The document “The Provisional Brigade: The New York Guard on State Active Duty in World War I” provides a comprehensive history of the 1st and 2nd Provisional Regiments of the New York Guard, which protected critical infrastructure throughout the state after the New York National Guard was federalized in 1917. It explains how, under Brigadier General F. DeForest Kemp, the two regiments formed a Provisional Brigade responsible for guarding aqueducts, canals, railroads, power plants, and munitions factories across New York. The 1st Provisional Regiment, led by Colonel John B. Rose, defended the Croton Aqueduct and Ashokan Reservoir system, securing 98 miles of the city’s water supply and 247 vulnerable points. The 2nd Provisional Regiment, commanded by Major George J. Winslow, patrolled over 600 miles of the New York State Canal System, including major waterways and industrial sites from Albany to Niagara Falls. The Brigade’s 2,000 men endured severe winter conditions, long guard rotations, and the 1918 influenza epidemic, which claimed 36 lives. Despite shortages of uniforms and equipment, the troops maintained communications networks, constructed barracks, and coordinated with the Red Cross and Women’s Motor Corps for medical and logistical support. The report documents acts of heroism, arrests of enemy agents, and lifesaving responses to fires, train wrecks, and security threats. Disbanded in early 1919, the Provisional Brigade’s service ensured the uninterrupted flow of water, transportation, and industry during wartime—proving that the New York Guard’s work on the home front was both demanding and essential to the nation’s war effort.
This historical article is available exclusively to our Patreon members at the Private Tier ($1) and above, as our way of thanking them for their incredible support in keeping StateDefenseForce.com online and thriving. Their contributions directly fund our web hosting and domain costs, our web designer and maintainer, and the dedicated staff of The Center for State Defense Force History who research, obtain, and post these valuable historical documents. Thanks to their continued generosity, we’re able to preserve and share the legacy of America’s State Defense Forces while expanding our mission to educate the public and strengthen support for these vital organizations nationwide.
Click Here to Join Our Patreon Program or Upgrade Your Membership