USA > New York > History of the Seventh Regiment of New York, 1806-1889 > Part 5
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The 4th of July, the anniversary of American independence, was celebrated in the years following the evacuation of New York by the British, by the ringing of bells, the firing of cannon and musketry, the display of fire-works, and by dining and dancing. But, after the organization of the militia of the city in 1786, the military took a prominent part in the celebration of the day, and become a notable feature of the occasion. On the 4th of July, 1789, the first anniversary of that day after the adoption of the Federal Constitution, the celebration was unusually brilliant. The " Gazette of the United States" of July Sth describes the military parade as follows :
OF THE MILITARY.
The City Legion (uniformed companies) of General Malcolm's Brigade paraded at the Fort in the morning and marched from thence through Queen Street into the fields. After being reviewed by a number of gentlemen of distinction, they went through a variety of manœuvres and firings with great promptitude and ex- actness, and made a brilliant and soldierly appearance. On their return from the parade they passed the house of the President (Washington), who appeared at his door in a suit of regimentals and was saluted by the troops as they passed. His indisposition deprived the troops of the honour and satisfaction of being reviewed by him in the field. At noon a salute was fired from the Fort by Colonel Bau- man. At four o'clock the officers sat down to an entertainment at Mr. Francis', Cortlandt Street, where toasts were drank, &c, &c.
In addition to the above, Colonel Bauman's Regiment of Artil- lery with a band of music escorted the Society of the Cincinnati to St. Paul's Church, where an address was delivered by Alexander Hamilton. The day closed with a variety of festivities.
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INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
1788
The regular military celebration of the anniversary of the evacu- ation of New York by the British also dates from the organization of the militia of the city in 1786. The first anniversary, November 25, 1784, was not distinguished by any military display beyond the firing of a salute, and is described as follows in the "New York Gazetteer and County Journal " of November 26th :
In the morning the bells of the different churches rung bobs, double bobs, and bob majors. The thirteen stripes were triumphantly displayed on the greasy Flag- staff at Fort George. The Tories mourned and put on sack cloth and ashes, and every Traitor was hung or burnt in effigy. Thirteen rounds were fired by a Com- pany of Volunteers. An elegant Entertainment was prepared at the City Tavern, at which was invited all the officers in town and our great and good ally. Thir- teen loyal and patriotic toasts were drank, and God save Great Washington rever- berated from every quarter of the room accompanied with an excellent band of music. In the evening the houses of the Whigs were most beautifully illuminated. In short, every demonstration of joy was manifested which the great and glorious event could possibly inspire. . ..
The "New York Packet " of November 28th describes the cele- bration in 1785 as follows :
Friday last being the anniversary of the evacuation of this city, an elegant Turtle was given on the occasion to a select party of ladies and gentlemen at the Coffee-House ; when the day and a number of patriotic toasts were drank, and the evening concluded with a ball for the ladies.
The military celebration of the 25th of November, 1788, is de- scribed as follows in the "New York Journal " of November 27th :
Tuesday last being the anniversary of the evacuation of the city by the troops of Great Britain, the same day was celebrated with peculiar marks of satisfaction. In commemoration of this auspicious event, the artillery, light horse, grenadiers, and infantry of General Malcolm's brigade, under the command of Major Christie, were paraded about twelve o'clock and exhibited many beautiful and soldierly manœuvres.
The importance of an organized, armed, and disciplined militia to the city of New York was demonstrated in the spring of 1788, when occurred the famous "Doctors' Mob." The public mind had been excited for several months in respect to the desecration of the grave-yards of the city for the purpose of supplying medical stu- dents with subjects for dissection, and on Sunday, April 13th, cir- cumstances occurred which directed public attention to the New York Hospital, located on Broadway at the head of Pearl Street. A large crowd gathered in front of the building, forced the doors, 4
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1788
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTH REGIMENT.
destroyed the anatomical specimens, and was infuriated tenfold by the discovery of remains of the dead partially dissected. Several medical students who were in danger of serious violence from the mob were rescued by the mayor and conveyed to the jail for safe- keeping. On the following day the mob again assembled at the hospital in large force, and the efforts of the Governor and mayor to disperse the violent assemblage were in vain. The houses and offices of physicians in the neighborhood were searched, Columbia College was invaded, and finally the mob assembled at the jail to take vengeance upon the students and physicians there locked up for safety. The mayor hastily dispatched a company of militia to the jail for its protection, which was assailed with stones, sticks, and dirt, but was not materially injured. A second detachment of militia consisting of only twelve men which arrived an hour later upon the scene met with a rough reception. Their arms were seized and broken to pieces, and the soldiers were glad to escape with their lives. Meantime the strong bolts and bais of the jail resisted the assaults of the mob, and all efforts to force an entrance through the windows were stubbornly and successfully baffled by its brave de- fenders. As the day closed another detachment of militia was or- dered to the jail to raise the siege, and was accompanied by Gov- ernor Clinton, Mayor Duane, and Baron Steuben. They were re- ceived with a shower of stones and brickbats, by which some of the soldiers were knocked down and were considerably injured, and Baron Steuben was prostrated by a blow upon the head and serious- ly wounded. The Governor gave the order to fire, and a point- blank volley sent the mob reeling from the street, and the riot was over. But the excitement continued ; many physicians and medical students fled for safety from the city ; and detachments of infantry and artillery were under arms and on guard at the jail for several days after the summary dispersion of the "Doctors' Mob." The number killed was reported to be five, and seven or eight were wounded.
The first grand procession in New York after the Revolution was on the 23d day of July, 1788, in honor of the adoption of the Federal Constitution. The procession formed " in the fields " above the city, and consisted of ten grand divisions, of which the uni- formed militia of the city was the first. Every trade and profession was represented by a large delegation in the dress and with the im-
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INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
1789
plements and insignia of their business pursuits, and it was esti- mated that over five thousand men paraded on this occasion. The route of the procession was through Broadway, Great Dock Street, . Hanover Square, Pearl, Chatham and Division Streets, and thence across to the grounds surrounding the country-seat of Nicholas Bay- ard, now the junction of Broadway and Grand Street. There a grand pavilion had been erected, and plates had been laid for six thousand people. At the conclusion of the entertainment the pro- cession reformed and marched down Broadway and was dismissed at Bowling Green.
New York having been selected as the seat of the General Gov- ernment, great preparations were made for the reception of the President and Vice-President. On the 21st of April, 1789, the Vice-President, John Adams, arrived and was received with mili- tary honors. On the 23d of April Washington, escorted from New Jersey by a grand flotilla, landed at Murray's Wharf. The Brigade Company of Artillery, Captain John Van Dyck, organized in 1787, and attached to the New York Brigade as a separate company, fired the salute upon the arrival of the President, the Common Council of the city having on the previous day voted sixteen pounds to pro- vide gunpowder for that purpose. The President was escorted through Queen Street to the residence of Governor Clinton in Pearl Street, and was welcomed by the people with great enthu- siasm. The military portion of the procession consisted of Captain Stokes's dragoons, Captain Van Dyke's artillery, the German Guards of Captain Scriba, a detachment of infantry under Captains Steddiford and Swartout, and the artillery of Colonel Bauman. Colonel Morgan Lewis was marshal of the day, assisted by Majors Morton and Van Horne. The same troops paraded on the 30th of April at the inauguration of Washington as the first President of the United States. They were drawn up in line in Wall Street facing Federal Hall during the inauguration ceremonies, and were a prominent and noticeable feature of that interesting occasion. They heartily joined in the loud acclamations which followed at the close of the ceremony, when Chancellor Livingston, who adminis- tered the oath of office, proclaimed, "Long live George Washing- ton, President of the United States !"
The French Revolution was followed by war between England and France, and during the years 1793 to 1795 the United States
1794
34
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTH REGIMENT.
was in imminent danger of being involved in the struggle. The people of New York were divided into two violent parties upon the subject, the one claiming that the country should afford aid and comfort to republican France in grateful recognition of her material assistance during the Revolution, while the other favored a strict neutrality between the belligerents. The battle which occurred in 1793 between a British and a French man-of-war near Sandy Hook, the intrigues of French representatives and agents, and the violent demonstrations of the opposing factions, constantly threatened the peace of the city. In June, 1794, upon a requisition of the Presi- dent and by order of the Governor of the State, officers and men to the number of six hundred and fifteen were detached from the Brigade of Militia of the City of New York, and were ordered to be armed and equipped according to law and "to be held in readi- ness to march at a moment's warning." The active services of this detachment were not required, and in the following year a treaty was concluded with England by Hon. John Jay, pledging the United States to perfect neutrality. The French party in New York received the news of this peaceful arrangement with a variety of riotous demonstrations, but the treaty was promptly ratified by the General Government.
No material change occurred in the organization of the militia of New York city between the years 1790 and 1798. Major-Gen- eral Lewis Morris commanded the division, which included all the militia in the Southern District of the State of New York and south of Columbia County. The Brigade of the City and County of New York during that period consisted of five infantry regiments and a brigade company of artillery organized in 1787, and permanently attached to the brigade. The Regiment of Artillery, though nomi- nally attached to the brigade, was regarded as an independent organization and a superior corps in the service. As such it at- tracted to its ranks the leading young men of the city, and mem- bership in the artillery and in the few uniformed companies of infantry was accepted by the same class of men as now fill the ranks of the Seventh and other leading regiments of the National Guard. The honor of escorting the Society of the Cincinnati was invariably given to the Regiment of Artillery, and on all great occasions this regiment held the post of honor. It devoted more time to drill and military exercises than the uniformed companies
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1760572
1795
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
of the infantry regiments, sometimes drilling with field-pieces and sometimes with small-arms, and was regarded by the press and by the people as the military organization to be relied upon in case of future danger. Besides its drills at the Battery and in the fields beyond the city, it always performed a prominent part in the cele- bration of July 4th and November 25th, and at the annual inspec- tion and review of the military of the city by the Governor or by the Adjutant-General of the State. At the conclusion of all im- portant parades, especially upon holidays, it was the custom of the officers of the Regiment of Artillery to dine together at some favorite tavern, and sometimes the several companies celebrated the occasion in the same manner.
The yellow fever prevailed in New York to an alarming extent in 1791 and the following years, and among the victims was Gen- eral William Malcolm, commanding the brigade of militia. Colo- nel James Alner, who had succeeded to the command of the Fourth Infantry Regiment, was commissioned in 1793 as brigadier- general, and commanded the Brigade of the City and County of New York until April, 1795, when he resigned. At that time Lieutenant-Colonel Bauman, commanding the Regiment of Artil- lery, was the senior officer, and in December, 1795, the officers of that regiment memorialized the Governor and Council of Appoint- ment for his promotion. The application was unsuccessful, and on the 22d of March, 1796, Lieutenant-Colonel James Miles Hughes, commanding the Fifth Regiment of Infantry, was appointed briga- dier-general. The reasons given by the Council of Appointment for ignoring the claims of Colonel Bauman were, that "the militia law does not contemplate such an organization of the Artillery Corps as would authorize the Council to advance Lieutenant-Colonel Bauman to the rank of Brigadier-General"; and that, "as the Regiment of Artillery of the City and County of New York is totally independent of all other corps of the militia, promotions cannot take place from one to the other." The officers of the Regiment of Artillery vigorously appealed to Governor John Jay for a reversal of this decision, but were unsuccessful; and on the 22d of April, 1797, they resigned in a body, and on the 15th of May Lieutenant-Colonel Bauman also forwarded his resignation. In their explanatory statement of May 10th the officers said : "It will be seen that the officers of the Regiment of Artillery are
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1795
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTH REGIMENT.
excluded from the privilege of rising beyond the grade of the Lieutenant-Colonel, while all the other officers of the State are entitled to it, and that the Commandant of the Artillery is con- tinually exposed to be rendered subordinate to those who were once his inferiors in rank." Among the resigning officers are the names of many who subsequently became distinguished in the military and civil affairs of the city, as Majors Peter Curtenius and De Witt Clinton ; Captains John Swartout, John C. Ludlow, and Libbeus Loomis ; Lieutenants Anthony Lamb, James Manning, and others. No action was taken by the Council of Appointment on these resignations until April 12, 1798. The resignation of Lieutenant-Colonel Bauman was accepted, but the Council declined to accept the resignation of the other officers. On the same day Ebenezer Stevens, a distinguished officer of the Revolution, was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Regiment of Artillery. In 1798 Matthew Clarkson was appointed major-general of the divis- ion, vice Morris, deceased.
Captain Sebastian Bauman was captain of an independent com- pany of militia of New York city called the "German Fusileers " before the war. He early espoused the patriot cause, and was a captain in the artillery regiment of General Henry Knox, and afterward major and lieutenant-colonel of the artillery regiment of Colonel John Lamb, the distinguished leader of the Sons of Liberty. He served with great distinction throughout the Revolu- tion, was major of artillery at West Point when Arnold attempted to surrender that important post to the British, and was with Washington at the surrender of Yorktown. He was a distinguished citizen of New York after the war, was postmaster of the city for thirteen years from 1790, and died October 19, 1808.
On the 6th of April, 1795, an act was passed by the Legislature of the State entitled " An Act for the Encouragement of Artillery- men in the City of New York," by which officers and members of the artillery were exempted from duty on grand and petit juries while serving in that corps, and were entitled to exemption from taxation upon their assessed property to the amount of two hundred dollars, which amount was increased in 1801 to five hundred dol- lars. The term of service was fixed at nine years, after which there should be no liability to military duty except in case of invasion or insurrection. An act passed August 27, 1798, authorized the addi-
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1797
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
tion of four companies to the Regiment of Artillery of New York City, making two battalions of four companies each, and authoriz- ing the appointment of the lieutenant-colonel of the regiment a brigadier-general by brevet. The term of service was reduced to four years, but not less than twelve drills and parades annually were required. The four additional companies were forthwith organized, and in April, 1799, were attached to the regiment, and at the same time Colonel Ebenezer Stevens was appointed brevet brigadier- general. The position and standing of the Regiment of Artillery in New York, and the advantages of membership at this period, are referred to in Greenleaf's "New York Journal " of August 4, 1798, as follows :
Thursday afternoon the Regiment of Artillery of the City and County, under the command of Major Curtenius, were out on parade. Their martial appearance seemed to inspire the spectators with enthusiasm, and no doubt can be entertained but the regiment will soon be filled. Great encouragement has already been given by the State to induce the citizens to join this respectable corps-respectable be- cause composed of men who are attached to the true interests of their country, and whose experience and judgement teach them the rules of decorum and pro- priety. It is expected that additional encouragement will be offered by our Legis- lature. When we consider the importance of artillery in a city like ours, and the indispensable necessity there is for them, how can any man evince his patriotism in a more sincere manner than by joining a regiment like the present ? Too much praise cannot be given to the officers, non-commissioned officers, and matrosses for their soldier-like behaviour. They went through, with military exactness, the various evolutions of the standing and marching salute, manual exercise, firing by platoons from right to left, passed a defile in front by platoons under a brisk fire, passed the defile in retreat by platoons under a continual discharge of small arms, &c. After finishing their manœuvres they were discharged, and retired to their respective homes without firing through the streets, and disturbing, in an indecent and boyish manner, their fellow-citizens.
The duties of the Regiment of Artillery and of the uniformed companies of the Brigade of Infantry at this period were not con- fined to drills and parade. On the 17th of August, 1797, John Young was executed for the murder of Deputy-Sheriff Berwick. Young was an English musician employed at "the theatre," and had murdered the sheriff's officer in the park in attempting to escape from arrest for debt. There had been no execution in New York for murder for many years, and the excitement and indigna- tion of the people were so general that a breach of the peace was apprehended. Governor Clinton, therefore, ordered out the uni- formed militia of the city, to whom the articles of war were read,
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1799
HISTORY OF THE SEVENTH REGIMENT.
after which they escorted the sheriff and the culprit from the jail to the place of execution, "in the fields beyond the New York Hos- pital," corner of Broadway and Lispenard Street. A square was formed by the military around the gallows, and the execution was witnessed by ten thousand people.
On the 13th of June, 1799, a desperate attempt was made by the convicts to escape from the State-prison, located at the foot of Christopher Street. They seized the keepers and such of the pris- oners as were not disposed to join in the revolt; but before they could force the gates they were attacked by the guard, and after several were wounded the desperadoes were compelled to surrender. The "Gazette" says: "The companies of the First Battalion of Artillery were forming for review; information came that the prisoners were forcing the gates and making their escape. The companies formed instantly, marched out to the prison on the run, and were soon followed by many other uniformed companies." The insurrection had been suppressed before the arrival of the mili- tary at the prison.
The eighteenth century closed with the death of the most illus- trious personage in its history, and on the 31st day of December, 1799, New York city paid its tribute of respect and affection to the memory of Washington. The great procession formed in Broad- way, its left opposite the park, and consisted of the military of the city and neighboring counties, the Masonic lodges, the Society of the Cincinnati, the trade societies, the city and state officials, etc. The route was through Beekman, Pearl, Wall, Broad, and Beaver Streets to Bowling Green, and up Broadway to St. Paul's Church. " The military marched in reverse order and with reversed arms to solemn music, while the bells tolled and minute-guns were fired at the Battery. The reverend clergy walked in full dress, with white scarfs, and twenty-four beautiful girls, in white robes, scarfs, and turbans, strewed laurels as they went along." The pall-bearers were distinguished Revolutionary compatriots of Washington. The bier supported a funeral-urn with other appropriate emblems, and was followed by Washington's favorite charger, with heavy mourn- ing decorations. At the church an oration was delivered by Hon. Gouverneur Morris, and at the conclusion of the solemn ceremonies the funeral-urn was deposited in the cemetery. As the last day of the century closed the militia of the city of New York discharged
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INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
1804
three volleys of musketry in St. Paul's churchyard in honor of the immortal Washington.
Hardly second to the obsequies of Washington in grand display and in respectful sorrow was the funeral of Alexander Hamilton in 1804. The death of this distinguished orator, statesman, soldier, and patriot, in a duel with Aaron Burr, shocked the whole commu- nity, and, laying aside the partisan prejudices of the period, the people assembled on the 14th day of July to honor the memory of New York's foremost citizen. The funeral arrangements were in charge of the Society of the Cincinnati, of which Hamilton had been president, and the military was commanded by Colonel Jacob Morton. The First Regiment of Artillery held the post of honor, the First Battalion parading with muskets and the second with field- pieces, a detachment of the latter firing minute-guns while the pro- cession moved. The route of the procession was through Beekman, Pearl, and Wall Streets, and so immense was the throng of people that nearly two hours were occupied in reaching Trinity Church. In the portico of the church a platform had been erected for the funeral exercises, upon which were seated the distinguished officials and the mourning friends of the deceased, including the four sons of Hamilton, the eldest fifteen and the youngest six years of age. The eulogy was pronounced by Hon. Gouverneur Morris, and, at the conclusion of the ceremonies, the remains of the distinguished dead were deposited in Trinity churchyard, and the First Battalion of the Regiment of Artillery fired the funeral volleys over the grave.
On the 2d of April, 1804, the artillery of the whole State was formed into a brigade, and brevet Brigadier-General Ebenezer Stevens, commanding the Regiment of Artillery of New York City, was appointed brigadier-general thereof. Major Peter Cur- tenius was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, to command the New York Regiment of Artillery, and John Swartout and John C. Lud- low were commissioned as first and second majors. On the 27th of March, 1805, the Brigade of Artillery of the State of New York was raised to a division, comprising three brigades, and Brigadier- General Ebenezer Stevens was appointed major-general of the di- vision. The First Brigade of Artillery was located in the city of New York, and consisted of the Regiment of Artillery commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Curtenius, to be thereafter designated the First Regiment of Artillery ; the Sixth Regiment of Infantry, Lieu-
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