Honolulu Rifles
Honolulu Rifles | |
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![]() Honolulu Rifles in full regalia | |
Leader | Charles T. Gulick (first company) Volney V. Ashford (second company) |
Dates of operation | 1857–1874 1884–1890 |
Flag | ![]() |
The Honolulu Rifles were the name of two volunteer military companies of the
First company
In 1857, the First Hawaiian Cavalry, an artillery and infantry company which was originally established in 1852, was renamed the Honolulu Rifles and changed to solely an infantry unit. The unit was first commanded by Captain R. Coady, and later by Captain Charles T. Gulick. It was disbanded in 1874 after failing to respond during the Honolulu Courthouse riot, although their founding constitution stipulated that only the government could call on them and no command was ever received at the time of the insurrection.[1][2][3][4]
Second company
The second company was reorganized in the spring of 1884 with the approval of the cabinet and King
The ranks of the reorganization grew significantly after January 1887 when it adopted a resolution to become subject to an act of 1886 "To organize the military forces of the kingdom". By March of that year it split into two companies, A and B, forming a battalion. The following month, Portuguese residents formed another company that became company C by May 25. The act of 1886 required a Commander-in-Chief of the rank of
The Honolulu Rifles were disbanded on August 23, 1890.[6][7]
At what point the Rifles became part of the Hawaiian League known as the Committee of Safety is still somewhat unclear. More than likely the expansion of the company coincided with the formation of the Hawaiian league.[2]
References
- OCLC 5619569.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-87022-433-1.
- ^ "Honolulu Rifles, Attention!!". The Polynesian. March 14, 1857. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
- ^ "The Past Week.: Death of R. Coady, Esq". The Polynesian. July 24, 1858. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
- ^ Dukas 2004, p. 156.
- ^ Kuykendall 1967, pp. 465–466.
- ^ Hawaii. Dept. of Foreign Affairs (1892). Report of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. p. 44.