USA > New York > History of the Seventh Regiment of New York, 1806-1889 > Part 24
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First Company,
ABIEL MILES,
Third Grade,
Second
CLARK FREELAND,
Third
Third 66
JAMES SCRIBNER, Third
Fourth 66
JAMES ROOME, Third 66
Fifth 66
EDWARD SHORTELL,
First 66
Sixth
ASHER TAYLOR,
Third 6.
Seventh 66
CHARLES M. VULTEE,
Third
Eighth 66
HENRY J. BEERS,
First
6.
It was also announced in the same order that
General Hunt, Colonel Kiersted, and Lieutenant Drum will honor the corps by presenting the badges of the Order of Merit at a quarter past 9 o'clock, November 25th, in front of the City Hall. Captain Cairns will convene the members of the Order of Merit at the earliest convenience.
The badge of the Order of Merit pre- pared by a committee of the Board of Officers was a silver Maltese cross, with the arms of the Regiment in the center. It was designed to be worn on the left breast and attached to the uniform coat by a ribbon indicating the rank held in the Order.
Badge of " Order of Merit."
1835
238
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTH REGIMENT.
The first meeting of the Order of Merit was held at the Shake- speare on the 24th day of November. A constitution and by-laws for the government of the order were considered and at a subse- quent meeting were adopted. Captain Cairns was elected com- mander, Henry J. Beers vice-commander, and Asher Taylor secre- tary. The two crosses which the Order of Merit was authorized to confer upon members of the Regiment " most distinguished for zeal and activity in promoting the interests of the service " were award- ed to Thomas M. Adriance of the Sixth Company, who had served more than sixteen years with great distinction, and to Robert E. Launitz of the Eighth Company, distinguished for his valuable services in recruiting.
The usual parade took place on the 4th of July, the Regiment forming in Hudson Street near St. John's Park. On the 31st day of August, the Regiment proceeded to Hoboken for field practice. On the 8th day of October there was a full-dress parade, and the usual parade and review took place on the 25th day of November, at which the badges of the Order of Merit were presented to the fortunate competitors. The annual inspection and review was held at Hamilton Square on the 19th day of October. The great dis- tance from the city of the place selected for the inspection was a subject of considerable unfavorable criticism. The Second Com- pany, with Reidel's Drum Corps, escorted the colors from the quar- ters of Colonel Smith to Hamilton Square.
Several of the companies proceeded from the city to neighbor- ing towns for target-practice, Yonkers and Bull's Ferry being the more popular places in the year 1835 for this military amusement. La Grange Place, for several years a favorite resort for the target- excursions of several of the companies, was situated near Bull's Ferry, and was a neat and quiet house of entertainment, affording ample and comfortable accommodations for its numerous patrons. John Ponson, its proprietor, was a gay, pleasant, and talkative old Frenchman, and, assisted by his tidy and pretty daughter, had the happy faculty of pleasing everybody, and of making every one loath to leave and anxious to come again. Ponson, his daughter, and his popular establishment, have long since passed away, but neither was ever forgotten by those who were so fortunate as to go for a day's shooting to La Grange Place about the year 1835.
During the year William Jones succeeded Captain Ruggles in
239
CAPTAIN PHILETUS H. HOLT.
1835
the captaincy of the Third Company, and Charles Roome was pro- moted to the vacancy in the Fourth Company, caused by the elec- tion of his brother, Captain Edward Roome, to the majority. The Sixth Company lost the valuable services of Captain Philetus H. Holt, and elected Lieutenant Edward T. Backhouse as his suc- cessor.
Captain Philetus H. Holt was born in New London, Conn., in 1803, and enlisted in the Fourth Company in 1821. He at once took an active and prominent position in the company, and soon rose to the rank of first ser- geant, but steadily declined further promotion until 1826, when he accepted the captaincy of the Fourth Company, upon the retirement of Captain Chandler White. In 1830 Captain Holt resigned his com- mission, but continued to take an active interest in the Regi- ment until 1833, when he yielded to the solicitations of Colonel Stevens and other in- fluential officers and undertook the organization of the new Sixth Company, which he com- manded until his final retire- ment from the service in 1835.
@this Istoch From a photograph, 1850.
Captain Holt ranks high among the able and brilliant officers to whom the Seventh Regiment is indebted for its fame and prosperity. During his administration the Fourth Company in- creased in number from about forty to over one hundred men, and was the largest military company in the State of New York. Its progress in drill and discipline was not less marked, and its general superiority was universally acknowledged. He was a rigid discipli- narian, and without regard to personal consequences performed his own duties with the greatest precision, and insisted upon the same attention and faithfulness from his subordinates. He was also a thorough military instructor, and aspired to make his company the 17
240
1835
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTH REGIMENT.
best in the city ; and he accomplished his object. His especial van- ity was a fancy " tap-drill," or drill by the tap of the drum, in which his company acquired wonderful proficiency. Captain Holt was also the first to instrnet a company in light-infantry and rifle taeties, at that time entirely different from the tactics of the in- fantry of the line. Hle was an admirable executive officer, as is apparent from his distinguished management of the affairs of the Fourth Company, and from his magical success in the reorganization of the Sixth Company. Although frequently offered promotion, and possessing the military and executive ability to successfully command the Regiment, Captain Holt uniformly declined the honors which he merited. His popularity with the rank and file of his company was unbounded, and in the Board of Officers he maintained a high position and an extensive influence.
Captain Holt was below the medium height, of slight but mus- cular figure, and was distinguished for his ercet and soldierly car- riage. His handsome face and genial and easy manners paved the way to public favor, while his ability, energy, and integrity secured him the respect and confidence of his military associates. Captain Ilolt was a flour-merchant, and by the prudent management of his business acquired a handsome fortune. He died in New York in 1874.
A new "Order of Formation," for the use of the Regiment, was devised and adopted in the early part of the year, there being no recognized official regulations as to that important military cere- mony. The Board of Officers also designated the American Museum as the place to "hoist the countermand flag, when necessary." In September Colonel Smith was instructed to correspond with Gov- ernor Marcy, the commander-in-chief, in respect to the observance of the new system of military tactics promulgated by the War Department. The result was the introduction to the Regiment of the "New Scott's Tactics," a revision of the original work, con- taining the three-rank formation, "firing, front rank kneeling," and some other immaterial innovations. Colonel William W. Tompkins was engaged to instruct the officers of the Regiment for six months, but the school did not prove to be successful or satis- factory.
In December the " wash-leather belt " was adopted for officers. This was a white leather belt, passing over the right shoulder and
241
THIE GREAT FIRE OF 1835.
1835
the breast, and to which the sword was suspended. A handsome breastplate was the principal ornament to this belt, made of brass, slightly convex, square, corners rounded, with the regimental coat- of-arms in silver, in the center of the plate.
In December a committee was appointed to consider the expe- diency of selecting an appropriate day "to be celebrated with be- coming honors and solemnities as the anniversary of the Twenty- seventh Regiment; on which occasion, if they so recommend, the presentation of the several medals, and other insignia of the Order of Merit, may take place, and such other methods of signalizing the day as they may suggest." This committee gave the subject care- ful consideration, and plans for the celebration of an anniversary day were matured, but they were overwhelmed by the explosion of the Order of Merit in 1836, and in the disastrous results which fol- lowed were forgotten.
In the evening of December 16th commenced the most destruc- tive conflagration that had ever occurred in America. The weather was so intensely cold, and water was procured from the rivers with so much difficulty, that the firemen could render but indifferent service. The fire swept rapidly over the business portion of the city, which was at that time principally below Wall Street, and it was only by the destruction of several valuable buildings, not yet reached by the destroying element, that other parts of the city were saved. More than twenty entire blocks were destroyed, including the Merchants' Exchange, the Phoenix Bank, and other expensive buildings ; and five hundred stores of various kinds were entirely consumed. Hundreds of families were turned hungry and home- less into the streets ; rich men were in a day reduced to poverty ; the capital of insurance companies was exhausted, and the whole community was appalled at the great calamity.
On the 17th of December the Twenty-seventh Regiment was called out, and assembled at the City Hall. The duty assigned to the Regiment was to patrol the burned and burning district, and guard the valuable property that had been thrown into the streets. Silks and other valuables, which had been carried away and con- cealed, were found and returned to the owners; temporary shelter was secured to the houseless ; and in various other ways, on this sad occasion, the Regiment actively served the city and contributed to the public welfare. The weather continued intensely cold, and the
242
1835
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTH REGIMENT.
members of the Regiment suffered severely from the exposure, but they faithfully stood at their posts or patrolled among the ruins. On the following day, December 1Sth, after twenty-four hours of most arduous service, the Regiment was dismissed.
The services of the militia on this memorable occasion were duly appreciated by the authorities, and by the public generally. The mayor, Hon. Cornelius W. Lawrence, in a communication to Gen- eral Morton, recited the services rendered, and expressed "the thanks of the public authorities, as well as of the citizens generally, for the zeal and devotion exhibited in the discharge of the arduous and unpleasant duty "; and, in promulgating to his command the letter of the mayor, the general stated that "the soldierly and dis- creet conduct of the troops who formed the cordon along the line of desolation caused by the late fire is spoken of, on all occasions, in terms of the highest praise."
An incident of the great fire of 1835, illustrating the prompt- ness and gallantry of Colonel Morgan L. Smith, deserves a place in these pages. At about two o'clock in the morning, December 17th, Colonel Smith was summoned by Mayor Lawrence to a council to determine as to the advisability of blowing up buildings to arrest the progress of the flames. It was decided to first demolish the store of Rufus Lord, in Exchange Place, and the mayor sent to General Arcularius, at the arsenal, for powder for that purpose. Only one keg could be obtained, and, as no one present had any experience in the destruction of buildings under such circum- stances, the work was assigned to Colonel Smith. The carman with the powder refused to approach nearer to the burning district than the corner of Pine and Nassau Streets, and Colonel Smith, assisted by James A. Hamilton (son of Alexander Hamilton, of Revolutionary fame), carried the powder from this point and depos- ited it in the center of the basement of Lord's warehouse. A fuse of calico was hastily made and fired, and Smith and Hamilton had barely reached a safe distance when the explosion took place, and demolished the building so completely that the firemen were able to arrest the flames at that point. Subsequently a supply of powder was procured from the navy-yard, in Brooklyn, and the work of demolishing buildings to arrest the progress of the fire was con- tinued.
243
THE STEVEDORE RIOT.
1836
CHAPTER SIXTEENTH.
1836.
ON the 24th of February the Twenty-seventh Regiment was called upon to aid the civil authorities in suppressing a riot, occa- sioned by a strike of the stevedores for higher wages. On the morning of the 23d the stevedores assembled in large numbers, marched through the lower part of the city, and compelled not only those of their own trade to suspend work, but also prevented those who were engaged in removing the ruins of the great fire of 1835 from proceeding with their labor. Officers who interfered were beaten and driven from the streets. The high price of provisions, caused by the inflation of the currency, had brought great distress upon the laboring population, and the sympathy exhibited for the stevedores threatened to produce a riot of formidable proportions. On the morning of the 24th the Twenty-seventh Regiment was ordered to assemble at the Park. Its appearance had the desired effect ; no other disturbances occurred, and on the following day the stevedores resumed work. The Regiment was under arms for twenty-four hours, and was quartered in the court-rooms of the City Hall.
The unsettled state of business affairs, and the frequent and violent outbreaks among the laboring classes, suggested to the au- thorities the necessity of a military force to be in readiness for any emergency. A consultation upon the subject resulted in an order from Colonel Smith, of which the following is an extract :
TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT, N. Y. S. ARTILLERY.
STANDING REGIMENTAL ORDERS.
His Honor, the Mayor, having expressed a wish that some military corps should be held ready at any moment to aid the civil authorities, the commandant has tendered the services of this Regiment, and directs the members to preserve in good order their ball-cartridges, and to assemble in full uniform (gray pantaloons) at the Park immediately on the exhibition of the private signals. . . .
244
1836
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTH REGIMENT.
The valuable services of the Regiment did not escape thie notice of the citizens and the press of New York, as appears from the following extract from a leading daily journal of the period :
The National Guard .- The alacrity with which that fine Regiment, the Na- tional Guard (Twenty-seventh Regiment), turned out upon the occasion of the late stevedore rebellion, deserves much praise. This Regiment is six hundred strong, composed entirely of the respectable young men of the city, full of spirit, and in higher discipline it is admitted than any other volunteer uniform corps of militia in the U'nion. Their dress is gray, and very neat and soldier-like. They are quite experienced in the matter of riots. It was they who did such efficient duty at the "affair of the barricades," at Ludlow's Church, during the abolition riots, two years since. They may be considered the most efficient police we have, and we believe the Mayor and Common Council look upon them as such.
To the Twenty-seventh Regiment, and especially to its com- manding officer, Colonel Morgan L. Smith, is the militia of New York city indebted for the legislative act exempting its members from jury duty for life. For several years ineffectual applications had been made to the Legislature for this beneficent measure. On the 3d day of March the Board of Officers adopted a memorial upon the subject, and authorized Colonel Smith to represent the Regiment at Albany in the effort to secure the necessary legislation. Colonel Smith, with characteristic energy, undertook the work, and at the April meeting was enabled to report his complete success. The prominent features of this act of the Legislature of 1836 were : 1. That such portions of the First and Sixth Brigades of Artillery as reside in the City and County of New York shall be subject to the order of the mayor of said city, to aid the civil authorities " to quell riots, suppress insurrection, to protect the property, or pre- serve the tranquillity of the city." 2. That members of the First and Sixth Brigades of Artillery shall be exempt from jury duty, and from jury duty for life after seven years' military service. 3. That said brigades shall be limited to four regiments and a squad- ron of cavalry each, that each regiment shall be limited to eight companies, and that each company shall be limited to sixty men, exclusive of commissioned and non-commissioned officers. The news of the passage of this act was enthusiastically received by the several companies of the Regiment. and the Board of Officers, on the 7th day of April, recorded upon its minutes a graceful tribute to Colonel Smith for his distinguished and invaluable services in
245
1836
PREPARATIONS FOR "TRIAL OF SKILL."
securing the exemption from jury duty, and conferred upon him the badge of the Order of Merit.
On the 24th day of February, while the Regiment was assem- bled for riot duty in the rooms of the Court of Sessions, a pattern of epaulets or shoulder-knots for privates was presented, and after due consideration adopted with great unanimity. They were very similar in style to those worn from that day to this, being of black cloth top, the shoulder-cap encircled with white cord, and with white short fringe. The shoulder-knots were first worn at the spring parade on the 24th day of May. On June 14th the Eighth Company adopted a gray fatigue-cap. It had a flat top, the shape of the top preserved by a round reed; a broad black band below, ·with a gilt figure eight in front. This cap was worn by the Eighth Company during its excursion in July to Hyde Park, and was sub- sequently adopted by all the companies as the first fatigue-cap of the Regiment. The Eighth Company also adopted a silk oil-cloth cover for the uniform hat, buttoned behind, to be worn without the pompon in wet weather, but it was never adopted by the Regi- ment.
As only three companies had taken part in the trial of skill in 1835, Colonel Smith in general orders gave notice that all the com- panies would be expected to compete for the Order of Merit early in the summer of 1836, and that they would be called out for that purpose by regimental orders. As but one company could receive the first prize of the Order of Merit, the field-officers of the Regi- ment proposed to present the second best-drilled company with a splendid sword, the third a silver goblet, and the fourth a silver cup. Active preparations were accordingly commenced in all the companies, early in the season of 1836, for the second trial of skill, which was expected to take place in July, but which was finally postponed until September. Against this postponement the Seventh Company earnestly protested, as it believed that the delay was for the benefit of the other companies and prejudicial to its own inter- ests. The Second Company drilled three afternoons each week in August at Washington Parade-Ground ; the Fourth Company one afternoon weekly at the arsenal-yard, and one evening each week at McDermott's Long Room, in July and August ; the Sixth Company every Friday morning in June at five o'clock, one afternoon weekly in July and August at the arsenal-yard, and one evening each week
1836
246
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTH REGIMENT.
at Drew's Second Ward Hotel, and every evening during the week preceding the trial of skill; and the Seventh Company drilled weekly at Chambers's Sixth Ward Ilotel from January to Septem- ber, and during the summer months one afternoon in each week at Washington Parade-Ground. Indicative of hard work, Captain Cairns ordered his men " to keep their hair cut short and to appear without shirt-collars." The Eighth Company was not idle, for from May to September it drilled once a week at the arsenal-yard, besides regular weekly evening drills, and in July it was in camp for a week at Ilyde Park. The First, Third, and the Fifth Companies were also active, earnest. and laborious, and all looked forward to the eventful day with high hopes and ever-increasing interest.
The great trial of skill took place at the arsenal-yard on the 12th day of September, 1836. Early in the morning crowds of people sought entrance to the inclosure, and long before the hour for the contest to commence every foot of available space was occupied by spectators. As the several companies appeared upon the ground they were welcomed by their friends, but it was evident that the main interest centered in the Seventh and Eighth Companies. The veteran Cairns, always soldierly, was never more confident in his bearing, while the youthful Shumway modestly awaited the mo- mentous trial. At 11 A. M. the judges, Captain Thomas and Lieu- tenants Swartwout and Alden, appeared. They were thorough sol- diers. instructors at West Point. To each company was allotted sufficient time for an exhibition of its military proficiency, and commandants, as occasion required, were called upon by the judges to repeat certain movements, or to perform such as had been omit- ted. That all the companies had labored earnestly and manfully to reach perfection was evident ; each company had a coterie of friends and admirers who wished and predicted its success ; and all acquitted themselves in a manner that reflected honor upon their officers and upon the Regiment. When the Seventh Company took its place before the judges, the excitement became intense. It was the military champion, its commandant was the most famous military instructor in the city, and, with the prestige of success, it confidently entered the contest. But it was soon evident to mili- tary critics that the company had been over-drilled, and the exact- ness and precision which characterized all its movements were so elaborate and automatic as to depress the military spectators rather
247
1836
CAPTAIN JOHN TELFAIR CAIRNS.
,
than excite their enthusiastic admiration. Some very handsome and intricate military manœuvres were also introduced by Captain Cairns which were not in the text-book, and which were, therefore, not likely to favorably impress the military judges. And last, and worst of all, when the company was called upon to execute certain company movements, left in front, it fell into some confusion. The Seventhi retired amid the cheers of the spectators, but with its hopes somewhat under a cloud. The Eighth Company now entered the arena. Lieutenant Shumway, with critical military eye, had readily detected the weak points of his adversary, and was not slow to reap the advantage. His company was free and active in its movements, and at the same time faultless in time and precision. From the text-book he in no wise varied, and nothing new, novel, or foreign was introduced or tolerated. Company movements, left in front, were executed with the same ease and perfection as those by the right, and so full of life and spirit was the drill of the Eighth Company that even the unmilitary spectators joined in the universal verdict. The judges immediately and unanimously awarded the victory to the Eighth Company, and Captain Thomas presented to Lieutenant Shumway the gold medal in front of his command.
While the Eighth Company was modestly receiving the honors which it had so gallantly won, the Seventh Company was over- whelmed with chagrin and disappointment. Overconfidence had sealed its ruin, but had not prepared it for a soldierly submission to defeat. Captain Cairns was speechless from mortification ; Lieuten- ant Bryson tore his epaulets from his shoulders and threw them on the ground ; while many of the rank and file openly expressed their disgust, and vowed never to shoulder a musket again. The Seventh Company, in anticipation of certain success, had ordered an elegant dinner at Masonic Hall, but it proved a sorry entertain- ment ; while the Eighth Company marched away with light hearts to the residence of ex-Captain Brower, in Pike Street, to partake of his good cheer and to rejoice over the victory.
The wound received by Captain Cairns and the Seventh Com- pany on the 12th day of September was too deep to be healed. At a meeting of the company held September 20th Captain Cairns announced his intention to resign his commission, and said : " The ill- feeling ever manifested toward the Seventh Company, and the man-
1836
248
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTH REGIMENT.
ner in which it has of late been treated, render my position in the Regiment so disagreeable that I can not in justice to myself longer remain." The members of the company were unanimous in the wish that their commandant should remain with them and share their for- tunes, but he persisted in his determination, and at a meeting held September 27th he announced his decision to that effect. But he advised the members " to adhere to one another and to sustain the company, and offered them every assistance in his power." This was the last meeting of the Seventh Company as then organized, for Captain Cairns at once commenced the enlistment of a new and independent company, and those members of the Seventh Company who wished to remain longer in the service at once flocked to his standard. It was not until 1839 that the Seventh Company was re- organized, and commeneed a new career of prosperity.
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