Historical Wyoming County October 1958 - Old Fulton History

Page 6 October 1958
Mr. Letchworth in l8?9 gave a set of silver goblets to be awarded
to the members of the company most deserving. One of them
was awarded to Charles T. Watkins. His score was i^. Miss Adah
Kidder, his stepdaughter, gave it to the Warsaw Historical Society
and it is now on display In the military room of the museum. The
company was invited to a veterans' reunion at Ellicottville, Sept.
12, 1879, and furnished ail the military demonstrations.
Organize Rifle Association
The company was responsible for the organization in September
1879 of a Joint Military and Civilian Association "to encourage
effective rifle practice in Wyoming County for the benefit of the
citizen soldiery and citizens participating." H. A. Metcalf, Z. J.
Lusk, S. D. Lewis, M. D. Chase, and C. P. Williams were elected
civilian members of the board of trustees. A. B. Lawrence was
chosen president; M. R. Quackenbush, secretary, and S. B. Witlock,
treasurer. A month after its formation the association had a "shoot"
for the civilian members. Lawrence gave a cup to the winner. S. D.
Lewis won with a score of 70; Z. G. Lusk was second with 68; and 0.
B. Adams, third with 58. The Gillard rifle 3 8 a n d 32-ij.O were
used.
Inspection Reports
The report of Lieutenant Briggs, assistant inspector general,
of his inspection of the company, August 28, 1878, follows: Discipline
very good, instruction fair, military appearance fair, marred
by uniforms in the wearing of equipment, dirty brasses and some without
gloves; arms in very good condition, accouterments in good
condition, belts clean, clothing in good order. On the whole this
was a gratifying report and if the suggestions of the reviewing
officers are heeded, the company may be still further improved in
some matters of importance.
The adjutant general in his report for 1879 had the following
to say: "This company has been practising very carefully in the
various descriptions of firing, particularly in practice firing at
different distances at a man or 'tramp target'. They have been
skirmishing. In this important respect they are more advanced than
any organization in the National Guard of which I have any information.
"
The 1880 report of the adjutant general was more detailed:
"Members present: Officers 3> sergeants 6, corporals 8, musicians 2,
privates 67, or total of 88. Absent, 8 privates. Mustered at
Warsaw, October 7, 1879. Gains in enrollment 6, losses physical disability
1, removal from district 12, died 1, making a net loss of 8.
"Uniforms and equipment - Officers: regulation coat, dark blue
trousers, gold lace on stripe; gold epaulettes, regulation belt and
sword; black shako (cap with plume), gold trimming, white heron
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