USA > New York > History of the Twenty-second regiment of the National guard of the state of New York; from its organization to 1895, pt 1 > Part 10
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To show how little these officers knew, it may be
The Eighth Newyork Cavalry,
STATE INSTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
TWENTY.SECOND REGIMENT AT HARPER'S FERRY.
COMPANY D, COMPANY F AND COMPANY G IN COLUMN.
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stated that one day some of the Twenty-second, in going through one of the camps, stopped to inspect a squad which was being drilled in the " Manual," in front of the captain's tent, by an old sergeant who had served in the Mexican War. Inside the tent were the captain and first lieutenant of the company, endeavoring to fol- low the drill in their copies of Casey's. tactics, but not succeeding, for the very good reason that the sergeant was drilling according to Scott's tactics, which had been obsolete for a generation. When this fact was called to his attention by the Twenty-second men, he disdain- fully snorted, and took his squad under the hill, where he drilled them according to Scott, to his heart's content.
A number of the officers of the Twenty-second, who subsequently accepted commissions in the volunteers, were quite surprised, on joining their new commands, to find the difference in the spirit of discipline and sub- mission to hardship existing between the two organ- izations. In the Twenty-second the men knew their position as soldiers and their duties, and performed the latter as a matter of duty and self-respect. They ren- dered a willing obedience to the officers, and punish- ments were not required. They also knew that priva- tion and hardship were a part of a soldier's life, and put up with them as a matter of course. On the other hand, many who had enlisted in the volunteers had no idea of military subordination, and often could be com- pelled to obey their officers only by force. Others who had been accustomed to the plainest of living were in- cessantly grumbling at the least privation. This was particularly the case with substitutes, who, as one officer said, "were always kicking."
CHAPTER IX.
ORDERED HOME.
T HE enlistment of the Twenty-second expired on August 28, and on August 24 orders were issued directing them to return to New York.
The situation was very threatening, and the prospects of attack immediate. A meeting of the regiment was called, and, by vote of the men, the officers were author- ized to offer the services of the regiment until Septem- ber 1. Col. Miles, upon receipt, from Surg. Benjamin Lee, the secretary, of a copy of the resolution of the Board of Officers, returned the following reply:
HARPER'S FERRY, August 24, 1862.
DEAR DOCTOR :
I have just received the noble resolution of the Board of Officers of the Twenty-second Regiment. It is just what I ex- pected, but it is out of my power to accede to the wishes of the officers to retain the regiment until the first of September, as I firmly believe a contingency may arise before you pass Balti- more, absolutely requiring the services of the regiment in another important field, where, I have the utmost confidence, that your discipline and valor will be conspicuously displayed. Should information be received between this and your departure of an advance of the enemy upon this point, I shall not hesitate to accept the services of the regiment until it is repulsed.
I am, Doctor, with great regard,
Your obedient servant and friend,
D. S. MILES, Commanding Colonel Second Infantry. TO SURG. BENJAMIN LEE, Sec. Board of Officers Twenty-second Reg.
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STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
history of the twenty: Second Regiment 125
A telegram was then sent to Gen. Wool, who answered, accepting the offer with thanks. This was received at 5 P. M., just as the regiment had struck camp and packed its equipage. The regiment was at once formed, and the cor- respondence read, the last order being received with great
cheering. At the end of the reinlist- ment, the regiment was again ordered back to New York, and took the cars on August 31, at 4 P. M. During this period the celebrated parti- san, Mosby, made a raid on the railroad between Harper's
Ferry and Winches- ter, destroying a con- siderable portion of it. On August 27, Companies E and QUARTERMASTER CHARLES T. WHITE. SURGEON BENJAMIN LEE. B went to Winches- ter as train guard, slept in the depot, and returned the next day with nine prisoners from Ashby's cavalry. The raids continuing, Col. Miles despatched Company I, Capt. Gardner, of the Twenty-second, with 250 of the Sixtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, to open the rail- road, and, if possible, to catch Mosby. The opening of
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the road was not difficult, but the catching of Mosby, in view of the fact that his men were mounted upon the best horses that the valley could furnish, and were perfectly familiar with every one of the innumerable by-paths and wood-roads in the country, was a partic- ularly difficult task for infantry.
On reaching Winchester, the detachment found the town deserted of all its inhabitants, and rumors that "Jackson was approaching" filled the air like mosquitoes. The reports by the grapevine telegraph came thick and fast that a trap had been laid to capture the whole ex- pedition, and there was evidently more truth in the report than was customary in those coming from such sources.
The engine-driver of the locomotive attached to the platform train which had carried the men, either from terror or treason, had disappeared, but with some considerable difficulty a substitute was obtained and the detachment retreated just in season to return with the regiment. It was afterward found that they had left Winchester in the nick of time, for if they had remained for a very few hours longer they would have been cut off by Jackson's advance and captured. It is unnecessary to say that they did not capture Mosby.
On the arrival of the Twenty-second in Philadelphia, the various engine and hose companies, (who were all volunteers in those days) threw open their houses to the different companies to spend the night in, the men sleeping on the floors of their parlors. All were treated with the greatest hospitality by the patriotic firemen.
The regiment arrived in New York September 2, 1862. They were received at the dock by those
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of its members who had been unable to accompany them to the front and by hosts of their friends and relatives, who in many cases failed to recognize the bronzed and tough-looking subjects into which the service had transformed them. The march to the armory will never be forgotten by those who took part in it.
The services in this campaign of the Twenty-second and of the other regiments of the National Guard which were called into the field were recognized by the State in the following order, which only gives them their just due :
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, S. N. Y.,
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Albany, September 6, 1862. 5 General Order No. 70.
The Commander-in-chief avails himself of the occasion of the return of the Seventh, Eighth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-Second, Twenty-fifth, Thirty-seventh, Forty-seventh, and Sixty-ninth Regiments, of the National Guards to the State of New York, to thank them for the ser- vices they have rendered to the country, and for the honor they have reflected on the State. Summoned the second time in thirteen months by a sudden and urgent call to the aid of the General Government, they consented cheerfully to the sacrifice of private interests, and abandoned, at a moment's notice, all private occupations, to hasten to the defence of the National Capital, then in danger. Habituated to the comforts and enjoy- ments of wealthy and peaceful communities, they have, during their prolonged absence from their homes, submitted without a murmur to the hardships, the privations, and to the labors of the life of a soldier, and they have discharged with fidelity and alacrity every duty they were called to perform, and have stood ready to encounter every danger they might be called upon to meet. Their conduct has entitled them to the thanks of the Government they were summoned to defend, and has won for
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them the gratitude and confidence of the people. It gives assurances that notwithstanding the vast army of volunteers the State of New York has sent to the defence of the Union, she has, in her National Guards, always at command a force ready. now as heretofore, to respond to any call that may be made on it by the Government, and able at the same time to preserve the peace, maintain the rights and preserve the liberties of her own people, in whatever form, or from whatever quarter they may be assailed.
The Commander-in-chief will always esteem among the most important of his duties to aid by every means in his power in promoting the interests and contributing to the general effi- ciency of the citizen soldiery of the State.
By order of the Commander-in-chief, THOS. HILLHOUSE, Adjutant- General.
Gen. Hallock, however, took advantage of the occasion to display a sample of that peculiar wrong- headedness for which he was so justly celebrated.
The battle of Chantilly, the last of the defeats under Pope, took place on August 31, 1862, and the Army of the Potomac had retreated to Washington, where it was being reorganized by Mcclellan. That troops were greatly needed was self-evident. The National War Committee of New York City, suggested the recall of the New York National Guard regiments then under splendid drill and discipline, to which Gen. Hallock made the following ill-natured and ungracious! response :
WASHINGTON, September 2, 1862. HON. D. D. FIELD AND OTHERS.
The New York Militia Regiments were requested to remain when the danger was more imminent than at present, but declined to do so. Under these circumstances they will not be recalled.
H. W. HALLOCK, General in Chief.
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This was asserting a pique of the writer, at the expense of the nation which places Gen. Hallock in a most unfavorable light. It was the more so as it was his own fault that the regiments had not remained for a longer period.
It is not surprising, therefore, that his unfair and untruthful statement created a perfect storm of indig- nation. Col. Lefferts of the Seventh, Col. Varian of the Eighth, and the commanding officers of the other regiments, including the Twenty-second, published official statements that their regiments had never been asked to remain in the service, but on the contrary, had volunteered to stay over their time and had even had difficulty in obtaining permission to do so. To these, no rejoinder was ever made.
The return of the Twenty-second was most timely so far as they were personally concerned. The Twelfth, who were to follow them the next day, were unable to do so, the railroad being torn up and they were captured with the rest of the garrison at Harper's Ferry, on September 14. If the Twenty-second had remained, it would have shared the same fate, without being of the slightest benefit, for the defence was so mismanaged, that its assistance would not have affected the result.
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CHAPTER X.
GUARDING SPINOLA'S BRIGADE. .
T HE Twenty-second was mustered out of the service on September 5, 1862. Its members had hardly doffed their uniforms, become accustomed to sleeping within four walls, and begun to get their business affairs out of the tangle into which they had fallen, through their sudden departure and long absence, when they were again ordered into service.
Gen. Spinola had just recruited the "Spinola Brigade," 1,500 strong, which was encamped at East New York, near where the Eastern Park Ball Ground is now situated. The men all had their pockets full of bounty money, and as the General permitted a sutler to run an open bar in the camp, and a number of promises had been made to the men, which they claimed had not been fulfilled, the combination of discontent with whis- key not unnaturally caused an outbreak. This was another case of a new organization placed under green officers, who had not the respect of their men, and were unable to control them. So serious did the matter grow that the New York National Guard regiments were called out, and set at the pleasant work of guard- ing a lot of drunken soldiers, mostly Irish laborers.
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This, too, after they had been away from their business for three whole months, and had, in many cases, in so doing, imperilled their situations. On September 14, 1862, the Twenty-second was ordered out "in heavy marching order, as in Virginia," and proceeded to East New York, relieving a detachment of 500 of the Seventh. They served on this duty from September 16 to September 22, 1862. They had a good deal of trouble to enforce order and to keep the men from deserting, and had to shoot two men before they could induce them to obey the sentries. The duty was very onerous. The camp was large, and the guard necessarily heavy. As men were constantly trying to break out, incessant vigilance was required from the sentries. Many of the Twenty-second were unable, after three months' absence, to leave their business, so that the regiment did not muster more than 350 rank and file, to take the place of 500 of the Seventh. Con- sequently the men had to serve on guard every other night, which is exhausting work.
The officers of the Twenty-second, appreciating this, made the service as easy as possible for the men, and, as there was nothing for them to do except guard duty, allowed those " off guard " to have their liberty, pro- vided they remained in the neighborhood of the camp.
After this had continued for several days, some one of the Twenty-second wrote a letter to the newspapers stating it to be an outrage that a " gin mill" should be permitted in the camp, and that a regiment of the National Guard should be called out to suppress the disturbance which sprung from it. The result of this was a prompt visit from a staff officer of Gen. Dix,
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the department commander, who closed the bar in the most summary manner, and thereby restored peace and order to the camp.
This occurrence naturally caused considerable com .. ment in the newspapers, some of which were anxious to know if any of the brigade officers had been profit- ing by the sale of whiskey to the command, the result being that a decided coolness sprang up between these officers and the Twenty-second.
Whether it was in consequence of this or not, it is certain that a day or two afterwards Gen. "Dick " Bus- teed (understood to be a political friend of Gen. Spinola). suddenly made his appearance at the camp and an- nounced that he came to "inspect the Twenty-second." "Here was a pretty kettle of fish." Outside the second relief of the guard, which was at the guard tent, and the sentries, the men were scattered anywhere within three miles of the camp, and it was impossible to get them together. Their absence was with the tacit consent of their officers. but if published it might have caused comment.
General Busteed was a loud-mouthed politician, nicknamed " Galorious Dick," who had been appointed a brigadier-general by President Lincoln, under the mistaken idea that it would conciliate the New York Democracy. He was utterly ignorant of the military profession, and he was given a first-class "inspection by company" of the Twenty-second, but in such a way that he did not observe the absence of half of the regi- ment. The manner in which this was done was after- wards described in the following article written by the author, then a member of Company A. This was
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modeled upon the "New Gospel of Peace," a patriotic and semi-political burlesque pamphlet which at that time was having a great run :
A " GALORIOUS " REVIEW.
AN EPISTLE TO FATHER ABRAHAM-SHOWING HOW A RECENT REVIEW OF YE GALLANT WARRIORS OF YE TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT WAS CONDUCTED BY BRIGADIER GALORIOUS DICK.
I. Now, it came to pass that there abode in the city which is called Gotham a mighty man of war, fierce in aspect and terrible to behold.
2. Now, this mighty man of war was called Dick, but, from his many valiant deeds in fight, had been surnamed the "Ga- lorious," wherefore the rulers of the people, perceiving the fierceness of his countenance and the loudness of his voice, took 'counsel together, and said among themselves: "Behold, now we have found the man to lead the people in battle." And they rejoiced greatly, and straightway established him to be a briga- dier over the armies thereof.
3. Now, on a certain day, when the mighty man of war had heard that a certain regiment had mustered their fighting men, and pitched their tents in the plain that is called East New York, to guard the other men of war encamped therein, he said unto himself :
4. " Behold, I will go down and blow my trumpet before these fighting men, and will exhibit unto them the gorgeousness of my apparel, that they may see how mighty I am, and how truly I am surnamed 'the Galorious.'"
5. So this mighty man of war rose up, burnished his shoulder- straps, and rode upon his chariot; and when he came to the plain that is called East New York, he straightway summoned unto him the leader, that is called the colonel, of the fighting men that were encamped therein, and said unto him, with a loud voice and with a fierce countenance:
6. "Bring up now before me the fighting men that have pitched their tents around about, that I may count the noses
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thereof, and may sound my trumpet before them, and astonish them with the splendor of my apparel."
7. Then the colonel was troubled, and said within himself: " How can I do this thing ? Behold, the half of the fighting men are now on guard, and the other half have gone where the Lord only knoweth; but, verily, many thereof are even yet at the house of the man that is called 'John I.'* Yet must I satisfy the desires of this man of war, that he may depart in peace ? "
8. Now, the colonel had been in the service; yea, he had led his fighting men even unto the soil that is called sacred, and his head was very clear, and his devices not a few. So he sent and summoned unto him the captains of the fifties and the sergeants thereof, and said unto them :
9. "Go now into the streets of the camp, and take unto yourselves all the fighting men that may be found therein, and count the number thereof, and come again and tell me." And they went, and did as he had commanded.
Io. And the colonel said unto them : "How many men have ye ? "
If. And they answered and said: " Three score and twelve."
12. Then the colonel said: "Take now thirty-five men thereof, and let them stand in the street of the camp that is called A Street; and when it shall come to pass that the mighty man of war, surnamed 'the Galorious,' shall ask the name of the company, that he may count the noses thereof, and blow his trumpet before you, then shall ye salute him and say: 'This is the company that is called A.'
13. "And when the man of war shall have finished the counting of the noses and the blowing of his trumpet, then shall ye flee away over unto the street that is called D Street, and shall stand there, in like manner, only that the men who were in the front rank before shall be in the rear rank now. So shall ye do in all the streets of the camp, even in the nine companies thereof."
14. And the captains of the fifties and the sergeants did as
. John I. Snedeker's, then a celebrated road-house, at East New York.
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they were commanded. And it came to pass that when the mighty man of war went into the street which is called A Street, and saw the company standing therein and counted the noses thereof, he rejoiced greatly within himself, and blew his trum- pet unto them, with a loud noise, saying :
15. " Behold the gorgeousness of my apparel, and the fierce- ness of my countenance: Am I not a great man of war, and fitly surnamed the Galorious?" And he stroked his beard, and swaggered before them muchly.
16. And it fell out that when he had finished the blowing of his trumpet, that the fighting men dispersed, and went and stood in the street that is called D Street even as the colonel had commanded, and the mighty man of war came unto them, and counted the noses thereof yet the second time, and blew his trumpet, saying the same words, and spreading himself before them as he had done previously. So did he do in all the streets of the camp, even the whole nine thereof.
17. Now the fighting men, when they beheld this man of war counting their noses, and blowing his trumpet, and swelling before them, waxed exceedingly wroth, and said to one another: "Whence is this man, and what hath he to do with us, seeing that he belongeth to the volunteers, and we to the State troops? Have we served in the sacred soil for three months without profit, that such a brigadier as this should seek to cast dust in our eyes?" And they laughed him to scorn.
18. Now it came to pass that when this mighty man of war had made an end of the counting of the noses and of the blow- ing of his trumpet, he lifted up his eyes, and behold of the five hundred fighting men whose noses he had counted, only seventy- two thereof were to be found, and he was sore amazed, and said within himself : "Truly, I have fallen into the hands of the Philistines, and they have sold me." And he rent his breeches, and cast cigar ashes on his beard.
19. Then this mighty man of war returned, and took counsel with himself how he should escape the scorner, saying: "Verily, I must cut a dash, that is called a splurge, in the eyes of men. that they may not forget that I am surnamed the Galorious."
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20. Then he straightway sent a letter to the paper that is called the Tribune, blowing his trumpet very loudly therein and, blessing Abraham Lincoln. And when he had made an end thereof, he rejoiced greatly, and said within himself:
21. "Bully for me who am fitly surnamed the Galorious, who shall stand before me? Behold the Philistines are come to naught in the world!" And he polished his shoulder-straps, and blew his trumpet in peace.
STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y. 1
CHAPTER XI.
A NEW COLONEL AND A REGIMENTAL ARMORY.
O N October 28, 1862, an election was had for colonel in the Twenty-second. The feeling which had once existed against Col. Aspinwall in the regi- ment had become dissi- pated and he was elect- ed without opposition, and proved a most com- petent and popular offi- cer. Maj. J. H. Grant was elected lieutenant- colonel and Capt. Jas. F. Cox (D Co.), major.
The annual inspec- tion of the Twenty- second took place Octo- ber 31, 1862, at East New York.# The at- tendance was meagre. So much time had been given by the officers and COL, LLOYD ASPINWALL. men to military service during the summer that many found it impossible to leave their business to parade for
* See table of strength at inspections, page 608. 609, post.
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inspection, an occasion which had not in those days the importance which now attaches to it. In addition, the uniforms of many of the members had been worn out and new ones had not yet been procured. Out of 612 officers and men, there were present but 348, absent 264.
The inspecting officer states in his report that this was owing to a misapprehension, as those absent sup- posed their presence without uniforms would not be rec- ognized. He further states " what the regiment lacked in numbers they made up in efficiency, as every move- ment was executed with precision and promptness, exhibiting great familiarity on the part of its officers with their respective duties." The strength of the Twenty-second on inspection in this year was about the same as that of the other regiments which had been in active service, the Eighth having present at its inspec- tion 360; the Ninth, 142; the Twelfth, 312; the Thirteenth, 374, and the Thirty-seventh, 252. The Seventh having only served in Baltimore, where it had been in barracks at Fort Federal Hill, had not ex- perienced as much hard service and its uniforms were uninjured, and inspected 906.
Shortly after his election, Col. Aspinwall obtained leave of absence. He then visited the Army of the Potomac and served upon the staff of Gen. Burnside at the battle of Fredericksburg in November, 1862, acquir- ing an experience which was very profitable to the regi- ment in the following year. During his absence, Lt .- Col. J. Henderson Grant was in command. He resigned May 25, 1863, and Major Cox took command of the regiment which he held until Col. Aspinwall resumed command on June 1, 1863.
STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
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During the remainder of 1862, and the spring of 1863, the Twenty-second pursued the even tenor of its way, being always ready for a sudden call into service.
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