My daughter and I were on the city bus going to New Haven downtown around April, when we saw something happening at the Green. There were a couple of men in red coats parading with their swords and muskets. They looked amazing in their regalia against a busy Saturday traffic in downtown. They were honoring a very important date that annually celebrated since 1904 called the POWDER HOUSE DAY. It was the event led by Benedict Arnold with the 2nd Company Governor’s Foot Guard demanding the key to the King’s powder from the Selectmen that happened on April 22nd, 1775. They wanted to help their fellow Patriots who fought against British army in Cambridge, by taking the powder, ball and flint. The fifty-eight member of the Governor’s Foot Guard went off to assist at the Battle of Lexington.
How do I know this? I happen to be a history buff and seeing the parade intrigued me to search about the event. The Second Company Governor’s Foot Guard is a military organization formed in New Haven, Connecticut. It was established during the Revolutionary War era and consisted of volunteers of men and women who wanted to protect the Governor and the people of the young state of Connecticut. The unit that we saw celebrating the Powder House Day was wearing their Dress Winter from the style the Guard chose in 1893. The details are:
– scarlet coat with blue facing, silver braid and buttons;
– the coat cuts away at the front showing a white vest and ends in tail just below the back of the knees;
– white knee breeches;
– black leggings;
– large bearskin shako (the fur hat);
– officer’s belt.
Source: http://www.footguard.org
Emaurian, How I Love Thee 
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