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From: "Kirsten Bowman" <>
Subject: Re: [APG] NYC "Light Guard" pre-Civil War ... help?
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:03:54 -0800
In-Reply-To: <094F615ED2FD4BFE976DDECC6FE7DA91@LenovlaptopXP>


Diane:

My 2nd great grandfather was also a member of the Light Guard and in
response to a post like yours someone sent me a fascinating article which
I'll paste below. Seems like the NY Times is the best source for
information on the group. There are other articles there such as notices of
funerals of members, meetings, special events, but this is the best general
history that I've found.

Kirsten

New York Times, New York, N.Y.; Feb 7, 1904; pg. 11
OLD GUARD REMINISCENCES
A Veteran Tells How the Organization Originated
Successor of the Light and City Guards, Famous Factors in the Social
Life of Old New York.
-----
To the Editor of The New York Times:
In your issue of to-day there is an inquiry from a correspondent as to
the Old Guard, and asking any one familiar with its history to give him
information in regard to it.
The Old Guard through the efforts of the late George W. McLean
obtained a charter from the State for its organization. All who had
served in the Light-Guard under Capt. Edward Vincent, or in the City
Guard under Capt. William McArdle, were eligible to membership. The
Light Guard was the right flank company of the Twelfth Regiment. The
City Guard was a right flank company also, I think, (but am not
certain,) of the Ninth Regiment. Both were crack companies.
I can well remember how as a boy I used to look for the Light Guard on
parade. Its uniform was showy and handsome, and physically it was a
fine body of men; its headquarters were at Lafayette Hall; its meeting
room was large and handsomely furnished, and it had an adjoining room in
which were gun racks, lockers, &c. Rent, uniforms, and all expenses
were paid by the members.
It was a unique organization. The members were of maturer age than
are found in the militia of to-day. They were largely business men, and
although the legal term of service was seven years, many remained after
their term of service had expired -- there was comparatively little club
life then in New York, and the Light Guard, as far as its social side
was concerned, was something of that nature, but its members were
conspicuous for their military service, responding in full numbers to
many calls for duty, and when two regiments were raised for the Mexican
War both Colonels were from the Light Guard. These were Burnett and
Stevenson as Colonels and Burnham as Major of one.
I was well acquainted with the Light Guard and I have always felt that
its history would be most interesting. I remember many who were always
in the ranks, as James Vandervoort and his two brothers, Julian and
Henry V. Allison, Charles A. Stetson and his brother James, Henry R.
McMurray, John B. Marie, George W. McLean and his brother James,
Alexander B. Mott, William Lainbeer, N. B. La Bau, Charles J. Clinch, N.
B. Day, D. D. Hart, Junius T. Stagg, Horatio N. Hewitt and brother,
Eugene S. Ballin, and others who would make too long a list to publish.
The Light Guard for years gave annual balls at the Astor House, and
afterward at the Academy of Music, which were always brilliant and
successful. In 1853 Henry G. Stebbins and John Jacob Astor,
respectively Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel of the Twelfth Regiment,
resigned. The regiment was composed of eight companies. Among them was
the Lafayette Fusileers, commanded by Richard French, who immediately
announced himself as a candidate for Colonel. He was accepted by seven
companies and opposed by the Light Guard, for he had several times
designated them as a silk stocking company. French was elected and the
Light Guard was loath to parade under him and determined to avoid it if
possible.
As soon as French was elected he called a meeting of the officers, and
a regimental uniform was adopted, the principal feature of which was a
white frock coat. It was soon after that President Pierce was to come
to New York to open the Crystal Palace, and the divisiion was ordered to
parade, which, of course, included the Twelfth Regiment, but the Light
Guard was appointed guard of honor to the President, which relieved it
from parading with the regiment, the regiment appearing in its new
uniform for the first time. The Light Guard, acting as escort, was upon
the right of the line, while the regiment was well down on the left. A
heavy shower came up in the lower part of the city which thoroughly
soaked the Twelfth Regiment, while not a drop fell where the Light Guard
was. The regimental uniforms were made of poor material and shrunk so
that they were never worn again.
French was disappointed in not having forced the Light Guard to parade
under him, and at once issued an order to the regiment for a drill in
Tompkins Square. In the meantime the Light Guard had sent an
influential committee to Albany to see Adjt. Gen. Townsend. The day for
the drill arrived, and the Light Guard, which had been expecting to hear
from Albany, but having no word, marched up to Tompkins Square, where it
took position on the sidewalk outside the square, as the regimental line
had not been formed; and as the Adjutant was seen coming to order the
company to fall in line a carriage was seen coming up the street with
the horses on the run; and just as Capt. Vincent was taking command the
carriage drew up to the curb, the occupant jumped out and handed a
document to the Captain, at which he glanced, and then ordered the
command by the right flank and marched the company off the ground.
The document was an order detaching the Light Guard from the Twelfth
Regiment and forming the Fifty-fifth Regiment, to be composed of the
Light Guard and the Garde Lafayette. The Light Guard remained at the
right of the regiment for some years, and then right-flank companies
having been abolished, applied for a transfer to the Seventy-first
Regiment, of which it became Company A. With this regiment it entered
the service of the country. It was in the first battle of Bull Run,
distinguished for its bravery, and suffered severely. It afterward
responded twice to the call of its country.
The Light Guard was organized in 1826, first known as the Tompkins
Blues, under command of Col. Daniel D. Tompkins, then as the Light Guard
under command of Edward Vincent who remained at its head for twenty-five
years. After his death John R. Garland was elected Captain. He was a
Virginian and resigned at the breaking out of the civil war. Then David
D. Hart was elected and was wounded at the battle of Bull Run.
It would make a long article to give a record of the successes of this
company, of its hospitalities, entertainments, &c. Under the law,
right-flank companies were allowed to have what were called pay members,
who by turning a certain amount into the treasury of the company, were
exempt from jury duty, and these payments added to their resources. I
remember among these members such well-known men as Simeon Draper, Harry
H. Leeds, Chauncey D. Hurd, and John E. Denlon.
The late George W. McLean told me that when the Light Guard appeared
the first time in the uniform of the British Grenadiers it was hissed
all along the line, but when the company returned to its armory Capt.
Vincent ordered a parade in a week from that day, and on that parade it
was cheered lustily. Afterward it changed to the uniform very much the
same as the Old Guard now wears.
The City Guard was a split from the Old Guard and was a magnificent
company. There was a great rivalry between them, and so when the civil
war had destroyed their particular characteristics Major George W.
McLean conceived the idea of bringing together those old-time rivals
into a brotherhood to cherish old memories and preserve recollections of
their old triumphs. The City Gaurd served through the war as Company C,
Ninth Regiment.
From these two old companies came the Old Guard. The original charter
has been amended, and now all who have received honorable discharge from
military service or retired officers of the army and navy are received
in membership. The first charter was mainly intended as for civil
association, for fraternal greeting, relief, &c., but after a time a
uniform was adopted and a military organization completed; and now,
though it forms no part of the militia, it is subject to the call of the
Governor.
VETERAN
Sheffield, Mass., Feb 2, 1904

-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:]On
Behalf Of Diane L Richard
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 7:43 AM
To:
Subject: [APG] NYC "Light Guard" pre-Civil War ... help?


Hello,



I have a biography for Henri Simons (who died in LA in 1864 while serving as
a Captain with the 14th RI Heavy Artillery) which states that

"The subject of our sketch, son of Pierre and Emilv Simon, was born in
Bordeaux, France, in the year 1812. When he was about three years of age his
father emigrated with his family to the United States, and settled in New
York City. Henry Simon attended the public schools of that city in his
youth. After leaving school he entered a book-store, but subsequently
learned the jeweler's trade. After completing his term of service, he
engaged in business on his own account, and obtained considerable celebrity
for the manufacture of "curb chain," in which he was particularly skilled.
In 1845 he went to Providence, and for several years was associated with Mr.
James E. Budlong in the manufacture of jewelry. This connection was
subsequently dissolved, long in the manufacture of jewelry. This connection
was subsequently dissolved, and he continued in the same business.



Mr. Simon early interested himself in military affairs, and while in New
York City joined the Light Guard, a celebrated military organization of that
city, and thus was formed a natural taste for military life."



I have no information until I find him in the 1850 census in RI.



I wondered if records survive for the NYC "Light Guard" so that I may verify
that information and possibly learn more about the family during it's
sojourn in NYC.



Thanks in advance for any suggestions/help!



Diane :-)



Diane L. Richard

Mosaic Research and Project Management

2408 Dunbrook Ct

Raleigh, NC 27604

919-231-8137

fax: 919-255-9528

www.mosaicrpm.com/Genealogy




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