An act - original 2GHG Charter of 1808, and an original petition signed by the founders

In 1808 Elihu Munson and a number of gentlemen of New Haven petitioned the General Assembly at its October session to form a troop of cavalry to function as Governor’s horse guards.  As a result, the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard (2GHG) was formed in October 1808 by an act of the General Assembly, with Elihu Munson (variously spelled Monson in different places) as Brevet Major.  The duties of the original company were “to attend upon and escort him [the Governor] in times of peace and war.”   

On September 26, 1809, the Connecticut Journal described the 2GHG during a muster:  “…Major Munson’s brilliant and well-mounted company of Horse-Guards volunteered as an escort to Major General Walker, and manoeuvred with the brigade – their martial appearance, combined with the soldiery and expertness in discipline of the artillery annexed to the Second Regiment, contributed to the splendor of the grand parade…”  

William Babcock succeeded Major Munson but only served a year, when he died, literally in the saddle.  A written account of the incident describes it:  “…his death produced a profound impression upon the company and the community.  That company having assembled for its annual spring parade in 1815, marched…to headquarters in the County Building to receive its commanding officer.  Major Babcock appeared, answered the friendly salute, and proceeded to mount his horse, when he fell in a fit of apoplexy and in a short time expired”.  

Major Babcock was followed by Josiah Morse and then Enos A. Prescott.  It was under Major Prescott’s command that President Monroe was escorted by the Horse Guard during his visit to New Haven on June 27, 1817. 2GHG also participated in the first inaugural parade for a Governor ever held in Connecticut in 1820.  During this period, the 2GHG and 2GFG paraded and performed ceremonial duties together, and also conducted muster exercises at the same time on the New Haven Green – 2GHG being at the north end of the Green near Elm Street. 

 In August of 1824, 2GHG, led by Major Henry Huggins escorted the distinguished Revolutionary War General Marquis de Lafayette during a visit to New Haven .  One account of his review of the troops relates:  “He was profoundly impressed with the martial bearing of the Horse Guards, whom he reviewed on the Green”.  

For nearly 100 years 2GHG functioned in this manner and acted as escort for numerous distinguished men who visited the City and State. 2GHG was based in New Haven and would act as escort to and from Middletown .  From Middletown , the First Company Governor’s Horse Guard (1GHG) would act as escort to and from Hartford .  In the early days of its existence members were obliged to purchase their own arms, equipment and horses.  

2GHG is one of four militia units, along with the 1GHG and the First and Second Company Governor’s Foot Guards (1GFG and 2GFG).  All four units continue to serve the Governor and the State of Connecticut under the direction of the Connecticut National Guard.

 In 1861 the General Assembly passed an amendment to the original charter increasing the strength of the 2GHG, authorizing a complement of one major, one captain, four lieutenants, eight sergeants, eight corporals and 120 enlisted men.  2GHG as a unit did not participate in any of the wars fought during its existence until World War I, but individual members took a prominent part in the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War and the Spanish-American War.  During the draft riots of the Civil War, 2GHG  “spent their nights at the armory ready for any emergency”, according to a member who was interviewed by a historian in 1887.  

Sgt. Theron M. Cooley wearing a post-Civil War uniform; the horse is very likely a milk horse –
Cooley was the proprietor of T.M. Cooley and Co., a milk delivery business in New Haven.
Photo Courtesy George Cooley

Major Commandants from 1845-1915 were:  Colin Ingersoll, T.P Merwin, Horace P. Hoadley, R.P. Cowles, J. F. Gilbert, F.C. Smith Thorn A. Todd, Charles W. Blakeslee, H. H. Strong, Dennis A. Blakeslee and Major Luzerne Ludington.  

In June 1901 a second amendment to the Charter provided that 2GHG could be organized as a troop of cavalry in the Connecticut National Guard.  The organization quickly took advantage of this opportunity and formed Troop A, Connecticut National Guard on July 5^th, 1901.  As was the custom in those days, the men, electing their own officers, chose Luzerne C. Ludington as Captain, William J. Bradnack as 1^st Lieutenant, Robert J. Woodruff as 2^nd Lieutenant, and John Hugo as 1^st Sergeant.

 The headquarters of the Troop were then in the old Second Regiment Armory on Meadow Street in New Haven .  Finding this unsuited for cavalry drill, it was decided to build an armory on Orange Street . This building, of frame construction, burned to the ground in January 1905 when barely completed.  It was decided immediately to rebuild and a new armory was opened in the Spring of 1906.  The State later purchased the Armory and the private obligations thus released allowed the purchase by 2GHG of twenty horses in the Fall of 1909.  

Bivouac at Montgomery’s farm near Sleeping Giant State Park, taken in 1912, when the 2GHG had become Troop A, Cavalry, Connecticut National Guard.

Following its inception as a National Guard Unit, 2GHG was not called upon to aid the State authorities until June 4^th, 1911, when it did strike duty at the Russell Brothers’ Mills in Middletown . 350 strikers – mainly Italian immigrants and mainly woman – were on strike and 2GHG remained on picket duty for four days.  There were no incidents - the troop served mainly as symbol of the Governor’s ability to quickly muster forces.  

In 1916 Frank E. Wolf became Captain, and with 1^st Lieutenant F.T. Maroney and 2^nd Lieutenant William H. Welch led the 2GHG on duty on the Mexican Border.  Mexican Brigand General Francisco “Pancho” Villa had attacked Columbus , NM and engaged the 13^th Cavalry in battle.  National Guard units were called up from all over the country for garrison duty to relieve the Regular Army.  2GHG, with their mounts, spent ten days on a special train to Nogales , AZ , and then four months of meritorious service along the border, serving with noted military leasers such as General Jack Pershing, and returned to New Haven in October 1916.  

Snapshot made on the job by Richard Tuttle of West Haven, wagon driver of a supply company of Second Connecticut Infantry Regiment. After flash floods, the Army brought in Missouri mules – a new experience for the Connecticut National Guardsmen
Photo courtesy of Theodore F. Tuttle

 Upon the entry of the United States into the World War on April 6^th, 1917, and order was issued to form four troops of cavalry from the two mounted militias  – 2GHG and 1GHG, to be known as the Third Separate Squadron of Militia Cavalry.  Men from Troop A formed a nucleus for new Troop M.  Lieutenant Welch became Captain of the new Troop, with 1^st Sergeant Herrick appointed 1^st Lieutenant and Sergeant George M. Wallace as 2^nd Lieutenant.  New officers commissioned in Troop A were 1st Lieutenant George D. Condren and 2^nd Lieutenant John A. Paton.

 Both troops then proceeded to Niantic where, shortly afterward, they lost their cavalry designation; Troop A being changed to Company A, 101^st Machine Gun Battalion and Troop M to Company D of the same Unit. On August 3^rd, 1917, all organizations were mustered into Federal Service and on August 15^th the troop was without horses, drilling as infantry until its arrival in France .  The strength of the organization was increased from 105 to machine gun unit requirements of 180, many of the recruits coming from New Haven and vicinity and about forty being transferred from the Vermont National Guard.  Outstanding among the latter was Lieutenant Gustav Nelson, who stayed with the Company during its entire service in France and was its commanding officer through some of its most trying times.  

Arriving in England after leaving Niantic in October, the Company first went to a ‘rest camp’ in Southhampton, then to LeHavre , France and finally to barracks in the little town of Certilleux in the Neufchateau area. After three months’ intensive training the company went into the front lines on February 10, 1918 as part of the famous 26^th (Yankee) Division, and its designation was changed to Company D, 102^nd Machine Gun Battalion.

A great deal has been written concerning the outstanding service of the Company during the War.  In one notable instance, on September 12^th, 1918, the Company was in the first wave of the attack on the St. Mihiel Salient.  That night one of the most dramatic episodes of the war occurred: the night march of the 102^nd Infantry and the 102^nd Machine Gun Battalion, of which Company D was the leading Unit. They marched fifteen miles straight through the enemy’s lines in a successful effort to close off the salient and prevent the escape of thousands of Germans trapped in the apex.  

On 11 November 1918, the fighting ceased and Troop A, formerly the Second Company, Governor’s Horse Guard, became history, but not without suffering eleven casualties, one of which was Captain John Allen Paton, killed during the Meuse-Argonne offensive.  He was one of the most respected, admired and well -liked officers of the Troops’ history. An award to his memory is presented each year to a member of the Troop, deserving of the honor of symbolizing Captain Paton’s standards.   

Captain John A. Paton, photo provided by Troop Historian Andrew J. Pavlucik

Other members killed in battle included Private William N. Meickle, Jr., Private Harry Rosenkind,  Captain Frank Wilfore, Private William J. Kennedy, Lieutenant  Charles L. Rogers and Corporal Arthur O. Parmalee.

 After Armistice, the Company embarked from Brest on April 6^th, 1919, landed in Boston and arrived at Camp Devens on April 17^th with Lieutenant John Carroll, one of the original officers leaving Niantic in command.  The Company was mustered out on April 29^th.

 During the War, former members of old Troop A formed a new troop and served as Troop A, Connecticut Horse Guard, using the Orange Street Armory and equipment.  

Troop A, Connecticut National Guard, was reorganized in 1920, under the command of Captain George M. Wallace and again in 1921, following the accidental death of Captain Wallace. Subsequently the First Separate Squadron Cavalry, Connecticut National Guard, was formed, comprising of  Troop A and Headquarters Detachment in New Haven and Troops B and C in West Hartford federally recognized as 1^st Squadron Cavalry, Connecticut National Guard on March 9, 1923, with Major William H. Welch commanding.

In July 1924 Lieutenant Nelson R. Durant became Captain and commanded until May 1929, when the 1^st Squadron Cavalry was re-designated 122^nd Regiment Cavalry, Connecticut National Guard and Troop A was changed to  Headquarters Troop with Nelson Durant as Major.  Major Durant became interested in reviving the 2GHG, and in 1928, 2GHG was reorganized as a companion organization of the active Troop A.  

The re-formed 2GHG, the three in front are: CPT Nelson Durant, Lt. Walton Smith and SGT Russell Ellis.  Holding the Guidon is SGT. Carl Huber, New Haven, 1928

A large sum of money was raised to participate in the 1929 inaugural of President Herbert Hoover. This new organization was subsequently officially recognized by the State, and gained recognition as an outstanding member of the Centennial Legion of Historic Commands.  

During the 1930’s, the troop, led by Captain Walton Smith, took road marches out to a farm owned by Phelps Montgomery.  The unit’s annual summer encampment often took place at Camp Wiber Cross in Niantic.  A young soldier, Ed Mursko wrote of the preparations:  “On the night before we went to camp, everyone would show up at the armory to finish packing the rifle racks, field kitchen, saddles and blankets and everything else.  We were told to be back at the armory early the next morning, so we didn’t go home… The next morning about 6:30 we’d mount up.  Each man in the horse detail would ride one horse bareback and lead a couple of others, and we would ride down the length of Orange Street and through downtown New Haven with the herd that way, with rifles slung over out backs…We rode down to Water Street, past the freight houses to the railroad yard, where we loaded the horses.   Then we marched over to the station in a column of two’s to get on the train.  

Two photos, courtesy of Jack Dwyer showing transport from New Haven Railroad terminal near Long Wharf en route to Camp Wilber Cross in Niantic

Summer encampments included machine gun training, which was not in vain.  With a war raging in Europe , the troop was changed to an anti-aircraft battery, becoming battery D of the 208^th Coast Artillery (AA) Bn.  The troop was called for active duty in January, 1941, for training at Camp Edwards , and not long after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, found itself aboard the liner Matsonia bound for the South Pacific.  They landed in Australia , where some of the troopers bought horses for $15 each.

 The unit became Battery D of the 745^th, and moved around the combat area by aircraft and troopship. When the war ended, a number of Horse Guard veterans reorganized the 2GHG.  In February 1948, a meeting was held at the Orange Street Armory to formalize the re-establishment of the 2GHG.

Walton Smith, a General in WWII, was elected commandant, with former Major Nelson Durant available as an advisor.  Majors from 1949 – 2007 included Russell Ellis, Eugene Clark, Seth Darley, Jules Shambron, Jacob K. Malkin Joseph C. Rakiec, John G. Ungrady, John Costin Jr., Anthony Barbaro, Joseph Loyd, Peter Moritz, Steven deFriesse, William Harris and the first female Commander in the history of all four militias, Janis E. Arena. In 2007, Gordon Johnson was elected and serves as present Commander.

Officers of the 122nd Cavalry, Connecticut National Guard in Niantic, CT.

 Throughout the years, 2GHG has participated in enumerable parades, patriotic and other state occasions including every Governor’s inaugural parade, and many Presidential inaugural parades.   In 1981, President Ronald Reagan – “The Man Who Loved Horses” – invited 2GHG to march near the front of the parade.  Members who rode included Captain Charles Zarbo – who until 2003 was still in charge of mess for the 2GHG.  Captain Zarbo continues to visit 2GHG and it is considered an honor to be ejected from the kitchen when he is in charge!  

Two photos - 24 years apart: 2GHG marches in the the inaugural parade of Governor William O’Neill in 1983, and in the inaugural parade of Governor M. Jodi Rell, 2007, Hartford

Today, 2GHG is one of four militia units, along with the First Company Governor's Horse Guard (1GHG) and the First and Second Company Governor’s Foot Guards (1GFG and 2GFG).  All four units continue to serve the Governor and the State of Connecticut under the direction of the Connecticut National Guard. 1GHG is based in Avon, 1GFG in Hartford, 2GHG in Newtown and 2GFG is in New Haven. Traditionally, 2GHG and 2GFG conducted muster on the New Haven green together. As New Haven grew and the space for horses diminished, 2GHG moved to Bethany. When the Fairfield Hills Hospital in Newtown closed in the early 1990’s, the farm portion of the property became available.  Today, 2GHG is extremely fortunate to be housed in this facility, and we remain, “READY TO SERVE”.

The historical text was adapted from existing 2GHG documents provided by SGT Andrew J. Pavlucik. 

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