Col. Joshua Howard entered the Army in 1813, and served first in the infantry, afterwards in the ordnance department, the artillery, and as commissary of subsistence. At the outbreak of the Mexican War, he accepted the lieutenant colonelcy of the Fifteenth U. S. Infantry, and led his regiment gallantly over the walls of Chapultepec, for which he was breveted colonel. The gallant and lamented Broadhead was his adjutant and received the sword of the commander of the fortress. Colonel Howard prevented the notorious General Pillow from carrying off and appropriating to his own use several brass cannon captured from the enemy. The field officers of the Fifteenth U. S. Infantry were Geo. W. Morgan, of Ohio, colonel; Joshua Howard, of Detroit, lieutenant-colonel; Fredrick Mills and Samuel Wood, of Iowa, majors. Three companies of the Fifteenth Infantry were recruited from this state under the supervision of Colonel Howard. The officers of the Michigan companies were: Company A—Captain, Eugene Vandeventer, Flint; first lieutenant and adjutant, Thornton F. Broadhead. Detroit: second lieutenant, Samuel Beach, Pontiac: second lieutenant, Edwin R. Mcrrifield, Lansing. Company E—Captain. Isaac D. Toll, Fawn River; first lieutenant, Thomas H. Freelen, Kalamazoo; second lieutenant, John B. Goodman, Giles: second lieutenant. Piatt Titus. Jackson. Company G—Captain. Frazer M. Winans, Monroe; first lieutenant, Ahira G. Eastman. Adrian; second lieutenant, Wm. D. Wilkins, Detroit: second lieutenant. Michael Doyle, Detroit. They rendezvoused at the Detmit barracks, were mustered into service by Lieutenant Frank Woodbridgc. U. S. A., aide to General Brady; clothed and equipped by Major Henry Smith, quartermaster, U. S. A., who accompanied them to Vera Cruz. Mexico. I was in the U. S. quartermaster and commissary department here at that time and assisted in equipping this portion of the Fifteenth Infantry. It is said that Colonel Howard came to Detroit first in 1815 and held a position in the revenue department under Austin E. Wing, deputy collector, and later he secured an appropriation to build an arsenal in Detroit, which was located on Jefferson Avenue and the southwest corner of Wayne Street. He built the arsenal at Dearborn, the corner stone of which was laid with appropriate ceremonies July 30, 1833. Major Henry Whiting, U. S. A., making the address, which was pronounced fine and scholarly. Colonel Howard was at one time a member of the Michigan legislature, was also appointed United States Marshal of the district of Michigan. He was also elected sheriff of Wayne County over E. V. Cicotte in 1854: the latter was a prominent French citizen and Democrat. On the outbreak of the* Civil War Colonel Howard was appointed an additional paymaster, I. S. A., and served as such until its end. I accompanied him once, on an exceedingly cold day, to Flint, to pay the Tenth Michigan Infantry. A frigid ride we had from Holly to Flint in the stage. To railroad then between the two points. Colonel Howard with his estimable wife and sons and daughters, occupied for some years in the late thirties and early forties the dwelling used by General Cass after his return from France. Its site is at present taken up by the late Governor Baldwin's house. I think they came into Fort Street to reside after the colonel had completed the arsenal at Dearborn. At any rate they were there when I first knew them. Of the sons. Alexander K.. Henry Dearborn (Duff), and Daniel were the only ones anywhere near my age. Alexander K. was always an assistant to his father. He was an enthusiastic Brady Guard. During the month of June. 1847, the company known as the "Brady Guard" was enlisted and mustered into the service of the United States, for the purpose of garrisoning Fort .Mackinac. Fort Brady, Sault Ste. Marie, taking the place of regulars sent to the front during the Mexican War. Morgan L. Gage was captain, Alex K. Howard first lieutenant, Win. F. Chittended second lieutenant, Ara W. Sprague second lieutenant. The above forts were garrisoned respectively by Captain Gage and Lieutenant Howard. Scores of people will no doubt call to mind "Marg Gage. "Alec," Howard and "Bill" Chittenden and the genial, witty cit constable, Ara Sprague, "Duff" Howard, who was an accomplished machinist. He was at one time foreman of the extensive engine works of Jackson & Wiley of this city. The last I knew of him he held a responsible position in the Alger Iron Works, Boston. Daniel was, during the Civil War and for a time after, of the firm of Howard & Welch, claim agents, this city. Alexander K. Howard married for his first wife, Mary, daughter of Charles Lamed, and for his second wife, Lizzie, daughter of Dr. J. L. Whiting. One of the daughters, the eldest, was at that time or shortly after, married to a lawyer, Mr. C. K. Green. The other two (with whom I was on friendly terms), were Cornelia and Julia. They were prominent in that bright galaxy of femininity that dominated Fort Street and Jefferson Avenue which was composed of (besides themselves) Eliza and Mary Inman, Frances Gillett, Marion Forsythe, Eliza (Puss) Knapp, Mary and Julia Palmer, Harriet, Eliza and Mary Williams. Rose and Alexandrine Sheldon, Louisa Heath, Jane Cook, Martha Palmer, Mary (John) Palmer, Sarah Gilman, Mary Larncd, Lizzie Whiting, Mary Brooks and others. Three or four of the young ladies named did not live on Fort Street but in the immediate vicinity, but for all that they were noted to l>e of the Fort Street crowd. Cornelia Howard married John W. Strong and Julia Howard married Walter Ingersoll. Brig.-Gen. Henry R. Mizner. U. S. A., married one of the daughters (Lizzie) of Colonel Howard. She was not of my time, but later, though I knew her and of her and was at the general's wedding. The Brady Guards above referred to of which Alexander Howard was first lieutenant, did not include among its numbers any members of the old original Brady Guards, except Captain Gage and Lieutenant Howard, but was recruited from the general public, the same as Uncle Sam gets all his soldiers. Lieutenant Hiram Dryer, of the regular service, was, after a little, assigned to this company of Brady Guards as second lieutenant. Dryer had been a soldier in the ranks in Mexico, where he especially distinguished himself. It is reported of him that in the course of a siege of some fortification by General Taylor a volunteer was called for to plant "Old Glory" on the wall or embankment of the fort. Hiram Dryer volunteered and did it, in the face of the enemy's fire. He was made second lieutenant in the regular service on the soot. He came north and was detailed to join the Brady Guards at Fort Mackinac. He afterward served in the Civil War as a captain in some regular regiment (I forget now which). When Governor Blair and party (of which I was one) visited the Army of the Potomac just after the battle of Chancellorsville, Captain Dryer entertained us hospitably in his tent. He was a thorough soldier. Perhaps some may remember him. He married a daughter of the late John J. Garrison of this city. I think they are both dead. I am indebted to Hon. Peter White, of Marquette, for the incident in regard to Captain Dryer's experience in Mexico. Colonel Howard was the chief marshal on the occasion of the celebration of Cadillac's day, July 24, 1858, aided by Colonel Cyrus W. Jackson and Signor Angelo Paldi. John Patterson was mayor at the time. They had an immense procession, which was participated in by the mayor, common council and officers, Detroit Light Guard. Scott Guard and Shield's Guards, the volunteer fire department with twelve hand engines and one hook and ladder company, all the organized labor societies, and thousands of other citizens. The exercises came oft in Firemen's Hall. lion. C. L. Walker was the orator of the day. E. N. Lacroix delivered an address in French. A grand banquet was given in the evening at the Russell House, at which Judge B. F. H. Witherell presided, assisted by Joseph Campau, Maurice Moran, Pierre Desnoyers, Charles Beaubien, Richard Godfroy, William Woodbridge, Shubael Conant, Henry Chipman. David Cooper, Levi Cook. Ross Wilkins, S. V. R. Trowbridge, and others. Rev. F. A. Blades pronounced the benediction. D. Bethune Dutrield composed a poem for the occasion, which he read. A record of the toasts given and speeches delivered on that occasion is not preserved, but it is safe to have a good time was had. Cyrus W. Jackson was of the firm of Jackson & Wiley, the iron founders and steam engine builders, and Signor Paldi was an esteemed Italian citizen, who had been bandmaster of the Fifth United States Infantry, coming here with that regiment before the Mexican War. He served with his regiment through that war, and when it closed, his term of service having expired, he made this city his home. He built and resided in the first house erected in the vicinity of the Detroit Barracks, with the exception of the Jasperson residence. The Signor's house was of the Italian villa order, and stood on Catherine Street, opposite the barracks. The Jasperson dwelling was on the northwest corner of Russell and Catherine Streets, and quite unpretentious. In this connection it may not be out of place to give the following from the Grand Rapids Sunday Herald of June 5, 1904, over the signature of General Isaac D. Toll, of Petoskey, president Michigan Association of Veterans of Mexico. It relates some of the operations of the Fifteenth United States in Mexico: Editor Grand Rapids Herald—The Herald of May 15, under caption, "Horse in the World's History," you give General Scott's horse "Rolla" the distinction of being a "beautiful bay." Now the horse he rode at Contreras and Churubusco was a very large horse, quite eighteen hands high, but roughly coated, very dark brown, anything but handsome, angular in shape. Captain R. E. Lee. who rode a magnificent bay, pointed out to us of the Fifteenth U. S. Infantry, and led the way to the Mexican rear, commanded in person by Santa Anna, then rejoined General Scott at Nativitar. Major Mills of ours rode a hard-mouthed mare to his death (he was unable to control her) at the city gate (San Antonio). I knowing her, warned him against his joining the dragoons, and had before done so. Redpath in his school history, page 287, writes of the "heights of Churubusco carried by Generals Twiggs and Pillow." Now the battlefield was mostly as level and flat as land could be. There were heights at Contreras on August 19th and 20th, 1847, we bad to cross the rock pedregal and storm the entrenched works on the morning of the 20th. Colonel Riley in the van, your then captain, afterwards Colonel McReynolds, had command of Company K, Third Dragoons, could, if still with us, corroborate the above. I had command of Company E, Fifteenth U. S-, and the colors in these affairs, and lost severely at Churubusco. Yours truly, Isaac D. Toll, President Michigan Association of Veterans of Mexico. Petoskey, Mich. This pedregal was a great obstacle in an advance on the Acapulco Road through San Antonio directly to the southern gate of Mexico City. It was an immense field of broken lava lying in front of the Mexican General Valencia's camp, battle of Contreras. August 20th. 1847. It was in this battle that Captain F. D. Calender's battery did such good service. Captain Callcnder, before the Mexican war. had command of the Dearborn Arsenal.