The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-22
REPORT TO THE UNION DEFENCE COMMIT
TEE, JUNE 20, 1861.
I>,os DEFENCE COMMITTEES,
Or IFE CITIZENS Op NEW YORK, =


No so PINE s., Ngw YORK, JOSE %, 1861
Al meeting held this day the following report
coived and adopted
The Executive Committee, the discharge Of the duties
eonfd to them submitted ort TO the Union nelepce
Committee the Goth any Of May last resumug
record of their abors ask leave present the fol
bwing
RRpORT.
The routine business of the committee had continued
uninterrupted in its daily performance until the 9Th inst
On which day order made to hold weekly meetings
each Wednesday other days whenever
by the chairman with members. Up to
Including the sth the number Of meetings held by the
Executive Committee seventy three, of which thirty
Eve we're evening meetings. held at the Fifth Ho
tel Those have been discontinued the 2sth Of May
The total number Of meetings TO dale seventy eight.
The duties conaded to the Union Defence Committee,
though very clearly defined in the terms Of the
buttons adopted at the meeting of citizens, under
stood to have special reference TO providing
creating and sustaining military force DO used in
the public service Of the countrys
Early in the progress their abors the Union Defence
Committee appointed subordinate body, which has
known the Executive Committee whose hands the
details of the business have been manly copHded and
apon whom must naturally large portion of the
scnsbility incurred in the discharge of duties alike
pOrtant multfarious and burdensome. This fact may
perhaps justify the Executive Committee in entering
some length upon statement OF The progress
Ct their lab0rs.
In tracing the TRANSACTIONS OF this committee, II Is me-
cessary to rccur for moment to the condition Of the
country when the citizens Of New York felt themselves
Called upon TO take par, nsiiuing measures Of public
safety.
The national authorities had made earnest appeal TO
Che loyal feelings Of the people for aid defending the
cqns,ituton and executing the laws The response the
city ana State Of New York prompt and enectual
Money was freely contributed well from private ~
from public Citizen soldiers and masses Of the
people engaged In the ordinary occupations Of civil fe
srrang to if every mans honor WAS endangered
d the hearts and hands Of female benevoence inspired
and nctuated by motives Of patriotism instantly
unped in preparations soften the hardships Of the
camp and 10 mitigate the suferings Of the hospital
In the midst Of such unusual outburst Of public SEN
timent the abors Of the Committee commenced and have
been assiduousy continued. There great need
apparent TO every mind that considered the
which wssthe necessity Of placing effective military
force at the national capital in the shortest possible
tme That this necessity was fully appreciated and
promptly met, well by New York as by other loyal
htaes the pnblie annals will show Massachusetts, may
Justly claim the merit OF having placed the first regiment
ef citizen defenders OF the constitution the
patriotic soldiers promptly followed and speedily
outnumbered by those Of New York The Seventh regi
msnt, commanded by Colonel Marshall LeIcr,s so long
tie pride OF the city Of New York. abandoned the ties OF
home ami business and with aacrty that has scarcely
pa a'ei in military history marched its thousand dis
oipned men steadily to the capital, where performed
efficiently and faithfully ait duties and whence It has
returned, as the close of its full term service dsn
guished by the grateful commentator of the President
and Commanding General vt the Army detachment Of
200 men OF the reserve Of this regiment led by CAPTAIN E.
l. Viele the first military body which opened the
passage and passed to the city Washington by the Potc
mac river. Much credit Justly accorded to that OH
Ger for the Skill spirit aud perseverance, evnced by him
on the occasion referred to-
Foil axipyf Saya
hta aided and encouraged by the contributions of cit
and stimulated by the exertons Of the committee
The Seventy first, led by the gallant and iamented Vos-
ourgh tie Sixth Twelfth Eighth Sixty ninth and Fifth
speed H. the field, and followed short III
tervss by the Second Ninth and Seventy ninth These
Corps PORTION of the standing quota OF the ate milf
Tia With these also forward from neiehboring
City Of Brooklyn the Thirteenth Twenty eighth Four
aeenth comprising well equipped and eifcien, body Of
three thousand citizen soldiers led by accomplished and
sk,lfal officers
Thirteen regiments of the State militia have thus passed
Snto he plbic service under the auspices of the commit
tee and they eonaieatly trust and believe that loyal gal
2anry will be the distinguishing characteristics Of these
eosders while bearing the national flag
From lster the Twentieth regiment OF militia com
maRaed by New York merchant, also greatly com
mend for its discipline and efficiency While encanipcd
u this city, preparatory to It's departure for the
But The exigency which the country found itself at
the outbreak 81 The rebellion rendered Indispensable
duty on the part Of the Pr Summon volunteer
soldiers ~ the Geld The quota OF the STAGE of New York
was nxed at thrtyeight regiments TO this number
u
committee Oh the part Of the President and The War De-
partment The tNtal number Of volunteer repnents now
organized and IN the hd or prepared for forty
gSo, when, with the fourteen militia regiments inc!rd
ing the Twenty fifth carries up the quota the Of
New York TO the noble aggregate Of fifty six regiments
or about fifty thonsand men
In gancing over list these hastily organized de-
Tenders Of liberty and public law the attention of the
committee will doubtless be attracted TO the various
corps which, from time to time, have excited interest
more or less deeep in the community their departure
from the city. 10 win this interest attach close
y than TO the effective body of men composed OF selection
from the Fire Department of New York led ~ young
and gallant Officer, who has already redeemed with his
Iii: the obi atoms OF duty ald patriotism which he owed
10 his country. The o. Elmer T. Ellsworth viii be
remembered, his chivalr, bearing a or admired
and honored and bis premature death at the hands OF
assassin depolod whenever the writer of our history
sh III depict the events OF the contest which
gagcd.
Another high spirited and accomplished officer. the
conihhnoer OF we cend Mtia regiment which entered
the Geld, Colonel Abraham vo burgh of the Seventy liz
k also numbered with the dead Highly esteemel as a
Ctzn, conspicuous for his military capacity and his
earnest devotion TO the he had chosen the civ
wioe ioc annals his patriotic conduct has lustra;ed
vii suffer his selfsacrfcng example To uass Win n
Attiing record Of his merit.
For tine inornato on Of the Comm tee table mas been
prepared giving the number Of each " The reel
rnens forming the quota OF the State Of New Yok he
name Of its couantng officer and location at the
present time either in the field or IN canonment, 50 far
rs can be accurately This table viii appear
IN the sppendng to the report
or the Aysx regiments actually accepted for service
ny me proper Authorities OF tho national govern
z.
az 10 The present hHe been cxcn ied through this M
mttee 10 ihHtys's regiments, and cngag Ients have
ee MADE IN regard 10 others The nincs or numbers of
these regiments, together with the amount of appropria
lion 10 EACH viii form The subee, of further report az
en'ly az Il can be completed The time has not arrived
Tor ascerlapMg with certainty whether the M ans thus
appropriate IN aid Of regiments have always been wisely
applied. That they have been applied with an earnest
desire 10 accomplish the best result insure the ereates
amount Of public usefulness and the ata redutrd
by The government with the least possible waste If time
the Committee 10 with con ddeut re
n N III gfnt
STAGE Of want OF fidelity the part Of in whom
they have been compelled by circumstances T. reppse
trust and conGepse has 10 the know edge Of the
committee or las been matter Of suspicion 10 them is
source OF unaloyea and most grateful saiis action
In the outfit and equipment ois the numerous regime n,s
which have occupied tie attention OF the committee and
shared IL the bounty Of the citizens IL be ex.
poced that any hing like equality Of expenditure for
etch could be obtained In some the regiments
When brought 10 the notice Of the committee were far
hvaced IN then preparation for service others no
progisss Lad been made, while in few private
CorIioutons " considerable amount had preceded
tnos' o the committee In all brought Their no.
.ce me one great inject kept steadily IN vcwthaf
oI placing Inc required force In the field Of acnon at
inc earliest moment compatible with n due prepare.
ucn tor effective service. That service has been com.
mencec active operations In the fed have already b.
OMAN ma EtAt.A