the especial request of Governor Wolcott that the commands remaining should not disintegrate

but continue in readiness for future service, the corps waited for another call which in the end proved as unfruitful, though the captain of the troop made vigorous persona! effort to have his command taken into the service.

Although the war experiences of the National Lancers are yet to be, they have been, of service to their city at times when the possibility of saddles being emptied was more than a chance. The occasions were those of disorder and tumult in the city, when the strong arm of the military was needed to aid the civil power, and on those occasions the Lancers have been tried and never found lacking.

The first experience-the Broad Street Riot has already been mentioned. In January, 1842, came their second trial, when they were summoned to Bowdoin Square on the evening of the 20th to disperse the mob which had gathered because of the presence in the Bowdoin Square Tabernacle of Elder Jacob Knapp whose sensationa! preaching and fiery denunciations were exciting persons to temporary insanity. Violence had been threatened on the undaunted evangelist and a great crowd packed the square, when suddenly, the National Lancers rode in in column, turned into line and moving forward swept the mob out of the square and scattered them through the adjoining streets till they were powerless. An alert patrol was maintained during the night, but there was no further demonstration against Elder Knapp.

A score of years passed before

the Lancers were summoned again to stand before a lawless mob. In July, 1862, the sentiment against the draft reached such proportions that in the large cities but little was needed to produce rioting. In New York a most serious outbreak occurred but so far Boston had escaped. The drafting continued, and on July 14th the spirit of disorder even in that quiet city broke bonds. The mob, once formed, began to assault the stores where firearms and ammunition were kept, and possessed themselves of the contents of several, defying the civil power.

Mayor Lincoln issued orders to the several military companies in the city, requested the aid of the United States troops from the forts and sent to Readville for help from the Volunteer army. By nightfall there were one thousand men under arms in the city, among them one hundred and twenty-five Lan

cers.

It is well to notice that the call was not rejected by the Lancers as individuals. One man was married that very day, but he left his bride of a few hours to attend to his duty as a soldier. Another was confined to his bed, and though the physician forbade him to leave it, he did and performed the entire duty, and lived a long life after. Of such stuff are Lancers made.

Under the command of Captain Slade the Lancers marched to execute the order of the mayor-to clear Dock Square. It was done. The clearing of Faneuil Hall Square followed, the foot troops. occupying the cleared area, establishing pickets.

In their armory on Cooper street the Light Battery of Artillery was

came out of their arn:ory and, escorted by the Lancers, they took a position in Faneuil Hall Square, the guns planted so as to command all approaches. The troops patrolled the streets all night and the rule of the mob was prevented. A newspaper of the time said: "The Lancers' soldierly and resolute bearing and spirited style told well in the eyes of hundreds in the square."

For eight days following the Lancers were on duty patrolling the streets of the city and preserving order. Mayor Lincoln interested himself particularly in their welfare and on the following Sunday gave them a great dinner.

There was no further troubleover the draft in Boston. The Lan

cers themselves, however, were not exempt for the news of the day said: "Of the 132 National Lancers who have been on duty ever since last Friday afternoon, 20 of their number have been drafted, but although conscripted they have manfully performed their duty to suppress breaches of the peace incited or created by other conscripted parties."

During the great fire in Boston, in November, 1872, the Lancers were on duty as patrols and guards for a number of days, rendering efficient service in preventing acts of lawlessness, at a time when the public mind was strained by horror and loss.

No small part of the National Lancers' military duties have been the services as escorts for distinguished persons or organizations of

note visiting Boston. Among the persons of distinction have been these Presidents of the United States: Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Filmore, Johnson, Grant, Hayes, Arthur, Cleveland, Harrison, McKinley, Roosevelt. Other persons noted in the annals of the nation are: Daniel Webster, Louis Kossuth, the Prince of Wales, now King Edward VII, General Sherman, General Sheridan, Anson Burlingame, minister to China and the Chinese Embassy, the Russian Grand Duke Alexis, Prince Henry of Prussia, the French Embassy which presented the statue of Rochambeau to the government at Washington, the governors of the Commonwealth, and city officials on occasions of importance.

The movements of military organizations to and from Boston

It was

have been made more impressive by the escort of the Lancers and their presence has dignified the solemn processions at the obsequies of statesmen and soldiers. their pleasant duty to participate in the inaugural parade in Washington which marked the coming into the presidency of General U. S. Grant. They rode beside him when he visited Boston to open the World's Peace Jubilee of 1872. They endured the severe exposure and long march to Lexington as his escort in 1875 and at the dedication of the mausoleum erected to him in New York in 1897 they were a noticeable feature of the long column of military.

On several occasions the corps with full ranks has visited other cities in the country, where as the guests of the principal military bodies they have been fêted and honored. Among their hosts have been the New York 7th Regiment, the Ellsworth Zouaves of Chicago, the Jameson Guards of Bangor, the 1st Illinois Regiment of Chicago, the Continental Guards of New Orleans, the National Rifles of Washington, the German Artillery and Washington Light Infantry of Charleston, the Stuart Cavalry of Richmond.

Although these tours of the country and visits to other organizations were more social than official events the effect has been that of strengthening the bonds of brotherhood which in those years following the Civil War were but slowly knitting. The experiences of the war had left scars but the goodfellowship manifested by this representative organization of soldiers of the old Bay State, many of whom had been on the field of battle, did no small part toward healing the

wounds and obliterating the scars. The relationships established have ever since been kept in mind. No 14th of June passes but the Continental Guards of New Orleans report their regards by telegram and the walls of the armory bear testimonials of the pleasant relations with the hospitable commands.

But the corps has not been a receiver only the latchstring always hangs out and hospitality has been extended to other organizations. The New York 7th were entertained by them in 1850 and again in 1852. In 1864 the Ellsworth Zouaves repeated their visit made before the war, and again partook of the Lancers' hospitality. The Continental Guards in 1880 and in 1883 were entertained, wanting nothing to make their visit one round of pleasure. In 1884 a delegation from Battery B, Louisiana Field Artillery, visited Boston and found that northern hospitality when dispensed by the National Lancers was all to be desired. In 1888 the National Rifles, their hosts of previous years, were their guests for a few days.

From the very first the National Lancers have been a recognized part of the Massachusetts Militia and when the several independent companies were assembled into complete units for better military efficiency and administration, by virtue of their senority the National Lancers were officially recognized as Troop A of the Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry. In 1876 came a critical period, as a reorganization of the militia called for a reduction of the organizations in the mounted branch. In Boston were the National Lancers, Troop A; the Boston Light Dragoons, Troop B; the Prescott Guards, Troop C; and the