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 16
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This fund was provided from an issue of bonds on the credit of the Corporation of the City of New York, for the payment of which the faith of the city was pledged, and also "all sums which may hereafter be received from the State of New York, or the United States, for the purpose of reimbursing the expenses incurred in pursuance of the ordinance."
The money thus provided was accepted as a sacred trust by the Union Defence Committee, to be applied to two objects : First, to organize and provide all essential outfits for regiments of volun- teers; and secondly, to aid the families of soldiers thus enlisted into the public service.
The expenditures in aid of the families of soldiers, amounting to twenty-three per centum of the whole fund, has been treated both by the city and the Committee as a free gift to the cause of the coun- try. No more effectual bounty to hasten enlistments could have been provided. Such a beneficent act could not fail to stimulate the popular feeling and induce volunteers to rally to the standard of a Government which took under its benevolent care the families of soldiers in the field.
The remaining portion of the fund has been used to defray the expenses of "collecting, drilling, and organizing volunteers." These expenses, so far as they come within the regulations of the army, the Committee believe to be a just charge upon the funds provided by Congress for the reimbursement of expenditures in aid of volunteers.
The advances made by the Committee have never been con- sidered or treated in any other sense than as a loan to the Govern- ment, to be reimbursed whenever the Department should be pre- pared to meet similar demands.
No encouragement of any kind has ever been held out to the volunteers or the Government that the money thus applied should be regarded in the light of a bounty to the one, or a free grant to the other.
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The action of the Comnrittee, in the discharge of an onerous public duty, has been disinterested, and devoted to the single pur- pose of rendering all the aid in their power to the public cause. With this view they have acted freely and cordially in concert with the officers of the Government in promoting the public good. Much labor and many thousands of dollars have been thus expended, for which no compensation or reimbursement will be asked or can be received.
But the question of urging payment for advances made in good faith out of a trust fund, the property of the citizens of New York, is a matter of conscientious duty imperative upon the Committee, and they feel justified, therefore, in pressing it upon your attention.
After public announcement that funds had been provided and placed in the hands of the mustering officer at this post for the pay- ment of similar demands, the Committee caused a portion of their claims to be stated and placed before that officer for settlement. This was done after repeated interviews, a frank expression of opinion on his part, and upon printed forms approved by him.
Herewith will be found copy of a communication addressed to General D. B. Sackett, Mustering Officer, under date of the 22d ultimo. To this communication a reply was received to the effect that the papers must be transmitted for the approval of the Adjutant- General before payment could be made. This course was taken, and a reply has been received from Assistant Adjutant-General George D. Ruggles, addressed to Lieut .- Col. W. A. Nichols, Muster- ing Officer, and by him referred to this office. A copy will accom- pany this, together with the reply thereto.
The undersigned will take leave also to transmit for the con- sideration of the Department a copy of a telegram received by the Chairman of the Executive Committee from the Secretary of War, which is deemed to be strictly in point, as under that paper an advance was made to a regiment then in process of organization.
Apparently there is no distinction whatever between the char- acter and merits of claims which the undersigned have reason to believe are daily considered and paid by the mustering officer and those submitted on behalf of this Committee and now brought to the notice of the Department.
In principle, purpose, term, form and equity they are iden- tical. The only real difference is to be found in the authority which submits them to the action of the Mustering Officer. In the one case the claim is presented by a party interested in the profits of the transaction; in the other it appears in the hands of a dis-
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interested friend of the Government, who at a critical period volun- tarily made advances of money to aid in organizing an army for which adequate means had not been provided by the constituted authorities.
The Committee are anxious to terminate their labors by sub- mitting their final report to their constituents. This cannot be done until their claims for these advances are adjusted. They con- fidently rely, therefore, upon the justice and courtesy of the Secre- tary of War for early action in the premises.
With sentiments of the highest respect,
Your obedient servants,
S. DRAPER,
Chairman Ex. Com.
HAMILTON FISH, Chairman U. D. C.
PROSPER M. WETMORE,
A. A. Low,
Secretary Executive Committee.
Treasurer U. D. C.
ROBERT T. HLAWS, Comptroller.
WILLIAM M. EVARTS,
Secretary.
Communications Appended.
UNION DEFENCE COMMITTEE OF THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK, OFFICE NO. 30 PINE STREET, NEW YORK, November 22, 1861.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
GENERAL : We transmit herewith a selection of duly authen- ticated vouchers for advances made to Volunteer Regiments from this State, now in the service of the United States. The vouchers sub- mitted at this time, ten in number, amounting in the aggregate to five thousand seven hundred and eighty-six 37-100 dollars, comprise advances made to the De Kalb Regiment, Colonel L. Von Gilsa, for its subsistence while in progress of organization.
Similar claims will be submitted from time to time for advances made to other Volunteer regiments organized in this city.
In reply to your inquiry as to the maximum amount of claims on your Department, we have to say that the accounts are numer- ous, and comprise expenditures under the various heads of sub- sistence, outfit, equipment, and arms.
We are of opinion that the amount comprised under the head of subsistence will not exceed the sum of seventy-five thousand dollars.
These advances have been made, not from any benevolent fund in the form of gratuitous bounty, but from the public treasury of this city, as a means of facilitating the operations of recruiting regiments of Volunteers. When reimbursed by the War Depart-
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ment, this money will return to the city treasury, in conformity with the act which created the fund.
We do not doubt that the propriety and justice of reimbursing these claims will be too apparent to need any argument beyond the mere statenient of the facts.
We are respectfully, Your obedient servants, A. A. Low, Treasurer U. D. C. P. M. WETMORE, Secretary Ex. Com.
GENERAL D. B. SACKETT, etc., etc., etc., New York.
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS STATE OF NEW YORK, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, ALBANY, December 10, 1861.
HON. SIMEON DRAPER,
Chairman Union Defence Committee, New York.
SIR: The operations of the Union Defence Committee have em- braced the arming, equipment, and preparing for active service several of the New York volunteer regiments now in the field.
It seems to me to be proper that your patriotic and timely efforts should be appropriately noticed in the report to be made to the Legislature from this Department.
I have, therefore, to request you will at as early a day as pos- sible, furnish me with a list of the regiments sent off under the anspices of the Committee, with such information respecting the clothing, arming, and equipment of each regiment as you may be able to give.
I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, THOMAS HILLHOUSE, Adjt. Gen'l.
UNION DEFENCE COMMITTEE, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, NEW YORK, December 16, 1861.
GENERAL: I am instructed to acknowledge the courtesy which dictated your communication addressed to the Vice-Chairman under date 10th instant, which was received in his absence. The Union Defence Committee was the creation of the citizens of New York in mass meeting assembled on the 20th day of April last, and its mem- bers entered upon the discharge of its onerous duties with an
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earnest desire to do all in their power to aid " the movements of the Government as the public interests might require."
Recognizing the supreme authority of the State Government in the organization of volunteer regiments, and appreciating fully the zeal and public spirit of the Executive Magistrate in the discharge of his official obligations, the Committee have only sought to fulfil a subordinate duty in fitting out and facilitating the progress of regiments to the seat of war.
With the exception of four regiments hereinafter named, the action of the Committee had reference to the militia and volunteer corps accepted by the War Department as the State quota; and it is proper to say that in many instances the aid afforded was ex- ceedingly limited in amount, and extended only to the furnishing of flags, or supplying some slight deficiency of outfit to officers or men.
Of the whole number of regiments from the State of New York placed in the field under the call of the President of the United States, this Committee have aided in some degree sixty-six.
This number embraces most of the militia regiments which entered for the short term of service under the first call, and a por- tion of the volunteer regiments enlisted for the war.
Four regiments were organized, uniformed and completely equipped by the Committee, namely : The Garibaldi Guard, Colonel D'Utassy ; the Mozart Regiment, Col. Riley ; the De Kalb Regiment, Col. Von Gilsa; and the Tammany Regiment, Col. Kennedy. These are now known on the State rolls as the 39th, 40th, 41st and 42d Regiments of the N. Y. S. Volunteers.
In addition to the four regiments above-named as having been exclusively provided for by the Committee, the following are among the number which received effectual aid in their organiza- tion :
OF THE MILITIA.
Second Regiment Col. Tompkins.
Fifth Regiment.
Schwarzwaelder.
Sixth Regiment .
Pinckney.
Seventh Regiment.
Lefferts.
Eighth Regiment.
Lyons.
Ninth Regiment
Styles.
Twelfth Regiment.
Butterfield.
Sixty-ninth Regiment.
Corcoran.
Seventy-first Regiment.
Martin.
Seventy-ninth Regiment. Lt .- Col. Elliot.
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OF THE VOLUNTEERS.
First Regiment. Col. Allen.
Fourth Regiment.
Taylor.
Fifth Regiment.
Duryee.
Seventh Regiment
Bendix.
Eighth Regiment Blenker.
Ninth Regiment
Hawkins.
Tenth Regiment.
McChesney.
Eleventh Regiment. Ellsworth.
Fifteenth Regiment.
Murphy.
Twentieth Regiment.
Weber.
Twenty-fifth Regiment
Kerrigan.
Thirty-first Regiment. 66
Pratt.
Thirty-sixth Regiment.
Innis.
Thirty-eighth Regiment. Excelsior Regiment.
Ward.
Sickles.
To the regiments not named in the above list the sums appro- priated were less than three thousand dollars in each case.
The average cost of the entire outfit aud equipment of the four regiments accepted by the War Department under the order of the 15th of May last, and sent forth under the auspices of the Commit- tee, exclusive of arms, but including rations for the whole period occupied in the organization, was about fifty-three thousand dollars.
The uniforms were selected by the commanding officers, but the contracts or purchases were in each instance made under the direc- tion of a Select Committee, and it is believed that the outfit and equipment of each were as complete as could be made under the circumstances.
The expenditures of the Committee were commenced from a fund provided by the voluntary contribution of the citizens of New York. This fund was almost immediately enlarged by the munificent grant of a million of dollars by the city of New York. Out of this fund the sum of two hundred and thirty thousand dollars was appropriated and disbursed under the direction of a Select Committee, in weekly payments, to the families of volunteers in the field.
The Committee look to the Government of the United States for the reimbursement of such advances to regiments of volunteers as come properly within the regulations of the army, and the proceeds of such reimbursements are to be applied to the redemption of the stock issued by the city to create the fund.
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The Committee have the satisfaction of adding, that they have already provided for the redemption of nearly seventy thousand dol- Jars of City Bonds from the proceeds of arms, etc., sold to the War Department.
The Committee refer to their several reports made to the Com- mon Council from time to time, printed copies of which have been addressed to the Adjutant-General's Office, and to the accompany- ing table [omitted here], which purports to give the entire list of regiments forming the quota of the State of New York, and indicates those with which the Committee have had transactions, embracing alike the largest and smallest in amount.
The citizens of New York can scarcely fail to feel grateful for the opportunity afforded them of aiding so effectually in the noble efforts made by the State for the support of the Constitution and laws of the country.
With high respect, Your obedient servant, PROSPER M. WETMORE, Secretary Executive Committee.
(Approved)
S. DRAPER, Chairman Executive Committee.
Brigadier-General THOMAS HILLHOUSE,
Adjutant-General, Albany, N. Y.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 1861.
LIEUT. - COLONEL W. A. NICHOLS,
Mustering Officer, 79 White Street, New York.
COLONEL :
In reply to the letter of Colonel Sackett, addressed to this de- partment, November 22d, relating to bills presented by the " Union Defence Committee," I am directed to say that no accounts of this kind can be paid from the appropriation for "collecting, drilling and organizing volunteers." Such accounts should be presented to the Secretary of the Treasury for such action as may be determined on by him.
I am, Colonel, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, GEO. D. RUGGLES, Asst. Adjutant-General.
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UNION DEFENCE COMMITTEE OF THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK, OFFICE NO. 30 PINE STREET, NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 1861.
Executive Committee.
LIEUT .- COLONEL W. A. NICHOLS, U. S. A.,
Mustering Officer, etc.
SIR: I have to acknowledge your note of the 19th inst., covering copy of an official communication from the Adjutant- General's Office, under date 17th inst., in reply to one from Colonel Sackett, the 22d of November, in which had been transmitted for the approval of the Adjutant-General, certain claims for advances made by this Committee in aid of the movements of the War Department "for expenses of collecting, drilling and organizing volunteers."
I am instructed to say that the Committee have noticed with no little surprise the expression of an opinion from the Adjutant-Gen- eral's Department, in relation to bills presented by the Union De- fence Committee, " That no accounts of this kind can be paid from the appropriation for 'collecting, drilling and organizing volunteers.'"
The Committee having, from necessity, become somewhat familiar with the course of business devolved by the Adjutant-Gen- eral on the Mustering Officer at this post, are quite confident that the daily practice of the office is to pay accounts precisely " of this kind," and also, that the funds are provided for that purpose from the appropriation named.
With all respect for the better judgment of the Adjutant-Gen- ral, the Committee are inclined to adopt his suggestion of a new tribunal for decision on this case.
All the transactions of the Committee have been had with the War Department; expenditures have been incurred within its knowledge, and payments for "collecting, drilling and organizing volunteers " have been made, under the express written sanction of the head of that department. It is not, therefore, deemed either advisable or proper at this time to look for reimbursement of moneys expended in good faith, and under such circumstances, in aid of the War Department, to any other branch of the Government.
I respectfully ask that this note, or a copy thereof, may be trans- mitted to the Adjutant-General's office.
I remain, your obedient servant, P. M. WETMORE, Secretary,
Ex. Com. Union Defence Committee.
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WASHINGTON, August 22, 1861.
Telegram.
The Mustering Officer has full authority to draw for money to pay for expenses of collecting, drilling and organizing volunteers. Tell Col. Dunham.
SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War.
UNION DEFENCE COMMITTEE, NEW YORK, January 25, 1862.
HON. P. A. PORTER,
House of Assembly, Albany.
SIR : The undersigned have great pleasure in furnishing the information desired by you as a member of the House of Assem- bly, in a personal interview with their Secretary on the 24th instant.
The Union Defence Committee was appointed at a mass meeting of the citizens of New York held on the 20th of April, 1861. The duties confided to the Committee, by resolution of the meeting, were declared to be "to represent the citizens in the collection of funds, and the transaction of such other business in aid of the move- ments of the Government as the public interest may require."
On the 25th of the same month the Common Council of the City of New York, with the approval of the Mayor, adopted an ordi- nance " making an appropriation in aid of the National Union, and authorizing the borrowing of money for that purpose. The appro- priation was declared to be " for the purpose of procuring the neces- sary equipments and outfits of the military force of the city of New York now engaged, or which may hereafter be engaged in the serv- ice of the State of New York, in pursuance of the requisition of the President of the United States, and to provide for the aid or sup- port of the families of such of the officers and men so engaged as may require the same."
The Committee was organized, and the members entered upon their duties without delay. The names of the several officers and the arrangement of Select Committees for the efficient transaction of business will be found by reference to the printed reports trans- mitted herewith.
Acting in concert with the representatives of the Municipal au- thorities, and having the control of a fund created by them, the Com- mittee considered it an incumbent duty to make reports to the Common Council, from time to time, of the progress of their labors. These reports, bearing date respectively the 20th of May, the 29th
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of June, the 21st of August, and the 31st of August, have been printed by order of the Common Council, and a copy of the same accompanies this report.
By reference to the table contained in the report of the 21st of August [Doc. 18, pages 54, 56], it will appear that from the fund created by the ordinance, amounting to one million of dollars, there had been appropriated and paid the following sums, namely :
To the regiments of New York State Militia, the gross amount. $157,336 97
To twenty-five regiments of New York Volunteers .. . 349,846 23
To fourteen regiments of Volunteers (incomplete) .. . 24,947 77
Total am't expended on forty-nine organizations $532,130 97
Amount expended for arms and munitions of war ... 226,589 27
Total military expenditures $758,720 24
Amount appropriated to relief of families. 230,000 00
Total expenditure from City Fund up to date of report.
$988,720 24
Remaining unexpended on the 31st of August
11,279 76
$1,000,000 00
Of the balance remaining as above, the items of expenditure to military organizations will appear in the final report of the Com- mittee.
All appropriations for military purposes have been drawn from the city treasury upon warrants on the Comptroller, signed by three duly authorized officers of the Committee, countersigned by the Treasurer, and accompanied by vouchers which are retained in the Comptroller's office.
The amounts appropriated from time to time in aid of families were drawn upon warrants issued in favor of the Select Committee charged with that duty, which warrants are also lodged in the Comp- troller's office. This branch of the duties confided to the Commit- tee was completed on the 18th of July, and the final report on that subject, embracing all the details, is fully set forth by the Select Committee under date of 31st of August. It is proper to add, that a deputation from the Common Council, and also of citizens from the several wards, acted in concert with the Committee in the dis- charge of this duty of benevolence.
Before leaving this latter topic, it may be observed that the relief provided for the families of soldiers in the field was an act of
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thoughtful charity and humane legislation, the beneficial effect of which can scarcely be estimated. Many thousands of women and children, without this resource, must have been left utterly desti- tute. The fund was administered with the considerate kindness due to its deserving recipients, and with the regularity and fidelity that belonged to its sacred character.
With the view to communicate information which is constantly applied for, on the subject of relief to families, it may be proper to state that the Union Defence Committee have had no connection whatever with that subject since July last. An appropriation of five hundred thousand dollars was made subsequently by the City Government, and disbursed under the authority and direction of the Comptroller, aided by the same faithful and intelligent agents who had previously discharged that duty. This appropriation was exhausted at the close of November. A further sum has since been appropriated by the municipal authorities, of which the entire charge has been placed in the hands of the Comptroller, and it is scarcely necessary to express the confident assurance that the zeal and fidelity of that officer will fully redeem the obligations of the trust confided to him.
Whether the authorities of the State of New York will recog- nize the claim of the city for reimbursement of the whole or any part of the sums appropriated in aid of the families of soldiers who have volunteered in the public defence, is a question resting between the municipal authorities and the Legislature.
The Union Defence Committee, however, have felt it to be a duty incumbent on them before finally closing their labors to sub- mit to the Government of the United States claims for reimburse- ment of advances made to organized regiments under the several heads of outfit and equipment.
These claims are now in process of being stated for adjustment, and a portion are already before the different bureaus of the War Department. It can scarcely be a matter of doubt that the demands will be promptly responded to. The active agency of the City of New York in concert with the vigorous and efficient movements of the Executive of the State, was sensibly felt and warmly recognized by the officers of the National Government, when its immediate safety, if not its ultimate existence, was endangered.
The claims represented by the Committee on behalf of the City of New York against the United States cannot be accurately stated until each separate account, with its accompanying vouchers, is brought within the limits of expenditure controlled by the army
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regulations. A general view, however, may be obtained from the following statement :
Gross expenditures for military purposes. $758,720 24
Since 31st of August. 11,279 76
$770,000 00
Less amount received from War Department for arms,
etc., reimbursed to Comptroller, and applied to re-
demption of stock. 67,000 00
8703,000 00
Less, also, amount of bill for arms sold to Ordnance
Department, and passed for payment to be applied
as above. 40,000 00
Approximate balance to debit of United States. $663 000 00
The duty of the Committee in preparing and urging these claims for adjustment and payment is pursued with all needful zeal and assiduity. No measures will be omitted to secure an early and fa- vorable result.
In the hasty preparation of this response to your inquiries, the desire has been to make it as frank and full as the circumstances would admit. The books and accounts of the Committee are at all times accessible to the proper authority, and the Committee have great satisfaction in believing that their transactions, involving so large an expenditure of money, and affecting interests so vitally im- portant to the country, have been conducted in a manner that will justify the public approbation.
With sentiments of high respect,
Your obedient servants,
A. A. Low, Treasurer, C. H. MARSHALL,
S. DRAPER, Chairman Ex. Com., ISAAC BELL,
R. H. MCCURDY, EDWARDS PIERREPONT,
M. H. GRINNELL, R. M. BLATCHFORD,
PROSPER M. WETMORE, Secretary Ex. Com.
CELEBRATION OF WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY
Invitation
UNION DEFENCE COMMITTEE OF THE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK, February 18, 1862.
SIR: This Committee have invited a mass meeting of the citi- zens to assemble at two o'clock P.M., on Saturday, the 22d of February instant, to commemorate the BIRTH OF WASHINGTON, and
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