Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 158

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452

USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations > Part 158

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A Committee was appointed to conduct the whole business of the celebration, who made it one of the most magnificent displays ever known in the city down to that time. The procession was an impos- ing pageant, and as it moved up State street pre- sented a splendid appearance. The ceremonies of the celebration took place on the ground subse- quently occupied by the Old Capitol. The expenses of this celebration were directed, by a vote of the Common Council, to be paid by the Chamberlain, or by the Mayor, including the supper, of which the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the city partook at Lewis's Tavern on the evening of the day of celebration.

MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

OR many years in its early history, Albany was F a military post of no mean importance. Dur- ing the Revolution and the War of 1812, it was the key to all the strategic movements of the North. As a consequence of the importance of its position, there has always been a militia of some numbers and importance here. In the early part of this century the uniformed corps were mostly inde- pendent bodies, designated by a special title and wearing uniforms of various patterns. Conspicu- ous among these early companies, besides those which will be more especially mentioned hereafter, were the Albany Republican Artillery, Albany In- dependent Volunteers, Ninth Rifle Regiment, and Governor's Guards. At a later period were the Emmet Guards, City Cavalry, Worth Guards, City Volunteers, and Albany Scotch Light Artillery- nearly, if not all of which companies were en- rolled at different times in the State Militia. The earlier attempts at enrolling and instructing the Militia is now chiefly remembered as "general training day," when all able-bodied men of the ages required for military service were assembled,

often without uniforms or arms, and a day spent in instructing them. The Washington Parade Ground, now a part of the Washington Park, was frequently used for a day's encampment. The Old Bull's Head on the Troy road was also used for that purpose, In 1827 the 27th Regiment of New York City (now the 7th), encamped there for a week. But these yearly exhibitions became more and more a farce until 1846, when an Act of the Legislature was passed providing for a new enroll- ment and organization of the State Militia.

Albany has been the Headquarters of the State Militia since the adoption of the State Constitu- tion, and it is but natural that some of the fore- most men in the organization in the past and present, have been residents of this city. To give anything like a complete history of the term ot service of these representatives of Albany, would in- clude a longer and more extended account of the Militia of the State than we are at liberty to give.

Major-General John G. Farnsworth, recently Adjutant-General, who, prior to the Civil War, was a private in Company B, 76th Regiment N. G.,

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S. N. Y., April 14, 1862, became Captain and Assistant Quartermaster U. S. V. In the following July he was made Chief Quartermaster, 4th Army Corps. August, 1863, he was made Inspector in Quartermaster's Department, West Virginia, with local rank of Colonel, and was honorably dis- charged October 23, 1865, with the honorary title of Brevet-Colonel U. S. V. In 1868, he was made Colonel roth Regiment N. G., S. N. Y., and re- tained this position until 1871, when he resigned. He became Adjutant-General January 1, 1883. General Farnsworth was ably assisted in the man- agement of his department by Assistant Adjutant- Generals Colonel John S. McEwan, Colonel J. B. Stonehouse and Colonel Frederick Phisterer.

THIRD DIVISION N. G., S. N. Y .- The State Mi- litia is divided into divisions, these subdivided into brigades, regiments, battalions aud companies. The Albany portion of the National Guard since 1846 has been enrolled in the Third Division, which from 1846 to 1881 comprised the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Brigades. The Ninth Brigade included the military forces of Al- bany, which from : 1861 to 1875, beside infantry companies, comprised two cavalry companies and one battery of artillery. The Ninth Brigade for many years was under the command of Brigadier- General John F. Rathbone, of this city. He was succeeded in 1867 by David M. Woodhall, who remained in command until 1877. J. S. Dicke- man, Frederick Townsend, and T. Ellery Lord were, in the order named, in command of the Ninth Brigade until 1881, when the Ninth became the Fifth Brigade.

The Third Division, under the reorganization of the Militia in 1881, was made to include the Fifth and Sixth Brigades and Fourth Battery of Artillery. This Division is now under the command of Major- General Joseph B. Carr, with headquarters at Troy.

THE FIFTH BRIGADE, as at present organized, was created in 1881, and now includes the Tenth Bat- talion and thirteen separate companies. It is under command of Brigadier-General Robert Shaw Oliver, who in 1864 was Second Lieutenant 5th Mass. Vol- unteer Cavalry; in 1866, Lieutenant U. S. Infantry; and in 1869, Captain 8th U. S. Cavalry. In the Na- tional Guards of this State he has been Colonel 10th Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Ad- jutant-General of Brigade, and Inspector-General. The staff of the Ninth Brigade is composed of Colonel Frederick Phisterer, Assistant Adjutant- General; Major Richard T. Lockley, Brigade In- spector; Major Jacob H. Tremper, Jr., Engineer; Major Albert Hoysradt, Judge-Advocate; Major Samuel B. Ward, Brigade Surgeon; William Omar V. Sage. Ordnance Office; Major Le Grand C. Tibbetts, Quartermaster; and Major Henry F. Allen, Commissary of Subsistence.

THE TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT was organized in 1847. The first Colonel was Edward Frisby. In 1857 he was succeeded by J. W. Harcourt. From 1858 to 1860, E. J. Lansing was Colonel of this regiment. The first call for troops for the Civil War, 1861, was responded to by the 25th Regi- ment, then under command of Colonel Michael K.

Bryan, James Swift, Lieutenant-Colonel, and David Friedlander, Major. In 1861, with 575 men, it proceeded to Washington, and for three months served in the defence of that city, and dur- ing its term of service built Fort Albany. The companies which accompanied the regiment were : Albany Republican Artillery, Company A, Captain J. Fredendall; Montgomery Guards, Company B, Captain T. McDermott; Worth Guards, Company C, Captain John Gray; City Volunteers, Company D, Captain F. Marshall; Albany Washington Light Infantry, Company E, Captain J. J. Huber; McGraw Guards, Company F, Captain M. Mc- Graw; Albany Emmet Guards, Company G, Cap- tain Henry Mulholland; Garde Lafayette, Company H, Captain Godfrey; Albany Washington Rifles, Company L, Captain F. Niewdorf; Albany Bur- gess Corps, Company R, Captain Hale Kingsley.

After its term of service was completed, it re- turned to Albany, but was again mustered in the United States' service for three months, May, 31, 1862, and ordered to Suffolk, Virginia, where it remained during its period of enlistment, and there completed its active service during the Re- bellion.

Colonel Michael K. Bryan, after the return of his regiment, was instrumental in raising the 175th Regiment, N. Y. V., and in 1862 accompanied it to the field as its first commanding officer. He was a courageous and intrepid leader, and while gallantly leading his command at the battle of Port Hudson, was mortally wounded, and died on the field at the head of his command. For nearly a quarter of a century Colonel Bryan had taken an active interest in the military organizations of this city, and was held in high esteem as a gentle- man and a brave and worthy soldier.

Colonel Bryan was succeeded as Colonel of the 25th by James Swift, who was followed, in 1864, by Walter S. Church, who remained in command four years. D. Friedlander, F. Andes, M. J. Sev- erance, in the order named, were the commanders of this regiment, until it was mustered out in 1881.

THE SEVENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT Was formed in 1856. Its first Colonel was Frederick Townsend, who was succeeded in command, in 1857, by R. C. Bentley, who remained its Colonel until it was mustered out of the service in 1860, at which time it was composed of seven companies: Washington Con- tinentals, Carroll Corps, Jackson Guards, Marion Rifles, Union Artillery, Albany Washington Rifles, and Lafayette Guards. Of the above companies, two are still in existence, the Washington Conti- nentals and the Albany Washington Rifles.

The companies of both the 25th and 76th Regi- ments were known by independent names and continued to wear distinctive uniforms. The dress of the rifleman, with its green trimmings, was to be seen side by side with the red of the artillery, yellow of the cavalry, red coats of the British, white of the Austrian, and Scotchmen in kilts and bare legs, were parts of the same regiment.

THE TENTH REGIMENT was formed in 1860. Col. Ira W. Ainsworth, who was instrumental in organ-

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izing it, was its first commander. Three times did it volunteer its service to the general Government, but it was not accepted till September 2, 1862. At this time it contained ten companies: Company A, commanded by L. U. Lennox; Company B, under Captain Charles E. Davis; Company C, under Captain Stephen Bronk; Company D, under Captain James Dodds; Company E, under Captain James McFarlane; Company F, under Captain R. Harris; Company G, under Captain Morgan L. Filkins; Company H, under Captain Harmon N. Merriman; Company I, under Captain Edward H. Tomlinson, and Company K, under William H. Brandenburgh.

It entered the United States service for nine months, and was assigned to General Banks' divi- sion as the 177th Regiment of N. Y. V. Sailing from New York City in 1862, to New Orleans, to take part in the campaign of the Gulf, on its ar- rival there it was assigned as one of the out- posts of the defenses to that city, serving in that position until March, when the campaign in Lou- isiana was commenced. It served with the 3d Brigade, 2d Division 19th Corps, on the Amite River, and participated in the campaigns from New Orleans to Port Hudson; at the latter place it was actively engaged during the entire siege, taking part in the battles of May 27th and 29th, which resulted in the surrender of the fort and the open- ing of the Mississippi River. The 10th Regiment returned to Albany in September, 1863. During its term of service it lost nearly 200 men.

The different Colonels of the 10th Regiment, in the order of their service, are as follows: Ira W. Ainsworth, Frank Chamberlin, D. M. Woodhall, L. U. Lennox, John G. Farnsworth, Daniel S. Ben- ton, John Burns, Robert Shaw Oliver, Amasa J. Parker, Jr., and John D. Brooks.

In 1864, considerable interest was taken in per- fecting and strengthening the roth and 25th Regi- ments, which resulted in making them military organizations which, for drill, discipline and ap- pearance, continued the pride of the city as long as they remained in the National Guard.

A general reduction of the military forces of the State, in 1881, resulted in the disbandment of the Ioth and 25th Regiments, and the 10th Battalion of four companies was organized out of the dis- banded forces.

THE TENTH BATTALION since its organization has been commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William E. Fitch. Mr. Fitch was a member of Company E, 10th Regiment, when it enlisted in the United States service as the 177th N. Y.V. He remained with this regiment during its entire period of ser- vice, and was honorably discharged with the State brevet of Second Lieutenant, N. Y. V. Mr. Fitch has for many years taken warm and active interest in military matters, and held many positions in the National Guard. The Staff Officers of the 10th Battalion are: First Lieutenant Norton Chase, Ad- jutant; First Lieutenant Howard Batchelder, Quar- termaster; Major Lewis Balch, Surgeon; Captain Charles H. Gaus, Inspector of Rifle Practice. The Tenth Battalion is composed of Companies

A, B, C and D, which were formerly connected with the 10th Regiment. Company A is com- manded by Captain John H. Reynolds; armory, 80 State street. Company B is commanded by Cap- tain Horatio P. Stacpole; armory, 110 State street. Company C is commanded by Captain James L. Hyatt; armory, State Arsenal. Company D is com- manded by Captain Edgar V. Denison; armory, State Arsenal.

Company A was organized as an independent company about June 7, 1860, and is known as the Albany Zouave Cadets. It was joined to the Na- tional Guard December 29, 1860, as a part of the 10th Regiment. It accompanied that regiment during its period of enlistment during the Civil War, a description of which service is elsewhere given. It was in the service of the State in 1865 in the Anti-rent War, and in July, 1877, during the rail- road strikes at West Albany. During the Civil War this company furnished nearly seventy-five commissioned officers. An Old Guard, composed of honorably retired members, was organized in 1883, and now numbers many members.

Company B, known as the Washington Conti- nentals, was organized as an independent company July 4, 1854. August 28, 1856, it joined the State Militia, a company of light artillery, and was at- tached to the 76th Regiment. December 26, 1860, it was assigned to the 29th Regiment, and a few days after became the nucleus and Company B of the 10th Regiment, and remained with the latter until it was mustered out of service. Company B furnished the United States during the rebellion with sixty commissioned officers.

THIRD DIVISION RIFLE ASSOCIATION. - In 1873, the 10th Regiment, National Guard, organized a Rifle Association for the purpose of maintaining a rifle range for the benefit of the members of the National Guard. Subsequently, in 1875, it gave up its or- ganization and was succeeded by the Third Division Rifle Association. This association, composed of amateur and military riflemen, secured a plot of ground at the Center, about eight miles from Al- bany on the line of the New York Central Railroad, and spent several hundred dollars in clearing the place and putting it in shape for the erection of the butts for the accommodation of targets. Its dis- tance from the city and the time required to reach the grounds, led to its abandonment before any targets had been put up.

In 1877, ground was leased in the town of Greenbush, Rensselaer County, on the Genet Farm, and the range known as Grand View was laid out and completed. It was opened in the spring of 1878. This range was used until June, 1880, when the lease of the ground having expired, and the de- mand for a range more accessible required its re- moval, the targets and other appurtenances were removed to a place about a mile above Bath on the Hudson, and the new range, known as Rensselaer- wyck, was formally opened. This being on the line of the railroad, easily reached at any hour of the day, has become quite popular. At present there are four targets used up to three hundred yards, and three targets from four hundred to six hundred

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

yards. The National Guard in this vicinity use it for their class practice during the summer, while the amateur riflemen use it the year round.

The practice at the Rensselaerwyck range has developed many first-class marksmen, some of whom have achieved a national reputation, and from the excellence of the scores made there, are known to the shooting fraternity of the United States.

The principal event of the year is the fall meet- ing, which usually takes place in October of each year. At that time, representatives from all the military organizations assemble and compete for a prize offered by the State of New York. The or- ganizations from this city have uniformly been suc- cessful in these contests, probably on account of their being able to practice more frequently and their better knowledge of the peculiarities of the range.

The Third Division Rifle Association numbers about 175 members. The officers are Colonel Amasa J. Parker, Jr., President; Lieutenant Charles H. Gaus, Vice-President: Lieutenant-Colonel Wm. E. Fitch, Secretary; and Joseph N. McDonald, Treasurer.

ALBANY RIFLE ASSOCIATION was organized in 1885 and contains about 38 members. J. W. Freshknecht is President. Its range is situated at the Abbey, about three miles from the city. Rooms, No. 69 South Pearl street.

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.

The idea of forming a society of the surviving soldiers and sailors of the Union Army which served in the late Civil War, originated with Dr. B. F. Stephenson of Springfield, Illinois. The first post was organized April 6, 1866, at Decatur, Illi- nois. The first attempt at organization in New York State was made in December, 1867, Post No. I being started in Rochester. Among those chief- ly instrumental in introducing the order in this State were General Barnum, Geo. F. Hooper, John Palmer, and Edward Cole. The first Commander of the New York State Department was General Mc- Kean. The Department Commanders since have been General Sickles, Colonel Lansing, Generals J. C. Robinson, Barnum, Stephen P. Corliss, Jardine, John Palmer, Rogers, Tanner, McQuade, L. Coe, Young, Merritt, J. S. Fraser, Reynold Hedges, and H. Clay Hall. Of the above list the name of Corliss, Palmer and Young, represent Albanians who have been especially prominent in G. A. R. circles. Both Palmer and Young are charter mem- bers of Post 5 of this city, the former of whom was at one time Past Senior Vice-Commander-in- Chief, and is regarded as one of the most zealous workers in the organization.

LEW BENEDICT POST, No. 5. The surviving veterans of the war in this city were among the first in the State to take an interest in advanc- ing the order, forming Lew Benedict Post, No. 5, the fifth established in this State, which was organ- ized January 30, 1867. The first department con- ventions were held in the rooms of this post, corner

Green and State streets in December, 1867, when General Daniel E. Sickles was elected Commander and James L. Fanly, Assistant Adjutant-General of the State.

It was named in honor of Brevet Brigadier- General Lewis Benedict. Mr. Benedict was born in Albany, September 2, 1817. He was a lawyer by profession, and stood deservedly high among the legal fraternity of Albany. In early life he took much interest in military matters, and in 1847 was made Judge Advocate-General, on the Staff of Governor Young, and held the same position in 1849, under Governor Fish. In 1861, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel Second Fire Zouaves and accompanied his regiment in several engage- ments. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Williamsburgh, but was shortly after released. Sep- tember 30, 1862, he was made Colonel of the 162d Regiment, N. Y. V., and served gallantly with his regiment in numerous engagements, till he was killed at the battle of Pleasant Hill, April 9, 1864, where his bravery and soldierly qualities received the highest encomiums from his superiors. His title of Brevet Brigadier-General was gained by gallant conduct at the battle of Port Hudson. The Grand Army Post named in his honor was among the first organized in this State, and has always taken a high rank among the Posts of the G. A. R. The first Commander was Morgan L. Filkins. The following have been at different periods Command- ers of Post 5: John Palmer, E. A. Ludwig, C. H, Zeilman, William Blassie, C. C. Shaw, R. H. Mc- Cormick, T. C. Rowe, Jacob R. Terwilliger, Moses Stern and N. S. McOmber, the latter of whom is the present commander. One of the most com- mendable features of this Post is the efforts that have been put forward toward aiding sick and disabled comrades, and in assisting widows and orphans of deceased soldiers. More than $3, 300,000 have been expended by Post 5 in charities, and it is the only post in the city that pays weekly benefits to its sick members. From Post 5, Posts Nos. 121 and 63 of this City, and one in New Baltimore, have been organized. On the roll of membership there are at present over 400 members, while over 1,400 members have joined it since its organization. It has been represented in the State Department of the G. A. R., besides those already mentioned, by William Blasie and William H. Terrell, both of whom at different periods have been Assistant Adjutant-General. Connected with Post 5 is the Lew Benedict Re- lief Corps No. 44, organized in 1885, and at pres- ent composed of 60 ladies, the object of which association is to assist the Post in works of charity.

For many years it has been noted for the ex- cellence of its social entertainments, and espe- cially for its Field Days, from which large sums of money have been realized. Headquarters of the Post are situated at Grand Army Hall, corner Green and Beaver streets.

LEWIS O. MORRIS POST, NO. 121, was organized August 21, 1870, and was the second post formed in this city. It was named after Lewis Owen

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Morris, who was born at Albany, August 14, 1824. In 1847 he received the commission of Second Lieutenant in the First Artillery of the regular army, in which he remained until 1854, serving in the Mexican War, at the close of which he was offered a brevet by the Secretary of War, which he declined. In 1861 he was stationed in command of Fort Brown, Texas. At this time the Federal officers and soldiers in this State were joining the Southern Confederacy, and his company was the only one which refused to turn over the property of the Government to the rebels. In 1862 he be- came Colonel 113th N. Y. S. V., an Albany County regiment, which subsequently was changed to 7th Regiment N. Y. S. V. Artillery. In every position where duty called, Colonel Morris showed himself to be a brave and courageous officer. He was killed at the Battle of Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. Colonel Morris was a worthy son of a sturdy line of patriots, his father being killed in the Mexican War, while his grandfather was one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- pendence.

Post 121 is a strong and efficient organization, numbering June 30, 1885, 319 members. It has an auxiliary order, called the Women's Relief Corps No. 45, numbering 50 lady workers, who assist the Post in all charitable enterprises. The first Commander of the Post was George H. Tread- well. At different periods the following gentle- men have held this position : S. P. Corliss, Martin Harens, S. F. Busham, C. R. Becker, G. McFar- land and E. A. Coon. The present Commander is George H. Treadwell, who has held this office con- tinuously since 1878.

In 1876 and 1877, Post 121 was greatly reduced financially, and in numbers, owing to the large sums of money it had expended in assisting sick and disabled members. During this period, and subse- quently, the Post was much indebted to the per- sonal efforts of Commander Treadwell, who so successfully managed its affairs, that to-day the Post is out of debt, owns much valuable personal. property, and stands very high in the estimation of the State Department. About 125 of its members are uniformed. Post headquarters are located at 480 Broadway.

GEORGE S. DAWSON POST, No. 63 .- This Post was organized November 25, 1875, with about 40 members, and was named after Major George S. Dawson, who was born in Rochester, November 7, 1838. For a few months preceding the fall of Fort Sumter he was a member of Company B of the 10th Battalion. November 6, 1861, he became First Lieutenant of Company F, 2d Regiment N. Y. S. Volunteer Artillery. February, 1862, he was promoted to captain. He died in Albany December 6, 1865, from the effects of a wound re- ceived before Petersburg June 16, 1865. During his term of service he distinguished himself as a brave and efficient soldier.

The first Commander of Post 63 was Charles D. Rathbone, since whom E. D. Ronan, Clarence Corning, Edward McCammon, Angus McD. Shoe- maker, and R. C. Folger have held the position

of Post Commander. The present Commander is Frederick McCammon. The Post numbers 82 members, with headquarters at the Armory, No. 480 Broadway.

OTHER ASSOCIATIONS OF THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC .- Besides the three G. A. R. Posts in this city, there are two other military associations in Albany composed of soldiers and sailors who served in the late Civil War. One is called the Ex-Prisoners of War Association, and the other the Seventh Regiment Heavy Artillery Associa- tion.

THE EX-PRISONERS OF WAR ASSOCIATION was or- ganized in this city in December, 1879, and is composed of the soldiers and sailors of Albany County who were confined as prisoners of war dur- ing the Rebellion, and at present has a member- ship of 200, representing ex-prisoners from the rebel prisons of Andersonville, Bellisle, Libby, Millers, Florence, Salisbury and Camp Ford. The objects of the association are to assist indigent ex-prisoners of war and to secure the passage of a law granting an additional pension to all who in the service of their country were forced to endure the hardships of the rebel prisons.

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Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 158

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452