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You are here: Home / Archives for 19th century

[FEATURE ARTICLE] Infantry Weapons in the Spanish-American War: Forging New Directions

October 12, 2015 By Brian Wallin

The charge up San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898, is looked upon as one of the high points of the emotion-charged Spanish American War. But for many American soldiers on the ground, it was a nightmare. American troops faced Spanish forces equipped with one of the finest rifles then available: the Model 1893 Mauser. The charger-loaded 7mm Mauser was the standard weapon for the Spanish Army. It was equipped with a box-magazine holding five cartridges and was highly accurate over long ranges.

American forces were at a disadvantage, as many volunteer units carried old Springfield 1873 trapdoor, single-shot rifles. A number of Regular Army units, though, were equipped with the Springfield Model 1892, a Norwegian designed, bolt action .30 caliber weapon commonly known as the “Krag-Jorgensen.” The Krag, like the Mauser, also used smokeless powder, a distinct advantage over the old trapdoors that advertised their presence to the enemy with large clouds of smoke in every volley. Spanish defenders of San Juan Hill retreated only when they ran out of ammunition. Otherwise, their superior weapon might have resulted in a different outcome to the battle that brought fame to Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders, who were armed with the Krag carbines.

(top) Springfield Model 1873 .45 caliber rifle used by American volunteer forces in Spanish American War. (bottom) Krag-Jorgensen Model 1898 .30 caliber rifle issued to Regular Army troops. Both from Varnum Armory Collection.
(top) Springfield Model 1873 .45 caliber rifle used by American volunteer forces in Spanish American War. (bottom) Krag-Jorgensen Model 1898 .30 caliber rifle issued to Regular Army troops. Both from Varnum Armory Collection.

The Varnum Memorial Armory Museum collection includes examples of the German and Norwegian armorers as well as representative weapons from the Springfield Armory. Let’s take a look at the evolution of these rifles that changed the course of infantry weaponry over a period that extended through and beyond World War II.

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Brothers Paul and Wilhelm Mauser, starting in the 1860s, made several major advances in rifle design. In the early 1870s, they were manufacturing a single-shot .11mm caliber rifle (one of which is owned by the Varnum Armory). By 1889, the brothers had introduced the first successful, small-bore smokeless powder weapon, chambered for 7.65mm (.53 caliber) ammunition and incorporating a charger-loaded, 5-shot magazine. Because the magazine protruded below the stock, it was prone to damage. The Model 1892 with additional improvements to the extractor to prevent double feeding and a flush-mounted box magazine, allowed easier, faster loading and feeding of the cartridges. This concept was to influence military and sporting rifles down to the present day. The rifle was chambered for 7x57mm resulting in greater velocity, accuracy, and penetration than any other weapon of its time.

The Spanish government recognized the superior qualities of the new Mauser and ordered large quantities for both Army and Navy use (some 200,000 all told). It was this weapon that faced first guerilla forces in Cuba, then American troops in the Spanish-American War. Many European observers mistakenly discounted the effectiveness of the Mauser in this conflict, a mistake for which they would pay during World War I.

(top) Mauser Model 1871 single shot .11mm caliber, bolt action. (bottom) Mauser Model 98k, 7.9mm caliber (this weapon was captured by an American foot soldier during WWII). Both from Varnum Armory collection.
(top) Mauser Model 1871 single shot .11mm caliber, bolt action. (bottom) Mauser Model 98k, 7.9mm caliber (this weapon was captured by an American foot soldier during WWII). Both from Varnum Armory collection.

When American forces were mobilized to go to Cuba, they initially relied on equipment that, in some cases, dated back to the Civil War. (Some soldiers actually carried Civil War issue canteens and knapsacks.) The primary weapon of the volunteer infantryman was the Model 1873 Springfield, a trap door rifle using black powder, as noted above. In 1892, the Army had held a competition to select a new infantry rifle, involving more than 40 designers including the Mauser brothers. The Krag-Jorgenson, a .30 caliber, magazine-fed bolt-action weapon firing smokeless ammunition, emerged the winner. Production began in 1894 at the Springfield Armory. Immediate design changes led to an 1896 model that was the Regular Army’s standard weapon in the Spanish-American conflict and the Philippine-American War. Variations of the Krag continued to be used until 1907 when they were replaced by the famed Springfield 1903. Some 500,000 Krags were produced overall.

Nevertheless, the Mauser clearly outclassed the more complex designed Krag in the tropical climates of Cuba and the Philippines. The German rifle was easy to maintain and able to put out more powerful, sustained, and highly effective fire. American soldiers simply couldn’t match the volume and accuracy. That said, according to some historians, the Americans had one unexpected ally on their side: disease. Spanish troops had been ravaged by malaria, dysentery, and other illnesses during the guerilla war. This continued when they faced American troops. Of the estimated 60,000 Spanish deaths between 1895 and 1898, 90% were disease related. American casualties on the battlefield number 332 with another 2,957 coming from disease.

The Americans’ overall negative experience with the Krag and their exposure to the much more effective Mauser led to a reverse-engineering effort after the war. The result was one of the best rifles ever made: the Springfield 1903, a worthy opponent to the Mauser. So much so that the German company wound up suing the American government for patent infringement.

The Mauser continued to be recognized worldwide for its excellence. The Model 1898 was the standard German infantry rifle in World War I. After the war, it became one of the most widely used military rifles in the world and influenced the design of the Japanese Arisaka Type 99 of WWII, arguably one of the finer infantry rifles in that conflict, along with the dependable Mauser 1898, still the standard weapon of the German foot soldier in World War II.

As you look over the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum displays, you will find a number of examples of these weapons. As part of our renewed efforts to preserve and protect our valued collection, Armory VP Patrick Donovan and several member volunteers have been cleaning and restoring these artifacts for viewing in our newly environmentally protected exhibit space.

By Varnum Trustee & Member Brian Wallin

Filed Under: Feature Article, Museum Exhibits, Varnum Memorial Armory Tagged With: 19th century, rifles, spanish american war, varnum memorial armory

[MEMBERS ONLY] SEPTEMBER GUEST SPEAKER: Frank J. Williams, Lincoln Scholar & Former Chief Justice, Supreme Court of RI

September 6, 2015 By James Mitchell Varnum

ONLY VARNUM CONTINENTAL MEMBERS MAY ATTEND THIS EVENT!
TO JOIN, JUST CLICK HERE.

Frank J. Williams is a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island, a notable Abraham Lincoln scholar and author, and a Justice on the Military Commission Review Panel.
Frank J. Williams is a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island, a notable Abraham Lincoln scholar and author, and a Justice on the Military Commission Review Panel.

The Varnum Continentals welcome Frank J. Williams, a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island, as the guest speaker at our September dinner meeting at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum on Monday, September 14, 2015.

Williams is one of the country’s most renowned experts on Abraham Lincoln and has authored numerous books on our 16th president, including “Lincoln as Hero” and “Judging Lincoln”. He has also contributed chapters to and/or edited several other books on Lincoln. He is founding Chair of The Lincoln Forum, and served as President of The Ulysses S. Grant Association and as a member of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

A native of Richmond, RI, Mr. Williams is a graduate of Cranston East High School and received degrees from Boston University, BU School of Law, and Bryant University. He served as a captain in the US Army in the 1960s, and was awarded numerous medals and commendations for his military service. He was appointed to the RI Supreme Court in 1995 and became Chief Justice is 2001. He has also served as Chief Judge of the US Court of Military Commission Review.  Since stepping down from the Rhode Island Supreme Court at the end of 2009, he has lectured at universities and institutes throughout the country.

Please join us for what promises to be a most informative meeting.  As always, your guests of members are welcome.  Thanks to Varnum Member Larry McDonald for arranging for the speaker.

Meeting Date: Monday, September 14
Time: 5:30 p.m. (social hour); 6:30 p.m. (dinner followed by program)
Fee: $15/person

ONLY VARNUM CONTINENTAL MEMBERS MAY ATTEND THIS EVENT!
TO JOIN, JUST CLICK HERE.

Filed Under: Speaking Program, Varnum Memorial Armory Tagged With: 19th century, abraham lincoln, civil war, frank j. williams

[FEATURE ARTICLE] Rhode Island’s Charles Tillinghast James: An Artillery Pioneer

September 4, 2015 By Brian Wallin

Charles Tillinghast James
Charles Tillinghast James

West Greenwich native Charles Tillinghast James was a product of the Industrial Revolution who achieved fame in such diverse areas as the textile industry, politics, and ultimately, munitions. It was the latter that brought him to his end and for which he is perhaps best remembered. James was born in 1805. From humble beginnings as a carpenter, he became a largely self-taught machinist and engineer. In a state as small as Rhode Island, it didn’t take him long to be noticed by none other than famed local industrialist Samuel Slater, who took him under his wing. Before long, James was propelled into financial success in setting up and operating steam-powered mills throughout New England. He then tried his hand at politics and served in the U.S. Senate from 1851 to 1857 as a member of the Democratic Party. During this period, he also became active in the Rhode Island State Militia and was appointed as a major general.

Here’s where his story turns really interesting and the Varnum connection eventually comes in. Prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, the United States Army relied solely on smoothbore cannon. One of the most popular was the Model 1841, a bronze six-pounder, referring to the weight of a solid projectile. (The term “pounds” is applied to the weight of shot that can be fired from a cannon of the same caliber or width of the bore, in this case 3.67”.) When the smoothbore 6-pounders were rifled, the bore was expanded to 3.80”. Because of that they were sometimes confused with future, heavier cannon that were designed to fire a 14-pound projectile.

Rifling a cannon barrel allowed the round to twist in flight, increasing its range and accuracy. As the Civil War loomed, it was apparent that increased range, accuracy, and the versatility of ammunition would become important and decisive factors in future battles. Because of the abundance of smoothbore weapons in the Army’s inventory, a quick solution was to re-bore existing cannon such as the Model 1841 with rifling to accommodate the more sophisticated rounds being developed.

Two Model 1829 32-pounder siege and garrison guns, rifled by the James method (64-pdr James rifles). The one in the foreground is on a siege carriage. The one behind is on an iron, front pintle, barbette carriage.
Two Model 1829 32-pounder siege and garrison guns, rifled by the James method (64-pdr James rifles). The one in the foreground is on a siege carriage. The one behind is on an iron, front pintle, barbette carriage.

Remember that Charles James had trained as a machinist and engineer? Well, in 1856, shortly before leaving the Senate, he was granted the first of two patents (the second was issued in 1862) for “improvements to a cannon projectile.” Called James Federal Pattern Projectiles, they were designed for use in a rifled cannon barrel. Functioning properly, these shells would result in added range and power. Unfortunately for James, he had a good idea but couldn’t get it to work according to plan. The first variant of the James Projectile had the nasty habit of tearing the sabot lead ring from the shell during flight, resulting in friendly fire casualties from short rounds and shrapnel. The second attempt wasn’t much of an improvement. Although the rounds mostly stayed intact, the projectiles caused significant wear on the rifled barrels of the bronze cannon in which they were used. To add insult to injury, the shells often failed to explode.

Despite the unpredictability of these early designs, the U.S. Army chose to use James’ Pattern Projectiles in the early stages of the Civil War. The Army contracted with the Ames Manufacturing Company of Chicopee, Massachusetts, to re-bore a number of bronze six pounder smoothbores using James’ design. The company had already gained worldwide fame as a maker of military swords and sabers (a number of which are in the Varnum  collection). James worked directly with the Ames Company on their early re-bores as well as a series of 3.80” bore variants, ranging up to 14-pounders. The final variation – and the most durable – was cast from iron instead of bronze.

In the early months of the war, James continued to experiment and tried to interest others in his designs. On October 17, 1862, he was demonstrating his projectiles to a group of foreign military officers gathered on Long Island. One of his workers was attempting to remove a misfire, when the shell exploded, killing him instantly and fatally wounding James himself. He died the next day. He was 57 years old. James is buried at Swan Point Cemetery.

A James pattern solid shot. The “birdcage” at the base would have been covered by sheet lead which, upon firing the gun, would have expanded into the grooves of the rifling.
A James pattern solid shot. The “birdcage” at the base would have been covered by sheet lead which, upon firing the gun, would have expanded into the grooves of the rifling.

In spite of the unpredictability of the James round, when it did work, it was with devastating results. For example, James shot and shells were used in the successful Union bombardment of Fort Pulaski on April 10-11, 1862. Larger caliber James rifled cannon were equally and effectively used along with artillery designed by Robert P. Parrott.

Nonetheless, the durability and value of the James lighter rifled cannons remained a problem. Because these bronze cannons fired an iron round, their barrels wore out after only a few hundred rounds, leading to their replacement by more durable weapons shortly after the Fort Pulaski siege. The James guns wound up being used for training purposes by Federal forces.

Among the Federalized units equipped with the early models of James cannon and projectiles was the 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery. Their batteries were among the first to be called into active service shortly after hostilities broke out in 1861. They were issued James six pounders in the Battles of Bull Run, Bolivar Heights, and Ball’s Bluff. On all occasions, the James rifled cannon proved to be a disappointment, lacking in accuracy. (According to one account, a number of rounds fired at Bull Run landed unexploded some three miles from their intended target.) Batteries of the 1st Rhode Island served throughout the war and in almost every area of the country. Along the way, they were equipped with steadily improved weaponry. Among the most popular and effective was the 12-pounder Napoleon. Based on a French design, it was capable of hurling a projectile up to 1,300 yards.

The Varnum Armory collection includes a very rare and good example of a James 6-pounder cannon. The Model 1860 rifled re-bore done by the Ames Company. We also have a companion smoothbore Model 1841 cannon.

Both cannon tubes were acquired from the State of Rhode Island. The rifled cannon is mounted on a genuine Civil War era single trail carriage, acquired in 1943 with a companion limber. The smooth bore sits on a much older, double trail carriage possibly dating to the Revolutionary War Era.

Historic Canons and Artillery at the Varnum Memorial Armory
The Varnum Armory collection includes a very rare and good example of a James 6-pounder cannon.

By Varnum Trustee & Member Brian Wallin

Filed Under: Feature Article, Varnum Memorial Armory Tagged With: 19th century, Charles Tillinghast James, civil war, varnum memorial armory

[FEATURE ARTICLE] Young Charley Baker of Wickford: North Kingstown’s First Civil War KIA

August 9, 2015 By Brian Wallin

In a quiet corner of North Kingstown’s Elm Grove Cemetery is the Baker family plot. Among those buried under a simple, moss-encrusted marker is Charles Cahoon Baker, who is said to be the first North Kingstown resident to die in battle during the Civil War. Charley was killed in the Battle of New Bern(e), North Carolina as a member of Company H, 4th Rhode Island Infantry Regiment on the cold, damp morning of March 14, 1862. While he was not the first Rhode Islander to die in the war, his story is eminently representative of the horror of battle and the sadness of its aftermath.

Young Charley Baker of Wickford: Rhode Island’s First Civil War KIA
Young Charley Baker of Wickford: Rhode Island’s First Civil War KIA

Charley Baker was born in Wickford in 1845, the third of nine children of David Sherman Baker and Mary Cahoon Waite Baker. He grew up in the family homestead at 50 Pleasant Street (the house, still standing, was built in 1785 by Benjamin Lawton Packer and sold to Charley’s grandfather in the 1830’s). When Charley’s mother and father started growing their large family, the house quickly was expanded and took on its present appearance around the time of the Civil War). The Bakers were prominent local residents and active members of the First Baptist Church. A family of strong and patriotic principles, no one was surprised when Charley, who had just turned 17, was among those young men who rushed to Providence to volunteer as a private in the Grand Army of the Republic in September of 1861. Charley and his fellow volunteers left Rhode Island for Washington, DC on October 2. After training, they were attached to the Army of the Potomac and in early January of 1862, under the command of General Ambrose Burnside, they were sent to North Carolina, seeing service at the Battle of Roanoke Island before being sent on to New Bern.

Let’s go back to that cold dark morning on the last day of young Charley’s life. He woke from a likely fitful sleep after having landed with his comrades and marching through rain and mud to a campsite outside the Confederate held Fort Thompson outside the city of New Bern. Shortly after dawn, gunfire broke out. Colonel Isaac Rodman, another well-known Rhode Island name, ordered his 4th Regiment, including Charley’s Company H, into a breech in the Rebel lines.

Corporal George Allen, in a privately published 1887 book “Forty-six Months with the Fourth Rhode Island Volunteers”, recounts the action that took young Charley’s life on the morning of March 14. Union troops had launched an unsuccessful assault on Fort Thompson. Colonel Rodman, seeing the troops fall back, took it on himself to rally the 4th Rhode Island to charge again. Allen describes the action:

Our colonel immediately decided to advance the regiment without orders, taking the responsibility of the movement on his own shoulders; and dispatching an aide to General Parke to inform him of what he was about to do, gave the order, ‘Fourth Rhode Island fall in’. The boys were ready for the work. Moving by the right flank for a short distance to a slight rise of ground, and then right by files into line, they advanced at a quick step on the rebel line. Shot and shell, grape and minie-balls greeted their approach, and the men began to drop before the murderous fire; yet never swerving from their onward course, they steadily advanced, loading and firing as fast as possible, till within a hundred yards of the works, when with a cheer, they charged home, and planting their colors on the ramparts, swarmed over the breast-works. A short, fierce struggle, and the first was ours.

Sadly, Charley Baker was not among those who made it to the fort. As he ran through the breech in the line, his last experience was likely a blinding flash and his war was over. There, Charley became the first of many Rhode Islanders to die in the battle. Union losses were 90 killed, 380 wounded and 1 missing. Confederate losses: 64 killed, 101 wounded, 413 captured or missing.

Charley Baker's Grave in North Kingstown’s Elm Grove Cemetery
Charley Baker’s Grave in North Kingstown’s Elm Grove Cemetery

Charley’s body was brought back to Rhode Island six weeks after the battle and on April 26th, many in the town of Wickford gathered at the First Baptist Church to mourn with the Baker family and also the Church family. Another North Kingstown man, Sgt. George H. Church, had died during the Battle of New Berne and his body was returned for burial along with that of Private Baker. The funeral service for the two men was described as the largest of its kind in the town’s memory. The procession from the church to the cemetery was nearly a mile in length. The caskets were carried on carriages from the Narragansett Engine Company, of which both men had been volunteer members. The two were laid to rest in their respective family burial sites.

In her book, “Wickford Memories”, author Anita S. Hinkley writes:

Charles Baker was one of my father’s older brothers and he was the first casualty of the Civil War from Rhode Island. Every Decoration Day we go to the (Elm Grove) Cemetery and put flowers on his grave. My grandmother never went. She and her only daughter, Abby, sat at home and look at Charlie’s few possessions and grieved as only women can who have lost their best.

One hundred and fifty two years ago in March of 1863, a young man, one of so many from our state to die in the Civil War, gave his life in a brief and violent moment in the honorable service of his country. The motto of the Varnum Continentals, “To Preserve Patriotism”, stands in his memory and for all who have gallantly served out nation through the years.

By Varnum Trustee & Member Brian Wallin

Filed Under: Feature Article, Varnum House Museum Tagged With: 19th century, civil war, feature article

[FEATURE ARTICLE] The Dorr Rebellion Flag: A Mystery Solved

May 1, 2015 By Brian Wallin

Hanging in the President’s Office is a faded 19th century relic that commemorates a defining moment in Rhode Island history. May 3rd of this year is the 173rd anniversary of the inauguration of Thomas Wilson Dorr as governor of Rhode Island. The only problem was at the time there was already a duly elected governor, Samuel Ward King. In the weeks that followed, the state was subjected to an intense period of civil unrest that led to the failed storming of the state armory in Providence on May 18,, 1842. It has come to be known as The Dorr Rebellion. Here’s a thumbnail sketch of the events and the commemorative flag in our museum.

Providence lawyer Thomas Wilson Dorr
Providence lawyer Thomas Wilson Dorr

In 1663, King Charles granted a royal charter that spelled out the form of government to exist in Rhode Island. It stated that the General Assembly membership would be based on the 1663 population distribution and that significant property ownership (valued at a minimum of $134.00) was required to vote. But by the mid 19th century, the state’s demographics had greatly changed, due to the Industrial Revolution, the growth of cities, and immigration. By 1829, 2/3 of the state’s population could not meet the criteria to cast a ballot. Forces for change in voting rights emerged; among those in a leadership role was young well-to-do Providence lawyer Thomas Wilson Dorr.

On April 17, 1841, thousands marched in Providence calling for a dramatic revision in the election process. The General Assembly saw the light and agreed to hold a constitutional convention in May. But, to be on the safe side, the suffragists decided to hold their own convention about the same time. In November, they unveiled their “People’s Constitution,” which favored universal white male suffrage. Dorr and some others had at first favored universal suffrage without racial restriction. Ironically, many black Rhode Islanders later took sides with the loyalists when Dorr and his supporters mounted their rebellion.

In April of 1842, two state elections were held. First, the so-called People’s Party elected the 36-year-old Dorr. Two days later, conservative forces (the Law & Order Party) reelected the incumbent Governor King who then appealed to President Tyler to send federal troops to the state in the event of a rebellion by Dorr supporters. Tyler chose not to get involved, but did send an observer. Dorr felt he had the support of the majority of Rhode Islanders and in the early hours of May 18th he marched with several hundred men to seize the weapons in the state arsenal on Cranston Street in Providence and mount an armed rebellion.

Dorr supporters (including some units of the state’s militia that were loyal to him) attacked the arsenal, but their 70-year old cannon expelled water, not cannon balls. Local Providence militiamen and volunteers inside the walls, including Dorr’s own father, Sullivan Dorr, fought back. With the failure of their cannon, the Dorrites faded into the night. Reinforcements loyal to Governor King arrived after the confrontation but were used to dislodge Dorrites from their encampment on Federal Hill on May 19th. Meanwhile, Dorr and a number of his men had fled to Chepachet. Eventually, he escaped to New Hampshire and later to Massachusetts. He returned in 1843 to face the music, was tried and convicted of treason against the state in 1844 (a strange verdict since treason can technically be only against a country). He was sentenced to a period of house arrest. However, the seeds of a new election process and reform had been sown in the Ocean State, and Thomas Wilson Dorr had gained national recognition as a civil libertarian. Others, to this day, consider him an anarchist.

For our flag story, we go back to September 10, 1842, when victorious supporters of Governor King gathered in Providence to celebrate and to honor those who came to defend the standing government. Militiamen from around the state paraded with 14 artillery pieces down Benefit Street to the Dexter Training Grounds for a day-long event led by the governor, Providence Mayor Thomas Burgess, and numerous dignitaries. Among the units honored was the Kentish Guards, led by Col. George Allen. (They missed the defense of the arsenal because Dorrites had waylaid the Kentish transportation and the Guards had to march on foot to Providence.) However, on June 27th Col. Allen led his men and six other militia units in putting down a large and bloody Dorrite riot in Pawtucket.)

An article, rich in the flowery language of the period, appeared in the September 12th edition of the Providence Journal. Thousands at the parade witnessed the presentation of hand-painted commemorative flags commissioned by “the ladies of Providence” to the four chartered militia companies (the Kentish Guards, and the Warren, Bristol and Newport Artilleries) that responded to the call for help from Governor King. The Journal reporter noted,

“the flags were painted by Mr. (Samuel) Bower (of Providence) upon whose skill and taste they reflect great credit. We need not say how dearly they will be cherished, and, if needs be, how bravely they will be defended.”

The Dorr Rebellion Flag
The Dorr Rebellion Flag

So who were the Rhode Island Guards? Why did they also get a flag and how did we come into its possession? Members of two unofficial militia units called the Warwick and Coventry Volunteers and the Coventry Volunteers were among those who turned out on May 18th to oppose the Dorrites’ attack on the arsenal. In October of 1842, men from the towns of Warwick, Coventry, and Cranston were formally chartered by the General Assembly as the Rhode Island Guards. A number of their members had been among the loyalist volunteers at the arsenal.

According to a newspaper piece, Rhode Island Historical Society written by the Hon. Henry L. Greene, the newly chartered militia held its first formal meeting on November 19, 1842, in the Greene & Pike’s Schoolhouse in Coventry. John Clarke Harris was elected Captain and Phillip Greene as First Lieutenant. The state later gave the new chartered militia $700 to build a suitable armory adjacent to the schoolhouse.

To recognize the efforts by the earlier volunteers (now official militiamen) ladies in the community, led by the daughters of former Gov. Sprague of Cranston and Captain Elisha Brown of Warwick, presented the Guards with the two-sided, hand-painted flag that now hangs in the Varnum Museum. It reads “Presented by the Ladies of Warwick and Cranston to the Rhode Island Guards for their Patriotic Services on the Eighteenth of May, 1842. Guard the gift as you did the givers.” Style and wording mirror the flags presented earlier to the other militias.

The Kentish Guards and several other units drilled with the Guards, who for a period of time carried weapons that had been provided by the state to the volunteers at the time of the Dorr uprising (these were eventually replaced). The Rhode Island Guards continued in existence until 1849 or 1850 (the last known meeting was held on October 22, 1849, in East Greenwich. Henry Greene’s account indicates there was no record of the official disbanding of the unit (and this author has found none). The armory building was sold in 1852 to the Washington Lodge of the Odd Fellows who constructed their meeting hall on the property.

The Dorr Rebellion Flag
The Dorr Rebellion Flag

Mrs. Francis Whittier Greene and Family, descendants of Revolutionary War hero Col. Christopher Greene, donated the flag in the Varnum Museum collection in 1941. The flag had been in the possession of a Rhode Island Guards lieutenant, Lehre Greene, a great grandson of Col. Greene. Frederick Cole Greene, another family member, was one of the founding members of the Varnum Continentals in 1907. So, it seems the mystery of our Dorr flag has been finally solved. Its presence in our collection is a significant reminder of a landmark event in our state’s history.

By Varnum Trustee & Member Brian Wallin

Filed Under: Feature Article, Varnum Memorial Armory Tagged With: 19th century, Dorr, flag, varnum memorial armory

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Story of Gettysburg and Bull Run Cannons on “State of the State”

September 26, 2023 By James Mitchell Varnum

Watch this episode of “State of the State”, where host Richard August interviews Varnum Continentals President Patrick Donovan about moving of two American Civil War cannons from the Rhode Island State House to the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum, where they are now on display for the public.

About the Varnum Continentals

The Varnum Continentals are committed to the preservation of the historic heritage of our community, our state, and our nation. Please take a virtual tour of our museums to learn more about our mission to encourage patriotism. You can participate with us through active membership and/or philanthropic support in our non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Museum tours are welcomed and our facilities may be rented for suitable events.

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Preserving and sharing Rhode Island military history to inspire and educate the public.

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