A History of the Second Division Naval Militia Connecticut National Guard

In Short

Chronicling the formation and evolution of the Second Division of the Naval Militia, Connecticut National Guard, this 1911 historical account details the unit's annual summer cruises, rigorous drills, and community integration from 1890 through 1910. Daniel D. Bidwell captures the transition of eager local landsmen into seasoned bluejackets who served during the Spanish-American War, participated in monumental civic parades like Dewey Day, and mastered technical seamanship. It has lasted as a meticulous record of regional military service, camaraderie, and maritime pride at the dawn of a new century.

The Story

The historical record opens by tracing the burgeoning interest in naval reserves across late-nineteenth-century America, noting how organizations in Massachusetts and neighboring states sparked a patriotic movement that soon reached Connecticut. Following the successful establishment of the First Division in New Haven, a dedicated group of Hartford citizens with a fondness for yachting and national pride gathered to form the Second Division. Despite early skepticism from experienced military critics, the command formally launched and quickly plunged into active duties, embarking on its inaugural cruise aboard the cruiser Cincinnati in 1896. This initial deployment introduced the men to rigorous shipboard routines, camp life on Gardiner's Island, and the physical tests of boat pulls and coal handling.

As the years progress, the narrative follows the division through successive annual summer cruises aboard various naval vessels, including the Maine, the Prairie, the Panther, and the Hartford. Each tour brings distinct challenges, from navigating choppy coastal waters and performing target practice with heavy guns to enduring torrential downpours during camp exercises. The rhythm of the division's existence oscillates between the quiet discipline of winter drills, indoor athletic meets, and comic opera productions, and the sudden demands of national duty.

The narrative reaches a dramatic turning point with the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in 1898. Driven by fierce loyalty, over ninety percent of the division volunteers for service, entering the United States Navy as a mustered "war company." Members are scattered across various vessels of the auxiliary fleet, serving along the Atlantic coast and observing the realities of wartime blockades. Following the conflict, the command experiences a natural postwar drop in membership, mirroring the return of veterans to civilian life. Yet, through steady recruitment and a fresh infusion of enthusiasm, the unit rebounds, weathering the slump and returning to its robust routine.

The middle chapters celebrate high-profile civic engagements, most notably the division's prominent participation in New York's massive Dewey Day parade in 1899, where the bluejackets marched through cheering crowds and received overwhelming public hospitality. Subsequent years bring landmark honors, such as serving as President Roosevelt's personal escort during the Yale Bicentennial parade, participating in elaborate army and navy maneuvers, and undertaking ambitious cruises around Bermuda and to Hampton Roads.

The account concludes by documenting the division's maturation into a firmly established component of the state guard, complete with specialized artificer and engineer divisions, a thriving veteran association, and a solemn commitment to annual memorial services. Through precise logs and rosters, the book preserves the names and contributions of every officer and enlisted man who shaped the command during its first two decades.

How It Unfolds

The founding impulse The narrative begins by tracing the regional rise of naval militias in the northeastern states during the early 1890s. It details how a small group of Hartford yachtsmen and patriots gathered to establish the Second Division. Despite initial skepticism from experienced military critics, the command successfully organized and prepared for active service.

First taste of the sea The unit embarks on its inaugural summer cruise aboard the protected cruiser Cincinnati in July 1896. The men face grueling physical labor, establish camp on Gardiner's Island, and learn the foundational ropes of naval discipline, gun drills, and boat handling. Returning home, they receive an enthusiastic welcome from local families.

The Spanish-American War The outbreak of hostilities in 1898 prompts over ninety percent of the division to volunteer for federal service. Mustered in as a dedicated war company, the members scatter across auxiliary vessels along the Atlantic coast to support the national conflict. They serve on various ships until the eventual muster out.

The Dewey Day triumph The command achieves a historic high point by participating in New York City's gigantic 1899 parade honoring Admiral Dewey. The bluejackets march through solid walls of cheering citizens, receiving overwhelming public hospitality and unexpected tokens of civilian admiration. This memorable outing cements the division's proud public standing.

Routine and maneuvers Subsequent years establish a steady rhythm of winter drills, indoor athletic meets, theatrical productions, and cruises aboard vessels like the Prairie and the Panther. The men engage in realistic tactical exercises, heavy gun target practice, and joint army-navy maneuvers. They also build a popular permanent summer home at Camp Parker.

Maturation and legacy The account concludes by tracking the division's expansion into specialized engineering branches and its milestone anniversary banquets. It finalizes its scope with comprehensive membership rosters, necrologies, and a record of cruises extending up to 1910. This structured documentation preserves the exact human footprint of the early Connecticut naval militia.

The People

Lieutenant Felton Parker serves as the founding commander, wanting to establish a disciplined, highly respected naval militia unit within an inland city. Standing in his way are public skepticism from experienced military critics and the logistical hurdles of organizing an entirely untested branch. He successfully guides the division through its formative cruises and earns deep affection before his untimely death in 1900 leaves the command mourning a cherished leader.

Gunner's Mate Chapin emerges as an energetic, unconventional figure who seeks to inject spirited celebration into civic life, famously orchestrating unauthorized dawn artillery salutes across Hartford that startle sleeping residents. He navigates these local friction points through unwavering dedication to the division's athletic and tactical readiness.

Admiral Francis M. Bunce acts as a steadfast honorary mentor who wants to elevate the technical capabilities and professional pride of the men. Although hindered by the initial gap between civilian habits and naval standards, his seasoned guidance and warm support leave a permanent mark on the unit, and his eventual passing is deeply felt by all hands.

Finally, dedicated enlisted personnel like Seaman John J. A. Connor want to test their skills on the world stage, eventually joining historic global voyages on modern battleships like the Connecticut. Through these rigorous trials, ordinary local citizens transform into capable, well-traveled bluejackets bound by enduring camaraderie and technical mastery.

In Its Own Voice

The author captures the deep patriotic spirit and regional pride of the corps by introducing the volume with a traditional verse dedicated to local sailors.

“Here’s to the land that gave us birth, Here’s to her smiling skies, Here’s to her Tars, the best on earth, Here’s to the flag she flies.”

Describing a joint cruise conducted alongside seasoned regular servicemen, the narrative highlights the amusing cultural adjustment required of fresh recruits facing salty commands.

“What in heaven did that fellow say?”

Reflecting the lighter, theatrical side of military life, the printed menu for the division's milestone anniversary banquet playfully incorporates classic literary wit to characterize their lively gatherings.

“Such a deal of skimble, skamble stuff As puts me from my faith.”

What It's Really About

Beyond its detailed rosters and cruise logs, the book explores how civic duty and institutional loyalty take root in an inland community far from salt water. Bidwell examines the transformative power of discipline, teamwork, and shared physical hardship in turning ordinary landsmen into capable defenders of the nation. The narrative probes the relationship between local pride and federal service, demonstrating how regional volunteer organizations served as vital anchors for national defense during a period of rising maritime ambition. Ultimately, it questions how community traditions are preserved and validated through collective memory, transforming local history into a testament of enduring civic commitment.

Why Read It Today

Local history buffs, maritime enthusiasts, and researchers of late-nineteenth-century military organization will find a remarkable wealth of authentic detail in this volume. Reading it feels precisely like flipping through a meticulously preserved historical scrapbook filled with salty sea yarns, damp canvas tents, gleaming brass, and earnest camaraderie. What ultimately stays with you is the palpable, infectious enthusiasm of inland citizens who embraced naval life with absolute devotion, cheerfully braving freezing squalls, grueling route marches, and heavy coal-handling duties.

However, modern readers must be prepared to navigate the book's inherent difficulties, including its exhaustive multi-page roster lists, dense period appendices, and the occasional insular jargon of turn-of-the-century bluejackets that can occasionally slow the narrative momentum. Despite these dry stretches and the specialized nature of the material, the steady warmth of Bidwell's chronicle and the vividness of everyday military routines offer a deeply rewarding, charming window into a bygone era of local pride and national service.