Modern Battery
The Chaplain in Action
Veterans of the old regiment have organized themselves to perpetuate cherished traditions of the past. Each of theCivil War commands is represented by a veteran association—the 1st, the “Minute Men,” the 13th, the 24th, the 42d in eastern and western sections, the 43d and others. As old age comes on with passing time, it is inevitable that associations of war veterans must become less numerous and less active each year. The Coast Artillery take a real interest in the Hooker Association and the Stevenson Memorial Association. Amongst the companies, live veteran organizations are maintained by graduates of the Roxbury City Guard, the Boston Light Infantry (the Tiger Veteran Association, incorporated March 28, 1882), the Fusiliers, and the Pierce Lt. Guard. Indeed the Fusiliers have been a prolific source of veteran associations. The first, the Fusilier Veteran Association, was organized by leading members of the company, including five ex-Captains, in April, 1878, at the time when the company was about to pass from the 1st to the 5th Reg., and is today in full vigor and prosperity, retaining the old red-coat uniform. When this association had opened its membership to others than actual veterans, on Aug. 2, 1900, certain graduates formed a new organization of 3d Company veterans, the Independent Boston Fusilier Veterans. Their numbers were small, and on July 2, 1906, in order to provide a supply of new material, they invited veterans of other 1st Reg. companies to join, and thus became transformed into the “1st Reg. M. V. M. Veterans.” The latter body now has one hundred forty members. Joe Hooker Post, No. 23, G. A. R., of Boston, and Theodore Winthrop Post, No. 35, of Chelsea, were made up largely of 1st Regiment veterans; and were always in friendly and helpful relations with the active command. With our wealth of noble heritage from the past, comprising as we do all that remains of the old “Legionary Brigade” and its successor, the 3d Brigade of the 1st Division,once Boston’s pride, and including all the 3d and 4th Regiment organizations having continuous history, it is desirable that the Coast Artillery should have an active association of veterans which may combine the forces now scattered amongst the company associations; the provision in the National Defence act for a “reserve battalion” seems to open a door of possibility.
Such a history as this can have no conclusion, it can only halt for the moment; while the pages were in press, the regiment was summoned by the Nation to perform military duty. The fruit of a noble past is a useful present. The soul of the “Old Regiment,” like John Brown’s of which they taught America to sing, is “marching on.”
“Whatever grand deeds others do,The ‘Old First’ still shall lead.”
“Whatever grand deeds others do,The ‘Old First’ still shall lead.”
1789, Batl. of Art., 1st Div. Suffolk. 1794, Art. Batl., 1st Bri., 1st Div. (a) Aug. 22, 1797, Sub-legion of Art. and (b) three companies became Batl. of Art., 1st Bri., 1st Div. (a) Mch. 12, 1810, Sub-legion became Batl. Art., 3d Bri., 1st Div. June 26, ’34, Reg. Art., 3d Bri., 1st Div. ’36 Batl. Art., 3d Bri., 1st Div. Apr. 24, ’40, 1st Batl. Art., 1st Bri., 1st Div. (b) 1831 companies of Batl. Art., 1st Bri., 1st Div., attached to 1st Reg. Inf., 1st Bri., 1st Div. June 26, 1834, again Batl. Art., 1st Bri., 1st Div. Apr. 24, ’40, 2d Batl. Art., 1st Bri., 1st. Div. June 4, ’44, Batls. united in 5th Reg. Art., 1st Bri., 1st Div. Feb. 26, ’55, 2d Reg. Inf. Jan. 24, ’61, 1st Reg. Inf. 1862, 42d Reg. Inf. May 18, ’66, 1st Reg. Inf., 1st Bri. July 6, ’76, 1st Batl. Inf., 2d Bri. Dec. 3, ’78, 1st Reg. Inf., 1st Bri. Jan. 1, ’97, 1st Reg. Heavy Art. Nov. 1, 1905, Corps of Coast Art. Nov. 15, ’07, Coast Art. Corps. July 17, ’16, “M. V. M.” changed to “N. G., Mass.” Jan. 16, ’17, 1st Coast Defense Command, Mass. Coast Artillery, National Guard.
1st (D)—Roxbury Art.organized Mch. 22, 1784, redesignated City Gd. Nov. 24, ’57. 3 cos. in Civil War. Redesignated 1st Company, 1905.
2d (K)—(1) Washington Lt. Gds. or Inf. transferred from G 1st Inf. ’59, disbanded ’59. (2) Chadwick Lt. Inf. organized ’61, disbanded ’64. (3) Ware Oct., ’62, disbandedNov. 11, ’64. (4) 81st Unat. Co. ’66, disbanded ’76. (5) Boston Light Infantry transferred from A 4th Batl. Inf. ’78, redesignated 2d Company, 1905.
3d (G)—(1) Bay State Art., Cambridge, 1853, dis. 1854. (2) ’55, dis. ’57. (3) Fusiliers from F 1st Inf. Mch. 1, ’59; 7th Unat. Co.; Apr. 13, ’64, 25th Unat. Co. 5 cos. in Civil War. To D 5th Inf. Dec. 3, ’78. (4) Taunton Lt. Gds. from C 3d Inf. ’78, dis. ’84. (5) Natick ’84, to L 9th Inf. ’88. (6) Fusiliers from D 5th Inf. Mch. 26, ’88, to 3d Company, 1905.
4th (E)—(1) Dorchester Art. 1786, dis. 1844. (2) Cowdin Art. 1851. (3) ’54 American Art. (4) ’56 Lafayette Gd. (5) Pulaski Gds. from I 1859, dis. 1864. (6) dis. Nov. 7, ’62. (7) Oct. ’62, dis. Nov. 11, ’64. (8) 1st Unat. Co. 1864, to E ’66, dis. ’76. (9) New Bedford City Gds. from E 3d Inf. Dec. 3, ’78, to 4th Company, 1905.
5th (H)—(1) Shields Art., Dorchester 1853, dis. 1855. (2) Mechanic Rifles from H 1st Inf., dis. ’59. (3) Wardwell’s Tigers ’61, to F 5th Inf. ’61, dis. ’61. (4) Chelsea Volunteers ’61, Apr. 19, dis. ’64. (5) Oct., ’62, dis. Aug., ’63. (6) July 20, ’64, dis. Nov. 11, ’64. (7)Chelsea Rifles, 4th Unat. Co., ’63, to H May 18, ’66, to L 8th Inf. Dec. 3, ’78, to H 8th Inf. Dec. 21, ’78. (8) Standish Gds., Plymouth from H 3d Inf., ’78, dis. ’83; (reorganized as D 5th Inf. ’88). (9) Chelsea Rifles from H 8th Inf. June 11, ’83, to 5th Company, 1905.
6th (B)—(1) Columbian Art. June 17, 1798, dis. 1855. (2) Union Gds., E. Boston, transferred from H 1st Inf. & B 3d Batl. Inf. 1855, dis. 1864. (3) dis. Nov. 7, ’62. (4) Medway Oct. ’62, dis. Nov. 11, ’64. (5) 9th Unat. ’64 to B ’66, dis. Feb. 7, ’72. (6) from C Sept. 20, ’72, dis. ’76. (7) Massachusetts Guards from B 4th Batl. Inf. ’78, to 6th Company, 1905.
7th (C)—(1)Washington Art.May 29, ’10, Lt. Gds. 1855, to K 6th Inf. 1861, dis. ’61. (2) to K 4th & 29th Inf., dis. ’64. (3) North End True Blues from L ’61, dis. ’64. (4) dis. Nov. 7, ’62. (5) Oct. ’62, dis. Nov. 11, ’64. (6) 45th Unat. E. Boston, ’66, to B ’72. (7) Claflin Gds. from L Feb. 20, ’72, to C 5th Inf. ’78. (8) Pierce Lt. Guard from C 4th Batl. Inf. ’78, to 7th Company, 1905.
8th (A)—(1) Boston Art. May 7, 1785, 1856 Boston Phalanx, Dec. 15, 1860, transferred to A 4th Batl. Rifles, and then A, 13th Inf. ’61, disbanded ’64. (2) Brookline ’61, dis. ’64. (3) dis. Nov. 7, ’62. (4) Weymouth Oct., ’62, dis. Aug., ’63. (5) July 20, ’64, dis. Nov. 11, ’64. (6)W. Roxbury Rifles, Jamaica Plain, 66th Unat. Co. June 21, ’65, to A May 18, ’66, to 8th Company, 1905.
9th (F)—(1) dis. 1843. (2) Webster Art. 1852, dis. 1855. (3) National Gds. from L 1st Inf. 1855, dis. 1864. (4) dis. 1862, Nov. 7. (5) Leicester Oct., ’62, dis. Nov. 11, ’64. (6) 67th Unat. Co. ’66, dis. ’76. (7) Taunton City Guard from F of 3d Inf. ’78, to 9th Company, 1905.
10th (I)—(1) Pulaski Gds. from C 1st Inf. ’59; to E ’59. (2) Schouler Gds. ’61, dis. ’64. (3) Oct. ’62 Dorchester, dis. ’76. (4) Cunningham Rifles from I 3d Inf., ’76, to 10th Company, 1905.
11th (L)—(1) North End True Blues, a fire eng. co. prior to 1832, to L ’61, dis. ’64. (2) Claflin Gds., Newton, ’70, to C Feb. 20, ’72. (3) Maverick Rifles from D 4th Batl. Inf. ’78, to 11th Company, 1905.
12th (M)—Fall River RiflesDec. 17, 1878, to 12th Company, 1905.
Aug. 22, 1797, Sub-legion Lt. Inf. Legionary Brigade, 1st Div. Mch. 12, 1810, cos. distributed amongst 1st, 2d and 3dRegs. Inf., 3d Bri., 1st Div. Aug., ’34, Lt. Inf. Reg., 3d Bri., 1st Div. Feb. 23, ’38, Lt. Inf. Batl. id. June 1, ’39, Reg. restored. Apr. 24, ’40, Reg. numbered 1st Lt. Inf., 1st Bri., 1st Div., M. V. M. Apr. 25, ’42, cos. lettered. Feb. 26, ’55, Lt. Inf. changed to Inf. Mch. 1, ’59, 2d Batl. Inf., 1st Bri., 1st Div. Oct. 13, ’62, 43d Inf. Mass. Vols. Nov. 1, ’62, Bos. Lt. Inf. Assn. to perpetuate co. July, ’63, 43d dis. Aug., ’64, 7th Inf., 1st Bri., 1st Div. July 20, ’70, 1st Batl. Inf., 1st Bri., 1st Div., M. V. M. Mch. 25, ’74, Batl. renumbered 4th. Dec. 3, ’78, consolidated in 1st Inf., 1st Bri., M. V. M.
A—Boston Lt. Inf.(Formed May, 1798) Sept. 4, 1798, 1810-’34, in 2d Inf., 3d Bri. To K 1st Inf., Dec. 3, 1878. July, ’63—Aug., ’64, the 24th Unat. Co.
B—(1) New England Gds. 1812, 1812-’34 in 2d Inf., 3d Bri. To A & B 4th Batl. Inf., Mch. 11, ’61, then 24th & 44th Regs. Inf., dis. ’65. (2) Mch. 1, ’61, dis. July, ’63. (3) Handy Guard, renamed Washington Light Guard in 1869, and in 1873Massachusetts Guards, 32d Unat. Co., Oct. 26, ’64, to B, Aug. 10, ’65, to B 1st Inf. Dec. 3, ’78.
C—(1) Winslow Blues Oct., 1799, 1810-’34 in 3d Inf., 3d Bri., dis. Feb. 23, 1838. (2) Pulaski Gds., S. Boston, Sept. 13, ’35, 3d Reg. Inf., 3d Bri. To C May 7, ’38. Called Mechanic Greys, ’49. Mch. 1, ’59, to I 2d Inf. (3) Mch. 11, ’61, dis. July, ’63. (4) Milton, ’64, dis. ’70. (5) Pierce Lt. Gd. from E, July 26, ’70, to E ’72. (6) Hyde Park, ’72, dis. ’73. (7) Pierce Lt. Gd. from E, Mch. 25, ’74, to C 1st Inf., Dec. 3, ’78.
D—(1) Washington Lt. Inf., 1803. 1810-’34 in 1st Inf., 3d Bri., dis. Feb. 23, ’38. (2) Highland Gds., Jan. 8, ’38, dis. Jan. 2, ’44. (3) Mechanic Rifles Dec. 5, ’43, 3d Batl. Lt. Inf. Mch. 4, ’44, B 1st Batl. Rifles. To D Sept. 11, ’45. ’47 to “Rifles Annexed.” (4) Boston Lt. Gd., ’47, dis. ’57. (5)Washington Lt. Gd. or Inf. from G ’57, to K 2d Inf. Mch. 1, ’59. (6) Dedham Oct. ’62, dis. July, ’63. (7) ’64, dis. ’70. (8) from I ’70, dis. ’72. (9)Maverick Rifles, also called Boston City Gd., Chelsea & E. Boston, July 19, ’72, to L 1st Inf., Dec. 3, ’78.
E—(1) Boston City Gd. Sept. 21, 1821. 1821-’34 in 3d Inf., 3d Bri. Dis. Feb. 23, ’38. Reorgan. as Columbian Greys Aug. 12, ’40, dis. Dec. 26, ’59. (2) Orleans Oct., ’62, dis. July, ’63. (3)Pierce Lt. Gd.51st Unat. Co. Mch. 25, ’65, also called Fusilier Lt. Gd. To E. Aug. 10, ’65. To C July 26, ’70. From C ’72. To C Mch. 25, ’74.
F—FusiliersMay 11, 1787. 1810-’34 in 1st Inf., 3d Bri. Dis. Feb. 23, 1838, reorgan. as Hancock Lt. Inf., May 17, ’39, again Fusiliers. To G 2d Inf. Mch. 1, ’59. (2) Oct., ’62, dis. July, ’63. (3) S. Boston, ’64, dis. ’70.
G—(1) Mechanic Rifles until ’34 in 1st. Inf., 3d Bri., dis. Feb. 23, ’38. (2) Suffolk Lt. Gds. May 11, ’39. (3) Washington Lt. Gd. or Inf. (name changed ’54) ’46, to D ’57. (4) Abington Oct., ’62, dis. July, ’63. (5) Charlestown, ’64, dis. ’68.
H—(1) Lafayette Gds., dis. Feb. 23, ’38. (2) Washington Phalanx. (3) Mt. Washington Gds., Apr. 14, ’41, dis. June 30, ’49. (4) Winthrop Gds. ’51, dis. Nov. 3, ’52. (5) Union Gds. E. Boston, Aug. 21, ’52, to B 3d Batl. Inf., ’53 & to B 2d Inf., ’55. (6) Mechanic Rifles (or Inf.) May 24, ’53, from “Rifles Annexed,” ’59 to H 2d Inf. (7) Chelsea Rifles Oct., ’62, dis. July, ’63. (8) ’64 dis. ’68.
I—(1) Rifle Rangers 1820, 1820-’34 in 3d Inf., 3d Bri. Mch. 4, ’44 to A 1st Batl. Rifles. Sept. 11, ’45 to —, dis. May 15, ’52. (2) Norfolk Gd., 1850. (3) Sarsfield Gds. to C 3d Batl. Inf., ’53, dis. ’55. (4) Cambridge Oct., ’62, dis. July, ’63. (5) ’64, to D ’70.
K—(1) Montgomery Gds. ’37, dis. Apr. 6, ’38. (2) Rifles Sept. 6, ’42. (3) Washington Lt. Inf., dis. ’51. (4) Oct. ’62, dis. July, ’63. (5) ’64, dis. ’70.
L—(1) Warren Inf., to M ’50. (2) Mass. Vols. ’50, ’51. (3) National Gds. ’49, to A 3d Batl. Inf. ’53, to F 2d Inf. ’55.
M—Warren Inf. from L ’50, dis. ’52.
Mechanic Rifles “Annexed”—from D ’47, to H May 24, ’53.
National Lancers were attached from ’39 to ’52. From ’45 to ’49 they were the only cavalry in Mass. To Tr. A 1st Squad. Cav.
Sept., 1834, Reg. Lt. Inf., 1st Bri., 5th Div. Apr. 24, ’40, 3d Reg. Lt. Inf., 2d Bri., 1st Div. Apr. 25, ’42, cos. lettered. Feb. 26, ’55, 3d Reg. Inf. Aug. 20, ’66, new 3d Reg. Inf., 1st Bri., 1st Div. ’76, 3d Batl. Inf. Dec. 3, ’78, 1st Inf.
A—Halifax Lt. Inf., 1792, from 1st Inf., 1st Bri., 5th Div., dis. ’76.
B—(1) Standish Gds. Plymouth, Oct. 21, ’18, from 1st Inf. To 87th Unat. Co., June 26, ’63, to M ’68. (2) S. Carver dis. ’66. (3) from K ’66, dis. 76.
C—(1) Marshfield Rifles from 2d Inf., 1st Bri., 5th Div. (2) Hanson Rifles ’42, dis. ’47. (3) Rochester dis. ’55. (4) Cambridge, Jan., ’61, dis. July 22, ’61. The first company raised in Mass. for the war. (5) Fall River ’62, dis. ’63. (6) Scituate, dis. ’70. (7) S. Abington, dis. ’76.
D—(1) Abington Lt. Inf., from 3d Inf., 1st Bri., 5th Div., dis. ’54. (2) Sandwich, May, ’61. Dec. 13, ’61, to D, 29th Mass. Vols. (3) Fall River ’62, dis. ’76.
E—(1) Middleboro Grenadiers, from 4th Inf., 1st Bri., 5th Div., dis. ’51. (2) Middleboro, dis. ’53. (3) Fall River,dis. ’58. (4) Fall River, dis. ’60. (5) Plymouth, May 6, ’61. Dec. 13, ’61, to E, 29th Mass. Vols. (6) New Bedford City Gds. from L ’62, to E 1st Inf., Dec. 3, ’78.
F—(1) Scituate Rifles from 2d Inf., 1st Bri., 5th Div. (2) Wareham Grenadiers ’42. (3) Middleboro, dis. ’58. (4) New Bedford ’62, dis. ’63. (5)Taunton City Gd., 80th Unat. Co., Nov. 4, ’65. To F Aug. 20, ’66. To F 1st Inf., Dec. 3, ’78.
G—(1) Abington Rifles, from 3d Inf., 1st Bri., 5th Div., dis. ’47. (2) Assonet (Freetown) Lt. Inf. ’50, merged in A ’62. (3) New Bedford ’62, dis. ’66. (4) Taunton Lt. Gd. ’55 from G 4th Inf., to G ’66, to G 1st Inf., Dec. 3, ’78.
H—(1) Scituate Lt. Inf. from 2d Inf., 1st Bri., 5th Div. (2) Samoset Gds., Plympton, ’35, merged in B ’62. (3) Rehoboth ’62, dis. ’66. (4) Hancock Lt. Gds., Quincy, ’55. From H 4th Inf., to H ’66, dis. ’73. (5) Standish Gds., from M ’74, to H 1st Inf., Dec. 3, ’78.
I—(1) Pembroke Lt. Inf. from 2d Inf., 1st Bri., 5th Div. (2) Rochester ’46. (3) E. Freetown ’52. (4) New Bedford ’56. (5) Lynn, Apr. 19, ’61. Dec. 13, ’61, to I, 29th Mass. Vols. (6) Fairhaven ’62, dis. ’66. (7) E. Stoughton, dis. ’69. (8)Cunningham Rifles, N. Bridgewater or Brockton, ’69, to I 1st Inf. ’76.
K—(1) Abington Grenadiers, from 3d Inf., 1st Bri., 5th Div. (2) Weymouth, from C 3d Batl. Inf., to L ’46. (3) Bay State Lt. Inf., Carver ’52, merged in B ’62. (4) Bridgewater ’62, dis. ’64. (5) Fall River, to B ’66. (6) Abington, dis. ’76.
L—(1) W. Bridgewater Lt. Inf., from 3d Inf., 1st Bri., 5th Div. (2) Weymouth, from C 3d Batl. Inf., to L ’46. (3)New Bedford City Gds., July 22, ’52, to E ’62. (4) S. Carver, dis. ’76.
M—(1) Boston, May 14, ’61. Dec. 13, ’61, to B, 29th Mass. Vols. (2) Standish Gds. Plymouth, from 87th Unat. Co. ’68, to H ’74.