Archives For Col. Charles A. Ranlett Commandant of Boston School Cadets
Ranlett – Commandant of Boston School Cadets. This is pretty much the last lot of the Ranlett Archive; containing photos, letters, and news clippings pertaining to Col. Ranlett’s time working with the Boston School Cadets. Said to be the largest organization like it of its time; a 19,000-boy unit made up of Boston area high school cadets, who trained under the leadership of Col. Ranlett, and other instructors from pre-WWI into the 1930’s. Also included is an assortment of material from other members of the Ranlett family. The most notable items are photographed and listed. June 1926 letter from Mass. USMC Marine Barracks, Quantico, Va. That Ranlett may have used to help structure the Boston Cadet program, 1929, 8 pages. 1930 letter from a WWI British officer, and author of the book, A Housemaster’s Letters. Sending his book to the Col. Recalling their meeting at an American Legion Convention. Hurst Hayes writes proposing a joint book project based on a correspondence on many subjects of everyday views. Comes with stamped cover. 1933 letter (copy of Ranlett’s) to the editor of the Boston Herald, commenting about an article in the paper relating to Wellesley female students, being pacifist using a story from the early 1700’s New England Indian attack, and the sudden outbreak of war in the 1930’s times, etc. With his printed letter in the newspaper, and original article clipping. 1933 letter, from Captain, James J. Kelley who writes, admiring the colonel’s strength of character and spirit, etc.. The colonel was Kelley’s first military instructor. Thousands of young men in Boston will always remember Col. R. For the indelible impressions he made on their plastic minds when they were in school.. 1934 letter from Dr. Responding to an article in the Boston Herald titled “Time to Face Facts and Try Method of Forebearers” by Paine. He mentions several positive and negative opinions he had received while responding to Ranlett’s congratulation for publishing Paine’s article. 1936 letter to the Lowell Electric Light Corp. Regarding a recent bill rec’d by R. What a way to gripe! Great letter we should all use. 1937 letter published in the news paper, about Ownership of Firearms -Small Factor in Crime, by the colonel. Another good article, by a military man, and avid hunter, collector of his times. Includes another related letter written to him. 1937 letter (copy) written by Ranlett, regarding the Billerica Historical Society. Nice lot of news clipping about Col. Ranlett and the Boston School Boy Cadet units, his retirement, sword presentation, and more. Cabinet photo of son Charles A. 1890, photogravure of Jr. Receiving an award for excellent horsemanship, a snapshot of Jr. And sister, and a letter from Jr. To the colonel, not dated -about family matters. Cavalry reserve papers from 1931, and Army extension course, cavalry school, same era. WWII news clipping when Jr. Received the Legion of Merit as executive for the Inspector Gen. At Far East Air Force, Tokyo HQ, 1951. Lot has some misc medals, and insignia for Charles Jr. Was commissioned a 2nd Lt of cavalry reserve in 1926, worked with the CCC as a co. Commander at Vancouver Barracks, WA, studied Civil Engineering, engaged in Railroad construction, graduate of the Army Air Force Administrative Inspector’s school. Ranlett in his early years, historical content, etc. Photos of riding and jumping fences on his horse. Lot of misc papers, documents, pamphlets, etc. An 1890 story written by Col. Ranlett entitled, The last De Courcey. ” “I contributed to our monthly publication the Newton High School Review, but for some reason this was not submitted C. A. R. Apparently a story of an army officer who is learning to fence with a master swordsman. 30+ pages written in pencil. 2 small notebooks of writings, Promotion on the Field or A Young Virginian. 41 pages, A Civil War period story. Probably another HS writing, more. Another small notebook – a list of addresses, including army officers, family and many others. Small lot of misc. Historical writings by Seth Alonzo Ranlett, the colonel’s father (the adjutant of the 36th Mass Vols, during the Civil War). Writing not Civil War related. Interesting material on New England Indians, history, more. BRIEF HISTORY OF COLONEL CHARLES A. Ranlett, (1874 – 1961) was the son of Captain Seth Alonzo Ranlett, of the 36. Infantry Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. He was born in Melrose, Mass. And graduated from Newton High School in 1893. He later attended the Massachusetts Agricultural College at Amherst, Mass. From June 1894 to January 1897, he was a cadet at the U. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and while at the academy was thrown from a horse and injured in such a way that he could not complete his course. He was discharged from the academy on that account. Unable to enter the army during the Spanish American War, he became a reporter on military affairs for the Boston Journal and went south to cover stories as a correspondent. After the war, he worked for the Boston Transcript and began writing numerous articles for magazines in a variety of subjects. From 1902, to 1904, he was a brevet captain of the Virginia volunteers and commandant at the Bethel Military Academy, Warrenton, Virginia. Ranlett stated in his photo journal, The drill of the platoon of cadet cavalry at Bethel Military Academy was to be the most enjoyable part of my work.. This cadet troop was known as the Col. Mosby Troop, and at the time I commanded it Col. Mosby’s grandson Cadet Mosby Campbell, rode in its ranks. Most of the cadets were descendants of Confederate soldiers, and on drill ground at the Academy was the identical spot upon which the “Black Horse Cavalry” was organized in 1858. He later was an instructor at Mitchell’s Boy School, Billerica, and the Lasell (young ladies) Seminary at Auburndale, and then he taught fencing to the Boston Cadets (this including many of the Boston area high schools that maintained military courses, from 1904 to 1908 as Instructor of military drill). In 1908, Ranlett of Somerville’s Co. Massachusetts Infantry was elected 2. Lieutenant, and to captain of Co. In 1912, the governor of Mass. Ordered Captain Ranlett’s company to put down the Lawrence textile strike, which became a very dangerous situation where Ranlett had to order a bayonet charge where many were hurt. The mob was bent on destroying mill property and blood was drawn forcing the strikers to yield their ground. Interestingly, at the time, being a very cold winter, the troops caps were referred to as “Coonskin caps, ” these being army issue muskrat fur caps for winter use. This same company was called out to perform duty at the great Salem Fire in 1914, and remained there for 2 months assisting many of the homeless who were forced to live in tents that had been sit up on the Salem common. During the time of the Mexican Border trouble, he had resigned from the Mass. National Guard and was sent to El Paso, Texas, in a civilian capacity in the employ of the federal government. When the World War began, and back in the army, Ranlett was sent to Plattsburg, New York for training, and transferred back to Fort Devens, Mass with the 303. Infantry Regiment, of the 76. Division, as a major commanding one of that regiment’s battalions. He was later transferred as a liaison officer in the 2. Army, G 1 section. He was chosen because officers appointed to those staff positions had to have a fluent command of the French language, and much possessing experience in military matters. After the war, Col. Ranlett would receive a great deal of praise by many well-known personages, both military and civilian, when he took charge of military instruction in Boston schools, and at the time of his retirement as master in 1933, he headed a staff of 16 instructors which taught 19,000 boys, the largest organization of its kind in the world. Some of the praise came in the form of personal letters like, General Malin Craig, Col. Thomas Bentley Mott, General William H. Bisbee who has been an officer in the 18. US Infantry during the Civil War, Indian Wars, Spanish War, and Philippine Insurrection, and was still in service during WWI. The author of the book, Through Four American Wars. In retirement, Colonel Ranlett’s focus turned to big game hunting, collection firearms, and many other military and historical objects. He was an avid writer, contributing many articles to sporting magazines. Excellent provenance for any of the items related to the Ranlett family listed on this site. Ranlett married the daughter of Frank M. Small, postmaster of Cambridge, in 1902. As coincidence would have it, Frank Small, who as an enlisted man was General Burnside’s clerk during the Civil War, enlisted on the same day, in the same company as his father, Seth A. Ranlett, into the 36. Mass Volunteers in 1862. (Much of this taken from news articles, and personal notes form his photo journal).
