mously elected its commander. He was a thorough soldier, a strict disciplinarian, and would have proved a most efficient officer in the field had the regiment been permitted to go to the front. Frank D. Webster of Portsmouth, the first lieutenant of Company B, was a gentleman of many accomplishments and fine military presence. He was afterwards appointed second lieutenant of the United States Marine Corps, regularly promoted therein to first lieutenant and captain; served on the United States ship Lancaster, and retired from service April 1st, 1884. He now resides in Philadelphia. Second Lieut. Ammi B. Farr enlisted as a private, and was promoted by the vote of his comrades because of his soldierly qualities. He had previously served as corporal in the Sixth New Hampshire Infantry. Capt. Calvin S. Brown of Company C, was a graduate of Dartmouth College, of good executive ability and a popular commander. He afterwards joined the Dartmouth Cavalry, consolidated with Company B, Seventh squadron, Rhode Island Volunteer Cavalry. He now resides in Washington. First Lieut. Charles N. Kent of Company C, was educated at Norwich Military University, and for the past thirty years has been in active business in New York city. Second Lieut. Josiah Bellows was a son of the Honorable Henry A. Bellows of Concord, for many years a judge on the bench of the Supreme Court. It has been our endeavor in the pages preceding to furnish a truthful sketch of the officers-field, staff and linein this regiment to which we were all so loyal, and for which we hoped so much. As were the officers, so were the men, honest patriots, sterling citizens, good neighbors, and faithful friends. Who can wonder at their disappointment when hastening to Concord in anticipation of a speedy muster with full ranks and then an early departure to the front, they found upon their arrival but the skeleton of a regiment and that seven hundred of their men had been transferred to other commands ! And who that does not admire the indomitable Yankee pluck and patience of these men in thus so quietly accepting the inevitable, and settling down to the daily round of camp duty and drill, buoyed up by official assurance that their ranks should be again filled by volunteers if possible, if not then by the enforcement of the state draft, and that the regiment should be speedily placed in condition for active service. CHAPTER XII. GENERAL ORDERS. "Hear ye! hear ye!! hear ye!!" The first general order issued from regimental headquarters embodied the precepts intended for camp and is here reproduced in full: HEADQUARTERS 17TH N. H. REGIMENT, CONCORD, Nov. 18th, 1862. General Order No. 1. 66 This camp is hereby named " Camp Ethan Colby " in honor of Hon. Ethan Colby of the executive council. In assuming command of the regiment the colonel takes occasion to remind the officers and men that the enforcement of good morals and strict discipline are alike essential for the public good and beneficial to the men. He relies upon the cordial coöperation of the men, to organize and maintain a regiment of soldiers fitted by bodily health and emulous attention to discipline to render efficient service. Hours of different calls will be immediately announced, and the instruction of officers and privates at once commenced. Public religious services, conducted by the chaplain and attended by the regiment, will be observed at nine and one half o'clock of each Sabbath. No spirituous or intoxicating liquor, except for medicinal purposes as prescribed and given by the surgeon will be allowed within the lines, and commanding officers finding any such, contrary to this order, will destroy the same or turn it over to the use of the hospital. Mail matter will be received and distributed by the chaplain who is hereby constituted regimental postmaster. Squads or companies of recruits arriving will immediately report to headquarters and be assigned position in the barracks by the quartermaster, who will report daily to the adjutant, until further orders, the condition and occupancy of such barrack. While full companies reporting at headquarters will be, in accord ance with the proclamation of the commander-in-chief, authorized to designate two commissioned officers who, if qualified, will be appointed, the prevalence of petty caucuses to select officers or to associate squads, is detrimental to discipline, pernicious in its effects, and contrary to army regulations. It is, therefore, strictly prohibited. The inclinations and proper desires of the men regarding company organizations will be duly considered on application at headquarters. Companies when mustered into service will be at once uniformed. The company letter, when announced, and the regimental number will be displayed in small characters on the lower side of the top of the cap. All other devices are superfluous and prohibited. Officers, field, staff, and line, will provide themselves with uniforms and outfits, being reminded to use conformity in every particular. Passes outside the line will not be granted except for good and valid reasons, nor will the sentinels pass any man who does not exhibit a pass, signed by his company commander and countersigned by the commanding officer of the regiment. Officers will pay attention to the health of the men and encourage them while off duty in all proper athletic exercises. The colonel, in closing, assures the regiment that merit is and will be the only criterion of advancement; that while all disobedience of orders will be promptly noticed, the soldier of whatever grade who cheerfully and faithfully performs his duties will be remembered at headquarters. By command of HENRY O. KENT, GEORGE A. WAINWRIGHT, Adjutant. "General order No. 2," giving the "soldier's time-table" from reveille to taps, was issued next day, and strictly adhered to so long as the regiment occupied the camp: 17TH N. H. REGIMENT, CAMP ETHAN COLBY, General Order No. 2. November 19th, 1862. Until otherwise ordered calls will be sounded from these headquarters in the following order: Reveille, 6 a. m. Breakfast, 7 a. m. Police call, 7:30 a. m. First call for guard mount, 7:45 a. m. Guard mount, 8 a. m. Sick call, 8:30 a. m. Sergeant's report, 9 a. m. Officers' drill, 9:30 to 10:30 a. m. Company drill, 10:30 to 11:30 a. m. Officers drill, 1 to 2 p. m. Company drill, 3 to 4:30 p. m. Retreat, 5 p. m. Tattoo, 8:55 p. m. Taps, 9 p. m. By command of HENRY O. KENT, GEORGE A. WAINWRIGHT, Adjutant. The regiment was fortunate in having among its officers a sufficient number of excellent drillmasters who had served a long time in this capacity, and who were not only quite familiar with the "United States Army Tactics," then the recognized authority, but also by experience had learned. how to properly apply them in the instruction of both squad, company, battalion, and regiment. As a natural consequence, the standard of military precision in drill was much more speedily reached than is usual in the formation of a command from "raw material" and it became known "down in the city" that the Seventeenth men drilled like veterans!" So much had been accomplished that early in January, after a sufficient number of experimental drills, full dress parades were announced in the following general order: General Order No. 6. HEADQUARTERS 17TH REGIMENT, Until otherwise ordered there will be a dress parade daily at 4 p. m. The attention of company officers is directed to pages 337 and 348, Army Regulations. |