CONTINUED) Militia Officers of companies-Ġeneral muster-Regimental commanders-Reorganization of militia-Roll and return of Brattleboro company-Chapin's muster. War of 1812, recruiting rendezvous Brattleboro-Anti-War Society-Soldiers of 1812. Records of the militia companies are few and give only partial lists of officers. Captains of the Floodwood Company were Samuel Warriner; Jerry Frost; D. Mixer; Henry Clark; Benajah Dudley; Nathaniel Bliss; Lafayette Clark; Charles C. Frost, 1825; John Leavitt, 1829; Leonard Knapp, 1831; Frederick Holbrook, 183-; Perry Smith, 1837; George H. Salisbury, 1848. When Frederick Holbrook was captain of the Floodwood the company mustered, besides officers, one hundred and thirty-two men, who appeared in all sorts of dress, some in caps, some in stovepipes, some in black coats, some in shirt sleeves, some in linen dusters, and some barefooted. There was the customary half barrel of punch, and practicing on Main Street and around the Common. Of the Light Infantry there were Captain Ebenezer Wells, 1804, and Captain Howard Wells, 1810, both sons of Reverend William Wells; Captain Ebenezer Sabin; Captain Daniel Bliss; Captain Samuel Brenton Whitney, son of Honorable Lemuel Whitney, 1816 to 1821; Captain Nathaniel Chandler, 1822; Captain Eli Sargent, grandson to Colonel John Sargent, 1823-1824; Captain Adolphus Stebbins, 1824; Captain Willard Frost, 1825-1826; Captain Chester Sargent, 1827-1829; Captain William Brooks, son of Captain William S. Brooks, 1830; Captain John King, 1831-1832. In 1823 to 1825 the Brattleborough Light Infantry under Captains Eli Sargent and Samuel Brenton Whitney was called the bestdisciplined company in the state. This company maintained full musters, excellent discipline and uniforms of the best style and quality until 1830. Among the causes which contributed to give a consequence to the citizen-soldiery of 1820 and 1826, was a sprinkling in their ranks of veterans who had seen service in the last war with Britain. National gratitude to these old soldiers increased in a marked degree about 1826, or soon after the last visit of Lafayette to this country. Previous to that time, pensions were paid only to the poor, dependent soldiers, but after 1832 no discrimination was made as to pecuniary circumstances, and the widow of a soldier received the same pension as was paid her husband. Of the soldiers of 1812 there were J. Wilson Landers and J. Freeman, who had stood on the deck with Commodore Decatur when he captured the proud Macedonian. In the Brattleborough Infantry were John Burnham and John Fowler from Connecticut, both soldiers in the war of 1812, and also Ebenezer Howe, grandson of Caleb Howe of Fort Bridgman; in the artillery was Captain Lewis Henry, who, in the same war had served in a company commanded by Captain James Elliot. The Brattleborough Light Infantry dined at Hayes Hotel the day the mail coach, decked with flags, brought the tidings of peace after the War of 1812. Sham fights during the annual June training came off in front of the old Academy. Roofs of canvas were fastened against the walls of the buildings, making booths for the sale of refreshments, gingerbread, cider, etc. In addition, small wares such as jackknives, pencils, etc., were on sale in a tent pitched near by. Tubs and pails of whiskey were inevitable. Someone has remembered that after the first temperance agitation, the "Sons of Cold Water" were organized here. Captain Brooks, drawing up his men in line one muster day, with the pails of whiskey ready, ordered, "All cold water men three paces to the front!" Not a man moved. Artillery officers were Captain Atherton from 1812 to 1815; Captain Samuel Root; Captain Simpson Goodenough; Captain Osearl Stoddard; Captain Lewis Henry, 1827; Captain William Cobleigh; Captain Roswell Goodenough; Captain Albert Bennett; Captain Argillas Streeter; Captain Arnold J. Hines, afterwards colonel of the regiment; Captain Franklin Cobleigh; Captain Jonathan Davis, 1836-1837. The artillery was in glorious prominence for Fourth of July celebrations when the guns, stored with the hearse under the North Meeting-House on the Common, were brought forth with pride. "Tradition is not expected to be exact about dates, but either in 1824 or 1825," as an old resident remembered, "there was a fourth of July celebration with a novel band of musicians. It was the first and last time I ever saw a procession march through the public streets to the music of bass viols and violins. The bass viols were fastened to the performers in some way so that they could be played while marching." Colonel Nathan Willis did much in his time to sustain the military reputation of this section, and probably was one of the most efficient officers for active service. During Captain Sargent's command there was held the greatest general muster ever seen in town. A resident from 1815 to 1853 said of this muster: "Colonel Henry Jones Blake was in command, and he well understood his duty. When marching through Main Street the bands of the several companies united. I know not how many wind instruments were in operation, but I counted fifty drums, and ten of them were large brass drums. The noise made exceeded anything of the kind I have heard since; but the most pleasing impression left upon my mind was the address, action and elegant appearance of Colonel Blake." He was a son of the Honorable John Welland Blake. Other regimental commanders were General Jonas Mann; General Jonathan Hunt, 1811; Colonel Paul Chase; Colonel Joseph Goodhue; General Jonathan Smith; Colonel Lewis Henry; Brigadier-General Franklin H. Fessenden, 1834; Colonel Nathan Miller; Colonel Albert Bennett, 1836`1837; Colonel Arnold J. Hines. Military orders were of the following character: Whereas I, Abraham Marshall, private in Lieutenant Joseph Wilder's Company of Militia, have received from said officer the following military order, to wit: "Abraham Marshall: You are hereby ordered to notify and warn all persons to your knowledge south side of the brook in this village, to appear at Phineas Stewart's Inn in Brattleborough on Saturday the 16th of April, at one o'clock P. M. to make choice of a Captain and fill all vacancies.— In like manner appear yourself. Hereof fail not, but make a return of your doings on or before the 7th of April inst. Jos. Wilder, Lieut." Now, therefore, in obedience to said order, all persons, whether black or white, bond or free, men, women or children, in the southern and middle states of North America, and the rest of the world, including that portion of New England lying south of Whetstone Brook in Brattleborough, greeting. You are hereby warned to appear at Phineas Stewart's Inn in Brattleborough on Saturday the 16th of April inst. at one o'clock P. M. to make choice of a Captain and fill all vacancies which may occur. The subscriber takes this method of obeying orders, not having sufficient time to visit you personally. Hereof fail not at your peril. By order of the commanding officer, or at any rate one who commands. ABRAHAM MARSHALL. Brattleborough, April 6th, 1836. In 1837 Francis E. Phelps, Green Blackmer and E. B. Chase, the board of officers "to organize the militia of the state into divisions, brigades, regiments, battalions and companies," defined the limits of the artillery company of the 27th Regiment as comprising the whole town of Brattleboro. Solomon Standclift of Halifax was the colonel of the regiment and Captain Jonathan Davis was appointed to command the new company. On the eleventh day of August, 1838, the members of the company assembled at George W. Emerson's tavern, which stood on the spot. now occupied by the Town Hall, and elected Alvin Flint second lieutenant, Elijah Jacquith third lieutenant, Jonas Putnam second sergeant, Thomas G. Crosby third sergeant and George Bennett fourth sergeant. Samuel Bullock and Edwin Putnam were chosen corporals. The company had no uniforms at that time, save a cap and sword with yellow mountings and black sword belt. The following summer there were forty-eight men in the company, Lewis Putnam being the first lieutenant. The musicians were Stephen Burnett, George B. Sargent, Franklin Fowler and Ezra Gleason. June, 1840, the company was warned to meet for inspection and drill at the North Meeting-House. A year later the company met at T. C. Lord's tavern, formerly Emerson's, and elected Landlord Lord to the captaincy, and then and there voted to uniform themselves during the year. E. S. Rice of Wilmington was at that time adjutant of the regiment, he being succeeded by E. S. Riddle one year later. T. S. Taft of Green River succeeded Solomon Standclift as colonel of the regiment, and Horace Hastings of Wilmington was the colonel commanding the Third Regiment. The uniform adopted by Captain Lord's company consisted of a blue coat, trimmed with gold lace, the red-faced skirts turned up, a high cap with white plume, tipped with red, while the pantaloons were white, with a wide strap of the same material buttoned under the boot, with crossbelts and white gloves. The officers before the reorganization of Captain Lord's company, August 23, 1845, and when the name of the company was changed to Lafayette Light Infantry, were distinguished by their yellow epaulets, red sashes and buff gloves. The regiment often mustered near Captain Ira Adams's West Marlboro inn, and several times on the large plain adjoining the Clark farm on Ames Hill. Captain Lord's company was subsequently attached to the Third Regiment. Many of the prominent men of the town were members of this company, Silas Waite serving as clerk for several years. Perrin Simonds later succeeded to the command of the company. "The roll and return" of the company appears in its record book, which is still preserved, and the names are as follows: Captain, Jonathan Davis; first lieutenant, Lewis Putnam; second lieutenant, Alvin Flint; third lieu tenant, Elijah Jacquith; sergeants, Edwin Putnam, Jonas Putnam, Samuel Bullock, Warren Hall; corporals, George R. Snow, Charles A. Pullen, Asa Sherwin, George E. Fuller; musicians, Rual Fraisure, Stephen Burnett, Samuel French, Thomas O. Amsden, George B. Sargent; privates, Alexander Capin, Silas Atwood, George H. Butterfield, Luther Bardwell, Emery Miller, Emery Stearns, Ebenezer Bardwell, John Bruce, Asa G. Pratt, Smith Starkey, George H. Wilcutt, William Robertson, Leroy Stoddard, William Ellis, Palmer Carpenter, Benjamin Pierce, Merrick Newton, George W. Brown, George Ellis, Henry Miller, Roswell Loveman, Isaiah Stearns, James Streeter, Nelson D. Evings, Rufus Cooke, Alphonso Hildreth, Roswell Parker, William S. White, Nathaniel Bangs, James Estey, Richard Billings, Umphia Harris, Samuel Pike, Manassah Dutton, Proctor Amsden, George Bills, Jacob Marsh, Harris Stockwell, Cromwell Carpenter, Marvin Hall, Austin Holden. There must have been a good deal of politics in the company, for the next year we find an overthrow of the officers, T. C. Lord being captain; Jonathan Davis, first lieutenant; Nelson D. Evans, second lieutenant, and Lewis Putnam, third lieutenant. Captain Lord continued at the, head of the company as long as it existed, but in 1843 Lewis Putnam was elected first lieutenant; William S. Chase, second lieutenant, and Edwin Putnam, third, while Davis had become the orderly sergeant. Later the lieutenants included Chester G. Herrick, Riley Burdette and Francis Goodhue. In 1845 S. M. Waite "S. M. Wait," as he then signed the name-became clerk of the company and from that time the records are all in his handwriting. The militia meetings were mostly held at the old Wantastiquet Hall. The following notice was posted in the village May 20, 1850: NOTICE.. Ho! for Cuba! The members of The Lafayette Light Infantry Are hereby ordered to meet at On Tuesday, June 4, as the law directs And there wait for further orders. Per order S. M. WAITE, clerk. |
