USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The heroes of Albany. A memorial of the patriot-martyrs of the city and county of Albany, who sacrificed their lives during the late war in defense of our nation 1861-1865 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68
NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 08179800 5
5
1919
GANSEVOORT-LANSING COLLECTION given to the New York Public Library Astor Lenox and Tilden Foundations BY VICTOR HUGO PALTSITS under the terms of the last will and testament of" CATHERINE GANSEVOORT LANSING granddaughter of General Peter Gansevoort, junior and widow of the Honorable. Abraham Lansing of Album. New York
IKF (1).Y.)
1
IKF ( N. Y. Clar
GANSEVOORT LANSING COLLECTION
IHC NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
TE OF NEW
YOR
5
EXCELSIOR
POMOTOX CO
SOURGH
Y HARPOR
CEDA
CITY
U COUNTY OF ALBANY
1
THE HEROES OF ALBANY.
A 1 .
MEMORIAL
OF THE
Patriot-Martyrs of the City and County of Alvany,
WHO
SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES DURING THE LATE WAR IN DEFENCE OF OUR NATION,
1861-1865,
WITH A VIEW OF WHAT WAS DONE IN THE COUNTY TO SUSTAIN THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT; AND ALSO BRIEF HISTORIES OF THE ALBANY REGIMENTS.
BY RUFUS W. CLARK, D. D.
ALBANY: S. R. GRAY, PUBLISHER, NO. 38 STATE STREET. 1866.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 486654
ASTOR LEN X AND TILDEN FUDALIONS h
L
Entered according to act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, BY S. R. GRAY,
in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States, for the Northern District of New York.
C. YAY BENTHUYSEN & SONS, Printers, 'Stereotypers and Binders, . 40% Broadway, Albany.
TO THE
RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF THE
NOBLE PATRIOTS OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF ALBANY, WHO
SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES IN OUR DEFENCE AND FOR THE AMERICAN REPUBLIC,
THIS VOLUME
IS MOST RESPECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY
INSCRIBED.
CONTENTS.
Page.
INTRODUCTION I1
I .... MAJ. GEN. ORMSBY MACKNIGHT MITCHEL 53
II .... BRIG. GEN. JAMES C. RICE. 65
III .. .. BVT. BRIG. GEN. LEWIS BENEDICT 88
IV .... COL. EDWARD FRISBY 119
v .... COL. WILLIAM A. JACKSON 129
VI .... COL. JOHN WILSON . 141
VII .... COL. MICHAEL K. BRYAN 195
VIII. COL. HENRY VAN RENSSELAER 207
IX. COL. LEWIS OWEN MORRIS 214
225
XI. COL. JAMES D. VISSCHER
231
XII ....
COL. HOWARD CARROLL
236
XIII COL. GEORGE W. PRATT
240
XIV ....
LIEUT. COL. FREDERICK LYMAN TREMAIN 243
XV.
LIEUT. COL. MICHAEL B. STAFFORD 277
280
XVII ....
MAJ. GEORGE S. DAWSON 318
XVIII ... .
MAJ. EDWARD A. SPRINGSTEED
336
XIX ..
XX ....
MAJ. WILLIAM WALLACE
349
XXI .... MAJ. MILES McDONALD
355
XXII ....
MAJ. GEORGE WASHINGTON STACKHOUSE. 361
XXIII ....
ADJT. RICHARD MARVIN STRONG 362
XXIV ....
ADJT. JOHN H. RUSSELL 381
XXV ....
CAPT. JOHN DEPEYSTER DOUW 384
XXVI ....
CAPT. THEODORE C. ROGERS 395
XXVII .... CAPT. EUGENE VAN SANTVOORD 402
XXVIII ....
CAPT. WILLIAM JAMES TEMPLE 410
XXIX. CAPT. AUGUSTUS I. BARKER 414
XXX .... CAPT. JAMES KENNEDY
420
XXXI ....
CAPT. HARMON N. MERRIMAN 423
XXXII. CAPT. JOHN A. FEE 427
XXXIII .... CAPT. EDWARD B. CARROLL 433
XXXIV .... CAPT. DOUGLASS LODGE 435
XXXV .. .. CAPT. JOHN ARTHUR MORRIS 440
X .... COL. JAMES P. McMAHON
XVI ....
MAJ. CHIARLES ELISHA PRUYN
MAJ. JAMES HENRY BOGART 343
vi
CONTENTS.
Page.
XXXVI CAPT. JOHN McGUIRE 4.13
XXXVII .... CAPT. NATHANIEL WRIGHT. 445
XXXVIII. CAPT. JOHN SULLIVAN 447
XXXIX CAPT. ROBERT BARTLETT EVERETT 450
XL .... CAPT. ROBERT H. BELL
451
XLI ....
CAPT. DAVID BURHANS 453
XLII. . .
LIEUT. CHARLES WESLEY HEALD
454
XLIII. ..
LIEUT. JAMES WILLIAMSON 457
XLIV .. . .
LIEUT. WILLIAM H. POHLMAN 464
XLV .. ..
LIEUT. HENRY D. BROWER 499
514
XLVII .... LIEUT. JOHN M. DEMPSEY 524
XLVIII ... . LIEUT. WILLIAM EMMET ORR 539
XLIX . . . .
LIEUT. JAMES H. MORGAN ..
542
L ....
LIEUT. MICHAEL HENRY BARCKLEY 5.15
LI.
LIEUT. CHARLES SWAINE EVANS 5.19
LII.
LIEUT. CHARLES L. YEARSLEY 554
LIII ....
LIEUT. JOHN T. B. GOEWEY 559
LIV
LIEUT. JOHN B. READ
562
LV .... LIEUT. HENRY MCCONNELL
564
LVI ... .
LIEUT. MATTHEW BELL
565
LVII .. . .
LIEUT. LUTHER HECKLEY HILL
567
LVIII ....
LIEUT. WILLIAM PAIGE CLARK 570
571
LX ....
LIEUT. SYLVESTER BARRETT SHEPARD ...
573
LXI ....
LIEUT. PATRICK MAHER
575
LXII
LIEUT. ROBERT G. NOXON
577
LXIII. . .
LIEUT. JAMES MCALISTER SOUTHWICK
578
LXV
ORDERLY SERGT. PETER M. STALKER 589
591
LXVII ...
SERGT. CHARLES II. FREDENRICHE
596
LXVIII .. ..
SERGT. WALTER HENRY ANGUS
60I
LXIX.
SERGT. JAMES S. GERLING
606
LXX ....
SERGT. ALEXANDER DAVIDSON RICE
609
LXXI ..
SERGT. GEORGE SANDERS
611
LXXII ....
SERGT. JOSEPH COWAN VANDERHOOF 613
LXXIII ....
SERGT. ANDREW T. HIOTALING 615
LXXIV .. . .
SERGT. WILLIAM HENRY BELL.
617
LXXV ....
SERGT. PAUL QUAY 618
LXXVI ....
SERGT. WILLIAM CROUNSE 620
624
LXXIX ....
CORPL. GEORGE T. GATES
628
LXXX ..
CORPL. CHARLES G. LATHAM
633
LXXXI. ..
CORPL. ALBERT C. SMITH.
639
LXXXII .. ..
CORPL. ROBERT II. CAMERON
641
LXXXIII ....
CORPL. JAMES YOUNG 645
LXXXIV ....
CORPL. ALONZO E. LEWIS 646
LXXXV .... CORPL. WILLIAM H. MOON 649
LIX
LIEUT. JOHN PETER PHILLIPS
LXIV ....
LIEUT. EDWARD BAYARD HILL. 586
LXVI ....
SERGT. MAJ. IRVING P. JAQUES
LXXVII ....
SERGT. GUSTAVUS A. PERCY 623
LXXVIII ....
CORPL. WILLIAM MURRY.
XLVI LIEUT. JAMES L. DEMPSEY
CONTENTS.
vii
Page.
LXXXVI ...
CORPL. ROBERT B. DARLING
652
LXXXVII .... CORPL. PHILIP VAN DENBURG 656
LXXXVIII CORPL. MARTIN SITTERLY 661
LXXXIX .... CORPL. LEWIS W. QUAY
664
XC .... CORPL. ISAAC J. ROACHI.
665
XCI.
CORPL. JOHN E. BAILEY
669
XCII . . . .
CORPL. ERASTUS HAMILTON HOLMES
671 672
XCIV ....
JOHN H. CONLEY.
678 684
XCVI ....
ROBERT HENRY KING
688
XCVII ....
GEORGE B. WOLCOTT
696
XCVIII
JUSTIN R. HUNTLEY
698
XCIX.
WILLIAM A. VAN GAASBEEK
707 715
C ....
CHARLES MOORE BROWER.
CI ....
ROSWELL B. CORLISS
CII
STEPHEN ROSS WHITE
CIII. JAMES E. GOOLD
CIV ORANGE DUDLEY
CV .... LEVI I. HARVEY
CVI ....
SAMUEL G. LOOMIS
CVII ... .
EDWARD AUGUSTUS HIGHAM
CVIII .. . .
ALEXANDER S. SLAWSON
734 735 737
CX
THOMAS GOLDWAIT
CXI
JOHN A. LOCKLEY
738 739
CXIII .. ..
GEORGE STEVENS
740
CXIV.
ADDISON J. FELLOWS
742
CXV
SAMUEL W. CHANDLER
CXVI ....
JESSE D. VAN HAGEN
CXVII WILLIAM M. BRIGGS
CXVIII
HUGH HAMMILL
CXIX
WILLIAM J. WHYTE
CXX
CHARLES SEDAM HEERMANCE
CXXI.
STEPHEN PUTNAM PARKS
CXXII ....
HENRY SAYRE
CXXIII .... CXXIV
JOSIAH DUNHAM
CXXV
JOHN C. CAVERLY
CXXVI ....
FERGUS MADDEN
CXXVII ....
GEORGE W. SCHERMERHORN
CXXVIII
CXXIX ....
CXXX ....
CXXXI ....
CXXXII ....
SAMUEL W. KELLY
CXXXIII. ...
JOSEPH GLADDING.
770
CXXXIV .. .
JOHN G. PERKINS. 771
CXXXV ....
AARON P. SPRINGER
778
717 718 719 725 727 728 733
CIX ... .
WHITMAN V. R. MATTOON
CXII .. ..
HARMON VISSCHIER, JR
743 744 745 746
ROBERT A. CADWELL
748 749 751 752 755 756 758 759 760
WILLIAM SNELL 763 764 EDMUND HOLMES 765 MINOT HENRY PEASE 766 767 JOHN VAN BUEREN
XCIII ... . CORPL. ALONZO GROVE LUDDEN
XCV WILLIAM C. CADY
viii
CONTENTS.
Page.
CXXXVI .... GERRIT H. VAN DENBURG
774
CXXXVII. ABRAM M. CARHART 787
CXXXVIII. JAMES A. SCRAFFORD 788
CXXXIX. MICHAEL WAGNER
789
CXL .... GEORGE VAN WIE 790
CXLI ....
WILLIAM HAVENS
793
CXLII ....
ADDISON B. MILLER
794
CXLIII
JOEL WILSON
796
CXLIV.
AZOR T. HAYES
797
CXLV.
JOHN Q. A. CROUNSE
798
CXLVI ....
ALANSON F. HOFFMAN
802
CXLVII .... DAVID MCCULLOCII
806
CXLVIII.
STEPHEN McCULLOCH 808
CXLIX .... JAMES WILSON.
809
CL .... SEBASTIAN PEARSE
810
CLI JOEL B. PITTS
811
CLII.
ARTHUR HIASWELL
812
CLIII ....
GEORGE W. KILBOURN
815
CLIV .. JACOB VAN ALLEN 816
CLV. CHARLES VAN ALLEN 817
SHORT NOTICES OF OTHER OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS 821-844
BRIEF HISTORIES OF THE ALBANY REGIMENTS
845-865
ALPHABETICAL INDEX OF THE NAMES OF THE OFFICERS AND SOL-
DIERS NOTICED IN THIS VOLUME 867
ILLUSTRATIONS.
FRONTISPIECE. Page.
VIEW OF THE ALBANY BAZAAR. 26
PORTRAIT OF GEN. ORMSBY M. MITCHEL 53
PORTRAIT OF BVT. BRIG. GEN. LEWIS BENEDICT 88 PORTRAIT OF COL. JOIIN WILSON 141
PORTRAIT OF MAJ. CHARLES E. PRUYN 280
PORTRAIT OF CAPT. JOHN D. P. DOUW 384
PORTRAIT OF ROBERT H. KING. 688
VIEW OF FORT ALBANY
845
INTRODUCTION.
THE design of this volume, is to commemorate the patriotic services and noble deeds, of the men who have died on the battle field for our Nation's honor, perpetuity and prosperity. While they have done so much for us, the least that we can do for them is to cherish their memory, record their virtues, and pay to them the tribute of our gratitude and admiration.
History does not furnish us with an account of any war, which has called forth a purer patriotism, a holier love of liberty, or loftier sentiments of duty and devotion to the public good, than have characterized the heroes who were engaged in our late struggle for the maintenance of the American nationality. In preserving this nationality, they were inspired with the belief that they were toiling to keep alive the best government that Heaven ever granted to a people; to perpetuate and extend those social, educational and religious institutions upon which virtue and happiness are based, and to secure the triumph of humanity and justice, over systems of oppression that are a reproach and a peril to any nation. And on the bright roll of martyr-heroes none stand higher for purity, bravery and patriotism than many who have gone forth from the city and county of Albany, and whose precious remains we have followed to the grave with tears of personal affection, and feelings of the warmest gratitude. While their cold forms rest with us, their influence and noble deeds have entered into the most valued parts of American history. By dying, they have put fresh life into the Republic and added to the value of our institutions. We have more to love, more to admire, more to pray for, than we had before their heroism was added to our national character. A republic for which such sacrifices have been made, and upon whose altar such noble and
12
INTRODUCTION.
precious lives have been laid, must live; and its free institutions must, in all future time, hold supremacy over every inch of terri- tory embraced within the limits of our country. By all that is sacred in the past, and all that is valuable in the future, every true American is bound to accept as the guide of his conduct and the inspiration of his life, the words of the gifted WEBSTER: " Liberty and Union, one and inseparable, now and forever."
In April, 1861, the first guns were fired from the batteries of treason upon Fort Sumter. The sound of those guns startled the Nation, and revealed the existence of a deep, wide-spread and malignant rebellion. After a long period of peace, unity and uninterrupted prosperity-during which the arts had been advanced, the resources of the country developed, manufactures and commerce increased, and the national domain extended, with a rapidity ahnost without a parallel in history-there burst upon us the storm of war, that raged for four years, periling the Nation, embarrassing our relations with foreign powers, carrying desolation to tens of thousands of homes, and producing an amount of personal suffering and domestic anguish that no lan- guage can depict.
To stay the fury of the tempest and save the ship of state from being engulfed in the angry waters, all the loyal States vied with each other in their prompt exertions and their liberal contribu- tions of men and money. And we cannot enter upon our biogra- phical sketches of the illustrious dead, without first alluding to what our State and County have done to sustain the government and preserve the Republic.
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE STATE.
At the breaking out of the war, his Excellency EDWIN D. MORGAN, Governor of the State of New York, used the whole force of his personal influence and executive authority to secure large appropriations of money, and to raise men, to promptly aid the general government in suppressing the rebellion. In this work he received the cordial co-operation of other earnest patriots; and especially in the organization and equipment of the
13
INTRODUCTION.
first regiments that were sent from the State, was he aided by Gen. JOIN MEREDITH READ, Jr., who at the time was a member of his staff. The efficiency, perseverance and zeal of Gen. READ, displayed at that crisis in our national affairs, were of immense importance in developing and bringing into the field the effective forces of the State.
As the result of the efforts of Governor MORGAN and those who co-operated with him, and also of his successors in office, this State sent four hundred and seventy-four thousand men into the field, during the four years that the war continued. This immense number took about one-eighth of our entire population, and formed one-fifth of the whole United States army .* This single fact, revealed the depth and extent of the spirit of patriotism, in the Empire State.
In this vast multitude, all professions, avocations and ranks in life were represented. From our farms and factories; from the workshop, the store and the counting room; from the pulpit, the bar and the medical profession; from colleges and theological seminaries; from fashionable and refined circles, and christian homes, men rushed forth to defend the Union and liberty, or die in the struggle.
Col. LOCKWOOD L. DOTY, in his third annual report of the Bureau of Military Record, alludes to this exciting period in the following concise and forcible language:
The news of the surrender of Fort Sumter reached the State capital on Sunday morning the 14th. A meeting took place in the afternoon at the Executive chamber. There were present,
* When President LINCOLN, in April, 1861, called for 75,000 militia for three months' service, the army of the United States had on its rolls 14,000 men. During the ensuing four years 2,688,523 were enlisted, of which 2,408, 103 left the army alive. Of the bal- ance, 96,089 died in battle or of wounds, while 184,331 died of disease. The number of white troops enlisted was about 2,500,000. The number of deaths among them was 251, - 122, or one death out of ten. The number of colored troops was 180,000, of whom 29, - 298 died, or about one ont of six-being nearly double the rate of deaths among the white troops; three died on the field of battle and five from disease; out of every nine deaths among the blacks, one died on the field of battle and eight from disease. The mortality among the volunteers was nearly fifteen per cent greater than among the regu- lars. These statistics are taken from official records, but while they give the number of those who died in the service, they make no mention of the host obliged to leave the army and who went home to die.
14
INTRODUCTION.
the Governor and other State officers, the Speaker of the Assem- bly and members of the military and finance committees of the two houses. A committee, consisting of the Attorney General, the Adjutant General, the Inspector General, Mr. Blood, of the Senate, and Mr. Robinson, of the Assembly, were appointed to draft a bill to be submitted to the Legislature next morning. As drawn by the committee, the bill invested the Governor with the power of its execution. It provided for the enrollment of thirty thousand volunteer militia to serve two years, and appro-
priated three million dollars to meet the expense. The Legis- lature subsequently connected the State officers with the Gov- ernor in raising and organizing the troops, and the commission thus constituted formed what was popularly known as the State Military Board. The bill, as modified, was passed by the Legis- lature and signed by the Governor on the 16th of April.
On the 15th had been received the President's proclamation calling forth the militia of the several States, including three or four States that subsequently passed the ordinance of secession. It designated a muster of seventy-five thousand, in order to sup- press combinations and to cause the laws to be duly executed.
The quota assigned to New York consisted of two Major Gen- erals, four Brigadiers, and aids to general officers, and seventeen regiments of seven hundred and eighty each, officers and men, making an aggregate force of 13,280. These were to be detached from the militia under the act of Congress of February 28, 1795, to serve as infantry or riflemen for the period of three months, unless sooner discharged. The rendezvous of this State were appointed at New York, Albany and Elmira.
There was no delay. The capital became at once thronged with anxious persons. Ordinary business was mostly suspended, and volunteering begun, before the authorities were able to accept the services of those who thus promptly responded.
Were we permitted, at this place, to transcribe the telegrams of a single day received by the Governor from all points, while millions of loyal hearts were trembling for the safety of Wash- ington, the revelation would compress a thousand pages of thought and action, that are now historie, in a single sheet. How startling was the first summons flashing along the wires from the threatened capital of the Nation; how incessant the fiery mes- sages thereafter! We may quote a few of these dispatches as indicative of the excited and impatient state of public feeling at that time:
" WAR DEPARTMENT, April 15, 1861. Call made on you by to-night's mail for seventeen regiments of militia for immediate service."
SIMEON CAMERON, Secretary of War.
15
INTRODUCTION.
" WASHINGTON, April 15. Send no troops here except by water."
" NEW YORK, April 15. Colonel Ellsworth desires to raise a regiment of Zouaves in New York city. Will you accept them?"
"NEW YORK, April 17. Virginia seceded. Harper's Ferry taken. Washington endangered; ready all night to serve orders."
" NEW YORK, April 18. Lose not a moment in issuing your orders for the additional regiments for Washington. The people are impatient of delay."
" NEW YORK, April 19. Post, third edition, asserts reliable news, Davis being within one day's march of Washington with an army. Our city military seem impatient."
"NEW YORK, April 19. The whole city is most anxious to have the militia of the State armed at once; and instant departure of twenty thousand troops to Washington."
" ELMIRA, April 18. The Southern Tier Rifles have unanim- ously resolved to tender their services to the General Govern- ment. The Colonel awaits your Excellency's orders."
" NEW YORK, April 20. Telegraph states that troops must go on to-night, or Washington is gone."
" NEW YORK, April 20. The bridges are gone, and communi- cation cut off between Philadelphia and Washington."
" CHICAGO, April 20. Allow me to suggest the necessity of concentrating troops immediately on the Pennsylvania state line nearest Washington."
"NEW YORK, April 20. The impression is here that Wash- ington will be taken before Monday. Com. Vanderbilt and Mr. Aspinwall tender to you all the steamers necessary. Reported that bridges between Baltimore and Harrisburg are broken down."
"NEW YORK, April 20. It is most important that Col. Wil- son's regiment be ordered off this P. M."
" WASHINGTON, April 20. Send the first regiment you get ready in fast steamer up the Potomac."
SIMEON CAMERON, Secretary of War.
" NEW YORK, April 20. Washington is lost, unless Maryland is kept open and bridges repaired. Let five thousand troops march."
16
INTRODUCTION.
Such, in variety, were the multitudinous messages of alarm and counsel which kept the electric wires in constant action. They were throbbings of the great heart of the people-sponta- neous, irrepressible; and on the afternoon of April 20th, 1861, they became sublimely audible at the immense mass meeting in Union square, in the city of New York. Then followed the departure of our gallant National Guard, fourteen regiments in all; and the volunteer regiments-first seventeen of them, and then twenty-one-which sprung up in all parts of the State. Their transit upon the railroads, their march through the metro- polis, the towns and cities, will be recollected as among the most cheering and impressive pageants of the war. They left their homes for the field of duty, bearing with them the prayers of unnumbered hearts.
The voice of a loyal press in our commonwealth was like a bugle-blast during this period. Its thrilling tones penetrated to every household, and gave utterance to the popular enthusiasm. Its representatives threw down the pen and grasped the sword; they hastened to the van of our armies; they prepared to make the history which they were afterwards to chronicle.
Worthily interpreting the spirit of their constituency, our State Legislature prolonged its session and redoubled its labors. Loyal men of all political opinions rallied around the flag of their country; and it will be remembered as one of the noblest manifestations of that period of danger, how enthusiastically the last hours of Senate and Assembly in 1861 were devoted to the duties of patriotism.
The Military Board met on the evening of the 16th of April, the day of the passage of the law. The Governor submitted a dispatch from the Secretary of War, stating that the President had made requisition on New York for about thirteen thousand men, to be mustered into immediate service, and that he would be gratified to have one or more regiments march to Washington before the close of that week.
The juncture demanded prompt action, and the board at once responded, by resolving that seventeen regiments of seven hun- dred and eighty men each be enrolled and mustered into service for two years. Provision was also made for the prompt trans- portation to Washington of such of the militia regiments as were to serve as minute-men, as well as of the volunteers; and also for procuring necessary quarters, hospital and medical supplies, and for incidental objects. There was need of this action; such being the condition of affairs at Washington that the State was left, in most part, to supply transportation for its troops. Indeed every- thing was to be provided by our own authorities in the way of accommodations for volunteers, sick and well. The Governor's
17
INTRODUCTION.
military staff, fortunately, was composed of men who were fully competent for the new and weighty duties now imposed upon them. No time was given them to deliberate, but the work was pressed at once upon their attention. Soldiers were arriving at the principal depots-even before authority to receive them existed-often, indeed, presenting themselves unannounced; and such was the fervor of the times that many who were obviously unfit physically and by reason of age, came with the able-bodied volunteers. Orders were promptly issued for the rendezvous and organization of men; barracks were provided and hospitals improvised. The details, as well as the general duties of several of the staff departments. were instantly and vigorously entered upon. And there was ample employment for the head and heart of each. An army of forty thousand men, including the militia, were to be prepared for the field, and the records of the period show how ably and efficiently every duty was performed.
Several officers of the regular army were assigned to tempo- rary duty at Albany about this period, to assist the military departments by their experience. Of these were Col. Delafield, sinee promoted to be Chief of Engineers, U. S. A .; Col. Schriver, for two or three years Inspector General of the army of the Potomac; Col. Keyes, subsequently in command of an army corps; and Maj. Patrick, long Provost Marshal General of the army of the Potomac.
While officials were thus engaged, the people were alive with zeal in preparing to answer the call of the Government. They held public meetings, adopted patriotic addresses, raised money and enrolled men in all parts of the State. Past political differ- ences were forgotten; flags were thrown from church steeples, from public buildings, from school houses and from private resi- denees. All was animation; a state of peace had been suddenly transformed into a condition of war.
On the 18th the Governor issued his proclamation for seven- teen regiments to be enrolled under the act passed by the Legis- lature.
On the 19th a great meeting of merchants was held in the city of New York. Resolutions to sustain the Government were adopted, and on it being announced that several regiments, then organizing, needed assistance. more than twenty thousand dollars were raised in ten minutes' time. The Seventh Militia Regi- ment left that city on the same day for Washington, amid great enthusiasm.
The next day occurred that memorable meeting in Union square, where leading citizens, without distinction of party, met to unite their voices in support of the Government. Their action gave direction to popular sentiment everywhere. The meeting
2
18
INTRODUCTION.
was an important one in the best sense. Conventions and meet- ings were held the same day in Schenectady, Hudson, Utica, Oswego and Rochester, where men were raised and money sub- scribed. The people of Poughkeepsie, Troy, Auburn, Syracuse and Buffalo also met to counsel together on the best mode of responding to the country's call; and town and village, great and small, were likewise engaged, while Albany and Elmira were changed in a few hours from business centres to military camps.
On the 21st the Sixth, Twelfth and Seventy-first Regiments of militia left New York, and the Twenty-fifth Regiment left Albany, for Washington.
On the 22d the city of New York appropriated one million dollars for fitting out soldiers and supporting the families of volunteers. A patriotic meeting of the bench and bar of that city was organized the same day, at which money was subscribed by the thousand.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.