The Military Exercise Of The Independent Company Of Cadets, Boston 1818
Monstrat Viam "It Points The Way"
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The Independent Company Of Cadets, known today as The First Corps Of Cadets (Massachusetts), is the oldest volunteer unit of the National Guard of The United States Of America. The Corps is renowned for nearly continuous service since the Revolutionary War and for providing officers to the armed services during times of both peace and war.
The Military Exercise Of The Independent Company Of Cadets, published in 1818 in Boston, are their principles and maneuvers for individuals and companies in preparation for duty. Derived from the principle military texts of the period, The Military Exercise Of The Independent Company Of Cadets exemplifies the motto of the Corps: Monstrat Viam: It Points The Way.
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Historical extract from the preamble to:
The Constitution Of The Independent Company Of Cadets..., Boston, March 28, 1845
PREAMBLE
The Independent Company Of Cadets were originally organized under Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Pollard, by a commission of His Excellency, Governor William Shirley, on the sixteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty-one.
Having been disbanded by Governor Gage, in 1774, on account of their patriotic feelings, they were again organized, and made a Divisionary Corps, after the Declaration of Independence, by a Resolve of the General Court, on the 18th day of October, 1786, and their officers were commissioned by His Excellency, James Bowdoin, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with the rank appurtenant to the command of a Regiment of the Line.
Their largest enlistments, however, in any one year, have never exceeded one hundred and twenty, rank and file, exclusive of twenty warrant officers, appointed by the Lieutenant Colonel. Their muster roll has several times been diminished to one fourth that number. It now contains (including Chaplain and Surgeon) eighty-five men, and the corps is making a vigorous effort to sustain its ancient reputation and usefulness.
To this end, the present Constitution has been adopted : and under it the Company hope to perform the duties of faithful and efficient solders, to the accpetance of His Excellency the Governor, and in accordance with the ‘ General Orders’ issued from Head Quarters by the Commander-in-chief, on the 24th of April, 1840.
RESOLVES, OCTOBER 18, 1786
On the petition of Samuel Bradford and others, Resolved, That the Governor be and he hereby is, authorized and empowered to commisionate the officers of the Independent Company of Cadets, in Boston, with the following rank, namely. The Captain with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and the Lieutenant and Ensign, each with the rank of Major.
Resolved, That the said Company of Cadets be, and hereby are, entitled to an Adjutant, and that the Governor be, and he hereby is, authorized and empowered to commissionate the said Adjutant, with the rank of Captain.
RESOLVES, FEBRUARY 28, 1803
On the petition of Arnold Welles, Lieutenant Colonel, Commandant of the Independent Cadets, in Boston,
Resolved, for reasons set forth in said petition, That His Excellency the Governor be authorized to commissionate a Surgeon to the said Independent Cadets, under the same regulations as other Surgeons in the militia of this Commonwealth.
FIRST CORPS CADETS, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia: STANDING ORDERS; 1890
HISTORICAL SKETCH
The organization now known as the First Corps Of Cadets of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, originated in 1741 as Body Guard to the Governor of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, under the title of the “Governor’s Company Of Cadets.” It had three commissioned officers, ranking as field officers; the captain graded as Lieutenant Colonel, this distinction being probably given in accordance with a custom in the British army which confers a similar rank upon certain company officers of the household troops. The first commander was Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Pollard, a prominent citizen of Boston, whose commission, dated October 16, 1741, signed by Governor William Shirley, is now carefully preserved by the Corps, - virtually its charter.
One of the first duties of the Company was to escort Governor Shirley to the boundaries of the Province on his way to Rhode Island in 1741; and from that time until 1774, as Body Guard, it attended and escorted the Provincial Governors.
Colonel Pollard died in 1756, and was succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel Leonard Jarvis. Colonel Joseph Scott, who eventually became a Tory and was proscribed, commanded the Company after Colonel Jarvis; he was succeeded by Colonel John Hancock, commander in 1774, when General Gage, as Governor, came to Boston in May of that year, and was escorted by the Cadets from Long Wharf to the Council Chamber of the building now known as the Old State House.
It was the custom for each successive Governor to present the Company with a standard bearer on one side of the arms of the Province and on the other the armorial bearings of the donor. With this usage Governor Gage complied. But Gage and Hancock were as flint and steel, and the contact soon produced sparks which helped to alight the train of discontent leading to the impending explosion of the Revolution. In August following, Gage caused his secretary to write Hancock a letter of dismissal, still in the possession of the Corps. This action so incensed the Company that its members returned the Governor his standard, with the information that, as they looked upon the dismissal of their commander as a disbandment, they no longer considered themselves “The Governor’s Independent Company Of Cadets.” Gage took the standard with the remark that Hancock had used him ill, refusing him proper respect, and that, had the intention of the Company been known sooner, he would have anticipated their action by disbanding them himself. A complimentary correspondence between Colonel Hancock and the Company followed, from which the political animus of the situation is evident. Colonel Hancock wrote: “I shall ever be ready to appear in a public station whenever the humor or interest of the community calls me, but shall prefer the retirement of a private station to being a tool in the hands of power to oppress my countrymen.”
Thus, for a brief space, the active or official existence of the Corps was suspended, after existing thirty-three years, during which time, in addition to its peaceful escorts to the Royal Governors, it had been several times called upon to protect life and property and preserve the peace, notably at the time of the Stamp Act troubles and the Hutchinson riots.
Having retired from the service of Governor Gage, the Company, in the stirring events that followed, took no part as a body, whatever those who had composed it may have done as individuals, until after the British troops left Boston in 1776, when, under circumstances somewhat similar to the original formation in 1741, many of the members united in a military organization known as the “Independent Company”, under Lieutenant Colonel Henry Jackson, and, two years later, under the immediate command of Lieutenant Colonel Hitchborn, marched to Rhode Island, where the Company did duty as a part of the forces of the Revolutionary War. At that time Hancock was president of the Continental Congress, but he was also Colonel of this Independent Company, the executive officer being a Lieutenant Colonel, thus preserving the English custom of the Honorary Colonel. Why the word “Cadets” was not used in the official name of this Company does appear, but contemporaneous newspapers and letters supply the omission, and habitually designate the organization as “Cadets.”
About the time of the peace of 1783 the military spirit in the community was so dormant that no parades or musters of militia appear to have taken place for a considerable time, nor did the people rouse themselves to the necessity for proper protective measures till the summer of 1786. On the 20th of July of that year, a paper looking to the resumption of proper activity was signed by twenty-three Cadets, of whom twenty-one met at the American Coffee House on the 27th, and Samuel Bradford was elected commander. On the 7th of August their number was increased to thirty-six. They then chose subordinate officers, and adopted a uniform of which the coat was red, similar to the uniform worn previous to the Revolution; but this was reconsidered, and a white uniform, faced with scarlet, was chosen, in honor of the French troops who had assisted the Colonies. On the 17th of August, sixty stand of arms were purchased at Providence, and the Company drilled at Faneuil Fall on Monday and Thursday evenings. The first parade after the re-organization was fixed for “Cornwallis” day, October 19, and so occurred, the commissions of the officers having been confirmed under resolves passed by the Legislature on the day previous, as follows: -
“Resolved, That the Governor be, and he hereby is, authorized and empowered to commisionate the officers of the Independent Company of Cadets in Boston, with the following rank, namely: The captain with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and the lieutenant and ensign each with the rank of Major.
“Resolved, That the said Company of Cadets be, and they hereby are, entitled to an Adjutant, and that the Governor be, and he hereby is, authorized and empowered to commissionate the said Adjutant with the rank of Captain.”
The first of these resolves revived the custom, as to the officers’ rank, existing prior to the time when John Hancock was made Colonel in an honorary office. The State Government had now been established; the Governer, ex officio, became the Honorary Colonel, and every Governor since has been so considered. The commissions of Colonel Bradford and Majors William Scollay and Samuel Cabot were dated August 21, and of Adjutant Martin Brimmer Sohier September 21. The creation of the Adjutant was an innovation, followed in 1803 by the addition of a Surgeon.
No change was made in the number or rank of the officers until 1854, when a Quartermaster with the rank of First Lieutenant was added, and the Governor was empowered to give commissions to such company officers, not above the rank of First Lieutenant, as he might deem expedient. Under this authority six First Lieutenants were created, the Corps being then practically a battalion.
At the close of the war of the Rebellion the rank of Adjutant was reduced to First Lieutenant, and in 1874 all constructive rank was abolished; the Commander became a Lieutenant Colonel outright; only one Major was allowed, and he, like the Commander, had full rank; the staff officers were, a Surgeon ranking as Major, a Paymaster ranking as Captain, an Adjutant and a Quartermaster each ranking as First Lieutenant. The company officers were limited to four Captains, four First Lieutenants, and four Second Lieutenants, to be commissioned at the discretion of the Governor, who commissioned all but the Second Lieutenants. The Corps thus became a battalion of four companies. In 1877 an Assistant Surgeon, and in 1887 an Inspector Of Rifle Practice, each with the rank of First Lieutenant, were allowed. A Chaplain was allowed by the Militia Act of 1878.
Soon after the re-organization of 1786 the Corps performed duty in the troubles produced by Shay’s Rebellion, and was on very cordial terms with Governor Bowdoin, who had presented to the Corps, upon its parade of October 19, 1786, a standard having on one side the arms of the Corps, a six-pointed star with the motto “Monstrat Viam” and on the other side the Governor’s family arms; but when Governor Hancock took office, he ordered all family arms be expunged from the standards of the militia (a measure supposed to have been dictated by his political animosity to Bowdoin), and the arms of the State were consequently painted over the Bowdoin arms. These arms, however, impaled with those of Shirley, were kept and worn by the Corps, and are still used and worn, as a seal and as the ornament to the breast-plate and dress hat. The Corps also carefully treasures to this day the sword of Governor Bowdoin.
The Corps, as re-established under State Government in 1786, possessed three important privileges: first, that of being Guard of Honor to the Governor; second, that it could not be attached to the command of any officer below the rank of Major-General; and third, that its officers held peculiar rank. These privileges were placed under the protection of United States Law, when, the Constitution having taken effect in 1789, Congress under its authority passed, on the 9th day of May, 1792, “An Act more effectually to provide for the National Defence, by establishing a Uniform Militia throughout the United States,” from which the following extracts are made: -
“Sect.7 And it being enacted, That the system of discipline and field exercise which is and shall be ordered to be observed by the Regular Army of the United States, in the different corps of infantry, artillery, and riflemen, shall also be observed by the militia, in the exercises and discipline of the said corps, respectively, throughout the United States.
“And whereas sundry corps of artillery, cavalry, and infantry now exist in several of the States, which by the laws, customs, or usages thereof have not been incorporated with, or subject to, the general regulations of the militia:
“Sect. 11 Be it further enacted, That such corps retain their accustomed privileges, subject, nevertheless, to all the other duties required by this act, in like manner as the other militia.”
This protection was shared by the Company of Cadets in Salem, now known as the Second Company of Cadets, and these two Corps are the only organizations at present in the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia in being when the Constitution of the United States went into effect which have had an uninterrupted existence ever since.
The Corps was attached to a division November 13, 1799, but does not seem to have been officially designated as a Divisionary Corps until April 24, 1840. The word “Independent” was then dropped from the official title, although generally used by the Corps itself; it was restored in 1854 and retained after the war of the Rebellion.
The following are the official titles by which the Corps has been designated from 1741 to the present time:
- Governor’s Company of Cadets (Provincial).
- Independent Company (during Revolution).
- Independent Company of Cadets
- Independent Corps of Cadets
- Independent Cadets.
- Divisionary Corps of Independent Cadets.
- Independent Company of Cadets.
- Independent Corps of Cadets.
- First Company of Cadets.
- First Corps of Cadets.
Originally a part of the enrolled militia, the Corps, since 1840, has been included in the Volunteer Militia of the State, and has been called upon for all kinds of duty, from the escort of the State Government (which it performed almost without interruption for nearly a century) and the escorts of President Washington and all the Presidents and many distinguished persons who have visited Boston, to the sterner duty of guarding life and property in times of public peril or disturbance. It has always been a reliable body of gentlemen who would endure hardship without complaint and do their work conscientiously to the best of their understanding. Besides the duty in Shay’s Rebellion, there were days of it in the War of 1812 and at the Burns riot in 1854.
During the war of the Rebellion the Corps was in the service of the United States about six weeks in 1862 at Fort Warren; but its greatest service to the government lay in the sending of over one hundred and fifty men, trained in its ranks, to the army, nearly all of them to hold commissions.
While those who in this way became officers, were generally distributed among various organizations of the Massachusetts Volunteers, three infantry regiments of the three-year troops, the 2nd, 20th, and 24th, and one regiment of the nine-month troops, the 45th, contained many Cadets. Thus, the greater part of the officers of the 2nd, which has been called by the high authority of this State, “the best officered regiment in the army,” were from this Corps, which furnished also about half the officers of the 20th Regiment. The other half came from the New England Guards. The 24th was mainly officered from the Guards, but contained several who had trained in the Cadets. The officers of the 45th were Cadets, with scarcely an exception.
Since the war of the Rebellion the services of the Corps have been required in an emergency but once, - in 1872, at the time of the great fire in Boston; but it has participated in many notable military events in and out of Massachusetts. So far as is now known, the first time it left the state was in 1876, when it escorted the Governor to and from and in Philadelphia at the opening of the Centennial Exhibition in 1877; to Yorktown, Virginia, with the Governor in 1881; to Philadelphia again with the Governor in 1887; and to New York with the Governor in 1889. In all of these tours it added to the duties of an escort the representation of the militia of the Commonwealth, sharing the duty in 1887 with the First Regiment, and in 1889 with the Fifth Regiment and the Second Corps of Cadets.
The Corps has always been quartered in Boston, first in the attic of Faneuil Hall, then in the two upper stories of a building at 94 Tremont Street, and is now in a structure on Columbus Avenue at the corner of Ferdinand Street, built upon a lot of land belonging to the alumni of the Corps, its Veteran Association.