USA > New York > History of the Ninth Regiment N.Y.S.M. -- N.G.S.N.Y. (Eighty-third N. Y. Volunteers.) 1845-1888 > Part 46
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On the 8th of October the regiment was reviewed and in- spected by the Commissary-General and A. A. Inspector in Tompkins Square. Three hundred and eighty, out of four hundred and eighty-eight, were present. Annexed is the report of Colonel Liebenau :
The ceremony of review was well executed ; in the standing review the men were steady as statues, the alignments of officers and men were perfect, while the rank of file closers were as steady and attentive as the front rank. I notice this latter fact, be- cause so few officers are careful to instruct the sergeants in this portion of their duties, and consequently, it is not often that the reviewing officer has the pleasure of being re- ceived in rear of a command with the respect he is entitled to. This, in the case of this regiment, was a noticeable feature. The marching review was all that could be desired ; the salutes of the officers were, without exception, good ; distance and align- ments well observed, and the men careful and steady. In closing the review everything was properly executed ; and, as a whole, the review of this regiment was the best of any yet witnessed by me.
The regiment has lately adopted white belts. This is an improvement. The com- mand in their lively uniform, and with their soldier-like bearing, attracted universal attention.
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The regiment is in a good state of discipline. The Colonel is a zealous, hard- working and efficient officer, and in his efforts to make his command second to none, he is ably aided by his associate field, as well as his company officers.
1 869.
On the 5th of January, 1869, the NINTH gave a grand ball at the Academy of Music. The building was crowded to its utmost capacity by a fashionable and delighted company. Among the noted guests present were General MeDowell and staff, and Generals Hartsuff, Robert Anderson and Henry Benton, of the regular army. The National Guard was well
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BALL AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
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represented by a host of gaily uniformed officers, and the ladies vied with each other in their attentions to the gallant guardsmen and army officers. Wering's and Diller's bands, under Grafulla's general leadership, discoursed both concert and dancing music, and it was "four in the morning " before the lights were turned out and the tired but happy hosts and guests repaired to their homes.
The winter and spring months were devoted to a strict attention to drill, a full dress inspection taking place on the ioth of May. The 27th was celebrated by a parade in the afternoon, the line being reviewed by the Mayor at the City Hall.
The 4th of July falling on Sunday, the parade occurred on 5th, the column being reviewed by the Mayor from the Traveller's Club house, while a reviewing stand, erected at the Worth Monument, contained a large number of army officers and distinguished citizens.
The people of Stamford, Conn., having invited the NINTH to visit their town on the 27th, and the invitation having been accepted, the regiment assembled at the armory at an early hour, and at seven o'clock boarded the steamboat Stamford, at the foot of east Twenty-sixth Street. Grafulla's band enlivened the trip with choice selections. Upon reaching the Stamford landing, a committee of citizens came on board, and their spokesman, Warden George L. Lownds, formally re- ceived the regiment, and tendered them, on behalf of the people, a hearty welcome to their town. Upon line being formed on the dock, another welcoming speech was made by Burgess W. C. Hoyt, after which the procession, headed by the town officials and committee, marched through the town, to the West Park, where it arrived just before noon. After being drawn up in line the regiment was addressed by James H. Olmstead, Esq., Chairman of the Citizens Committee, and which we copy from the Stamford Advocate, as follows :
Colonel. Officers and Members of the oth Reg. of N. Y. S. N. G. : It is my pleas- ant duty, in behalf of the citizens of Stamford, to extend to you a hearty welcome.
When our country is assailed by an armed foe, and the flag of liberty, dear to
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every American heart dishonored, we cannot forget that it is to the militia of the States that we must first look as the bulwark of the nation.
. We cannot forget that, in any sudden emergency, we must rely upon their strong arms and deadly aim for the protection of all that is near and dear to us.
It is, therefore, meet that, upon every appropriate occasion, we show that respect and reverence for our citizen soldiery that we are accustomed to manifest towards public benefactors.
But especially is it appropriate on this occasion, when we remember that we are honored by the presence of a regiment from our sister State, whose members did not hesitate, when their country called, to leave their work-shops, their counting-rooms, their offices, their homes and pleasant firesides, and their dear ones, to peril their lives, if need be, that the nation might live.
When we remember that this regiment now with us, has already gallantly upheld the flag of the nation, amidst the fire and smoke and carnage of the battle-fields of Antietam, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness, and recorded itself a name on the pages of our country's history, of which we, as Americans, and our children, and our children's children, may justly be proud.
Any tribute of respect, therefore, which we may be able to show you, men of the NINTH, on this occasion, anything we can do to make your visit among us pleasant and agreeable, will very inadequately repay the debt of gratitude which we, as citizens of a common country, owe to you, its valiant defenders.
We, therefore, thank you for this opportunity of showing our appreciation of your noble services in behalf of our beloved country.
We trust that, in after life, you may look back to this day as a day full of pleas- ing memories, and permit me to hope that any victories you may this day obtain, as soldiers, may be over the hearts of the fair ladies of Stamford, and that you will win them as gallantly as any victory you have ever achieved on the battle-field.
We again extend to you a cordial welcome.
Colonel Wilcox replied briefly, on behalf of the NINTHI. The line was then re-formed and passed through several streets, which were gaily decorated, to Concert Hall, where arms were stacked.
A banquet had been spread in Seely's Hall, to which the men were soon called by the drum corps beating " Peas upon a trencher." The dinner was a good one, and the soldiers fully satisfied the citizens that they appreciated the efforts made to entertain them.
The Stamford paper further states :
The officers of the NINTH, the committee, and members of the metropolitan press were invited to the residence of Alex. Mckenzie, Esq., on Washington Avenue. Here a pleasant hour was spent in social intercourse, in the society of a number of ladies who worthily represented the feminine beauty, grace and refinement of which our town can boast, and in enjoying Mr. Mckenzie's boundless hospitality. The choicest vintage of "Cliquot" as provided for those who chose to partake, and appropriate senti-
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VISIT TO STAMFORD, CONN.
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ments were proposed and drank with the enthusiasm for which soldiers especially are famous. Among the toasts were " The Ladies," responded to in their behalf by Col. Chesebrough ; " The New York Press," was fitly responded to by Major G. Forrister Williams, than whom a more courteous gentleman or more graceful writer it has not been our privilege to meet. " The Officers of the NINTH Regiment " was proposed and was appropriately responded to by Col. Wilcox. " The Citizens Committee " was elo- quently responded to by Mr. J. H. Olmstead. The "Stamford Advocate" was also honored with a toast, which was appropriately responded to. "Our Host " was of course not forgotten, and in response to the toast Mr. Mckenzie eloquently and feel- ingly expressed his good will to the gallant New York troops, and gave a brief but very interesting history of his connection with the force for many years past. Among the prominent citizens present, besides the committee, we noticed Isaac Quintard, Esq., and the Ion. Trueman Smith.
After the return from Mr. Mckenzie's, the officers of the NINTH sat down to a dinner in the Stamford House, specially tendered them by the citizens. There were present at the dinner besides the officers, the citizens committee, the borough officers, men- bers of the local press, and representatives of the New York Herald, Times, Tribune. and the Army and Navy Journal. Among the civilians present were Messrs. Ros- well Hoyt, S. H. Nye, Robert Harper, Win. Hoyt, Jr., James H. Olmstead, Seaman Miller, P. S. Jacobs, Thos. H. H. Messinger, Chas. H. Scofield, Charles Jones, N. E. Adams, Wm. C. Hoyt, Edward Phillips, G. B. Glendinning, S. C. Brown, Alexander Weed, and Charles Gaylor, all of Stamford. Among the New Yorkers present we noticed Charles Wann, Esq., J. T. Robin, Esq., Mr. William Hill, a veteran soldier, and Mr. Fred. R. Gillespie, of 240 Front Street. When the substantial portion of the dinner was duly disposed of, the " feast of reason and the flow of soul " (simultaneous with the flow of champagne) commenced. Speeches were made by Col. Wilcox. James. H. Olmstead, Gen. Varian of the Third Brigade, Major Blauvelt, and others. The Major spoke of the good results which could not fail to proceed from such social reunions as the present. He said that meetings like these between the soldiers and citizens of different States would tend to encourage the national feeling, and make us forget that there are States, but that we are all citizens and defenders of a common country. In response to the toast, " The Veterans of the Regiment," Capt. Blaney was called on, and in replying gave a brief history of the regiment in the war. This history is sufficiently indicated by the names inscribed on the regimental banner, as follows : " Harper's Ferry." " Cedar Mountain," " Thoroughfare Gap," "Chantilly." " Antietam," "Fredericksburg," "Chancellorsville," "Gettysburg," " Wilderness." "Cold Harbor." Out of 292 men at the Battle of Fredericksburg, the regiment lost 130. While the dinner was in progress Col. Reminey, of the 22nd, entered the room, and was warmly greeted by his comrades in arms. The Colonel being called on made an excellent speech, and his manner made a very favorable impression on those who saw him there for the first time, while his high position in the regard of his brother officers was sufficiently attested by their enthusiasm.
During the afternoon, Mr. Leeds of the Depot livery stables, started out several of his wagons, and many of the soldiers availed themselves of the opportunity to visit Shippan Point and other places of interest in the neighborhood of the village. Several of the men spent the time in visiting friends in town, and the way some of " them fel- lows" got acquainted with our young men and maidens (especially the latter) was a caution to witness. On nearly every street the gay uniforms could be seen, often accompanied by young ladies in white muslin, and in every case, whether with or
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without lady companions, conducting themselves like gentlemen, as they were. In fact, the courteous and soldierly bearing of the men has been the occasion of universal complimentary remarks, and nothing whatever occurred during the day or evening to detract from this estimate of their character.
From four to five o'clock in the afternoon the band gave an excellent concert in the Park, and at five a dress-parade of the regiment took place, which was witnessed with much interest and pleasure by the people.
A concert and hop in Seely's Hall, in the evening, was attended by the largest crowd we ever saw gathered in Stamford on any similar occasion. The large hall was so crowded that the dancers had scarcely room to go through the sets, and the extreme heat of the weather sacrificed scores of paper collars, and caused a run on the ice cream that " such a getting up stairs" on the part of the waiters " you ne'er did see." The music, as might be expected from Grafulla's band, was exquisite, and was largely selected fron the latest and most popular operas. The dresses of many of the ladies were superb, and the rich silks, satins, laces and diamonds of the ladies, and the brilliant uniforms of the soldiers flashing amid the mazes of the dance, formed a kaleidoscope of beauty such as Seely's Hall has perhaps never before witnessed. A peculiar feature was the presence of representatives of all the respectable classes of our people, who for the first time being mingled together, forgetting apparently all social distinctions. It is to be regretted that such reunions are so infrequent. As conducted on the occasion of which we speak they could do no harm, and would not fail to be productive of much good. A large number of ladies and gentlemen from New York were present, and all enjoyed an occasion long to be remembered with pleasure.
During the afternoon Hon. Wm. M. Tweed, King of Manhattan Island, with his staff, arrived at the scene. Immediately after the dress-parade the club took rooms at the Stamford House, and, having stocked it with the best the house could afford. com- menced a scene of jollity with which the citizens of our quiet town were totally unac- quainted. Glees, songs and Indian war cries, known and probably appreciated in Indian Harbor, with other strange and incoherent noises were wafted on the balmy air of the evening. When the dancing commenced, however, the members of the club were found to have entirely changed, or forgotten their wonted hilarity and appeared in a gentlemanly demeanor to trip itson the light fantastic with the ladies in the Hall. The graceful movements of the Americus (club) boys were admired and spoken of fre- quently during the evening.
The dancing in the Hall closed a little after 11 o'clock, and the regiment immedi- ately prepared for their departure. Even at that late hour many citizens accompa- nied the men to the dock. About 12 o'clock the boat moved off amid mutual hearty cheers and farewells.
The success of the reception of the NINTH cannot be fairly claimed by any one per- son, but is largely due, first, to the gentlemanly Committee of the Regiment who vis- ited Stamford twice during the progress of preparation, and who made such a favora- ble impression on every one with whom they came in contact. This committee, con- sisting of Capts. Brooks, Pryer, Schieffelin, and Lieuts. Theriott and Loder (Theriott, by the way, is a trump), and second, to the interest taken by Mr. Olmstead and the indefatigable exertions of Mr. Robert Harper, the Colfax serenader, Mr. S. H. Nye. Mr. Alex. Weed, M. Chas. Jones, and Mr. Sawyer Daskam, with the other members of the Citizen's Committee.
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RESIGNATION OF EX-COLONEL DAVIS. 519
All these gentlemen deserve credit for the active part they took in the arrange- ments. Mr. Spencer, of the Stamford House, comes under this head. His part was done well, considering all the circumstances, and he deserves honorable mention.
Governor's Day this year was on the 6th of October, the NINTHI turning out with the First division for review. On the 22nd the official inspection took place in Tompkins Square ; two hundred and sixty-eight were present out of a total of four hundred and ten.
Before the year closed the regiment lost, by resignation, one of its oldest members, Captain and ex-Colonel John W. Davis. His record is as follows :
Paymaster, Eleventh regiment, Feb. Ist, 1854 ; Major Nov. 15th, 1855 ; resigned May -- , 1858 ; Captain Co. D, NINTII regiment, Sept. 16th, 1859 ; mustered into U. S. service June Sth ; resigned July 31st. 1861 ; Lieutenant-Colonel Third regi- ment (Merchant's Brigade), Dec. 27th, 1862; resigned March 27th, 1863 ; Colonel NINTH regiment, Aug. 7th, 1863 ; resigned Feb. 5th, 1864; Captain Co. D, NINTH regiment, Dec. 12th, 1865 ; resigned Oct. 7th, 1869.
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CHAPTER XXIII.
ENCAMPMENT AT LONG BRANCH. -1870-
Resignation of Colonel Wilcox .- Colonel James Fisk, Jr. - A New Company K .- Parade and Review .- Visiting the Grand Opera House .- Ball at the Academy of Music .- Brigade Drill .- Excurison to Yonkers .- Encampment at Long Branch. -Reception and Entertainment of The Newburyport Artillery, Amoskeag Vet- erans and the Putnam Phalanx .- Review of the First Division N. G. S. N. Y .-- Formation of a Grand Band.
N the 28th of February Colonel and Brevet Brigadier-Gen- eral Wilcox- resigned his commission as Colonel of the NINTH. Business affairs alone compelled him to this step, and his loss was looked upon with regret by every member of the regiment.
The General's military record is as follows :
Private Co .. H, Seventh regiment, June -- , 1857 ; Captain, and A. D. C. on staff of General Hall, Sept. -- , 1860 ; Lieut .- Col. Second regiment, Feb. 19th ; mustered into U. S. service May 21st ; resigned Dec. 7th, 1861 ; Colonel on staff of Maj .- Gen. Sanford, Sept. 24th, 1862 ; Colonel NINTHI regi- ment (Home organization), March 19th, 1864; Brevet Brig .- 'Gen. N. Y. Vols., Dec. 15th, 1868.
In the Spring it looked as though the regiment would not long survive. Gradually its membership had decreased. The armory building was not suitable for its purposes, and all active interest seemed to be at an end. This was not owing to any special fault of either officers or men, but was attributed to the political wire-pullers who were not in sympathy with the best interests of the regiment.
A few of the members, some of whom dated their connec- tion from 1859, met to talk over the situation, and the meeting resulted in their determining to submit the name of a prominent
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COLONEL JAMES FISK, JR.
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COMPANY K REORGANIZED.
civilian for the position of colonel. When it was announced that James Fisk, Jr., had been elected on April 7th, the public press and many individuals interested in the welfare of the regiment commented unfavorably.
The reasons which influenced the Board of Officers in their choice were the well known liberality, energy and fertility of resources, together with the great influence possessed by Col- onel Fisk, and it was firmly believed that the choice would be of the greatest benefit to the regiment. And their expecta- tions were more than realized. Recruiting at once became active in all the companies and a new one was formed to take the place of K, which, for over a year, had been disbanded. On the 12th, less than a week after Colonel Fisk's election, the members of the new company met and elected officers, and in company orders, No, 3, it was announced that Bird W. Spencer had been chosen Captain, Robert B. Cable First Lieutenant, and Alonzo P. Bacon Second Lieutenant. Cap- tain Spencer had received his military education in Company H, of the Seventh, Lieutenant Cable in the Seventy-first, while Lieutenant Bacon had been a member of the Thirteenth Massachusetts Volunteers-a regiment that had served in the same brigade with the NINTH-during the war.
The same evening the regiment assembled at the armory, mustering two hundred and forty-five uniformed, and seventy- five ununiformed men, and, after inspection by the Colonel- elect, were marched to the street for an evening parade. As this was the first appearance of the new commandant, the armory was crowded with the friends of the regiment and many representative military men. The line of march led through West Twenty-sixth Street to Eighth Avenue, to Twenty-third Street, to Fifth Avenue, to Fourteenth Street, to Broadway, to Eighth Street, to Fourth Avenue, to Twenty-sixth Street, back to the armory. The march was a triumphal procession from beginning to end, the front, rear, and both flanks of the regi- ment being densly packed with a crowd not usually seen on such occasions; for the majority was composed of the solid and substantial business men of the city, who gave frequent
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vent to their feelings of admiration and sympathy by repeated cheers, which were taken up by the members of the regiment and echoed from one end of the line to the other.
On the 29th, Colonel Fisk issued " General Order, No. 7," in which he formally assumed command of the regiment. An honorary membership roll was established at this time, the fee for joining being fifty-two dollars, and such was its popularity that in a short time several thousand dollars found its way into the treasury, the fund thus formed being used to defray the expenses of social gatherings.
The press of the city had been divided upon the question. of the expediency-and justice-of elevating to the command of a regiment a person with no previous military experience. The experiment had never before been tried. As the result for good or ill chiefly concerned the NINTH, and as the discus- sion of the question served to bring the regiment into greater prominence, the members rather enjoyed it. The result proved the wisdom of the innovation. To save from disbandment a regiment which had a most honorable record during the many years of its existence, was a duty, and those who pro- posed and consummated the successful plan, are entitled to the thanks of all the friends of the organization.
Colonel Fisk fully appreciated the honor which had been conferred upon him, as well as the obligations which that honor entailed. He at once began to make himself familiar with his duties, and was active and vigilant in looking out for the inter- Tests of his command ; he also pursued a course of study of the tactics in which he made rapid progress, and in a short time its effects were seen in the regiment. Had his life been spared he would soon have shown himself a thoroughly competent officer in every sense of that term.
Early in the evening of May 13th a dress-parade and in- spection was held at the armory, the occasion being graced by the presence of the Adjutant, Inspector, and Commissary Generals. After parade, and upon the invitation of . Colonel Fisk, the regiment, to the number of about five hundred, together with General Varian and staff, Colonels Perley and
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ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
Rodney C. Ward and staffs, besides other distinguished mili- tary gentlemen, attended the Grand Opera House, where they witnessed the performance of Twelve Temptations, and were most agrecably entertained.
After drill, on the evening of the 25th, Company D pre- sented their commander, Captain Robert B. Courtney, with a handsome sword, sash and belt, the presentation address being made by ex-Colonel John W. Davis, a former member of the company, and who had been twice honored with the office of Captain.
On the 27th the ninth anniversary of the departure of the regiment for the war was celebrated by a ball given at the Academy of Music. Two bands, containing one hundred and fifty musicians furnished the music; one, under the leadership of Max Maretzek, beginning the programme with the overture to- William Tell, the Military band following with a selection from La Perichole. Among the distinguished guests present were Governor Hoffman, Generals McDowell, Sanford, Shaler, Duryea, McQuade, Willcox, Wallen, Dakin, Woodward, Varian, Burger and Postley, and Colonels Perry and Samuel H. Leonard (late of Thirteenth Massachusetts Volunteers). A large number of officers of lesser rank, besides many civilians of note-including the city officials-were also present. Congratulations were showered upon the members by their delighted guests, who pronounced the occasion " the event of the season." The visitors were surprised at the rapid progress made by the regiment under its new leadership. Certainly the NINTH never appeared to better advantage in social life and character, those features which-to a volunteer militia organization-are its very being during the "piping times of peace."
On June 2nd, in obedience to orders from brigade head- quarters, the regiment proceeded to Prospect Park to have a brigade drill .. The men assembled at the armory at eight A. M., and marched to the foot of West Twenty-third Street, where they boarded the ferry-boat James Fisk, Jr., and were conveyed to Brooklyn ; thence by horse-cars to the ground,
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
where they arrived at noon and joined the brigade. Shortly after the drill began, but the contemplated number of move- ments-fifty-six-were not all performned, owing to a lack of time. After the drill a dress-parade was held, the compliments of which were paid to Adjutant-General Townsend. Generals Morris, McQuade and Dakin were also present, besides a large Concourse of people, and from the frequent applause manifested, the exhibition must have been very satisfactory. Some of the more critical pronounced it a better drill than they had expected to witness. Considering the disadvantages under which the regiments of the Third brigade labored-only one of which had armory accommodations sufficient for battal- ion movements-the drill was a success. The weather was all that could be desired, the sun shone brightly, but without that heat which might have put some of the novices hors de combat. The NINTH returned to New York by the same route over which it had been conveyed to the drill ground, arriving at the armory at a late hour, where it was dismissed.
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