historical perspective
The Milford Grenadiers
B
ack in the Colonial era, after acquiring our freedom from Great Britain under one flag as the United States of America, individual states still held their own militias, and Connecticut was no exception.
Of the Connecticut Militia, there was one
The Milford Grenadiers were originally organized in 1796 with the officers of Captain Daniel Sacket, Lieutenant Abram V. H. DeWitt, and Ensign Benjamin Bull. The regiment
resident Matt Michell. (The Janissaries,
served the Milford community until they were
group of men who were famously known
formed in the 14th century, are considered
officially disbanded on June 15, 1836.
in Milford and its surrounding areas as the
the first modern standing army in Europe.)
First Flank Company of Light Infantry of the
“Typically used as an elite shock troop, they
instilled a feeling of safety and security
32nd Regiment of Connecticut Militia, more
were often physically larger than other
amongst the residents of Milford. The
commonly called the Milford Grenadiers.
infantry, carried grenades, an infantry
company marched through the town with
weapon, and could often be relied on for
music following in their wake and the citizens
group that was an offshoot of the Janissaries
siege warfare-type assaults on defended
knew they were protected.
from the Ottoman Empire,” says local
fortifications.”
“Grenadiers are a specialized infantry
During their active days, their presence
The men serving in this company wore scarlet coats with buff facings, gold lace trimmings, drab knee breeches with buckles, Suwarrow boots with tassels, and 18-inch pointed caps. Several years later, the breeches were swapped out for blue broadcloth pants, and in 1815, white pants were the new standard. In the mid-1820s, the cap was changed out for a heavy, square-top inverted fire bucket with a red feather. One of the most notable times in the Milford Grenadiers history began on the first Monday of May 1812, one month before the War of 1812 began, when Captain Pond delivered the news of a British ship taking four of his men and
PENNY BOLAND
his interview with the ship’s
44 Milford Living • Summer
Two Milford Grenadiers hats are part of the Milford Historical Society collection.
