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 2 > Part 11
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At 6 o'clock P. M. on Sunday, January 20, a cold winter evening, Gen. Louis Fitzgerald received orders from the commander-in-chief to assemble the regi- ments of the First Brigade in their respective armories and hold them in readiness to march to Brooklyn, fully uniformed, armed and equipped. He at once issued orders to the different commanding officers, using the telephone, telegraph and the members of his staff, as fast as the latter could be assembled.
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Lieut .- Col. William V. King (temporarily com- manding the Twenty-second Regiment in place of Col. John T. Camp, who was sick in bed at the time) re- ceived his orders from brigade headquarters early in the evening and immediately repaired to the armory. Of course, rumors of the intended movement soon be- gan to circulate through the city, announcements even being made from the pulpits of churches, platforms of concert halls and other places of public resort which were open at the time, and presently officers and men began to present themselves at the armory. As fast as the men arrived they were sent out by the officers pres- ent to notify the other members of the command to report for duty. All night long enlisted men and officers who had just received the orders sent them were reporting, so that little sleep was had by anyone in the armory. The weather was most inclement, and the duty for which the regiment was summoned highly distasteful and disagreeable. From the fact that the call came upon Sunday, a further hardship was imposed, inasmuch as none of those who were so suddenly sum- moned were able to make arrangements in regard to their business affairs. Nevertheless, the members of the Twenty-second, almost without exception, left their comfortable homes instantly and cheerfully at the call.
The value of the experience obtained at Buffalo was apparent upon this occasion. The men brought with them the necessary clothing and toilet appliances. There was also issued to each one at the armory the "army mess kit," consisting of meat-can, plate, cup, knife, fork and spoon. They also received for the first time the "Merriam pack." This was found to be a
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great improvement on the old-fashioned knapsack. It was more easily carried and enabled the men to move their arms freely, to breath without difficulty and to open their coats, if necessary. Each man also received a warm woolen blanket and a rubber poncho to protect him against rain. A marked improvement was also manifested in the quartermaster and commissary de partments. As soon as he received his orders, Com- missary Joseph M. Smith organized his assistants and provided such supplies as could be procured upon such short notice. When the reveille sounded at half-past three on Monday morning he had ready a supply of hot beef tea, coffee and bread, which was promptly served to the members of the different companies.
The regiment left its armory punctually at 5 o'clock in the morning of Monday, January 21. It boarded the elevated railroad cars at Columbus Avenue and Sixty- sixth Street and disembarked at the Park Place station. Marching thence through the snow across the City Hall Park, it proceeded to Brooklyn by way of the East River Bridge, the first companies of the Seventh passing through the bridge entrance as the last of the Twenty-second men were entering the bridge cars.
On reaching Brooklyn the Twenty-second took the cars of the Kings County Elevated to Franklin Avenue, and thence marched to the corner of Atlantic and Bed- ford Avenues, the place at which they were ordered to report. The armory of the Twenty-third regiment is situated at this point. All but one of the companies of that regiment were on duty at various other points in the city, and the armory was occupied only by the field and staff and some recruits. Conspicuous among these lat-
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ter were some members of the Cadet Corps of the regiment, who rendered valuable service as orderlies, and who were the envy of all the boys in the neighbor- hood.
On arriving at this point, Lieut .- Col. King obtained the use of the Twenty-third Regiment's telephone, and reported through it to brigade headquarters the ar- rival of the regiment and asked for further orders.
In the meantime the regiment stood outside in the snow. The orders received were that the regiment should protect the territory lying between Bedford Avenue on the east, Atlantic Avenue on the north, Vanderbilt Avenue on the east and Butler Street on the south. This was intersected by the Bergen Street line of trolley cars, which runs through the entire length of Bergen Street; the Vanderbilt line, which runs through Vanderbilt Avenue, and the Butler Street line, which runs through Washington Street and thence through Butler to a point east of Bedford Avenue. The territory east of that occupied by the Twenty- second was guarded by the Seventy-first, and that west of Vanderbilt by the Twelfth. Immediately upon re- ceiving these orders, Lieut .- Col. King went over the territory he was required to guard, and decided that one- half of the regiment would be sufficient to be upon duty at one time. He thereupon divided the regiment into two battalions of five companies each.
The First Battalion was commanded by Maj. Frank- lin Bartlett, with Lieut. Harry H. Treadwell as adjutant. and consisted of the following :
Company B-Captain, William J. Maidhoff ; Lieu- tenants, Clement F. Kross and Fred L. Ringir.
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STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
STREET SCENES IN BROOKLYN.
By permission Leslie's Weekly.
Copyright, 1895, ARKELL PUB. Co.
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History of the twenty- Second Regiment oh 581 Company C-Captain, Malcolm C. Murray ; Lieu- tenants, Charles E. Asten and Charles Harrison.
Company F-Captain, William B. Smith; Lieu- tenants, Walter S. Bennett and David Lowenbein.
Company G-Captain, George F. Demarest; Lieu- tenants, Edwin W. Dayton and Giles Rac.
Company H-Captain, Clifford C. Cassidy; Lieu- tenants, Geo. W. McClintock and Frank Isherwood.
These were promptly posted over the territory named in orders.
The Second Battalion, commanded by Maj. George E. B. Hart, with Lieut. Robert J. Daly as adjutant, was made up as follows :
Company A-Captain, James P. Kenworthy; Lieu- tenants, Chas. H. Stoddard and Daniel T. Murphy.
Company D-Captain, William H. Cortelyou; Lieu- tenants, James A. Bell and F. M. Anderson.
Company E-Captain, N. B. Thurston ; Lieutenants, W. B. Hotchkiss and M. M. Miles.
Company I-Captain, Homer Bostwick; Lieu- tenants, William H. Carter and Frank I. Stott.
Company K-Captain,. J. Nelson Borland; Lieu- tenants, Robert K. Meneely and Charles F. Abott.
The executive duties were attended to by Col. John T. Camp (who, although ill, joined the regiment at 10 A. M. on Monday and commanded it during the cam- paign), Lieut .- Col. William V. King, Maj. Franklin Bartlett, Maj. George E. B. Hart, assisted by Adjt. Stephen F. Hart, Adjt. Harry H. Treadwell, Adjt. Robert J. Daly, Quartermaster William F. Carey, Com- missary Joseph M. Smith, Surgeon Bennett S. Beach, Assistant Surgeon George A. Tuttle, Assistant Surgeon
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Harry E. Stafford, Chaplain Wm. N. Dunnell, S. T. D .; Inspector of Rifle Practice M. E. Burnton, Capt. Joseph P. Jardine (attached), and the following members of the non-commissioned staff: Sergeant-Major Robert G. Butler, Sergeant-Major Samuel M. Phillips, Quarter- master Sergeant F. D. Britton, Commissary Sergeant Edward J. Rice, Ordnance Sergeant Harry K. Zust, Hospital Steward G. B. Benedict, Drum Major Geo. W. Brown, Color-Bearer W. L. Borstleman and Color- Bearer Albert Wilkinson.
The following was the strength of the Twenty- second during this campaign : *
Field and staff, 15; non-commissioned staff, 8; Com- pany A, 36; Company B, 51; Company C, 62; Com- pany D, 58; Company E, 102; Company F, 76; Com- pany G, 50; Company H, 50; Company I, 44; Company K, 66. Total present, 595.
The orders from brigade headquarters were quite explicit as to the territory to be guarded by the regi- ment, but were singularly indefinite as to detailed ar- rangements and requirements. These were, doubtless, left very largely to the discretion of commanding officers of regiments. After Maj. Bartlett's battalion had been posted brigade headquarters was notified by Lieut .- Col. King that its orders were complied with and the area to be guarded was fully controlled and pro- tected. He then inquired where the regimental head- quarters should be established and the Second Battalion of the regiment should be housed until the time when it should relieve the First Battalion. The answer was,
* The names of all who served are printed in the appendix at page 670 post.
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" Anywhere within the territory guarded !" The "ter- ritory guarded by the regiment" was almost wholly built up with tenement houses and small frame struc- tures, all of which were fully peopled with tenants. It contained no building sufficiently large to afford shelter for the 350 officers and men composing the Second Battalion of the Twenty-second, which, meanwhile, was standing in the street. Lieut .- Col. King at once deter- mined to request permission to use the Twenty-third Regiment Armory as a place of shelter for his men. This was ample in space, and, although located a short distance outside of the lines guarded, it was, by all means, the most suitable place for such purpose. Lieut .- Col. King at once called upon Col. Smith, the commander of the Twenty-third, and stated the con- dition the command was in and the needless exposure to which his men would be subjected unless suitable quarters could be immediately found. Col. Smith not only very promptly, but very cordially granted permis- sion to the regiment to use the lower half of the large drill-room of the armory of the Twenty-third for the use of the men, and he also very kindly placed at the disposal of the officers of the Twenty-second a large room overlooking the drill-floor. This kindness was greatly appreciated, and the regiment has at all times since been sincerely thankful to Col. Smith and his brother officers for their hospitality.
As soon as these arrangements had been completed the Second Battalion entered the armory, where its mem- bers proceeded to make themselves comfortable, warm- ing themselves and drying their wet garments upon the steam-pipes. When this was done they spread their
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blankets and packs along the sides of the large drill. room and prepared for a long bivouac on the hard floor.
The streets through which the regiment had marched were covered with slush, and it was bitterly cold. The men had reported in haste and with no idea of where they were going. Few of them had rubbers or warm gloves, and they were thoroughly chilled by their long waiting in the street. The spacious and warm armory was therefore an extremely pleasant shelter.
The manner in which the First Brigade was mobilized and moved to the point of danger reflected great credit upon Gen. Fitzgerald and his staff. It also showed a high standard of discipline in the different regiments. As above stated, the orders were only received by the brigade commander at 6 o'clock on the night of Sun- day, January 20. At 6 o'clock on the morning of Jan- uary 2 1, before the public or the strikers knew what was intended, the Twenty-second was guarding the territory before mentioned; the Seventh Regiment was at East New York ; the cavalry troop was at Fulton Street and Tompkins Avenue ; the Twelfth Regiment was at Sumner and Jefferson Avenues; the Seventy- first Regiment was at Bergen Street, Albany and Troy Avenues, and the Sixty-ninth Battalion was at the re- pair shops in Myrtle Avenue. The Brooklyn regi- ments had already been stationed at the other strategic points, so that the whole city was covered, from Gow- anus Bay on the south to Maspeth on the north, and from Myrtle Avenue on the west to East New York on the east, by a strong military force.
The sight that Bergen Street, west of Franklin Avenue, presented when Maj. Bartlett's battalion de ..
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ployed along it will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it. The large Budweiser Brewery is situ- ated in Bergen Street, near Franklin Avenue, and it had a large quantity of massive trucks. These had been dragged out, upset and placed upon the car-tracks. They were supplemented by pyramids of lager beer kegs, all the ash-barrels in the neighborhood and a quantity of large boulders from the vacant lots. As far as the eye could see, the street was covered with these obstructions. Bergen Street, between Franklin and Vanderbilt Avenues, is a tenement-house district, and many of the strikers lived there. The cars which had been run through it had been stoned and handled so roughly that only a vestige of glass remained in their window-frames, and even their wooden sides were smashed in. The ground was particularly favorable for this method of warfare, as it contained many vacant lots, which were above the grade and covered with stones, affording a vantage-spot from which to throw such missiles as well as the missiles themselves. These grounds, it may be remarked, are historic as the position of the encampment of the British troops after the battle of Long Island.
It was expected by the Twenty-second that the duty they would have to perform in this scene of disturbance was to be serious work in an unfriendly country. The orders were strict and were enforced. Not more than five people were permitted to collect together, and everybody was required to keep moving and to keep on the sidewalks. A majority of the residents, however, unlike most of those who lived in the corresponding districts at Buffalo, were extremely friendly. They
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brought out hot coffee to the soldiers and food, when they found they had had no breakfast. This continued throughout the stay of the regiment. In fact, during its tour of service there was no place on Bergen Street where a member of the Twenty-second could not pro- cure a cup of coffee at any time by rapping on the win- dow of any of the houses. There were a good many of the strikers "hanging around," but they were orderly and obedient. The men of the Twenty-second, while making it clearly apparent that they were in Brooklyn " for business " and would not permit any interference or disorder, were as gentle as possible with the people with whom they came in contact, and in return were re- ceived in a friendly spirit. When loiterers were told that they must move on, they did so without discussion. Dur- ing the entire eight days that the campaign lasted not a gun was fired or even loaded by a member of the regi- ment. Col. Camp was of the opinion "that the men could load fast enough if it was required," and that it was best for them to wait until such necessity arose. The guards stationed along the streets built little picket-fires wherever they could obtain wood, to help them en- dure the bitter cold. This was continued during the time that they were on duty.
The regiment had hardly arrived when they were surrounded by a crowd of peddlers offering rubbers and thick gloves for sale. These were very acceptable and were greatly needed by many. In Brooklyn, as upon all other occasions when the regiment has served. the foot gear of the-men was their weakest point.
At 10 o'clock A. M. the First Battalion was relieved by the Second Battalion. The latter was, in its turn,
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relieved by the First at 1 o'clock P. M., the Second going out again at 4 o'clock P. M. This continued until 7 P. M., the battalions relieving each other at intervals of three hours each.
No attempt was made to operate cars after 7 o'clock, and no guards were required after that hour.
On the afternoon of the day on which the regiment had garrisoned Bergen Street, a trolley car carrying a working party came up the street, and the laborers com- prising the force set at work to remove the trucks, barrels and other obstacles with which the tracks were covered. This car looked as if it might have participated in "Sherman's March to the Sea." Every particle of glass, and even its shutters, were smashed, and the sides of the car were indented as if it had been a Chinese ironclad returning from an interview with the Japanese fleet. Each man of the working gang was protected by a policeman. It was noticed with some curiosity and surprise by the Twenty-second, that the men who had taken the places of the strikers as conductors, brakemen and laborers were largely Jewish cloak- makers, although they were themselves at that time en- gaged in a bitter strike against their own employers in New York. The strikers and people in Bergen Street made no resistance to the working party beyond scowls and a few hard names. This was undoubtedly owing to the fact that the centre of the disturbance was else- where, and more particularly because no large crowds were permitted to assemble, which was not the case in other parts of the city. Those who have studied the operations of mobs cannot help being convinced that there is a great psychological influence resulting from
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the mere assemblage of a large body of men which leads, at one time, to outbreaks of brutal violence, and again to unreasoning panic. Peaceable, law-abiding men who alone, or even in parties of three or four, would not be guilty of any violence or cruelty, when collected in large crowds become easily worked up to fever heat by some subtle influence of mind upon mind, and fall into a condition which leads them to follow the most insane suggestions, and to act without regard to reason or responsibility. At one time they will attack and beat a single man without any adequate reason; at another they will destroy buildings and property without cause, or perhaps be guilty of the most fearful cruelty. Again, they will run like sheep at a single shot, and often at a baseless rumor. The conduct of a crowd under such circumstances bears more resemblance to a stampede of frightened cattle upon a prairie than to the actions of intelligent beings. It is, perhaps, for this reason that experience has proved it to be a mistake in case of a disturbance to move the object of attack in a hollow square of troops, whether such object be an Orangemen's procession or a trolley car. Such a column forms a central point around which crowds assemble, the boys and hoodlums, who form part of the crowd, shout, yell and throw stones, and, under the excitement which the crowd it- self creates and increases, a large number of people who would not otherwise participate in a disturbance, become active rioters. As an example, it was stated that upon one occasion in Brooklyn a woman who was standing on the sidewalk while a car went through the street, and who had no particular interest in the
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matter beyond one of general sympathy with the strikers, was surprised and ashamed to discover that she had taken a stone and thrown it at the car under some impulse that she was unable to account for, but which she could not control.
The proper way, therefore, in case of riots like those which occurred in Brooklyn, is to send a force of troops through the street in which it is desired to operate cars, and to remove everybody, placing strong guards at the cross streets, and requiring all windows to be closed. The cars can then be operated without any difficulty or bloodshed.
Where excited crowds have been permitted to con- gregate in a street, an attempt to run cars through it is certain to be followed by stone throwing, which, unless put down with a stern hand at the outset, continues to increase until the disturbance reaches such a point that it culminates in bloodshed and death.
As above stated, the Twenty-second were very for- tunate in having a comfortable shelter. But the armory of the Twenty-third was not completed. Its cooking- ranges had not been put in, and the facilities it con- tained for preparing food for a large number of men were utterly inadequate. The Twenty-third, when called out, had improvised arrangements to utilize the armory steam-supply to warm the coffee and cook the food which they sent out to their different detachments. But this was inadequate, even for their own use, and when called upon to prepare food for the 600 additional men of the Twenty-second, it failed utterly.
The members of the Twenty-second were also obliged to use the same cups for their coffee that they had for
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their soup, and that without an opportunity of washing them, which did not add to the flavor of either. The lav- atory arrangements of the armory were utterly insuffi- cient. It would seem strange that those who designed such a magnificent building should have neglected such important matters, which would so greatly affect the comfort and health of the regiment whenever it was obliged to occupy it for a continued period. The men of the Twenty-second unthinkingly, but naturally, washed their dishes in the basins,the result being that they were soon stopped up with grease, and, until the services of a plumber could be had, they were useless. This left but two sinks in which not only to clean the dishes, but also for the washing purposes of the entire regiment. At first there were neither soap nor towels, but these were obtained as soon as possible by the quarter- master.
The company rooms of the Twenty-third were fitted up like luxurious parlors, and were not in any way suited to be occupied by men who had been for hours tramp- ing through slush and mud. The men of the Twenty- second, therefore, slept upon the floor of the drill-room. This was comfortable enough in the daytime, but during the night, when the engineer banked his fires and the steam got low, the room became very cold.
The regimental headquarters were established in the large unfurnished room intended for the library of the Board of Officers of the Twenty-third, and in this room all the commissioned officers slept-the first one or two nights on the floor, later on cots, to which mat- tresses were added on the fourth night, and thus com- parative luxury was secured.
MEHIL HIS ORIAN'S OFFICE, . ALBANY, N. Y.
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The Union League Club of Brooklyn, whose hand- some club-houseis situated on the corner of Dean Street and Bedford Avenue, within one block of the Twenty-third Regiment Armory, treated the officers of the Twenty-second with the greatest hospitality. They placed the entire club- house at their disposal, and permitted them all the priv- ileges of members. During the stay of the regiment the officers got almost all of their meals at this club-house. They felt themselves under great ob- ligations for the treatment they had received, and shortly after their return presented to the Club a bronze Russian bear as a token of their gratitude .*
* This bronze was imported by Tiffany & Co. It was modeled by the noted Prof. Liebrich of the Russian Academy of Arts at St. Petersburg. The Liebrich bear is as famous as the Barye lion ; each represents the highest art in modeling. A magnificent and massive block of Labrador spar, in its rugged state, as it was quarried near Kieff, forms a base for the bronze. Upon the front of the stone is a plate bearing the following inscription :
Presented to the Union League Club of Brooklyn By the Twenty-second Regiment, N. G. N. Y. in acknowledgment of the courtesies extended to the regiment during the trolley strike of January, IS95.
The following is the correspondence between the regiment and the Union League Club in regard to this presentation :
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The Twenty-second not only had no cause for com- plaint, but was rather to be congratulated upon the comfortable manner in which it was housed. Compared with the experiences of some of the other regiments, and particularly with that of the companies of the Twenty-third itself, who were on duty in the southern part of the city, its accommodations were palatial. This its members did not fully appreciate until after settle- ment of the strike.
Up to this time all the campaigning, not only of the Twenty-second, but of the entire National Guard, had
THE TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT, N. G. N. Y. NEW YORK, N. Y., March 23, 1895. To the Union League Club of Brooklyn :
GENTLEMEN :- The officers of this regiment desire you to accept the ac- companying testimonial in bronze, in remembrance of the many courtesies received at your hands during the trolley strike in your city last January.
Military duty always involves deprivation of the ordinary comforts and conveniences of life, and the campaign in Brooklyn was no exception to the rule. But whatever hardships we endured were greatly mitigated by the kind and courteous attentions we received from you. And, assuring you that they will ever be held in grateful remembrance by the Twenty-second Regiment, we remain,
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