USA > New York > The first hundred years : records and reminiscences of a century of Company I, Seventh Regiment, N.G.N.Y., 1838-1938 > Part 19
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Regiment in the same straightforward way as he offered it before. This expedi- tion, as you know, was given up, but that does not alter the facts that the Regiment volunteered.
Later in June when the second call for volunteers was issued, it being under- stood that regiments were to be ordered out, Colonel Appleton went directly to Albany and again offered the services of the Regiment and again Governor Black declined our offer.
It has been made to appear as though the Regiment in offering its services the second time went back on its former position, but nothing is farther from the truth.
To sum up, this Regiment volunteered for the war on April 19; again, as I have said, to President Mckinley the first part of May; again when tele- graphed for by Secretary Alger, and again to Governor Black under the second call. Its course has been straight and undeviating, and in its volunteering it volunteered without asking or making any conditions whatsoever in any way, shape or form.
The following is a complete list as far as can be obtained, of the men of "I" who were in active service during the late war with Spain, with their rank, organization, the battles they were in, and honorable mention received.
ACTIVES
Sergeant Theodore B. Taylor, Second Lieutenant, Company A, 8th Regiment Infantry, N.Y.U.S. Volunteers. Promoted First Lieutenant, same Company. Transferred First Lieutenant, Company B, 12th Regiment Infantry, N.Y.U.S. Volunteers.
Sergeant John L. Roberts, Jr., Captain Company I, 201st Regiment Infantry, N.Y. Volunteers.
Corporal Calhoun Cragin, Second Lieutenant, Company L, 14th Regiment Infantry, N.Y. U.S. Volunteers. Promoted First Lieutenant and Battalion Adjutant, same Regiment.
Private Henry H. Adams, Jr., First Lieutenant, Company D, 14th Regiment Infantry, N.Y.U.S. Volunteers. Promoted First Lieutenant and Regimental Adjutant, same Regiment. Promoted Captain Co. K, same Regiment. Attached temporarily to the Staff of Major General Miles, Commanding the Army.
Private Melville D. Chapman, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Private William M. Copp, Second Lieutenant, Battery E, 6th Regiment Artillery, U.S. Army.
Private Curtis Noble Earle, Private, Company A, 71st Regiment Infantry, N.Y.U.S. Volunteers. Promoted Sergeant, same Company. In the fighting around Santiago de Cuba and the attack on San Juan Hill.
Private Carl Fischer-Hansen, First Lieutenant, Company L, 1st Regiment U.S. Volunteer Engineers. Detailed Aide-de-Camp to Major General Wade.
Private George F. Hawkins, as a civilian without rank or pay attached to the Staff of Major General Shafter as Volunteer Aide. In the fighting around Santiago de Cuba. Recommended for a commission as Second Lieutenant in U.S. Army.
Private George Perrine, Second Lieutenant, Company C, 1st Regiment U.S. Volunteer Engineers. Promoted First Lieutenant, same Company.
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
Company I men commissioned in 1898 Left to right: Calhoun Cragin, Second Lieutenant, 14th N.Y. U.S. Vols. Theodore B. Taylor, First Lieutenant, 12th N.Y. U.S. Vols. Henry H. Adams, Captain, 14th N.Y . U.S. Vols.
Private E. Ormonde Power, Second Lieutenant, Company K, 12th Regiment Infantry, U.S. Volunteers. Promoted First Lieutenant, Company A, same Regiment.
Private Nathaniel C. Robbins, Private, Astor Battery, U.S. Army. In fighting around Manila.
EX-MEMBERS
P. Lynch Garrett, Sergeant, Company E, 2nd Regiment Infantry, Oregon U.S. Volunteers (Member-elect, December 17, 1885-November 1, 1887).
Private Garrison Ball, First Sergeant, Company I, 201st Regiment Infantry, N.Y. Volunteers.
Private John R. Blake, Captain Company K, 12th Regiment Infantry, N.Y.U.S. Volunteers.
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Private William De W. Dimock, Ensign U.S. Navy, U.S.S. Yankee. In the bombardment of Santiago de Cuba (twice), Casilda, Guantanamo, Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Caimanera, Isle of Pines. Received honorable mention.
Private Franklin W. Hamlin, Private, Company B, 8th Regiment Infantry, N.Y.U.S. Volunteers.
Private William A. Harper, Captain and Quartermaster on the Staff of Brigadier General F. V. Greene. In the fighting around Manila.
Private William D. Hobart, Private, Company E, 13th Regiment Infantry, Minnesota U.S. Volunteers. In the fighting around Manila.
Private Charles A. Mather, Sergeant Major, 201st Regiment Infantry, N.Y. Volunteers. Promoted Second Lieutenant, Co. L, same Regiment.
Private John McClintock, Major, 203rd Regiment Infantry, N.Y. Volunteers.
Private Lincoln W. McLeod, First Lieutenant, Company H, 71st Regiment Infantry, N.V.U.S. Volunteers. In the fighting around Santiago de Cuba and the attack on San Juan Hill.
Private Murray Nichols, First Lieutenant, 7th Regiment Infantry, U.S. Army. Pro- moted Captain, same Regiment. In fighting around Santiago de Cuba. Wounded in the attack on San Juan Hill.
Private Charles W. Smith, Jr., Captain Company I, 12th Regiment Infantry, N.Y.U.S. Volunteers.
Corporal Joseph I. Black, Private, Company K, 71st Regiment Infantry, N.Y.U.S. Volun- teers. In the fighting around Santiago de Cuba. Died of disease contracted in the service at Santiago, September 3, 1898. In the death of Joseph I. Black, the first 7th Regiment man to lose his life in the Spanish-American War, history repeats itself, as the first 7th Regiment man to lose his life in the Civil War was Theodore Winthrop of the Ninth Company. Joseph I. Black enlisted in the Company September 4, 1871, and was promoted Corporal December 7, 1874, and received his full and honorable discharge November 6, 1878. When war was declared he was among the first to offer his services to his country, applying to be reenlisted in his old Company. Finding the Regiment was not to be ordered out he at once joined Company K, 71st Regiment Infantry, N.Y.U.S. Volunteers, and, as a member of that organization, died serving his country.
Ex-Member
John W. French, enlisted Company F, 71st Regiment Infantry, N.Y., May 2, 1898. Mustered in U.S. service May 10, 1898; mustered out November 15, 1898. Killed at San Juan, Porto Rico, where he went after the war as a schoolteacher.
TRIP ABROAD OF CAPTAIN LANDON AND CAPTAIN FALLS July 5-15, 1899
In 1899, the Volunteers of England were to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of their organization.
Sir Howard Vincent, Colonel of the Queen's Westminster Rifle Volunteers, was anxious to have the 7th Regiment, or at least a Company, to participate in the celebration. When this was found impractical, he asked Colonel Appleton to send over a representation, which he consented to do, and Captains Landon
WINDSOR JULY 15 - 1899
Captain Francis G. Landon and Captain DeWitt C. Falls presented to Queen Victoria at Windsor, 1899
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and Falls were detailed for that function. The account of their overwhelmingly hospital reception follows:
"We arrived at Southampton, Wednesday evening, July 5, 1899. Upon land- ing we were handed a letter of welcome from Sir Howard Vincent. He had in- structed his agent to look after us and our luggage, consequently we were rushed through without the slightest annoyance or delay at the Custom House.
"On Thursday morning, July 6, we presented our credentials to the Hon. Joseph H. Choate, United States Ambassador. While at the Embassy we called upon Major General S. S. Sumner, our Military Attaché.
"By appointment we then called upon Colonel Sir Howard Vincent, who received us in his hearty manner. We found awaiting us a large num- ber of invitations and notifications of honorary membership in the follow- ing organizations: The National Rifle Association, the Royal United Service Institution, the Officers' Mess, Queen's Westminster R.V .; the Officers' Mess, London Scottish V.R.C. We were put up at the Royal Societies Club with rooms at our disposal. By special request of Colonel Vincent we then made the following official calls : The Queen, H.R.H., the Prince of Wales, and H.R.H., the Duke of Connaught, Field Marshal Viscount Wolseley, Commander-in- Chief of the Army; the Duke of Westminster, Honorary Colonel of the Queen's Westminster Volunteers; Major General Trotter, military commander of the district of London.
That evening we were guests at the annual mess dinner of the officers of the London Scottish V.R.C., Lieutenant Colonel E. J. A. Balfour, Commandant, who were the first to entertain us, a pleasant little compliment to the 7th, as they are officially known as the 7th Middlesex. About forty officers sat down to the dinner, they in their mess uniform and we in our fatigue uniform with white trousers. In addition to their being the 7th Middlesex, their uniform is gray, although cut in Highland style. The feature of the table decorations was
Company I group, State Camp, 1899
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
Ninth Company Camp, Oscawana, June 1899
the display of magnificent silver plate, largely trophies won in rifle competi- tions, of which this regiment holds more than any other.
"We were warmly welcomed, and had a most enjoyable evening. Colonel Balfour, in a few well chosen words, toasted our country and Regiment, and called upon Captain Landon to reply, and these were the only speeches of the evening.
"On Friday, July 7, through the courtesy of Colonel Vincent and General Sumner, we attended the Henley Regatta as guests of the Grosvenor Club, in their private enclosure.
"On Saturday morning, July 8, as the guests of Colonel Fludyer, Commander of the Scots Guards, we visited the Horse Guards at Whitehall; and then, es- corted by his Brigade Major, Captain Neill, we were shown through Wellington Barracks, and were cordially received by the officers of the Grenadier Guards in their mess room.
"At 3 p.m., in full dress uniform, with white trousers, we went to the head- quarters of the Queen's Westminster R.V., where we met the officers, and were present at their formation. We then went to the reviewing stand, where we had seats provided for us directly behind the royal party at the reviewing point.
"As near as we could estimate, 27,000 troops, taking exactly two hours, passed the reviewing point, and were reviewed by H.R.H., the Prince of Wales. This small army was recruited entirely from the district of London. The formation
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THE GAY 'NINETIES
was thirty-two files front, and the distinctive uniforms of the different regi- ments made a varied and splendid showing.
"After the review, we went direct to the headquarters of the Queen's West- minster R.V., where we were presented to the men and veterans of the corps. It is very hard, in fact, impossible, to convey any idea of the enthusiastic re- ception we received as representatives of the United States. Surrounded on the drill floor by some five hundred men, we were greeted with prolonged and deaf- ening cheers, which completely drowned the band that was playing American airs.
"After an address of welcome by Colonel Vincent, to which we both re- sponded, other officers, both veterans and actives, made short addresses of the most complimentary character to our country and Regiment. We were then en- tertained at the officers' mess at an informal dinner, and had a most enjoy- able evening.
"On Sunday, July 9, Colonel Vincent and Lady Vincent entertained Mrs. Landon and us at luncheon, to which were invited the Duke of Westminster, Lord Wolseley, General Sumner, and several other prominent volunteer officers and ladies. After luncheon we were the guests of the Royal Zoological Society at afternoon tea at the Zoological Gardens.
"On Monday, July 10, in the afternoon, Captain and Mrs. Landon were the guests of Colonel Sir Howard and Lady Vincent at the Houses of Parliament, and afterwards had afternoon tea 'on the Terrace.' In the evening, in return for his many kindnesses, we entertained Colonel Vincent at dinner at the Royal Societies Club. We had the honor to have also as our guests the Hon. Joseph H. Choate, United States Ambassador, Major General Sumner, the military attaché, and several officers, both regular and volunteer, to whom we were indebted for many favors.
"On Tuesday, July 11, we were the guests of the Treasurer, Judge Bay- lis, Q.C., and the Masters of the Bench of the Honorable Society of the Inner Temple at a garden party in the Inner Temple Garden and Hall. Judge Baylis gave us his personal attention, and was our escort, during the afternoon.
"On Thursday, July 13, we attended a reception at the American Embassy and in the evening were guests of the Leathersellers, one of the Livery Com- panies of the City of London and also one of the most distinguished Guilds, founded in 1372. A beautiful hall, great hospitality, many short and amusing speeches, a very jolly evening.
"On Friday, July 14, we went to Bisley as guests of the National Rifle Asso- ciation. We were shown over the entire range and were guests at lunch of Brigadier General Sir Henry Fletcher, President of the Council of the N.R.A., at the Council Clubhouse. This was a most interesting day.
"On Saturday, July 15, by invitation of H.R.H., the Duke of Connaught, we were the guests of the Scots Guards, of which he is Honorary Colonel, at Wind- sor, upon the occasion of the ceremony of the presentation of the State Color to the Regiment by the Queen. This was a most interesting and historical cere-
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
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Non-coms of Company I, State Camp, 1899
Left to right: Stewart, Coppell, O'Connor, Wall, McAlpin, Houston, Keep, Patterson, Aldridge, Roberts, Cowperthwait, Delafield, D. Keep
mony. It took place on the lawn adjoining the castle. The day was a perfect one, and besides the Scots Guards there was a Guard of Honor from the Grenadiers. All the military and naval guests were in full uniform. The Regi- ment was formed on three sides of a square, the band between the battalions. The Queen, upon her arrival, took a position opposite the center. The new color, cased, was brought forward under a guard of eight especially selected· Sergeants, and was uncased, and placed on a pile of drums in front of the Royal carriage. The color was next consecrated by the Chaplain. It was then handed by the Colonel, H.R.H., the Duke of Connaught, to Her Majesty, from whom the lieutenant who was to carry it, received it on bended knee. Then the color detail, in slow time, marched to the center of the Regiment, the Regi- ment saluting. The Regiment then passed in review and afterwards formed line of battalions in close column in front of the Royal carriage. The command was then 'Caps off!' and then were given three hearty cheers for the Queen. The men placed their bear-skins on the muzzles of their pieces and raised them high as possible, waving them as they cheered.
"After the ceremony we had the extraordinary honor extended to us of a personal presentation to the Queen by H.R.H., the Duke of Connaught. We then, with other guests, had afternoon tea in the State Dining Room, St.
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THE GAY 'NINETIES
George's Hall, where H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught came forward to greet us and welcome us to England.
"We were especially indebted to Colonel Vincent for his efforts to make our stay enjoyable."
Queen's Hall, James Street, Buckingham Gate, S.W. December 1, 1899.
A tablet was erected this day in the Queen's Hall with an inscription as fol- lows: "Captain Francis G. Landon and Captain and Adjutant DeWitt Falls, of New York, U.S.A., visited the Queen's Westminster Volunteers as Official Delegates to the Royal Centenary Review, 1899. May the Anglo-Saxon Alli- ance flourish."
VI THE NEW CENTURY
THE CROTON DAM STRIKE APRIL 16 TO 24, 1900
T HE City of New York has obtained its water supply from the Croton River since 1842. In the early 'eighties it became apparent that the existing dam and reservoir would soon prove insufficient for the grow- ing needs of the metropolis. Hence in 1883 the city was authorized by the legis- lature to appropriate a larger area of the Croton watershed, and soon after began the construction of a much higher dam, which, when finished, would convert a ribbon of a river into a broad deep lake, extending up the valley a distance of twenty-five or thirty miles.
Many Italians were employed on the work. On April 2, 1900, most of the men engaged in the stone quarry nearby demanded higher wages and, when refused, went on strike, causing a suspension of all work on the dam and throwing a thousand men into idleness. The contractors, foreseeing interference with the employment of new men, requested protection from the sheriff and when the latter appeared at the dam with two hundred deputies, the Italians
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Chow at Croton Dam, April 1900
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THE NEW CENTURY
The Camp at Croton Dam, April 1900
resented their coming and displayed guns, pistols and knives, and were sus- pected of stealing dynamite for use in destroying the new works.
The lives of new men were threatened and the delivery of building material was interfered with. The sheriff, being unable to maintain order, appealed to Major General Roe for military assistance. General Roe ordered out a Mount Vernon company, and after a sergeant had been killed in a night attack upon this company, he called out Squadron A, Troop C and the 7th Regiment.
Company I under command of Captain Landon with 103 men (and five members elect) answered the call and on April 16, 1900, within a few hours after the receipt of orders, was on its way to Croton Lake Station by way of the Putnam Division of the New York Central Railroad, marching thence to the dam and pitching camp, with Company K as next-door neighbor, on the shelf of a hill above the works, these two companies being selected as a guard for Regi- mental Headquarters nearby. An outpost of thirty-two men was at once estab- lished on the crest of the hill, dubbed Spion Kop, to guard the cable anchorage; and later the two companies formed part of the cordon thrown around the entire settlement, while the sheriff was arresting the ringleaders.
This display of military force was all that was needed and not a shot was fired nor bayonet unsheathed, although the deputy sheriffs had reported a mob of seven hundred rioters, drilled and armed to the teeth with rifles, shotguns, revolvers, stilettos and clubs. Before the week was up, the Ninth Company showed its contempt for the Mafia by obtaining its daily shave in the barber
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
shop in Little Italy. After guard mount on April 24, tents were struck and the Regiment marched to Croton Landing and thence via the New York Central to New York, arriving at the Armory at about 4:45 p.m.
-FRANK W. HUBBY
Captain Horace C. Du Val Poet Laureate of Company I
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THE NEW CENTURY
CAPTAIN HORACE C. DU VAL
In the resignation of First Lieutenant Horace C. Du Val, Company I, Cap- tain by brevet, it is hard to tell whose loss will be the keener, the Company's or the Regiment's. For almost thirty years a member of the Regiment, an enthusiast to the last, a hard worker always, an able officer and a helpful comrade, his enforced retirement, because of business cares, must be a personal regret to every officer and man in the Regiment. His ripe experience and sound judgment in matters military have always made Captain Du Val respected; his sterling comradeship and ready cheerfulness, under all sorts of trying cir- cumstances, have always made him loved.
Captain Du Val joined the Regiment as a private in the Ninth Company on October 27, 1870, and has been a "hundred-per-cent-man" ever since that time, and one of the most popular and conspicuous members of the Regiment. He became Corporal in February 1872; Sergeant, January 2, 1883; First Sergeant, January 4, 1887; and a month later was advanced to First Lieutenant, passing over the Second Lieutenancy.
During all these three decades Captain Du Val has done every duty to which the 7th has been called. He served in the Orange riots, July 1871; the labor riots, July 1877; the Brooklyn trolley strike, January 1895; the Croton Dam strike, April 1900. He has been present at every Camp of Instruction at Peekskill since the first, in 1883.
Captain Du Val, ever ready to do more than his share, only retires because of the overwhelming responsibility which is his as right-hand man to Senator Chauncey M. Depew, the head of the great Vanderbilt system of railways. He has found himself unable to give the proper time to the Regiment, and so he makes way for another.
The Gazette, too, has always had in Captain Du Val an earnest and hearty supporter. He has not only encouraged it from the first, but he has been ever ready with suggestions and ideas for its betterment, and with contributions when he has had anything of interest. And if he must leave the Regiment, let us all hope that what is a loss to us may be a great gain to him in increasing activity and success in his business life. -R. L. F.
COMPANY I BEGINS THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
1900. Croton Dam Strike Duty, April 16 to 24, 1900. One hundred and three men present. Five members elect, temporarily enlisted in Company A. Total present for duty, 108.
Although more Regimental than Company history, it was in the fall of 1900, that another conspicuous change was made in our uniform. The old bobtailed fatigue jacket was passed down into history to be talked about by the old ones to the new recruits. We appeared in our refitted, misfitting blouses, with the addition of a few buttons and a neck tab. To add still further to our comfort, a gray flannel shirt was officially adopted and proved especially useful for camp and like duties. A motion to have these shirts washed periodically was also adopted by the Company but no one has noticed the motion work.
Peekskill Camp, 1901
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THE NEW CENTURY
At the fall games the unknowing public were surprised to see 7th Regiment men appear on the floor in a battery drill. It was just another of the Company I's progressive moves, two teams.
The "Cross of Honor" roll of the Regiment was added to by Second Lieu- tenant J. L. Roberts and Private R. N. Disbrow. To quote from the Captain's annual report: "Private Robert N. Disbrow has completed ten years of service and been decorated with the medal for long and faithful service. He has per- formed absolutely one hundred per cent of duty from the day of his enlist- ment. This record is unequalled in the annals of the Company. The Company is honored by such service and appreciates that in Private Disbrow it has one of the truest and most faithful 7th Regiment men."
The ambition to ride a horse, be saluted and read the Orders of the Day at Camp every two years, appeared in our midst once more. Private J. Wallace Beveridge, recently of the awkward squad, gave up his "gray jacket" and joined the 9th Regiment, N.G.N.Y., as Battalion Adjutant.
Important changes and promotions of unusual importance were occurring throughout the year in the Company.
Lieutenant Du Val, who has served the Company for thirty years so well, took his discharge. Lieutenant Du Val had served for thirteen years as First Lieutenant, the senior in the Regiment. On all regimental occasions the daily papers never failed to quote long interviews with Lieutenant Du Val of Com- pany I.
Our long-service First Sergeant H. V. Keep, of course, now donned the of- ficer's uniform, but he was too familiar with the First Sergeant's duties to be contented in any other position and soon followed Lieutenant Du Val's bad example and took his discharge. Sergeant Roberts, our crack shot, filled his place as Second Lieutenant and Sergeant Bennie McAlpin became First Sergeant.
CAMP, 1901
The self-evident fact that the Company went to the Peekskill Camp with the Regiment from June 15 to 22 is hardly worthy of mention, but the happen- ings of the week are worthy of any history.
The orders for the week provided for a "march out" to Camp Roe at Lake Mohegan, including a sham fight with Uncle Sam's West Point Cadets. After an attack on the advance guard, things were reversed and the rear guard, Company I, came into action. My own account might be called partial, so will substitute article from the New York Sun, June 18, 1901 :
The rear guard was the next to catch it. This fight occurred further up the road near the Wayside Inn. The main body and the baggage train had passed in safety. Captain Landon with a hundred men was bringing up the rear in most approved fashion when suddenly he got a volley. He threw his men on their faces behind a "Thank you, ma'am" in the road. Theoretically this was perfect cover and the cadets saw the point. They brought up their light artillery and banged away at the line behind the "Thank you, ma'am." Captain Landon retired under a storm of shrapnel to a second line of defence conveniently near. Something must have happened to the cadet battery for the firing ceased and a flank
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
movement was commenced through a wheat field on the right. This made Captain Landon nervous for two reasons.
In the first place he didn't want to be flanked and in the second place he had orders to keep his men out of cultivated fields. The farmers in these parts have a high opinion of the National Guard, but they don't like to have their wheat fields trampled down even if their preservation does entail the loss of a regiment's rear guard. But from a military point of view there was nothing for Captain Landon to do, but check those flankers and under orders his men began gingerly to pick their way through the wheat.
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