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 53
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1877
593
STARTING FOR THE PLACE OF TROUBLE.
J. M. Toucey, Superintendent of the Hudson River railroad, an- nounced that a mob, numbering some seven hundred, had crossed the river from Albany and taken forcible possession of the railroad at Greenbush. The train proceeded as far as Hudson, where a despatch was received from General Joseph B. Carr, directing the regiment to report to him for orders as soon as it arrived at Greenbush. When the train left Hudson, company commanders were ordered to see that the window blinds were closed and the lights turned down, so that the train of armed men might be mistaken for a freight train, in the darkness, and be enabled to approach the scene of disturbance without mo- Jestation. When the ball cartridges were distributed several of the men, who had never handled such things before, became somewhat nervous for fear they might "go off" and hurt somebody.
Upon arriving at Greenbush, a large crowd of men were found on the railroad and about the railroad buildings, but, save for a " few remarks," not at all complimentary to the railroad or military authorities, they were orderly and peace- able. Company F, one hundred strong, Captain William P. Walton, commanding, was ordered to clear the railroad bridge, spanning the river, of the people, and any other obstructions found upon it, in order that the train might cross over to Albany. This was accomplished without any trouble, the crowd merely threatening that " to-morrow" they would show the authorities what they would do. At nine o'clock the regiment was safely over the river, and after a hurried supper at the Delavan House, the NINTH, in column of twos, marched to Martin Hall, where the men were to spend the night. It is needless to say that the citizens of Albany felt much relieved when they saw the regiment marching through Broadway and up State Street to their temporary quarters. It was noticed, on passing some of the armories of the local guardsmen on State Street, that the men were on duty, and ready for any emergency.
After entering their quarters, thirty men, under Captain George A. Hussey, officer of the day, and Lieutenant Charles
594
1877
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
L. Housman, officer of the guard, were detailed for guard duty, with instructions to allow no one to enter or leave the building. The excitement of the past twenty-four hours and loss of sleep the previous night having worn out the boys somewhat, the whole of the regiment were soon asleep and enjoying the much needed repose.
During the night the guards were on the alert, and they were accosted by a number of men who, apparently, were seeking information in the interest of the strikers, for they seemed anxious to know whether or not ball cartridges had been issued to the regiment, and if they would obey the command to fire. About midnight a supply of canteens arrived. and were distributed to the men. The war veterans in the regiment instructed the novices how to fill these, and as- water -- was plenty, the lesson was soon learned.
By daylight of the 25th, a detachment of seventy-five men, who were not able to leave New York with the regiment, arrived. At a quarter past four the drum corps-thirty strong-beat the reveille, awakening, not alone the members of the regiment, but the whole neighborhood as well. At half-past five the men marched to the Delavan House for breakfast, and an hour later boarded a train, arriving shortly after at West Albany, some three miles distant. General Carr and staff accompanied the NINTH. The importance of West Albany to the railroad interests will be seen, when it is known that at that point are located the construction and repair shops of the New York Central and Hudson River railroads, the immense live stock yards, and side tracks for freight trains. When the NINTH arrived there the loaded freight cars standing upon the tracks, would, if placed upon a single line, have covered about thirty miles, and the rioters had rendered it impossible for the officials to move them, either cast or west. Besides this, passenger traffic had been impeded, the only trains allowed to pass being those bearing the U. S. mails. Already an immense amount of money had been lost on account of perishable freight, and the interruption to travel was more than could be estimated at a money value.
1877
AT WEST ALBANY.
595
When the regiment got off the cars, the mob which had congregated, about a thousand strong, quietly withdrew from the station and from the limits of the railroad "yard." Com- panies A and F, Captains Cottman and Walton, were posted at the eastern end ; Companies E and I, Captains Japha and Hussey, were detailed, under command of Major John T. Pryer, to guard the main tracks near the school-house, while Com- pany D, Captain Auld, was sent to the western end of the "yard." The balance of the regiment was held in. reserve at headquarters, under the bridge that crosses the "yard" at about its center. Companies A, B and F, of the Tenth regi- ment, under the command of Colonel Amasa J. Parker, Jr., the Fourth separate company, (Tibbett's Corps) of Troy, Captain and Brevet Colonel Joseph Egolf, commanding, and the Sixth separate company, (Troy Citizens' Corps) Captain and Brevet- Colonel James W. Cusack, commanding, were also on the ground, and with the NINTH were under the command of Colonel Hitchcock. The men had been ordered to pay no at- tention to "wordy" insults from the mob, nor even to fire upon them in return for personal assaults unless life was taken ; then the commanding officer nearest the scene of disturbance was to exercise his best judgment in repelling the assault and quelling the outbreak.
As soon as the troops had been posted, the railroad authorities began to .prepare to move the trains, and in a short time comparative quiet reigned about the neighborhood. The first disturbing element came in a force of men who occupied the roofs of a freight train coming in from Albany, and who endeavored to enter the "yard," but companies B, G and K of the NINTH immediately advanced towards the train as it came to a stop, and the would-be rioters beat a hasty retreat. Companies E and I were also obliged to disperse a mob which gathered about their outpost, but that was accomplished without a resort to extreme measures. During the day the railroad employes held meetings at the Capitol Park in Albany, and in a grove near the "yard" at West Albany, at which several inflammatory speeches were made.
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-
1 ! ! ----
596
THE NINTH NEW YORK. 1877
But wiser councils prevailed and no attempt was made to interfere with the running of the cars, except at Van Voort Street in Albany, where some trains were stoned, and a special guard was posted, which at once restored order.
The camp at West Albany was named in honor of General Carr. On the 26th ninety-two officers and eleven hundred and seventeen men were present for duty. By reason of the excessive heat, excitement, loss of sleep and bad cooking of rations, quite a number of the troops were under the doctor's care ; but few serious cases were developed, and on the whole the men stood the strain remarkably well. Surgeon Stephen WV. Roof was indefatigable in attending to his onerous duties, and to his skill and care the men owed their general good health.
. A few overcoats had been received, but only enough to serve the relief standing-guard. The coats were transferred by the relieved sentinel, together with his special orders for that post, the old guard walking off, shivering, to his quarters. Chills and colds were the result.
The 27th was oppressively warm, but, nevertheless, the spirit of fun led to an amusing ceremony-a burlesque funeral. On the following day the Albany Argus thus described the affair :
One of the incidents of the day yesterday at the camp at West Albany, was the burial by Company I, of the NINTH regiment, of the remains of their breakfast. Near the headquarters of Col. Hitchcock, and in hearing of the headquarters of Gen. Carr, the fifers were heard playing the funeral dirge. "What in the world is that mournful sound made for ?" was the inquiry made by a visitor. "Oh, the boys are burying something," said Gen. Carr ; " they are up to some sort of capers most of the time." Soon the procession was seen approaching Gen. Carr's headquarters with mournful tread. First came two fifers playing the " funeral dirge in Saul," in the most approved manner. They were followed by the drummers, with long faces, keeping time with the wind instruments. Then came eight men with chimes. The chimes consisted of huge ear links and bolts, which being struck together produced quite an effect. The fifes and drums and car link chains constituted the band of music. Next followed the chaplain, the book upon which his eyes were steadfastly fixed being a pack of cards, the three of clubs exposed, the rest of the pack being reversed. Then came the bier, borne upon the shoulders of ten men. It was labeled. in black letters. " The remains of the breakfast of Company I. NINTH regiment." The sides of the bier were ornamented with immense crackers, painted black, repre-
.
1877
PEACE RESTORED. THE " WAR " OVER.
597
senting mourning rosettes. The bier contained several half-barrel tubs filled with the scrapings of the kitchen. It was flanked by soldiers with arms reversed, and a squad in like order brought up the rear.
The mournful procession marched past Gen. Carr's headquarters, and then countermarched to the camp. As an impromptu burlesque it was a decided success.
The affair occurred in the forenoon ; Lieutenant Housman was the master of ceremonies, and Corporal Henry C. Kline, the chaplain.
Late in the afternoon Governor Robinson and Adjutant- General Townsend visited the camp ; a violent rain-storm, however, coming on just at the time prevented the "army" from being reviewed by the Commander-in-Chief.
By this time the lines of travel were all open, and in the evening the NINTH was ordered to be ready to leave on the following morning. In commemoration of the close of the campaign, the authorities conceived the bright idea that the soldiers might like to smoke the pipe of peace, and a supply of cheap clay pipes and some of the vilest tobacco ever "manu- factured " was sent up to the camp, but the boys were unable to appreciate the joke-if one was intended-or to enjoy the influence of the weed.
A strong friendship had sprung up between the members of the NINTHI and the other military bodies with whom they were associated-the Tibbett's and Citizens' Corps of Troy, and the Albany Companies, A B and F, of the Tenth regiment-and many promises were made on both sides to visit and enjoy each other's hospitalities when the " war " was over.
At half-past six the next morning, the 28th, the troops left camp, the Sheriff and his deputies assuming charge of the railroad company's property, and proceeded to Albany on the cars. Upon reaching the city the line paraded through Pearl Street, where it was reviewed by the Governor and most of the State officials. There seemed to be but little interest manifested by the citizens during the review, the members of the NINTH even thinking that the populace looked upon them rather coldly. After the review the NINTH marched to the railroad station, reaching there about eleven o'clock, but owing
1877
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
598
to a report that an attempt had been made to overpower the Sheriff and his deputies at West Albany, the regiment was detained till afternoon. At half-past one the train started for New York, and the trip home was enlivened by popular de- monstrations all along the line. The Grand Central Station was reached at six o'clock, and the regiment at once marched to the afinory. They were a tired, unshaven, dirty lot of men. It seems incredible that the authorities took so little interest in the care of the men during the week's campaign. As has been stated, the men were obliged to leave home without knap- sacks, consequently they could carry none of the necessary articles-such as soap, towels, or shaving apparatus with them, and none were furnished during the stay at West Albany.
Before dismissing the regiment Colonel Hitchcock briefly addressed the command, complimenting the men upon the manner in which their duties had been performed, and con- gratulating them upon the fact that the campaign had been a bloodless one, but none the less successful.
During the absence of the regiment from New York, more or less trouble had been experienced there, and threats had been made that the regimental armory would be attacked, and demolished, in revenge for the part the NINTH was taking in suppressing the trouble at West Albany. The Veteran organ- ization of the regiment, however, proposed to guard the inter- ests of the actives, and on the 24th the following telegram had been sent :
Col. JAS. R. HITCHCOCK :
NEW YORK, July 24th, 1877.
The Veterans will respond for the protection of the NINTH'S armory.
JOHN II. WOOD, Commanding NINTH Veterans,
But the services of the Veterans were not needed, a guard of eighty men having been organized under Lieutenant Peter J. Babcock, who remained at the armory during the absence of the regiment.
To show that the NINTH was still ready for further service, the following will prove :
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1
e
.
1877
REGISTER JULY TWENTY-EIGHTHI.
NEW YORK, July 28th, 1877. 599
Gov. LUCIUS ROBINSON,
Commander-in-Chief, S. N. Y., Albany, N. Y .:
If the General Government require troops from this State to protect property in other States, the NINTH regiment is willing to volunteer its services at short notice.
JAS. R. HITCHCOCK, Colonel NINTH Regiment N. G. S. N. Y.
Before the men left the armory, roll was called with the following result :
Field, Staff, and Non-commissioned
Staff,
36 present,
2 absent,
total 33
Co. A,
93
16
12
66
105
Co. B,
43
I I
54
Co. C,
51
Co. D,
63
14
66
6.
77
Co. E,
58
17
66
75
Co. F,
100
12
6.
112
Co. G.
98
15
113
Co. H,
47
66
14
16
61
Co. I,
70
9
66
76
1
e
717
135
852
REGISTER OF OFFICERS.
Colonel James R. Hitchcock.
Lieut .- Col. M. P. L. Montgomery, Major John T. Pryer, Adjutant C. A. H. Bartlett, Quartermaster Edgar F. Wait. Commissary John H. Mooney, Inspector George E. Harding. Surgeon Stephen W. Roof, Assistant-Surgeon Joseph E. Tucker, Chaplain Edward C. Houghton.
Ex-Colonel Charles R. Braine, volunteer aid.
66
79
Co. K,
58
IS
62
66
1
1877
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
600
Company A.
Captain Thomas D. Cottman, Lieutenants Joseph A. Bluxome and Thomas Griffin.
Company B.
Captain William J. Kirkland, Lieutenants Joseph J. Spring- er and Valentine Marsh.
Company C.
Captain John C. C. Tallman, Lieutenants Howard F. Kennedy and Gilford Hurry.
Company D. Captain George Auld, Lieutenant George B. Cobb.
Company E.
Captain Sol. E. Japha, Lieutenant Michael Bauman.
Company F.
Captain William P. Walton, Lieutenants Maurice A. Herts and George D. Browne.
Company G.
Captain Reuben A. Britton, Lieutenants Ferris, P. L. DeGroot and Peter J. Babcock.
Company H.
Captain George W. Homans, Lieutenants Wm. A. Thomp- son and George B. Campbell.
Company I.
Captain George A. Hussey, Lieutenants Wm. A. Leckler and Chas. L. Housman.
Company K.
Captain James A. Mulligan, Lieutenants Joseph P. Hertz- Jer and Stillman F. Kneeland.
After the service at West Albany, the most important event in military circles during the summer was the reception of the First Connecticut regiment, on their visit to New York, by the NINTH, which occurred on the 26th of August. After a short parade the line was reviewed by General Frederick Vilmar at Union Square and then the two regiments proceeded
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1877
MATCHES AT CREEDMOOR.
601
to the NINTH's armory, where refreshments were served. In the evening Gilmore's Garden was visited, and about mid- night the visitors were escorted back to the boat for their return home.
In September occurred the Tournament of the National Rifle Association at Creedmoor. Space does not permit a detailed account of the several events-which began on the LIth-and the Editor avails himself of the following summary copied from the Mercury (New York) :
The event of absorbing interest in military circles was the annual fall shoot- ing match of the National Rifle Association. The meeting, supplemented as it was by the international shooting match, proved a very interesting one, the inter- State and other team matches all attracting a good deal of attention. We give a resume of the military matches for record. The shooting commenced Monday with the cavalry match. The cavalry match was open to teams of seven, carbines, seven rounds, at 200 yards; position, standing. The Washington Gray Troop won with a total team score of 173; Separate Troop, Fifth brigade, 163; Separate Troop, Twenty-fourth brigade, 157; Yates's Dragoons, 145; Separate Troop, First division 136; Third Cavalry, Troop D, 122; Troop F, 114; Troop 11, 112 ; Troop B, 105. The Gatling battery made 159.
The army and navy cup match, open to teams of twelve from all regularly organ- ized military organizations, distance 500 yards, rounds seven, position any within rules, brought out seventeen teams. It was won by the Forty-eighth regiment of Oswego. with a score of 328. The other scores in this match were: Second regiment of Con- necticut, 312; Seventy-first, 307 ; Eighth, 299; First California (1I men), 290; Forty- ninth, 275; Forty-fourth, 264; Twenty-third, 262; Fourteenth, 248; Seventh, 246; NINTH, 245 ; Forty-seventh, 223 ; Thirteenth, 213; Twelfth, 218; Thirty-second, 213; Twenty-eighth, 201 ; Sixty-ninth, 145.
The gatling gun, 500 yards, seven shots, was also scooped in by the Forty-eighth. with a score of 395. The Seventh made 296; Twenty-third, 290; Forty-ninth, 288; Forty-fourth, 280; Seventy-first, 280; Fourteenth, 265; NINTH, 251 ; Eighth, 245; Thirty-second, 239; Twelfth, 215; Thirteenth, 194; Sixty-ninth, 165; Forty-seventh, 158.
On Tuesday the ball opened with the New York State National Guard match, teams of twelve, 200 and 500 yards, five rounds at each distance. The Fourteenth, Brook- lyn, headed the list with a score of 420. The Twenty-third scored 407 ; Forty-eighth. Oswego, 403; NINTH, 393; Seventh, 387 ; Eighth, 372 ; Forty-ninth, 366; Twelfth, 363; Forty-fourth, 347; Seventy-first, 34t ; Thirty-second, 334; Sixty-ninth, 319; Thirteenth, 318; Twenty-eighth, 314; Forty-seventh, 309; Fifteenth battalion, 260).
The First division match was also at 200 and 500 yards, five rounds at each. The Seventy-first took the first prize with a score of 428. The Eighth scored 395 ; NINTH, 391 ; Seventh, 390; Twelfth, 387; Sixty-ninth, 317.
The Second division match was under the same condition as the First. The Twenty-third won the first prize with a score of 405. The Fourteenth scored 404; Thirteenth. 384; Thirty-second, 368; Forty-seventh, 354, Twenty-eighth, 318; Fifteenth battalion, 307.
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602
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
1877
. On Wednesday the event of the day was the inter-State match, teams of twelve from regularly organized regiments ; distance, 200 and 500 yards ; weapon, the author- ized military rifle in use in the State which the team represents. There were four entries-California, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. The Pacific slopers won with a score of 995, using a Springfield rifle; Connecticut, using a Peabody gun, was second, with a score of 971 ; New York, with the State model, made 967 ; and New Jersey, with the Springfield, scored 744. The New York team was composed of seven from country regiments and five from this vicinity.
The champion match at 200, 600 and 1,000 yards, ten rounds each distance, was participated in by a good many military men, and won by Major Henry Fulton with a score of 139 out of a possible 150.
The Wimbledon Challenge Cup, presented by the National Rifle Association of Great Britain, distance 1,000 yards, thirty rounds, was won by Dudley Self, of the New Orleans team, with a score of 137 out of a possible 150.
The excitement of the week culminated in the International long range shooting match for the championship of the world. On Thursday the American team scored 1,655, the British team 1,629. On Friday the American team scored 1,679, the British team 1,613; total American score, 3,334; total British score, 3,242. The Americans thus won by 92 points. The days were both hot, but the weather was good for shoot- ing. The teams were : British-Sir Henry Halford, captain ; J. K. Miller, Lieutenant- Colonel James Fenton, Lieutenant Geo. Fenton, Wm. Rigby, Wm. Ferguson, A. P. Humphrey, H. S. W. Evans. American-General T. S. Dakin, captain ; L. Weber, 1. L. Allen, Frank Hyde, H. S. Jewell. L. C. Bruce, C. E. Blydenburgh, Wm. H. Jack- son.
Nothing of importance occurred after this until the 16th of October, when the Fall inspection took place. Major David Scott, the inspecting officer, reporting nine hundred and three present and only sixty-three absent ; total, present and absent, nine hundred and sixty-six. This was the largest number that had ever been present at an inspection, and the largest, with one exception, that had ever appeared in any regiment of the National Guard; the Seventh, in 1863, turned out nine hundred and seven.
For some time past the matter of a regimental history had been discussed by the Veterans, and late in the month of October a circular containing the following was issued :
" At a regular meeting of the Veteran Association of the NINTH regiment, held October 19th, 1877, at the armory, it was
" Resolved, 'That a Historical Committee be appointed to procure statistical and other information of the NINTH Regiment, from its organization to the present time, with a view to having the same, at some future time, compiled and published.'
c
1877
A HISTORY OF THE REGIMENT COMMENCED. 603
" All the members and ex-members of the regiment who have diaries of the marches, battles, etc., or who have any memoranda giving a history of the regiment, or any papers or facts which would be of interest in a history of this regiment, are requested to send the same to the Chairman of the Com- mittee."
0
n
1878
THE NINTH NEW YORK.
604
.
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE NINTH VISITS WASHINGTON.
18-8-1884.
Entertainment in Aid of Soldiers' Home at Bath, N. Y .- Corporal Tanner's Address- -Burial of Colonel Hitchcock .- Memorial Day .- Rifle Practice at Creedmoor. - Efforts to Secure a Colonel .- 1879-Election of S. Oscar Ryder to the Colonelcy .- Chaplain Reed Preaches to the Regiment .- Testimonial to Judge Langbein .- 1880-Washington's Birthday .- More Rifle Practice .- Field Day at New Dorp .- May Inspection Report .- Company H Visits Boston and Marble- head .- Funeral of General Torbert .- 1881-General Grant Reviews the NINTH. -The NINTH Visits Washington .- Inauguration of President Garfield .- Reviewed by General Sherman .- Company I Celebrates its Twentieth Birthday. --- Assassination of President Garfield .- 1882-Resignation of Colonel Ryder. - Colonel Seward to the Front .- Exhibition Bayonet Drill .- Reception by Con- pany H .-- 1883-Washington's Birthday .- A State Camp Established. -- The NINTH in Camp .- Extracts from Report .- Festivities at Close of Year .- 1884- A New Service Uniform.
1878.
THE first event of importance in the year's history to the NINTHI was an entertainment in the form of a Grand Hop, given on the 26th of February, for the purpose of raising funds towards the completion of the Home at Bath, Steuben Co., for disabled veterans of the late war. As the ranks of the NINTH contained a large number of war veterans, this object was one near to their hearts. In his report to the Department Encamp- ment of the Grand Army of the Republic, in January, Com- mander James Tanner said in reference to this Home :
Two years ago, when we were forced to face the fact that year after year repeated applications to the law makers of the commonwealth had failed to secure the inaugura- tion of measures which would tend to the relief of our needy and deserving comrades, I was one of your number who earnestly advocated a change of base, and claimed that, with a vivid remembrance of every call which patriotism made upon their bounty, we should go to the people and ask them that, out of their abundance which a benifi- cent Providence had bestowed upon them, they should set aside a small sum, to the end that those who could no longer help themselves might be furnished subsistence
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1878
DEATH OF COLONEL HITCHCOCK.
605
and shelter in a place, the inhabiting of which should not impress upon them a mark of disgrace ; that they should in fact be taken from the poorhouses of the State and placed in a Soldiers' Home.
The result of the NINTH's efforts in this direction was highly gratifying, and several hundred dollars were added to the fund.
Of the 15th of April the regiment was called upon to pay the last sad rites to the memory of their late commander, Colonel Hitchcock. For several months he had been ill, and on the 12th he died. Besides the NINTH, the Eleventh and Seventy-first regiments from the city, and the Troy Citizens' Corps, eighty strong, as well as delegations of officers from every regiment in the city and Brooklyn, took part in the parade. Many of the higher officials, including Generals Shaler, Woodward, Carr and Vilmar were also present. The pall-bearers were Generals Varian and Wylie, Colonels Em- mons Clark, G. D. Scott, Josiah Porter and Charles S. Spen- cer.
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