The New York Herald,
April 24, 1861
Departure of the Eighth Regiment.—Over A Thousand Men, and a Heavy Battery Embarked on the Alabama and James Adger—Presentation of a Beautiful Flag, &C.
The Eighth regiment, (Washington Greys), New York State Militia, over one thousand strong, and with six six pounders, sailed last evening with sealed orders, to join probably, the forces at Washington. The marching orders were received very unexpectedly on Saturday afternoon, and the men responded to them with the greatest alacrity. Regiments were rapidly mustered, and drilled, new officers to supply vacancies, were elected, and new arms and equipments were amply provided, so that the Eighth started yesterday, one of the most efficient regiments in the service, and ready for almost immediate action.
THE MEN ASSEMBLED At the armory, over Centre street market, as early as six o’clock yesterday morning, and the ranks rapidly filled up until nine o’clock, the hour appointed for the start. The arrangements at the armory were admirable. Policemen were stationed at the door and none but members of the regiment were admitted at first. By this means the men were enabled to equip themselves undisturbed by the crowds of friends and outsiders which have embarrassed almost every other regiment, and to which we shall have occasion to allude frequently in this article. The men went quietly to work, therefore, and were got ready with a facility and comfort almost unparalleled. We have to notice in this regiment the same instances of self devotion and modest heroism now happily becoming so common among our people. The members are mostly mechanics, hardworking, industrious fellows, with no money to spare and with families to provide for. They did the best they could, however, and started. Men left their families, husbands their wives, not in that respect, but without hesitation and doubt. Colonel Lyons himself left sick members of his houshold. One of the Lieutenants obeyed the orders of a dying father, and parted from him probably never to meet on earth. Those angels who record the good, brave, generous, patriotic acts of men have need to be shorthand writers, now a days. Hardly a man joined the ranks of the Eighth regiment yesterday who had not sanctified his cause by some great self sacrifice. The number of recruits offered was so large that the officers were enabled to pick their men, and those taken were fine able bodied fellows, some of them moving in the first ranks of society, and all worthy of the excellent corps to which they are attached. Most of the recruits were in uniform and all were well armed and provided with straps, blankets, plates, cups, &c. under the direction of the Quartermasters, whom members of Gen. Hall’s staff assisted. No man left with the regiment who was not well provided for and ready of efficient service.
THE SCENES AT THE ARMORY were, on account of the exclusion of the crowd, vastly more business and warlike than sentimental and affecting. The men smoked, chatted, enjoyed themselves, or occupied the time with receiving their supplies and fitting out their comrades. Most of them were armed with revolvers and bowie knives, but there were no superfluities carried, at least outside the knapsacks, unless a small flask of brandy and a pipe can be reckoned as such. The uniformed men were dressed in caps, grey pants and jackets, trimmed with black, and with heavy blue overcoats; the officers in dark blue caps, suits and overcoats, with gold trimmings. They all went to work like regulars, and at no armory was there less confusion and better order. Our men are evidently becoming accustomed to this sort of work, and take the thing as a matter of course. They said that they didn’t care where they were going, and had got over wanting to go to Washington; they went to obey orders and expected to fight, so they had made up their minds to it. When asked when their pay began they replied, ‘Pay? Pay? O yes; certainly. I really don’t know. Perhaps the Captain can tell you about it’—knowing nothing and caring less about it. It was not for that they enlisted. Testaments were at the company’s rooms for distribution, but were scarcely disturbed, as the men’s wives, sisters and mothers had taken that care upon themselves, and had furnished them with Bibles before hand. After nine o’clock the companies were mustered, armed and marched off to drill in the open air, as soon as possible and thousands of people witnessed these street drills. They were all armed with new muskets and bayonets from the Springfield Arsenal, which were received yesterday, and unpacked in the arsenal during the preparations. Quartermaster (Alderman) Cornell attended to this matter, and did it admirably. Under his direction also, boxes of powder, valises, bundles, and the officers’ luggage were sent down to the transport by express; and by a system of checks, like those at the railroads, he was able to obviate all difficulties and get rid of the troubles usually attendant upon the transportation of military baggage. After most of the companies had departed, the ladies and friends of the volunteers were permitted to enter, most unwisely, and then the men were hustled about, ‘Mid scenes of confusion,’ which might have been very appropriate at home, sweet home, but which were very much out of place at an armory. The policemen who admitted the friends and followers should be blamed, but their friends and followers should take a little thought to themselves. These everlasting good byes do those who stay at home no good, but weary, dispirit, perplex and confuse those who go. With all due allowances for the painful circumstances of many of the cases, we still think that the self denial of the soldier should be assisted by the self denial of his friends. Our city now is a camp, and we must all begin to act as if we realize it. Bid the boys good bye as often as you please while they are civilians, but after they enter the army, under orders, leave them to themselves, treat them as soldiers, don’t annoy or worry them or yourselves, and both you and they will be happier, calmer and in better trim after the last long look is over the ship started.
THE RENDEZVOUS.
By eleven o’clock the companies had all started for the rendezvous, on Seventeenth street, Union square. The troops, acting as artillery, under command of Capt. Varian, an old, experienced and able officer, started first, in order to procure their cannon from the upper Arsenal, corner of Seventh avenue and Thirty fifth street. Until yesterday morning the artillery corps expected to take eight howitzers, like those of the Seventh regiment, which could be dragged and managed by hand. At three A. M., orders came that the government wished a heavy battery, and that six 6 pounders must be taken. Colonel Lyons acted upon his order immediately, and a committee was appointed to purchase the horses—four top each gun—and the harness necessary. Stalls for the horses were also fitted up on the James Adger steamer, and the troop was ordered to go, with the guns, by the same boat. The exempt members of the regiment held a meeting at Lafayette hall, and determined to escort their comrades to the boat, and the Armory thus being cleared, the crowd adjourned to Broadway and the square. Along the shady side of Broadway crowds were assembling; the way between Bleecher and Fourth streets was blocked up by a mass of people; fire engines were being stationed along the route, to ring their bells as the procession passed; more flags than ever were displayed and bodies of men were marching through the side streets to join the throngs on the great thoroughfare.
AT UNION SQUARE
The stand erected for the Union meeting were crowded with people, the park was filled, and the streets were lined all the way round the enclosure. There were not as many people present, however, as has been usual here in New York, partly because the Sixty ninth attracted the greater part of the sight seeing people, and partly because the New Yorkers, with their usual adaptiveness, have become accustomed to these warlike displays, and take them quite as a matter of course. The engineers were first upon the ground, and Sergeant Trumbull was quietly presented with a revolver by the Masonic Arctums Lodge, of which he was a member, and which has sent away almost all its active masons in the various regiments. The G. L. Fox Guard, also marched up to escort the favorite Bowery actor and member of the Eighth, whose name they bear, and whom some of them disgraced during the day, by getting very much intoxicated, very disorderly and very anxious for a fight. One by one the companies arrived, and took up positions upon the shady sides of the surrounding streets. Crowds of handshaking friends, and kissing, crying women, thronged around. The men stretched out upon the stones, lay singling, cheering and conversing. Then the Adjutant arrived, and after a little delay, obtained the report from the Orderly Sergeant of
THE OFFICERS AND MEN.
The officers are as follows:—Col. Lyons, Lieut. Colonel Waterbury, Major Wentworth, Adjutant D. B. Keeler, Jr. Quartermaster, Cornell; Asst. Quartermaster, J. C. Smith; Paymaster, M. H. Cashman; Commissary, A. C. Smith, Jr.; Surgeon, Dr. T. F. Smith; Asst. Surgeon, Foster Swift; Chaplain, Mr. Rutter.
Company A—Captain, Johnson; First Lieutenant, Day; Second Lieutenant, Stocking; First Sergeant, Wood. One hundred men, three officers and four sergeants.
Company B—Captain, Swaney; First Lieutenant, A. G. Ennis; Second Lieutenant, M. W. Wall; First Sergeant, Nathaniel Stetson. One hundred and six men, three officers and four sergeants.
Company C—Captain, Berger; First Lieutenant, Appleton; Second Lieutenant, R. Dimphey; First Sergeant, Messler. Eighty men, three officers and four sergeants.
Company D—Captain, Lawrence; First Lieutenant, Cohen; Second Lieutenant, —–; First Sergeant, Fox. One hundred men, two officers and three sergeants.
Company E—Captain, Griffin; First Lieutenant, Dutch; Second Lieutenant, Hurlbut; Third Lieutenant, G. I. Fox; First Sergeant, Martin Balis. One hundred and eight men, four officers and four sergeants.
Company F—Captain, Buck; First Lieutenant, D. Allen; Second Lieutenant, J. Diamond; First Sergeant, Hennessey. Men, 103; officers, 2; sergeants, 4.
Company G—Captain, Carr; First Lieutenant, Cheidley; Second Lieutenant, Decker; First Sergeant, Young. Men, 102; officers, 3; sergeants, 4.
Engineers—Captain, Walton; First Sergeant; J. R. Turnbull. Men, 22.
Troop—Captain, Varrian; First Lieutenant, Burns; Second Lieutenant, Cornell; First Sergeant, J. E. Smith. Men, 112; officers, 3 Sergeants, 4.
Band—Leader, D. Mazzinghe. Men, 25.
Drummers—First Sergeant, Ryer; Second Sergeant, Parson. Men, 24.
By the overplus in some of the companies, and by several recruits falling in afterwards, all of the regular companies, except that of the engineers; were equalized at one hundred men each. The band is part of that attached to the United States receiving ship North Carolina. Twenty five members of the Seventh, and seven of the Seventy first, went on with the Eighth, as did also six men of Company H, Seventh Massachusetts regiment, under command of Lieut. Stark, (A descendant of the old General), who was left behind here sick when his regiment passed through.
A LONG WAIT.
The regiment was brought into line and kept standing in the hot, broiling sun for a long time, awaiting the arrival of the troop, with its artillery. The delay caused by the necessity of purchasing horses, harness, and stores, detained the command for many hours, however. The detachment of police marched on the ground under command of Sergeants Parkes and Castle, were marched away again. The soldiers, at rest, sang the ‘Star Spangled Banner,’ and ‘Dixie Land.’ At two o’clock the line was again broken, and the companies rendezvoused about on curbstones, and sang patriotic songs, talked to their friends, drank water and something stronger and cheered the weary hours away. Britton of the Everett House, sent out a plentiful supply of sandwiches for a luncheon. The crowd gradually dispersed, and those who remained seated themselves upon the pavements, which a large quantity of broken glass made by no means to comfortable. A few members of the Highland guard appeared in bare legs and kilts. The hours waned away and the comparatively few people who remained, stared, sat down, felt weak, ate, drank, returned home, recruited, came back and repeated de capo. Mounted recruits dashed about upon what Bryant calls their gum Arabic steeds. Two of the Fox Guard started a fight, and were conveyed away by the police. Then, at a little after four, the companies were marched down Fourteenth street, and finally, the crowd increasing all the while, were formed into line on Fifth avenue. Sergeant Bogert arrived with another squad of police. Ex- Colonel Avery, and several other ex Colonels took charge of the two hundred and fifty exempt and stay at home members. The long awaited troop arrived with its cannon. Colonel Lyons was saluted and took command of his regiment. Then the American flag was saluted amid hearty cheers, and then followed;—
A PRESENTATION OF COLORS to the regiment by Dr. Barrow, on behalf of mesdames Mrs. Chas. C. Crawford, Mrs. Chas. Chandler and Mrs. Chas. A. Seacor. The colors consisted of a beautiful flag, worked in the finest silk. Upon one side were the Stars and Stripes, and upon the other, on a ground of white silk, the American eagle, exquisitely worked in feathers, and with the motto, E. Pluribus Unum. Dr. Barrow stated that the flag had been made by Mrs. Seacor thirty three years ago, and had been very highly valued by the family. The ladies sent it, however, with the regiment with which Mrs. Seacor’s on went, and knew that it would never be disgraced. Colonel Lyons briefly replied, saying that he received the flag on behalf of the regiment with the greatest emotion. He had been with his men for years and knew them well. That flag would never be despoiled except over their dead bodies. (Cheers) We will return it to you, or leave our bones with it. (Great cheering.) That flag I shall always follow, no mater at what sacrifice. We will return it to you, if we ever return (Cheers.) Again I thank the ladies, of whom we shall often think, and whom we hope to meet at some brighter and better time.
THE MARCH TO THE BOAT.
The regiment then slowly started, with frequent stoppages, on the march down Broadway. The crowd heartily cheered them as they advanced, and the soldiers were greeted with requests to pick out plantations for their friends, to which one of them most aptly replied by pointing to the escorts marching by and saying, ‘This is the home brigade, girls! Get them some white feathers!’ The streets were well lined all the way to the boat, and the people were very enthusiastic. Great amusement was afforded by the eccentric movements of members, but which was really composed of all the outsiders who could slip in under cover of a badge. If they were exempt, it must have been from any sort of drill. Part of the times they were squares of the Regiment and again were backing upon the artillery horses, which seemed to imagine themselves imitation Flora Temples and would not be restrained from a two twenty pace. These civilian escorts do no good, and do a great deal of harm. They break, up the line, embarrass the soldiers, invitiate and busy the officers, and injure the tout ensemble of the display. With some few exceptions they are got up to gratify a little personal vanity on the part of the escorters, but the public is tired of them. The greatest greeny no longer mistakes the rosetted men who march arm in arm ahead of the soldiers for recruits or volunteers. Everybody knows them, and no one is pleased with them.
During the way down one of the exempts, and old clergyman, fainted from the heat and excitement. The Zouaves Lafayette Guard, and fire companies cheered the passing soldiers. The line of march was through rough Canal street to Hudson, thence to Beach, and thence to Pier No. 36. In Beach street the soldiers were choked by a thick cloud of dust, which rendered them invisible. No outsiders were admitted to the dock, except by special order, and so the embarkation on board the Alabama, Capt. Schenck, was excellently and quickly accomplished. The artillery marched down to Pier No. 13, and went on board the James Adger. The shores and wharfs were crowded with a cheering, shouting mass of people. The seven members of the Seventy first, on board, were informed by Colonel Lyons that they could not be taken for want of room, but by the kindness of General Hall took passage in the Adger with the artillery. The Alabama was crowded with soldiers, and there was hardly room to stir on board here. Seven o’clock approached; the gangways were thrown down; a few weeping women ran about the dock; the ropes were thrown off; two of the men were left behind, as some men always will be; there was a great rush to the end of the pier and the ship—its black hull strongly relieved by the many hued mass of uniforms, flags, and handkerchiefs; its rigging clear cut against the rosy western sky, its departure saluted by cheers, cannoning, bell ringing and whistling—sailed with sealed orders, to be opened twenty miles at sea.