USA > New York > New York City > The Union defence committee of the city of New York. Minutes, reports, and correspondence; with an historical introduction > Part 15
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esteem, or that devotion to the country which, I trust, may always characterize us.
I have the honor to be, Very truly and respectfully, Your obedient servant, JOHN E. WOOL, Major-General.
To Messrs. S. DRAPER, Vice-Chairman. WM. M. EVARTS, Secretary, etc.
NAVY YARD, May 3, 1861.
SIR :
I have this moment received an order to dispatch the Niagara immediately off the harbor of Charleston, consequently she cannot take the troops and stores which were proposed to be put on board of her, or do more in the way of convoy than to see the Columbia to the Capes, if she is ready to leave to-morrow at noon.
Very respectfully, Yours, etc., etc., SAMUEL L. BREESE, Commander.
S. DRAPER, EsQ., New York.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, May 4, 1861.
SIR :
I have to inform you that yesterday I transmitted to you, by telegraph or dispatch, asking if it would be proper to issue a pass- port to Edward G. Davies, and to-day, to same effect, in the cases of Frederick W. Center and Bernard Lemann, both of your city, the former applying through Mr. J. B. Nones, Not. Pub., and the latter through Messrs. Wood, Neibuhr & Co., 20 Pine Street.
Mr. Davies is a resident of Boston, but may be heard of at the Brevoort House, New York.
These gentlemen are all natives of professed seceding States, and the department cannot grant the required passports until assured of their loyalty to the Government.
I am, sir, Your obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary.
HON. SIMEON DRAPER, New York.
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ALBANY, May 6, 1861.
SIR :
Your dispatch for an order on Commissary-General Welch for five thousand stand of arms to be delivered immediately, and which I gave an order for promptly, has led me to suppose there may be something wrong in the dispatch, and that they may get into improper hands. I now say, don't let one leave the city or the arsenal without a governmental order, nor without the strongest possible ground. I shall look to you to protect the State.
I send this by a special messenger.
Yours, truly, E. D. MORGAN.
GEN. JOHN A. DIX.
NEW YORK, 6th May, 1861.
GENTLEMEN :
At the request of Mr. Low, I have applied to Superintendent Kennedy of the Police to send a sample of the Secession uniforms, seized by the Police a short time since, to the Committee Rooms, 30 Pine Street.
The number in possession of the Police is reported at about twenty-two hundred, of good quality gray satinet, seams decorated with red or blue, with good, metal, raised buttons.
The contractors have presented their claim for the surrender of the whole lot, on the ground that they were contracted for before the act of secession, and were not intended to be delivered, it is there- fore in the legal possession of the court, until the case shall be decided, but it is more than probable that the claimants would gladly compromise by a sale at very reduced price, in case possession cannot otherwise be obtained.
Yours respectfully, W. KEMBLE.
To the Chairman of the Union Defence Committee.
STATE OF VERMONT, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, RUTLAND, May 7, 1861.
MY DEAR SIR :
Our first Vermont regiment detailed from the Vermont uniformed militia under the requisition of the Secretary of War, is now in rendezvous at this place, fully armed, equipped, and furnished with every necessary appendage for service, and the men are im- patiently waiting orders from the Secretary of War to march. Con- sidering the condition of the military of Vermont, this regiment has been mustered and furnished with great dispatch within twelve
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days from the time when I received the first telegraphic dispatch from the Secretary ; and within six days from the reception of the printed dispatch and letter, the regiment was in camp, and ready to march. I feel much solicitation in view of the delay of the Secre- tary in ordering us forward. Our whole community are enthusi- astic, and impatient of delay.
You will have noticed that our Legislature at its late extra session made ample appropriations, and passed an act requiring me, without delay, to raise and organize two new regiments, and in my discretion four more, making seven in all. I suppose more than fifty volunteer companies, without authority of law, are now im- patiently waiting orders from me to be enlisted under the new act .. The twenty companies, constituting the two first regiments, have already been designated, and I shall lose no time in equipping and arming them, and mustering them into barracks.
But my first solicitude relates to the forwarding the first regi- ment now in camp. If this should be much longer delayed, the im- pression will be current that Vermont troops are not to be called into the U. S. Service, and the enthusiasm of our citizens will be thereby abated.
I am, sir, respectfully, Your obedient servant, ERASTUS FAIRBANKS.
SIMEON DRAPER, EsQ.
I can be addressed at St. Johnsbury after Thursday next.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON, May 7, 1861.
SIR :
I have to-day transmitted to you a dispatch by telegraph, asking if it would be proper to issue a passport to Doctor Frederick Garke, of your city.
Doctor Garke is a native of the city of Charleston, S. C., and his application comes through Dr. Charles Nanz, No. 3 Chambers Street, New York.
Be pleased to furnish the Department with the necessary infor- mation, if possible.
I am, sir, Your obedient servant, WILLIAM HI. SEWARD.
TO HON. SIMEON DRAPER, New York.
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STATE OF NEW YORK, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
ALBANY, May 9. 1861.
TO SIMEON DRAPER,
Chairman Executive Committee, etc., New York.
SIR :
I inclose herewith a copy of a resolution unanimously passed this evening, at a meeting of the State Officers constituting our Military Board, to which I beg to invite your early attention.
I have the honor to be, Your obedient servant,
E. D. MORGAN.
"At a meeting of the State Officers named in an Act en- titled ' an Act to authorize the embodying and equipment of a Volunteer Militia, and to provide for the Public Defence,' passed the 16th day of April, 1861, held at the Executive Cham- ber, May 9th, 1861. On motion of the Attorney-General it was unanimously resolved, that the Governor be requested to communicate with the ' Union Safety Committee of New York City,' and request them to furnish him a statement of all the contracts for munitions of war of all kinds entered into by that Committee, and the names of the parties with whom contracts have been made."
Certified as a true copy of the Minutes by
J. H. LINSLEY, Secretary.
CUSTOM HOUSE, NEW YORK, SURVEYOR'S OFFICE (27 and 29 PINE STREET), May 13, 1861.
SIR :
The Collector having referred to me your communication enclos- ing a letter from J. Carson Brevoort, Esq., in relation to a suspi- cious vessel in Jamaica Bay, I have to inform you that similar in- formation was communicated to me last evening, and that I imme- diately dispatched two officers of the Customs to that vessel with special instructions relative thereto.
Very respectfully, your obt. servant,
E. B. HART, Surveyor.
P. M. WETMORE, EsQ.,
Secretary Union Defence Committee.
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MISSOURI.
NEW YORK, May 13, 1861, No. 1 HANOVER SQUARE.
HON. HAMILTON FISH,
Chairman of Union Defence Committee :
I have late and reliable information from St. Louis that the Union Volunteers have rendezvoused there to the number of about ten thousand, and that their wants are most urgent and pressing, and that it is not only a patriotic duty but an act of charity to ren- der them immediate assistance. . These troops are but partially equipped and scantily clothed and fed; and I fear that your Com- mittee do not fully appreciate the importance of prompt action. St. Louis is the only point in the South where the friends of the Union have been in all their military movements in advance of the seces- sionists ; and their activity has imposed upon them excessive bur- dens, and I hope and trust that your Committee will this day ap- propriate not less than eight thousand dollars for their assistance, and also send a special messenger to Washington and lay the sub- ject before the Government. Without the assistance of your Com- mittee I cannot hope to raise more than two or three thousand dollars ; but I must perform my duty, and if possible get that small sum, if the Committee is not disposed to give any support. Impor- tant business compels me to leave the city to-day at 2.30 P.M., and on my return on Thursday, if your Committee would detail one of your members to accompany me in making collections, I feel san- guine that with the powerful name and influence of the Committee that fully ten thousand dollars could be obtained, and mostly from persons who have not contributed and would not otherwise contrib- ute to your Committee. I will make the suggestion of the propriety of anticipating collections for this special purpose by an immediate donation of eight thousand dollars, which will give relief at a period when it is most wanted, and before it is possible for the Gov- ernment to act, if it can act at all. Certainly this sum of money cannot be burdensome to your Committee, if contributions for this special purpose should fail. I feel confident that this appropriation can be made, if absolutely necessary, from some of the funds now in the hands of the Committee. You must excuse me for pressing this subject on your attention again, but I feel the importance of protecting a patriotic class of men who are making every possible effort to protect themselves.
Yours respectfully, ISAAC SHERMAN.
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HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE EAST,
TROY, 15th May, 1861.
MY DEAR GENERAL:
I received at nine o'clock last evening your telegram, but could not approve because of the want of authority. From the rumors of the press, I am daily expecting orders to take command at Fort Mon- roe, which is under my command, being part of the Eastern Depart- ment now under my command, excepting districts temporarily taken from it. New York was also a part of my department. Hence I assumed the powers exercised in consequence of the danger threat- ened the Capital, and when no communication was had with it.
I shall ever feel grateful to your noble, generous and patriotic Committee, who have done so much for the country, especially in saving Washington, at least for the time being, from the ravages of civil war.
As soon as I receive orders I will inform you, also when I will be in New York.
Be pleased to present to the Union Defence Committee the most profound acknowledgments for the great interest manifested in my behalf, and for yourself, all you could wish, from your friend and ob'dt servt.,
JOHN E. WOOL.
TO GEN. P. M. WETMORE,
30 Pine Street, N. Y.
CITY OF NEW YORK : DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE,
COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, May 18, 1861.
HON. HAMILTON FISH,
Chairman Union Defence Committee.
SIR :
For the information and government of the Committee, I would report that the total amount of warrants drawn by this department on the appropriation of one million dollars, made by the Common Council, at the close of business last evening, was $447,055.63. Of this sum $50,000 was paid to the Committee for aid to families of volunteers.
Very respectfully, ROBT. T. HAWS, Comptroller.
CORRESPONDENCE AS TO FORWARDING OF TROOPS
WASHINGTON, May 13, 1861.
GENTLEMEN :
It is impossible for me to set down in writing the difficulties which attend the calling in and moving of troops. I wish that the
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aGovernor nd Military Board at Albany could fall into our plan of recruiting and sending forward the regiments.
Here the difficulties that exist in New York are multiplied by similar experiences in all the States.
I am active in trying to get all the troops ordered, accepted and moved forward. The prospect is better to-day.
Very truly yours,
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
The Union Defence Committee.
P. S .- The formation of Second Regiment N. Y. Firemen meets our approval; send them on if you can.
W. H. S.
PHILADELPHIA, WILMINGTON & BALTIMORE RAILROAD COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA, May 16, 1861.
I see that General Cameron has ordered the Seventy-ninth Regi- ment from New York to Washington via Harrisburg and York or by sea.
The direct route through Baltimore from here, which I repre- sent, is and has been since Monday in order and running regularly. The route via Harrisburg is some seventy-five miles out of the way. Can you tell me why troops are ordered away from the direct route ?
We have endeavored to do our duty and cannot account for Gen- eral Cameron's course towards us. He has even ordered troops from here to Washington via Harrisburg-a distance of ninety- three miles out of their way -- and that notwithstanding he knew our road was in operation. General Cameron is a very large stock- holder in the route via Harrisburg, but we don't like to think that the power of his public office is to be directed to promote his private interests, a conclusion we must arrive at, unless his course in the transportation of troops is materially changed.
Yours truly, S. M. FELTON.
HON. SIMEON DRAPER.
Private.
WASHINGTON, D. C., May 16, 1861.
MY DEAR SIR :
Learning to-day from Gov. Seward that the order you have for forwarding the fourteen regiments has something in it for the Gov- ernor to do in the case, I am alarmed, lest a see-sawing commences, by which neither your troops nor the Governor's will get along in any reasonable time. Now, I want you to cut the knots, and send
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them right along, five regiments here, and nine to Fort Monroc, just as understood when we parted. Yours very truly,
A. LINCOLN. C. H. RUSSELL, EsQ.
UNION DEFENCE COMMITTEE OF THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK, OFFICE NO. 30 PINE STREET, NEW YORK, Muy 18, 1861.
MY DEAR SIR :
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 16th inst., and am requested by this Committee to say in reply that the instructions you so promptly accorded to our request, that this Committee should be authorized to send forward fourteen regiments immediately, will, as you now again command, be fully carried out ; five of the regiments to be sent to Washington and nine to Fortress Monroe, with all the dispatch possible.
I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, C. H. RUSSELL.
HIS EXCELLENCY A. LINCOLN, President.
P. S. 3 P. M .- To further guard against the possibilities of mis- takes on the part of Governor Morgan, this Committee has just sent a telegram to the Hon. Secretary of War, of which I think it proper to enclose to you a copy.
NEW YORK, May 18, 1861.
HON. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War.
Telegram. In your orders to Governor Morgan have you not for- gotton to add the concluding words of your order to our Committee, viz. : " The fourteen regiments are to be selected by the Union Defence Committee of New York ?" We are carrying out your order to us strictly and rapidly. Weask the above question because we hear that the Governor is going to send five regiments to Washington and nine to Fort Monroe.
S. DRAPER, Chairman Ex. Com.
HON. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War.
WAR DEPARTMENT, May 18, 1861. HON. HAMILTON FISH,
Chairman Union Defence Committee of New York.
The President has instructed me to say that the order for the fourteen regiments from the State of New York, made the 15th day
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of May, A.D. 1861, included the brigade of five regiments com- manded by Genl. D. E. Sickles. Yours truly,
SIMON CAMERON, Sec'y of War.
With Governor Morgan
NEW YORK, May 19th, 1861.
HIS EXCELLENCY E. D. MORGAN,
Governor, etc., etc.
SIR : The President of the United States was pleased to issue an order, authorizing this Committee to select fourteen regiments, of those organized or in process of organization, in or in the neighbor- hood of this city, and to forward the same to Washington. These fourteen regiments were by the order to be in addition to the thirty- eight regiments, for which requisition had previously been made on your Excellency. The Committee, in pursuance of this authority, have already designated the Fourteenth, Ninth, Seventeenth and Second. Of these the Fourteenth has already been moved forward and the others are ready to move.
The Committee learn this moment from Major-General Sanford, that this action is deemed to interfere with your authority, and they take the earliest moment to assure you that nothing has been further from their intention or will. They desire in this as in all other matters to act in conformity with the wishes and the regula- tions of the constituted authorities, and especially with those of the Commander in Chief of their own State.
The Sub-Committee of this body, which visited Washington, understood from the President that the authority given them would not be in conflict with the powers and duties of the State Gor- ernment; and in their earnest desire to expedite the movement of the troops, and to advance the public interests and safety, they would regret to learn that there had been any infringe- ment upon the courtesy due to the Chief Magistrate of the State.
I have the honor to be, Very respectfully,
Your Excellency's obedient servant, HAMILTON FISH, Chairman.
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ASTOR HOUSE, NEW YORK, 26th May, 1861.
To HON. HAMILTON FISH,
Chairman Union Defence Committee.
GENTLEMEN :
Having been advised by the President of the United States, as also by Colonel Franklin, of the Twelfth Infantry, U.S.A., specially commissioned by the War Department to arrange and settle all questions connected with the movement of troops in the State of New York, that fourteen regiments tendered by the Union Defence Committee to the President were accepted by him on the 15th instant, with the understanding that they were ready to go forward, and that he really wishes me to commission any part of such four- teen regiments as are ready to go forward, and desirous of carrying into effect the wishes of the President, I beg to say that if the 9th and 79th Regiments, N.Y.S.M., desired to muster into the United States service for the three years, unless sooner discharged, I will, when so mustered, give authority for them to leave the State, and issue the necessary commissions.
If you have four regiments organized under U. S. General Orders No. 15, and wish me to appoint and commission the officers of such regiments, it will be necessary to present the men for a medical inspection by one or more State surgeons in the mode adopted at the New York Depot for the surgical examination of the regiments organized under the Act of April 16, 1861.
Upor. the certificate of the mustering officer, who will make the examination with the State surgeon, that the regiments are entitled to an organization, aud on filing authenticated. copies of the Company and Field and Staff Muster Rolls in the office of the Adjutant-General of this State, I will make the necessary appoint- ments, and issue the commissions.
It must, however, be understood that these regiments are not to include any persons who are enrolled in any of the thirty-eight regi- ments now organized, or any who have been heretofore rejected by the medical or inspecting officers. I am, with much regard,
Your obedient servant,
E. D. MORGAN.
ALBANY, May 28, 1861. 1.3
Telegram. I cannot consent to the departure of the Garibaldi Guard until after they are mustered into the service of the United States for three years. Keyes' headquarters at the arsenal.
E. D. MORGAN.
MESSRS. HAMILTON FISH, J. J. ASTOR and SAMUEL SLOAN.
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NEW YORK, May 23, 1861.
To HIS EXCELLENCY E. D. MORGAN,
Governor.
DEAR SIR :
Upon our return home last evening, we found that the Ninth Regiment had, during the day, been sent forward without having been mustered into the service of the United States, in accordance with your instruction.
The occasion and circumstances which had induced this movement (in omission of a very proper requirement on your part, and one which the Committee, as well as ourselves, are prepared fully to recognize and to approve) will, we trust, be received by you as a justification of this disregard of your instruc- tions.
We beg to assure you that while the Executive Committee acted in this matter under a sense of urgent necessity, it was done without the slightest knowledge or suspicion on the part of the undersigned, that any troops would or could be for- warded yesterday ; it was wholly without premeditation and the result of circumstances suddenly presenting themselves, and we are authorized to say that the Committee regret that any, either real or seeming necessity should have induced the movement without a strict compliance with your wishes.
They desire us to assure you that with regard to the other regiments your orders to General Hall and to Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes have been delivered and will be observed, and they trust that the occurrence with regard to the Ninth Regiment will not be allowed to disturb the friendly and confidential relations which they hope do, and will continue to exist between the Governor and the Com- mittee.
Permit us to add that the report of our interview of yester- day with you was received with the warmest feelings of kind- ness, and a resolution was adopted which will be duly certified and transmitted to you by the Secretary of the Executive Com- mittee.
We are, dear sir, with great respect, Your obedient servants, HAMILTON FISH, J. J. ASTOR, JR., SAM. SLOAN.
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ALBANY, May 29, 1864.
1
GENTLEMEN :
I have received your favor of the 28th instant, in which you refer particularly to the non-compliance of the Ninth Regiment in its instructions, the propriety and necessity of which cannot be doubted, I think.
As matters are now situated, we can only hope for the best, and labor in the future to prevent anything being done, which will tend to further embarrass the public service.
I beg to renew to you my high regard, and
I am, very truly, E. D. MORGAN.
To HON. HAMILTON FISH, and Messrs. J. J. ASTOR, JR., and SAMUEL SLOAN, Committee, New York.
ALBANY, May 29, 1861.
DEAR SIR :
In acknowledging the receipt of your favor of yesterday's date, I can only say that if the Garibaldi Guard will muster into the service of the General Government for three years, after reaching Washing- ton, the irregularities attending their departure from New York must be overlooked.
The chief embarrassment connected with this regiment will then be the difficulty of appointing and commissioning the company and regimental officers.
I am, with great respect, yours, E. D. MORGAN.
TO JOHN J. ASTOR, EsQ., Chairman, etc., etc., New York.
ALBANY, May 29, 1861.
Telegram. The following is a copy of a dispatch this moment received by me from Judge Advocate-General Anthon, under date of Washington, May 28. Four hundred men of the Second Regi- ment were mustered this afternoon for the war. Three hundred and fifty refused. The 9th Regiment arrived without orders and without arms; what shall be done with them ?
E. D. MORGAN.
TO HAMILTON FISH, Chairman, etc.
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HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA,
June 8, 1861.
To the Union Defence Committee, New York City.
GENTLEMEN :
I observe by the newspapers that you have sent a large number of cavalry horses to Washington.
In my movements in this department I am often annoyed by small scouting parties of the enemy, mounted men, who run when- ever ours approach. If I had even a small troop of light horsemen, I could easily disembarrass myself of these gentry. I could also em- ploy such a force in most important duties of reconnoitering and skirmishing. In fact, a larger or smaller troop of Chasseurs à cheval is almost essential to my advance, in due time.
I merely take the liberty of stating my want to you in this in- formal manner. If you can send me fifty or more horses with regu- lation saddles, bridles, spurs and equipment complete, I can make them of great service in increasing the efficiency of my division, composed in great part, as you are aware, of New York troops. I can mount the horses with men who will give a good account of themselves. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER, Maj .- Genl. Com'd'g.
By GEO. WINTHROP,
Acting Mil. Sec. and Aide de Camp.
REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENDITURES
UNION DEFENCE COMMITTEE OF THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK, OFFICE NO. 30 PINE STREET, NEW YORK, December 31st, 1861.
HON. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War, Washington.
SIR : It becomes the duty of the undersigned to present for your consideration the question of reimbursing expenditures made by this Committee in the organization, outfit and subsistence of volunteers.
To a proper understanding of this case, it may be necessary to recur to the origin of the power exercised and the source of the means employed by the Committee in efforts to aid the Government of the country in a critical emergency.
In the month of April last, by the joint action of a Committee of merchants from the Chamber of Commerce and another appointed at a mass meeting of citizens, energetic measures were adopted to
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obtain means necessary for fitting out and dispatching regiments of volunteers for the defence of the national capital, under the call of the President.
The two Committees having united in an organization under the name of the Union Defence Committee, the government of the city of New York, by a munificent act of patriotic legislation, created a fund amounting to a million dollars, which was placed under the control of the Committee to be used " in aid of the defence of the National Union."
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