Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1906-12-22
Make Up the Famed Sixty
Ninth Regiment of New
York City.
Has a Glorious Record of Which
Irishmen Everywhere
Are Proud.
Fought Valiantly on Many
Bloody Fields During the
Civil War.
NOW IN THEIR NEW ARMORY

Irish-Americans all over the United
State are Justly proud of the gallant
and meritorious record of the Sixty
ninth Regiment of New York. From
Maine to California soldiers never
tire of praising this gallant regiment
which has done so much for the coun-
try IN the field of battle and else
where. The people of the great City
of New York recently erected a
magnificent new armory for the gal
liant Sixty.ninth, and there was
great military display when the Irish
American soldiers took possession OF
their new quarters, which are the
finest id the country. On the oc-
casion of the installation of the new
armory two Irish regiments which
won glory in the field of battle in the
Civil war marched through the prin.
cipal streets of the Metropolis, es'
corted by the best drilled body OF
State militia and two batteries OF
artillery. Tens of thousands cheered
them on the way. The occasion was
a reminder that the Irish are still an
important portion of the fighting
force of the country.
The new armory is on Lexington
avenue, running the entire length OF
the block from Twenty-sixth to Twen-
ty-seventh street, and is a splendid
structure with all the latest improve
meHts. II is four stories high and
built of soft toned red brick, with
trimmings of freestone. The drill
hall measures 202 by 16S feet, with
arches springing completely across
the hall with a span of ninety-two
feet. There is a large gymnasium on
the second floor and complete
equipment of mess halls, company and
dresSs~g rooms, reception rooms,
ar.d other rooms designed for the
comfort and convenience of the men.
rhe first cere nony was the simple
one Of the presentation of the battle
SCARED flags Of the two veterans or
ganizatiCns to the regiment. The
presentation was made by James j.
Smith, who as Second Lieutenant led
comp. ny of the Sixth-ninth in a
charge in ti,o battle of Gettysburg
after all his superior officers in the
company had been killed or wounded.
Then came a prayer by Archbishop
Farley and a short address by Su-
preme Court Justice Fitzgerald. Presi-
dent MCGOWAN, of the Board of Alder
men, on behalf of Mayor Mcclellan,
then presented the armory to the
regiment, and Col. Duffy in a short
speech accepted. Lieut.-Gov. Bruce
delivered a short congratulatory
speech and the formal ceremonies
were brought to close by the read
ing of an ode, written for the &C.
casion by Joseph I. G. Clarke.
The Ninth Massachusetts, also an
Irish regiment of renown, partici-
pated in the exercises.
The history of the Sixty-ninth Regi-
ment is interesting. 1t was organized
by order of the Adjutant General of
New York in November, 1851, and
was mostly made up of young men
who belonged to the Young Ireland
movement Its first commander was
| Col. Roe, who was succeeded in 1855
| by Col James r. Ryan, who held the
position until his resignation, in 1859.
In that year there was elected to the
Colonelency a notable and worthy
character, a patriot and a soldier, a
man possessed of "one of the few, the
inmotal names that were not born to
die" the dashing and gallant Michael
Corcoran.
NJ In,
coin issued his proclamation calling
out the militia of the several States
to the number of $4,000 men.
Corcoran was at that time under ar
rest ard deprived of his command on
account of his memorable action,
some months before, upon the occa-
sion of the visit to New York City of
the then Prince of Wales, the present
King of Great Britain, but on April
20, or five days after the issuing of
the Presidents proclamation, the
courtmartial that was considering his
case was dissolved, all charges against
him were dismissed and he was at
once restored to his command.
Col. Corcoran simultaneously with
resuming his position issued General
Order No. 1, ordering the companies
to assemble at their different armories
on Tuesday, April %, prepared TO
rendezvous at Great Jones street, for
the purpose of Immediately proceed
ing to the battle field. The closing
words of this historic order were:
THE Commandant feels proud that
his first duty after being relieved
from a long arrest, is to have the
honor of promulgatrng an order to
the regiment to rally to the support
of the constitution and laws of the
United States" Within tweny-four
hours from the posting of this order
5000 men had volunteered but the
instructions of Gov. Morgan pro
hibited the enlisting of a greater NUM-
Der than was requisite to fill the
regimental complement of 1000 men;
so that five out of every six of the
young Irish-Americans who were
anxious to follow the flag amid the
perils of bioodiest warfare had to suf-
fer at least a temporary disappoint-
ment.
On April %, 1861, rorty-three years
ago, the Sixty-ninth started to the
front and from that day to its re-