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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing) 2 0 Browse Search
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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Washingtoniana. -1857 (search)
the brilliant victory at Trenton on the morning of the previous day. Washington's lifeguard was organized in 1776, soon after the siege of Boston, while the American army was encamped in New York, on Manhattan Island. It consisted of a major's command—180 men. Caleb Gibbs, of Rhode Island, was its first chief officer, and bore the title of captain commandant. He held that office until the close of 1779, when he was succeeded by William Colfax, one of his lieutenants. These were Henry P. Livingston, of New York; William Colfax, of New Jersey; and Benjamin Goymes, of Virginia. Colfax remained in command of the corps until the disbanding of the army in 1783. The members of the guard were chosen with special reference to their excellences—physical, moral, and mental—and it was considered a mark of peculiar distinction to belong to the commander-inchief's guard. Their uniform consisted of a blue coat with white facings, white waistcoat and breeches, black half-gaiters, and a cock<