New-York tribune., 1901-11-24
THE 22D REGIMENT.
ORGANIZED AS UNION GRAYS IN WAR
TIME-ITS HONORABLE CAREER
AND IT'S EVOLUTION FROM
A HOME GUARD.

The 22d Regiment is the direct offspring of the
Civil War Il was organized at time when
all the State troops had gone to the front at
the call of President Lincoln The city OF New
York and its harbor were unprotected except by
the police and this together with the fact that
there many Copperheads and sympathlzerS
with the South in New-York caused anxiety in
the business community. It was agreed upon
by a number of prominent business men that
home guard was necessary. and steps were taken
to organize, arm and equip brigade for the
protection OF the city.
A meeting was held April 23, 1S6l. at
which the banks, merchants. manufacturers
and insurance companies were represented anu
a committee preliminary organization was
appointed. This committee consisted of John 1.
Denny A f. Higgins and Lorillard Spencer
Three days later the following notice was PRINT
ed in the daily papers the signature OF
John T, Denny:
The Rifle Corps which was organized at Del
nonico's last Tuesday evening will hold us
fourth meeting for business and drill at No 'r6
West Thirteenth-st. this evening at , CLOCK
Gentlemen wishing TO join are invited TO pe
present
The name adopted by this organization was
the Union Grays Recruits in large num-
bcrs and when the public Home Guard
meeting took place May 13. 1SG1. the name
Association of the Union Grays' and the motto
..Defendam' were formally adopted
The following citizens who had been instru-
me ntaI in organizing the Union Grays were
elected honorary members: f S. Winston. of the
Mutual Life Insurance Company: George L.
Hope. Continental Fire Insurance Company; Ma
thaniel Hayden, Chatham Bank; f 5 Lathrop'
I-,,ion Mutual Insurance Company. Charles }.
Martin Home Insurance Company, John MadS-
worth +, \. Stansberry metropolitan ihsufa
Company; w. II. Aspinwall and Morris frafih-
lin New-York Life Insurance Company Inc
banks and insurance companies contributed
SIG 40 out of the $lS1l0 which was raised Tor
tho nurnose of organizing. James Monroe, for
n,erly a captain in the 4th Infantry, was IN
duCed to accept the colonelcy of the regiment
which consisted of six companies. naneV' a.
c. d. +, q and H. The regiment nrst arhio'S
was ON the second floor of the building on the
southwest corner of Fourth st. and Lafayette
Place The 18th Regiment had quarters IN the
same building.
Although the regiment was called INTO eAlS'-
ence as a home guard, its members SOON "e
came restless under the title Which siiiaii IVY
| shouted after the men when they were OH P"
oao On lime 81 1861 a resolution was passed
| recording the desire of the men to be mustered
into the State service. and on September H. looi'
| +ho Irpion Grays were mustered into the regular
| state militia as the 22d Regiment, n G B n I.
| In March, 1862 the regiment made its flrst pupiic
| narade A month later the Union forces u1oei
| General Banks were defeated in the Shenahuoaii
| Valley State troops were called TO the iio".
| but the 22d Regiment was overlooked Inc o
of officers held a meeting, notified the authofitie'
| that the body would become demoraiizeo IL lo
| ,o rcbinp orders were received and remained
| in session many hours waiting for reply IL
| finally came in the form of an order TO plooee
at once to Washington, and on May % '"e