Saturday Evening Gazette/June 7, 1856/Boston Light Infantry

Boston Light Infantry.—This popular corps under command of Capt. C. O. Rogers, paraded as a battallion on Wednesday, and came into line on the common with ninety eight guns, subsequently increased to a hundred. Their full dress uniform, and bear skin caps, gave to the column as they marched through the streets to the music of Dodworth’s celebrated band, a very fine appearance, and the sidewalk committee unanimously agreed that it was the best—as it was in point of numbers, the largest—parade ever made by the Tigers. In the afternoon Major General Edmands and staff, reviewed the corps in presence of thousands of our citizens, and in the evening the corps dined at the American House, where speeches and sentiments were made by Capt. Charles O. Rogers, Maj. Gen. Edmands, Hon. John C. Park, ex-Lieut. W. W. Clapp, Jr., Major Reed, Lieut. W. W. Cook, Lieut. Hathaway, of the Worcester City Guard, and others.

One pleasing feature of the parade, was the appearance in the ranks of Hon. John C. Park, a past commander, who covered his son in the fourth section, and gave assurance that he has not forgotten his drill. Two years since Col. Frank Boyd expressed the hope when Capt. Rogers assumed the command, and turned out sixty-two, that he would never heard less than sixty-two quicksteps behind him. It was a prophetic wish, for every parade has witnessed a gradual increase, and the number is only limited by Gen. Stone, who cannot spare at present another stand of arms.