Vol. 46, No. 12
$3.50
America’s Monthly Newspaper For Civil War Enthusiasts
48 Pages, December 2020
Never-Before Seen Scrapbook Sheds New Light—Provides Valuable Insights New York State Militia and the Union Defence Committee Mobilize for War by Leon Reed In the heated days following the fall of Fort Sumter and President Lincoln’s call for 75,000 troops, northern governors raced to declare their full support and promise that their state would meet or exceed the president’s quota for volunteer troops. Lincoln and his nervous cabinet cared little about promises. Troops on the ground, in Washington, D.C., were what mattered to a group of people increasingly concerned about the possibility of Virginia troops, or southern sympathizers in Washington, swooping in to kidnap Lincoln and his cabinet. A never-before seen scrapbook maintained by Hiram Roosa of Rondout, N.Y., the corresponding secretary of the New York Military Association, provides valuable insights into the secession crisis and the nation’s progress toward civil war. The collection consists of photos, original correspondence, souvenirs sent to Roosa by various New York soldiers, and a collection of approximately 300 patriotic envelope covers that commented on various aspects of the crisis and the war. The collection provides particular insights into the pivotal role played by New York militia regiments in the early days of the war.
Sandford, commander of the 1st Division NYSM, offered the entire division to be ready to march “on an hour’s notice.” The lame duck Buchanan administration wasn’t eager to provoke a confrontation at this time, so the offer was politely declined. Even earlier, on January 9, 1861, after South Carolina forces fired on the Star of the West, a ship attempting to resupply the Fort Sumter garrison, the New York Military Association (NYMA) notified Major Anderson of a resolution of support. 1 After the Star of the West confrontation, the standoff over Fort Sumter simmered on for almost three months. The issue was brought back to the front burner when Lincoln ordered another resupply expedition. This was approaching Charleston in mid-April when CSA forces in Charleston opened fire on the fort. The attack on and surrender
of Fort Sumter shook the North out of its complacent attitude. The reaction in New York City was instantaneous. Democratic newspapers and politicians who had opposed Lincoln now supported the war policy. Politician Dan Sickles wrote: “The city of New York will sustain the government… Democrats are no longer partisans. … The attack on Fort Sumter has made the North a unit.” Even the New York Herald, previously highly critical of Lincoln’s policy, came out in support of Lincoln’s war program. All the northern governors quickly issued statements of support, but Lincoln needed to defend Washington NOW and troops parading in Indianapolis or being recruited in Lansing wouldn’t help defend the national capital. Massachusetts raised four regiments immediately. Two were sent to reinforce
New York and Secession While much of the north reacted calmly to the initial round of secession and felt that, like always, a compromise would be worked out; the New York State militia organization took the crisis more seriously. In January 1861, Major General Charles
“America’s Havelock”
36 – American Battlefield Trust 47 – Advertiser Index 10 – Black Powder, White Smoke 40 – Book Reviews
35 – Central Virginia Battlefield Trust 38 – Emerging Civil War 26 – The Graphic War 30 – Inspection, ARMS!
Fort Monroe; the other two were among the first to head toward Washington. Other than these regiments, the state of New York was in the best position to dispatch significant numbers of reinforcements. The reason for New York’s comparatively fast mobilization was that, under the sponsorship of the NYMA, many regiments already existed. An active New York militia was organized into two divisions and regiments often had officers and at least partially full rosters. In some cases, militia units had their own armory, some weapons, and a regular drill schedule. In fact, New York militia units were regularly activated in peacetime to perform ceremonial duties or maintain law and order. Regiments were frequently called up to deal with fires, riots, or other local emergencies and several regiments were paraded to honor the Prince of 2 – Letters to the Editor 18 – The Source 8 – The Unfinished Fight 14 – This And That
Wales (later King Edward VII) in 1860.2 In these early days, militia regiments would be dispatched immediately and serve as gap-fillers until the adjutant general could recruit volunteer regiments that would serve for two years.
Union Square On Monday, April 14, Horace Greeley’s Tribune called for a patriotic assembly to be held in New York City the following Saturday. A group described as “the solid men of Wall Street” met to plan the rally and speakers. By the time the rally was held, word had already reached New York that a Massachusetts regiment had been ambushed while passing through Baltimore, and New York City was totally aroused.
H Scrapbook
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20 – Through The Lens 5 – Trivia