respect, to the obscurest private whose death had been ennobled by service in the "high places of the field." At times, the calls to attend military funerals were frequent, but the Guard were ready at all times and in all seasons,-cold, hot, moist or dry, to pay the last tribute to the patriotic dead.

Occasionally they were called to more agreeable, though sterner duty. They constituted an important part of the force on which the civil authorities relied to preserve order, while the military force was at the seat of war. In ordinary times the police are sufficient to maintain the law, it being understood that there is a military organization held in reserve. But in the summer of 1863, when some were disaffected on account of the "draft "; when the ranks were filling with substitutes raked out of the haunts of rascaldom; and when bloody and barbarous riots in New York excited all the vile and disloyal in other cities to plot deeds of darkness, there was a felt need of the "strong arm" to hold the unquiet elements in calmness. At such a time the State Guard of Worcester were found to be the right men in the right place. The following extracts from the records of the Guard bearing date July 18, 1863, refer to this subject. In compliance with a "special call" seventy-nine members met, and were called to order by Lieutenant Fitch. After "arming and equipping themselves," and being "drilled in the manual" by Sergeant Boyden, sixteen members of the company were severally detailed by Captain Phillips, to perform guard duty for the provost marshal, and by him sworn to the faithful performance of their duty to the United States." The following are the names of the members detailed for this service, viz: Edward Clark, J. H. Benchley, John S. Clark, Simeon Clapp, Erastus Fisher, O. W. Claflin, William S. Jenks, Alexander Strong, Charles Nason, Seba Carpenter, E. E. Abbott, E. B. Crawford, F. P. Hutchins, E. M. Caulkins, Andrew Holden, and David Gleason.

Many of the recruits were roughs who came from the larger cities, and enlisted for the sake of the pay and bounty, with the intention of deserting. Some of the villains enlisted and

deserted repeatedly, and after acquiring a large sum from the government, never fired a shot in its support. They were dangerous men to have in the streets, and they were restive under restraint. The fact that a large number of such were held under strict guard, and kept from all riot and license in in this city, is greatly to the honor of the State Guard.

The following extract from the record-book, dated July 24, 1863, illustrates the nature of the duty performed by the Guard.

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Captain Phillips ordered the clerk personally to notify the members of the State Guard, No. 1, to assemble forthwith at their armory, at City Hall, for the purpose of doing guard duty at the City Hall, at Brinley Hall, and at the provost marshal's office. Sixty members reported for duty and under the direction of the provost marshal were kept on guard duty until Monday morning, July 28, when the company were ordered to escort the conscripts or drafted men to Long Island, in Boston Harbor. The Guard performed the duty by going as far as Boston, where another company met us and took charge of the men. The State Guard returned to Worcester, and were discharged from farther duty."

On the fifteenth of October the Guard escorted Gov. Andrew and the council from the railroad station to the Bay State House.

The next morning, on invitation from Governor Gilmore, of New Hampshire, the Guard, accompanied by the Worcester Cornet Band, took the cars for Manchester, New Hampshire, where they were received by the Amoskeag Veterans, escorted to their armory, and made welcome to their hospitality. They were then escorted to the muster-field, where Governor Gilmore made a brief speech of reception, welcoming them to the state. After a season of drill, and having received many marks of kindness and distinction, the company returned safely in the evening, bringing many remembrances of a day pleasantly spent in New Hampshire.

At a meeting held on the fourth of January, 1864, the Guard adopted a code of by-laws, which had been under consideration for several weeks, and which had the approval of Governor Andrew. At the same meeting it was voted to organize a drum corps.

The State Guard to the number of eighty-four, with their ladies, and several honorary members, in all about one hundred and eighty-four went to Fitchburg, on the eleventh of January, and took dinner at the Fitchburg Hotel. After enjoying a plentiful repast, addresses were made by Captain Phillips, Rev. Dr. Hill, Rev. Mr. Shippen, Rev. Mr. Fay, of Leominster, Rev. Mr. Heard, of Fitchburg, Rev. Mr. St. John, and Sergeant John Boyden. The company returned, by rail, about ten o'clock, P.M., having passed a very pleasant day.

Early in the winter of 1864, the Rev. Samuel Souther, the minister at the Mission Chapel, and a representative in the General Court in the sessions of 1862 and 1863, volunteered as a private, and made his arrangements to "go to the front." He was a member of the State Guard, and his comrades evinced their high appreciation of his self-denying patriotism. The company, with their ladies met at the City Hall, January 15, and made a present of two hundred and eight dollars, (subscribed by themselves) as a token of their regard. "The presentation," says the record, "was made by Rev. Mr. St. John in a very feeling and patriotic address, and accepted by Mr. Souther in a speech of kindly feeling and patriotic interest."

On the twenty-first of January, the Guard did escort duty at the reception of the Twenty-fifth Regiment; and on the first of February, performed the same pleasing service at the reception of the Twenty-first Regiment.

The oldest and one of the most active and respected members of the Guard, was Dea. ALLEN HARRIS. He always felt a deep interest in the company, and took unwearied pains to perform all his duties according to military rule. It was fitting therefore, when he was called to a higher service in a world where the "wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest," that the surviving members should take special action in relation to his decease. The funeral services were attended on the sixth of February," when the company, in full ranks, proceeded to the house of the deceased, where the remains were received and escorted to the Old South Church.

There the funeral ceremonies were performed, after which the remains were removed to the Rural Cemetery, where a volley was fired over the grave."

At a meeting of the Guard, held on the twelfth of February, a committee previously appointed presented the following resolutions which were unanimously adopted.

"Whereas, Deacon Allen Harris, the first man to write his name upon the volunteer roll of the State Guard of Worcester, and the oldest active member of the company, who since the formation of the company has performed every duty zealously and well, is now the first of our number called to enter that higher service near the throne of the soverign he has so long acknowledged and loved; therefore be it

Resolved, That we cherish the memory of Deacon Allen Harris, as a faithful fellow-soldier, a useful and respected citizen, and a true Christian. Resolved, That while we deeply sympathize with the afflicted family, we share with them the glorious consolation of the undoubting confidence that what is their and our loss is his infinite gain.

Resolved, That the clerk of the company be instructed to tender a copy of the preamble and resolutions to the family of our deceased brother and to each of the Worcester papers for publication."

The services of the Guard were in frequent requisition, during this season, for rendering homage to the patriots who had fallen in the war. In the first half of the month of June four officers who had distinguished themselves in the field, were buried under the escort of the Guard. These were Lieutenant-Colonel Green, Major Dexter F. Parker, Captain Thomas O'Neil, and Adjutant McConville. Almost every week, and sometimes oftener, they led the sad procession of mourners through the streets; and not seldom went to neighboring towns on the same soldierly duty. This would have been a great burden to any except those who loved their country, and took pleasure in honoring her defenders.

As the first anniversary of the corps, under the charter which authorized the organization of the Worcester State Guard, drew nigh, arrangements were made for a suitable celebration. This took place on the seventeenth of June, 1864, when the company, with their ladies, honorary members, and invited guests, met at their armory, and at eleven o'clock took

the cars for Webster Park, where the day was spent in appropriate festivities. Goddard and Riedl's band were in attendance, and furnished excellent music for the occasion.

The first duty of the day, after reaching the speaker's stand, was the presentation of a flag to the Guard, from the ladies of Worcester. The addresses in giving and receiving the colors contained so much of historical fact and of sound sentiment, and were moreover of such commendable brevity, that they will be given entire.

The Hon. IRA M. BARTON, in behalf of the ladies, made the presentation in the following appropriate remarks.

“CAPTAIN Phillips, and Gentlemen of the Worcester State GUARD: This pleasant morning, and on this first anniversary of your organization, surrounded by your friends, I am commissioned by the ladies of Worcester to perform a service, I trust, acceptable to you, as it certainly is agreeable to me. You may be surprised that a civilian should be invited to perform this service, when you see around you so many gentlemen of military distinction, varying from the brave private to honored commanders.

But we are not at liberty, (certainly I am not) to call in question the decision of the ladies, on this occasion. For whatever superiority of judgment we may arrogate to ourselves, in matters of taste and sentiment, the ladies are, indeed, our better part, always right, while we are sometimes wrong. They no doubt, regard you as especially the soldiers of peace the preservers of social order. And in that view perhaps they do well to invite a civilian to communicate to you their sentiments. But you would insist that if you were called to the ensanguined field to defend the Commonwealth or the Union, you are still soldiers of peace; as it is difficult to conceive of any legitimate end of war, but the production of peace and the security of liberty.

I said that you had conciliated the regards of woman by the preservation of social order, in which she, above all others, is interested. I may add, I think, with propriety, that such regard has been enhanced by your solemn service — alas, too often invoked — in the obsequies of our brave and honored sons that have fallen to save the life of their country. The sincerity and depth of that gratitude cannot be expressed by me, but must be told by the tears of surviving wives, mothers, and sisters.

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But, sir, you and your comrades may have sterner work to perform. While you sustain social order at home, your sympathies embrace the whole Union, and your special charge is to see that this Commonwealth receives no detriment. At present there is here no impending danger.