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 4
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CHAPTER I.
ORGANIZATION OF THE TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT
N. G. S. N. Y.
U NLIKE most of the other regiments of the National Guard of the State of New York, the Twenty-second Regiment is the direct offspring of the War of the Rebellion.
In April, 1861, the national situation was desperate. All the National Guard was at the front. The Capitol was in danger; President Lincoln had called upon them to protect it, and, with more men than they had muskets, every regiment had gone to the seat of war, where the entire regular army was also assembled. This had left the great city of New York and its harbor with no protection other than the police. Under these cir- cumstances, the managers of the banks, insurance com- panies and other moneyed institutions of the city held a meeting on April 23, 1861, at which it was decided to organize, arm and equip, at their own expense, a brigade for the protection of the city. A committee was ap- pointed, consisting of John T. Denny, A. F. Higgins and Lorillard Spencer, which effected a preliminary organization and published the following advertisement
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
in the Evening Post of Friday, April 26, 1861, among a number of notices, etc., grouped under the head of "The War":
UNION GRAYS, ATTENTION!
This Rifle Corps, which was organized at Delmonico's last Tuesday evening, will hold its fourth meeting for business and drill at 53 West Thirteenth Street, this evening, at 8 o'clock. Gentlemen wishing to join are invited to be present.
JOHN T. DENNY.
In the Evening Post of Saturday, April 27, 1861, also appears the following advertisement, under the head of " The War," and marked to be published for a week:
UNION GRAYS, ATTENTION!
A meeting for drill and business will be held this evening at 8 o'clock, at the Armory, corner of Fourth Street and Broadway, entrance on Fourth Street.
By order,
JOHN T. DENNY, A. F. HIGGINS, LORILLARD SPENCER,
Committee.
Such steps were subsequently taken that, in pur- suance of a call from Lloyd Aspinwall, a largely-attended public meeting was held on May 13, 1861, at a hall at the southwest corner of Lafayette Place and Fourth Street, at which the new " Home Guard " was formally initiated, several companies being organized upon the spot from those present.
At this meeting there were elected as temporary, or rather civil, officers Lloyd Aspinwall, President; Henry Meigs, Jr., Vice-President ; Hugh N. Camp, Secretary, and Wm. B. Meeker, Treasurer, John T. Denny, after- wards Chief of Staff for General William G. Ward,
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history of the twenty: Second Regiment
being chairman of the Recruiting Committee. These were men prominent in Wall Street and in business circles, and represented the banking and commercial interests of the city.
The following gentlemen, who had interested them- selves in the organization of the Union Grays, were elected honorary members :
F. S. WINSTON, Mutual Life Insurance Company. GEORGE T. HOPE, Continental Fire Insurance Company. NATHANIEL HAYDEN, Chatham Bank.
F. S. LATHROP, Union Mutual Insurance Company.
CHARLES J. MARTIN, Home Insurance Company.
JOHN WADSWORTH.
ED. A. STANSBERRY. Metropolitan Insurance Company.
JAS. M. MCLEAN, Citizens' Fire Insurance Company.
Wy. H. ASPINWALL, Howland & Aspinwall.
MORRIS FRANKLIN, New York Life Insurance Company.
At this meeting the following was read, being an abstract from the minutes of the committee from the banks and insurance companies which was engaged in promoting the organization of the Union Grays:
Whereas, A meeting of the officers and managers of our banks, insurance companies and other moneyed corporations was held at 94 Broadway on Tuesday afternoon, the 23d of April, 1861, to take into consideration and to make arrange- ments, if deemed advisable, to organize a brigade to cooperate with our Government in protecting this city and district, at which meeting the formation of such a body was determined upon, and appropriate committees were appointed and empow- ered to carry the same into effect, and
Whereas, Such military organization has been formed in this city, under the name of " The Union Grays," composing artil- lery, cavalry and rifle companies, in conformity with the design and purposes of the above-named institution, and
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
Whereas, The corporations named are contributing funds to aid in the arming, equipping and sustaining the said military corps, a considerable portion of whom are connected with these institutions, and
Whereas, It is desirable that the unity of interest and action now existing between these institutions and the military organi- zation shall continue; therefore
Resolved, That an executive committee of five persons be appointed to represent the permanent property in arms, etc., contributed or purchased by the Corporation and intended for the use of said military organization, for the purposes stated, and also for any financial purpose which may be necessary in permanently carrying out the objects designed; also
Resolved, That said committee hold their offices until their successors are appointed, and have power to fill any vacancy in their body; and also to appoint a treasurer, who shall have the custody of the funds collected, and disburse the same under the direction of the committee; and further
Resolved, That it is desirable that the organization and pur- pose of the committee be formally recognized by the " Associa- tion of the Union Grays."
The meeting therefore determined that the com- mittee appointed by the " Bank and Insurance Organi- zation " should be invited to attend all business meet- ings of the new corps.
The following standing committees were also ap- pointed :
FINANCE.
Henry A. Oakley.
Wm. E. Dodge, Jr. - Smith. W. H. H. Moore. Geo. A. Robbins.
ARMORY. John E. Wilsey. - - Boyle. T. Cooper Lord.
EXECUTIVE. Lloyd Aspinwall. H. Meigs, Jr. H. N. Camp.
W. B. Meeker. HI. A. Oakley. John F. Wilsey.
..
--
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history of the twenty Second Regiment
These committees, in connection with that repre- senting the banks and insurance companies, proceeded to raise the necessary funds for arming and equipping the Union Grays. It was stated at the time that the amount subscribed was from banks about $5,coo, from insurance companies $15,000, but, as not unfrequently happens in such cases, this turned out to be an over- estimate.
The amount actually realized was finally reported by the Treasurer as follows :
Contributed by Banks and Insurance Cos. . . $ 16,435.00
Contributed by Co. G, Union Grays. 100.00
Turned over by Treasurer 1,275.00
Turned over by Lloyd Aspinwall 300.00
Total receipts. $18, 110.00 Paid for arms, accoutrements and sundries, 17, 624.51
Balance $485.49
This left still due by the regiment for its arms and accoutrements $5,677.60, besides $230.62 borrowed money, making a deficiency of $5,422. 11, which it was compelled to raise by contributions, concerts, etc.
The committees were fortunate in inducing Col. James Monroe, formerly captain in the Fourth Infantry U. S. A., who had served in the Florida war and also served upon the staff of Gen. Scott, in the Mexican war, and who was the author of several military works, to accept the position of colonel of the new organization.
The companies organized at the meeting of May 13, 1861, were A, C, D, E, G and H, and were formed by the men present grouping themselves in accord- ance with their previous social or business acquaint-
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history of the twenty: Second Regiment
ance, and selecting as officers those whom they consid- ered best qualified to command them.
Company A was composed mainly of young men who were prominent in business and social circles in New York, and for a long time claimed to be the "swell company" of the regiment. Among its original numbers were Charles Lanier, Edward M. Townsend, Geo. B. Goldschmidt, Edward C. Lord, Duncan W. Cryder, Richard Irwin, Jr., and David S. Eggleston. Among those subsequently joining were Edward C. Homans, William A. Brewer and Geo. W. Wingate. It elected as its first officers captain, James Otis; first lieu- tenant, James F. Cox; second lieutenant, George Fuller.
Upon the first organization of the Union Grays, quarters were secured for all the companies upon the second floor of the building on the southwesterly.corner of Fourth Street and Lafayette Place, the Twelfth Regi- ment Armory occupying the floor above. Their stay was short, as the rent was high and the premises inade- quate. They were accordingly given up on the first of May, 1861.
During the three years which subsequently elapsed before the regiment was provided with an armory," the companies secured accommodations as best they could in different quarters of the city, each company not only paying the rent of the rooms it used, but that of fitting them up, lighting, heating and caring for them. Com- pany A, in connection with Company C, leased the second and third floors of No. 186 Sixth Avenue, next to the " Woodbine," then on the southwest corner of Thirteenth Street. The building leased is still (1895) standing, and is used as a carpet store. Its first floor
*See Chapter XI., page 140 post
COL. JAMES MONROE.
STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
was divided into two company rooms, Company A using the front and C the back room. The second floor was used as a drill-room by both. These premises were thus jointly occupied by these companies until the erection of the regimental armory in Fourteenth Street, in 1864. The quarters were very cramped. Those who are accustomed to the freedom of move- ment permitted in the spacious new armories now con- structed for National Guard organizations, will marvel how a company sixty strong could drill in a space of twenty by seventy-five feet, particularly under the stiff movements of the old tactics. Yet this was the size of the usual drill rooms.
The companies had, however, never been accus- tomed to anything better, and therefore did not com- plain. The main drilling was of necessity in the "manual " and marching by a flank. Nothing but the simplest movements could be practiced in the drill- room, and in consequence, the companies frequently drilled in the walks of Washington Square, when the weather permitted.
The following is a copy of one of the first orders issued. It is printed upon a card three and a half by two and a half inches, and is noticeable for the many respects in which it varies from the regulations :
COMPANY A-UNION GRAYS.
In pursuance of General Orders No. 2, all members of Com- pany A are hereby ordered to assemble at their Armory, 185 Sixth Avenue, in uniform, on Wednesday evening, June 12, 186 1. at 73 o'clock, for batallion drill.
JAMES OTIS, Captain. F. OTIS, Orderly.
history of the twenty Second Regiment
Company B did not join the Twenty-second until No- vember 11, 1861. This company was composed of the members of an organization known as the " Federal Chasseurs," which had been formed under the leadership of Col."Pony" Farnham (afterwards colonel of the First Fire Zouaves), from the mem- bers of Wood's Gymna- 3 sium. It was organized upon the Zouave model, in the style of the " Ells- worth's Zouaves," a Chi- cago company which had shortly before made a tour of the United States, giving a series of exhibi- tion drills which had ex- cited great admiration, although at the present day their evolutions would be considered OFFICER'S UNIFORM. more gymnastic than CAPT. DAVID S. BROWN, B COMPANY. military. Among the first members of Company B were David S. Brown, afterwards lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-second ; George Moore Smith, now (1895) lieutenant-colonel of the Seventh; Wm. W. Remmey and John T. Camp, both of whom after- wards became colonels of the Twenty-second, and Thomas C. Cullen, who was afterwards its lieutenant- colonel.
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History of the twenty Second Regiment
The Federal Chasseurs were uniformed with blue jackets and red Zouave trousers, and drilled at the corner of Fourth and Mercer Streets. When " Pony " Farn- ham gave up their command for the lieutenant-colonelcy of the First Fire Zouaves, Geo. Moore Smith became captain. In May, 1861, he joined the Seventh, and shortly afterwards the Chasseurs decided to join the Twenty-second. A portion of them, under the leader- ship of David S. Brown joined Company B and secured drill rooms in Sixth Avenue, opposite Clinton Place. The original officers of Company B were: Captain, David S. Brown: second lieutenant, Aaron C. Allan, the position of first lieutenant being vacant.
Company C was organized at the meeting of May 13, 1862, by Capt. George B. Post (afterwards colonel of the regiment). It elected him as its captain ; J. Hen- derson Grant as first and H. Cruger Oakley as second lieutenant.
Its drill rooms were the same as those used by Com- pany A. Lieut. Grant having been appointed regi- mental adjutant, Lieut. Oakley was promoted to be first lieutenant November 1, 1861, and W. J. A. McGrath was elected second lieutenant.
Company D had its inception in a military associa- tion which had been organized in one day by a number of those engaged in insurance companies in Wall Street and its vicinity, at the outbreak of the Civil War. The first meeting of the association was held May 9, 1861. in an insurance office down town, and on May 13, 1861, it was organized as a military body and A. Foster Hig- gins having been reported "to be the most fully qualified for commanding officer," was elected captain.
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
At this meeting the company decided to become a por. tion of the Union Grays. It subsequently secured a drill room on the upper floors of the building at the corner of Seventh Street and Hall Place, which it oc- cupied until the erection of the Fourteenth Street Armory.
Its first officers were A. Foster Higgins, captain, and Richard Vose, first lieutenant. M. Floyd Reading was elected second lieutenant Oct. 31, 1861, but resigned April 29, 1862.
Company E was one of the companies which was organized at the general meeting in Fourth Street. It was composed largely of officers and employees of dif- ferent banks. It selected as captain John E. Wilsey, who had had considerable experience in commanding an independent company known as the " Baxter Blues." Its first lieutenant was Geo. W. Finch (who resigned in April, 1862), and James H. Aikman, second lieutenant. It established its drill room and company quarters over a stable on the southeasterly corner of University Piace and Thirteenth Street. Brig .- Gen. Ulysses Doubleday, Geo. B. Germond, Austin Adams and E. S. Connor were among its first members.
On account of internal dissensions, it was disbanded in 1863, and a number of its officers and men, uniting with a number from Company K, formed the One- hundred-and-Second New York Volunteers, of which Capt. Wilsey became colonel. Its letter remained vacant until 1868. It was then reorganized by a num- ber of the members of Company B, under the leader- ship of Capt. John T. Camp (afterwards colonel of the regiment), who thought that they could be of more
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history of the twenty: Second Regiment
service to the regiment and to the State in a new com- pany, of which the regiment was then in need-it having but nine companies-than they could in their old company.
Company F was composed of a number of the Fed- eral Chasseurs, who, instead of joining B Company, on January 8, 1862, united with Edward A. Landers in forming a new company. This had drill rooms on the fourth floor of a building in Sixth Avenue, opposite Clinton Place. It elected as captain, Albert N. Francis, formerly captain of a well-known independent company. George H. Bellows was first lieutenant and Edward A. Landers, second lieutenant.
Prior to the meeting of May 13, 1861, there were in New York a number of unattached military companies, forming no part of the regular National Guard, which had been previously organized under the growing appre- hension of trouble that had existed in the public mind for some time. A number of these availed themselves of the organization of the Union Grays to enroll them- selves as members. Among these were the City Cadets, which joined as Companies G and H. This had its origin in " The White Ball Club" which was formed in IS58, and was named after Charles Trumbull White. Among the leading spirits of this club were George De Forest Lord, Walter Edwards, Fred. Sturges, A. G. Agnew and Thomas Denny. The club was remarkable for nothing more than the social standing of its mem- bers, who were among the jeunesse doree of that period. On April 22, 1861, the club held a meeting at the house of Mr. White, 3SI Fifth Avenue, and decided to form themselves into a drill club, " for the purpose
:
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history of the twenty: Second Regiment
of defending the lives and property of the citizens and the harbor of New York, in the absence of the regular militia, who had gone to the war." John E. Parsons presided and Dr. Benjamin Lee acted as secretary. Thirty names were signed to the roll, among whom were Wm. E. Dodge, Jr., A. M. Parsons, Jr., Henry A. Oakley, William C. Soutter, Henry C. Seetor, Henry E. Howland, N. P. Rogers, T. Hoadly and Charles Trumbull White. Three days later the company met at 1139 Broadway, and was drilled by Chas. W. Sy, then a corporal of the Seventh. Afterwards Col. W. W. Tompkins (of the Second N. Y. S. M.) was elected drill master, sixteen new names were added to the roll, and the following officers were elected: President, B. F. Butler; secretary, Dr. Benj. Lee; treasurer, Henry A. Oakley. Among those who joined were Albon P. Man, Henry Fairchild, W. H. Anthon, Francis F. Mar- bury and C. H. Ludington. The company took the name of the City Cadets, decided to drill three times a week, and thereafter continued as a regular military organization. On May 8, 1861, it had increased to such numbers that it was divided into two companies, the officers of Company A (which was composed mostly from members of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion of Dr. Alexander's Presbyterian Church, Fifth Avenue and Nineteenth Street, which made it the religious company of the regiment) being : B. F. Butler, captain; Geo. De F. Lord, first lieutenant, and Geo. N. Lieber, second lieutenant, and those of Company B being Capt. John E. Parsons and Lieuts. Walter Ed- wards and H. S. Rogers. These companies were present at. the meeting at which the Union Grays
George W.B. Tompkins. H. H. May 12. 97.
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
was organized, and joined it in a body, Company A joining as Company G and Company B as Company H.
These companies leased drill rooms at the corner of Seventh Street and Hall Place, in connection with Company D.
Col. Monroe was desirous of organizing two flank- ing companies to act as skirmishers. A. nucleus of about twenty-five men was formed, who, although not organized and without officers, hired a drill sergeant, and drilled an hour daily in the early morning for sev- eral weeks, intending to join the regiment as Company B. The drill was very severe, at least in hot weather, involving much " double-quicking " besides bayonet drill and gymnastic evolutions, and it was difficult to build up the company. The idea of flank companies was finally abandoned, and the members all joined Company H, one of them, First Sergeant R. Suydam Grant, being made captain of that company on January 2, 1861, Capt. John E. Parsons, its original captain, having then resigned. Its other officers were: First lieutenant, Walter Edwards, Jr .; second lieutenant, Charles Lord (who resigned January 16, 1862).
Company I was not organized until the Twenty- second was starting upon its campaign of 1862. The . history of its organization is therefore given at page 36 posterior. After its return from Virginia it leased a company and drill room at the corner of Broadway and Thirty-second Street.
Company K was organized in February, 1863. It was then realized that the war was to be protracted and that it was nearly certain that the State Militia, as they Were then termed, would be called into the field during
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history of the twenty: Second Regiment
the approaching summer. It was also seen that the various "independent companies" which, prior to the war, had formed the elite of the city militia, were of little military value, and one after the other joined the different regiments or disbanded.
One of the most prominent of these was the Lindsay Blues, which joined the Twenty-second as Company K, under the command of Capt. Edgar A. Roberts, Thomas Price being its first lieutenant and Henry T. White second lieutenant. This company was disbanded in 1863. Subsequently, with some of the members of Company E, its officers organized the One- hundred-and-Second N. Y. Volunteers. The colonelcy was given to Capt. Wilsey of Company E; Capt. Roberts was made major. The adjutant and quarter- master were Henry White and Thomas Price, the first and second lieutenants of K. In fact, with the excep- tion of the colonel, all the field, staff and line of the One-hundred-and-Second, were composed of the offi- cers, non-commissioned officers and members of Com- pany K. Sergt. Thomas H. C. Kinkaid was captain of Company A, Private Duncan C. Graham of Company E, and Sergeant Rich of Company R in the One- hundred-and-Second .*
.
The following is the first general order issued to the Twenty-second Regiment :
HEADQUARTERS UNION GRAYS, NEW YORK, May 20, 1861. [ 1
General orders No. I.
I. The undersigned, by virtue of an election held by the com- pany officers on the 18th inst., hereby assumes command of the regiment.
* See Appendix, Part II., post.
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
II. An inspection and review of the regiment will be held at the rendezvous in Fourth Street at 8 o'clock P. M. of Thursday, the 23rd inst.
III. Within two days after the inspection above directed, commanders of companies will furnish to the regimental com- mander, a field return of their companies which will state the number of commissioned and non-commissioned officers, and the rank and file of their respective companies. A memoran- dum will be added below, on the face of the field return, stating how far the company has advanced in drill. Hardee's system is adopted as that which will be followed by the battalion of infantry. The returns will likewise specify the number of mem- bers of the companies that are uniformed, or partly in uniform. The situation of the drill rooms will likewise be mentioned and the days and hours set apart for drill.
IV. Lloyd Aspinwall is hereby appointed acting adjutant of the corps, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly.
V. In conformity with army regulations, all reports, returns and communications addressed to regimental headquarters will be made to the adjutant.
J. MONROE, Colonel Commanding.
On March 16, 1862, the Twenty-second made the first of the many parades which it was subsequently to make as escort for those who fell in the field in the de- fence of their country; Companies A, D, F and G parading as escort to the remains of Lieut. Henry Hed- den of the Lincoln First New York Cavalry, who had greatly distinguished himself. The thanks of the First Cavalry were subsequently tendered to the regiment for the honor done to one of its officers by this parade. At this time Col. Monroe issued another general order prescribing a thorough course of instruction. All companies were required to begin with squad drill and
Hiddin. H. H.
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
proceed systematically through the schools of the soldier and company. Recruit squads were ordered to be es- tablished. Captains were required to examine the non- commissioned officers of their companies in the first part of the tactics, and to read to their men the articles of war and the regulations. Salutes were strictly en- joined. Wing drills were also ordered.
The following was the strength of the different com- panies on April 1, 1862 :
Co.
SERGT.
MEMBERS.
TOTAL.
A
5
56
B
4
26
30
C
4
40
44
D
5
64
69
E
4
38
42
F
4
28
32
G
5
85
90
4
23
27
Aggregate,
395
CHAPTER II.
FIRST UNIFORMS, ARMS AND OFFICERS.
PROBAI ROBABLY no military organization has ever been formed in any city which contained, in the first in- stance, so many well-known and influential men as those who composed the Union Grays. Through their influ- ence, and under the prestige which was justly attached to the name of Colonel Monroe, the ranks of the regiment were rapidly filled up, in spite of the fact that the vol- unteer regiments in the field were absorbing almost everybody having military inclinations. It soon num- bered over 400 men. They adopted as their uniform a single-breasted frock coat, cut in the French style, with the skirt reaching to the knee, made of gray cloth, with red collar and cuffs, trimmed with white piping. The trousers were of gray, with a red stripe edged with white piping down the sides; the cap was a gray kepi, with red band and top, each edged with white piping. Yel- low leathern leggins were afterwards adopted, which were greatly liked in the field, excluding the dust and keeping the trousers free from mud. The uniform and equipments were paid for by the men themselves. No more tasteful or trim-looking uniform has ever been seen in the City of New York than this, and the
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