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 6
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Co. D, Second Lieutenant Thomas L. Thornell (promoted in the field).
Co. E, Second Lieutenant James F. Aikman.
Co. F, Second Lieutenant Edward A. Landers.
Co. G, Second Lieutenant W. A. Gibson ( promoted in the field).
Co. H, Second Lieutenant William Man ( promoted in the field).
Neither Capt. Higgins nor First Lieut. Vose of D Company were able to accompany the regiment, and First Lieut. Jas. F. Cox (A Company) was detailed to its command. He was subsequently elected its captain while in the field, and vacancies in other companies were also filled. This raised an interesting point of military law as to whether the failure of a commissioned officer to accompany his regiment to the front vacated
history of the twenty- Eccond Regiment 39
his commission. The State authorities decided that it did, and issued commissions to the officers so elected. After the return of the regiment, there was some de- murring on the part of a few to this, but the action was sustained. In the case of one officer of the Twenty- second who insisted upon remaining, the Board of Officers passed a resolution requesting his resignation.
The following National Guard regiments were sent "from New York in response to this call:
REGTS.
COLONELS.
DATE OF DEPARTURE.
STRENGTH.
7
Marshall Lefferts.
May 26
700
8
Joshua G. Varian.
"
29
820
11
Joachim Maidhof.
28
630
12 WVm. G. Ward.
June 6
805
13 Robt. B. Clark.
May 30
762
19
Wmn. R. Brown.
June . 4
600
22
James Monroe.
May 28
625
25 Michael Bryan.
June
4
550
37
Charles Roome.
May
29
6co
47
J. V. Meserole.
30
666
69
James Bagley.
28
ICCO
Henry P. Martin.
28
So
Total,
8,588
Other organizations tendered their services, but the Secretary of War decided not to call for them, and they were relieved from duty.
The Twenty-second arrived at Philadelphia early in the morning and marched directly to the famous "Cooper Shop.". This was a large frame building near the depot, which was used as a "rest house " for troops going to the front. When a regiment arrived, the bell on the shop was rung, and from far and near women and
ยท
40
history of the Twenty- Second Regiment
men came with pails of coffee, loaves of bread, etc .. and aided in feeding the soldiers. When it is consid- ered how many troops passed through the city and how heavy this tax upon their patriotism must have been, too much praise cannot be given to the loyal Philadelphians.
The following was the strength of the Twenty- second in this campaign : *
OFFICERS.
NON-COM. OFFICERS.
PRIVATES.
TOTAL.
Field and Staff.
9
9
Non-Com. Staff,
9
9
Co. A,
3
IO
54
67
" B,
3
9
42
54
" C,
3
8
46
57
" D,
3
IO
53
66
" E,
3
9
48
60
" F,
3
8
48
59
" G,
3
9
66
78
" H,
3
7
49
59
" I,
3
8
56
67
Band,
22
22
Aggregate, 607
* The names of the officers and members who served in the regiment in this campaign are printed in the Appendix at page 625 post.
CHAPTER V.
SERVICE AT BALTIMORE.
A RRIVING at Baltimore, a change of orders was made. Maryland, as a border State, was more than half inclined towards the Rebel cause, and a large element of the population of Baltimore was in active sympathy with the Confederacy. It was considered necessary to hold the city with a strong force, to keep them under control. So much apprehension was felt that half of each company of the Twenty-second was ordered to load their rifles before marching through the streets. The march, however, was uneventful. A few ladies came to the doors of their houses and waved their handkerchiefs and the American flag. More frowned and looked black. The mass of the people apparently regarded the regiment with apathy.
The Seventh was sent into camp at Druid Hill, and the Eighth, Eleventh, Thirteenth and Thirty-seventh to camps located at other portions of the city. In ad- dition, there were several regiments of volunteers in the city, who had been stationed at Fort Federal Hill and other points for some considerable time. The lat- ter were so thoroughly drilled that they cast the best of the New York National Guard regiments completely
41
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history of the twenty Second Regiment
into the shade, and gave them all a much higher stand- ard of drill and discipline than they had ever before possessed, which did them good.
On arriving at Baltimore, the Twenty-second marched to Patterson Park. Maj .- Gen. Dix, the Department Commander, rode over to inspect them, and they at once pitched their tents in front of the earthworks thrown up to defend the city in 1812. The camp was named "Camp Monroe," in honor of its colonel, and here, for the first time, the regiment was brought down to army rules by the following orders:
N. G. S. N. Y., CAMP MONROE, BALTIMORE, May 31, 1862.
General Orders No. 9.
I. The following will be the stated routine of duties for the day until further orders:
Reveille at 5 o'clock A. M.
Breakfast call at 52 o'clock.
Sick call at 72 o'clock.
Guard mounting at &3 o'clock A. M.
Dinner call at 12 M.
Retreat at sunset. Tattoo at 9 o'clock P. M.
Lights will be extinguished at taps, which will sound fifteen minutes after tattoo.
There will be a dress parade of the battalion at retreat each evening, unless it is specially ordered otherwise.
II. Company morning reports will be handed in at the adju- tant's office before 8 o'clock. These reports must be kept in book form, and are to be called for by the first sergeants after being consolidated by the sergeant-major.
Guard reports are to be left at the adjutant's office im mediately after the guard is mounted.
The surgeon's report will be handed in before 8 o'clock.
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history of the Twenty: Second Regiment
Permits to leave the camp must be signed by the com- manders of companies, and sent to the commanding officer for approval before the hour of guard mounting. The name of the applicant, and length of time applied for, and statement of the first sergeant of the company that he is not required for duty, must appear on the application.
The companies will police thoroughly their company streets and tents after reveille, at the same time the police party, under the supervision of the officer of the day, will police the general encampment in front, rear and on both flanks. The guard on the prisoners will police the guard-tent at the same hour.
Drill calls will be sounded at 9} A. M. and 33 P. M. Recalls at II A. M. and at 5 P. M.
The officer of the day, during the hour of drill (or a portion of that time), will explain to the guard their duties as such.
All firing in or about the encampment is positively pro- hibited except with the previous knowledge and consent of the officer of the day.
Guards will be marched to and from their posts, and all re- liefs, patrols and rounds, in quick time, and, when the files are less than eight, in two ranks doubled by the flank.
Officers are at liberty to go anywhere within a mile of the centre of the camp; the rest of the command (servants are not here referred to) will apply for the permission of an officer be- fore passing beyond the lines of the roads, in rear and in the flanks and the raised causeway lying directly along the front of the camp; one officer from each company must superintend the roll-calls at reveille, retreat and tattoo. First sergeants will report to the captain absentees from breakfast and dinner roll- call. The company details for guard must be inspected by an officer on the first call for guard mounting. Retreat roll-call will be under arms whether the battalion parades or not. There will be a regular inspection by company in the company parade ground each Sunday morning at 9 o'clock.
By order of
COL. JAMES MONROE, J. HENDERSON GRANT, Adjutant.
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
N. G. S. N. Y., CAMP MONROE, June 7, 1862. 1 1
General Orders No. 10.
One of the company officers will inspect the company mess- ing every day before 12 o'clock. The officer of the day will re- port the state of the police of the camp and missing on his guard report.
Immediately after reveille the whole of each company. under its officers, are to sweep out the space occupied by it, from the rear of the company officers' tents to a line twenty paces beyond the regimental parade.
The guard of the previous day, under the officer of the guard of that day, will report at guard mounting every morning to the new officer of the day a party for general police. They are to complete the space of the encampment that is left by the com- pany policing-that is, the rear and both flanks.
If any company space is found by the officer of the day to be out of police, he will require the neglect to be remedied at once and will state the fact on his guard report.
By order of COL. JAMES MONROE, J. HENDERSON GRANT, Adjutant.
Under systematic daily instruction and the emula- tion excited by the example of the other regiments, the Twenty-second here began its transformation into a well-drilled and disciplined regiment, which is a very different thing from a voluntary organization of young men having a smattering of military knowledge.
On the first day of the camp some men endeavored to pass the guard, and when stopped, one seized the sentry's rifle and knocked him down with it. The whole guard turned out, but for some unknown reason, prob- ably because of the inexperience of the non-commis-
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45
history of the twenty: Second Regiment
sioned officers of the guard, the rifles were not loaded and the intruders escaped, after making a great deal of excitement. It was a wholesome experience, and taught the officers and men that Baltimore was not New York, and that guard duty must be performed strictly accord- ing to the regulations. After this the sentries loaded their rifles at nightfall and were wary about allowing anyone to come near them, either by day or night. They were tested frequently by the officers, who tried by all kinds of devices to get their guns from them, but without succcess. One of the officers who stole softly upon a sentry was disagreeably surprised to have him suddenly turn and execute " butt to the front," which took the officer in the chest and knocked him ten feet. Of course, the sentry did not know (?) it was an officer and was perfectly justified.
On the third day after their arrival, a detachment of detained men and recruits, sixty strong, under the com- mand of Lieut. H. C.Oakley, C Company, joined the regi- ment, increasing its number to over 600. The regiment was furnished with " A" tents, but as the supply of these was inadequate, they were very crowded. Six men oc- cupied each tent, five lying crosswise and one length- wise, filling the entire space, the tallest man being put lengthwise. The outside man was on the extreme edge and, therefore, usually got more or less wet when it rained. The secessionist feeling existing in Balti- more at this time may be judged from the fact that ten men in each company were required to constantly keep their rifles loaded. Only seven passes a day were al- lowed to each company and only these for the periods between 11 A. M. and 3:30 P. M., except in special cases.
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history of the Twenty: Eccond Regiment
The commissary department of the regiment did not work well for the first week (as is almost always the case with new troops), supper being only boiled rice and coffee without milk or sugar. The men, however, supplied themselves with extra provisions at their own expense, particularly strawberries, which were plentiful and cheap. Colonel Monroe, however, took hold of the matter, appointed a new commissary, and the men began to get the regular army ration, which they soon preferred to the pickled salmon and similar stuff that they had been purchasing. Almost every tent, how- ever, had a box sunk in the floor, forming its " cellar," where a store of eatables and drinkables was kept.
The weather, during the stay in Baltimore, was very rainy. Besides the discomfort of getting wet, which the men bore very well, it was simply impossible to keep the guns and accoutrements in proper condition, unless they were cleaned twice a day ; often a gun carefully cleaned and set aside, as ready for inspection, would be found coated with rust in the morning. On June 10, 1862, the gray dress coat and trousers were discarded, and the men were all inspected by the sur- geon to see if they had been properly vaccinated.
June 30, 1862, should be a day to be remembered in the annals of the Twenty-second, for that was the first occasion on which its members fired their rifles with ball cartridges. In fact, it was the first time that most of them had ever fired a rifle at all. The practice consisted of each man's firing two shots off-hand at about 100 yards, at the head of a barrel. There was no instruction in position or aiming, and the practice was wretched. Many men missed the mark by fully ten
.
47
history of the twenty: Second Regiment
feet. Of course their errors were not corrected, for no one knew how to correct. Such a thing as teaching a man even the use of the sights on his rifle was then un- heard of.
Upon another occasion one company was drawn up in line to fire a volley at the same distance. The bar- rel-head which formed the target was placed on the edge of a railroad embankment. Just as the order was given to " fire," a startled cow trotted out of some bushes to the left, so that she was directly over the tar- get as the volley was delivered. All looked to see the cow converted into a colander. But they over-estimated the marksmanship of the Twenty-second. The bullets cast up the dust under the cow, and for twenty feet on each side of her, but none of them hit her. On the contrary, she elevated her tail and departed in haste, but unscathed.
If the officers, through inexperience, were not as well qualified as they should have been to instruct their men, they spared no pains to learn. They studied the tactics and regulations industriously, and availed them- selves instantly of every suggestion which came from Col. Monroe, so that their improvement was astonishing. In one particular they were never open to criticism, and that was in the care of their men. They looked after their welfare in every way, and if one of the men of a company was ill, his officers would get up two or three times in the course of the night to see how he was get- ting along. Among all of them, there was none more kind-hearted or thoughtful than Capt. (afterwards Major) James Otis, who, though a strict disciplinarian, looked after his men as a mother would after her babies,
48
History of the twenty: Second Regiment
and was in turn regarded by them with the utmost re- spect and affection.
Shortly after the arrival of the regiment, each mem- ber was presented by the Sanitary Commission with a " Havelock." This was a white cotton cap cover, with a flap which hung down in rear and at the sides, so as to keep off the sun from the neck and back of the head of its wearer. It originated with the British troops in India, and was much valued by the men of the Twenty- second at first, as they were terribly burned. When, however, they had become thoroughly bronzed by the sun and weather, the Havelock fell into disuse, except as a material to clean a rifle. In fact, many of the men at Harper's Ferry habitually went around the camp in the blazing sun, intensified as it was by the reflection from the white tents and the trodden ground, with a little fez cap set on the back of their heads, and experi- enced no inconvenience. Each man was also presented by the chaplain with a pocket testament and hymn- book, printed expressly for soldiers by the New York Bible Society. The good order in which most of these books were found when brought home was an indica- tion of the great esteem in which they were held, or that they had not been very greatly used.
The dress parades of the Twenty-second Regiment were well attended. The ceremony was performed in a first-class manner, and the music was good-Helms- muller making the air re-echo with the stirring strains of the "Twenty-second Regiment Regimental March," as the troop "beat off" and passed up and down the long line of motionless gray and red uniforms. The spectacle attracted many from all parts of the city. Not
49
history of the twenty: Second Regiment
all were friendly, for on one occasion a spectator called for "three cheers for the C. S. A.," an exclamation which resulted in his being promptly knocked down by the nearest Union man, the interposition of the guard being necessary to prevent a general fight. The regi- ment also marched twice to the residence of the depart- ment commander and serenaded him, an honor which was not particularly appreciated by the rank and file, who had been drilling all day, and found the long march and "standing around" on cobble-stones in the dark to be extremely fatiguing.
Opposite to and a short distance from the camp of the Twenty-second was situated Fort Marshall, which was garrisoned by the Fifth Heavy Artillery. The sen- try lines of the Twenty-second extended about 200 yards from its own camp, and its men had the liberty of the enclosed space, but were forbidden to pass beyond it. The members of the Fifth found it most interesting to run this guard line. Every little while one or two of them would cross over from their own ground and pass the line. The nearest sentry would yell, " Halt-Cor- po ral of the Guard, Post No. 4," 5 or 6, as the case may be, which is all he could do, as the rifles were not loaded in the day time, except a few at the guard tent. The cry would pass from sentry to sentry. Down would come the corporal, see several men dressed in fatigue uniform, like that of his own regiment, taking to their heels across the fields ; whereupon he would set up a yell of "Sar-gent of the guard and three files." The Sergeant and six of the guard would come down at the "double," and start after the fugitives. After a smart run, they would gain upon them, and, by a threat to shoot,
50
history of the twenty: Second Regiment
bring them to a halt, only to find that they belonged to the Fifth, and had only passed across the guard line of the Twenty-second, too trivial an offence to speak of, particularly when they asserted it was done in ignorance. Whereupon the sergeant, corporal and six privates would wipe the perspiration off their brows, use consid- erable language, and return slowly to their posts, to get their breath for another race.
It was, however, an open secret among the privates, at least, that if a member of the Twenty-second really needed to get outside the guard, he was usually able to accomplish it without exciting any publicity, pro- vided he managed to get back before his absence was detected by his officers.
Occasionally the men were permitted to form par- ties to go to the Potapsco to bathe, an indulgence which was greatly appreciated, and was very beneficial to their health.
The regiment spent twenty days in Baltimore, which was mainly impressed upon the minds of the younger members by the unmerciful snubbing which they re- ceived from the ladies, who were Sccessionists to the core. If a young Union soldier, swelling with pride, and conscious at every nerve of his neat appearance in uniform, met two ladies walking down a street, they would ostentatiously pull their skirts aside, while one would go up a stoop and the other into the street, as if they thought he had the smallpox. This was not agree- able, but it was fully as pleasant as it was for him to sit in a horse-car, with several ladies standing, and three feet of space on each side which none of them would condescend to occupy. The Union people of Baltimore,
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
however, went to the other extreme, and there was nothing they would not do for one who wore a Union uniform. But these were in the decided minority.
On June 1, 1861, the New York troops learned, with regret, that Maj .- Gen. Dix had ceased to be the department commander, but were gratified by the official recognition of their services contained in the following order :
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE DEPARTMENT, BALTIMORE, MD., June 1, 1862. 'S
General Orders No. 14.
EXTRACT.
The major-general commanding, having received orders to repair to Fort Monroe and assume the command at that point, and having but two hours to prepare for his departure, takes leave of the troops under his command in the mode left to him through the medium of a general order.
*
It is a source of deep regret to him that he is compelled to leave without being able to review the regiments of New York militia - the Seventh, Eighth, Thirteenth, Twenty-second, Thirty-seventh and Forty-seventh-which, under a second appeal from the chief magistrate of the Union, have laid aside their various occupations, on the briefest notice, at great per- sonal sacrifice, and, hurrying to the field, are now occupying positions in and around Baltimore. In their patriotism and de- votion to the Government of their country, the Union feeling of the city will meet with a cordial sympathy. It is a great alleviation of the regret with which the major-general com- manding parts with them that he is soon to be succeeded by a distinguished general officer of the regular army from their own State. In the interim the command of the department devolves on Brig .- Gen. Montgomery, U. S. Vols.
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history of the twenty: Second Regiment
The major-general commanding, with his imperfect acknowl- edgment of his obligations to the loyal citizens of Baltimore and their patriotic defenders, tenders to them all, with his best wishes, a friendly and cordial farewell.
By order of MAJ .- GEN. DIX, D. T. VAN BUREN, (sd.)
Colonel and Aide-de- Camp.
On June 18, 1862, while in camp in Baltimore, the Twenty-second was mustered into the United States service for three months, all taking the oath but one officer and one drummer, who were prevented by urgent reasons from being absent from their homes for so long a period.
Although not in the immediate presence of the enemy, the Twenty-second was kept constantly re- minded, during its stay in Baltimore, of the struggle that was progressing.
Steamer loads of wounded and sick from the swamps of the Chickahominy were being daily landed at the wharves of the city, and conveyed from thence to the various hospitals. Squads_ of the regiment were fre- quently detailed to assist in moving these sufferers, as well as for burial parties for the men who died in the hospitals.
It was a sorrowful sight, particularly for those un- used to war, to see the gaunt, fever-worn men as they were carried off the steamers. It seemed as if the big, stalwart men from the rural districts, and particularly from the Maine woods, suffered more from the bad water and food and the exposure incident to service in the Chickahominy swamps than the men from the cities,
53
history of the twenty: Eccond Regiment
who, although not possessing their physique, had been accustomed to a more irregular life. Many great-framed countrymen, who had weighed over 200 pounds when they left their homes, were reduced to the weight of a boy, and were so emaciated that they had to be carried from the steamers in blankets. The sights at the hos- pitals were frequently more disagrecable than at the boats. The men of the Twenty-second had not become accustomed to death. They also regarded a soldier who had laid down his life for his country as particularly en- titled to respect. It was the custom, in case of each death of a soldier at a hospital, to have a brief service read over the body before the burial escort took it to the cemetery. The amount paid to the officiating clergyman was probably small. But this could consti- tute no excuse for the manner in which some of them performed this duty, rushing in at the last minute, and rattling through the service without the least attempt at solemnity or apparent interest, to the supreme and intense disgust of the funeral party, at least of such as were detailed from the Twenty-second. These, on the other hand, sought to make up for this unclerical con- duct by the most scrupulous adherence to all the mili- tary formalities of the funeral ceremonies; and, as was a common saying, " as far as we were concerned, we planted the poor devil in style."
-
CHAPTER VI.
-
ORDERED TO HARPER'S FERRY.
A T this time things again went wrong in the Shenan- doah Valley and reinforcements were demanded to defend Harper's Ferry, an important post situated at the junction of the Shenandoah and Potomac. Maj .- Gen. Wool, who had succeeded Gen. Dix as department commander, having been called upon for troops, in- quired of Col. Monroe, late in the evening of June 19, how soon the Twenty-second would be ready to move if ordered. He replied, " At once," and at midnight he received orders for the regiment to leave the next morn- ing at 9:30. Awaking at 4 A. M., on June 20, the Twenty- second packed its knapsacks, boxed its cooking outfit and " struck its tents." It did this with mingled joy and sorrow. Joy, at the compliment of being selected for service at the front, and sorrow to think of the well- stocked cellars in its tents, the contents of which it was compelled to leave behind. Its sorrow in this re- spect was, however, more than made up by the delight manifested by its numerous negro camp followers, who at once swooped down upon the camp and promptly appropriated the hitherto to them unknown luxuries which were abandoned by their owners. Sardines,
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