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units:69th_new_york_state_militia_primary_sources
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Primary Sources for the 69th New York State Militia
Figure 1: new_york_daily_herald_wed_may_1_1861
New York Daily Herald, May 3, 1861
IMPORTANT OPERATIONS OF THE SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT.
We have the following from an informant who has recently returned from Annapolis:—
On Sunday afternoon, April 21, the Sixty-ninth regiment were ordered out to guard the railroad from Annapolis to Annapolis Junction, and by nine P. M. they were posted in parties of eighteen, six and two. The officers had their quarters at the Junction, and a number of the residents of the surrounding country showed them the streams, roads, houses and farms throughout the entire line for twenty miles. By midnight they had built their guard houses, of fence rails and bushes.
During the night they saw one man attempting to draw the spikes from one of the rails, when, in accordance with previous orders, he was immediately shot.
Later in the night a pistol was stolen by a man who crawled up through the bushes, who soon being discovered disappeared from sight. A party of eighteen were immediately sent out in search of the thief, and in a short time they returned with him. Upon him was found the stolen pistol and several letters showing his connection with the rebel troops.
Still later in the night a suspicious character was observed prowling around; whereupon he was immediately arrested, and upon searching him letters containing valuable information was found respecting the movements of secessionists in that quarter.
The Sixty-ninth, in common with other regiments, have borne the hardships of the march and camp duty without a single murmur of expression of dissatisfaction, but have seemed determined to outdo their brethren in arms in their strict obedience to orders and their readiness to serve their country in whatever duty they may be called upon to perform.
On Monday afternoon two trains from Baltimore arrived at Annapolis Junction, but were detained by Lieutenant Colonel Nugent, of the Sixty-ninth regiment, until he could telegraph to General Scott for orders respecting them, upon the receipt of General Scott's reply they were immediately sent back to Baltimore.
new_york_daily_herald_fri_may_3_1861.jpg
Figure 2: the_ny_sun._may_03_1861
The Baltimore Sun, May 4, 1861
ALLEGED SPIES.—The Northern press have a dispatch, purporting to be from Annapolis, to this effect:
A captain of the Sixty-ninth arrested a spy the night before last at Annapolis Junction, just from Montgomery, with important papers. He gave his name as Henry deGranval, a brother of the de Granval,of Hoboken, N. J., killed by a Cuban some time ago. I am informed at headquarters that he will probably be hung. A son of an influential family here is also under arrest as a spy. He opened dispatches delivered him at Washington.
the_baltimore_sun_sat_may_4_1861.jpg
The Baltimore Sun, May 4, 1861
Letter from Annapolis Junction.
[Correspondence of the Baltimore Sun.]
ANNAPOLIS JUNCTION, May 3, 1861.
The Sixty-Ninth Regiment of New York—Colonel
Corcoran—Entertainment of Baltimoreans—
Address of the Rev. Mr. Mooney—Interesting Pastimes, &c.
On my return from Washington yesterday, I was unexpectedly detained at the Annapolis Junction, and spent several hours there very pleasantly. Soldiers and civilians were curiously grouped together, and all apparently on the most friendly terms. The chief amusements observable were drilling, dancing and singing, varied by religious services.
I found here the 69th regiment of New York, under the Command of Major Corcoran, who is a gentleman of fine feeling and accomplished manners. His men were in excellent health and good spirits. They are a fine looking body of men. mostly young, and of great physical strength.
There were five or six Baltimoreans in company with your correspondent, detained here in consequence of the irregularity of the run nines of the trains, and as the government has entire possession of the buildings, track and ears, there is no chance of obtaining refreshments, except through the hospitality of the soldiers. As soon as Col. Corcoran, however, heard of our detention, he ordered supper for the entire party, and gave them a soldier’s cordial welcome to all he had, including good coffee, bread and butter, besides a bottle of Scotch ale apiece.
The Baltimoreans were also kindly received by the Rev. T. J. Mooney, pastor of St. Bridget's Church in New York, who is the chaplain of the regiment, numbering about 1,400 men, all Irishmen, well disciplined. Rev. Mr. M. is exceedingly popular with the men, and pays constant attention to their spiritual welfare.
During our visit he made an eloquent and very feeling address to the men, during which he called their attention to the fact that they were now on the soil of Maryland—a State noted for her devotion to civil and religious liberty, distinguished for her hospitality, and held in grateful remembrance by every son and daughter of the Emerald Isle, for the reason that her citizens promptly dispatched provisions and other necessaries to the starving people of Ireland during the famine of 181s. His remarks in this connection were strikingly beautiful, and elicited the profound attention of the whole regiment. The eloquent speaker closed his remarks by citing a song which he wrote on his passage from Ireland to the United States, in 1848, during the famine, intended to show the gratitude of the Irish heart towards the American people for their contributions to relieve the sufferers by the famine. As the song was recited all the soldiers and the band joined in the chorus. The scene was truly inspiring, and elicited the greatest enthusiasm.
The closing scenes of the evening during our stay consisted of cotillons and jig dances around blazing bon-fires, in which the whole regiment participated. A more whole-souled, joyous party has not been seen for a long time. Ont of the whole 1,400 men, not more than five voted for Lincoln, but they believe it is their duty to defend the capital of the nation. Towards the people of Maryland and the South generally, they entertain the most kindly feeling. They proceeded on to Washington last night, and the Baltimoreans parted with them on the best terms, all expressing the hope that civil war may be avoided, and peace and fraternity speedily restored throughout the entire country. R.
the_baltimore_sun_sat_may_4_1861_1_.jpg
Figure 3: new_york_daily_herald_sun_may_5_1861
Figure 4: the_new_york_times_mon_may_6_1861
New York Phoenix, May 18, 1861
Letter from a Member of the Sixty-Ninth.
WASHINGTON, May 5th, 1861.
DEAR FENIAN—I would have written sooner than this but that we were nearly all the while on the march, and, until now, have not had settled quarters, When we left Now York, on that Tuesday, we did not reach Annapolis till the following Thursday, and had rather a rough time of it, sleeping on deck all the way, I got very seasick and, as a matter of course, had but little inclination to eat, which was very fortunate, for we had nothing but biscuit, and sometimes a little poor coffee; however, I was satisfied and got over it like a soldier, I will give a synopsis of our journey to Washington, but it will be but a weak attempt at the facts. When we arrived at Annapolis, on the 25th of April, we were landed before the regiments who left New York on the Sunday before us, and were then reviewed by tho government authorities and got some bad meat and cracker to appease our appetites. It was a scorching day, and we had to stand exposed to the sun for about four hours. We were then quartered in a few empty houses, which was a relief, but, eventually, it was thought too good for the Irish, and we were again ordered under arms to change our quarters; we were marched—(where?)—to a musty old stable outside the town to remain for the night. Being, shortly after, ordered out for inspection we preferred to sleep in tho open air, “with our martial cloaks around us,” the ones we received In Prince street (blankets). Next morning we formed in line, and marched eight miles under a scorching sum to a place called Brownsville, where we lay on the ground all night, with our muskets loaded, waiting for an attack, but, unfortunately, none occurred. Next day, Sunday, “we were again under orders for a march, to open communication on the railroad, which the insurgents had broken up. The regiment was stretched, one man dropping out every 100 paces to keep guard on the track and telegraph wire, till the regiment extended fourteen miles. This was a hard duty; the men of my section, under the command of Lieutenant Fay, kept guard for twenty-four hours without eating a bit or sleeping a wink—we having no relieve guard—in a wild, woody, marshy waste of land, not knowing the moment we would be pounced upon (Indian-like) by the enemy. Here we were for three days, when we were ordered for a place called the Junction, the head quarters of the regiment, and had to camp here, in the open air, under rain and storm, plenty of which we had one night, The Now York Zouaves, Fire Department, passed by on the cars, and many a lusty cheer Passed between us. That night we received the happy intelligence that we were to march to Washington. The Colonel—accompanied by Father Mooney, the Chaplain of the regiment, who is a regular brick—telling us that no man should lay a razor on his face, under pain of punishment, until We returned to New York, it ever we do.
While waiting for the cars in the village we had a great time of it. It was a regular Donnybrook, and were each served with large bottles of prime ale, bonfires were lit in all directions, the band playing jigs and reels. Dancing went on in all directions, in which the Colonel joined with all his heart. In the course of the amusement Father Mooney sang a song, composed by himself, something about the “Flag,” which was certainly par excellence; and, his hilarity increasing, he gave us the old ditty, “Come Landlord Fill a Flowing Bowl,” chorussed by close on 2,000 voices. Other groups were at different amusements, and everything was carrying on in the old country style, when the whistle announced the approach of the cars on board of which we all went, and, being tired, I fell asleep and awoke in the long-looked for city of Washington, at about two o'clock in thy morning, where we were quartered in empty houses, and remained so till yesterday, when we were sent to where we are now–the Roman Catholic College of Georgetown, a regular palace—where no regiment would be allowed to be quartered but ourselves.
The drum rolls for me to Divine Service, and I must away, we are put through the same as regular soldiers.
We do not know how soon we will be ordered to Virginia, which State I am now looking at from my window, with only about three hundred yards of water between us. Write soon, and believe me, yours truly,
E. J. O'D.
units/69th_new_york_state_militia_primary_sources.1559736778.txt.gz · Last modified: 2019/06/05 12:12 by admin