FURTHER LIGHT ON THE DARTMOUTH GREYS
The ALUMNI MAGAZINES of March, 1912, and January, 1919, printed some information regarding the military organization of the Class of 1859. Further material is contained in a pamphlet by Tames H. Newton '59, himself a member of the Greys, and the following extracts are taken from that interesting document :
In the year 1857 Mr. Dewey, afterwards Major in the Civil War, kept the principal shop in Hanover for students' supplies. He had in his employ a workman by the name of Gibbs, who was familiarly called "Bill Gibbs," and who was esteemed by the students as a tailor not to be excelled in any of the cities of the United States. He was a man full of ideas, knew the styles and fashions, and in his own person presented exceptional taste to the admiration of all the students.
One afternoon in the spring term, a group of sophomores of the Class of '59 was conferring with Mr. Gibbs about the very interesting question of young men's summer attire. In the course of the conversation it was remarked that the Class of '59 was an unusually large one, composed of rather exceptional physical material, and that it would be worth while considering whether the class should not adopt some uniform instead of wearing suits of various kinds and styles. Mr. Gibbs promised that if the class would adopt a uniform, that the large number in the class would warrant quite a reduction in price, and that he could arrange to make a speedy piece of work so that the clothing could be delivered at an early day.
On the following day, which was Sunday, the matter was talked about with the various members of the class, and on Monday noon a class meeting was held, at which it was announced that this plan had been considered; that a price for the clothing, etc., had been given; and that the color of grey had been spoken of. A discussion followed, and it was found that the class was unanimous in regard to the matter, as proposed, except one member, who said that he expected that all his faculties would be developed in his college course, and among those taste for dress was one, and he was afraid that if he adopted the color and kind of garment that was selected by a majority his education in taste would be weakened.
The chief ground upon which the plan was adopted seemed to be that it struck the fancy of the class to assume a uniform, and second it was pretty certain that there was no member of the class but coveted a suit made by Mr. Gibbs.
In due time, the men were properly measured ; the suits made and delivered. It was then understood that on a certain afternoon the sophomores should appear at evening prayers in the new grey garb, and should enter the Dartmouth Hall at the same time. This came about, and the appearance of nearly seventy men, dressed in uniform, going up to the hall, led to the suggestion that if they could be drilled in military style the impression of the solid class would be considerably increased. This was spoken of to Benjamin H. Steele, a member of the class of '57, whose education had in part been at a military school, and he at once consented to undertake the work of drilling the class of '59 in military matters.
The military idea was strongly favored from the fact that the members of the class were certain that they would .learn something about the subject of military exercises, and because at the time the only thing furnished by the college in the way of gymnastic apparatus was the cross bar at the Freshman Gallows under the old pine tree. The military training seemed to provide a means for better exercise and better physical development.
The company had no means of procuring any arms, and application was made to the Adjutant General of New Hampshire for some muskets, and he immediately notified the class that there were some at hand, belonging to a disbanded company, and that upon proper application he would forward them to Hanover. They came, and were found to be the old heavy muskets, used in the time of the Mexican War—smooth bores, and of considerable length and weight. They were distributed among the members of the company and then the battalion drill began in earnest. It was the old drill of heavy infantry, as at that time the light infantry drill, which came in with the introduction of Hardee's tactics, was not known. The drill in the manual of arms followed, and the company was taught, according to the old system, how to load, aim and fire. The company of seventy students, of the size of the men who attended college at that time, with the heavy muskets of the day, made quite an imposing sight, and the movements of the company were observed by all observers about Hanover. The marching was done almost entirely in column of platoons, as battalions at that time had not been made acquainted with the manner of breaking into fours and marching by the flank, when ocasion required.
As the drill of the military company attracted more and more attention, an offer was made, in some way, by the young ladies, who were at Mrs. Sherman's School, to make a banner for the Dartmouth Greys. Their offer was accepted and application was made, at that time, to Professor Putnam, who was esteemed by the class of '59 as its especial friend, for some legend or motto for the banner. He promptly suggested as a fitting mot- to the words "Post Praelia Praemia.' This legend was immediately adopted as the one fitting the Dartmouth Greys, and also as appropriate as the class motto. This banner was carried on all the marches made by the company in the village and outlying country, and it can still be seen in the college library in a good state of preservation, under glass.
The organization continued as an active body during the spring and summer term of 1857, and at the expiration of the latter term the members desired to join in some little gift to Mr. Steele, who had so diligently and ably trained the Dartmouth Greys and interested himself in their achievements. It was concluded that a sword cane was a reasonable gift under the circumstances; and in the northeast recitation room on the lower floor of Dartmouth Hall, one evening at the end of the term, in the presence of the class and some friends of Mr. Steele, a sword cane was presented to him in behalf of the class, by its captain. The shaft of the cane was of rosewood, with a head of silver, the top of which is engraved with the outline of a banner, in the center of which are the words "Post Praelia Praemia" in a semi-circle surrounding a wreath, beneath which are the words "Dartmouth Greys '59." Below the head of the cane a narrow silver band carries the words "To Benjamin H. Steele, by the Dartmouth Greys." Mr. Steele received the gift in a very graceful and fitting speech, complimenting the men upon their efficiency in military drill, and expressing a wish that the friendship which had been cemented by the summer's work might last as long as any members of the class of '59 survived. The company then disbanded, and the grey suits, except some that passed through the dye house, did not appear in Hanover again.
Nothing of course, at that time was said of the probability that the training obtained during the summer would ever be called into use in the country; but a few years after, two members of the organization applied for officers' commissions to the Adjutant General in Massachusetts, and the only question that was asked by the Adjutant General was, "Have you had any military experience"? and the answer given was, "Yes, we drilled with the Dartmouth Greys during the summer of 1857," and an order was immediately issued for the commissions. It is more than probable, however, that the experience of the Dartmouth Greys on the plains of Hanover led many of the large number of the class of '59 who served in the Civil War to enlist on one or the other side of that unhappy conflict.
It might be added further that the original roster of the Greys and the cane presented to Mr. Steele are hanging in the administrative offices of the College.
Mr. Newton adds that but eight, members of the Class of '59' that graduated 70 are now living: Roger S. Greene, Joseph W. Grosvenor, Isaac W. Hobbs, Leverett Leonard, James H. Newton, William Niles, Luther T. Townsend and George H. Twiss.
