Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

402 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
battle. The fields adjoining North Main street, the " rye field " on
the hill (McKnightville), and West Springfield have been the scenes
of these martial displa^^s. In the autumn of 1828, at a meeting here
of the First Regiment (1st Brigade, 4th Division Artillery') , Lieut.
Col. Galen Ames was elected colonel in the place of Colonel Good-
man, and Maj. David Moseley was elected lieutenant-colonel. It
was noticed, by the way, that no liquor was passed round on this
occasion.
In 1824, the Governor's Foot Guards, of Hartford, under the command
of Major Putnam, made a return visit to Springfield in the
" Blanchard " in August, 1824. They were welcomed by the select-
men, a company of sixty horsemen, the Hampden Guards, Springfield
Artillery, and a large crowd. Colonel Ames commanded the military,
and Colonel Nettleton the civiliary. They repaired to Ordnance
3'ard, and a banquet followed. There was a reception iu the town-
hall in the evening. The next day there was much marching, and
also speeches by Colonel Ames, Judge Morris, Major Putnam, and
others. The Hampden Guards were commanded by Captain War-
riner, and the artillery by Captain Dwight. "Warriner had been
elected captain of the light infantry company of the Hampden Guards
in January. Capt. Benjamin J. Boardman, of Hartford, died sud-
denly iu his bed at the Hampden coffee-house, during the visit of the
Foot Guards, which lent a tragic view to the otherwise perfect occa-
sion. In October of that year the artillery regiment (Col. G. Ames)
and the infantry regiment (Col. D. Wood) were reviewed in this
town by General Warner. The First and Second regiments of
infantry, under Colonels Wood and EW, with the local artillery com-
pany, all commanded by Brigadier-General Warner, were reviewed
October 7, 1830, in this town, by Major-General Sheldon. They
made a fine appearance and drew a big crowd, who improved the day
by " stowing away oysters, gingerbread, etc., well peppered with
dust, and seemed as much fatigued with the labors of the day as the
military." The Hampden Guards received in this month a " splendid
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