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 25
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* Army and Navy Journal.
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the First and Second Brigades were present and in uniform, besides many other line officers from different parts of the State. The colonel of the Ninth Regiment was the only regimental commanding officer who was not present with his staff in uniform. He attended, but in civilian's dress. A large number of ex-officers and members of the Twenty-second, who had served with and under General Porter, together with a number of ex-officers of other regiments, were also present. After the service the body was exposed to view. The General was attired in the full uniform of his rank, and at his throat was pinned the State long and faithful service medal, issued for twenty-five years' service. This medal, by the courtesy of Messrs. Tiffany & Co., the jewellers who received the contract from the State for manufacturing the new decorations, was hur- ried forward, and the deceased General was the first to receive it. Besides the above, there were on the General's coat a Grand Army of the Republic badge and the twenty-year service medal of the Twenty-second Regiment, pinned over his heart. The body was carried from the church to the hearse with the dead soldier's flag, hat and sword lying on the casket. His horse, fully caparisoned, with boots in reversed stirrups, was led by a colored at- tendant. The funeral cortege marched to Fifth Avenue, to 124th Street, to Madison Avenue, to Ninetieth Street, to Fifth Avenue, to the Grand Central Station, where there was a special train waiting to take the body to Boston. The body was buried on December Is, in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Mass., Insp .- Gen. MeGrath, now adjutant-general, and Asst. Insp .- Gen. Harding accompanying the remains.
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CHAPTER XXXV.
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CHANGES IN TACTICS.
T HE Twenty-second began its military instruction under " Hardie's Tactics," which, like those of Scott (which they had supplanted), were an adaptation from the French. That nation was then recognized, as the Germans now are, as the highest military authority. and its example was therefore followed in drill and uni- form, as is the case now with German ideas.
Col. Hardie having become a prominent general in the Confederate Army, " Union sentiment" would not tolerate that any system that bore his name should be used to instruct the Northern forces. Consequently. "early in 1862 a system prepared by Gen. Silas Casey. U. S. A., was adopted by the War Department in place of " Hardie." Gen. Casey's work, like that of Lieut .- Col. Hardie, was an adaptation from the French. In fact, it differed but little from " Hardie." In both there was no manœuvering in single rank. In forming col- umn of fours, facing to the right, after facing in that direction, the odd-numbered men of the rear rank stepped one pace to the right of their file leaders, and the even-numbered men placed themselves upon the right of the odd-numbered men of the same rank. In facing to the left, the even-numbered rank men stepped
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each to the left of their front rank men, and the odd- numbered men stepped to the left of the even-num- bered men. As the position of each man was different in each facing, a company needed to be well drilled that could "face clear around" without some man in the ranks making a mistake as to his position and causing confusion. There was an arbitrary front and rear and right and left which continued at all times without re- gard to what was the actual front or right. Conse- quently, movements by battalion, when faced to the rear (when the actual right was the left and the actual front was the rear, and which was termed manœuver- ing "by inversion"), were excessively complicated, an elaborate series of movements being required to place a battalion into the position now obtained by a single " fours left about." The consequence was that even in cases of emergency in actual service, a commanding officer would countermarch his regiment * rather than to risk the confusion that might follow if he should ma- nœuvre it "faced to the rear."
When at Harper's Ferry the Twenty-second were drilled to some extent in Col. Monroe's systems of com. pany drill and bayonet fencing, the latter of which was very good. Neither, however, was officially adopted.
About 1866 the regiment was instructed in " Mor- ris' Tactics," an improvement upon Casey, writ- ten by Gen. Wm. H. Morris, United States Volunteers, and the principles of which bore some resemblance to those which were afterwards contained in " Upton." The regiment had hardly acquired a knowledge of this
* To "countermarch " was to form into fours and file around the entire length of the front, until the left was where the right had previously been. If the line was long, this manœuvre consumed considerable time.
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new system when, in 1867, it was displaced by the adop- tion of "Upton's Tactics." These, for the first time, apparently, introduced the " wheel by fours," and made many other simplifications in drill which were so clearly consistent with common sense that it is a matter of surprise why they had not always prevailed. "Upton " remained in force until the adoption of the "new drill- book " in 1892, a period of twenty-nine years.
In addition to the different systems of tactics which it has been required to learn and unlearn, the Twenty- second has had also to acquire a knowledge of three different manuals of arms. It was at first armed with the Enfield muzzle-loading rifle, with sabre bavonet. These rifles were shorter than the Government Spring- field, so that in loading the butt was placed between the feet instead of in rear of the left foot. The manual of the bayonet was peculiar, and the rifles would not "stack" securely. When the Springfield muzzle-loaders were adopted the manual was of necessity altered, only to be changed again when the Remington breech-loader was adopted in 1870.
As the regiment was also instructed in artillery drill when behind the works in Harper's Ferry in 1862, it will be seen that the experiences of its older officers in the matter of acquiring different styles of drill have been varied, if not instructive.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
CHANGES IN UNIFORMS.
O N October 28, 1863, a review and inspection, in full uniform, of the Twenty-second was held in Wash- ington Square by Gen. Ewen. This was the first appearance that the regiment had made in full uniform for a considerable period.
The adoption by the Confederates of a gray uniform had created a prejudice in the North against that color. The " strawberry gray," # which was almost the same as the uniform of the Confederate artillery, was practically abandoned after the Harper's Ferry campaign of 1862; and on September 29, 1862, after its return from the front, the regiment adopted the "Chasseur " uniform. This consisted of a dark-blue short-skirted tunic, with sky-blue edgings, shoulder-straps and cuffs, and loose sky-blue trousers of the " peg-top" or French pattern. fourteen inches larger at the waist than the actual measure, and plaited at the waistband, and a dark-blue fatigue cap or kepi, with the seams edged with light- blue cord. This uniform cost $16, and the cap $2. The officers adopted the uniform of the Regular Army.
* Page IS, Chapter II. First uniforms, arms and officers.
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While serving in the field in Pennsylvania, the regi- ment left its Chasseur uniform in the knapsacks of the men at Bridgeport, and on the march across the State wore its blue cap, with the Army blouse and trousers, as it had done at Harper's Ferry the preceding year. The officers used the regimental blue cap, with the fatigue uniform of the Regular Army.
On November 6, 1863, the Twenty- second adopted epaulets for the rank and file, made of mazarine blue cloth, with a scroll and " 22" in silver on the top, and having a white fringe. The officers wore gilt epaulets.
Capt. Howland (Company G) hay- ing suggested the word "Defendam" as a regimental motto, it was formally adopted on December 1, 1863.
In October, 1864, the regiment adopted "Short's patent knapsack." STATUETTE OF FATIGUE UNIFORM. This was made upon scientific prin- ciples, so that the weight depended up- on a yoke on the shoulders. It was kept in position by two short arms on each side of the waist, thus avoiding the use of any straps across the chrest. It was the only comfortable knapsack the Twenty-second ever carried. until it adopted the " Merriam pack " in 1895.
The first aid the Twenty-second had received in the way of furnishing it with uniforms (except the fatigue issued by the Government in service) was in December. 1864, when, in order to encourage recruiting, the In- spector-General authorized the issue of 200 Chasseur
STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE,
ALBANY, N. Y.
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377
#11ED AND STAFF OF TWENTY-SECOND, 1-69, IN " SWALLOW TAIL" DRESS UNIFORM AND UNDRESS CAP.
Adp. W. J. Harding. Aast. Sure, Chas. T. Huberts Com of Sith Eugene S. Heath.
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uniforms for the use of the regiment, consisting of jacket, trousers and cap. The contract price paid by the State for these uniforms was less than that which was required to purchase the quality of uniform then worn by the regiment. The difference was paid by the men receiving them. This issue was a great help to recruiting. It marks the beginning of the new era when the State began to recognize its obligation to uniform the National Guard. It was only just that it should do so. Yet it is by no means certain that it was entirely advantageous. Where men can join the National Guard without its costing them anything, many become members who have not that military feeling which is indispensable to make them good soldiers. They soon tire of the restraint, become lax in the performance of their duty, and court martials and expulsions become common. On the other hand, those who are sufficiently interested to purchase their uniforms, while, perhaps, comparatively few in number, are enthusiastic and faith- ful soldiers. It is as if they had a certain amount of capital invested in their company and regiment. Prob- ably the medium course is best-for the State to issue the fatigue uniform, and contribute towards the cost of the dress coat, and for the men themselves to pay the difference.
About this time also the regiment received from the State payment for the uniforms that had been expended in field service at the rate of $11 per man.
On August 1, 1865, the present regimental pin was adopted. A dress hat, or shako, similar to that now (1895) worn by the Seventh, was adopted January 12. 1867, having a bronze device in front, designed by the
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writer, much like the pin, and having the figures " 22" in the centre. This hat had a plume of white horse- hair falling forward nearly to the visor, with a blue . worsted ball at its base, and was set in a gilt socket. White duck gaiters, nine inches long, were also added to the uniform, and white trousers, to be worn in sum- mer, without the gaiters. The field officers adopted a white heron plume. The long, drooping horsehair plume being found to throw too much weight on the forehead, it was, in 1868, converted into something like a shaving brush by cutting off the falling part. In 1869 a drooping plume of white swan's feathers, with a blue top, was substituted.
At this time the officers wore the regulation blue frock coat, with wide light-blue trousers and white " spats." On March 15, 1867, they also adopted for fatigue a round, visorless cap, such as is worn in the English army. This was smart and soldier-like, but, as it did not shade the eyes, a peak was afterwards added. This uniform was neat, comfortable and soldierly, but made the rank and file appear short and ungraceful, and was therefore not popular. A more stylish-looking dress uniform being desired, a committee was appointed, in June, 1868, which, after long deliberation, submitted several samples. A dark-blue frock coat, not unlike the present (1895) State coat, was approved by the Board of Officers, and also by a divided regimental vote, but finally, in January, 1869, this action was, unfortunateh. reconsidered, and an entirely different uniform was adopted by an almost unanimous vote of the different companies. It will be well for future dress committees to know that the reason for this was that the new uni-
NIAIS HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
history of the Twenty: Second Regiment 38 1
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form, when exhibited to the regiment, was worn by Samuel E. Briggs (afterward captain of Company A), who had a fine soldierly bearing and figure, which made ' the uniform look much better than it afterwards ap- peared when worn by the regiment. . This uniform consisted of a dark-blue I swallow-tail coat, with light-blue trim- imings; light-blue trousers, cut straight, with a white stripe; dress hat ; plume, white swan's feathers, tipped with blue (adopted May, 1869); white epaulets, white belt and gloves. Its cost was $43. The fatigue uniform consisted of a dark-blue fatigue jacket, Chasseur trousers, blue cap, leggins and black belt. At this period it may be remarked that- almost every man wore boots, instead of shoes. The boot-legs did much to interfere with the appearance of the leggins.
In February, 1869, the wearing of STATUETTE OF DRESS UNIFORM. white leggins by the officers was aban- doned, and they also adopted gilt in place of black belts. The first parade in this uniform was made in September, 1869. The plume of white feathers, tipped with blue, which had been adopted in place of the "shaving brush," proved to be unsatisfactory, and in January, 1871, a white pompon was substituted.
This uniform was retained until January 24, 1876. when the regiment adopted the white double-breasted frock coat and blue trousers, with black stripe, which it wears at the time of this writing ( 1895). The swallow-
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