Clay Guards

[RJT]

Looking to find out more information about the Clay Guards, a quasi-military organization formed in the early part of the war to protect the White House. Not much luck on the internet.

 

[RodentRevolution]

So I found an image here on a blog.

I found rather more detailed information on FIRSTBULLRUN.co.uk which seems to be a British ACW website

"MAJ. J W NYE
Senator J W Nye, Nevada Territory, was appointed major, Washington Clay Guards Battalion Infantry, at Washington, D. C., on 18 April, 1861, and was ordered to Nevada Territory in the evening on 27 April, 1861.[/H4]
First Company: CAPT. D WEBB
D Webb, New York, was appointed captain, First Company, Washington Clay Guards Battalion Infantry at Washington, D. C., on 18 April, 1861, and major on 27 April, 1861.
Second Company: CAPT. J E VINTON
J E Vinton, Albany, Green County, Wisconsin, was appointed captain, Second Company, Washington Clay Guards Battalion Infantry, at Washington, D. C., on 18 April, 1861.
The Washington Clay Guards Battalion Infantry was organised at Willard's Hotel, on Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C., by Russian Foreign Minister C H Clay on 18 April, 1861.

Special Orders, Headquarters, Department of Washington, Washington, D. C., 24 April, 1861: The Washington Clay Guards Battalion Infantry, under the command of Major J W Nye, and the Frontier Guards were ordered to rendezvous on Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C., and proceed to the Navy Yard, on M Street, between Sixth and Ninth Streets, Washington, D. C., by Special Orders, Headquarters, Department of Washington, Washington, D. C., at 9 PM on 24 April, 1861.

Discharged, Washington, D. C., 4 May, 1861: The Washington Clay Guards Battalion Infantry, under the command of Major D Webb, was discharged at Washington, D. C., on 4 May, 1861.

Note: Congressman J H Campbell arrived at Washington, D. C., on 19 April, 1861, and was assigned to the Washington Clay Guards Battalion Infantry between 19 April and 1 May, 1861. He was appointed, major, 25th Pennsylvania Infantry, on 1 May, 1861 (See the 25th Pennsylvania Infantry).Organised at Washington, D. C., 18 April 1861. Department of Washington, 27 April-4 May, 1861

CAPT. J H LANE
The Frontier Guards was organised at the Willard's Hotel, on Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C., under the command of Captain J H Lane, First Lieutenant M W Delahay, and Second Lieutenant J B Stockton, on 18 April, 1861, and was ordered to the President's or White House, on Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C., at 9 PM the same day.

Note: The Frontier Guards and a detachment of the Union Regiment or Volunteers (40), Company B, under the command of Captain J Kelly, were stationed at the Presidents House or Executive Mansion, on Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C., on 22 April, 1861 (See the District of Columbia Militia, Department of Washington).

Special Orders, Headquarters, Department of Washington, Washington, D. C., 24 April, 1861: The Frontier Guards and the Washington Clay Guards Battalion Infantry, under the command of Major J W Nye, were ordered to rendezvous on Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C., and proceed to the Navy Yard, Washington, D. C., by Special Orders, Headquarters, Department of Washington, Washington, D. C., at 9 PM on 24 April, 1861. The Frontier Guards was ordered to proceed by the East Gate on Ninth Street, Washington, D. C., to the Navy Yard Bridge, Washington, D. C., on the Eastern Branch of the Potomac River or Anacostia River, in the evening the same day and a detachment of twelve to fifteen men, under the command of Second Lieutenant J B Stockton, were ordered across the Navy Yard Bridge, Washington, D. C., on the Eastern Branch of the Potomac River or Anacostia River, to Prince George's County, Maryland, in the evening on 24 April, 1861.

Note: A detachment of the Ringgold Light Artillery (10) and one 12 pounder howitzer and a detachment of the United States Marine Corps and one howitzer were stationed at the Navy Yard Bridge, on the Eastern Branch of the Potomac River or Anacostia River, on 24 April, 1861.

Discharged, Washington, D. C., 3 May, 1861: The Frontier Guards was assigned to guard duty at the Navy Yard, on M Street, between Sixth and Ninth Streets; the Presidents House or Executive Mansion, on Pennsylvania Avenue; and the Long Bridge, on the Potomac River, at Washington, D. C., between 18 April and 3 May, 1861, and was discharged at Washington, D. C., on 3 May, 1861.

Note: Senator J H Lane arrived at Willard's Hotel, on Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C., on 13 April, 1861, and Mr D McCook, Sr., was assigned to the Frontier Guards at the East Room, President's or White House, on Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C., on 18 April, 1861 (See the 1st Ohio Infantry).
Organised at Washington, D. C., 18 April 1861. Department of Washington, 27 April-3 May, 1861"

From that site.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Sir - The Siege of Washington: The Untold Story of the Twelve Days That Shook the Union by John Lockwood, Charles Lockwood

HTHs,
USS ALASKA

 

[USS ALASKA]

Sir, taken from...

Cheers,
USS ALASKA