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 2
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In 1894 there were 602 marksmen (which was more than the number present in the regiment for inspection), besides a number of sharpshooters and experts.
The following is the record of the regiment in rifle practice since 1875, as shown by the official records of the General Inspector of Rifle Practice:
1757798
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
RIFLE PRACTICE
IN THE TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT FROM ITS ESTABLISH- 4 MENT BY THE STATE TO 1895.
Present at inspection.
,
Sharpshooters.
Experts.
Marksmen.
First class.
Second class.
Figure of merit.
1875
449
279
-
35
58
142
30.49
1876
466
493
54
108
130
34.25
1877
541
501
73
107
205
39.36
1878
555
582
II4
24
I52
32.22*
1879
574
496
104
3I
I35
32.22
1880
593
457
76
56
140
31.80
1881
581
252
50
50
152
26.31*
1882
489
310
68
58
184
38.70+
1883
568
370
106
82
182
42.86
1884
549
297
75
60
162
35.42
1885
589
405
87
136
182
39.70
1886
591
311
93
II3
. IO2
30.76
1887
572
331
143
105
76
46 79
1888
578
318
1889
647
456
9
165
179
IO3
44.72
1890
634
385
7
150
166
62
40.94
1891
634
396
9
168
161
.58
42.57
1892
549
457
17
J
362
64
14
36.32*
1893
637
644
41
2
566
33
2
42.52
1894
599
621
6 1
6
535
17
2
45.65
~Not established ~~~ 0 3 7
Not established
- I3I
I20
57
44. 88
İ
1
* The method of calculating the figures of merit was changed in this year.
t This firing was all performed at the State camp.
# The method of practice was again changed in this year.
No shooting.
STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
500 YARDS' FIRING AT CREEDMOOR.
300 YARDS' FIRING AT CREEDMOOR.
407
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CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE ORANGE RIOT.
T HE Twenty-second Regiment took a prominent and highly creditable part in the suppression of the riot in New York City on July 12, 1871, familiarly known as the Orange Riot, and throughout the trying moments of that eventful day displayed a degree of discipline and steadiness which greatly enhanced its reputation.
The Twelfth of July is known to English history as the anniversary of the " Battle of the Boyne." This was fought in Ireland, July I (old style), 1690, between the Army of the Protestant King William III., on the one side, and the forces of the deposed Catholic King James II., on the other. In it King William was victorious, and his victory secured to him the English throne and made the Protestant faith dominant in Great Britain.
Although in 1871 two centuries had nearly elapsed since that battle was decided, the long intervening period had apparently produced but little effect upon the animosity existing between the two factions of the Irish people which then represented the two armies which participated in this contest. Even in the United
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410
history of the twenty- Second Regiment
States, Irish admirers of William of Orange (from whom comes their name of Orangemen) stubbornly contin- ued annually to celebrate the Boyne victory, and their Irish opponents as persistently continued to bitterly de- nounce their action as " traitorous to Ireland" and insult- ing to them.
The reasons for these annual attempts to commemo- rate upon American soil a battle that occurred at a remote period in a foreign country have never been wholly clear to the minds of practical Americans. But Orange processions had been permitted to take place during such a long course of years that " Boyne Day " in New York had come to be looked upon by the public in much the same light as its prototype, "St. Patrick's Day," had always been regarded.
As the Twelfth of July, 1871, approached the members of the Orange societies in New York began to make their usual preparations for holding their an- nual parade. This was announced in the customary way, from time to time, in the city newspapers. For some unknown reason the anti-Orangemen saw fit at this particular occasion to take special offence at the proposed action, the result being that they not only publicly and loudly proclaimed that the parade should not take place, but proceeded in a similar manner to organize armed bodies of men for the purpose of pre- venting it by force. At a convention of the Irish so- · cieties held on July 7, a delegate proposed that Mayor Oakey Hall should be asked to prohibit the procession, and, if he refused, that the Irish Catholics "should turn out and settle the dispute at once and forever by knock- ing down every Orangeman in the procession, or who
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history of the twenty: Secon's Regiment
could be found in the city with an emblem or insignia of Orangism about him." Others asserted that the Orange- men were an English society who were antagonistic to republican institutions, that its members were not citi- zens, and that they had no right to parade in the streets.
Others still more foolish, stated " that they would teach the Protestants that the Catholics governed New York, and that a Protestant procession could not safely show its head in New York." The Hibernian Society held meetings and enrolled numbers of volun- teers " for a picnic to be held on July 12." Other Irish societies, acting in concert with them, decided that their members should not work on that day.
This course of action was strongly disapproved of by the best elements of the Irish people in the city. The Catholic clergy preached vigorously against it from their pulpits as not only wrong in itself, but as being antagonistic to the interests of the Catholic Church. How little religion had to do with the matter was shown by the fact that this action of the clergy was denounced by resolutions passed by the Irish societies at a meeting held on July 9. At this meeting their leaders claimed to have 15,000 armed volunteers organized to prevent the parade's taking place. This, it will be remembered, was shortly after the War, and when there were thousands of veteran soldiers everywhere who could be rapidly organized into a formidable force.
The police authorities of the city, instead of boldly declaring their intention of maintaining order, a course which would have probably resulted in preventing any disturbance, weakly. bowed to the threatening storm.
مع كليوم ..
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history of the twenty: Second Regiment
On July 10, 1871, Police Superintendent James J. Kelso issued a long proclamation in which he refused permis- sion for the Orange parade to take place, upon the ground "that he should not allow any street celebra- tion which involved animosities belonging to other countries." The announcement of this action pro- duced an intense excitement among those who belonged to neither of the opposing factions. While the people at large had had very little interest in either contending party, and regarded the matter as an absurd attempt to keep alive an old foreign feud, they considered this refusal of the customary authority for the parade as an ignoble surrender by an American official to un- lawful demands by a foreign element, and passionately resented it.
At this period the government of the city of New York was in the hands of the notorious combination known to political history as the " Tweed Ring." The public feeling in regard to the procession was intensified by this fact, as it was felt that the demands of the anti- Orangemen were put forward with the idea that "the ring" would be compelled to accede to them in order to secure their political support, and that the refusal of the permit for the parade was made for this reason. Thisfeel- ing was not confined to the city, but extended throughout the country, where the matter was regarded as a vital ques- tion which was of common interest to all Americans. The influential newspapers devoted column after column to the subject, and editorially urged upon the citizens of New York the necessity of not permitting themselves to be terrorized by threats of violence from any source. The deep feeling which their action had excited did not
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413
history of the twenty- Second Regiment
seem to affect the anti-Orangemen. On the contrary, they continued to proclaim the strength of the force which they had organized to prevent the procession by violence, and their determination to use it for that purpose.
This added fuel to the fire. Never since the excite- ment caused by the momentous events, of the great Civil War had the. metropolis been so thoroughly aroused as it was on this occasion. Thousands of peo- ple who were wholly without sympathy for the Orange- men were loud in their expressions of resentment against the intimidation which their opponents were assuming to exercise and their power over their author- ities, and were even louder in their demands that the parade must and should take place, irrespective of con- sequences.
John T. Hoffman, who was then the Governor of the State of New York, was at that period on a visit to Newport, Rhode Island. As soon as the condition of affairs was known to him he returned to Albany and immediately revoked the order forbidding the parade. He then hastened to New York and summoned a coun- cil of the city authorities, both civil and military, to meet him on July 11, 1871. He was a resolute, deter- mined man, who allowed no political sympathy to inter- fere with his action upon this occasion. In fact, any clear-headed politician could have seen that no greater political blunder could have been made than the step taken by Superintendent Kelso in revoking the permit immediately after this meeting.
The following proclamation was then issued by the Governor :
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history of the twenty: Second Regiment
Having been only this day apprised, while at the Capitol, of the actual condition of things here with reference to pro- posed processions to-morrow, and having, in the belief that my presence was needed, repaired hither immediately, I do make this proclamation.
The order heretofore issued by the police authorities in reference to said processions having been duly revoked, I hereby give notice that any and all bodies of men desiring to assemble and march in peaceable procession in this city to-mor- row, the twelfth inst., will be permitted to do so. They will be protected to the fullest extent possible by the military and police authorities. A military and police escort will be fur- nished to any body of men desiring it, on application to me at my headquarters (which will be at police headquarters in this city) at any time during the day. I warn all persons to abstain from interference with any such assemblage or processions ex- cept by authority from me; and I give notice that all the pow- ers at my command, civil and military, will be used to preserve the public peace and to put down, at all hazards, every attempt at disturbance; and I call upon all citizens, of every race and religion, to unite with me and the local authorities in this de- termination to preserve the peace and honor of the city and State.
Dated at New York this eleventh day of July, A. D., 1871.
JOHN T. HOFFMAN. By the Governor, -
JOHN D. VAN BUREN, Private Secretary.
On the same afternoon orders were issued requiring all the regiments of the First Division to report at their armories early the next day in readiness for service. The entire police force of the city was also ordered on duty.
The Governor's vigorous proclamation, and the an- nouncement of the measures he had caused to be taken to preserve order, elicited almost unanimous approval
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History of the twenty= Second Regiment
from the press and the general public. It did not, how- ever, deter the anti-Orangemen, who, for some un- scrutable reason, seemed to have completely lost their heads. Some of their leaders endeavored at their meet- ings to induce them to abandon the idea of interfering with the procession, but the attempt was a failure. The permit for the parade was not issued by the police au- thorities until late in the day. This, it was asserted, was with the idea that it would then be too late for the Orangemen to organize their procession. This was a mistake, as they were as obstinate as their opponents.
At 6 A. M. on July 12 a large body of police was massed around police headquarters in Mulberry Street, and the remainder of the force, together with all the city regiments, were on duty and stationed at various points throughout the city near the localities where trouble was apprehended. One regiment, together with the Washington Gray troop, was despatched to Elm Park to protect the residence of Mr. Heiser, which had been threatened with destruction on account of the assistance which he had rendered to some Orangemen who had been injured in the previous year. A large body of laborers who were at work upon the Boulevard stopped work early in the day and proceeded down town, attacking on their way all other laborers that they met who were not Irish. A detachment of police was sent to quell the disturbance. As it threatened to assume dangerous proportions, the troops at Elm Park were ordered to reënforce the police. Their presence put an end to this part of the riot. Other detachments of police or soldiers were from time to time despatched to other points of threatened danger. These -points were
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History of the twenty Second Regiment
constantly increasing. Riotous crowds were assembling at different portions of the city and parading through the streets, creating great alarm among the residents. This was well-founded, as many of these bodies were composed of thieves and toughs who had organized for the purpose of beginning to pillage as soon as the police should be engaged with the rioters. On every side there were indications that, unless the growing dis- turbance was soon checked, another "draft riot " was imminent. Rumors of terrible doings in the central and upper parts of the city were circulated in the down- town districts. These were readily believed, and the business communities in consequence became wrought up to a high state of feverish apprehension.
The regiments which were to constitute the escort of the Orange procession comprised the Sixth (Col. Story), the Seventh (Col. Clark), the Ninth (Col. Fiske), the Twenty-second (Col. Porter), and the Eighty-fourth (Col. Mitchell). These were placed under the com- mand of Brig .- Gen. Joshua M. Varian, then command- ing the First Brigade of the First Division. A body of 600 policemen was detailed as an addition to the escort.
The Twenty-second Regiment assembled at its armory early in the morning of July 12, and, as is cus- tomary with it upon all occasions where dangerous work is to be performed, paraded with full ranks. At about noon, in pursuance of orders received from Maj .- Gen. Shaler, the Commandant of the First Division, the regiment marched, under command of Col. Porter, to Eighth Avenue and Twenty-ninth Street, which was the point of the assembling of the Orangemen's pro-
417
history of the twenty: Second Regiment
cession. The march was made in silence, without music, the field and staff officers parading on foot. The Twenty-second was the first body of troops to reach the ground. It found a large body of police assembled there, guarding the Orangemen, whose parade was the cause of all the disturbance. These were a small body, reported as being 61 in number, and were apparently a very respectable class of men. Each wore a broad, orange-colored sash over his shoulders and a white apron. Their marshal, a man named Johnson, wore a blue coat, buff vest, white trousers, and a high black hat, with the other regalia of the order, including an orange-colored sash, fully ten inches wide, extending from his left shoulder to his waist. He rode a chest- nut horse, being the only mounted man in the pro- cession. Before the arrival of the regiment the police had been able to keep Eighth Avenue comparatively clear. But the side streets, particularly to the west, were filled with an unruly crowd. This was composed of the "toughest" kind of characters that the men in the Twenty- second had ever encountered. It was con- stantly overflowing into the avenue, notwithstanding the efforts of the police to keep back those who com- posed it. There having been no music to give any in- formation of the approach of the regiment, its appear- ance was therefore a surprise. The sudden entry of a solid column of disciplined men, marching with military precision, into this scene of disorder, at once produced a marked change in the condition of affairs. The regi- ment was cheered by the Orangemen and hissed by the mob. Gen. Varian not having arrived, Col. Porter held a short conference with the officer of the police
418
history of the twenty- Second Regiment
who was in charge of the force on duty there. He then formed the Twenty-second in line on the edge of the westerly sidewalk of Eighth Avenue, facing east, with its right resting at or near Twenty-ninth Street, and immediately gave the order "to load with ball and car- tridge." This was almost the last appearance of the regiment with muzzle-loaders, and, in loading, the men were careful to exhibit the bullets to the rioters in front of them, and to let them observe that they were in- serted into the barrels of their rifles. The fact that the regiment had loaded " with real bullets" was speedily communicated to the crowds near by by those who had witnessed the fact. It seemed to be unexpected, and, for a short time, had a demoralizing effect upon the mob. Relying upon this, the police then determined to clear the avenue and to drive the crowds back to the heads of the streets, the officers in charge remarking they "would play with the mob no longer." In re- sponse to the shrill police whistles, the policemen sprang forward in a body upon the mob, clubs in hands, plying them with a vigor and effect upon the arms, legs, shoul- ders and heads of those composing the mob, and quickly stampeding them. They broke at once, making a wild rush down the side streets, and leaving a clear space, into which the regiments which had been designated to con- stitute the military escort formed as fast as they ap- peared.
Gen. Varian having arrived, the escort was formed by him in Eighth Avenue, in the shape of a hollow square, enclosing the Orangemen in the centre. The Twenty-second was formed in column of fours, and . marched on the right flank of the parading Orangemen ;
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
the Eighty-fourth, in a similar formation, marched on the left flank.
The left wing of the Seventh led the procession in column of companies, and the Sixth and Ninth regi- ments, also in column of companies, followed in the rear of the Orangemen. A strong detachment of police, extending from house to house, constituted a rear guard.
Before the procession moved, the right wing of the Seventh was posted by Gen. Varian in line along the westerly sidewalk of Eighth Avenue, facing eastward, with the left resting on Twenty-eighth Street, to ob- serve the movements of an armed mob which had taken possession of the houses on the eastern side of the avenue. Orders were given to them to fire upon any persons who made any hostile demonstrations from the windows or tops of these houses.
The formation being completed, the procession began its march down Eighth Avenue. The side streets, and also the windows, doors and roofs of the stores and houses on the avenue and the eastern sidewalk of the latter, were packed with a yelling, jeering, hostile mob, composed of the worst elements in the city, shouting curses and threats at the passing Orangemen and their escort. These harmless expressions were soon followed by showers of missiles of every conceivable sort, includ- ing bricks, stones, vegetables, crockery, slops, filth, garb- age, etc., which were hurled from the housetops and windows at those in the procession. Every few minutes the sharp crack of a pistol-shot could be heard over the roar of the crowd. As the column advanced these shots became more and more frequent. - When these
420
history of the twenty- Second Regiment
assaults were made from the houses in front of the right wing of the Seventh, which was opposite the point of commencement of the march, they were returned by shots from these companies. These were fired by in- dividual soldiers at the command of their officers, and the fire, although inaccurate (as few of the men then knew how to shoot), did much to keep down the attacks. · The police and detectives, dressed as civilians, kept abreast of the column, and did valiant service, dashing into the crowd and clubbing and dragging into the col- umn prominent rioters, and also seizing pistols and other weapons from the ruffians who had collected upon the stoops and sidewalks, the mistake having been made of not keeping the avenue clear from house to house. When the head of the procession reached Twenty-third Street Gen. Varian ordered a halt, for the purpose of giv- ing the right wing of the Seventh time to rejoin the left wing at the head of the column. This halt was a grave error. It probably led the mob to think that the resist- ance in front had stopped the procession. At all events, its effect was to excite them to renewed attacks. When the right wing of the Seventh formed into a column of fours and proceeded to march up the west sidewalk of Eighth Avenue, the procession had passed beyond the cover of their fire, and was at a halt. Upon it the storm broke forth with redoubled fury. The shower of missiles became a veritable bombardment. This was accompanied by the crack and flash of pistols from the sidewalks and windows, while the wild roar of cries and jeers from the crowd drowned all orders. The mob pressed close to the rear of the column, particularly at . Twenty-seventh Street, and on several occasions the
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history of the twenty- Second Regiment
rear guard of police turned and made fierce charges upon them, driving them back again and again. Alarge number of soldiers in the procession were struck. Many were painfully, some seriously, and several mor- tally injured. Two were killed upon the spot. Nearly all of the troops carried unsightly marks of the foul character of some of the projectiles. Sergt. McCul- lough, of the Twenty-second, received a painful injury on the knee from a brick. The indignation felt by the soldiers needs no description. In addition to their anger from their personal treatment and the sympathy they felt for their comrades, who were being momen- tarily injured around them, there was added the appre- hension that at any moment they might themselves be struck down by some of the deadly missiles which were flying about them. Nothing but military discipline kept them from returning the assaults made upon them by the mob, and it is not surprising that before long this gave way in some of the organizations. This was particularly the case in the Ninth, whose colonel, the notorious "Jim Fisk," was no soldier and had therefore neither the respect nor the confidence of his regiment. From the window-blinds all along the street jets of smoke spurted out, showing that the inmates were dis- charging pistols at the procession. A man partially hid by a chimney stood upon one of the roofs loading and firing a musket at those in the street. A woman. who, in defiance of the mob, waived a handkerchief at the Orangemen, was shot dead by a maddened rioter standing behind her, the whole top of her head being blown off.
A wooden awning and news-stand situated on the
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422
history of the twenty Second Regiment
southeast corner of Twenty-fourth Street and Eighth Avenue had been occupied by a mob of rioters, who were armed with pistols, bricks and missiles of all de- scriptions. As the portion of the procession containing the Orangemen reached this point a member of the Eighty-fourth was struck by a pistol-ball, and Capt. Douglas, a captain of one of the companies in that regi- ment, was felled by a blow on the head. Whether or not Capt. Douglas gave an order to fire was a disputed question. The men of his company, however, either assumed that he gave it, or, being enraged at his fall, opened fire at the crowd from which the missile which injured him proceeded. This firing was more in the way of a fusillade than a volley, and was taken up by the rest of the Eighty-fourth. It was aimed to the eastward at the mobs who were in the houses and on the side- walks of Eighth Avenue and in the adjacent streets. Its nature may be judged from the fact that ex-Capt. Palmer, of the Twenty-second (who had volunteered to serve with his old company, C, as a private), stated that when he turned to see the cause of the firing the rifles of the Eighty-fourth were at all sorts of angles in the air, and looked as if the regiment was coming to a bad "support arms." The firing rapidly passed to the rear, and was taken up by the Sixth and the Ninth Regi- ments. These were in column of companies, but in some unscrutable way managed to fire to the eastward. In doing this it was believed that they injured some of their own men. After firing, they broke and scattered so that the avenue was almost clear.
The companies of the right wing of the Seventh, which was then on the western sidewalk of Eighth Avenue,
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