During the review I remarked with surprise the variety of uniforms; in the numerous companies that defiled before us, scarcely could I find two companies somewhat similar in this respect. Some were clothed with a luxury that was very little adapted to war; while those from the country, were on the contrary so simply clad, that they had nothing military about them but the cartridge box and musket. This difference was explained to me by the formation of volunteer companies. These are composed of young men, who, from being friends or neighbours, organize under the authority of the governor, a peculiar company; the colour and fashion of their uniform is decided by common consent; they elect their own officers, and choose the name of their corps. Thus organized and constituted, they remain always subject to the general regulations by which all the militia are governed, but they meet much more frequently for the purpose of military exercise; as most of these young men are sufficiently well off, they can afford to expend something upon a brilliant dress, and hence the variety of their uniforms. If from this slight rivalry in elegance, between the volunteer companies, great emulation in service ensues, as the officers suppose who had the kindness to give me some information on these points, it is unquestionably an advantage; but is it not to be feared that this advantage may be attended by serious inconveniences? May not the embroidery and plumes which at present serve to distinguish one company from another, hereafter be used to distinguish the son of a rich merchant from a mere mechanic? and will not this distinction between the rich and poor militiaman open the door to the aristocracy of wealth, which is not less an enemy to equality than the aristocracy of parchments? I am aware that American manners and institutions diminish this danger; but ought a danger to be disregarded because it is still distant?
The existence, organization, duties, and basis of the discipline of the militia throughout the Union, are determined by general laws emanating from congress. However, as differences of situation or manners which distinguish the aspect of the various states composing the great federation require modifications in the application of these laws, each state regulates for itself the formation of militia corps, their especial discipline, the appointment of officers, &c. &c. taking care, however, not to depart from the general principles established by congress.
As all the particular regulations of the States differ somewhat from each other, and it would, moreover, be too tedious to describe them all in detail, it may suffice to satisfy the reader’s curiosity that we present in this place a sketch of the regulations of the Massachusetts militia.
The law of the Congress of the United States, calls into the ranks, all citizens capable of bearing arms from the age of eighteen to forty-five, inclusively; the law of Massachusetts makes an exception in favour of the individuals hereafter designated: the lieutenant governor of the state; members of the executive council; judges of the supreme court, the inferior courts and their clerks; members of the legislature; justices of the peace; all officers employed in the registry of deeds, &c.; the attorney general, the solicitor general; secretary and treasurer of state and their clerks; sheriffs; teachers of public schools; the ministers of all religious sects, without distinction; all civil officers appointed by the United States, and finally the Quakers, when they present a certificate signed by one or two of their elders, stating that the bearer is actually one of their society, and is conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms. Nevertheless, all the individuals above excepted from militia duty, are obliged from the age of 18 to 45, to keep in the house, and to present at each annual review, the arms and equipments of war prescribed by the laws of the United States: they must, moreover, pay two dollars a year, which are placed in the treasury of the town or district, to be employed in arming and equipping poor citizens unable to furnish their own accoutrements.
CHAPTER V.
Journey from Boston to Portsmouth: sojourn at Portsmouth: history, constitution and statistics of New Hampshire: journey from Portsmouth to New York: description of Long Island.
The state of New Hampshire having sent a deputation to invite general Lafayette to visit the navy yard at Portsmouth, we set out for that place on the 31st of August, by the way of Lexington, Concord, Salem, Marblehead and Newburyport. We delayed but a few moments at Lexington, but we left it deeply impressed by the touching scenes we there witnessed, and the historical recollection it awakens. We recollected that it was at this place in 1775, a few farmers were slaughtered by an English battalion; and upon the same spot Lafayette was welcomed by a free and happy population assembled to greet him. We advanced through two handsome lines of militia troops to the base of the pyramid which indicates the place where the first martyrs of liberty fell, and now repose. There two old men related to us this first scene of the grand revolutionary tragedy, in which they were actors; and this circumstance lent a powerful charm to their recital, which captivated our attention. They were delighted to recall the smallest particulars of this action, repeated with heated indignation the insulting and menacing words of the fierce Pitcairn, when he summoned them to surrender, and the smile of pity and contempt curled their lips when they told how 800 Englishmen had fired upon sixty farmers: they then named with tenderness those of their companions and friends who fell by their sides, turning their eyes filled with tears upon the ground, while our own involuntarily rested upon the last asylum of these hero citizens, paying them a tribute of gratitude and admiration. After some moments of solemn silence, one of the two old men exclaimed, “we still weep for our brethren, but we do not deplore them, they died for their country and liberty!” At the words country and liberty, the crowd, deeply affected, responded by shouts of “long live Lafayette,” and during a long time it was difficult to moderate this burst of public gratitude. All the militia of the district were assembled at Lexington; they defiled before the pyramid and Lafayette, lowering before these two monuments of their revolution their standards, upon which the murder of their ancestors was delineated, by which hatred of despotism is perpetuated among these youthful soldier-citizens.
Just as we were about to depart from the pyramid to re-enter our carriages, a young man presented himself, having in his hands a long rudely shaped and rusty musket; he presented it to Lafayette with a solemnity which induced us to suppose that the weapon by some peculiar circumstance had acquired a right to the veneration of the bearer. In fact, we learned that this was the musket from which the first fire was returned to the English, upon the field of Lexington. “My father bore it on the 19th of April, 1775,” said the young man; “in his hands it commenced the work that Washington and you so gloriously achieved; I am happy to make it known to you.” Lafayette examined it with pleasure; all of us desired to touch it; in returning it to him, the general advised him to have inscribed on the stock the date of April 19th, and the name of the brave citizen who bore it, and then to keep it in a box for the purpose of securing it from the ravages of time. He was moved by this advice and promised to follow it.
Although Concord is but a short distance from Lexington, we were nevertheless obliged to stop there. The inhabitants of the vicinity were collected in the public square, where a tent of flowers and verdure had been erected, under which a troop of blooming and beautiful girls offered refreshments to the Nation’s Guest, who was forced to take a seat at the centre of an elegantly prepared table, around which none but ladies were admitted. Young girls crowned with flowers moved around the table of which they did the honours with touching grace and ease; but it was especially to Lafayette that all their attention was directed, and upon him their tenderest care was concentrated. All was smiling, all was gracious in the picture of happiness and joy before us; but at the same instant we were struck by a singular contrast. In front of the tent, at the other extremity of the public square, we perceived upon a hillock which terminated it, a confused collection of funeral monuments. We recognized the place consecrated to the dead. Of all these monuments, the greater number were already blackened by time; some were still of a glaring whiteness; near one of the latter was placed a female and two children clad in black, whose sorrowing attitudes seemed to say that festival days are not days of repose for death; but not one of the gay party appeared to regard this; all were too happy to remark the narrowness of the space by which they were separated from the spot where all sink into oblivion.
At Marblehead I was aroused from the profound reverie into which the circumstances at Concord had plunged me, by the sound of cannon, and the shouts of the people, who rushed to meet Lafayette. Brilliant preparations had been made to receive him, although it was known that he could only stop to breakfast. In ascending Washington Hill, we were met by the pupils of eleven public and twenty private schools, conducted by their teachers and the president of the board of instruction. There were nine hundred children of both sexes. A deputation, formed by a representative from each class, approached the carriage, and presented an address to Lafayette, in which the children expressed to him their gratitude for the services he had rendered their parents. Salem is only 14 miles from Boston, and yet we did not reach there until afternoon, because at almost every step Lafayette was obliged to stop to receive testimonials of regard from all we met upon the road. At the entrance of the city, we were received by the magistrates, and by a numerous cavalcade of citizens; several military corps were drawn up on each side of the way, and his entry was announced by salutes of artillery and the chiming of the bells. In spite of the rain, which fell in torrents, the streets were entirely filled with the crowds that rushed towards him, and uttered their benedictions. We passed through the town on foot, in order to go under a great number of triumphal arches decorated with emblems and inscriptions. Upon one was “Honour to Lafayette! honour to him who fought and shed his blood for the peace and happiness we enjoy:” upon another, “Lafayette, friend and defender of liberty, welcome to the land of your adoption;” on another, “In the day of our adversity, thou didst aid us, in the days of our prosperity, we recall thy services with gratitude.” The dining-hall and the dinner itself, had been decorated and prepared by the hands of a great number of ladies. In front of Lafayette’s seat, amid garlands of flowers, was the following inscription: “Lafayette in America—Where can one better be than in the bosom of his family?”