This year is the 110th anniversary of the formation of the famed 29th Division Maryland National Guard Company H, from Carroll County.

From its roots in a Frizellburg flower business, to the shores of Normandy on D-Day, part of the family tree of the famed, Company H, from Carroll County started to grow on March 20, 1899.

Last week’s column concentrated on the early roots of Company H - as it was described by one of J. Leland Jordan’s regular history columns published in 1937 for the celebration of Carroll County’s centennial.

We are fortunate that Jordan’s research was preserved and reprinted several years ago by local historian Jay Graybeal for the Historical Society of Carroll County.

If you will recall, part one of the story ended with Jordan explaining the men who first formed Company H “were real he-men, despite the fact they preferred the odor of carnations and heliotrope.  John Auer, with his military experience, was successful in persuading this group of young men in organizing a military company.”

After successfully organizing, the first and second order of business for the new militia outfit was training and raising money.

As any reader with any military experience is aware, one of the key components of any military experience is training, training – and more training.

To that end, Jordan wrote: “Considerable interest in the new company was shown by all members, and they immediately began their drills and the ‘practice of military tactics.’  The lack of a suitable building forced them to drill in the street of the town or in a nearby meadow.”

The next order of business began concurrently with the emphasis on training.  That is, the business of raising money.  To do that, the men of Company H relied upon a time-honored Carroll County tradition – a picnic.

“Funds were badly needed for the various items so essential to a military company that they soon decided upon having their first ‘grand annual picnic,’” Jordan noted.

The first picnic was held later that year on August 19, “and from accounts attracted about 1500 people.  A feature of the occasion was a parade and drill by the company and the Westminster Drum Corps.  Both afternoon and night.  An orchestra from Westminster ‘enlivened the event.’  $104.06 were the gross earnings.”

Meanwhile, according to Jordan, the “Drills continued and in the course of a few weeks they had mastered many of the close order movements.  Due to the lack of a regulation uniform they drilled for some months in white trousers and an ordinary dark coat.  The officers were more fortunate, they having secured the official militia uniform.  However, a little later (November), when funds were available, blue flannel trousers, a regulation hat and rifle were secured.”

Jordan calls to our attention that by December, the local militia had attracted the attention of the local press.  In an article published on December 12, 1899 by the now out-of-print American Sentinel, the unit - referred to as “The Carroll County Military Company of Frizellburg - Marched to this city [Westminster] on Friday afternoon, paraded the streets and gave exhibition drills at several points.

“For the short period in which the company has been organized its members went through the evolutions in a very creditable manner.

“The company was under the command of Captain Auer.  The citizens of Westminster were so well pleased with the parade that numerous donations were made to the supper and bazaar now being held by the company at its armory in Frizellburg.”

The next order of business was getting the unit recognized by the state of Maryland.  Jordan also noted that “During this time there were some changes in the personnel, a number of men withdrawing and others taking their place.

“Drills continued, and efforts on the part of the officers to have the company recognized as a unit of the Maryland Militia was put forth.  Claude Tilden Smith of Westminster, had been urged to join with the company and through his efforts recognition was promised by the Adjutant General.”

Graybeal reports that the “Frizellburg Company was designated Company H, First Maryland Infantry in January 1901, a designation it retained until the formation of the 29th Division in 1917.  During the Great War, the infantrymen were issued machine guns and designated Co. C, 112th Machine Gun Battalion…

“During World War II, the unit served as Co. H, 115th Infantry Regiment and local men distinguished themselves on the Normandy beaches beginning the liberation of Europe from the Nazis.”

In a column I wrote last year for the Sunday Carroll Eagle about D-Day, I noted that many Carroll Countians served in the 29th Division.  Along with V Corps and the 1st Infantry Division, they were among the total of 34,250 troops, 3,300 vehicles, who landed at “Omaha Beach” that faithful day on June 6, 1944, at 6:30 in the morning.

We owe these men and their proud history a great debt of gratitude for coming out the flower greenhouses in Frizellburg to serve our nation.

We can all agree with Graybeal when he noted that “the men of “Co. H” (have) come a long way from the old parade field in Frizellburg.”

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster.  E-mail him at kevindayhoff@gmail.com.

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