New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-27
Tile TWELFTH REGIMENT

Il
Ten independent companies of militia. some OF
which dated back to 1873. were consolidated under
! the command of Colonel Henry G.. Stebbins on MAY
! g. 1s47 and formed the 18th Regiment. The Regi
mcnt its first service IN The "Asior-p place Riot In
1s49. The other militia regiments at that time had
different uniforms for their different companies The
| 18th however had adopted a regimental uniform.
| the distinctive feature Of which was white coat.
| by which the Regiment soon became widely known.
| The ranks were filed with youngmcn from the best
classes and its reputation for fine dnll and disci
pline went far beyond the borders of the state. In
1857 Colonel Stebbins resigned. The next Colonel,
| Richard French. resigned in about year. and John
| S. Cocks was elected For two years the regiment
struggled along under adverse circumstances, when
Colonel Cocks was put under arrest for disobcdence
Of orders in not bringing out his men at division
parade. An attempt was made to unto the l2th
with the 10th The Regiment was greatly incensea
at this and to show how strong il was. tho 18th
visited Albany under command OF Lieutenant
Colonel Ii. A. Weeks Tho State authorities con
sdered this an act of INSTRUMENTATION. aud dis
banded the Regiment. The organization was Kept
IN. however under the old name OF Independence
Quad" At tho end of a year the organization re-
celved officially the of the I'D Regiment. but
the men were much displeascd at not having
their old number that not long after Colonel Daniel
ButteIield assumed command in December, 1860,
the original number restored.
The 18th left the city for Washington on Sun
lay April 90 1861. II mustered into service
for three months on May 2. After camping III
Washington and drilling constantly it was ordered
10 cross the Long Bridge on the ght of May % Ii
did 80 and was the first regiment on NTginlas soil.
The term Of enlistment expired on July IL. but the
12th's services were offered and accepted till
August . Colonel Butterield became lieutenant
in October Colonel Ward was elected 10 command
the regiment. Early IN the summer oil 1oO2 the
18th was again called into the field. and was
statIoned at flarpers Ferry and on Bolivar Heights
The New-York troops were ordered home on August
81. but the 18th offered its services for SIX
months longer. In week communication with the
North was cut off the rebels gathered rapidly on all
sides. and after s.arD lighting and a stubborn re-
sstance against tremendous odds. in which the
rebels loss far exceeded that of the Union troops
the latter surrendered, and tho 18th became
prisoners of war There were 10000 rebels and 12-
900 Union men in tho final series of engagements
which led to the surrender. The total number
of officers and in the 18th when IT
surrendered was 563 The Regiment was paroled
aud sent home, and in January. 1863, was officially
declared exchanged. The regimental colors were
not lost the color company. A, was at Baltimore
at the time of the surrender The l2th was
again called to tho field when Lee invaded Penn
sylvania. and did good work. summoned home
when the Draft Riots broke out, the Regiment es,
tablished It's Headquarters in the CITY Hall and dd
guard duty till September 1. Colonel William G.
Ward was made Brigadier-General OF the First
Brigade of State troops ia November 1865, and his
brother Major John Ward. succeeded him IN com
mand OF the 18th. In S6o Company T.. of the
18th, won first prze banner tor excellence, in
drill and discipline at the championsbip drill IN
Tompkns Square. At the g Orange Riot in 1871
| the Regiment was called upon and responded
promptly and at the time of the railroad strikes aud
riots OF 1877 in six hours after the order to turn
| out had been received 800 ont al the $50
| in the Regiment. had reported for duty;
| In October Colonel Ward was retired
at his own request and Colonel >.
Van Renss, laer Cruger chosen to succeed him.
| Colonel Cruger Joined the 153th New-York Volun-
teers III 1862 rs first lieutenant. He marched 70
! the sea with Sherman and was twice wounded. lie
. bravery in the field. After the war he acted rs
Lieutenant -colOnhl Of the 18th until promoted to
his present position. o.,
| The 18th has always had good record in rifle
American Rife Team. They were Lieutenant
| Colonel Gildersleeve and First Lieutenant Fulton.
| In 81 regimental team won q set Of handsome
silk guidons which bad been offered as prize Tor
che First Brigade. In 1880. out of tho total roll OF
| $50 men. III received the State marksman's
| badge.
When the Regiment was first organized each com.
| pany had Its own armory. Then an armory NJ
| later il was moved up to Broadway and
Thirty -ffth-st In 1873 the Regiment moved
into ITS present oommodions quarters quarters
at Broadway and Forty fith.st: The dress uniform
of the 18th Is ut present the French chasseur uni
FORM with white gaiters white belts and a helmet.
Up to last year the Regiment wore dark blue coats
with blue and gold slashers, lightbue trousers and
a shake; The Regiment contains 497 officers ana
men and Is receiving new recruits constantly. Inc
| following is q list OF the regmental officers:
M HUtsl, ~ -coIonei William O. wilson
MAJOR James H. Jones.
Adjutant, W. H. Murphy.
Quurterpsstor. e. X. Powers.
Commissary OF Subsistence. Richard Deevos