Quasi-Military Group, from an October 24, 1860, Hartford, Connecticut Parade.
as presented in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, November 10, 1860.
The Putnam Phalanx1, as many of our readers are aware, is a military organization wearing the old Continental uniform. It was founded in August, 1858, when a number of the most respectable citizens of Hartford, Connecticut, being desirous of celebrating the return of their fellow-townsman, Hon. Horatio Seymour, from his mission to Russia, determined to organize a volunteer corps and parade in the uniform of the Revolution.
On the 22d day of December, 1858, the Phalanx made its first parade, on the occasion of the presentation to it of a handsome banner, bearing a portrait of General Putnam, adorned with silk and gold, and surmounted by a staff wrought from the Charter Oak. This was given.to the company—with an eloquent speech—by General James T. Pratt, of Rocky Hill, on behalf of the heirs of Putnam. Speeches by several orators of great ability—among them Judge Stuart and a banquet closed the festivity.
On October 4, 1859, the Phalanx! started to make a pilgrimage to Bunker Hill, Boston, Charlestown, and and Providence. A full account of the incidents of this journey, their welcome by Mayor Lincoln, of Boston, the numerous hospitalities extended to them by the military companies of Boston, the reviews and parades, their visit to Bunker Hill, Charlestown and Providence, the many speeches and poems incident to the ceremonies, and finally their return home. have all been fully published in a book, which is, we may say, one of the most exquisite specimens of typography ever published in this country. The work in question, printed by Case, Lockwood & Co., of Hartford, contains a fine steel portrait of General Putnam, and a beautiful poem on that hero, by Mrs. L. H..Sigourney.
The discipline and high character in every respect of the Putnam Phalanx are celebrated over the country. We are pleased to have an opportunity of making them known to our readers.
The present officers of the Putnam Phalanx are (intentionally omitted)
October 24, 1860, also witnessed a brilliant parade. At one o’clock they proceeded to the South Green of Hartford, where they received the Colt Guard, Company B., and escorted them to the steamer which the Guard took en route for New York. At three o’clock the battalion was reviewed by Lieutenant-Governor Catlin, at the State House.
In its comments on this parade of the Phalanx, the Hartford Courant remarks that “An artist, Mr. Davis, of Frank Leslie’s paper, who followed the Prince during his entire travels on this Continent, was present, and took several views of the Phalanx, with a view of illustrating in Leslie’s paper the weightier affairs of this city. It is quite a feather in the caps of the battalion that a compliment like this should be tendered them from the metropolis.”
- The Putnam Phalanx of Hartford, Connecticut, United States, was a quasi-military unit, originally organized as ceremonial honor guard in 1858 and functioned as a social club, a social-patriotic-military organization. While it had the outward appearance of a military unit, such as the wearing of military uniforms, use of military language and address, drilling and marching; it never fought as a unit of the armed forces, and had no battle history as a unit