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 22
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* We often marched and camped in the valley of the Cumberland and in Maryland, in deep valleys, by roaring torrents, or " on mountains high," in scenery untrodden by any artist or tourist, of marvelous grandeur and beauty. One day we came upon a scene which may be best described by the fact that my brother and I both stopped, and both cried out at once, "Switzerland" (Leland, pp. 260, 261).
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land for twenty miles around has been a battle-ground for the contending forces.
At noon a halt was made and the column rested for an hour by the road-side, the men taking off their shoes, shifting their stockings to rest their feet, eating the hard-tack, with which they were now supplied, and taking a short nap.
The day was favorable, the heat not being excessive. When the march was resumed the column kept well together and presented a magnificent spectacle as the long line wound up and down the hills.
Occasionally the drum corps would beat a refrain and the whole regiment would burst into a chorus. At other times the different companies would sing, all, of course different songs. Sound, it may be remarked, moves so slowly that it is very difficult for a column to sing together.
On reaching the crest of the Catoctin Mountain a sudden turn in the road unrolled before the division a superb panorama. The valley of the Monocacy and a vast spread of adjacent country lay before them, in the midst of which would be seen the spires of Fred- erick City, forming a beautiful spectacle.
The regiment arrived at the city at about eight in the evening. They found it a bustling little place, full of soldiers, and with many ladies who loyally applauded the passing troops. It was certainly not a great city; but, to the Twenty-second, it appeared a little Paradise. It was a place where you could buy things, and although the Seventh, who had been stationed there, had oh- jected to the food there procurable, the Twenty-second's only grievance was that they could not get any of it.
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Expecting to start directly for home, the division. without halting, continued its march through the city to within a quarter of a mile of the railroad depot. which, for some unknown reason, is situated about three miles from the city. But, as usual, they were doomed to disappointment. Whether the cars were ready or not is unknown. But, after a long consultation among the officers, it was settled that the regiment could go no further, and at about 8 o'clock it went into camp in a wood near the railroad, having completed a march of over twenty-five miles since breakfast, with little or no straggling.
The men had been inspired by their intense desire to get home and put down the riots, and had needed no urging. They had suffered, however, greatly. They had been marching for weeks previously upon soft dirt roads. The shoes of many scarcely hung together, and the hard, macadamized road blistered their feet terribly. Many did not feel it while moving, but when their feet cooled after halting, the pain was intense. The writer, whose feet had previously never troubled him found, that night on halting, that he had blisters on each foot the size of his little finger. When, after lying down a short time, he stood up, he could not bear his weight on them ; and there were many in a similar condition. One member of the Fifty-sixth Brooklyn, a stalwart workingman, died half an hour after reaching camp.
All day Friday, July 17, the regiment "loafed " under the trees, devouring the stock in trade of the sutlers who had come down to trade with them, and restlessly waiting under orders to start at a moment's notice. The day was marked by the drumming out of
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a member of one of the New York regiments, who had been detected in robbing a sick comrade. Half his head was shaved and his buttons cut off. He was then placed between two files, the front men at reverse arms and the rear ones at charge bayonets. He was walked up and down, in this way, in front of the regiment, and then turned adrift, being kicked for quite a distance by a volunteer detail.
-
Ms. W. Wwgali
Junction
Drumming out a Thief at Houveacy
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE START FOR HOME.
A T about six P. M., the Thirty-seventh and Eleventh struck camp and marched off for the cars, amid the cheering of the whole division. But no orders came for the Twenty-second, and after waiting till half-past nine p. M., they went to sleep. At exactly eleven o'clock, an orderly dashed up: "The regiment is to take the cars forthwith." The word passed from mouth to mouth like lightning, and in less than no time the men were awakened, formed, and marching off "for home."
They had to go precisely a quarter of a mile and get into the cars, which had been standing all day on the track ; and how long can any civilian, unacquainted with military manceuvres, imagine it took them to get on board ? Not an hour, nor half an hour, but five hours and a half, by the watch, elapsed from the time they started till they got into those cars. As it was raining in torrents all the while, it is not difficult to imagine the benedictions that were freely bestowed on every one, supposed to be concerned in the matter. When the regiment had gone about a hundred yards from camp, the order came to "halt." After a little time they were told to "rest." Seeing no signs of a move-
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ment, and a heavy rain having come up, the men un- rolled their rubber blankets, and the cooler hands wrapped themselves up and lay down to sleep in the middle of the hard road, while the others "took it out in swearing." In about an hour " Fall in !" was heard. The sleeping men woke up, shook themselves, and the regiment marched another hundred yards, where the same scene was repeated. Starting for the third time, they turned away from the main road, and marched along the field to the depot, thinking they were "off this time, sure." Vain thought ! When they got on the bank, overlooking the railroad track, not a car was to be seen. There they stood in the midst of a drenching rain, on a slippery clay slope, where it was impossible to sit down, tired and sleepy as men could well be, for nearly two hours before the cars, after a little eternity of backing and switching, were pronounced ready for them. The moment the cars (freight) were reached, every one threw himself on the floor, and, in spite of wet clothes, dirty floors, and leaky roofs, knew nothing more till daylight dawned on them entering Baltimore.
With the mention of the word Baltimore, the word breakfast is intimately associated in the minds of those of the regiment, who served in this campaign.
Oh ! that first good civilized breakfast, with forks. and chairs, and the other appliances of civilized life-the pen fails in the endeavor to do justice to that repast !
Yet. in spite of the threats that were made of the quantities that would be eaten ; and, although it was near one o'clock before breakfast was obtained, the men were disgusted to find their systems so disorganized by
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a habit of taking breakfast late in the afternoon, and omitting the other meals altogether, that half the things that they ordered, could not be disposed of. In fact, it was at least three days after their return to the bosom of their families, before they could manage three regular meals a day, without feeling uncomfortable. This sen- sation soon wore off, and when it did, ample amends were made by all for past abstinence.
From Baltimore to New York was a short and un- eventful journey, and at half past six p. M., on the 18th day of July, the Twenty-second found themselves swing- ing up Broadway, glad to be home once more, but sorry enough to think that they were denied the pleasure of a shot at the rioters. And, although a long and ag- gravating tour of duty at home was still before them, here ended their eventful campaign.
If anything was required to put an end to the idea that the National Guard regiments were mere " Broad- way troops, good for playing soldier, but who would be found wanting if subjected to the stern realities of a soldier's life," it was effected by what they had done and suffered in this campaign.
Marching one hundred and seventy miles in less than three weeks, in the most inclement weather, through mountain passes and over abominable roads, upon ten days' rations without a change of clothing and in ex- pectation of an attack at any moment (the Twenty- second alone forming line of battle over nineteen times), constituted a record which would do credit to any troops, and they felt that they had earned the thanks tendered to them by Gen. Meade and Gen. Smith, in their official orders.
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That their services and hardships have not been ex- aggerated, is shown by the following extract from the official report to Gen. Meade, of Gen. "Baldy" Smith :
Before closing, I must call to the remembrance of the general commanding the force, that I moved without a quarter- master, or commissary, without supply trains, some regiments even being without haversacks, and with no .adequate trans- portation of the cooking utensils of the men, and must pay the proper tribute to the general behavior of the troops during long marches, in rainy weather and without sufficient food. The rugged mountain roads left many of them barefooted, but the greater portion of the command seemed animated by a desire to do all that was required in the service of their country.
Gen. Couch closes his report as follows:
The Governor of New York pushed forward his regiments with alacrity. They were generally armed and equipped ready for field service, and their arrival brought confidence.
New Jersey sent one battalion of infantry that remained un- til after the invasion.
Number of prisoners reported, 1, 341, of whom nearly 500 were taken under arms, 400 wounded, and the remainder stragglers and deserters. This does not include quite a number who escaped through the mountains and went north, being aided in this by the citizens.
The following is an extract from the report of Lieut. Woodruff Jones of Landis' Battery :
The sufferings of the Pennsylvania and New York Militia belonging to the First Division will never be realized or ap- preciated. The majority of them were young men from the higher walks of life, accustomed to luxury and refinement. Af- ter marching and countermarching, varied with almost constant skirmishing and picket duty in front of Harrisburg for over a week, they were marched, on short supplies of rations, eighteen
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miles to Carlisle, under a burning sun. Then, without time or opportunity to rest, they set out on their mountain march, again short of rations. The heavy rains swelled their feet and shrunk their shoes, and the subsequent rocks and stones caused their feet to become, in many cases, one immense blister, com- pelling them to march barefoot, a miserable relief. In other instances the shoes would entirely give out, the sole separating from the upper. This state of things, trying as it would be to veteran soldiers, was doubly severe on those unaccustomed to it. To this must be added the almost entire absence of com- missary stores.
The regiment, while proud of what it had done, did not, however, feel that it had been properly handled by Gen. Ewen.
It is an elementary maxim that soldiers will not serve with any credit under a man they do not respect. When troops find their leaders ignorant of the first rules of military life, obliged to ask information from subordinates, and constantly sneered at as ignoramuses by those who do know what they are about, they speedily become discontented and suspicious, and in that condition their efficiency becomes largely impaired.
Col. Aspinwall and the other officers of the Twenty- second had learned their duty in previous campaigns ; and by the manner in which they handled their men, and the care with which they looked after their welfare, earned at once the gratitude and respect of their com- mand. And this remark is also true of such men as Col. (since Major-Gen.) Woodward of the Thirteenth, Col. Everdell of the Twenty-third, and the other regimental commanders. But, what would have hap- pened to the division generally, and to the Fourth Brigade in particular, if it had not been for their
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regimental officers, it is difficult to foresee. Hence, it was suggested as an addition to the prayer book, "from long marches, wet weather, short commons, and militia generals, good Lord, deliver us."
The hardships of this campaign told heavily upon the Twenty-second. The health of a number of them was permanently affected and several died. Among the latter, none was more regretted than Lieut. Wm. C. Soutter, first lieutenant of Company G. His fam- ily were Virginians, and Confederates. He felt deeply that the cause of the North was just, and, although delicate in health, served both at Harper's Ferry and in Pennsylvania. On the night of July 2, while his com- pany slept in the mud on the top of South Mountain, his shoes were badly burned on his feet by a camp-fire. He was so exhausted by fatigue that he did not discover it until they were in such a bad condition that he was obliged to throw them away. In spite of remonstrances from his Captain, he continued to march with his com- pany barefoot, until Captain Howland procured him a pair from one of the privates who was too sick to pro- ceed farther. On the march from Boonesboro to Frederick, he was almost exhausted, but refused to ride, and continued the march. While in sight of the town, he became so faint that he would have dropped, if he had not made the men near him march so that he could lean upon them. He thus kept himself upright, until the regiment passed through the town. Captain How- land urged him to go to a house in town, and he promised to do so, but, when the regiment went into camp, he appeared, refusing to leave his company, and insisted in sharing its privations.
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He died in a month or two after the return of the Twenty-second, deeply mourned by his company. He was one of the finest young men in the country. Gen- erous, warm-hearted, brave and loyal to the core, he gave his life to his country as much as if he had died in battle.
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE DRAFT RIOTS AND GUARD DUTY.
HILE the main body of the Twenty-second was in active service in the field, the few who had been prevented from accompanying them were not idle. Shortly before the Fourth of July, 1863, which was the high water mark of the Rebellion; a day which will ever be memorable from the fact that it was that, on which the tide was turned by the capture of Vicksburg and the victory of Gettysburg, the Provost-Marshal of the City of New York, with a plentiful lack of wisdom, began to enforce the "Draft" or conscription law. The War, or rather the mode, in which it was carried on, was violently opposed by many. The draft in itself was un- popular, particularly among the lower classes of natural- ized citizens. Besides this, great discontent had arisen from the method, by which the enrollment had been made, and vehement assertions were made by politicians and newspapers opposed to the administration, that it had been manipulated for partisan purposes. Taking advantage of this sentiment, a number of Confederate emissaries had worked up a strong feeling among certain classes in the city on the subject, and the beginning of the draft was followed by an outbreak, which led to an attack upon the Provost-Marshal's office, then situated
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on Broadway and Twenty-eighth Street, where the In- ternational Hotel now (1895) stands, and to its being set on fire. This was followed byother uprisings, which soon assumed the dimensions of a great riot. Then, as is the case whenever there is an outbreak which the police authorities are unable to control, all the disor- derly elements of the great city, those whom Henry George calls the Goths and Vandals of civilization, sprang to the front, and converted what was intended to be a movement against the enforcement of the " draft" into a mob, bent on pillage and destruction. It was known that the National Guard was all absent, and feeling that they could defy the police, this mob spread over all parts of the city, and conducted its work almost with impunity. They visited the buildings, manufac- tories and other places where workmen were employed. and compelled them to stop work and to join with the rioters.
The day after the burning of the draft offices at Yorkville, and the Broadway block on Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth streets, there was an attack upon a gun factory in Twenty-third street, and many other buildings were sacked. The negroes were a special mark for attack, and it was dangerous for one to be seen. Many were attacked and beaten, or hung to the lamp posts without the slightest reason. Even the Colored Orphan Asylum was burned, and the poor little destitute children were turned into the street. The situation in the city was indescribable. Men were openly robbed in the streets, all business was stopped. the stages ceased running, and everyone was in fearful expectation of injury to their persons and property.
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That portion of the armory of the Twenty-second, on Fourteenth Street, in which the officers' and com- pany rooms were afterwards situated, was then under construction and a number of laborers were employed upon it. What was then the armory proper, that is the part afterwards known as the Gymnasium Building, was in charge of Sergt. George Arnold, the regimental armorer. Although the Enfield rifles and sword bavo- nets used by the regiment were all in the hands of those of its members who were in service, there were in the cellar 114 rifles with shank bavonets which had been used by the recruits of 1862, 4,500 rounds of ball cart- ridges (both of which Sergt. Arnold hid in the cellar when the riot broke out), and some fatigue uniforms. About noon on July 14, information was given confidentially to Sergt. Arnold by one of the workmen that the laborers intended to strike and join the rioters. George N. Gardner, a private in Company I, at once posted notices upon all the newspaper bulletin boards request- ing all members and ex-members of the Twenty-second who were in the city to report at the armory at 2 o'clock on July 15, and an advertisement to the same purport was taken to the Tribune by Right General Guide May Goldschmidt. The Tribune was then expect- ing an attack, the rioters having threatened to burn it out. Its publication office was closed and barred and it was with difficulty that Sergt. Goldschmidt obtained admittance to the editorial rooms. These presented a decidedly military appearance, as editors, reporters and printers had procured arms and were prepared to defend the building to the bitter end. For almost the first time in the history of a great newspaper a person bringing
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an advertisement was regarded as an enemy and obliged to explain who and what he was before he could gain admittance and have his money accepted. All of the Twenty-second who were in town and learned of the notice reported promptly. They were organized, armed, and uniforms were issued to such as were without them. Together they made a body of 116 strong, besides several officers, among whom were ex-Capt. Butler and ex-Lieuts. Gibson and Lord, of G Company, and Lieut. Townsend Cox of C Company. In the evening the command was marched to the Seventh Regiment Armory over Tomp- kins Market, where they reported to Major Nivers and united with the members of the Seventh Regiment who had not gone to the front, and who had assembled in like manner. At 9 o'clock the detachment of the Twenty-second and 70 men of the Seventh under Capts. Riblet and Ely were formed, loaded their rifles and marched down Seventh Street to the East River to protect Webb's shipyard. This was the great shipyard at which the ram Dunderberg, subse- quently purchased by the French, was under construc- tion for the government, together with a number of other vessels; and private information had been re- ceived that it was intended by the mob to destroy them. This march was not without excitement. The neighborhood was the resort of "toughs." Not a lamp was lit in the streets, the cobble stones were slippery with the drizzling rain that was falling, and every now and then a hole in the pavement would trip up some of the men, whose fall would be ascribed to the effect of some missile thrown from a roof. The only light was the fitful flashes of some burning factory or store-
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house, that the mob were sacking in some adjacent streets-which were but a few of the many incendiary fires that lit up the sky over New York during every night of that eventful riot. Occasionally squads of men on corners would scowl and jeer at the passing soldiers, but the force was too strong for them to attack and they allowed them to pass unmolested. Upon one respectable looking block they were greatly surprised to be greeted with hand clapping from the windows of some of the houses, which startled them more than the jeers and shouts of the crowds through which they had forced their way. At length they reached the shipyard, into which they filed by the light of several lanterns, and mounted a guard around it, the detachment of the Twenty-second taking the Seventh Street side and that of the Seventh that on Sixth Street. Those not on the reliefs of the guards slept as best they might on straw thrown among the ship timber.
The sun rose pleasantly the next morning upon a body of men who might have been happier. The transition from a comfortable bed to a night's sleep on ship timber, in a drizzling rain, was something sudden. Taken in connection with the fact that none of them had had anything to eat since the day before, and that. in the haste of departure, no provision had been made for supplies or rations, the prospect for food looked somewhat gloomy. The detachment was a small one. and all the men were needed to protect what was con- sidered an important point. The force of rioters on the east side of the city was so great that it was not safe to send out a detachment unless of considerable
.
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strength, which would leave an insufficient force to de- fend the yard ; so the men were obliged to go without anything to eat. About II A. M., however, a bevy of ladies from the neighborhood appeared, loaded with kettles, baskets and cans, containing food for the troops. They had been sitting in their homes, with barricaded windows and doors, in great fear, for two days; and they made a substantial acknowledgment of the relief that the presence of the soldiers afforded by bringing them some breakfast. It is a striking commentary upon the conditions which existed at this time that dur- ing the whole week that was spent by this detachment in the shipyard they were thus fed by the neighbors, no rations being sent them. It is unnecessary to say that the greater part of the food furnished by these hospitable friends was such as is usually served up at a tea, rather than such as a soldier desires and needs. Cake, pie and similar delicacies soon became monoto- nous for a steady diet; and at the end of the week the men, if they could have had their choice, would have preferred plain pork to the nicest cake which the neigh- borhood could furnish.
The second day after their arrival the detachment was reenforced by a howitzer and a crew of sailors from the Navy Yard, which added very much to their strength. They spent a week drilling, and mounting guard during the day and sleeping on the timber at night, few of the authorities knowing where they were. Several times they sallied out to attack the mob, but it did not dare to meet them, and fell back before their advance, while the soldiers could not follow, for fear of leaving the shipyard undefended.
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The truth is that while the police did splendidly, the management of the military forces during the riots was most inefficient. Gen. Wool, and Gen. Brown of the army, and Gen. Sandford of the National Guard, all of whom were old men, were at cross purposes, and there was an utter lack of the firm, energetic action which was indispensable in such an emergency. In the report of Edwards S. Sandford to the Secretary of War of July 16, he states : *
It is impossible to ascertain how many troops there are here, owing to the conflict of authority under which each officer will report those belonging to himself, and all others. Yesterday an officer received, at nearly the same time, five conflicting or- ders from as many commanders-in-chief !
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