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. 74 na 1,pt.1 5034
M. D.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01188 2286
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2. el am 2
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
York State
1
ADJUTANT GENERAL
office
OF THE 1861
STATE OF NEW YORK.
TRANSMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE JANUARY 15, 1862.
599
ALBANY : C. VAN BENTHUYSEN, PRINTER. 1862.
State of New york.
No. 25.
IN ASSEMBLY,
January 15, 1862.
COMMUNICATION
FROM THE GOVERNOR, TRANSMITTING THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL.
STATE OF NEW YORK: EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, ALBANY, January 15th, 1862.
To the Assembly :
I transmit herewith the Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State.
The unusual importance of the subjects embraced in this document, and the clearness with which they are presented, will obtain for it that consideration which it so well deserves.
E. D. MORGAN.
1755034
REPORT.
GENERAL HEAD QUARTERS, r STATE OF NEW YORK, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, ALBANY, January 14th, 1862. His Excellency E. D. MORGAN,
Commander-in-Chief of the Military Forces of the State : SIR :- Pursuant to the provisions of the law of Congress " establishing an uniform militia throughout the United States," I have the honor to submit the following
REPORT :
For the first time in our history; it has become neces- sary to use the military power and resources of the gov- ernment, to suppress an insurrection designed to subvert the Constitution and destroy the Union.
A movement so formidable in its character and objects, could not be resisted with the ordinary means at the dis- posal of the Government, and it at once proceeded to organize a force commensurate with the magnitude of the work.
In the short space that has elapsed since the fall of Sumter, this has been accomplished. An army of six hundred thousand volunteers, raised and equipped since that event, are now in service, and attest the vigor of the
6
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
administration, and no less the power and resources of the loyal states.
In these efforts New York has borne a part worthy of her position, and I have the honor to submit to your Ex- cellency, as Commander-in-chief, the following report rela- ting to the organization of the volunteer forces from this State, called into service, and to the condition and strength of the militia, as required by law.
On the 15th of April last the President of the United States issued his proclamation, calling for seventy-five thousand of the militia of the several States of the Union, to suppress unlawful combinations and to cause the laws to be duly executed.
In the circular of the Secretary of War of the same date, this force was apportioned according to population, the quota of New York being fixed at seventeen regiments, or in the aggregate, thirteen thousand two hundred and eighty officers and men.
On the 16th of April the Legislature passed the act entitled " an act to authorize the embodying and equip- ment of a volunteer militia, and to provide for the public defence," and on the same day the Board of State Officers, constituted by that act, of which your Excellency was a member and the presiding officer, held its first meeting.
A despatch from the Secretary of War having been read, announcing that a requisition had been made on this State, the following resolution was unanimously adopted, in anti- cipation of the reception of the official notice :
" Resolved, That seventeen regiments of seven hundred and eighty men each be enrolled and mustered into the service under the act entitled 'An act to authorize the
ADJUTANT GENERAL.
embodying and equipment of a volunteer militia, and to provide for the public defence.'"
Provision was also made for the transportation to Wash- ington of such portion of the organized militia of the State as your Excellency should think proper to send forward.
On the 17th the formal requisition was submitted to the Board, and on the same day the Seventh regiment of militia (National Guards) was ordered to march, and on the 19th left for Washington, followed on the 21st by the Sixth, Twelfth and Seventy-First. The Fifth, Eighth, Sixty- Ninth, Thirteenth, Twentieth, Twenty-Fifth and Twenty- Eighth were also ordered forward, and proceeded to Balti- more and Washington soon afterwards.
To these regiments, together with those sent forward at the same time from Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, be- longs the honor of having been the first to march. The great benefit which they rendered to the country at this time, in the tender of their services, can hardly be esti- mated. The city of Baltimore was in a state of insurrec- tion; all communication with the Capital had been cut off, and the state of public feeling in Maryland and Virginia was such as to justify the apprehension that it would be at once occupied by a rebel force. The foresight which led your Excellency to anticipate the danger, and the prompt- ness and alacrity with which your commands were obeyed, saved the country from a terrible disaster. Conduct so honorable to our citizen soldiery should have some appro- priate recognition, and I respectfully recommend that these regiments be allowed to place on their regimental colors, the simple but significant inscription,
"WASHINGTON, APRIL, 1861."
8
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
The following is a list of the militia regiments which served for three months, at the expiration of which time they returned, and were discharged:
No.
Name of colonel.
Date of departure.
How armed.
Strength.
5
C. Schwarzwalder_
1861, April 27_
Muskets, 1842.
600
6
Jos. C. Pinckney _ _
do
21
550
7
Marshall Lefferts
do
19
1,050
S
Geo. Lyons
do
23_
Muskets, 1842.
900
12
Daniel Butterfield.
do
21.
do
do
900
13
Abel Smith
do
23.
do
do
486
20
Geo. W. Pratt
May
7
1
785
25
Michael K. Bryan
April 23_
Muskets, 1842.
500
28
Michael Bennett
do
30.
do
do
563
69
Michael Corcoran _
do
29_
do
do
1,050
71
A. S. Vosburgh
do
21_
do
do
950
Total
7,334
1
The plan of organization for the first quota of seventeen regiments of volunteers from this State, was in accordance with the act of April 16th, promulgated by general orders No. 13 from this department, on the 18th of the same month. To meet a constitutional requirement, the elective principle was recognized in the choice of officers, and the force was to be mustered into the State service for two years, subject at any time to be turned over to the govern- ment.
The enlistments under general orders No. 13 proceeded with great rapidity. On the 22d of April (only a week subsequent to the proclamation of the President) a report from this department showed that eighty-two companies had been accepted; and at a meeting of the State Board on that day, a resolution was offered by your Excellency, and adopted, " to organize the balance of the force, provided for in the act of April 16th."
9
ADJUTANT GENERAL.
Under this resolution, and the proclamation subsequently issued, the remainder of the force authorized by the act of April 16th, and not called for by general orders No. 13, was ordered to be enrolled and organized as provided in general orders No. 17, promulgated on the 25th. These increased the force to an aggregate of thirty-eight regi- ments, irrespective of the militia regiments then in service. The War Department having expressed some reluctance to receive the additional regiments, a member of the board proceeded to Washington and succeeded, with some diffi- culty, in obtaining their acceptance. The first of these regiments left the State on the 29th of April, the last on the 12th of July. In addition to these, the 39th, 40th, 41st and 42d regiments, organized under the auspices of the Union defence committee of the city of New York, and the 2d, 9th, 14th and 79th militia, which volunteered for the war, and are now known as the 79th, 82d, 83d and 84th New York volunteers, were sent forward in July. Thus in less than three months forty-six regiments, containing in the aggregate thirty-seven thousand six hundred and eighty-eight men were enrolled, organized, equipped, and turned over to the government.
To prepare this large force to take the field was no ordi- nary task, and the promptness with which it was executed reflects the highest credit on the State authorities, and on the officers composing the staff of your Excellency as Com- mander-in-chief. The duties appertaining to these posi- tions on a peace establishment had never been such as to require either continuous application or an intimate acquaintance with the details of military affairs. There
10
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
was, therefore, at the outset, a want of that practical knowledge which is acquired only from a wide experince, and without which complete success in any undertaking- is rendered uncertain. That the difficulties arising from this cause should have been overcome, and thirty-thousand of our citizens placed in the field in so short a time, is evi- dence of the zeal and ability which was displayed in all the departments connected with the military service.
Another and a greater difficulty grew out of the scarcity of improved arms, equipments of every kind, and clothing All these had to be supplied before our volunteers could take the field with any prospect of rendering effective service. In regard to arms, those obtained from govern- ment and those belonging to the State, though in the main of inferior quality, were at first the only sources of supply. Subsequently, arms of an improved pattern, received from Europe on contracts authorized by the State Board, were issued to a few of the regiments. Uniforms, other neces- sary clothing, and the accoutrements to make up the complete equipment of the soldier, were supplied on con- tracts entered into and executed in the short period within which the first levy was completed.
The following is a list of the regiments sent forward up to the 30th day of July, in addition to the eleven regiments of militia previously mentioned :
11
ADJUTANT GENERAL.
No.
Name of colonel.
Date of de- parture.
How armed.
Strength
1
Wm. H. Allen
Muskets, 1842
846
Jos. B. Carr
May 19
do do
791
3
Fredl'k Townsend
June
3
Enfield rifles .
790
A. W. Taylor.
Muskets, 1842
730
5
Ab'ın Duryee.
do
do
842
6
Win. Wilson.
June 12
do
1840
780
Louis Blenker
June
3
Rush. C. Hawkins
do
5.
do
do
786
10
W. W. McChesney
do
5
do
do
713
11
E. E. Ellsworth .
May
1
Muskets, 1842
778
13
I. F. Quinby.
do
29
do
1840
780
14
James McQuade
June
17
do
1842
780
15
J. MeL. Murphy
do 29
do
do
777
16
Thos. A. Davies
do
25
do
do
776
17
H. S. Lansing
do
21
do
do
803
18
Wm. A. Jackson.
do
18
Enfield rifles
19
John S. Clark
7
Muskets, 1840
20)
Max Weber.
do
19
do
1542
21
Wm. F. Rogers
do
18
do
23
H. C. Hoffman
July
5
do
do
784
24
Timothy Sullivan
do
2
do
do
25
James E. Kerrigan.
do
3
do:
do
177 772 861
23
D. Donnelly.
June
24
Remington rifles
29
A. Von Steinwebr
Muskets, IS42
30
Edward Frisby
do
do
31
C. E. Pratt
do
24
do
do
32
R. Matheson
do
do
33
R. F. Taylor.
July
S
do
do
665 783 688
36
C. II. Innes
do
12
do
do
37
J. H. McCunn.
June
22
do
do
803
38
J. H. H. Ward.
do 23
do
do
772 939
40
E. J. Riley
July
1
Muskets, 1842
1,033
41
L. Von Gilsa
June
26
Two comp's rifles, rest muskets, '42.
1.041
42
Milton Cogswell
do
30
1.048
79
I. J. Stevens.
do
4
791
S2
G. W. B. Tompkins
May
. .
Muskets, 1840, 1842
1,040
83
John W. Stiles
May
27
Su0
$4
Alfred MI. Wood
£59
Total
37,088
26
Wm. H. Christian
June
20
do
do
27
HI. W. Slocum.
July
9
do
do
782 778 782 774 765
34
Wm. Ladue
do
2
do
do
35
Wm. C. Brown
do
10
do
do
39
F. D'Utassy.
do
27
Harper's Ferry rifles
739 SiO 777 780
Walter Phelps, Jr.
do
28
. do
do
1,073
12
Ezra L. Walrath
do
29
do
1842
783
do do
8
John E. Bendix
1861.
. .
The power of the State officers, under the act of April 16th, to raise and organize troops, ceased with the depart- ure of the last of the thirty-eight regiments for the field. Since that period, the requisitions of the General Govern- ment, made either directly on your Excellency, or in the form of authorizations to individuals to raise regiments or companies, have furnished the only authority. These inde-
do
27
do
28
do
24
do
do
12
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
pendent organizations were afterwards turned over to your Excellency by general order No. 71 from the War Depart- . ment, to be organized and prepared for service in the man- ner judged most advantageous for the interest of the Gen- eral Government. In this way, all organizations in the State were finally brought under the provisions of orders issued from this department, so far as these were not in conflict with Government orders.
The commencement of the organization of the large force which has been placed in service from this State, since the departure of the thirty-eight regiments, dates from the combat at Bull Run, on the 21st July. The result of that unfortunate affair at once convinced the Government of the necessity of a large increase of our army ; and the act of Congress, approved July 22d, authorizing the President to accept the services of five hundred thousand volunteers, invested him with the most ample powers for that object.
From the 22d of July to the 30th of August, authoriza- tions were granted to individuals to raise more than sev- enty-five regiments, including infantry, cavalry and artil- lery; and, without reference to these, authority was granted to your Excellency, by the Secretary of War, on the 30th of July, to raise twenty-five additional regiments, which was subsequently increased to an aggregate of one hundred and twenty-five thousand men. As has been before stated, however, all the independent organizations were placed under the control of your Excellency, and they will there- fore be treated as a portion of the regular levy.
The enlistments under the permission granted on the 30th day of July were at first extremely slow. On the
------
13
ADJUTANT GENERAL.
30th of August, a month after the promulgation of general orders 7S, there was not, at either of the principal depots, the material for a single regiment. This came from no reluctance on the part of our citizens to volunteer at the call of the Government, but from causes which, it was evi- dent, could be removed. Perhaps the most potent of these was the desire to organize complete regiments in counties and districts-an arrangement likely to fail, should the recruits go by companies or squads to a principal depot, to be there assigned arbitrarily to regiments, as the good of the service might seem to require. Then a large proportion of the volun- teers comprising the regiments organized under general or- ders No. 78, having families dependent on them, they were de- sirous of remaining near them as long as possible, to arrange and provide for their support. To meet this and other objections against the plan of organization, your Excellency decided to authorize regimental camps in localities where there appeared to be a reasonable prospect of success. In this way the plan was rendered more acceptable in the interior of the State; and the active aid and efforts of pro- minent individuals and of the local authorities were enlisted to fill up the regiments in their respective counties and districts. Nor did this measure, on the whole, involve any additional expense-the price for subsistence being the same as that paid at the regular depots. At first, tents were used. Subsequently, permission was given to occupy the Government forts and barracks, and in other cases quar- ters were furnished without charge. In only a few instan- ces have the Government officers been called on to pay for the erection of quarters.
14
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
By thus modifying the plan of organization so as to meet the views and feelings of our rural population, enlistments were greatly stimulated; and during the months of Sep- tember, October and November, no less than thirty-five regiments of infantry, three regiments of artillery and seven of cavalry, including such of the independent organizations as had been completed, were sent into the field.
In addition to the regiments which have been raised in this State under the several requisitions from Government, a large number of recruits have been drawn from our popu- lation for regiments in service. Of the number of these this Department has no positive knowledge, because officers recruiting have proceeded directly on orders issued from the headquarters of the army, and have not reported here. . In addition to volunteers furnished for the recruiting service, a number of company organizations have, at differ- ent periods, proceeded to Washington without orders and without filing with this Department their muster-rolls, or any other evidence which would show their strength.
In the progress of the levy made under the first call of the Government, the State authorities derived essential aid from the efforts of the Union Defence Committee of the city of New York.
Created and called into active exertion at the great meet- ing of the 20th of April, its action at once inspired the confidence of the community, and greatly expedited the organization of the large force which was contributed by our commercial capital.
The following is a list of the regiments sent into service from July 30th, 1861, to January 1st, 1862:
.
ADJUTANT GENERAL.
15
No.
Name of Colonel.
Date of de- parture.
How armed.
Strength
43
Francis L. Vinton . s. W. Stryker ... . .
Sept. 19
Muskets, 1842
44
Oct. 21
Springfield rifle
45
G. Von Amsberg. . .
do
9
Remington.
47
Henry Moore.
do 16
45
Jas. H. Perry.
do
17
Enfield rifles
49
D. D. Bidwell .. . .
do
21
Muskets, 1842
50
Chas. B. Stuart.
do
21
Muskets, 1822
51
Edward Ferrero ... Paul Frank .
do
11
2 companies rifles, rest muskets, 1842
53
do
16
do
10
55
Sept.
1
56
Vov.
7
57
do
12
Enfield rifles.
58
do
7
Enfield rifles.
59
do
30
2 companies rifles, rest muskets, 1842
Enfield rifles.
62
Enfield rifles
63 64
Nov. 29
Enfield rifles and muskets, 1842.
65
Oct. 10
2 companies rifles, rest muskets, 1840 French rifled muskets.
732 733
70
Aug. . .
Armed by United States
.314
73
Sept. ..
French ritles
956
74
do
Armed by United States
.344
75
John A. Dodge ..
Nov. 30
Muskets, 1842
854
77
James B. MeKean. George W. Pratt ... U. L. Davis.
Oct.
24
2 companies rifles, rest muskets, 1842
S37
85
Dec. 3
Enfield rifles and foreign muskets
992
Só
B. P. Bailey ..
Nuv. 23
Smooth bore muskets
944
87
Dec. 2
French rifled muskets.
789
53
Stephen A. Dodge. Henry M. Baker
do
16
Austrian rifles
731
89
HI. S. Fairchild ....
do
6
Prussian muskets.
873
90
Jos. S. Morgan .... Jacob Van Zandt ..
do
20
Enfield rifles
914
Total
.... ..
36.025
1
A. T. MeReynolds.
Sept. ..
Sabres, pistols, and 9 carbines to each co .!
1,213
2
A. J. Morrison ....
Nov. 23
771
3
J. H. Van Alen Aug. ..
Subres and pistols
673
5
O. Deforest .
Nov. 1S
1,027
6 T. C. Devin.
Dec. 16
663
7 J. M. Davies ..
Sept. ..
599
8
Samuel J. Crooks .. Vov.
23
9 John Beardsley ....
Nov. 26
939
10 John C. Lemon .. .. Dec. 22
764
1st Battalion N. Y. Mounted Hitles, Maj. Dodge, 2 companies, sabres and carbines.
337
8,742
Engineer Regiment, E. W. Serrell, rifles and muskets, 1542.
355
67
Oct. . .
.344
63
Aug. ..
Springfield rifles
69
Nov. 18
2 companies E. rifles, rest muskets, 1842 Armed by United States.
71
George B. Hall ..
do
. .
do
..
Armed by United States
860 470 1,143 S40 822 857 952 831 928 317 830 S57 775
60)
do
4
61
L. J. D'Epineuil .. E. A. Kozluy ..... R. De Trobriand ... C. H. Van Wyck .. Samuel K. Zook ... W. Kryzanowski .. Wm. L. Tidball .... W. B. Hayward ... Spencer W. Cone .. J. Laflette Riker .. R. C. Enright. ...
Nov. 10
Muskets, 1812
52
Rudolph Rosa ...
Sept. 16
2 companies rifles, rest muskets, 1840 Muskets, 1835
834 977 933 S87 700 880 S26 873 832 741 945
2 companies rifles, rest muskets, 1842. 2 companies rifles, rest muskets, 1342. Enfield rifles
do
10
Dec. 10
66
Thos. J. Parker .. John Cochrane ... Jos. C. Pinckney .. Julins W. Adams .. Robert J. Betge ... Robert Nugent .... Daniel E. Sickles ..
do
27
Enfield rifles.
806
SO
Nelson Taylor. . . W. R. Brewster ... C. K. Graham ....
do
16
Enfield rifles
S55
91
4 C. F. Diekell Sept.
..
CAVALRY.
Nov. 16
1881.
· Estimated.
16
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
REGIMENTS OF ARTILLERY.
No.
Name of Colonel.
Date of de- parture.
How armed.
Strength
1
G. D. Bailey
1861. Oct.
29
Parrot rifled guns
1,268
2
Jeremiah Palmer ..
Nov. 7
1,205
BATTALIONS OF ARTILLERY.
333
2
Lt. Col. A. Brickel Maj. T. O'Neil .....
Dec. 16
353
BATTERIES OF ARTILLERY.
1
Capt. T.J. Kennedy
Dec. 3
154
2
do L. Schirmer .
133
3
do T. P. Mott ..
. .
117
4
do J. E. Smith . .
. .
119
5
do E. D. Tafts ..
.... .....
110
7
do Regan
Nov. 7
125
8
do B. Fitch
Nov.
7
160
9
do Morozowitz
Rocket Battallion, Maj. T. W. Lion, Dec. 7, 1861.
4,434
The complete and incomplete organizations which have not yet left the State, numbered in the aggregate. on the Ist of January, fourteen thousand two hundred and eighty- three men. These are quartered at the principal depots, and at the different regimental camps. The following list shows their strength, by companies and regiments:
No.
Name of colonel.
Depot.
Arm of service. Strength
76
N. W. Green
Albany
Infantry
797
81
Edwin Rose.
Oswego
do
793
92
Jonah Sanford
Potsdam
do
859
93
J. S. Crocker
Albany
do
. .
700
94
Il. K. Viele .
Sacketts Harbor.
do
.. ..
672
95
G. H. Bildle
New York.
do
. .
740
96
James Fairman
Plattsburgh
do
.. ..
673
97
Charles Wheelock
Boonville
do
.
7S5
Commandant.
J. B. Brown .
Syracuse
do
.
667
S. C. F. Thorndike
Malone
do
611
II. A. Weeks
New York.
do
6.5
J. Rorbach
Genesco.
do
....
491
W. Dutton ..
Lyors
do
357
G. E. Danforth
Cherry Valley
do
420
G. A. Sprog:
Buffalo, two regiments
do
1,043
E. Fardella.
Hancock
New York
Artillery .
433
T. B. Van Buren
do
407
Egloffstein
do
..
. .
. ..
C. Schneider.
do
.
do
...
425
. .
. ....
.
. . .. .
....
325
T. D. Doubleday
Infantry . do
369
6
do Bunting
..
108
101
163
1
Oct. 20
17
ADJUTANT GENERAL.
No.
Name of colonel.
Depot.
Arın of service. Strength
J. M. Fuller.
Le Roy
Cavalry
236
O. B. Pierce
Rome .
do
253
R. H. Shannon
New York
do
268
J. J. Viele.
Troy ..
do
163
J. Williams
Rochester
do
150
Confort
New York.
do
139
S. M. Elliott
do
do
132
Four companies
Albany
Artillery
279
M. W. Locke
Binghamton
do
101
E. S. Jenney
Syracuse
do
104
Unattached companies
145
Tetal.
14,283
The following is a recapitulation of the foregoing tables, and shows the aggregate number of volunteers furnished by this State up to January Ist, 1862, including the three months regiments, those enlisted for two and three years, and the incomplete organizations which have not yet left the State :
Arm of service.
Batte- Battal- rics. ions.
Regi- mente.
Strength.
Militia regiments enlisted for 3 months,
11
7,334
Volunteer reg'ts organized (infantry)
do
do do
(cavalry)
10
8,405
do
regiments do
(artillery)
2
2,473
do
battalions do
(artillery)
666
do
batteries do
(artillery)_
9
1,132
do
regiment do
(engineers).
1
855
do
rocket battalion
1
163
do
incomplete organizations still in the State
14,283
Recruits for regiments in the field esti- mated at
11.000
Total
9
4
112
120,316
do
battalions do
(cavalry)
S8
73,713
337
1
. . ..
To organize a force of over one hundred thousand men, called into service on a sudden emergency, under a peculiar form of government, and from a community but little [A. 25 .- S. 30.] 2
18
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
skilled in the science of war, has been a work involving much labor and responsibility. Nor is it strange that em- barrassing questions should have arisen, or that the func- tions of the State and General Government should have sometimes appeared in conflict.
But with the growth of a wider experience should come a clearer perception of what is required, to turn our resources in the proper direction, and to use them with the greatest possible benefit to the Government, and with the least expenditure of life and treasure.
New York stands prepared in the future as in the past, to support the Government to the full extent of her resour- ces. But if her efforts are to be rendered effective in the greatest possible degree, it will be necessary that the details of the service be governed by such rules as are best adapted to encourage and promote enlistments for an army composed almost exclusively of volunteers. There is a wide difference between such a force and one organized on a system of compulsory service. In the one case the plan of organization must be such as to inspire the confidence, and meet the objections of intelligent and reflecting men. In the other, it may be arbitrary in proportion to the means at hand to enforce compliance and obedience. In the first it must be a contract to which both parties give their assent. In the last it may be an exercise of power, which, however distasteful, there is no means of resisting. At the outset, the plan of voluntary enlistment was adop- ted, and on the assumption that it is to be continued dur- ing the war, I respectfully submit for consideration the following suggestions relating to future levies from this State.
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