The Old First Massachusetts Coast Artillery in War and Peace - the Original Classic Edition by Frederick Morse Cutler

Author:Frederick Morse Cutler [Cutler, Frederick Morse]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Reference, General, Nonfiction, Reference & Language, History, Fiction & Literature
ISBN: 9781486499342
Google: C6BPrgEACAAJ
Publisher: Emereo Publishing
Published: 2013-03-18T04:00:00+00:00

All of the speech was forgotten except the final words of the quotation, “The tiger!” Company orators kept repeating the expression. Ere long the Boston Light Infantry found itself provided with a nickname—and it is best known thruout its long history as “The Tigers.”

In 1800 the Fusiliers under Capt. John Brazer and the Tigers, Capt. Daniel Sargent (a merchant in civil life), were the two light infantry companies constituting the sub-legion of light infantry—both being entirely independent. Indeed the sub-legion of light infantry had no field officer until Feb. 14, 1806, when Capt. Daniel Messinger of the Winslow Blues was elected Major. The Blues were organized in 1799 and first appeared on the sub-legion roster in 1802. The Washington Light Infantry were organized in 1803.

When in 1810 the legionary brigade was transformed into the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, Maj. Messinger’s sub-legion of light infantry was broken up and the companies were distributed amongst the infantry regiments of the brigade. The Fusiliers and the Washington Lt. Inf. were incorporated with the 1st Reg., the Tigers with the 2d, and the Winslow Blues with the 3d. These infantry regiments, former “legionaries,” were neither train-band militia nor independent uniformed volunteers. Their status was somewhere between the two; it was hoped that the light infantry companies might serve as leaven for the infantry, and bring all up to the volunteer standard. The arrangement continued until 1834. By that time it was clear that only the independent companies, the “light” infantry, retained any vitality; and they were separated from the infantry regiments, and organized into a separate “Regiment of Light Infantry, 3d Brigade.”

Non-commissioned officers of the light infantry companies manifested active interest in the training school, “The Soul of the Soldiery,” from 1811 until 1819 and later.

Another company was born amid the war excitement of 1812, the New England Guards. Even from the days of their first Captain, Samuel Swett, it was felt that a distinguished destiny awaited the organization. During their entire half century of existence, they made constant effort to maintain their personnel at the highest standard; and the effort was crowned with success. An extant lithograph, in the museum of the A. & H. Art. Co., shows the Guards in the year 1836 parading with four platoons of twelve files each—numbers indicative of the company’s popularity. They were added to the 2d Regiment, and thereafter were associated with the Tigers.

During the war with England the light infantry companies rendered service at the harbor forts similar to that of the artillery. By request of the commandant of the Charlestown Navy Yard, the New England Guards were stationed at the Chelsea bridge for eleven days from June 13, 1814, in order to prevent an expected raid by a hostile landing party. The entire membership of the Fusiliers was on duty from Sept. 12 until Oct. 10, under Capt. Gerry Fairbanks (a hatter in civil life); and detachments continued doing garrison duty several weeks longer. The Tigers helped to build Ft. Strong on Jeffries Point, East Boston; similar activity characterized the other companies.

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