THE SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT, NEW YORK CITY.
A Paper Read before the American-Irish Historical Society, at its Twelfth Annual Meeting, Held at the Hotel Plaza, New York City, Saturday, January 8, 1910, by Hon. James Fitzgerald, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
The patriotic founders of our government looked with disfavor upon the existence of large standing armies in times of peace for very many reasons. Not only did they consider them a tax upon industry and a drain upon the young manhood of the country, but they felt that their maintenance constituted a menace to liberty, and yet these wise and far seeing builders of the Republic realized that there could be no security for personal liberty or property rights in a State that had not at its command an armed force, and so we find imbedded in the fundamental law a provision that “a well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed” (Art. 2, 1st Amendts. U. S. Const. March, 1789). Freedom had just been achieved by the sword, and that reliance for its preservation must at all times rest upon arms was a doctrine to which the statesmen of the Revolution unreservedly subscribed. Soldiers were necessary but it was not necessary that all good soldiers should be professionals. To citizens engaged in the ordinary avocations of life, in industrial arts, in commercial pursuits, in commerce or trade, in the professions, military instruction could be given, opportunities for practice and drill formations afforded, including lessons in the organization and mobilization of armies, so that when necessity required, a well disciplined armed body might be readily summoned from civil ranks for service in the field and as readily absorbed back into industrial life when the hour of peril had passed, the threatened danger had been averted and the emergency no longer existed for martial music, emblazoned banners, marching legions and tented fields.
Since the earliest settlement of this continent, the Irish race has been prominently identified with our history. Irishmen were among the first settlers; they continued to come uninterruptedly, they are still coming, and unless conditions change very much for the better in the Green Isle, they are going to keep on coming in the future. The spirit of Irish-Americanism is a spirit of intense Americanism; it stands for the Union of States, the sovereignty of the flag, obedience to the laws, loyalty to the government, good citizenship in peace, and in war, prompt response when volunteers are called for. Volumes would be insufficient to spread the record of the achievements of the sons of Erin upon American battlefields; individuals might be cited by the score or by the hundred whose intrepidity and devotion shed glory upon our arms on sea and shore.
The Constitution of the State of New York, adopted April 20, 1777, contained the clause: “The militia of this State at all times hereafter, as well in peace as in war, shall be armed, disciplined and ready for service.” The necessary enactments to carry out this provision were provided for by legislation the following year. (Chap. 33. “An Act for regulating the Militia of the State of New York.” Passed April 3, 1778; Chap. 46, An Act to amend an act entitled “An Act for regulating the Militia of the State of New York.” Passed June 30, 1778.) Outside of a few cities, while the militia force was large upon paper, it was in reality but a mere skeleton. Until at the end of 1860, there were less than 15,000 men uniformed, disciplined and drilled, or in any sort of readiness for military duty, and this meagre force was chiefly confined to the cities of New York and Brooklyn, with contingents at Kingston and Albany.
The first record of the 69th Regiment of New York City is the order issued by the Adjutant General, bearing date November 1, 1851, and designated “General Order 489.” This order provided for the consolidation into a single regiment of a number of independent companies which had been separately organized prior to that time chiefly by men of Irish birth or parentage. About this period, owing to the vast volume of immigration in the preceding decade, New York contained the largest Irish population of any city in the world, and from the first, the 69th became identified in the public mind as a regiment composed of Irishmen. Among its early officers appear the names of some men who were well-known in connection with the Young Ireland movement, which had culminated but a few years previously. Its first commander was Colonel Charles S. Roe, who served until 1854, and was succeeded by Colonel James B. Ryan, who was followed August 26, 1859, by the gallant and beloved Col. Michael Corcoran. The regiment crept early into the affections of the people of the metropolis and was beloved by the Irish residents. Its distinctive character was manifested in numerous and emphatic ways,—sometimes by the wearing of green faced tunics, at others by the display of plumes showing the green above the red, the carrying of the Irish flag, or other similar devices. It had usually the right of the line in the St. Patrick’s Day parades, and in all functions in which it participated, its approach was heralded by the strains of well-known Irish music. It rapidly became the typical Irish military organization of the country, and for its success or failure, the children of the race throughout the Union felt themselves responsible.
In 1860, the then Prince of Wales—now Edward VII, King of Great Britain—visited the United States, and was scheduled to arrive in New York City on Thursday, October 11, of that year. The First Division, New York State Militia, was ordered out to receive him and directed to form at the Battery for the purpose of parade and review. All the regiments of the Division with the exception of the Sixty-ninth Regiment, assembled at the time and place appointed for the formation. The order received by Colonel Corcoran from headquarters was not promulgated, and he was immediately ordered under arrest and a court martial summoned to try him upon a charge of disobedience of orders. This circumstance fixed firmly in the public mind the race and sentiments of the commander and the men of the 69th.
April 12, 1861, witnessed the firing upon Fort Sumter, and on the 15th, President Lincoln issued his proclamation calling out the militia of the several states to the number of 75,000 men, and five days thereafter, the court martial which had been ordered to try Colonel Corcoran was dissolved, the pending charges were dismissed, and he was at once restored to his command. The order dismissing the charges, which bears date, April 20, 1861, is designated Special Order No. 9, and reads as follows:
“In pursuance of Special Orders No. 58 from General Headquarters, the Court Martial detailed for the trial of Colonel Corcoran is dissolved, and the charges dismissed, and Colonel Corcoran is directed forthwith to resume the command of his regiment.
“By order of
“Charles W. Sanford,
“Major-General.
“George W. Morell,
“Div. Eng’r. and Div. Insp’r.”
Colonel Corcoran at once resumed command of the regiment and issued General Order No. 1, an historic order concluding with the words: “The Commandant feels proud that his first duty after being relieved from a long arrest is to have the honor of promulgating an order to the regiment to rally to the support of the Constitution and Laws of the United States.” Within twenty-four hours from the posting of this order, six thousand men had volunteered, but the instructions of Governor Morgan prohibited the enlistment of more than the regimental compliment of one thousand men. The twenty-third of April, 1861, dawned bright and clear, but warmer than usual at that season, over the Empire City; apprehension and gloom prevailed throughout the country; ten sovereign states had formed a powerful confederacy and were in armed revolt against the authority of the Federal Government. Many of the ablest soldiers and statesmen of the Republic had taken their stand against the Union; the timid were upon the verge of panic, and misgivings and uncertainty were paralyzing even the resolute and strong. Under such circumstances, faithful and loyal, the gallant Sixty-ninth Militia assembled in Prince Street, near the then St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Cathedral of the great Archbishop of New York, the Most Reverend John Hughes, and proceeded thence to the rendezvous at Great Jones Street. Hope was given to the hearts of the good people of this city as they witnessed the spirit displayed by this brave body of citizen soldiery, and when at the appointed hour, the order to march was sounded and the regiment proceeded down Broadway to the strains of martial music, the surging multitude that lined the streets, the myriad spectators that filled the windows along the route to Cortlandt Street broke into continuous cheers. Twin flags floated everywhere on that day. Twin banners were carried by the regimental standard bearers—the flag of Columbia with all its stars emblazoned on its field of blue, the green banner of Erin with the harp uncrowned. The regiment boarded the Steamer “James Adger,” at Pier 4, North River, reached Annapolis on the twenty-sixth of April, and proceeding up the Potomac to Washington by Steamer “Marion,” was mustered into the service of the United States on May 9 for three months. The following is a list of the field, staff and company commanders at this time: