USA > New York > New York City > New York city and vicinity during the war of 1812-15, being a military, civic and financial local history of that period, Vol. I > Part 7
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This quota called for was based upon the white pop- ulation of the State according to the act of Congress in 1795, and was at the rate of about 115,000 men in the State liable to do military duty if called upon.
On the 21st of April, 1812, the Governor issued his general order from his headquarters, New York city, for the detachment of the enrolled militia and speci- fied the quota to be drawn from each regiment of militia in the State, which was then composed of about 200 infantry regiments and forty-two brigades and eight divisions .*
The New York State militia was by the constitu- tion in command of the Governor of the State. It was composed of eight divisions of infantry, each com- manded by a major-general. Each of the divisions had from one to seven brigades, as was convenient for the inhabitants to meet for that purpose. Each brigade was composed of from one to seven regi- ments. The State artillery was commanded by Ma-
* Government orders, when sent by mail from Washington, general- ly arrived in New York city on the second or third day after their date, and if they were forwarded to the Governor while he was at Albany it took one day longer and another day to get back to New York city. Thus orders affecting the militia might be five or six days before announcement in New York.
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COMMISSIONED BY
jor-General Ebenezer Stevens, and consisted nomi- nally of three brigades. The State cavalry was com- manded by Major-General Solomon Van Rensselaer and was composed of three brigades. The entire enrolled State militia was about 100,000 men.
New York city, with several other counties, were in the first division of infantry, and was under command of Major-General Nathaniel Coles, of Oyster Bay, Queens county, a veteran of the Revo- lution.
The third brigade of cavalry was under command of Brig .- General Aquila Giles, of New York city, a veteran of the Revolution. It comprised the city of New York, Rockland, Ulster, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess, Westchester, Kings, Queens, Suffolk, and Richmond counties. . The first regiment was under Lieut. - Col. George D. Wickham, of Goshen, Orange county, and comprised the city of New York, Rock- land, Ulster, Orange, and Richmond counties.
The second regiment of cavalry, comprising the counties of Putnam, Westchester, Kings, Queens, and Suffolk, were under Lieut .- Col. Jacob Odell, of Tarrytown, also a veteran of the Revolution. The other regiment of that brigade comprised the caval- ry of Dutchess county.
All the commissioned officers in the militia were appointed by the State "Council of Appointment," of which the Governor was one, but he had the sole power of assigning each officer to command and to duty.
The official position of the Governor of the State of New York, under the constitution of 1777, then in force, which was adopted while New York was an independent sovereign State and when she ac-
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THE GOVERNOR.
knowledged no higher political authority, before the articles of confederation were entered into by New York, made him "General and Commander-in-chief of all the militia, and Admiral of the Navy " of the State. *
The State militia law was amended by act dated. June 12th, 1812, and additional powers were con- ferred on the Governor as commander-in-chief of the militia, and many other important matters provided for the protection of the State in case of invasion and for active military service.
The military dress of the Governor was the uni- form of a major-general, which he wore on all oc- casions of review and parades. It was according to the United States army regulation uniform-blue coat with buff facing, blue or buff pantaloons or breeches; high military boots with gilt spurs; large gold epaulettes, with two stars on each shoulder strap; black chapeau and gold eagle in the center.
The powers of the Governor, as commander-in- chief of the militia, were exercised by Gov. Daniel D. Tompkins in a manner that almost ignored the authority of the Council of Appointment in the selection of militia officers. During the war he brevetted major-generals, brigadier-generals and colonels and, by virtue of their brevets, gave them actual rank and actual command, laying on the shelf whom he chose and assigning whom he chose to succeed. He organized whole regiments, filled
*In June, 1812, a law was passed authorizing the Governor to pro- vide and equip at the expense of the State a boat or barge in the harbor of New York, for the use of the State. The expense was not limited. The boat was soon completed and was at the disposal of the Governor during the war.
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APPOINTMENT OF
all the offices, and assigned them to commands by brevet. He promoted majors to be colonels, captains to be majors, lieutenants to be captains, ensigns to be lieutenants, and citizens to be ensigns, by brevet, and made all these appointments with- out respect to the rules of military promotion. He corrected errors and supplied omissions made by the council of appointment, and changed the rank of officers appointed by that body according to his own views. He authorized commandants to decide upon claims to priority of rank, growing out of brevet, leaving the obvious implication that brevet gave rank. He filled not only his own staff, but the staff of major-generals, brigadier-generals, and even of colonels, by brevet, sometimes paying respect to their recommendations and sometimes disregarding them.
The following is an example of the exercise of this authority by the Governor :
" HEADQUARTERS, CITY OF NEW YORK. "23d Nov., 1811.
"The commander-in-chief is pleased to assign and brevet Daniel E. Dunscomb as captain; Charles Mc- Kenna as first lieutenant, and James B. Murray as second lieutenant of a company of artillery hereby organized and attached to the second regiment of the first brigade of artillery. By order of the Com- mander-in-chief.
"R. MACOMB, Aid-de-Camp."
The commander of a militia regiment was com- missioned as lieutenant-colonel; there was no officer commissioned as colonel in the State militia at that time, although the lieutenant-colonel was generally
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MILITIA OFFICERS.
called colonel, until it became long afterward to be officially designated as colonel, and the next in com- mand the lieutenant-colonel, as in the United States army.
The military appointments and promotions by the Council of Appointment were generally actuated more by the party feeling of the majority of the council as to the political standing of the applicant.
In 1814 nearly every officeholder in the city or State government held a commission as an officer in the militia, and most of the subordinates in the departments were non-commissioned officers.
De Witt Clinton was appointed by the Council of Appointment a major-general of New York State militia in August, 1812, and held it through the war, but the Governor of the State never assign- ed him to military duty or permitted him to exer- cise it.
The right of the Governor of the State to do this prior to the constitution of 1821was never questioned. It came by inheritance from the administration of all the previous governors under the constitution of 1777.
The Council of Appointment was Federal, and op posed to the war, while the Governor was a Demo- crat and in favor of the war, and his military appointments and assignments were selected with that end in view.
Many competent men who held commissions from the Council of Appointment were never assigned to any command by Gov. Tompkins during the war.
It could not be said that his military assign- ments were always made in disregard of his strong political partisan feeling. In fact, if political op-
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QUOTA ORDERED
ponents were assigned to some responsible military position, it was not because of fitness or qualifica- tion for it.
The personal knowledge and experience of Gov. Tompkins in military affairs made him competent to efficiently perform this part of his prerogative, and nowhere was it more extensively exercised and efficiently carried out than in the crisis of the war in the summer and autumn of 1814, as his military orders will show.
The quota to be furnished by New York city was assigned by the Governor's order as follows : From third brigade of infantry, commanded by Gen. P. P. Van Zandt, 580 officers and men; from the tenth brigade of infantry, commanded by Gen. Gerard Steddiford, 550 officers and men ; from Gen. Mor- ton's brigade of artillery, 450 officers and men ; from Lieut .- Col. James Warner's cavalry, 235 officers and men ; and from Gen. Jacob Odell's regiment, 190 officers and men ; from the twenty-second brigade of infantry, composed of the counties of Kings and Queens, under Gen. Jacob S. Jackson, 320 officers and men ; from the thirty-third brigade, 290 officers and men ; from the fifteenth brigade, 350 officers and men, and from all other brigades the same propor- tion in officers and men.
The order provided as follows :
"Every division of infantry may furnish one- tenth of its quota in riflemen to be properly organiz- ed into distinct corps."
" The commanding officer of each brigade to organ- ize the quota into companies and troops, and to assign the captains and subalterns of his brigade. The companies and troops to be formed into battal-
.
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FROM NEW YORK CITY.
ions, squadrons and regiments, and the majors there- of assigned by the general of the division."
"The detachment from the first brigade of artil- lery will be organized into two batteries of three companies each ; one commanded by Major Robert Swartwout, and the other by Major John Bleecker, and to report to the officers of United States army commanding in the harbor of New York."
"Should any company or corps of artillery, caval- ry or riflemen volunteer as part of the detachment, such company or corps will continue to be command- ed in the detachment by the officers under and with whom the said company or corps shall volunteer."
"Companies and troops shall consist as nearly as may be practicable of seventy-five men each, officers included ; four of these will constitute a battalion or squadron. A regiment of infantry or artillery is to compose two battalions, and a regiment of caval- ry two squadrons."
"All to be armed and equipped and ready to march at a moment's warning."
"Whenever the detachment and organization shall have been effected the respective corps are to be exercised by the officers assigned to command them ; but are not to remain embodied or considered in actual service until by subsequent orders they shall be commanded to take the field."
The commandants of the regiments of militia in the city were ordered to make returns by ten o'clock on April 29th, of all the effective men under their command preparatory to an immediate draft.
Under the State militia law when the quota as- signed had to be made up by drafting, the non-com- missioned officers must be drawn for from those of
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DRAFTING MILITIA.
like rank desired, and privates from the enrolled privates, and in no case were officers to be drawn to serve as privates, nor privates drawn to serve as officers. The general order of April 21st provided for the assignment of commissioned officers under the call.
Where privates were not present to draw for them- selves the captain of his company drew for him.
The following is a notice which was sent to those drawn for that service :
" 85TH REGT., 10TH BRIGADE.
"NEW YORK, May 7th, 1812.
"Sir :- Take notice that having been this day drafted as part of the detachment from the brigade, you are to keep yourself in readiness to march at a moment's warning with the following arms and ac- coutrements, viz. :
" A good musket, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints and a knapsack, a pouch, with a box therein, to contain no less than twenty-four cartridges suited to the bore of the musket, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of powder and ball, and the musket to be of bore sufficient for balls of the eighteenth part of a pound. Hereafter you will receive your orders from the officer to be appointed to command the detachment, or from one of the captains under him.
"By order of
"EDWARD W. LAIGHT, "Lieut .- Col. Commdt., "85th Regt., 10th Brigade.
"ROBERT I. WATTS, Adjt."
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UNITED STATES TROOPS IN NEW YORK.
By brigade orders of the third and tenth brigades of infantry and of the first brigade of artil- lery, officers were assigned to those drafted or vol- unteering for service in the detachments from each regiment, in accordance with the Governor's order of 21st of April.
In the early part of June Gov. Tompkins received the following from the United States Secretary of War :
"WAR DEPARTMENT.
" May 26, 1812.
"Sir :- I am directed by the President to request your Excellency to order into actual service, on the requisition of Gen. Bloomfield, such part of the quota of the militia of the State of New York re- quired by my letter of the 15th of April, as may be deemed necessary for the defence of the city and harbor of New York.
"I have the honor to be, Sir, " Your obedient servant,
"His Excellency, "W. EUSTIS. "D. D. TOMPKINS, Albany."
Gen. Bloomfield had not yet taken command.
Col. Henry Burbeck, of the United States artillery, was in command at New York city and harbor where he had been for some months previous. His headquarters were at the fort off the Battery (now Castle Garden).
On Governor's Island were Capt. John M. Connel- ly, of the Pennsylvania line, and Capt. B. S. Ogden, of the New Jersey line, both of the third United States artillery.
The thirteenth regiment of infantry, under Col.
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VOLUNTEER MILITIA.
P. P. Schuyler, and Lieut .- Col. John Christie, and Capt. John Sproull, of the New York line, were at various points in and about the city and harbor.
The recruiting for service in the United States army commenced in January, soon after the law authorizing its increase to 25,000 men. Recruiting districts were established by the secretary of war. New York State , was divided into three districts, the first comprising all that part of the State south of Poughkeepsie. The rendezvous was in New York city.
About the end of January, Major Alexander Macomb, Jr., of the corps of engineers, came to New York city as superintendent of the recruiting district. He had removed here in his infancy with his father, but had been for some time in the army. His father, Alexander Macomb, was a respectable merchant, residing at 67 Greenwich street, and the son, with his family, became the guest of his father while stationed in the city. This young man, then thirty years of age, afterward became one of the most famous heroes of the war, and died in 1841 a. major-general and general-in-chief of the United States army.
Among the volunteer militia artillery on duty in the city in May and the early part of June, were companies from Schenectady, Albany, Ulster, Rock- land, Orange and Dutchess counties. On the 5th of June those on duty here paraded at the Battery at 3 o'clock and were reviewed by Gen. Bloomfield.
On June 6, Mr. Eustis, secretary of war, reported to the United States senate committee, that 3,000 men were necessary to man the works in New York
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NEW JERSEY MILITIA.
harbor, exclusive of the Narrows, and that there were then 901 already there, including detached mi- litia and volunteers.
He also reported that six companies of New Jersey militia artillery had been detached for the forts in New York city and harbor, and that they had been recalled by Gov. Bloomfield, of New Jersey, as not needed ; but they were in readiness to repair to the batteries in New York when required.
In the early part of June, Gov. Bloomfield order- ed 500 of the New Jersey militia infantry to ren- dezvous at Powles' Hook. This was for the purpose of military instruction and discipline, and they were not deemed in service under the President's call.
The quota of militia from New Jersey under the President's call of April for detached militia was five thousand men. Many of them were intended for the defence of New York city and harbor-some of them were to be stationed at the Highland of Nave- sink and at Sandy Hook-and at Powles' Hook if necessary.
Gen. Bloomfield was assigned to the command at. New York, and the following order issued :
"U. S. ARMY .- GENERAL ORDERS.
"HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK, June 8, 1812.
" The troops, regular and militia, in the city and harbor of New York and that part of New York which lies below the Highlands, including West. Point, and in New Jersey, are confided to the com- mand of Brig .- Gen. Bloomfield.
"Capt. Macpherson, of the light artillery, is ap- pointed aid-de-camp, and Capt. Hunter of the in-
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IMPORTANT ORDERS.
fantry, major of brigade. They will be obeyed and respected accordingly.
"The General takes the earliest opportunity to ten- der his thanks to Col. Burbeck, the commandant of the forts in the harbor, to Col. Williams, of the corps of engineers, and Col. Schuyler and Lieut .- Col. Christie, of the infantry, for the information de- rived from the several reports of their respective commands.
"Col. Burbeck will cause to be instructed in the artillery exercise the detachment of the Pennsylva- nia line at Fort Columbus, under Capt. Connelly, the detachment of the New York line under the command of Capt. Sproull, and Capt. Ogden's com- pany of artillery of the Jersey line.
"Col. Williams will be furnished from the infantry, with the men required to complete the fortifications in the harbor.
"Lieut .- Col. Brearley will forward, under the command of proper officers, to Fort Columbus all the recruits which are collected, or shall arrive at the depot in Trenton, of the Pennsylvania and Jersey lines.
"Capt. Snowden, military storekeeper at West Point, will deliver arms and equipments for the in- fantry to Deputy Quartermaster Vandeventer and who will deliver the same as hereafter shall be di- rected.
" By order,
"R. H. MACPHERSON, Aid-de-camp."
On June 13th Brig .- Gen. Bloomfield arrived in New York city from his home in New Jersey to take command of the defences of the city and harbor of New York.
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GOVERNOR'S ORDERS.
By general orders dated June 18th, the detached militia of the State of New York were formed in two divisions and eight brigades. Each brigade was composed of from two to three regiments.
The second division covered the territory on the east side of the Hudson River and included the counties of Orange, Rockland and Ulster. This division was composed of the first, second, third and eighth brigades of detached militia.
The other parts of the State was covered by the first division.
Benjamin Mooers, of Plattsburgh, N. Y., a veteran of the Revolution, was assigned the command as major-general. The orders further required militia companies to consist of seventy-five men, including officers ; four companies, a battalion or squadron ; a regiment of artillery or infantry to comprise two battalions ; a regiment of cavalry, two squadrons.
The first brigade of infantry was placed under command of General Gerard Steddiford, and was composed of three regiments of detached infantry and a regiment of artillery (the sixth artillery, under Lieut .- Col. Stephen Thorn, of Essex county).
To the men detached from the tenth brigade of militia (Gen. Steddiford's), Beekman M. Van Buren, of New York city, was assigned as lieuten- ant-colonel and was known as the first regiment of detached militia.
The second detached regiment included the men from the third brigade of militia (Gen. Van Zandt's). Jonas Mapes, of New York city, was assigned as lieutenant-colonel.
The third regiment was made up from the twenty- second and thirty-third brigade, and was assigned
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ASSIGNMENT OF
to the command of Lieut .- Col. John Ditmis, of Jamaica, L. I.
The cavalry detached for the first division was formed into a regiment of three squadrons and placed under command of George D. Wickham, of Goshen, Orange county, James Warner, of New York city, and Theodore Ross, of Elizabethtown, Essex county, were assigned as majors thereof.
Samuel Slee, of Poughkeepsie, was assigned by Maj .- General Stevens to command the battalion of artillery, detached from first and second brigades of artillery and Major Peter C. Fox, of Montgomery county, to command of those detached from third brigade of artillery.
Gen. George McClure, of Bath, Steuben county, was placed in command of the eighth brigade of the detached militia, which was composed of Lieut .- Col. George D. Wickham's regiment of cavalry, a regi- ment of light infantry, and a regiment of riflemen, under Francis McClure. Jeremiah Johnson, of Brooklyn, was assigned to command the light in- fantry; (Gen. Johnson was at that time in com- mand of the twenty-second brigade of militia in- fantry in Kings and Queens counties).
Francis McClure's regiment of riflemen was a New York city regiment called the "Republican Greens," and was known in the city as the "Irish Greens " because of the nationality of its command- er and its members, and from the color of their uniform. On the 20th of June this regiment and Capt. Stryker's riflemen from Brooklyn were con- solidated by the Governor and designated as the first regiment of New York riflemen, and Francis McClure was assigned to its command as major by
-
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MILITIA OFFICERS.
the Governor. The uniform of the "Greens " was a light green coat, white pantaloons and a black helmet cap of leather. Capt. Stryker's company wore green coats.
On June 20th one hundred artillerymen of the militia detached from the first brigade under Major John Bleecker and Major Robert Swartwout, re- spectively, took charge of North Battery (the Red fort) off Hubert street, for thirty days' service.
This was under an order made before the an- nouncement of the declaration of war.
While the legislature was in session, many offi- cers in the militia were commissioned by the Council of Appointment to fill up vacancies and for new or- ganizations which were rapidly springing up in all parts of the State. Many orders of brevet command were also issued by the Governor when he deemed them expedient.
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CHAPTER VI.
Gov. Tompkins removes his Military Headquarters to New York City-Orders the Brigadiers, etc., to furnish Detached Militia for service on the requisition of Gen. Bloomfield-Major-Gen. Stevens authorized to call out the entire Brigade of Artillery in case of invasion of New York-Sketch of Gen. Ebenezer Stevens-Artillery Target Practice-Incidents -- Drafted Militia from the City-Volunteers from Hudson River counties, New York city, Brooklyn and New Jersey-Deserter sentenced to be shot-Militia stationed at approaches to New York city.
HEN the State legislature finally adjourned on the 19th of June the members had not heard of the dec- laration of war being passed by the Senate. Governor Tompkins pro- ceeded at once to New York city, where he had a residence on the Bow- ery near North (now Houston) street. His headquarters as military commander of the State militia followed him to New York. The adjutant-general of the State was Lieut .- Col. Wm. Paulding, Jr., of the ninety-seventh regiment of infantry in the tenth brigade .*
The Governor was always ready to co-operate or counsel with any of the authorities, civil or military, to aid in the defence of the city.
* He was a lawyer of wealth and resided in New York city, and was then a member of Congress. While he was attending to his duties as adjutant-general of the State he was relieved of command of his regiment and it was placed in command of Major Clarkson Crolius in April, 1812. After the war he was mayor of the city and major-general of the twenty-eightli division of New York State militia.
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MAJOR-GEN. STEVENS.
On June 27th, general orders New York State, were issued by Governor Tompkins as follows:
"STATE OF NEW YORK.
"HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK CITY, June 27, 1812.
"The commander-in-chief is required by the President to order into service upon the requisition of Gen. Bloomfield, for the defence of the southern portion of this State, a part of the detachment of 13,500 men.
"Major-Gen. Stevens* will, therefore, by division orders require Gen. Morton to order out, upon the requisition aforesaid, such part of the detachment from his brigade of artillery as may not already have been called upon for that purpose, and in case of invasion of any part of the southern district of
* Ebenezer Stevens was born at Boston in 1752; was member of " Boston Tea Party " in 1773 when a cargo of tea was emptied into Boston harbor. In 1775 was commissioned lieutenant of company of artillery from Rhode Island. Proceeded in mid-winter over the Green Mountains, by way of Otter Creek, on Lake Champlain, with cannon and howitzers to join Gen. Montgomery in Canada on the expedition against Quebec. He acted as captain of the two com- panies of artillery and one of artificers. At Three Rivers he learned of the defeat of the American forces, and returned to the forts on Lake Champlain-was made a major by brevet and com- manded the artillery at Ticonderoga, Crown Point and other places in the vicinity under Gen. Schuyler and subsequently under Gen. Gates. As senior officer of artillery in the northern department he directed the artillery operations in the encounters at Stillwater, Bemis Heights, and elsewhere which led to the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne at Saratoga in October, 1777, and was present at that event. Received the thanks of the Continental Congress in 1778 for merit in campaigns of 1776-77, and was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of artillery. Up to that time his command had been included in the . Massachusetts line as part of Col. Crane's. He was transferred to Col. Lamb's regiment of New York line. He was entrusted with the defences of the Hudson River, and placed a chain across it and other obstructions to prevent the ships of the enemy from ascending. In 1781 prepared a train of artillery for the southern service and accompanied Gen. La Fayette to the head of Elk River in Virginia. He afterwards was alternate in command of the American artillery at the seige of Yorktown, and was present at the surrender of Lord
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