USA > New York > The Ninth regiment, New York volunteers (Hawkins' zouaves); being a history of the regiment and veteran association from 1860 to 1900 > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
The hour for the reunion was set for six o'clock, at which time all the survivors of the Ninth who could possibly reach New York were present-one hundred and fifteen in all. While the Zouaves and their guests of the Third were enjoying an interval of pleasant social converse, previous to entering the supper room, Major R. L. McWhorter, of the 3rd Georgia, introduced Miss Lizzie Snead, the daughter of Colonel Claiborne Snead, of the Third, and also the daughter of the regiment, who in a very charming and earnest manner and in appropriate, well chosen and complimentary language, presented a handsome silk national flag, which she had made with her own hands, to the Hawkins' Zouaves Association. Her little speech was filled with beautiful senti- ments suitable to the occasion, and when she concluded the cheers from the veterans of both regiments almost shook the building. Judge Langbein responded, on behalf of the Ninth, in a short but touching address.
Arrangements had previously been made for a theatre party of ladies for the evening and at the conclusion of Judge Langbein's response the visiting ladies, accompanied by the wives and daughters of several members of the
479
AN ENJOYABLE REUNION.
Hawkins' Zouaves Association, were escorted to the play, where they enjoyed the pleasure of seeing a first-class performance as it is given before a metropolitan audience.
The speechmaking was still in full swing when the performance ended and the party returned to the hotel. Seats having been pro- vided for them in the balcony of the banquet room, they were escorted thither and for the remainder of the evening listened to the flow of eloquence and viewed the scene of animation and. enthusiasm on the floor.
The banquet was served in the ballroom of the hotel, which was handsomely decorated for the occasion, the national flag being used lavishly for that purpose. Conspicuous among the decorations were the tattered and moth- eaten flags of the Ninth, which they had carried through the great conflict. When the time for speechmaking had arrived Colonel Hawkins arose, and in an exceedingly happy and pleas- ant address, welcomed both comrades and guests to the gathering.
He said, in part : "Comrades of the Ninth New York, and friends of the 3d Georgia, let us rejoice that we have lived to realize the simple fact of this occasion, an unimportant event in the history of a nation, but one which emphasizes an existing sentiment for a broader
480 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
nationality and the vanishing of those imagin- ary lines, which are supposed to mark the boundaries of sections. It is also a rare oasis in the great desert of the usual commonplace of modern life, and mutually we must ever regard it, and the memories it calls forth, as our most precious possessions." $ " The mid- dle-aged men now here, assembled to celebrate the birthday of a New York regiment, were soldiers in two of the earliest infantry com- mands to take the field upon either side. They represented the two so-called Empire States of their respective sections, and how worthily their courage reflected credit upon the communities to which they belonged has already been re- corded." Colonel Hawkins then sketched in a rapid and masterly manner the progress of the war, the many and great changes made in warfare, armaments and fortifications from time to time during the conflict. He related, face- tiously, the details of the various meetings be- tween the two regiments in battle, and dwelt on the mutual respect with which each, no doubt, regarded the other, as a result of such interviews, which brought fourth rounds of applause and heartly laughter; continuing he said : "The war went on. One regiment left the service at the expiration of its term and before the close, the other fought to the end
COL. HAWKIN'S WELCOME TO THE 3d GEORGIA. 481
and went down with the battle-scarred colors that had floated over it through those four long years of unheard-of privations and almost su- perhuman endeavor, never again to rise above the storm of battle or to be recognized as a national emblem. But the star of victory that illumined the banner of the conqueror was one of mercy, tempering the pride of the victorious and softening the sadness of defeat. The scarred veterans of a hundred fields re- joiced that peace had come, and with longing eyes and quick beating pulse, looked afar off toward the dear ones and the homes they had left when the bugle blast summoned them to danger, and alas, for many, to the path of fame, which lead only to the field of death. A new South has risen from out the ashes of war, more glorious, more national, and better equipped for those victories incident to the arts of peace than ever before. It did not take the men of the South four years to teach us that they knew how to fight, nor has it taken twenty-five years to prove their capacity for labor. The tenacity of purpose they showed upon the field of battle did not forsake them when the dawn of peace smiled upon their shattered banners, but followed to a new sphere of action, and enabled them to achieve new victories. In this spirit we, who are
482 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
left of the Ninth New York, greet you who are left of the 3d Georgia. We differ with you as to the principle for which you fought, but we are certain you believed it right, and we know you contended for it like brave men, and in your heroic efforts we rejoice. There is no difference between us now ; we are of one nationality, and are proud of our joint history of courage and heroism which has become the common inheritance of our whole people.
"It now becomes a pleasurable duty, around which centers a sentimental appreciation of an unique occasion, such as none of those now present are ever likely to witness again, and it is to express the greeting which we so gladly give to the foes of other days-brothers of the same race and friends now. There is the ample, good old Saxon word so dear to all English-speaking lips which comes near ex- pressing all we feel, and I am certain that every veteran of the Ninth now present will join with me when I say to the survivors of the 3d Georgia, 'welcome a thousand times to this, the thirtieth anniversary of its organization.'"
After the applause which greeted the con- clusion of Colonel Hawkins' welcome had subsided, Colonel Snead arose to make reply, and the following is part of what he said:
"Colonel Hawkins and friends of the Ninth
483
COL. SNEAD'S RESPONSE
New York : For your generous welcome we - are profoundly grateful. It reaches the heart and touches a responsive chord in the bosoms of men who were your adversaries in time of war, but since have learned to regard you as true and trusted friends in these halcyon days of peace. In this demonstration we take nothing personal to ourselves, for we are but a small delegation from the veteran sur- vivors of a regiment that for four long years traversed in martial array the hills and valleys of old Virginia, and whose history is very dear to us, in that it is crimsoned all over with the blood of fallen comrades. And this tribute is especially gratifying, coming as it does from soldiers whom I have seen, on more than one occasion, march unflinchingly into battle with a sheet of fire blazing in their faces, but whose gallantry as far outshone that fire as did the stars of heaven in their brilliancy.
"We first made your acquaintance near the jungles of the Dismal Swamp, North Carolina, in the earlier days of the war. Then your greeting was so warm that we rejoiced when the interview was over. On two other memo- rable occasions your persistent attentions to us at close quarters were of such a character as to render our position extremely uncom- fortable, but when we parted I am sure it was
484 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
with mutual respect and with no eager desire to meet soon again.
"Your regiment from New York, like ours from Georgia, enlisted early in 1861, without any draft upon your part or conscription on ours. Here were Northern boys and Southern boys, with the baptismal dew of youth fresh upon their brows, who cheerily went forth to battle in obedience to what each deemed to be his duty. And whether right or wrong, from your standpoint or mine, I care not, for there is the pleasing reflection that each displayed the noblest attributes of a soldiery that knew so well how to illustrate American valor. X-
"Thus united by the ties of friendship and animated by a lofty patriotism, they can mutu- ally join in the grand acclaim -
A union of rivers and a union of lakes.
A union of lands and a union of States,
A union of hearts and a union of hands,
And the flag of our Union forever."
The cheering and applause which greeted these remarks were enthusiastic, and were again and again renewed.
The Rev. Clark Wright, to wh whom was assigned the duty of responding to the toast in honor of the Ninth New York, had a delightful task to perform, and one to which he was [fully equal. He said: "A private sol- dier who carried a gun, who was the least
-
1
485
SPEECH OF THE REV. CLARK WRIGHT.
of all the men who surround you to-night, is to tell you what you have already learned in your intercourse with the members of the Hawkins' Zouaves Association of this city, namely, that we are glad to see you, and that we take great pleasure in giving you a most cordial welcome to this the thirtieth anniversary of the organization of the Ninth New York Volunteers."
He sketched the history of the regiment, its organization and services, in a very inter- esting manner, at the same time referring, in a way which produced much applause and shouts of laughter, to the meetings which took place between the two regiments during the war and to the opinion each had of the other at that time, and concluded as follows : "You, my countrymen, whether from Georgia or New York, to-night, these the remnant of more than two thousand men, these your comrades gathered here to salute you as we bring to mind your faithfulness as soldiers and rejoice with you that our country has passed from the hurricane to the calm, from out of all that crash of which we were part, to liberty, union, brotherly love and peace."
The response for "the 3d Georgia" was by Hon. John W. Lindsey, one of the survivors, and formerly a sergeant in that regiment, who spoke in part as follows :
486 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
"Fellow countrymen, I deem it an honor to stand here and respond to the encomiums pronounced upon the soldiers of the Confed- erate Army. It is a pleasure to me to greet you as fellow countrymen, for we are sons of a common mother, on whose bosom we lean for protection. We are here to-night, true to our allegiance to the Constitution and laws of the American Union, without any qualification whatever; to demand nothing but what you are willing to grant us as free Amer- icans; to invite you to join with us and aid us in driving from our vocabulary that most abominable of all words-sectionalism. * *
We are here to renew an acquaintance sought long years ago, under less favorable circum- stances, and with you to transmit the spirit of these fraternal greetings to the youth of the land, for we desire to consecrate not only ourselves, but our sons and daughters, to the preservation of the liberty of this Union. *
We see as you do those columns of blue and gray in the fields of Virginia, who fell fighting for the cause they believed to be the true one. In vindication of that right of our convictions,
* we discharged our duty, as you did.
But when you fought your last fight, fired your last volley, and received the command that began your homeward march from Appomat-
487
RETROSPECTION BY SERGT. LINDSEY.
tox, you went to be greeted as victors-the voices of a thousand cannon gave you a wel- come such as never had been heard before. Thus you returned, and retired to your homes to enjoy all that is sweet and dear to noble manhood basking in the sunshine of grateful people. You forgot that other army which left Appomattox on the same day that you did. Our march southward was not greeted with applause, nor our announcement welcomed by cannon.
We bade each other good bye in silence, and shed tears as we departed to our homes, only to see the marks of desolation left by the stern hand of war. What did we do? Sit down and brood in silence? No. We stepped from the very warpath of battle to the works of peace. We walked behind the plow to win a living for our own. Our farms were devastated, our slaves freed, our families scattered, yet we went to work in the sunshine of peace in the same spirit in which we had en- gaged in war. * * By industry we have wrung from the soil our sustenance. As years have rolled on recuperation has come, and now we have a country to which we are proud to invite you, and to which we do invite you."
The speech and the sentiments of Sergeant Lindsey were greeted by enthusiastic applause, which was not subdued until the chairman
£
488 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
announced that the formal exercises of the evening would close by the recitation of Gen. Charles G. Halpin's poem, "Just Eleven." This was given by Maj. James B. Horner in excellent style.
Robert L. Johnson, of the Zouaves, in a voice which his comrades thought had lost none of its sweetness, then sang one of the old songs of the soldier days, when the meeting became an informal camp fire, which continued until a late hour.
Next day enough carriages were provided to accommodate all the guests of the Associ- ation, together with the members of the Reception Committee, composed of Messrs. Horner, Langbein, Searing, Curie and Miller, who accompanied them, and an extended sight- seeing tour was entered upon. This covered as much of the upper portion of Manhattan Island as could be comfortably gone over in a day. On the way up, all places of interest on the east side of Washington Heights and upper part of the island were visited, and the strangers afforded ample time to view the same.
Arriving at Fort George, one of the most beautifully romantic spots on the whole island, and from which a grand panoramic view of the Harlem river and the heights of Westchester
489
KEEPING THE GEORGIANS BUSY.
may be obtained, the party stopped for luncheon, the West End Hotel having been secured by the committee for their exclusive use for that purpose.
The return to the city was by the western roads, from which many fine views of the Hud- son and the palisades beyond may be obtained, and which also gave the visitors the oppor- tunity to admire the many elegant private residences which are dotted so thickly along the different roads, and the large number of stately buildings, the homes of public and semi-public institutions of a beneficent char- acter, with which that portion of New York is graced.
Sight-seeing was continued almost without interruption during the remainder of the stay of the visitors, with occasional theater parties and luncheons, to break the monotony and give variety.
A cordial invitation had been received from the proprietor, through Mr. Robert L. Cutler, the erst-time manager of "The Zouave Minstrel and Dramatic Club," of Roanoke Island, for the members of the Association and their guests to visit Harrigan's Theater. This was accepted, with the thanks of the comrades, and a large party enjoyed one of Harrigan's inim- itable productions. Arrangements had been
490 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
made which afforded ample facilities for such of the guests as delighted in theatrical enter- tainments to visit the theaters on any evening during their stay.
Comrade John T. Miller and Adolph Libaire escorted parties of the visiting delegation to the Stock and Produce Exchanges, thus giving the Georgians an opportunity to observe the antics of the Bulls and Bears in their native jungles.
A trip to West Point was arranged, and the whole delegation, under the escort of Messrs. Searing, Horner and Jackson, visited that historic and interesting place. They were cordially welcomed by the officers of the Mil- itary Academy, who entertained them very pleasantly during their stay, and took special pains to make their visit an exceedingly grati- fying and memorable one. This visit to historic West Point, combined with the river journey and the grand scenery of the noble Hudson, will no doubt long remain a pleasant memory with the participants, both visitors and guests.
On the last day of the stay in New York the ladies of the visiting delegation were entertained at luncheon at the Downtown Club by Mr. Latham A. Fish, one of the committee. It was designed to be an affair
491
ENTERTAINING THE. VISITING LADIES.
that would be remembered with pleasure by those in whose honor it was given, and the resources of the establishment were taxed to the utmost in making it elegant and dainty, even beyond what was usual at that exclusive club. The room was tastefully and hand- somely decorated, the tables banked with flow- ers and elegant souvenir menus, handsomely designed and printed on satin, were provided for each of the guests.
After nearly a week devoted to entertain- ment, pleasure and recreation, and during which the members of the Hawkins' Zouaves Association had taxed their ingenuity for ways to provide novel and pleasant surprises for their guests, the Georgians-the time allowed for their visit having expired-departed for their homes by the Savannah steamer. A numerous delegation of Zouaves escorted them to the wharf.
A meeting of the Georgians was held on board the ship just before sailing, and a series of resolutions very flattering to the men of the Ninth were passed and a copy of the same handed to the Secretary of the Association.
The New York Sun, in its issue of the next day, thus summarizes the visit of the 3d Georgia:
£
492 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
"The Confederate veterans of the 3d Georgia Survivors' Association have received a hearty welcome in the city. They have fraternized with the Union veterans of the Hawkins' Zouaves. They have been banqueted in the New York style to their hearts' content. They have been taken to various theaters by day and by night. They have enjoyed the speeches of sundry ready orators, as well as the strains of music, and they have seen the sights of the city and its parks from the open carriages that were at their service. We trust that these Con- federate veterans from Georgia have had a pleasant time during the several days of their stay in New York."
Thus ended a meeting which probably has no parallel in the pages of history. Two regiments serving in opposing armies, whose acquaintance began on the battlefield while engaged in deadly strife, sought each other out after peace had been secured, and in admira- tion, each for the other, and actuated by an earnest desire to re-establish cordial fraternity between those who had once been foes, met together and announced to the world that there was no lingering animosity in the breasts of either, that the victors had no conditions they wished imposed upon the vanquished, and that the latter fully and without equivocation or reservation, accepted the verdict of the sword and became brothers under one flag with their former foes.
CHAPTER XVI.
CEREMONIES AT THE DEDICATION OF THE MONUMENT ERECTED ON THE BATTLEFIELD OF ANTIETAM IN MEMORY OF THE DEAD OF THE NINTH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS - PRELIMINARY WORK OF THE COM- MITTEES - JOURNEY TO THE BATTLEFIELD -COM. RADE RICHARD'S INVOCATION - COMRADE GRA- HAM'S INTRODUCTION - ADDRESS BY COLONEL HAWKINS- UNVEILING THE MONUMENT-ORATION BY REV. CLARK WRIGHT, OF COMPANY F - THE PRESENTATION TO GENERAL CARMAN - REVISIT- ING POINTS OF INTEREST-THE RETURN.
FOR years the intention to erect a monument to perpetuate the name and fame of the Ninth New York Volunteers (Hawkins' Zou- aves), and to commemorate those who yielded up their lives in defense of the nation during its term of service, had been steadily kept in view by the Association composed of the sur- vivors of that regiment.
As early as in the latter days of the service of the regiment, at Suffolk, Va., the matter was frequently talked over, and ways and means of successfully accomplishing the desired object discussed. At first the intention was vague and undefined. It was an intention but was without form. The men were young and in-
494 NINTH REGIMMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
experienced in business methods and hardly knew how to begin.
Years passed with nothing accomplished. At last, in 1890 or 1891, the question was brought up at the annual meeting of the Association, and it was resolved that a united and deter- mined effort should be made to accomplish this most desirable object.
Among the most active of the comrades in assisting to bring the work to a successful completion, and whose names should be men- tioned here in connection with it, were Rush C. Hawkins, Robert L. Johnston, James B. Horner, P. J. L. Searing, Charles Curie, Walter L. Thompson, J. C. J. Langbein, James H. Folan, John T. Miller, John Hassall, George W. Debevoise, John W. Jacobus, Latham A. Fish, and James R. Whiting, alltof whom assisted in every way possible, to further the object in view.
The actual labor was divided among several sub-committees, each of which had its own separate part, while all worked together. An immense amount of detail had to be worked out. An appropriation of five thousand dollars was secured from the Legislature of the State of New York, and an equal sum was sub- scribed and paid by the members of the Asso- ciation. These amounts provided for cost.
495
NECESSARY PRELIMINARY WORK.
Then came the question of design, the selection of material, etc., and quarries had to be visited and inspected in order to determine where the most appropriate and durable stone could be procured at satisfactory prices, and to enable the committee to intelligently enter into the con- tracts for the work. The position to which the regiment advanced during the charge at An- tietam, and where the greatest loss of men occurred, had to be positively identified, and a plot of the ground purchased -- at many times its actual value - upon which to erect the monument. The negotiations for right of way over adjacent lands and arrangements for compensating the owners for prospective dam- ages at an exhorbitant rate had to be completed. All these, and many other details, entailed a great deal of work on the committee. Many visits, both to the Vermont quarries and to the battlefield, were absolutely necessary. In addi- tion, a large amount of correspondence relating to the work had to be conducted.
Notwithstanding the careful and methodical manner in which every step in the progress of the work had been taken, unforeseen diffi- culties frequently presented themselves, and annoying and vexatious delays occurred, which interfered seriously with the progress of the undertaking, so that it was not until Memorial
496 NIVTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
Day of 1897, that the monument was erected and ready for dedication,
The members of the Association cordially approved of the design the committee had decided upon. They also thoroughly appre- ciated the work done in their behalf by the committee, the unselfish interest with which each member of it had devoted himself to the work, and the successful and gratifying manner in which it had been carried out.
This approbation was more especially due and accorded to the monument sub-committee, Messrs. Hawkins, Curie and Horner, who were untiring in their efforts, and to whom is largely due the credit for the final success of the under- taking.
The same committee completed the arrange- ments for transportation to the battlefield and return, which was ample, comfortable, conve- nient, and in every way most satisfactory.
On Friday evening, the 28th of May, 1897, a well-appointed special train left Jersey City for Antietam, bearing a party of survivors of the regiment and members of their families, num- bering in all eighty persons. This number was increased at various points on the route by other survivors from various and distant parts of the United States until the number of veterans actually participating in the ceremonies was ninety-one.
497
GATHERED AT THE DEDICATION.
Thus the remnant of this gallant regiment returned after a lapse of thirty-five years, still an organization and under the presidency of the man who had been their first and only colonel, to dedicate on the bloodiest battlefield of the Rebellion, a monument to their fallen comrades. Every participant in the ceremonies, from orator to bugler, with the single exception of the daughter of a comrade, who unveiled the monument, was a former member of the Ninth New York Volunteers.
When the company had assembled at the monument the ceremonies were begun by Colonel Hawkins, the President of the Associa- tion, announcing as follows :
"No braver or truer soldier honored the ranks of the Ninth New York Volunteers than its chief musician, who holds a large place in the affections of his comrades."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.