USA > New York > The Minute men of '17 - a history of the service rendered during the recent world war by the Ninth Coast Artillery Corps, New York Guard and the Veteran Corps of Artillery, state of New York > Part 17
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FIELD DAYS AND RIFLE WORK
camp without at once receiving hot food and being almost immediately made comfort- able in barracks so far as it was possible to be in any camp.
I want to pay a tribute to the work of the welfare organizations of that camp, the Y. M. C .A., the K. of C. and the Salvation Army. The work they did was beyond all praise. During and after the flood there were entertainments nightly in one or the other of their buildings, and it went a long way to keeping men who worked hours and hours every day in deep water, or later on in sticky mud, in a good humor. The services rendered by the ladies of the Red Cross of Caldwell, headed by Mrs. Edwin E. Bond, were equally important and worthy of attention. They accomplished wonders in every way in maintaining the morale of the camp.
As regards the arrangements for mess for outsiders at the camp, I would say that civilian teams or individuals coming to the camp paid for their own mess, although mess rooms and the mess itself were furnished and prepared by the regular camp organ- ization. During the summer, I was frequently called upon to inspect the camp messes, and in so doing invariably found them to be of good quality, well cooked and properly served. Anyone who found fault with the food that he received at Caldwell did so without reason. Great criticism has been made of the camp and the conditions in it, during and following the period of the high water, but I want to say in that connec- tion that as Officer-of-the-Day on Colonel Harllee's staff I was in a position to know at all times as to cases in the camp hospital. Almost all of the cases that were there during the summer were accidents, and I did not know of a single case of a man permanently stationed at that post who was at any time sick because of the conditions in that camp. We did have numerous cases of illness lasting for a few days at a time, but almost in- variably they were outsiders, civilians who came from comfortable homes and indoor work, who went to Caldwell and immediately went out on the Rifle Range, lay down on the damp ground without protecting themselves by wearing a woolen belt, and naturally became prey to slight intestinal disorders. The Red Cross furnished the post with a detail headed by Major Slicklen. He brought several nurses who assisted greatly in the care of the sick and injured in the hospital. Naturally there were many accidents as there always are at annual matches. The only wonder to me was that more men were not drowned, so far as I know only one having lost his life in that way.
There were about 250 targets, 100 on the 1,000 yard range, 100 on the mid-range, and 50 on the 200 yard range. Liberal opportunity was furnished to all outsiders to shoot at all times, except when matches were on. That this opportunity was not availed of generally was due to the conditions above described. Nevertheless, when it was possible to shoot, there were almost always some enthusiasts there at work. Am- munition and Springfield rifles were furnished free of all charge, and all a man had to spend was his carfare and the price of his mess, of which he had a choice of three, the officers', and two classes of enlisted men's mess, one where his mess kit was washed for him after its use, and the other at a lower rate where he washed it himself.
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New York Day was one of the pick days of the season. Colonel George W. Bur- leigh, my commanding officer at that time, and a selected committee gave a luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria to Adjutant-General Berry and a large number of invited guests, mostly officers of the New York Guard. Following this luncheon, the party was driven in automobiles from the Waldorf-Astoria to the camp. On the way to the camp, the party stopped to see an exhibition at the aviation field about two miles away from the camp. This aviation unit was to have been stationed in a field directly across the street from the camp, but as this was turned into a temporary lake by the flood, it was never possible to carry out the original plan. However, daily after the arrival of the aviators exhibitions were given over and about the camp. After the exhibition ended, the party continued to the camp and was conducted on a tour of inspection by the Commanding Officer and his Staff, after which a photograph was taken on the steps of the clubhouse." At about 7 o'clock in the evening a front line barrage was simulated under conditions as near as possible to actual warfare by the detach- ment from the Army School of the Line from Fort Benning, Georgia, under the com- mand of Major Cheedle. The party later returned to New York as they had come.
The camp closed on the last Saturday in August, and by Labor Day there was no one left except the permanent camp force."
* See page 208.
POST 8, CO. A, NORTH OF TUCKAHOE ROAD.
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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN THE OLD NINTH RETURNS
O N April 23, 1919, was held a memorable parade. It was the welcome home given by the new Ninth, the Ninth Coast Artil- lery Corps of the New York Guard, to the men of the old Ninth, the Ninth Coast Defense Command of the New York National Guard, who had been in the Service of the United States during the World War. It would take much more than the space allowed for this occasion to give a bare outline of the services rendered by our comrades of the old regiment. True to the magnificent traditions of their famous command they had done well in every unit to which they were sent. They served in the Fifty-Seventh, Thirty-Seventh, Forty- Third, Thirty-First, Seventy-Fourth Artillery, the Seventeenth Anti- Aircraft Battery, Fifth and First Trench Mortar Battalions. Sixty- five men in the parade that April day were in Battery A of the First Trench Mortar Battalion, served from Chateau Thierry to the end of the Meuse-Argonne Battle, and when the Armistice was signed were just outside of Sedan.
And in addition to the veterans of the World War there were in the parade not only Veterans of the Spanish War who suffered and sickened in the awful camp at Chickamauga, not only veterans who had faithfully and patiently done their work in the piping times of peace but also the Veterans of the Civil War, the men of Antietam, Gettysburg, and Cold Harbor. A far cry from those Civil War bloody battles to the tremendous conflict of the Meuse-Argonne, but the men of the Ninth were there.
The Regiment under the command of Colonel Burleigh formed in the Armory at Fourteenth Street, and headed by the Band and Field Music marched to the rendezvous in Sixty-seventh Street be- tween Central Park West and Broadway. In addition to the regi- mental staff with former officers of the new Ninth, there was an honorary staff of officers and men of the new Ninth who had entered
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the Federal Service. After the new Ninth had lined up on the north side of the street facing south, the old Ninth, under command of its soldierly and able Colonel John J. Byrne, marched out of the First Field Artillery Armory and were formed on the south side of the street facing north.
Then in a brief but beautiful little ceremony the Colors of the old Ninth were returned to the veterans of the World War. The Colors, the most valuable possession of a Regiment, a sacred heri- tage, had been passed to the new Ninth shortly after Colonel Bur- leigh took command. The new Ninth carried the two sets of Colors and when the color guard of the old regiment was paraded their old flags were presented to them. A just and fitting tribute to brave men. The parade was reformed and marched in column of squads to Seventy-second Street and thence across Central Park unil the head of the line reached Fifth Avenue. There was a signaling post at the reviewing stand, another at Seventieth Street, and another in the Park. As soon as the reviewing party had arrived at the stand, this fact was wigwagged to Colonel Bur- leigh. The column marched down Fifth Avenue, headed by a platoon of mounted police. On the reviewing stand were the Mayor, the Park Commissioner, Major-General Daniel Appleton, Commodore R. P. Forshew, Brigadier-General O. B. Bridgman, Colonel Arthur F. Schermerhorn, Lieutenant-Colonel Olmstead, of General O'Ryan's Staff, and many other distinguished officers.
The new Ninth, headed by its stalwart Colonel, acting as escort, preceded the war veterans who were followed by the Civil and Spanish War men, some of whom were carried in the automobiles of the Woman's Motor Corps of America.
The parade was received along the entire line of march with cheers. The attending crowds were not only much larger than we expected but were very enthusiastic in their greetings of the three parts of the parade-the Ninth of the New York Guard, the men of the Ninth who had served in the War, and the old veterans, many of whom were strikingly vigorous and hearty in appearance. There was a guard of honor at the Reviewing Stand furnished by
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the Xavier Cadet Battalion, Xavier High School, which also fur- nished the ushers and music here. Noticeable in the many warm greetings given the men of the Ninth was that from a large con- tingent of the Salvation Army.
The line of march was down Fifth Avenue to 13th Street, west to Seventh Avenue, north to 15th Street and east to the Armory.
When the men arrived in the Armory they were promptly dis- missed. The tables were all set for dinner. The Supply Company had arranged for an excellent dinner which every one enjoyed. Over sixteen hundred men were fed. As soon as dinner was over the tables were removed and the floor cleared. The guests were then given a vaudeville entertainment which was followed by dancing.
One of the last services of the new Ninth to the City was their solution of the following technical problem.
Notified from Brigade Headquarters of a theoretical situation as follows: "A civil uprising has occurred-all transportation lines have ceased to function. Telephone, telegraphs, power and lighting plants are working, but in danger-have a few civilian guards. Your regiment has been assembled. Colonel Burleigh issued the following orders: The Ist Battalion, Major Hoes, will guard the Armory and immediate neighborhood. The 2nd Bat- talion, Major Hodges, will guard the City Hall, Hall of Records, Municipal Building. The 3rd Battalion, Major Keyes, will guard 23rd Street Ferries, Hudson Tubes, foot of Christopher Street."
REPORT OF MAJOR HOES
I. On receipt of orders on above problem, assembled the officers of the first Battalion, reported the substance of those orders and made the following dispositions: Commander of Guard-Captain Perry.
Entire Battalion to be divided into three reliefs, of approximately fifty men each and mounted as single guard :
First Relief, Captain Kingsbury.
Second Relief, Captain Schwab.
Third Relief, Captain Ericson.
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First relief to go on duty at once, remainder of guard held in reserve: Following posts established,-Cossack Post at:
(1) Cor. 6th Ave. & 15th St.
(3) Cor. 6th Ave. & 14th St.
(2) Cor. 7th Ave. & 15th St.
(4) Cor. 7th Ave. & 14th St.
(5) In S. W. Tower (with machine-gun and 3 men.)
(6) In Tower on North side of roof (with machine-gun and 2 men.)
(7) Four sentries posted on street front of Armory,-double sentries at doors. Sentries at all approaches to magazine and at magazine and at headquarters. Remainder of guard and 2 machine-guns held in reserve.
Gave instructions all sentries and cossack posts to permit no assembling in streets enclosing block in which Armory is located and to report immediately to me at headquarters any disturbance.
Dispatched (theoretically) four patrols of one squad each to go through four buildings specified (including roofs) to get names of all occupants and persons em- ployed therein. To search for and bring to headquarters suspicious characters and all arms and ammunition and explosives found therein.
Posted (theoretically) sentinel at door of each of those buildings with instructions to allow no one to enter without being satisfied that their business is proper.
Directed that as each relief goes on post, a patrol go through the building including roofs, and report. Further details covered by guard report book.
Ernest P. Hoes, Major, C. A. C.
REPORT OF MAJOR HODGES
"J. Under order from the Commanding Officer, the Second Battalion was assembled at 7: 15 p. m. with field equipment, inspected and remained on the floor of the Armory awaiting further orders.
2. At 8: 20 p. m. received orders .to issue sixty rounds of ball ammunition, which was immediately carried out, receiving ammunition from the magazine.
3. At 8: 30 p. m. received orders advising that a riotous disturbance was in prog- ress and to proceed with Battalion as rapidly as possible by use of motor transport to City Hall Park, N. Y., and protect City Hall, Municipal Building, Hall of Records and other public buildings in that vicinity; report by telephone to Commanding Officer of Armory when disposition had been made covering the above; men to be provided with three days rations. Four Lewis guns, three hundred rounds of am- munition (ball), and gun crews under a Lieutenant were assigned to the Command.
4. The rations were issued by the Supply Officer.
5. The Battalion and Machine-Gun Detachment proceeded out of the Armory to Fifteenth Street, where it boarded ten motor cars commandeered for that purpose.
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6. At 8: 45 p. m. the first detachment, consisting of seventy five officers, men and non-commissioned officers, two machine-guns, left the Armory by motor, proceeding west to Seventh Avenue, south on Seventh Avenue, Varick Street and West Broadway to Chambers Street and east on Chambers Street to block between Church Street and Broadway, arriving at 9: 10 p. m. The motor cars proceeded at intervals of about one hundred feet, preceded by one motor about one hundred yards in advance, one man with fixed bayonet riding on the running board of each side of each motor. The remaining portion of the Battalion and Machine-Gun Detachment, under Cap- tain Scott, remained at the Armory in Fifteenth Street to await the return of motor transport.
7. Upon detraining, a detachment (eleven men and three N. C. O'S), were detailed as guard at the corner of Chambers and Church Streets, and a detachment (eleven men and three N. C. O'S), was placed as guard at Chambers Street and Broadway, (while detraining, a platoon of Infantry-colored-passed west along Chambers Street). The detail at Broadway and Chambers Street next moved east on Chambers Street to Record Place; a detail (four men and one N. C. O.), north on Broadway to Reade Street and a detail (four men, one N. C. O), south on Broadway to Warren Street. Reports were received from these details that conditions at these points were quiet.
8. The main body then proceeded east on Chambers Street to a point north of the New York County Court House.
9. The detachment at Chambers Street and Record Place then proceeded east on Chambers Street to Center Street, and a detachment (four men, one N. C. O.), proceeded north on Record Place to Reade Street; a detachment (four men, one ma- chine-gun, four machine-gunners and one N. C. O), proceeded to southwest corner of New York County Court House, and a detachment (four men, one machine-gun, four machine-gunners, and one N. C. O.), proceeded to southeast corner of New York County Court House.
10. On account of small body of men in reserve, no other move was made until 9:30. The remaining men (sixty men, eight machine-gunners, twenty-one N. C. O's, four officers), of the Battalion and of the Machine-Gun Detachment arrived and joined the main body on Chambers Street, north of the New York County Court House. A detachment (one Lieutenant, twenty-one men, eight machine-gunners, five N. C. O.'s) proceeded along west face of New York County Court House and City Hall and were disposed; at southwest corner City Hall four men, four machine- gunners with one machine-gun and one N. C. O .; six men, four machine-gunners and one machine-gun and one N. C. O. at southeast corner of City Hall, the remainder posting line of sentries south of City Hall and in reserve at points south of center of City Hall. (Machine-guns placed by Lieutenant in the open as a psychological deterring effect on disorderly element-the detachment being advised to proceed to a
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protected position, which had been selected nearby, in case of an attack) ). A detach- ment (twelve men, two N. C. O's), proceeded to corner of Chambers Street and Broadway as reserve at that point.
II. The main body proceeded east on Chambers Street, taking up position in the northeast corner of City Hall Park, immediately south of Hall of Records. A de- tachment (one Captain, four men, one N. C. O.), proceeded east under Municipal Building to east face of Municipal Building; (at this point a detachment of the Sixty-Ninth Infantry, under command of Captain Quinn, was encountered covering the southeast face of the Municipal Building).
12. A detachment (four men, one N. C. O.), proceeded north on Center Street to Reade Street at north end of Municipal Building.
13. A detachment (two men), proceeded to corner of Elm and Duane Streets.
14. An additional detachment (seven men, one N. C. O.), proceeded to point of the detachment on Chambers Street at east face of Municipal Building.
15. An additional detachment (three men, one N. C. O.), under Captain pro- ceeded to point detachment at Center and Reade Streets and covered north end of Municipal Building.
16. Detachment (four men, four machine-gunners with one machine-gun, and one N. C. O.), previously located at southeast corner of New York County Court House, removed and sent to join detachment at north end of Municipal Building.
17. A detachment (four men, four machine-gunners with one machine-gun, and one N. C. O.), proceeded with addition of four men from main body and one Lieutenant, to south end of Municipal Building.
18. A detachment (twelve men, two N. C. O's), proceeded to south side of Brooklyn Bridge Extension.
19. Remaining with main body as reserves-Battalion Commander, Adjutant, two Captains, two Lieutenants, nine N. C. O's, twelve men, motor transport parked on Chambers Street between Broadway and Hall of Records, with drivers (seven N. C. O's three men). Entire strength of Battalion-one hundred fifteen men, sixteen machine-gunners, thirty-eight N. C. O's and nine officers-Battalion Sergeant- Major remained at Armory. Complete disposition effected and inspected at 9: 50 p. m. Endeavored to report to Commanding Officer at Armory at that time through telephone at Police Station at City Hall-found Police Station closed-used telephone in drug store under World Building-message delayed, due to lack of available free wires.
20. Received orders to hold men in position and return to Armory after thirty minutes had elapsed after time of complete disposition.
21. Between 10: 10 and 10: 20 inspection of all posts and detachments made.
22. At 10:30 men were assembled in northwest corner City Hall Park. All were accounted for and first detachment started to Armory in motor cars. The remainder of the Battalion proceeded to march to Armory, and, as motor cars returning
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met this body, additional men were transported in motor cars to the Armory. Com- plete force at Armory 12 p. m. Ammunition returned to magazine and men dismissed. (Signed) W. L. Hodges, Major, Ninth C. A. C., N. Y. G."
REPORT OF MAJOR KEYES
"I. The following order was received by the commander of this Battalion at 8:20 p m., June 19, 1919:
(1) You will proceed at once to protect the following points : West 23rd Street Ferries, Hudson & Manhattan Railroad Tubes, Foot of Christopher Street.
(2) You will report your estimate of the local situation and of your disposition of your troops.
(3) Regimental Headquarters will be in the Veterans' Room at the Armory, 125 West Fourteenth Street, Telephone Farragut 456.
(4) Sixty (60) rounds of ammunition will be issued to each man.
(5) Four (4) Lewis machine-guns with four (4) magazines filled with ball am- munition will be assigned to your command.
(6) Three (3) days' rations will be issued.
(7) Transportation lines have ceased to function, but telephone and telegraph are still effective, power and lighting plants are still working.
(8) Transportation will be by automobiles, commandeered for the purpose and now parked in Fifteenth Street.
2. Thereupon the Battalion commander issued the following order to the Captain of the Eleventh Company:
3rd Batt., 9th C. A. C., N. Y. G. Armory, West 14th St.
From: C. O. 3rd Batt. To: C. O. 11th Co.
June 19, 1919.
Subject : Orders.
I. Pursuant instructions C. O. Ninth C. A. C. there is a disturbance at H. and M. Tubes at Christopher St.
II. You will proceed to Christopher St. and take charge report- ing upon your arrival to Battalion Headquarters, D. L. & W. Railway Station, West Twenty-third St.
By order of Major Keyes.
Leslie Messenger Adjutant.
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3. At 8:40 p.m. sixty (60) rounds of ammunition were issued to each enlisted man of the Battalion, and each officer was required to carry pistol ammunition. There- upon pieces were loaded and locked and bayonets fixed. Three days' rations were duly drawn.
4. Captain Wilcox proceeded to comply with his orders and the other three com- panies were transported (by automobiles, commandeered) to the foot of West Twenty- third St. On leaving the Armory the verbal report was made by the adjutant to the commanding officer of our movements, and notification was given that Battalion Headquarters would immediately be established at the ticket office of the D. L. & W. Railway Ferry, West Twenty-third Street.
5. The three Companies were marched in column of squads at "high port" and on reaching the tactical grounds were marched alongside a fence at the north of the grounds with a view of forcing a crowd, if any, into the side streets and im- mediately taking possession of the ferries. Thereupon the public space in front of the ferries would have been cleared by forcing the crowd up Eleventh Avenue and through Twenty-second and Twenty-third streets, at which points guards would have been mounted so as to prevent any influx or congregating at close range. On the south of the ferries are the steamship piers, which were found to be in possession of Federal troops with whom I would have immediately established cooperation.
6. Our troops on duty at Twenty-third Street would have been quartered in the ferry house of the D. L. & W. Railway for the reason that it is a building con- structed on piles and is accessible from three sides by water only, which makes guard- ing a simple matter. The buildings adjoining the square are old and of low structure. Due attention would have been given to covering these or clearing them, as the sit- uation demanded.
7. Of the four machine guns, one was assigned to each Company; the three at the ferries were held in the center of the square for further orders.
8. Communication with Regimental Headquarters was constantly maintained.
9. After attending to the details at Twenty-third Street, the Battalion com- mander placed the next senior officer present, Captain Howard Coolidge, in command of the detachment with orders to continue the theoretical instruction of the men and proceed back to the Armory at 9:50 p.m., that being well beyond the time limit fixed.
10. I thereupon proceeded with my adjutant, the observing officer and Sergeant Britten to inspect the Company guarding the Hudson and Manhattan tubes. At 12th Street and 8th Avenue a large crowd had congregated and there was considerable excitement, and at Eighth Street and Eighth Avenue my automobile was stopped by six or seven policemen who asked if there was any excitement "up the street." We answered in the affirmative.
II. On arriving at the Hudson and Manhattan tubes I found the Eleventh Company well posted and giving good protection, under the circumstances, to the
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tube entrance. The problem at the tube would be mainly at the water's edge where steps were taken to give adequate protection, and at the tube entrance, which was also covered. The power generating station just around the corner from the tube entrance was also covered.
12. We then hurried back to observe whether the excitement referred to at Twelfth and Eighth Avenue had developed but apparently the police had the matter entirely in hand and there was no evidence of disorder.
13. The Eleventh Company returned to the Armory at 9:50 p.m., and the Ninth, T'enth and Twelfth Companies returned at 10:05 p.m. Thereupon pieces were un- locked and ammunition returned, and the Battalion dismissed at 10:50 p.m.
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