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 5
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DIATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
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history of the twenty: Second Regiment
wearers were soon known as the Strawberry Grays. They also decided upon a gray fatigue jacket, but it was never procured. Application was made at once to the State and Federal Gov- ernment for arms for the new organization, but none were to be had, the authori- ties being at their wits' end to supply the troops then at the front with guns. So great was the demand that Belgian guns of antiquated pattern, which were as apt to go off at half-cock as not, were being imported at high prices in order to arm the volunteers. Under these circumstances, the Union Grays purchased and im- ported Enfield rifles from SERGEANT'S UNIFORM. SERGEANT WM. MANN, COMPANY H. England for their own use. These, unlike many of the guns which the Government was purchasing, were well-made and serviceable weapons. They were provided with sword bayonets, which pre- sented a very formidable appearance, but which subse- quent experience in the field led the men to think were inferior to the triangular bayonet. The average opinion was that they made the "rifles" "muzzle-heavy," and were useless, even for chopping wood. Unlike Amer- ican rifles, the parts of which are made interchangeable, those of each of the Enfields used by the Twenty-sec- ond were different from the other. This difference was
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history of the twenty: Second Regiment
too slight to be detected by the eye, but it was sufficient to constitute an intense annoyance in service. If a man did not pick up his own gun, which was frequently the case on duty, his bayonet would not fit, and when the guns were taken apart to be cleaned, if the parts belong- ing to two guns were mixed, it was a most aggravating task to separate them. The sergeants' rifles were much shorter than the others.
The Union Grays, after giving up the Fourth Street building, secured temporary office-room for head- quarters at what was then the New York State Arsenal, in White Street, and proceeded most diligently to get itself into something like military shape, under the direction of Col. Monroe, Lloyd Aspinwall, who had been made lieutenant-colonel, and J. Henderson Grant, adjutant.
Col. James Monroe was a man of medium size, with rather dark complexion, black mustache and imperial, having somewhat the appearance of Gen. Geo. B. Mc- Clellan, although much darker. He was quict and gentle in his manners, but a stern disciplinarian and an accomplished soldier. He was extremely popular in the regiment, which had the greatest respect for and confidence in him. His service in the Florida War had , sapped his constitution, and frequently placed him upon the sick-list. He was taken sick at Baltimore, and although he rejoined the regiment at Harper's Ferry, and assumed command July 8, 1862, he was seldom able afterwards personally to command the regiment, or even to stay in camp. His endeavor to do so produced a relapse, which caused his death July 31, 1862. Gen. Miles had a great respect for his opinion, and if he had
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history of the twenty Eccond Regiment
lived, it is probable that the shameful surrender of Har- per's Ferry would never have occurred."
The members of the regiment made up by industry and enthusiasm for their lack of previous military knowledge. Some of the companies drilled every night and all three times a week, during the summer. At one time even a down town drill room was used. As the weather was hot and the drill rooms small, the companies drilled a great deal in Wash- ington Square. There were also frequent bat- talion drills which were carried on according to a prescribed pro- PRIVATE'S UNIFORM. PRIVATE ISAAC L. DOUGHTY, D COMPANY. gramme. Those of the companies whose officers were without sufficient
previous experience to make them competent in- structors, employed special drill masters. The progress made was very rapid, and the companies soon began to present a military appearance.
Col. Monroe had on every Tuesday a course of theoretical instruction and skeleton drills for the of- ficers and a school for the guides. He also required the important parts of the articles of war and of the army
. See Chapter VIII., page 113 post
history of the twenty: Second Regiment 23
regulations to be read to the companies. It is char- acteristic of the times that one of the first things that was done was to require all officers and men to take the oath of allegiance. Also that the resignation and election of non-commissioned officers were published in general orders.
After September, 1862, the regiment had become sufficiently instructed, so that only one drill a week was had.
It had been contemplated to have a Brooklyn com- pany, but this was given up after it was found that the Union Grays intended to join the State militia.
While the intention of those who organized it, and of the financiers who had contributed to its equipment, was that the Union Grays should devote itself to the defence of the city, the members of the regiment soon became very restive under the idea. Troops were daily moving to the front, through the streets of the city, men were falling in the field and the members of the Union Grays were far from pleased at the cry of "Home Guard," which their gray uniform was apt to clicit from the small boys on their way to and from drill. On June 25, 1861, shortly after the organization was equipped, the Board of Officers of the Union Grays passed a resolution stating that it was their desire to be of real service to the community and to secure a permanent existence, and they therefore desired to be- come a part of the regular State militia. That any funds contributed by those who objected to this being done should be returned. The matter was submitted to the different companies who decided by a practically unanimous vote to become part of the State troops.
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History of the twenty- Second Regiment
The officers accordingly made application to the State authorities to be mustered into the State service as a part of the regular National Guard. Their application was granted, and after considerable delay, they were mustered into the service with eight companies as the Twenty-second Regiment N. G. S. N. Y. on September 17, 1861, Gen. Burnside and staff honoring the occasion with their presence. The field officers were re-elected October 4, 1861. A formal presentation of colors was made to the regiment October 16, 1861, at which time the names of the regimental staff were announced in orders.
Its action in becoming a part of the National Guard caused a considerable reduction in the strength of the Twenty-second. The cashiers and most of the clerks of some of the banks, particularly the Metro- politan, had originally joined the regiment with the idea that it would be exclusively a home guard. It was im- possible for them all to serve in an organization which might be compelled at any time to be ordered into ac- tive service and many of them were consequently obliged to withdraw from the companies they had joined. The following is the roster of the officers at that time:
ORIGINAL OFFICERS OF THE TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT
N. G. S. N. Y.
Colonel, James Monroe. Lieutenant-Colonel, Lloyd Aspinwall. Major, vacant. Adjutant, J. Henderson Grant. Engineer, James Renwick, Jr.
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
Commissary, Henri M. Braem. Surgeon, vacant. Quartermaster, Charles Trumbull White. Assistant Quartermaster, O. W. Bird.
Paymaster, W. B. Meeker.
Assistant Surgeon, Benjamin Lee, M. D.
Chaplain, Rev. John Cotton Smith.
Band Master, F. B. Helmsmuller.
Captain A, James Otis.
B, vacant.
C, George B. Post.
D, A. Foster Higgins.
E, John M. Wilsey.
F, Albert N. Francis.
G, Benjamin F. Butler.
.. H, John E. Parsons.
First Lieutenant A, James F. Cox.
B, vacant.
C, H. Cruger Oakley.
D, Richard Vose.
E, Geo. W. Finch.
. F, G. H. Bellows.
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G, Geo. De F. Lord.
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H, Walter Edwards, Jr.
Second Lieutenant A, George Fuller.
B, vacant.
..
C, vacant.
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D, vacant.
60 E, James H. Aikman.
F, E. A. Landers.
66 G, Henry A. Oakley.
H, vacant.
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history of the twenty Second Regiment
The respective seniority of the officers was settled by drawing lots, the result being as follows : 1, A; 2, D; 3, C; 4, E; 5, H, and 6, G. Their commissions were delivered to them, and they were sworn in on October 31, 1861.
Among the many changes effected by the War of the Rebellion, there is none greater than that which has taken place in the National Guard. Before that time, military organizations were more social than mili- tary. They were practically self-supporting. The State provided arms, belts and cartridge boxes, but, in the case of the Twenty-second, not even these. Everything else was paid for by the men, even including the rent of the armories, with the exception of a few organizations which had drill rooms over Tompkins, Centre and Essex Markets. What battalion drills there were, and these were but few, were held in the White Street Arsenal or in Tompkins Square, then an open plaza, or in the fields at East New York. The manual of arms of the different organizations was good, and street parades were well conducted, except that a delay of an hour or two in forming and marching was the rule rather than the exception; but here instruction, as a rule, stopped. Discipline, in any strict sense of the term, hardly existed. When men became dissatisfied, they resigned, as from any other club, and that ended it. Court martials were held, but fines could not be enforced.
The strain of actual war changed all this, at least in the regiments. Men learned that an order was some- thing to be obeyed, and that street parades were only an infinitesimal part of the art of war.
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History of the twenty- Second Regiment
But until Gen. Alex. Shaler was appointed to the command of the First Division in 1868, there was prac- tically no attention paid to the regulations in relation to official books or correspondence, and brigade and division headquarters, regarded from the present stand- point, were a farce. While the regiments imbibed proper military ideas from their service in the field, such ideas were slow to extend beyond them, and when Maj .- Gen. Sandford turned over the command of the First Division to Gen. Aspinwall, at the close of the war, after commanding it over twenty years, the writer was informed by Gen. Aspinwall that all the headquarter records he received from his predecessor "did not fill a hat !" #
* See also Chapter XIII., page 150 post
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CHAPTER III.
THE FIRST CALL TO THE FIELD.
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T HE spring of 1862 opened with bright prospects for the Union Army, which did not long con tinue. McClellan, with the army of the Potomac, was advancing through the swamps of the Chickahominy towards Richmond, but with such deliberation that he was dubbed " the great Virginia Creeper." To protect Washington, Gen. N. P. Banks held the Shenandoah Valley. He was a greater orator and politician than a general, and but little confidence was felt that he would be able to withstand the attack that anyone with the slightest military knowledge could see was inevitable. In May, what everyone had foreseen came to pass Jackson, leaving Richmond, struck Banks, in the hope, by defeating him and threatening Washington, to force McClellan to withdraw from Richmond. The result was another of the many "retirements" up the valley towards Harper's Ferry, which subsequently became so frequent as to cause the Army of the Shenandoah to win the name of " Harper's Weekly." The coming storm was anticipated by the members of the Twenty-second long before it broke, and the expectation that they would be called upon for active service was in the minds
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history of the twenty: Second Regiment
of all. In order to be in readiness for service, the Twenty-second, on May 20, 1862, decided to have a ten days' encampment. This never took place.
On Monday, May 26, 1862, the newspapers an- nounced in " display head-lines " :
"RETREAT OF GEN. BANKS !
SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF THE REBELS IN HEAVY FORCE.
OUR TROOPS DRIVEN FROM FRONT ROYAL WITH CONSIDERABLE LOSS.
RETIREMENT OF GENERAL BANKS TO WINCHESTER ON SATURDAY. FURTHER RETIREMENT TO MARTINSBURGH FROM WINCHESTER ON SUNDAY."
*
"EXCITEMENT IN BALTIMORE.
INSOLENCE OF THE SECESSIONISTS THERE."
Then followed the statement that " despatches to the War Department stated that General Banks had been attacked at Winchester, and had fallen back to Martinsburgh and Harper's Ferry; that the enemy were reported to be in large force, and that many reports stated that the rebel force had left Richmond and moved North to take the offensive"; that there was almost a riot in Baltimore, and then the fact that " Sec- retary Stanton had appealed to the loyal states for troops."
Following this came the long-expected announce- ment :
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment "HIGHLY IMPORTANT MOVEMENT.
NEW YORK STATE MILITIA ORDERED TO WASHINGTON,"
preceding a statement that the Governor had ordered the Fifth Artillery and the Seventh, Eighth, Eleventh, Thirty-seventh and Seventy-first N. G. of New York City, and the Twenty-fifth of Albany to leave for Washington, which was followed during the day by the publication from General Headquarters S. N. Y. of Special Orders 124 and 125 to the same effect.
The omission of the Twenty-second from these orders spread consternation among its members. It
is true that it had been organized to protect New York, but the fixed and clear idea of the officers and men was that the best place to protect it was from "the front." To them the idea of remaining at home while all the other city regiments took the field, was insupportable.
The Board of Officers of the regiment met at noon on May 26, and telegraphed Gov. Edwin D. Mor- gan, tendering the services of the regiment, stating that it would become demoralized unless ordered off, and urging its acceptance in the strongest terms, and adjourned until 3 P. M. for his reply. When they re- assembled at this hour an answer by telegraph was re- ceived accepting the offer, accompanied by Special Order No. 130, which included the Twenty-second among those which were ordered to Washington. The intelligence was received with tumultuous cheers by the officers, which were echoed and re-echoed by the men, who had assembled in crowds to learn the result. These cheers were a signal of the end of the " Home Guard"
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
and the appearance of the Twenty-second Regiment. The following is the official order:
STATE OF NEW YORK, GENERAL HEADQUARTERS,
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Albany, May 26, 1862. Special Order No. 130.
The Eighth, Eleventh, Twenty-second, Thirty-seventh and Seventy-first Regiments will at once proceed to Washington. The commandants of the several regiments will make requisi- tions upon the chiefs of the several departments of this State for such arms, ammunition, equipments and supplies as they may require for the use of their regiments.
Upon application to Col. George Bliss, Jr., No. 51 Walker Street, they will receive orders for transportation.
Upon their arrival in Washington the commandants of the several regiments will report to the Adjutant-General of the Army.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief, THOMAS HILLHOUSE, Adjutant- General.
At this meeting the officers adopted the Army blue flannel fatigue coat as a field uniform.
The Board of Officers of the Twenty-second met again the same evening, and elected A. Foster Higgins major (to fill the existing vacancy), and proceeded to make the necessary arrangements for a speedy depart- ure. At each of the company armories issues were made on each man of a blue blouse (the regiment hav- ing no fatigue uniform, although it had been the sub- ject of many discussions, and a gray jacket had been adopted), knapsack, blanket, haversack and canteen. Everything else the men provided at their own expense. The next morning Col. Monroe issued the following formal order :
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History of the twenty: Second Regiment
HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT, NATIONAL GUARD, S. N. Y., NEW YORK, May 27, 1862. 5
General Orders No. 9.
In obedience to Special Orders No. 130, from General Head- quarters, the regiment will assemble at regimental headquarters, corner of Hall Place and Seventh Street, at 8 o'clock P.M., this 27th inst., fully armed and equipped for service.
Each man will provide himself with one day's rations, and will carry with him an additional pair of pants and shoes, two pair of socks (woolen preferable), and suitable undercloth- ing, a knife, fork and spoon. Equipments will be distributed at headquarters at 12 M. Officers will be allowed a small trunk, which must be marked with the name of the owner and com- pany. A servant is allowed to each company.
The regimental line will be formed on Union Square at 6:15 o'clock p.M. The band and drummers will report to the adju- tant at regimental headquarters at 6 o'clock precisely. The non-commissioned staff will report at headquarters at 8 o'clock A.M.
The resignation of Sergt .- Maj. T. G. Pratt, on furlough in Europe, is hereby accepted, to date from the 16th of May, inst.
First Sergt. Charles A. Post is appointed sergeant-major, vice Pratt, resigned, to rank from the same date.
By order of COL. JAMES MONROE, J. HENDERSON GRANT, Adjutant.
The regiment assembled according to this order, and was inspected, but its departure was necessarily postponed until transportation could be provided, and the men returned to their homes. All the day of May 28, 1862, the men crowded their different company armories, eagerly waiting for orders, and torn with
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
anxiety lest they might be retained to protect the city. During the afternoon their anxiety was set at rest by the announcement of the following :
HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT,
NEW YORK, Wednesday, May 28, 1862.
General Order No. 10.
In obedience to Special Order No. 130, from General Head- quarters, the regiment will assemble at regimental headquarters at 7 o'clock this evening, to proceed to Washington, in uniform, with overcoats (worn), knapsacks, haversacks, and canteens.
Each man will provide himself with one day's rations and water in his canteen. Blankets and ordnance stores will be de- livered on board the boat. Officers' baggage must be delivered at headquarters at 5 P. M.
The line will be formed at Lafayette Place at 7:15 o'clock. The band, drummers, non-commissioned staff, colors and color- guard will report to the adjutant at headquarters at 7 o'clock.
All surplus company arms and accoutrements will be sent immediately to regimental headquarters, to be placed in stores
First sergeants will be prepared to report the number of recruits and members of the company separately.
Capt. Butler will detail a guard of a corporal and three privates to report to the quartermaster at 5 o'clock precisely.
By order of COL. JAMES MONROE, J. HENDERSON GRANT, Adjutant.
CHAPTER IV.
THE DEPARTURE FOR BALTIMORE.
TN compliance with this order the companies of the
Twenty-second assembled at the armory, corner of Hall Place and Seventh Street, at the hour named, and marched to Lafayette Place where the regiment was formed, 550 strong.
Some of the leave-takings at the armory and Lafay- ette Place were very affecting. Women were crying and men shook hands with a startling vehemence. The officers and men were in excellent spirits, and did their best to keep up those of their friends. Some of the men who had recently joined had not time to obtain uniforms, but marched -in citizen's clothes, with knap- sacks on their backs.
Owing to unavoidable delays, the line was not formed until 8:30 P. M., and the time was spent in bid- ding friends " good bye," arranging for the formation of squads as tent mates, joking, singing patriotic songs and cheering.
None of those who were then present will ever for- get that occasion. As the hour of departure arrived, the regiment formed in column of companies, at half
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history of the twenty: Second Regiment
distance, surrounded by a throng of wildly excited and enthusiastic friends and relatives assembled to bid them farewell, who jammed the sidewalks and streets and even crowded between the companies. About 9 o'clock the band, after playing a few airs, finally struck up "John Brown's Body," the regiment and the crowd around them took it up in a vast swell of sound that pealed like a great organ, and as the song ended, all burst into a deafening uproar of cheers, in the midst of which the column started. Broadway, from Fourth Street to the Battery, was lined with a solid mass of people, who packed the sidewalks and encroached upon the street so that it was with difficulty that the troops could make their way, and the passage of the regiment was accompanied by a steady roar of cheers, which drowned all orders. The excitement may be judged from the fact that, as the regiment was squeezing its way through the throng, an old man seized the hand of one of the men and kissed it, to the intense astonish- ment of its owner. Throughout the entire length of Broadway colored fires were burned, as the regiment approached, and in passing the Astor House the sky was illuminated with a discharge of fireworks. Arriv- ing at Pier 2, East River, the regiment embarked on board the boat at II P. M., and after a long delay at Camden, was finally placed in cattle cars, on the hard floors of which the men packed themselves as closely as possible. Some at once fell asleep, so worn out with fatigue and excitement that they were unconscious of anything until they reached Philadelphia. But the ma- jority, full of the irrepressible spirits of youth, sang songs, and otherwise "carried on " nearly all night.
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History of the Twenty: Second Regiment
When it was known that the Twenty-second was ordered to the front, numbers of recruits flocked to join it. Among these was Hamlin Babcock (afterwards lieutenant-colonel of N. Y. Volunteers), then an alder- man, who applied to Col. Monroe to be enlisted as a private. He was told that he was too influential a man to accept that position and that he could do more good to his country by assisting in organizing a company of which the regiment was in need. He hesitated, as he had no previous military experience, but finally con- sented to accept a first lieutenancy in Company I. The captaincy of the new company was given to Asa Bird Gardner, since Assistant Judge Advocate General U. S. A., then a lieutenant in a volunteer regiment, and Charles S. Smith was appointed second lieutenant. By their exertions a full company was organized that same day. It was impossible, however, to procure the uni- forms and arms for the new company, and they were therefore unable to accompany the regiment.
The equipments were, however, obtained the next day, distributed and the company organized. It fol- lowed the regiment at once and joined it at Baltimore. The rifles issued to it were different from those used by the rest of the regiment, having shank bayonets instead of sword bayonets. The latter were not procured until the following year.
The following is a roster of the officers of the Twenty-second in this campaign :
FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS.
Colonel. James Monroe.
Lieutenant Colonel, Lloyd Aspinwall,
ALBANY, N. Y.
history of the twenty Second Regiment
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Adjutant, J. Henderson Grant (elected major in the field, July, 1862).
Adjutant, W. J. A. McGrath (appointed in place of Maj. Grant).
Commissary, Geo. McClure.
Quartermaster, Chas. T. White.
Paymaster, Henry A. Oakley (appointed in the field from Co. G).
Surgeon, Benjamin Lee.
Assistant Surgeon, Albert H. Gallatin.
Chaplain, Rev. John Cotton Smith (only present occasionally) and Erskine White, Acting Chaplain.
NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
Sergeant-Major, Osborne E. Bright (appointed in the field ).
Quartermaster Sergeant, Jotham W. Post.
Sergt. Standard Bearers, William Lamonby and Geo. V. W. House.
Commissary Sergeant, John C. Thompson.
Right General Guide, Albert Wyckoff.
Left General Guide, May Goldschmidt.
LINE OFFICERS.
Co. A, Capt. James Otis.
" B, Capt. David S. Brown.
" C. George B. Post.
" D, J. Farley Cox (elected in the field)
" E, John N. Wilsey.
" F. Capt. Albert N. Francis.
" G. Capt. Benjamin F. Butler.
" H, Capt. R. Suydam Grant.
" I, Capt. Asa Bird Gardner. .. A, First Lieutenant George Fuller ( promoted in the field).
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history of the twenty= Second Regiment
Co. B, First Lieutenant Aaron C. Allan ( promoted in the field).
Co. C, First Lieutenant H. Cruger Oakley.
Co. D, First Lieutenant Joseph F. Baldwin (elected in the field).
Co. E, First Lieutenant George W. Finch.
" F, " " George H. Bellows.
" G, " George De F. Lord.
« H, “ Walter Edwards.
" I, Hamlin Babcock.
" A, Second Lieutenant David B. Gilbert ( pro- moted in the field).
Co. B, Second Lieutenant W. W. Remmey (pro- moted in the field).
Co. C, Second Lieutenant Charles A. Post (elected in the field, vice W. J. A. McGrath, appointed adjutant).
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