The Old First Massachusetts Coast Artillery in War and Peace

by Frederick Morse Cutler

Again in March, 1913, the entire Corps made its customary pilgrimage to Washington for the purpose of participating in the Presidential inauguration, this time paying the honor to Woodrow Wilson. As in 1909, so now, they were most enthusiastically praised for their fine military appearance and splendid marching. On May 30, 1913, the Gate City Guard of Atlanta, Ga., visited Boston as guests of the Tigers. 1913 was the fifteenth anniversary of the regiment’s service in the Spanish war; and on Sept. 20, Col. Lombard tendered a review on the Common to the veterans. On that occasion active officers marched with the veterans, in the positions which they had filled fifteen years previously. Lt. Col. Woodman was in command of the veterans, and Col. Lombard marched as Captain of the 6th Company; while Maj. Shedd led the actives. After the parade, there was a collation, followed by motion pictures, in the Armory.

So well had the 5th Company acquitted themselves at the Chelsea fire that they were one of the commands called out to maintain order at Salem when, on June 25, 1914, that ancient city was threatened with destruction; the emergency was similar to that of 1908. To the Chelsea men fell the duty of organizing a huge camp of refugees at Forest River park; and they remained in service seven days.

Joseph Hooker was born Nov. 13, 1814, and exactly one hundred years later, his loyal admirers, among whom were numbered the officers of the Coast Artillery Corps, paraded, and participated in a great meeting at Tremont Temple in honor of his memory. Capt. Isaac P. Gragg, former Captain of the 1st Company, was always the prime mover in organizing celebrations in memory of Hooker, and he justly felt that the event of 1914 was the culmination of his life-work. Alas! Capt. Gragg did not long survive the centennial of his beloved commander.

Edward Dwight Fullerton was elected Colonel Feb. 9, 1915, and continued in command until retired as Brigadier General, January 16, 1917; he had served as 1st Lieutenant of the 8th Company during the Spanish War.

The “House of Governors” was in session at Boston in Aug., 1915, and Gov. David I. Walsh ordered a mobilization of the militia on Aug. 26, as a compliment to the State’s guests. As the authorized strength of the companies had recently been raised, the Boston papers commented upon the appearance of the Corps, in fifteen platoons of twenty files, as “wonderful,” not only for numbers, but for steady marching.

President Wilson called the militia out for service on the Mexican border June 18, 1916. Massachusetts shared with New Jersey the honor of placing her full quota of organizations at the post of danger in the shortest time; and since the Massachusetts quota was far larger than that of New Jersey, her record was the more creditable. On the ninth day after the troops were summoned to arms, they started for Texas. Of course the Coast Artillery could not be included in this great national mobilization, as they might not safely be spared from their stations at the forts. But on June 26, the day the mobile troops started south, the officers and non-commissioned officers of the Corps were assembled at the Framingham mobilization camp (“Camp Whitney”) for the purpose of drilling the hundreds of recruits there gathered. The officers and non-commissioned officers of the 6th Inf. also took part in this work of instruction. No recruits for Mass. regiments ever constituted a finer personnel than those eager to have a share in the Mexican service. Coming from all over the state, they were uniformly willing, sober, and quick to learn, in order that they might reach the front as soon as possible. The Corps became responsible for the “2d Provisional Regiment,” consisting of about one thousand men, destined for the 8th and 9th Inf. Regiments, and also for the cavalry, machine-guns, supply companies, field artillery, and even for the regimental bands. Wonderfully rapid progress was made, so that in two weeks, the recruits were equipped, and drilled, and ready to go forward. The Corps’ recent training in company administration stood them in good stead and made possible such rapid work. Certain officers of the Corps were drafted into the U. S. service, in order to accompany the recruits on the southward journey.

With grave disorder on the Mexican border, and with the greatest war of the world’s history approaching its crisis abroad, conditions were once more favorable for Congressional action in behalf of the militia. Since threatenings of danger were loud and insistent, the legislators were induced to take an additional forward step in rendering America’s citizen-soldiers efficient. The National Defence Act, as the new law was termed, completed the process of federalization by placing the militia fully under War Department control, and also provided a modest rate of remuneration for armory drills, thus making it an object for men to maintain regular attendance. Massachusetts had done what she could to encourage the passage of the law, by herself adopting, during the prolonged debate on the National Defence Act, a State law offering to hand over her militia to the Federal government. Indeed by her provision for remunerating men for attendance at rendezvous drills, the Commonwealth had taken her place beside Ohio five years previously as a pioneer in paying her militia. The legislation became effective on June 3, 1916, and went fully into operation on the first of the ensuing month.

Right in the midst of their tour, on June 30, the officers and men were asked to take the new Federal oath, under provisions of this act. To the officers the oath was administered at Framingham, while the enlisted men were assembled in their armories that night, for the purpose of swearing in. Almost without exception, and then always with valid excuse, the members of the Corps assumed this additional obligation and became Federal soldiers. Headquarters, band, enlisted specialists, and twelve companies—the entire Corps—were, on June 30, recognized by the War Department as federalized National Guardsmen and were entered upon the U. S. payrolls. Of all the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, the Coast Artillery Corps were the only organization to comply fully with the new requirements and be recognized as a unit.

Companies of the Corps volunteered their services in connection with exhibitions for the benefit of the Mass. Volunteer Aid Association, which was raising funds to relieve distress amongst the families of National Guardsmen then at the border. An unusually fine military display was given at the ball-grounds in connection with a benefit ball-game between the Red Sox and the St. Louis teams on July 17.

Many Corps officers were detailed for recruiting duty during the summer and autumn of 1916, in an effort to raise the numbers of the regiments at the border to full war-strength. Consequently the coast defence exercises at the forts in August, 1916, were seriously handicapped. Many men were forced to perform double duty. In spite of this limitation, splendid artillery scores were made by the 2d, the 6th and other Companies, the 6th Company earning the coveted Knox trophy.