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 25
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55th
-March 27, 1909, finished third
57th
66 -April 2, 1910, finished third
OUR FIRST QUARTERMASTER-THE "GRAND OLD MAN" OF COMPANY I, ALBERT DELAFIELD, 1871-1911
One of the most beloved figures in the Ninth Company of the 'eighties and 'nineties was Quartermaster Sergeant Albert Delafield. "Al" must have enlisted before we moved into our present armory, because I have heard him speak of military matters that occurred down at the old Tompkins Market Armory. At any rate, he was perfectly satisfied with his rank of Quartermaster Sergeant and felt that his highest ambition was realized.
He looked upon all the younger members of the Company as his own children, and in transportation or at State Camp took care of them like a hen with a brood of chicks. Although Al never posed as a tactician, nevertheless his long experience had given him a great familiarity with Upton's Tactics, and some- times in battalion drill, when our platoon commander had not heard or under- stood the command, I have heard Al's quiet voice from the line of file-closers say, "It's right forward four's right, Captain," or "It's left oblique, Lieu- tenant."
Sergeant Delafield presented a fine appearance in uniform, with his long grey mustachios, and also in evening dress at our annual banquets, which he always attended. But Al never got anything to eat at these banquets. When dinner commenced he would start at one end of the room and go around every table, greeting each diner in turn. He may have had four or five glasses of wine by the time speechmaking began, but of food, nothing. Dear old Al! How we old timers would like to feel again the friendly grasp of his hand.
-H. L. HOTCHKISS, JR.
As a matter of record Albert Delafield served in Company I for forty years, one month and eleven days. He enlisted under Captain Easton, March 16, 1871, and the following year was made Corporal. By January 9, 1873, he had attained his Sergeantcy and when the military code was amended requiring "that in each company there shall be a Quartermaster Sergeant" the choice of the Company naturally fell to him. Albert Delafield was duly elected Quarter- master Sergeant of Company I, 7th Regiment, N.G.N.Y., October 7, 1878. He was the first non-com of that grade elected in the Regiment and in the National
282
THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
Guard and served in that capacity for thirty-two years, six months and thirty days.
The real spirit of the 7th Regiment was never better exemplified than in this sterling citizen soldier. The Company was his life and he gave his best years and all of his energies to it. It seemed to his comrades that Al, like the brook, would go on forever but there came a day in 1911 when he was forced to sever his official ties with the Company. He was honorably discharged as Second Lieutenant, April 27, 1911.
Just before his retirement he wrote the Company Commander the follow- ing letter :
Greenport, N.Y., January 16, 1911
MY DEAR CAPTAIN HOUSTON :
At the end of the present drill season, I shall have completed forty years' active service in Company I, having enlisted on the 16th of March 1871.
After the return of the Regiment from the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of its historic march from New York to the defense of the National Capitol, on April 19, 1861, I have decided to ask for the brevet rank of Second Lieutenant, and to be placed on the retired list of the National Guard of the State. I made the parade with the Regiment, in the ranks of Company I, as a non-commissioned officer, twenty-five years ago, in April 1886, and it will be a satisfaction for me to know, that the last time that I shall wear the grey jacket will be on the fiftieth anniversary of the march to Washington, in 1861.
It has been said, "Age is a matter of feeling, not of years." I think this is very true, for I feel as though I can assume the position of the soldier and march just as far as I always have marched, and attend to all the duties connected with the quartermaster's department.
The retiring age, in the U.S. Army, is sixty-four years. I shall reach this retiring age in a few weeks, and I feel confident that it is time for me to step aside and retire from active service, and allow a younger man to take my place as Quartermaster Sergeant of Company I, the position which I have held for upwards of thirty-two years.
I can wish for nothing better for Company I than that it will be true to the inspiration of its motto-Toujours Pret.
It has, ever, been ready.
Organized, as a line company, from the "First Troop" (7th Regiment) National Guard, as a nucleus, in 1861, by Captain Easton. Nurtured and fostered by Captain Arthur, during the trying period immediately following the War of the Rebellion. Carried to perfection by Captain Casey, so that it stood as the best drilled Company of the National Guard of the State. Maintained and kept in that high position by Captain Harper, by Captain Landon, and by Captain McAlpin-a notable line of commanding officers-and now under Captain Houston, perfect in drill, perfect in discipline, and perfect in gentlemanly deportment, its superior cannot be found in any Company of the National Guard of the Nation.
Comrades, be true to your motto-Toujours Pret.
I bid you all an affectionate farewell.
Believe me, my dear Captain,
Ever, yours sincerely, ALBERT DELAFIELD
CAPTAIN FRANK W. HUBBY, JR. 1912-1914
The Company still in a prosperous condition and enjoying an enviable place in the Regiment on May 25, 1912, elected Frank W. Hubby, Jr., Captain to succeed Captain Buchanan Houston.
283
THE NEW CENTURY
Captain Frank W. Hubby, 1912-1914
Captain Hubby, who had been in the Company fourteen years and made all the grades at a period when to be Corporal in Company I was a sure indica- tion of military proficiency, snap, and ability to handle men, proved to be an admirable commander. He was thorough, painstaking and exacting as to detail and at the same time popular with all ranks in the Company.
His service record reads as follows: Enlisted in Company I, May 28, 1898; made Lance Corporal, December 11, 1902; Corporal, March 31, 1904; Ser-
284
THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
geant, November 2, 1906; First Sergeant, October 30, 1908; Second Lieu- tenant, July 14, 1909; First Lieutenant, May 25, 1911.
It fell to Captain Hubby's lot to shepherd the "doughboys" of Company I through that gruelling endurance test, the Connecticut maneuvers.
CONNECTICUT MANEUVERS August 10 to 18, 1912
Pursuant to orders, Company I, under command of Captain Hubby, with Lieutenants Hayes and Milligan, First Sergeant Nichols, Quartermaster Ser- geant Smillie, Cooks Gould and Abbott, in all, forty-nine men, left the Armory as part of the Regiment on August 10, 1912, at 9 a.m. and proceeded via the Third Avenue Elevated to 22nd Street and the East River, where we boarded the S.S. Richard Peck. The boat's departure was somewhat delayed by an army mule, who, thinking it was Saturday night, proceeded to take a bath in the East River. He was finally hoisted on board, after which the boat got under way.
A box lunch was served enroute. Debarking at New Haven at 4:30 p.m., we marched through a drizzling rain to our first camp, two miles beyond Alling- town. On the following day the Company did outpost duty at the crossroads of the Milford and Derby turnpikes.
On August 12, breaking camp at 8 a.m., we advanced and made contact with the enemy, which, turning out to be a small detachment, we quickly brushed aside. After several minor engagements, we bivouacked that evening
"CONN WAR MANEUVERS"
7th N.Y.N G. Of ORANGE, CT. ANG 13th 1912
9
Connecticut Maneuvers, 1912. Frank Gould in center
285
THE NEW CENTURY
near Orange, Conn., in a plowed field, unfortunately recently fertilized, which had been assigned to the Regiment in default of any better site.
The other units of the Red Army watched from their better camp sites to see whether we could take it, and history records that they were properly dis- appointed. The next day was devoted to open order drills and combat rushes, concluding with a charge on the enemy's line.
Connecticut Maneuvers, 1912 Hayes Hubby Milligan
On August 14 reveille was at 5 a.m .; we broke camp at 7:30 and proceeded in column toward Shelton, where we bivouacked on the northwest slope of Lower White Hills after eight hours on the road. Who will forget the spectacle, just after tents were pitched, when the enlisted personnel of the entire Regi- ment in their birthday clothes took advantage of the invigorating effects of a kindly downpour of rain from a passing thunderstorm!
Water for this camp had to be carted three miles, but with some well mel- lowed cider in some of our canteens, supplied by a friendly farmer, who cared ? On the following day the Company as part of the 3rd Battalion marched out of camp for outpost duty three miles away, Company I establishing an out- guard at the bridge on the Huntington-Stepney road.
August 16 was made notable by a sixteen-mile march of this battalion from the left of the Red Army's line to its right flank, where the Regiment took
286
THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
the honor position assigned to it by the division commander. We camped that night near Sandy Hook, shivering in the cold as the wagons of the battalion, carrying our blankets, did not get in until the next morning.
We borrowed what eatables we could and spent most of the night around fires. Reveille next morning was at 5 o'clock and at 7 we were on the march, reaching Newtown at 8, and starting the advance upon the high ridge to the
Fresh as a daisy Connecticut, 1912
west at 9:30. The 3rd Battalion, including Company I, led the attack by rushes up hill from one stone wall to another, culminating with the capture of the Blue battery on Hill 698. Immediately after the battery's capture, recall was sounded and the war was over.
Reveille was at 4 o'clock the next morning, at 4:30 blanket rolls were packed and on the Company wagons, breakfast was at 5, the camp had been policed at 6, we left at 6:10, marching four and a half miles in a downpour through mud from Sandy Hook to Botsford, where we entrained for New York, arriv- ing at Grand Central Station at 12:40. Marching up Fifth Avenue, we arrived at the Armory and were dismissed at 1 p.m.
-FRANK W. HUBBY
287
THE NEW CENTURY
INCIDENT OF THE CONNECTICUT MANEUVERS, 1912
Al Milligan was tired. He had just pulled his famous forerunner of the "Lost Battalion." In Al's case it was a detachment which had been on outpost over night and forgotten when we broke camp in the morning. The Milligan job was to round up the outposters and march them to our next designated camp site.
Being a resourceful soldier, Al decided that we were simulating war, and in war time troops lived on the country and their wits. So he hired a passing horse and wagon to carry all the equipment of the "Lost Outpost." This would prob- ably have caused the purists among the War Lords to shake their heads. The mere cannon fodder thought it was pretty damn smart.
Even with the help of Dobbin and the shay, Al and his men had marched some twenty-odd miles before the day was over and the Dogs of War or Near War were tired puppies. Al said that his dogs were mad enough to bite their way through his shoes.
That night was cold as hell and for an added attraction it rained, real rain. Double shelter tents were ordered and it so happened that Al Milligan, George Nichols, Al Loening and Frank Gould were tented together.
Everything wet, not enough blankets, the perfect setting for a miserable night. Yet it would be hard to say when any of the Four Nuts had a more amusing evening.
COMPANY
1
LESENTS
PHER
Ninth Company side show at entertainment to raise funds for reconstruction of Armory, 1912
1838
TOUJOURS PRET .
1913
O
CORDON QURAN
BANQVET COMMEMORATING
THE SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF COMPANY I, YT REGIMENT MARCH 8 1913
289
THE NEW CENTURY
A box of cigars (the word is debatable) called "German Lovers"; a quart of rye (see above note) called "Pinochle Club"; the Double Shelter as cold as an icebox, thick as a smoking car on the old Erie, and sweetly scented with rot- gut whiskey-Camera! Or Kamerad !- suit yourself. Witty and versatile Al Milligan always was. He outdid himself that night.
The others were inspired to a yarn-telling pace far above their usual form, and the bottle went round and round. If anyone by chance fell asleep, he was promptly waked up and given a drink. Oh Boy, that was one of the most un- comfortable and jolliest nights of a lifetime.
-FRANCIS L. GOULD
SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY Society of Ninth Company Veterans, 7th Regiment, N.G.N.Y.
President Francis G. Landon Vice-President Horace C. Du Val
President's Office, 29 Broadway
Secretary William F. Wall Treasurer Walter B. Cowperthwait
December 9, 1912.
My dear Committeeman :
We propose to hold the Greatest Banquet in the history of the Company!
We propose to have the largest Company Banquet ever held in the Regiment !!
It will be in the great and new hotel, Hotel McAlpin ! !!
I send you herewith enclosed the names of THE Committee, of which you are a member. Keep the list but please forward any corrections or additions.
HAVE EVERY MAN AT THE DINNER. MARCH 8, 1913.
We have invited the entire Active Company to be our guests at this dinner.
We have promised to show them that evening 200 Veterans.
THE Committee has 45 members. Consequently if each member of THE Committee produces at least 5 Veterans on that evening, MARCH 8, 1913, we will have kept our promise.
I am sincerely yours,
FRANCIS G. LANDON,
President
7TH REGIMENT VETERANS DINE Company I Cheers the Oldest Member, George W. White
The veterans of Company I of the 7th Regiment, gave their annual dinner last night to the active members at the McAlpin Hotel. George W. White, the oldest veteran of the Company, who enlisted in 1856 and served through the Civil War, was cheered by more than two hundred other members who attended the dinner.
Among the speakers were Colonel Robert Appleton, Major Francis G. Landon, Howland Pell, Colonel B. B. McAlpin, J. Wray Cleveland, Charles E. Warren, and Francis N. Bangs. After the speechmaking there was vaudeville.
-Herald, March 9, 1913
The Diamond Jubilee Banquet was the largest and most successful affair of its kind ever held by the Ninth Company up to that time.
There were 224 Company I men and 24 guests present-total 248.
ONIH Co.VETERANS
1036 - 1913
899
-
COMPANY I, 7 REGIMENT
The 75th Anniversary dinner, Hotel McAlpin, March 6, 1913 X George White enlisted 1856
5. 1
TIN SOLDIERS
292
THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
1914 TIN SOLDIERS
By EDWARD D. RUDDEROW, Ex-Company I Illustrations by GORDON GRANT, Company I
Oi am a common wurrkin man,
And whin Oi wurk, me wurk is haard ; Oi get a job where ere Oi can,
Look ! Here's me "Iron Wurrker's Card.
Oi am an Irishman be birth,
Me home was in a hovel, dingy,
But Oi've wandered all about the earth,
And done some sojerin in Injy.
And so I like to hear the drumms, They take me back to old Bumbay, Oi like to go and jine the bums Whin a procession comes me way, And march along beside the band, Wid all the kids, out in the street, And walk along and wave me hand, And keep a marchin wid me feet.
So once a year Oi quit me wurrk, And to me boss Oi've always said "Termorrers Decoration Day,
Oi want to see the big parade." It comes along the last of May, So on that day Oi takes it aisy, And walk along down old Broadway, Whin who turns up but Jimmy Casey.
So up we goes to the Riverside, The people all were in the stands, And thereabouts the road is wide,
And we could hear thim clap their hands
As a bunch of sojers walked along, And they looked moighty good be- cause
"Thim is the troops of Uncle Sam" Says Jim, "Thim is the regulars."
And thin Oi heard somebody shout, And order all thim byes about,
A chap steps out, Oi looked, and thin Oi'll take me ote, t'was Micky Finn; And Micky was a regular,
Oi looked him over near and far, For Mick and me were byes together, We used to wrestle on the heather.
And there he was, that great big clam, Bossin the troops of Uncle Sam.
He had a Sargent's chivrons on his military coat,
Well thin the sojers started, Micky hollerin like a goat.
And thin there comes the sailor byes, And everybody made a noise.
Thim byes was great and got the hands,
As they rolled along in front of the stands.
And thin Oi turned to look up the hill, And Oi seen a soight and me haart stood still,
For a regiment was comin along,
Moi what a sight, a thousand strong. Down, down, they comes like a ma- chine,
The foinest soight Oi ever seen; Each line was straight from ind to ind, Be Gad, they didn't even bind.
Oi've seen some sojers in me day, But thim byes put them all away, And out in front the Colonel rode, And under him his charger strode. Thin someone yells "There's Colonel Dan,"
Be Gad, he was a handsome man. Thin smashing comes a dom big band, The people shoutin in the stand.
293
THE NEW CENTURY
And every bandsman did his part,
And the big DRUMS beat like an Oirish h'aart.
Be Gad, me hair stood up on ind, Oi very nearly lost me wind.
Oi turned around and says to Jim,
"For the love of Hiven who is thim ?"
And Jim he looked and took a squint Says he, "The Sivinth Rigimint."
"Wull, wull," says Oi, "Oi've trav- elled much,
But Oi niver seen the loikes of such."
"They do look nate and do look trim, But still, they're not so much," says Jim.
"They're what they call the National Guard,
They look all right on a parade, But thims all kinder fancy min,
Thims sidewalk sojers made of tin."
"Go on," says Oi, "Dont talk such stuff,
Oi've done some sojerin myself, No sidewalk sojers look loike that,
Shut up, you're talkin thru your hat,
Thim byes can march and they can SHOOT,
There's a marksman's badge on ivry coat.
If they can camp and cook as well, They've got a lot of thim beat to h-1.
Thim byes knows more than sojerin, And know as much as Micky Finn, And if there's anny tin around,
Tis in their pockets twill be found. Oi think Oi'd pick them byes to win, Sure they're as good as Micky Finn." "Well, yes, they're fair," says Jim, says he,
"Still they're not regulars yer see."
7
NY
G.
2
294
THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
"Well, I dinnaw," says Oi to he, "Thim byes look regular to me.
Thim byes is good, thim byes aint tin. Thim looks loike Iron wurrkers min."
"They do look good," says Jim, says he,
"Still they're not regulars yer see." "Why sure," says Oi, "They're regu- lar,
Aint they arganized accordin to law?
"They wasn't born asojerin,
But neither yit was Micky Finn, They had to larn the game yer see, But thin, be gorry, so did he. Oi've sojered too, and Oi can tell,
And Oi think, be Gad, they larned it well.
If they can shoot and march and cook, And build a fort and take a look About and forage for their grub
And make a camp and wash and scrub, And mount a Guard," says Oi, to he, "Thim byes seems regular to me."
W
295.
THE NEW CENTURY
"But wud they FOIGHT?" says Jim to me,
"Well, I dinnaw," says Oi to he,
"Ye cant tell THAT of anny man Until the foightin has began.
But whin ye see a bunch of min That's haard and used to disciplin And fed on meat and strong and well, It's me idee they'd foight loike h-1."
n "Be Gad," says Jim, "Oi think yer roight,
Be Gad, Oi think thim byes wud foight."
"Why sure," says Oi, "Why sure," says he,
"Thim byes looks regular to me." And far away we heard the drum, And me and Jim wint over home.
SIX GREAT COMPANY I MEN
Outstanding on the Ninth Company's honor roll are six names that should be lettered in gold. First came Whitman S. Lent and George W. Lewis, who en- listed in 1861, served through the Civil War in the service of the United States, and returned to Company I, 7th Regiment. The former remained with the Company until 1900, the latter until 1895.
Then there were Sam D. Folsom, Company Treasurer for twenty-five years with never an error in his accounts; Al Delafield, first Quartermaster Sergeant, whose story is told elsewhere in this book; William V. A. Mulhallon, the great- est "guide" in history, who "never lost stride or cadence in sunshine, rain, snow, slush or mud," and last but not least, Eugene Horton, the "private par excellence," who refused all promotion and remained in the ranks for thirty- four years. He was the only private who was always invited to the dinners and parties of the officers and the non-coms.
Camp Whitman, 1915
296
THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
Camp Whitman, 1915
The records of these men are as follows:
Years
Months
Days
Folsom, S. D.
February 24, 1876- June
22, 1916
40
3
28
Delafield, A.
March 16, 1871- April
27,1911
40
1 11
Lent, W. D.
November 14, 1861- May
9,1900
38
5
25
Horton, E.
March
7,1882-
June
21,1916
34
0
18
(Out 2 months, 16 days)
Lewis, G. W.
December 9, 1861-
November 15, 1895
33
11
6
Mulhallon, W. V. A. June
2, 1879-
November 27, 1909
30
5
25
215
25
113
Average length of service in the Company for these six men, 36 years, 2 months, 9 days
ANNUAL OUTBURST
of the Ninth Company Non Compos Mentis Association
Come gather round, ye Sergeants,
So it's up to us collectively
Ye Corporals, gather too,
In proper form to show
For we have some baby Lances
These embryonic officers
And we've got to put 'em thru.
The way in which to go.
The Captain and Lieutenants
It can be done, it has been done,
Will be on hand to see
As you and I well know
That their education's started
For we had to walk a white chalk line
As it properly should be.
We owe it to tradition,
When we were down below, And it's only fair to reason
To posterity as well,
To get these infants "bottle-broke"
Before their heads can swell.
That what made us each so great Was the most efficient method Of our own novitiate.
THE NEW CENTURY
297
The time for this occasion Has been fixed with utmost care, So you see the great importance Of a full attendance there. May Twenty-third's been chosen For we'll be together then At Peekskill on the firing line -- Befitting fighting men. Then, too, it seems most probable Our appetites may feel A keen appreciation Of an inexpensive meal.
So at eight o'clock or earlier
We'll gather round the board
And eat and drink and tell our babes
How soon they'll wear a sword. At Healy's, 66th Street And Columbus Avenue, The rookies will assemble
To pass by in review.
But be assured they'll not pass by
Another single thing,
For we'll be there till Tom Healy MAKES THE CURFEW RING.
Just write to the top sergeant And tell him you'll be there, For there isn't one among us Whom we feel that we can spare, And it's really most annoying --- To this his clerk agrees-
To be forever making out A list of absentees.
--- Geo. Nichols, 1914
Camp Whitman, July 1915 Percy Hall, Captain Hayes
298
THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
Lieutenant Nichols, Captain Hayes, Lieutenant Grant Peekskill, 1915
.
VII THE START OF THE WORLD WAR
ARMAGEDDON 1914
T HE outbreak of the war in Europe in the summer of 1914 found the citizen soldier of the U.S.A. as unprepared for such a catastrophe as any other inhabitant of this safe and sane land.
Such things simply didn't happen in a civilized twentieth century world ! Enlightened nations rushing into an orgy of wholesale slaughter? Impossible!
Well, at any rate, it couldn't last more than a month or two for all the finan- ciers said so-there wasn't money enough in the world to carry on a struggle of such proportions.
And again, the frightful thing was a long way off across the seas. We couldn't possibly be dragged into it. It was our national policy to keep out. "No foreign entanglements, etc .! " We might even profit by it-in a way. Surely these Euro- peans would have to buy somewhere. Business would probably pick up. There were all sorts of possibilities- so why worry?
Amid the confusion of thought and advice from press and pulpit and plat- form there were certain clear-headed citizens who saw what the future might have in store and who began the great campaign for preparedness.
Right in the front of this movement beside the professional soldiers, so few in number, were those civilians who had believed it their duty to help maintain a militia throughout the land, to foster a military spirit and to train young men to arms against an evil day. They were often the butt of funny papers and pacifist oratory. Tin soldiers, they-fit to strut in the glory of a uniform and cocked hat on Decoration Day-and good for not much else.
To these devoted men who had served their cities, States and country in time of peace by keeping the National Guard a going institution, at the sacrifice of leisure, health and money beyond their means, the country now began to turn.
And with little or no help from the Government these old National Guard leaders overcame difficulties and started to build an army.
The members of Company I, with the rest of the Regiment, while not exactly expecting any active service, took their drill more seriously, spent more time in studying the book, and more time in recruiting campaigns. A goodly number joined in the movement to establish Officers' Training Camps.
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