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 5
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History of the twenty: Second Regiment
ment had expired, so as to join the former, when they could parade in a handsome uniform and enjoy the same social pleasures which were open to them in the regi- ment, without the restraints of military discipline. This was denied by the veterans, who insisted that they did all in their power to build up the regiments whose names they bore. About 1883 this feeling became so pro- nounced as to create a serious breach between the two organizations in all the National Guard regiments. This led to the passage, on March I, 1884, of a resolution by the Board of Officers of the Twenty-second to the effect that, while they appreciated highly the Veteran Associa- tion, they would not recognize the uniformed organiza- tion. Similar action was taken by the other regiments. In consequence, the privileges extended to the uniformed veterans were cut off. Not only were they never in- vited to parade with the Twenty-second, or any other of the regular regiments, but they were excluded from the armories, and generally given the "cold shoulder."
The result was that a bitter feeling sprang up, which prevailed for several years, and finally led to the practical disappearance of the uniformed veteran organ- izations.
The affair was unfortunate, for in many ways the veterans' associations were productive of good. They always stood ready to help their old regiments when- ever their assistance was needed, and they were able to do so in many ways. They were of particular service to the Twenty-second in its struggle for its new armory. On the other hand, the almost unanimous stand taken against them by the officers of the National Guard
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regiments who were conversant with the situation showed that there was a solid ground for the complaints against the uniformed associations.
It is a matter for congratulation that sober second thought finally prevailed, and that these difficulties finally died out. But the " Uniformed Veterans Corps" in most organizations, including the Twenty-second, died with it, although the veterans, as a civilian body, continue to exist.
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CHAPTER XLI.
THE STATE CAMP AND THE MARCH TO PEEKSKILL.
T HE State Camp at Peekskill was inaugurated in the summer of 1882. The Twenty-second made its first tour of duty at this camp between July 29 and August 5 of that year, with great benefit to its discipline and reputation. All the details of a regimental tour of duty in camp had been thoroughly worked out before- hand by Col. Porter and Adjt. Harding, and a regi- mental order (General Orders No. 16, July 24, 1882) had been issued prescribing a careful and elaborate system of camp regulations, covering every point relating to conduct, routine and discipline, and containing exact and precise instructions as to the correct manner of putting these rules into practical operation. A pro- gressive system of instruction, both practical and the- oretical, was also prescribed to be followed during the encampment.
As the Twenty-second, in common with all the other regiments of the National Guard of the State, was at that time wholly without practical knowledge of the routine duties. of a regimental camp, the promulgation of minute and specific instructions was imperatively necessary for the orderly administration of the daily
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military camp life of the regiment. In this the expe- rience acquired by Col. Porter and Adjt. Harding as commissioned officers in the Civil War proved of incal- culable value to the regiment, and at once gave it a marked advantage over other commands, whose offi- cers had not had the benefit of that practical training.
These orders were strictly and faithfully carried out, not only to the letter, but also in spirit, and had a much more beneficial effect upon the National Guard ser- vice at large than is generally known. In fact, it is owing to this that the camp became a permanent insti- tution of the State. The idea of a camp had been taken up by the State military authorities solely as an experi- ment, and the ground for the encampment had been leased for a year only. The organizations that had pre- ceded the Twenty-second in camp had not apparently given the subjects connected with such a tour of duty sufficient previous preparation, and the officers attached to general headquarters were not at that time prepared to supply their shortcomings and deficiencies. The suc- cess attained prior to the coming of the Twenty-second had therefore been questionable, disappointing and wholly inadequate as a return for the expense which the camp had caused to the State. In other words, at the time when the Twenty-second marched into the State camp grounds to perform the closing tour of the camp- ing season of 1882, the camp was practically regarded as a failure by the adjutant-general and the State authorities. But the highly satisfactory manner in which the Twenty-second performed its tour of duty, and the regulations which it introduced and carried into effect, not only changed this feeling, but disclosed the
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proper way in which a military camp should be con- trolled and conducted, and demonstrated that if so con- ducted it would be of the greatest benefit to both the State and the National Guard. All idea of giving up the camp was thereupon abandoned, and soon after a series of regulations governing camp duty discipline and administration, mainly based upon those initiated by the Twenty-second, was prescribed by general head- quarters, almost all of which have since been continued in force.
At the close of the encampment the Twenty-second "struck camp," according to the regulations. The tent ropes were loosened, men stationed at each tent, and a guard at the colors. At the trumpet signal the band struck up the "Star Spangled Banner," the first gun of a salute was fired, and every tent was lowered simultaneously to the ground, all the tents falling in the same direction. At the last strains of the National Anthem and the report of the twenty-first gun, the State and National colors were formally lowered from the poles, and the existence of the camp for the year ended officially, the whole ceremony forming an imposing and beautiful sight. It is believed that this has never been done in the State camp by any other regiment .*
* The following is an extract from a report of Insp .- Gen. Rodenbough in reference to the Twenty-second while in this camp :
FIELD NOTES, STATE CAMP, AUGUST 2, ISS2.
Police of camp .very good; Company streets in excellent condition ; Company tents neatly arranged and perfectly aired ; sinks properly disin- fected and in good order.
REMARKS .- Course of instruction prescribed closely followed ; men very steady under arms ; officers generally competent and careful in instructions.
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The following was published in connection with Regimental General Orders (No. 1, of 1883), in recogni- tion of the services of Adjt. Harding in aiding the regiment to deserve these encomiums :
At the annual meeting of the Board of Officers of the Twenty-second Regiment held at the armory January 12, 1883, the thanks of the Board were, on motion, unanimously tendered to Adjt. William J. Harding for the able and efficient manner in which he has discharged the duties of his office, and which has won such high encomiums from general headquarters at Albany.
The establishment of this camp was one of the great- est benefits ever secured by the National Guard, and reflects the highest credit upon Adj .- Gen. Frederick Townsend, its originator. It at once fixed for the
Guard duty generally well done. Ceremony of review, inspection and muster executed very handsomely, but one or two slight errors. The in- cessant and precise attention to matters of detail by officers and men reflect the greatest credit upon the regimental and company commanders and upon the adjutant. The discipline of the regiment during the last three days has been almost perfect.
T. F. RODENBOUGH, Assistant Inspector-General.
Gen. Robert Shaw Oliver, Inspector-General of the State, an officer of wide experience gained in the volunteer and regular service during and after the Civil War, in rendering his official report for this year (ISS2) ac- corded high praise to the Twenty-second, his concluding comments con- cerning the regiment being as follows:
* * * "The officers, as a rule, are very well instructed, intelligent · and capable, much respected by the men, and holding them under control in a manner rarely seen in militia. The colonel is especially able and com- petent, and is admirably seconded by hisadjutant and sergeant-major, who are, without exception, the best in the Guard. The command, as a whole, is in most satisfactory condition. "
ROLL OF HONOR.
The Twenty-second Regiment has the honor of standing first in merit among regiments.
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STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, - ALBANY, N. Y.
STRUCK CAMP.
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National Guard of the State and country a standard of drill and discipline which had previously been regarded as unattainable. In addition, it has opened the eyes of both officers and men to the importance of the many parts of a soldier's duty that cannot be learned in armories. When Gen. Porter became adjutant-general he gave it the strictest personal supervision, spending his entire time in the camp while it was open. By this and the exertions of the corps of officers that he selected as a camp staff, the management year by year steadily im- proved, and the instruction was gradually extended to subjects that it was not at first expected would be possible, so that now many a regiment that has finished a course of duty in the New York State Camp can com- pare very favorably with the best of the volunteer regi- ments in service during the War of the Rebellion. The army officers detailed to observe the National Guard camps express nothing but praise for that of New York, and its best features have been copied in most of the states having a force of organized. National Guards.
The Twenty-second has repeated this tour of duty every alternate year since the establishment of the camp, excepting 1884, and always with benefit, not only to itself, but also to the service at large, through the thoroughness that has marked its terms of camp service and its rigorous exclusion of all unmilitary and doubtful practices.
Lieut .- Col. H. W. Closson, U. S. A., in his report to the War Department upon the second tour of duty per- formed at the State camp by the Twenty-second, in 1885, gives it the precedence for military efficiency over
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all the other regiments who occupied the camp that year, and awards to it the highest praise .* The follow- ing is the portion of this report which refers to the Twenty-second :
Twenty-second Regiment, Col. Porter commanding, July 25 to August 1 :
OFFICERS.
MEN.
Full strength.
36:
580
Present in camp Saturday .
36
521
Present in camp Wednesday
34 488
Present in camp Saturday .
35
505
The average percentage of attendance of this regiment was the highest of all-87.44.
GUARD MOUNT, STATE CAMP.
This was the last week of the encampment, and in many respects the most creditable. :
The men of the Twenty-second went to their work in a thor- oughly business-like way, that gave no excuse to any observer for supposing a picnic or celebration impending.
The battalion drills were devoted largely to skirmishing, and were conducted in a very efficient and practical manner. In the closed order one thing in particular was observed-that no time was wasted in dressing the ranks. The men formed up at once, and never was a whole battalion kept waiting for the inch- by-inch adjustment of Private Brown here or Private Green there, under the reiterated appeals of their captains. The style
* N. Y. Adjutant-General's Report, 1886, page 181.
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of the execution, generally, was " wide-awake " to an extent that was positively delightful, after seeing whole companies, man by man, persuaded into alignment at the ultimate sacrifice of fully half the period allotted to drill.
The firing by battalion, company and file was the best that I heard, and the discipline of the regiment was evident in every- thing. The sentinels were posted in their duties and dis- charged them with a silent efficiency that was very refreshing. There were no prolonged and repeated shouts for the corporal of the guard. There was no lack of reproof where it was de- served, but it was short and sharp, with nothing of pathetic entreaty about it.
In all there were visible the hand and manner of the colonel himself, and the example pervaded the regiment. He was assisted by a particularly competent staff, and the work done was evidenced by its accomplishment, and not by the noise of performance. It was obvious that they were in camp for all the instruction that could be got out of it, with no intent at mere display, and no necessity for stimulation by cheers and regimental catch-words that heretofore had become distressingly monotonous.
Even the last night of camp, in which generally greater license was taken or allowed, passed off, so far as the regiment itself was concerned, in true soldierly quiet.
It should be remembered that the burden of obedience to regulations intended to secure the good order and comfort of the camp belongs to the epaulette as well as the shoulder scale, and may readily become too heavy to be borne if rolled off entirely upon the bayonets.
The Twenty-second established a picket line some two miles up the valley, connected with the guard tent and colonel's quar- ters by telegraph, and managed by details from the regiment. The attack on the pickets on Thursday night, the alarm in camp, the reenforcement of the picket as it retired, and the subsequent advance of the regiment in support and for the protection of the post, were all very well carried out and formed a very useful lesson to those concerned.
STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
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This regiment also, upon the occasion of the Governor's visit, managed the details of arrival, etc., through signal stations very effectively, and habitually seized every possible opportunity for enlarging their professional experience.
There was, on the one side, a determination to require ; on the other a prompt rendition of whatever service was deemed necessary to fully discharge the purpose of the encampment. Nobody seemed to have any fear of doing too much. The oat- meal water and the hospital apparatus may have been in the vicinity of the drill grounds, but I was unable to find them.
"THE GUARD," STATE CAMP.
The official report of Gen. Phillip H. Briggs, the assistant inspector-general, awards similar praise to the Twenty-second for their conduct and efficiency during this encampment .* The following is an extract from this report :
The Twenty-second Regiment, with 557 total strength, en- tered camp at 2.45 P. M., on July 25, relieving the Forty-seventh Regiment.
The old guard was duly relieved and companies assigned to quarters. A most creditable dress parade closed the exercises of the day.
From the first to the last night in camp perfect quiet and good order were observed. * *
* Adjutant-General's Report of 1886, page 181.
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The daily routine of duty was most thorough and practical. Company and battalion drills daily-on some days two battalion drills were held. The more difficult movements were practiced, and great attention was given to single-rank formations, also to company and battalion skirmishing, loading and firing with and without blank cartridge. Steadiness and general perfection of movement were the characteristics of this course of instruction.
Outposts were established under command of. Capt. Potter- an old and experienced officer of the late War-a mile or more from camp, on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday even- ings. The outpost was connected with the headquarters of the commander of the post by a field telegraph, which was operated by a competent corps of operators belonging to the regiment. · Connection was also made by wire between headquarters and the guard tent. On the last night named the outpost was sup- posed to be attacked: firing commenced at 3 A. M .; the pickets fell back slowly, continuing the fire. The long roll was soon sounded, and the companies (without previous notice) were soon under arms in their company streets awaiting orders. They were quietly marched out, and line was formed and ad- vanced to the stone wall to the north of the camp. Two com- panies were sent out to support the pickets. As soon as the picket with its support were safely within the lines the regiment was ordered to open fire. The different firings were practiced until thirty rounds of ammunition were consumed. The cool- ness of officers and men was well worthy of commendation. The firing, with the exception of the first round, which was a little ragged, was almost faultless.
From the first, the ceremonies of guard mount and dress par- ade were very good, and steadily improved until they were ex- ecuted with scarcely a fault; with an exception or two, line was formed in single rank in the latter ceremony.
The reception of the Commander-in-Chief, on the occasion of his visit, and the review and dress parade later in the day, were admirable exhibitions of proficiency.
Prior to the arrival of the Governor, a picket was established at Roa Hook, and sentries posted along the road to the camp,
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with instructions " to keep the road clear and protect the per- son of the Commander-in-Chief." Upon the arrival of the train with the Governor, his arrival was immediately signaled by flag to the camp by the signal corps of the regiment.
In camp, a sentry was posted at general headquarters, and a non-commissioned staff officer reported to the Governor for or- derly duty.
Officers and non-commissioned officers were assembled from time to time for theoretical and practical instruction; guard de- tails were also instructed before going on post.
This command had during the previous drill season gone through a thorough course of guard duty, under the instruction of Lieut. Thurston of Company E, and, as a consequence, guard duty from the first ranked high and was very evenly performed during the entire tour of duty.
Military courtesy was given great attention, rating as very good.
Two official inspections of the camp were made, in each in- stance proving very satisfactory; company quarters were found clean and uniformly arranged.
The policing of the camp was excellently observed. Tents were struck at noon by the regiment in a very handsome man- ner; everything was left in proper order, and the ordnance de- partment had the tents housed that night, prior to the breaking of a heavy storm.
The regiment, in leaving, closed the most successful, practical and progressive week's work ever performed in the State camp.
In reference to the condition of the Twenty-second, in 1885, Gen. Philip H. Briggs, Inspector-General S. N. Y., says : *
This command fully maintained its splendid rec- ord for discipline, drill and efficiency. The course of instruc- tion is most thorough, beginning with the recruit and including the company and battalion. Schools for officers and non-com- missioned officers are held during the season. During the
* Adjutant-General's Report, 1886, p. 302.
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tour of this regiment in camp the past season the most progres- sive and thorough work in field service ever performed since the establishment of the camp was accomplished.
During the year 1885, and while the Twenty second was performing its tour of duty at the State camp, the surgeon of the regiment, Dr. W. F. Duncan, afterwards assistant surgeon-general of the state, ' was desirous of procuring a map that would ac- curately indicate the location of the tents, mess halls and other structures, and their connection with the water supply and drainage systems. Col. Porter presented the matter to the officers of the regiment, and, at his suggestion, inquiries were made among the differ- ent companies to ascertain whether there were any men in the command who were capable of making the de- sired survey and map. The result was that Private George P. H. McVay, of Company E, an experienced surveyor, was discovered and ordered by its captain, George P. Freeman, to report to Adjt. Harding and undertake the work in question. Private McVay was given a detail of six men as assistants, and the whole party exempted from all other military duties, so that they could devote themselves entirely to the survey. Sur- geon Duncan was placed in charge of the surveying party and superintended their work and the sub- sequent preparation of the map. Before the end of the week the requisite field notes were completed and the various locations transferred to rough maps, which were afterwards elaborated and enlarged and a copy sent to the surgeon-general. The map annexed to the adjutant-general's report of 1886 is taken from it.
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In July, 1887, the Twenty-second made a new de- parture by marching all the way to Peekskill. It should be said that this undertaking had not been hurriedly or suddenly determined on, the proposition having had its inception at the State camp tour of 1885, where the project had been enthusiastically taken up as a desirable lesson in the advanced course of military education the regiment had at that time voluntarily undertaken to pursue. Col. Camp seemed to regard the march as a sort of legacy from the administration of Col. Porter, which it was his duty to carry out for that reason, with- out reference to any intervening change of conditions. By way of preparation the regiment was assembled at the armory on two or three occasions before its depart- ure, and there addressed by Gen. T. F. Rodenbough, U. S. A., and other experienced officers, upon the gen- eral subject of marches and bivouacs. Through these means the officers and men obtained much valuable in- formation, which they were subsequently able to turn to good account.
In speaking of this march The Army and Navy Journal justly said : "It was not only instructive, but the regiment deserved special credit for the successful accomplishment of the self-imposed task, as well as for giving to the service two more days than orders re- quired them."
The regiment assembled on Thursday afternoon, July 28, 1887, at the Fourteenth Street armory. The men were in fatigue uniform, with rubber and woolen blankets rolled and suspended over the left shoulder. haversacks and canteens. Knapsacks and other luggage were forwarded to the camp by train. For the purpose
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of promptly getting out of the city streets, and to avoid the heat as much as possible, the regiment took the cars of the Sixth Avenue Elevated Railroad and then those of the New York and Northern Railroad to Van Cortland, which is abreast of Spuyten Duyvil. Here it disembarked about 5 P. M. and at once started upon its long march. Capt. J. E. Knight, U. S. Engineer Corps, accompanied the column as instructor, and his advice was found very valuable. Company B, Capt. W. V. King commanding, which had made a march to camp the year previous over the same road, was detailed to lead the advance and Lieut. Thurston commanded the rear-guard. The regiment was accompanied by its signal and telegraphic detachments, who, under the direction of Capt. Knight, kept an itinerary of the entire march, every yard of ground being paced over and surveyed and maps prepared of the route.
The men were in excellent spirits and as soon as the "route step" was taken, songs and jokes were heard on every side. From Van Cortland to Tarry- town there was a good macadamized road which was probably harder on the feet than an ordinary dirt road, but was comparatively free from dust. Occasional halts were made upon the way and all the regulations in regard .to marches carefully followed. At about 10.30 P. M. Tarrytown was reached, where the populace turned out to give the regiment an ovation, after which the command went into bivouac in an adjoining field, sleeping on the ground wrapped in their blankets. Nobody was foot-sore and, although the weather was extremely warm, everything went smoothly and every- body was happy.
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During the night camp guard was posted and the routine of actual service performed. Nothing eventfu! happened, and at 5 P. M., Friday morning breakfast was had. This food was unsatisfactory from the fact that the supplies which. had been provided by the Com. missary Department, both for the supper the night before and the breakfast in the morning, had been so affected by the great heat that a portion of it was not fit to eat. This was unfortunate and did much to interfere with the enjoyment of the march, as it is a military axiom that soldiers cannot be expected to do good work unless properly fed, a rule which is too apt to be forgotten in the National Guard.
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