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 3
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FINANCE COMMITTEE.
A committee of three on finance, to be appointed by the president, whose duty it shall be to audit all accounts, and pass them over to the treasurer for payment. They shall see that the expenditure does not exceed the income, and report at each monthly meeting.
COURT-MARTIAL COMMITTEE.
A Court-Martial Committee of seven shall be elected, collectively. by a majority vote, whose duty shall be to hear the excuses of delin- quents, with full power to remit fines and order expulsions.
This committee shall report the fines to the treasurer and the expelled members to the president while in the chair, who shall order the secre- tary to erase the names of the expelled members from the roll.
ARTICLE XVIII. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY AND TREASURER.
The secretary shall be present at each meeting, take down the pro- ceedings in writing, keep the original roll signed by the members. attend to the printing and sending of notices. The treasurer shall collect the dues and fines, pay all the accounts audited by the Finance Committee, and report at each meeting.
ARTICLE XIX.
OFFENCES, CONSEQUENCES FOR NON- APPEARANCE BEFORE COURT MARTIAL, ETC.
Each instructor of a squad and each commissioned and non-commis- sioned officer of a company shall take note of all offences and report the offenders to the Court Martial Committee, who shall give such offenders reasonable notice to appear before them for trial; and if such offenders refuse to appear at the time specified, unless detained by absence from the city or by sickness, they shall be expelled; and in all cases where the penalty of expulsion has been incurred, the president shall order the secretary to erase the name of the expelled member from the roll. Sickness, absence from the city, or doing United States or State duty, shall be received as an excuse for non-attendance from drill, meeting, or parade.
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BY-LAW'S OF NEW YORK ZOUAVES.
ARTICLE XX. ARREARS AND DUES.
Any member in arrears for fines or dues for two months shall be ex- pelled. The dues shall be twelve dollars per year, payable monthly.
ARTICLE XXI.
SICKNESS OF MEMBERS, PECUNIARY AID, ETC.
In case of sickness of any member, a committee of two shall be ap- pointed by the president to call upon him and ascertain if such member is in need of assistance, and, in case the committee shall report that he is in need of pecuniary aid, it shall be granted him out of the funds of the corps, to the extent of four dollars per week, exclusive of medical attendance.
ARTICLE XXII. ASSESSMENTS, ALTERATIONS OF BY-LAWS.
Proposed assessments shall be per capita, and adopted by a majority vote. These by-laws shall not be altered or changed, except by a two- third vote of the whole corps; and not then unless thirty days' previous notice in writing shall have been given of the proposed alteration.
ARTICLE XXIII.
Until the election of officers one instructor shall be appointed by a majority vote of the corps. A set of rules and regulations to govern the conduct of members while at drill, shall be hereafter adopted by the corps with offences described, and penalties for each offence attached thereto.
CIVIL OFFICERS AND STANDING COMMITTEES.
Rush C. Hawkins, President (and treasurer, pro tem). Jas. J. Delaney, Vice-President. Henry Barclay, Secretary, pro tem.
COMMITTEE ON MILITARY INSTRUCTION AND LECTURES.
Hawkins,
Boese,
Parisen,
Walsh,
Copcutt. Macauley,
Higginson.
COURT-MARTIAL COMMITTEE.
Graham,
Delaney, Frank,
Barclay, O. Parisen, LeBaire,
Tooker.
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CHAPTER II.
ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL CLUB-DRILL MASTER SERGT BENZONI-FIRST SHOT OF THE CIVIL WAR-FIRING ON FORT SUMTER-FIRST OFFER OF NEW YORK TROOPS-ORGANIZA- TION OF 9TH N. Y. VOLUNTEERS-FIELD OFFICERS-CASTLE GARDEN-RIKER'S IS- LAND-SEVERE DRILLS-NEW UNIFORM- INSPECTION BY GEN'L JOHN A. DIX -- OFF FOR FORTRESS MONROE-PRESENTATION OF FLAGS IN FIFTH AVENUE-ARRIVAL AT NEWPORT NEWS.
A SUFFI number of men were soon enrolled and the organization of a civil club, the governing body pro tem, completed. No military officers were elected, all members for the present being privates. The officers appointed to drill the company to-day took their places in the ranks to-morrow, and observed the same attention to the orders of the newly appointed officers as had been accorded to them.
Through the courtesy of the commanding officer at Governor's Island, the services of a
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SERGEANT BENZONI.
most thorough and efficient drill sergeant of the regular army were procured. The sergeant acted as general instructor and drill-master. At each drill, he designated the acting captains, lieutenants, sergeants and corporals. This system permitted each member to acquire prac- tice and receive instruction in all grades of an infantry company.
In addition to this system of instruction the scheme embraced, on the nights when the regu- lar instructor was not present, the detailing of different members of the company to act as instructors at the regular out or indoor drill. This gave to the youngsters confidence and educated them in the necessary habit of com- mand:
No member of the New York Zouaves can ever forget his old drill-master, Sergeant Louis Benzoni, and each can recall the picture of the erect old soldier marching back and forth in front of the line of green recruits, snapping out his orders and directions in his quaint military broken English, doing his facings and going through the manual of arms with such vim, finish, and correctness, that they were more inclined to regard him as a perfect piece of machinery, than mere human flesh and blood. Sergeant Benzoni constantly strove by his exaggerations to make his lessons in pos-
34 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
tures and movements impressive and valuable to his pupils, and each considering them the requisite of perfection to be attained, earnestly tried to imitate them.
He was a consummate manualist, exact and exacting, and as to the school of the company, could handle men as well as he could the musket. He was very much in earnest and would admit of no inattention.
The result of his work as shown in the drill and discipline of the regiment which these young men organized and officered at the commencement of the civil war, proved that Sergeant Benzoni, "builded better than he knew."
Headquarters were first established at the Mercer House, but later the organization moved to the corner of Fourth and Thompson Streets, where the Judson Memorial Church now stands, and on which historic spot the regiment known as the Ninth New York Volunteers (Hawkins Zouaves) was organized.
Washington Parade Ground was across the street from the quarters, and was used by the Zouaves as a drill-ground. Their novel and interesting manœuvres were eagerly watched by crowds of interested spectators. In this routine work-morning and evening drills be- ing the daily practice-the company continued
35
1763034
FIRST SHOT OF THE CIVIL WAR.
until the firing on Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861, which is popularly called " the first shot of the war."
As a matter of history, it may be interesting to state that in January, 1861, the sole force of the United States Army in Barrancas Barracks; Pensacola Harbor, Florida, was company G, First Artillery, commanded by Captain John H. Winder, with Lieutenants Slemmer and Gil- man. WVinder was later brigadier-general in the Confederate service, and well known in con- nection with the military prisons of the South. It was rumored that troops from Alabama and Florida were nearly ready to seize the navy yard and forts, and on the morning of January 8th, Lieutenant Slemmer moved all the powder to the inner magazines of Fort Barrancas, caused all the batteries to be put in working order, and that night, for the first time, placed a sergeant's guard in the fort with the draw-bridge raised.
About midnight a party of twenty men came to the fort to take possession, expecting to find it unoccupied as usual. Being challenged, and not answering or halting when ordered, the guard fired upon them, when they turned and ran toward Warrington. The long roll beat, and the company double-quicked to the fort, but too late to capture the enemy. This was the first gun in the war on the Union side.
·
36 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
The next morning, January 9th, at 9.30 o'clock the steamer "Star of the West," with two hun- dred troops and supplies for Fort Sumter, was fired upon from a masked battery on Morris Island, Charleston Harbor, and forced to put about and go to sea.
At 4.30 o'clock A. M., April 12, 1861, Captain George S. James, commanding the battery at James Island (Fort Johnson) fired a shell from a ten inch mortar at Fort Sumter. It burst about one hundred feet above the fort, and was followed by a general bombardment from all the encircling batteries.
The entire North was in a white heat of rage and excitement on receipt of this startling news.
About noon on the 15th of April the bulletin boards of the daily newspapers announced the call of President Lincoln for seventy-five thou- sand volunteers to assist in putting down the rebellion. Soon after, members of the com- pany-G. A. C. Barnett being the first-com- menced calling upon Mr. Hawkins, the president of the organization, for the purpose of urging immediate action and tender of services. They notified other members, and that night there was a meeting of a majority of the members at the armory. It was brief, lively and patriotic. No speeches were made and none were neces-
37
FIRST OFFER OF NEW YORK TROOPS.
sary. Inside the walls of that ramshackle old building every cubic inch of air was filled with earnest resolve and manly determination to do, and if necessary to die in the cause of their country. It was resolved to commence recruit- ing for a regiment at once, and the president, Hawkins, was authorized to proceed to Albany to make a tender of service, and to obtain permission to raise a regiment. He took the eleven o'clock train that night, and at a few minutes after seven o'clock, the morning of the sixteenth of April, was sitting on the steps of the capitol leading to the executive chamber waiting for the arrival of the Governor, who came to his office a few minutes after. The business in hand was attended to in the most direct manner and no words wasted. The Governor, under existing laws of the State, was not authorized to grant official authority, but gave verbal permission to go ahead. The interview closed by his saying: "Yours is the first tender of services I have had."
At the time this matter was not regarded as being of any importance, but since the close of the war many claims about "Firsts " have been submitted, and this has been taken from its slumber in the recesses of memory for the purpose of keeping company with the others.
When President Hawkins reached New
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38 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
York upon his return, he found a recruiting office already opened in the company rooms, and the members of the company busily en- gaged in the work of enrolling recruits. Appli- cants presented themselves in such numbers that the success of the movement was assured from the very beginning. The work of organi- zing the regiment was proceeded with at once. More than enough men from the old company enlisted to provide officers for nine companies. The surplus was distributed among the com- panies as non-commissioned officers. The positions and rank of line-officers were decided by mutual agreement among the members of the old company. The field and staff positions, excepting that of colonel, were left open for the present, to be filled later.
Mr. Hawkins became colonel, not only by the voice of the company officers, but by virtue of the authority conferred upon him by the Governor. His experience and knowledge of military affairs was not strictly confined to such theories as might be acquired in the ranks of citizen organizations, as he had, while still a youth, during the Mexican War, served a term of enlistment in the United States Cavalry. The experience gained during that period of service was of great assistance to him in the present emergency.
.
39
ORGANIZATION OF THE NINTHI N. Y. VOLS.
Andrew S. Graham was chosen senior captain, - followed in the order named by William G. Barnett, Eugene Li Baire, Otto Parisen, etc.
Recruits were enrolled so rapidly that the captains were enabled to select from the large number only those who in their judgment seemed best adapted, physically and mentally, for soldiers.
The companies having been organized, and non-commissioned officers appointed, six com- panies were, on April 23, 1861, sworn into the State service, and the remaining four on April 27th.
The tenth company, Captain Edward Jardine, was taken into the regiment as a complete or- ganization. The captain had not been a mem- ber of the old company, but had some military experience, having served his time as a militia- man in the 7th Reg. N. G. S. N. Y.
The positions of field and staff officers were now to be filled. George F. Betts (a son of Judge Betts) was commissioned lieutenant- colonel. He was a well known New York lawyer, a U. S. Commissioner, and clerk of the U. S. Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York, and had been a field officer in the militia for many years. He was considered an excellent tactician in battalion movements.
The position of major was filled by Edgar A.
f
i 1 ! İ 1
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40 NINTH REGIMMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
Kimball, a native of Vermont, who at that time occupied a position in the N. Y. Custom House. He was a veteran of the Mexican War, wherein he had greatly distinguished himself, having been brevetted for gallant and meritorious con- duct at Contreras and Cherubusco.
Another Mexican veteran, James WV. Evans, was commissioned adjutant.
The surgeon chosen was George H. Hum- phreys who, while yet a medical student, had served with the British Army during the Crimean War, and had further served with the French Army in the war with Austria.
The assistant surgeon, Dr. J. P. P. White, was also appointed at this time. He proved to be an excellent surgeon and a most thorough, painstaking, conscientious and humane gentle- man.
These gentlemen were chosen from among a number of competitors for the various positions named, after careful deliberation and investiga- tion by Colonel Hawkins, as to fitness, character, antecedents, etc. Their records during the war showed the wisdom of the choice.
On May 4, 1861, the entire regiment was sworn into the service of the United States by Captain Hayman of the regular army, and was officially designated as 9th New York Volunteer Infantry.
41
CASTLE GARDEN.
Up to this time much dissatisfaction and in- convenience had been experienced by the regi- ment from unsuitable quarters. The corner of Fourth and Thompson Streets, Center Market, Astor's Riding Ring, on Lafayette Place, and Castle Garden, were successively assigned it for that purpose, the latter being the only place that was at all suitable. Previous to having these quarters assigned there was no permanent location ; the company rooms at Fourth and Thompson Streets were not large enough to accommodate the regiment and the men were compelled to return to their homes each night. Consequently there had been little if any oppor- tunity for drill. For many years previous to 1861, Castle Garden had been used as a public theatre, where operas, concerts and entertainments of like character were given. It was here that Jenny Lind first sang in public before starting on her famous American tour, under the man- agement of P. T. Barnum. Just previous to the breaking out of the war the building had been acquired by the State of New York and used as an emigrant depot, but no alterations had been made in the interior. The State assigned the building to the New York Zouaves as quarters. and on the following Sunday-for the first time since the days of the Revolution when it was a government fortification-religious services were
1
----
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42 VINTH REGIMMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
held in the place by the chaplain of the regi- ment, Rev. T. W. Conway, who later became Superintendent of Freedmen in the Department of the South. The various companies were assigned to different parts of the auditorium ; and thus Castle Garden became the home and a wooden theatre bench became the bed of the new soldiers. While the regiment had not yet received its arms, a sufficient number of muskets were procured to arm the guard.
Here there was an opportunity to settle down to the work of properly forming the regiment. Details were regularly made for guard duty ; the ceremony of guard mount was performed after a fashion ; sentries, after being carefully instructed in their duties, were posted at various points, and while a great deal of liberty was allowed and passes freely given, the men began to feel some of the restraints of military life.
Even at this early period of service indivi- dual traits began to be noticeable among the boys. The painstaking could be easily distinguished from the careless, and the public- spirited from the selfish. A case in illustra- tion is the following: Two members of Com- pany D who believed in keeping their company quarters clean and in a condition always ready for inspection, and who at the same time de-
43
"SETTING UP" THE RECRUITS.
sired to set an example for the others in the- company, regularly swept, cleaned and dusted the company benches and cushions in the " dress circle," shaking and folding the blankets of many of their comrades, who would as regularly "shake" themselves free from their blankets and stalk haughtily away to more interesting and less menial occupations. This continued for some days until the junior member of the quarters-cleaning firm remarked that he thought " it time for a change." "Never mind," quoth the senior member, "before long they will be shaking and cleaning for us." Prophetic words ! Before long the senior member of the firm be- came First Sergeant Horner, and proceeded to shake and dust Company D in a way that opened its eyes. A few months later the junior member also got his stripes, and Corporal Sear- ing found it his turn to insist on thorough police work by the former laggards.
The task of "setting up" and drilling was now begun in earnest. The companies were divided into squads and each, under the com- mand of an officer, was carefully instructed in the preliminaries of military drill. The position of the soldier, the facings and marchings were gone over in the minutest detail, and in a very few days the improvement in the bearing and carriage of the men was especially noticeable.
44 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
Sentries were stationed at the gates and in- structed to admit only members of the regi- ment, and so attentive were the men to their duties that, on their departure for Riker's Island, no one would have recognized them as the green recruits of three weeks ago.
On May 15 the regiment left Castle Garden for Riker's Island, where commodious barracks had recently been erected. Large crowds had assembled at the Battery, and amidst their deaf- ening cheers the " Ninth" marched aboard the transport.
The 2d New York were in line at the water's edge, their drum corps beating a salute in re- sponse to that of the Ninth, while Captain Mott's battery of two 12-pounder howitzers gave a fare- well salute of eleven rounds, and the greatest enthusiasm continued until the Zouaves disap- peared from view up the East River.
Arriving at their destination about noon of the same day, the regiment disembarked and found the new quarters all that could be desired for their accommodation. They at once entered upon the long and tedious daily drills, both officers and men settling down seriously to the difficult task of creating a regi- ment which would be equal to the occasion when called upon in the day of trial. It is deliber- ately and positively asserted that this organi-
45
SEVERE DRILLS.
zation was at this time unique in its freedom from the serio-comic experiences of nearly all new regiments resulting from lack of knowledge of military matters among officers and men. The ludicrous effect of officers, totally ignorant of the first rudiments of military tactics, endeavor- ing to teach the manual to men as uninformed as themselves, was never seen at any time in the "Ninth." The officers thoroughly understood the theory and practice of the school of the sol- dier and of the company, and were also well posted in battalion movements. In teaching the men they started at the beginning and not in the middle. The first instructions were in the position of a soldier. They were directed how to stand correctly, and informed why a cer- tain posture and position was necessary. The drill in positions, facings and marching were repeated twice each day without arms, and con- tinued daily until the men had acquired perfect confidence and freedom from hesitation and in- decision. Muskets were then distributed and the same care exercised in the instruction of the manual of arms. The men were advanced step by step. The reason why each movement should be performed strictly according to the manual was explained. and their minds were impressed with the fact that such movements could be performed with more rapidity, and the
46 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
arms handled with more efficiency by strictly observing the instructions given.
The result of this careful drilling by officers who understood what they were teaching was soon shown by the soldierly appearance the regiment presented on evening parade, and when it marched down Broadway on the 5th of June, under orders for Fortress Monroe, it is safe to state, and without fear of contradiction, that for accuracy in the manual, general knowl- edge of drill, and steadiness in marching, it sur- passed any regiment of citizen soldiers that had ever marched down that famous thoroughfare.
When the task of raising and equipping the regiment had only just begun the Colonel feared that the State authorities would not be reliable in relation to the important essentials involved in the great emergency. So without authority or consultation he took the liberty and responsibility of making contracts for every item-save blankets, overcoats and arms-neces- sary to the launching of a regiment, and when all contracts were fulfilled, the regiment clothed and equipped, the cost per man was about $21.50, instead of about double that amount paid by the State for "shoddy" uniforms alone. which commenced to fall to pieces as soon as the wearers reached the field. The uniforms supplied to the regiment by private contract
47
NEW UNIFORMS.
were made of the best material obtainable at the time, and lasted in fairly good condition through the whole of the first summer in the field. While here at Riker's Island the uniforms were issued to the regiment. They were of what is com- monly called the Zouave pattern : close, easy- fitting, permitting full action of body and arms, artistic in form and picturesque, but of modest tone; of army blue, the trousers slightly full, plaited at the waist, with a magenta braid down the outer seam ; jacket and vest with magenta trimmings, a sash of the same color of woolen material, wide enough to cover the stomach and bowels of the wearer; white leggings, and red fez with a blue tassel. It was totally different from the uniforms issued by the United States authorities, and no nattier one was worn by any body of troops in the service.
Previous to the departure of the regiment the news agents of New York City, with whom Major Kimball had formerly been associated in a business way, presented him with a handsome sword. Later a magnificent pair of epaulettes came from friends in the custom house, as a token of their esteem for his faithfulness, and for his patriotism to his country.
The entire regiment had been vaccinated by the surgeons, and its sanitary condition pro- nounced most satisfactory. Being fully armed
48 NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.
and equipped an inspection and review was ordered.
On the first day of June Major-General John A. Dix, commanding the department, accom- panied by Colonel Keyes of the regular service, reviewed the regiment after it had executed an intricate battalion drill.
It was drawn up in line of battle, and after dress parade, was inspected by the General, who, as he passed up and down the line, expressed his satisfaction in most flattering terms. He in- formed Colonel Hawkins that he was extremely gratified with the completeness of all details, and at the review after inspection expressed himself as delighted at the perfection in march- ing displayed by the men, and their proficiency in drill, knowing what a short time their brief stay in camp had allowed for instruction. The General was proud that such a fine body of young men had been assigned to his command, and said he hoped and believed that the regi- ment would one day distinguish itself.
On June Ist the Colonel issued an order which permitted friends of the regiment to visit "Camp Hawkins," as the camp on the island was designated, and on the following Sunday a large number of friends, relatives and others availed themselves of the privilege.
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