The Salem Guards was an independent local military organization. It was organized by John Leverett Clendenin, who was for many years the most prominent man in Salem. The Salem Guards Artillery company was designed for the duty of guarding the town of Salem, New Hampshire. Therefore the town paid for the services at muster and on other occassions. The armament consisted of a six-pounder brass cannon, which was very carefully lodged in a gunhouse built opposite Abraham H. Merrill.
The uniform of the Guards was the crowning glory of the whole equipment. It consisted of white trousers, with a broad stripe down the side, tucked into high-top boots of hard leather. These boots were polished to a brilliant luster for exhibition days. The coats were of light blue, cut full below the belt so as to flare out slightly. The shoulders were ornamented with large epaulets, while at the waist was worn a belt and sword. Above the artistic array of finery appeared a black hat similar to that worn by the hussars. One of the members of Guards described it as "a stovepipe hat without a brim, and having a very small visor." On the top of the hat, at the front, was a huge yellow plume, with long drooping pendants which shed over the whole hat and responded gracefully to the solicitations of the amorous breese.