183

War of 1812 Connecticut 4th Brigade Militia Orders

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:800.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 1,800.00 USD
War of 1812 Connecticut 4th Brigade Militia Orders
War of 1812
War of 1812 Connecticut 4th Brigade Militia Orders Issued by Brigadier General Matthias Nicoll
August 12, 1812-Dated War of 1812 Period, Manuscript Document Signed, “Joseph P. Shelton,” Handwritten Military Orders to the 4th Brigade of the Connecticut Militia, Issued by Brigadier General Nicoll, Stratford (Connecticut), Choice Very Fine.
Original, Handwritten Military Orders, 3 pages with added Integral Address Cover to “Ephriam J. Wilcoxson Esqr., Lieut. Col. of 28th Regiment, Connecticut Militia, Stratford,” measuring 12.75” x 7.75” being specific orders issued by Brigadier General Matthias Nicoll to the 4th Brigade of the Connecticut Militia.

This Document is written for military preparation shortly after the American Declaration of War against Great Britain. On April 4th, 1812 the American Trade Embargo was declared. On June 18th, 1812 the official “Declaration of War” by the United States against Great Britain and Ireland was declared.

This historic Document urges strict compliance of the regiments in Connecticut, detailing how each commander is to submit their reports on the status of their men, reading in part: "When taking into consideration the current situation of our country now at war with one of the greatest and belligerent powers of Europe; it was deemed necessary to observe the exact inspection of the arms and accouterments of the Militia..." It also orders that no gun will be passed except such as will exactly comply with law. Also states that no gun will be passed if less than half an inch below the standard allowed by law. The need is to know how many guns are available and the ball cartridges in case the troops are called into the field. Orders also give times, dates and locations for inspections (parades). This Document reads, in full:

“Brigade Ordering for the 4th Brigade - Connecticut Militia-

The 4th Brigade are hereby ordered for Inspection, exercise & review, in the following order --- The 28th Regiment of Infantry will parade in Stratford on the 15th day of Sept. next at 8 o’clock in the forenoon -- The 4th Regiment of Infantry - and the 4th Regiment of Cavalry will parade at Fairfield on the 16th day of September next at 8 o’clock in the forenoon -- The 34th Regiment of Infantry will parade by Battalions on the 17th day of Sept. next at 8 o’clock in the forenoon, at such place as the commanding officer of the Regiment shall direct. -- The 9th Regiment of Infantry will parade by Battalions on the 18 day of Sept. next at 8 o’clock in A.M. at such place as the commanding officer of the Regiment shall direct.

The commanding officers of Regiments which are to parade by Battalions, are directed to notify the Brigade Inspector of the places appointed for the Troops to parade. -- The commanding officers of the several Regiments are hereby ordered to parade the Regiments under their command according to the above arrangement. -- Regimental returns must be made to the Brigade Inspector by the twenty second day of September next with a complete list of all the commissions and Staff Officers names, and the dates of their commission.

The Adjutant General having ordered the Annual and Inspection returns of the Brigade, to be forwarded to him by the tenth day of October next the Brigade Inspector is ordered to complete the same and deliver them to the commanding officer of the Brigade on or before the fifth day of October next given under by hand - Stratford, August 12th 1812 - Matt[hia]s Nicoll Brigr. Genl. 4th Brig. Connecticut Militia

Joseph P. Shelton - Brigade Major & Inspector 4th Brigade Militia

Col. Ephraim J. Wilcoxon

Dear Sir - I am requested by Brigadier Genl. Nicoll Commanding the 4th Brigade Militia to notify you of the rules adopted at the meeting of the Adjutant General; of the Brigade Inspectors; held at Hartford in conformity to an order issued for that purpose. - (viz) - When taking into consideration the critical situation of our country now at war with one of the greatest belligerent forces of Europe; it was deemed necessary to observe a critical & exact inspection of the arms & accoutrements of the Militia, - to pass no gun except such as will exactly comply with the law. - I am directed to be particular not to pass a gun which barrel should fall short in length half an inch from the standard allowed by law. - that their be a return of such guns as carry balls of the sixteenth part of a pound in one column & of such as carry balls of the eighteenth part of a pound in a separate column ruled for that purpose that the Quartermaster Genl. may know how many guns there are of each size & enable him to procure ball cartridges in case the troops should be called into the field. --

Should their be any rifles they must be returned in a separate column as such; All absentees must be noted on the bottom of the return as such;

Each Capt. commanding companies will make out accurate duplicate returns of the force under his command one of which he will hand to me on the day of inspection; the other he will hand to his orderly Sergeant, or some other person who will accompany me through the inspection of the company & shall make such alterations as shall be found necessary to agree with the one which I keep;

You will with this likewise receive your blank returns, - which the General has ordered to be handed to me by the twenty second of Sept. next. - Sir I have the honour to be with much respect your obedient Serv. Joseph P. Shelton - Brigade Major & Inspector 4 Brigade Connecticut Militia.”

An extremely rare and important, official Signed Instruction and Military Orders from what was called, "The Second War for American Independence."
The City of Shelton, Connecticut was first settled by the English as part of the town of Stratford, Connecticut, in 1639. On May 15, 1656, the Court of the Colony of Connecticut in Hartford affirmed that the town of Stratford included all of the territory 12 miles (19 km) inland from Long Island Sound, between the Housatonic River and the Fairfield town line.

In 1662, Stratford selectmen Lt. Joseph Judson, Captain Joseph Hawley and John Minor had secured all the written deeds of transfer from the Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation for this vast territory that comprises the present-day towns of Trumbull, Shelton and Monroe. Shelton was split off from Stratford in 1789, as Huntington (named for Samuel Huntington).

The current name originated in a manufacturing village started in the 1860s named for the Shelton Company founded by Edward N. Shelton — also founder of Housatonic Water Power Company. The rapidly growing borough of Shelton incorporated as a city in 1915 and was consolidated with the town of Huntington in 1919 establishing the present city of Shelton