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 9
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The attorney-general of the State therefore at once intervened, and such proceedings were had that the in- dictment was quashed without putting Lieut. Cassidy to the expense of going to Buffalo to defend himself. This was but just, as there was not a particle of
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evidence against him of having done anything but his duty.
The effect of this proceeding was to induce the passage by the Legislature, in May, 1893, of an amend- ment to Sec. 160 of the Military Code (Chap. 599, Laws of 1893), providing that members of the National Guard shall not be liable, civilly or criminally, for acts done by them when ordered on duty in case of insurrection, in- vasion, tumult, riot or breaches of the peace. This leaves the officers and men under the exclusive juris- diction of courts-martial. These have full power to punish any improper conduct. Such punishment will, however, be impartial. The National Guardsmen are now protected by this law from being subjected to arrest or indictment, by prejudiced officials, for obeying . the lawful orders of their superiors in maintaining order. As a further protection from baseless or speculative civil suits, the same act amended Sec. 135 of the old Military Code (now Sec. 264) so as to require any person bringing a suit against any National Guard officer for acts done in his official capacity to give security for costs, and, if defeated, to pay treble costs.
It is told that one night when Lieut. (since captain) Kenworthy was officer of the guard he sat on the rude bench outside of the guard-house, laboriously battling with exhausted nature and trying to keep his heavy eyes open. Suddenly they opened, and this time they re- mained open. He was wide awake in an instant, for what he saw seemed to be nothing more nor less than a man carrying a lighted lantern, walking slowly along the top of the coal-trestle. At least he saw the lantern, and his imagination had no trouble picturing the man
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carrying it. This trestle was an important strategic point, for it gave access to the camp from the water. He therefore lost no time calling out the guard and dashing off, with drawn revolver, toward the trestle. He had gone but a short distance when it was discovered that the lantern which the guard was endeavoring to capture was the rising morning star. At that time of the year the star was exceptionally brilliant and large. It rose rapidly, moving the while in a horizontal direc- tion across the heavens in such a way as to make the conclusion so hastily jumped at by the sleepy and startled lieutenant extremely reasonable. For months after this occurrence Lieut. Kenworthy was hailed by his intimates as " Mr. Morningstar." *
On the night of August 22 Company A entertained the Fourth Separate Company and the other companies of the battalion. A large fire was built, and the men gathered around it, singing songs and telling stories, until the sounding of "taps " admonished them that it was time to turn in.
* The same thing took place in 1862, when the regiment was at Harper's Ferry. See page 107 ante.
CHAPTER XLVI.
COL. CAMP'S BATTALION AND THE GENERAL SITUATION.
A S soon as Major Bartlett's detachment had been detailed, the remaining companies of the regi- ment were marched about one mile further north to the place known as Tifft Farm, which in the official records was called "Camp 2," and is thus described therein :
Camp No. 2, located on Tifft Farm, near the junction of the Lake Shore and Buffalo Creek railroads, with outposts at the two bridges of the Lake Shore and Buffalo Creek railroads over Buffalo River. With outpost also at the Lake Shore crossing of the Hamburg turnpike over the Lehigh extension of the Blackwell Canal. Also protecting all tracks between Tifft Street and the junction of the Buffalo Creek and Lake Shore railroads, with camp on beach. Also with outposts along Buffalo Creek west of Lake Shore Railroad, protecting the freight-yards, coal- trestles and buildings of the Buffalo Creek and Lehigh Valley railroads located on Tifft Farm. Also with outposts north- westerly along the beach between Blackwell Canal and Lake Erie, from the Hamburg turnpike towards the Lighthouse.
In some remote era this territory might have been a farm. But it had long ceased to be, and a single glance at it put to flight at once and forever all the ideas of trees, green fields and-what was much more
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melancholy-of butter, chickens and eggs. It was a sort of a cross between a freight-yard and a swamp, with all the drawbacks of both.
There was no drainage. When it rained the ground between the tracks became water-soaked. The only road was corduroy, and a sticky clay covered even the railroad ties.
The remainder of the regiment reached this place at 7.45 A. M. There was a single house near the shores of Lake Erie, which Col. Camp at once converted into regimental headquarters.
A detachment of 150 men, consisting of Companies C (Capt. Lilliendahl) and F (Capt. Smith), under com- mand of Lieut .- Col. King, was detailed for outpost duty, and at once marched about a mile south of headquarters to a point at the junction of the L. S. & M. S. and the B. R. & P. R. R., with Buffalo Creek a stone's throw in its rear, where they established their head- quarters .* Directly to the south were the freight-yards of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, comprising many miles of track, all of which then was covered with blocked freight and coal-cars, which had accumulated there as a result of the strike.
Here this battalion remained until the regiment was ordered back to New York, holding such a long line that some of their posts were two miles from the headquarters.
On the afternoon of August 19, the Sixteenth Sep- arate Company of Catskill joined the regiment, and remained with it until August 25, when they were ordered to their homes.
* See page 552, post.
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The portion of the regiment not included in the detachments under the command of Lieut .- Col. King and Maj. Bartlett, consisting of Companies D (Capt. Cortelyou), E (Capt. Thurston), G (Capt. Demarest, but commanded by Lieut. Dayton) and K (Capt. Borland), and the Sixteenth Separate Company (Capt. Murphy), were stationed near the. Tifft farm- house, under the immediate com- mand of Col. Camp. He was as- sisted by Maj. Geo. E. B. Hart and Capt. George Demarest (G Co.), who acted as major. This detach- ment established a line of outposts connecting with the outposts of Col. King's battalion, and cover- ing and guarding the freight-yards, buildings, coal-trestles and other property within the territory as- signed to the regiment. Maj. Hart had supervision of the regimental pickets along the lake front, from the point where the main road crossed the canal to the freight- CAPT. DEMAREST. house, a distance of about three- quarters of a mile. Capt. Demarest, as acting major, had supervision of the pickets from the east side of the canal basin, along the east side of the yard to the pickets of Lieut .- Col. King's battalion, a distance of about half a mile. On the day after its arrival tents were delivered to the regiment, and a regular camp was established. The two separate companies . slept in a barn.
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The area of disturbance extended over thirty-six square miles of railroad yards and 600 miles of tracks. These were situated upon the south, east and north of the city of Buffalo, Lake Erie and Niagara River lying on the west. Each freight-yard included an area of several hundred acres, which was intersected by many streets, and was covered by a wilderness of tracks, sidings and switches.
An elaborate system of tracks and switches con- nects each of these yards with the others. When a train enters one, composed of cars destined to points upon one of the other roads (as is the case with most trains), such cars are "cut out," run upon a siding, and when enough are obtained a train is made up from them, which is switched off upon the track which con- nects with the proper yard, and run over to it by a switching engine. Upon reaching such yard the train is broken up, and the various cars are switched off upon different tracks and made up into trains according to their ultimate destination.
The strike had continued for some days before the arrival of the Twenty-second, during which time all switching had been prevented. The result of this was that all the tracks in each of the yards were crowded to their utmost capacity with cars from all parts of the country. These were loaded with every possible ar- ticle of freight, much of it being of a perishable char- acter, and the whole represented millions of dollars in value. The yards also contained many shops, engine- houses and other valuable plant. All this, as well as the cars, had been threatened with destruction. In fact, the yards were then strewed with the remains of
STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
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REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS AT TIFFT FARM, BUFFALO.
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a number of cars which had been burned by the strik- ers, or at least by those who sympathized with them, before the arrival of the troops.
The duty of the soldiers was to patrol the yards, protect the cars on the tracks, the shops and other property, and prevent the switches from being tamper- ed with, and the non-union switchmen, or " scabs," from being assault- ed. When a train was made up to go from one yard to another, it was necessary to furnish it with a guard, both upon the engine and the cars, to prevent them from being uncoupled and the train men from being attacked. Freight-trains move slowly, and it was easy for a man to jump upon one of them and pull out a coupling- pin, thus breaking the train in two. A sentry was con- sequently required at each coupling. Later in the strike, when the strikers became less bold, one sentry was sufficient to guard two cars.
The various yards were situated in the extreme suburbs of Buffalo, remote from all the conveniences of civilized life. The only houses near them were in- habited by strikers and their friends. The streets through which the switching tracks were laid were nar- row and lined by small tenements, mostly two-story frame buildings, occupied by those in sympathy with
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the strikers. The strikers and a crowd made up of the riotous element, which an occasion of this description always brings to the surface, hung around the out- skirts of the yards and the places where they were crossed by the streets, jeering at the soldiers and seeking every opportunity to assault the few non- union men that the companies had employed. When- ever they found an opportunity-and there were many, as the number of streets which crossed the yards rendered it impossible to exclude people from them, and there was nothing to designate the striking switchmen from ordinary citizens-these rioters would enter the yards themselves, change or break the switches, attack the switchmen and attempt to burn the cars which stood upon the tracks. When pursued they would run under or over the long lines of freight-cars, render- ing it very difficult for the guards to follow them. During the daytime they, as a rule, limited their attentions to the soldiers to the use of language. This was of the most variegated and picturesque description. As it hurt no one, but little attention was paid to it. But when darkness made detection difficult, iron bolts, lumps of coal and other missiles were constantly flying through the air. Many National Guardsmen had narrow es- capes and some were hurt. The guards engaged in protecting the trains, while they were being switched from one yard to another, were in particular fine targets, and never knew, even in the daytime, from what win- dow or at what minute to expect to have something thrown at them. Lumps of coal, iron bolts, tin cans, potatoes-in fact, every kind of vegetable capable of being thrown, were constantly whizzing by them, always
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coming from an opposite direction from the one in which they werelooking. However, it takes a good deal of skill and deliberation to throw anything at a man upon a moving car with sufficient accuracy to hit him, par- ticularly when he has a loaded rifle and is likely to shoot at the thrower if he sees him, so that the actual hits were comparatively few. The misses were, how- ever, so frequent and close as to make the duty a very interesting occupation to the guards. The Twenty- second had not so much of this duty to do as the Twenty-third and some other of the regiments, but what they had was of a decidedly lively character.
The members of the regiment entered upon their duties with a feeling of sympathy for the strikers and were disposed to treat them as gently as possible. This, it was soon found, was not appreciated. Their forbear- ance was mistaken for timidity, particularly by the " toughs," who were not workingmen, but had gathered together, partly from sympathy, but more from love of mischief, and only led to increased outbreaks. They were therefore compelled to show by the use of force that they were there " for business and not for fun," and to use their bayonets and gun-butts to compel obedience.
The Buffalo police force was worse than ineffective. They did not hesitate to display their sympathy with the rioters." To turn over to them anyone who was arrested was equivalent to releasing him. The orders given were that the police should be admitted inside the guard lines at all times. One night it happened that these orders had not been transmitted to the sentries,
* See their arrest of Licut. Asten, page 534 post.
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and a policeman, while endeavoring to pass through their lines, was stopped. He immediately reported the occurrence to his captain, who, in great wrath, hastened to the spot and demanded immediate passage, threaten- ing the sentry that if he did not permit him to pass he would force his way through. The sentry replied that he had received no orders to permit policemen to pass, any more than anyone else, and that he could not and would not permit him to do so. When the policeman persisted the sentry promptly came to a " ready," the re- sult being that the police captain retired, breathing forth threatenings and slaughter. It was at once explained to the captain by the regimental officers that the occur- rence was a mistake, and precautions were taken there- after to see that all sentries were duly notified that the police were to be permitted to pass them at all times. Nevertheless, the occurrence rankled in the minds of the police.
The Twenty-second made the first and, as far as is known, the only arrest of rioters that was made, for which they were thanked by the district-attorney.
The orders were to fire if men did not " halt " when ordered, and they were obeyed. The soldiers always aimed so as to have the bullet come close to the offender, but not to hit him, except when he had been guilty of violence. The " whizzing" of a few bullets soon es- tablished a marked respect for the sentries of the Twenty-second, and made it possible for them to per- form their duties with comparative peace.
No more uncomfortable places in which to do mili- tary duty could well be imagined than those where the members of the regiment were stationed. The ground
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of the yards was black with cinders. The guards standing on the tops of the cars in a short time be- came grimy with the soot from the smoke of the soft coal burned by the switching engines, and the men on the ground were in almost the same condition. Clean- liness was impossible, and the facilities for washing very poor. Occasionally the men were permitted to go to Lake Erie, a swim in which was a luxury greatly ap- preciated. This was an advantage possessed by the Twenty-second which the other regiments did not have.
During the first two days the inadequacy or inef- ficiency of the commissary departments was painfully apparent, and the quartermasters'. department was little, if any, better.
The sudden massing of so many men within a radius of twelve miles and outside the city limits might reasonably account for some temporary confusion and delay. But the absence of tents and blankets and the difficulties experienced in issuing proper rations indi- cated the need of a radical change in the commissary department. It also demonstrated the necessity of complete individual outfits for cooking. The issue of these to each National Guardsman has been one of the beneficial results of this campaign.
The 6,Soo men that had been suddenly thrown into Buffalo were scattered over a large territory in the ex- treme outskirts of the city, and at posts with which communication was slow and difficult. A car was sent out every morning by the brigade commissary with cooked and uncooked rations, but to transport these to the different detachments and to distribute them at the
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proper hour was no easy task. The State was most liberal, Governor Flower's orders being that the troops should have everything that they wanted. The diffi- culty was one of administration.
The attempt to supply cooked food was a failure. It had to be transported from two to four miles, usually over wretched roads, and was always delayed and often spoiled in transit by the heat. Consequently, at first there was considerable privation.
After the first day the Twenty-second declined to receive cooked food, but drew and cooked its own rations. All its battalions found in their ranks a num- ber of men who knew how to cook, and much ingenuity was displayed in constructing ovens and preparing the food for the command.
The sleeping accommodations were, at first, of all descriptions. Sheds, freight-cars-anything that had a roof-were used. In addition, bunks were built, as before stated.
After a day or two tents were issued and regular camps established wherever proper camping-spots could be obtained. Quantities of hay and, in some cases, of shavings, were distributed, to keep the men off the damp ground, and to protect them from the bleak night winds that came from Lake Erie. Two companies slept in a stable. The field and staff officers occupied houses.
The troops were stationed as follows :
Camp I, at junction of Erie, Buffalo Creek and Western N. Y. & Pa. R. R., with outpost protecting all tracks south to Buffalo River. Another outpost at N. Y., Lake Erie & W. yard and shops at Smith Street; another at Western N. Y. & Pa.
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round-house and yard, and along Erie yards to Babcock Street. Also along the tracks of the Buffalo Creek R. R. to those of the Central, and along the W. N. Y. & Pa. to Bailey Avenue, in- cluding the trestle and tracks of the Lehigh west of Bailey Avenue. Twelfth Regiment and Fifteenth, Nineteenth and Forty seventh Separate Companies (707 men).
Camp 2, on Tifft Farm (above described). Twenty-second Regiment headquarters and Fourth, Sixteenth and Twenty- third Separate Companies (777 men).
Camp 3, coal-yard Del. & Hudson Canal Co., with outposts at Erie elevator and freight-house and along Erie tracks to those of the Lake Shore. Companies A, B and H, Twenty- second (Maj. Bartlett), and Fourth, Sixteenth and Twenty-third Separate Companies.
Camp 4, Market grounds, Elk and Michigan Streets. Out- posts at Central elevators, tracks and docks. Thirteenth Regi- ment (662 strong).
Camp 5, Red Jacket and Hamburgh Streets. Outposts at Lake Shore yard and shops and along tracks and freight-houses of Lake Shore and N. Y., L. E. & W. and W. N. Y. & Pa. Ninth Regiment and Tenth, Fifth and Thirty-first Separate Companies (612 strong).
Camp 6, Ganson Street, south of Michigan, with outposts protecting trestles, track and buildings. Thirteenth Regiment.
Camp 7, N. Y., L. E. & W. shops, near Bailey Avenue and Dingens Street, with outposts. Seventy-first Regiment (624 strong).
Camp 8, Lehigh Valley shops and yard. Sixty-fifth Regi- ment and Thirteenth, Twenty-fifth, Forty-second and Forty- third Separate Companies (714 strong).
Camp 9, New York Central shops, East Buffalo, with strong outpost at its stock yards and crossings. First Provisional Regi- ment, composed of the Second, Thirty-fourth, Forty-first, Forty- fourth and Forty-eighth Separate Companies (425 strong).
Camp 10, Black Rock, Tonawanda Street, north of crossing junction, with outpost at Erie freight-house. Part of Second
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Provisional Regiment, composed of the Thirty-second, Seventh, Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Separate Companies (216 strong).
Camp 11, N. Y. Central freight-house, Erie Street. Part of Second Provisional Regiment, Thirty-second, Seventh, Thirty- sixth and Thirty-seventh Separate Companies (171 strong).
Camp 12, N. Y. Central car-shops, Seneca Street, with outposts along Cen- tral Railroad and West Shore freight-house at Swan Street. Tenth Bat- talion, Sixth, Twenty-first, Forty-fourth and Forty- sixth Separate Companies (591 strong).
Camp 13, Wagner car- shops, with outposts along West Shore track and pa- trols along Belt Line Rail- road from William Street to Black Rock. Twenty- third Regiment (691 strong).
Camp 14, Lehigh Valley Railroad, with outposts to REV. DR. WM. N. DUNNELL, CHAPLAIN. coal-trestle in Cheektowga. Seventy-fourth Regiment and First, Eighth, Twenty-sixth and Thirtieth Separate Companies (598 strong).
Camp 15, Exchange and Michigan Streets. Reserves, with outposts at Lehigh, Central and Erie passenger depots.
Troop A, Fifth Battery, were also on duty.
Total present for duty August 24, 6,890.
On Sunday, the 21st, divine service was held at regimental headquarters by Rev. Dr. William N. Dun-
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nell, the chaplain of the regiment, who shared its fortunes, and was attended by as many men not on special duty as were within sound of " Church Call."
On August 20, a conflict of authority occurred, aris- ing from the fact that Col. Austin, of the Thirteenth Regiment, ordered the commanding officer of the Fourth Separate Company (which was; attached to Maj. Bartlett's battalion) to report to him (Col. Austin), which order Capt. Pruyn complied with without con- sulting Maj. Bartlett and without orders from him. He was promptly ordered back by Gen. Doyle and rep- rimanded by Col. Camp for his conduct, which prob- ably arose from inexperience. This excuse cannot be made for Col. Austin.
Notwithstanding the poor quarters and food, the hard work and exposure, there was but little sick- ness in the regiment. This must be ascribed to the thoughtful care and wise sanitary precautions of Sur- geon Beach.
In spite of all drawbacks, the members of the Twenty-second enjoyed their experience, as has always been the case when they have been called upon to per- form actual service. Col. Camp and Lieut .- Col. King, Maj. Bartlett and the other officers were most efficient, and were at once popular and respected. This was par- ticularly the case with Col. Camp, who knew no rest in looking after his men, and was always cool and com- posed. The discipline of the regiment was even and firm and its spirit admirable.
CHAPTER XLVII.
LIEUT .- COL. KING'S BATTALION.
A S before stated,* Lieut .- Col. King was placed in command of companies C and F, with head- quarters near Buffalo Creek.
The first duty of this detachment was to arrange its camp in military order. An empty oil shed, after being thoroughly swept, served for a quartermaster's store- house, and a hydrant close at hand supplied water. Everything else was lacking. The men naturally felt severely the fatigue incident to their long journey, as well as the want of food. They washed and sought a shady spot for rest and eagerly watched for breakfast.
After some time, one of the men reported the dis- covery of a sack of potatoes. A fire was at once kindled, and the potatoes, baked in the embers, were devoured before they were thoroughly cooked. Mean- time the officers had laid out the guard lines, and the first relief was detailed and proceeded to its posts. A foraging party was then organized, which went through the freight-yards, examining the cars in quest of " per- ishable freight." The search was rewarded with the discovery of crackers, canned beans, peas, corn and
* Page 538 ante.
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STATE HISTORIAN'S OFFICE, ALBANY, N. Y.
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"THE COOKERY," CAMP "KING."
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tomatoes, a sufficient quantity of which was at once appropriated, and, after being cooked in the most prim- itive manner, was served out to the command. This restored good nature and stopped the grumbling at the commissary department. Between 5 and 6 o'clock, Capt. Smith (F Co., who had been absent from New York at the time of the departure of the regiment) arrived in camp on a hand car, and relieved Lieut. Ben- nett, who until then had been in command, his arrival being loudly cheered.
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