Seventh Regiment of New York
Encyclopedia
The Seventh Regiment of New York , now referred to as the 7th Regiment New York State Militia, was a State Defense Force which was established in 1806 and has gone through numerous redesignations. It was organized in response to the invasion of New York Bay
by British warships who had claimed the right to apprehend and search American vessels and take from them any British subjects serving therein.
in April, 1806, as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Companies, and June 25th they were officially reorganized by the State as part of the uniformed militia of the State, and attached to the battalion of artillery commanded by Maj. Andrew Sitcher.
On April 5, 1807, the battalion, in the organization of the 3d Regiment of New York Artillery, became its 2nd Battalion. When the war with England became imminent in 1807, these four companies, with other volunteers, were temporarily organized as a regiment, commanded by Col. Peter Curtenius, and remained thus detached until April 20, 1809.
In 1812 the 3d became the 11h Regiment of Artillery, the four companies remaining the 2nd Battalion.
On August 25, 1824, the battalion was named Battalion of National Guards (its distinctive name until, in 1862, the Legislature appropriated it for the uniformed militia), and in December, 1824, the fifth company was organized, and Captain Stevens' company, of the 11th New York Artillery, transferred to it as the sixth company.
In January, 1825, the battalion was transferred to the 2d New York Artillery.
On October 1, 1825, the battalion was detached and organized as a separate and independent battalion, and during the month the seventh company was organized.
On May 4, 1826, the organization of the eighth company was completed, and May 7th, the battalion was organized into a regiment, the 27th Artillery.
April 17, 1838, a troop of cavalry was admitted to the regiment, which, in 1861, became the ninth company.
In 1843, the State furnished the regiment with arms, it having heretofore provided them itself.
On July 27th, the designation of the regiment was changed to 7th Regiment.
In April, 1849, an engineer corps was organized, which was revived and reorganized March 1, 1855.
A tenth company, Co. K, was organized March 29, 1860.
The regiment was frequently ordered to hold itself ready for service, and did active service for the United States, the State and New York city, as follows:
United States service from September 15 to December 15, 1812; from September 2 to December 2, 1814; in support of State or municipal authority: execution of James Reynolds, November 19, 1825; at the Election Riots, April 10, 1834; Abolition Riot, July 11 to 12, 1834; Great Conflagration in New York city, December 17, 1835; Stevedore Riot, February 24, 1836; Flour Riots, February 6 and March 6, 1837; Anti-rent War, December 9 to 10, 1839; Croton Water Riot
, April 22 to 23, 1840; fire in New York city, July 19 to 21, 1845; Astor Place Riot
, May 10, 12 and 14, 1849; Police Riot
, June 16, 1857; Dead Rabbits Riot
, July 5, 1857; Quarantine War, September 3, 1858; preserving order at camp of Spinola Brigade, September 12 to 19, 1862; Draft Riots, July, 1863; Orange Riots
, July, 1871; Labor Riots, July, 1877
; Motormen's Strike, Brooklyn, January, 1895, and at strike, Croton Dam, April, 1900; service in the War of the Rebellion.
April 19, 1861, the regiment, commanded by Col. Marshall Lefferts, left the State, en route to Washington, D. C., where it was mustered in the service of the United States for thirty days, April 26, 1861; it served at Washington and was mustered out at New York city, June 3, 1861.
May 25, 1862, the regiment, still commanded by Colonel Lefferts, again left the State, and was mustered in the United States service at camp Hamilton, Va., May 29, 1862, for three months, from May 26, 1862. It served most of this time at Baltimore, Md., and was mustered out of the United States service, September 5, 1862, at New York city.
June 16, 1863, it again re-entered the United States service, and was mustered in at New York city, for thirty days. It left the State on the 17th, under the command of Colonel Lefferts, served at Baltimore, and Frederick, Md., in the 2d Separate Brigade, Middle Department, 8th Corps, and was mustered out of the United States service, July 20, 1863, at New York city.
In its service, in 1861, it lost one enlisted man, accidentally killed, and it took part in: The advance into Virginia, May 24, 1861, and the New York City Riot
July 16, 1863.
-era and one of the most popular brass band
s of the time; the band-leader, who went by the name Noll, used brass and reed instruments in duo proportion.
In 1860 Claudio S. Grafulla
became the band-leader and reorganized the band. He added woodwinds to the band and continued to serve as its director until his death in 1880. The band gained a high reputation under his leadership. He composed and is best remembered for his march, The Washington Greys.
The band was honored in 1922 by John Philip Sousa
's The Gallant Seventh march. On April 18, 1923, Sousa conducted the band in playing The Star-Spangled Banner
at the opening of Yankee Stadium.
New York Bay
New York Bay is the collective term for the marine areas surrounding the entrance of the Hudson River into the Atlantic Ocean. Its two largest components are Upper New York Bay and Lower New York Bay, which are connected by The Narrows...
by British warships who had claimed the right to apprehend and search American vessels and take from them any British subjects serving therein.
History
The regiment, located in New York city, (companies, A, B, C and D), were organized during the furore created by the firing of British at American vessels off Sandy HookSandy Hook
Sandy Hook is a barrier spit along the Atlantic coast of New JerseySandy Hook may also refer to:-Places:United States* Sandy Hook , a village in the town of Newtown, Connecticut* Sandy Hook, Kentucky, a city in Elliott County...
in April, 1806, as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Companies, and June 25th they were officially reorganized by the State as part of the uniformed militia of the State, and attached to the battalion of artillery commanded by Maj. Andrew Sitcher.
On April 5, 1807, the battalion, in the organization of the 3d Regiment of New York Artillery, became its 2nd Battalion. When the war with England became imminent in 1807, these four companies, with other volunteers, were temporarily organized as a regiment, commanded by Col. Peter Curtenius, and remained thus detached until April 20, 1809.
In 1812 the 3d became the 11h Regiment of Artillery, the four companies remaining the 2nd Battalion.
On August 25, 1824, the battalion was named Battalion of National Guards (its distinctive name until, in 1862, the Legislature appropriated it for the uniformed militia), and in December, 1824, the fifth company was organized, and Captain Stevens' company, of the 11th New York Artillery, transferred to it as the sixth company.
In January, 1825, the battalion was transferred to the 2d New York Artillery.
On October 1, 1825, the battalion was detached and organized as a separate and independent battalion, and during the month the seventh company was organized.
On May 4, 1826, the organization of the eighth company was completed, and May 7th, the battalion was organized into a regiment, the 27th Artillery.
April 17, 1838, a troop of cavalry was admitted to the regiment, which, in 1861, became the ninth company.
In 1843, the State furnished the regiment with arms, it having heretofore provided them itself.
On July 27th, the designation of the regiment was changed to 7th Regiment.
In April, 1849, an engineer corps was organized, which was revived and reorganized March 1, 1855.
A tenth company, Co. K, was organized March 29, 1860.
The regiment was frequently ordered to hold itself ready for service, and did active service for the United States, the State and New York city, as follows:
United States service from September 15 to December 15, 1812; from September 2 to December 2, 1814; in support of State or municipal authority: execution of James Reynolds, November 19, 1825; at the Election Riots, April 10, 1834; Abolition Riot, July 11 to 12, 1834; Great Conflagration in New York city, December 17, 1835; Stevedore Riot, February 24, 1836; Flour Riots, February 6 and March 6, 1837; Anti-rent War, December 9 to 10, 1839; Croton Water Riot
New Croton Dam
The New Croton Dam, part of the New York City water supply system, stretches across the Croton River near Croton-on-Hudson, New York, about north of New York City. Construction began in 1892 and was completed in 1906. Designed by Alphonse Fteley , this masonry dam is broad at its base and high...
, April 22 to 23, 1840; fire in New York city, July 19 to 21, 1845; Astor Place Riot
Astor Place Riot
The Astor Place Riot occurred on May 10, 1849 at the now-demolished Astor Opera House in Manhattan, New York City and left at least 25 dead and more than 120 injured...
, May 10, 12 and 14, 1849; Police Riot
New York City Police Riot
The New York City Police Riot of 1857, known at the time as the Great Police Riot, was a conflict which occurred between the recently dissolved New York Municipal Police and the newly formed Metropolitan Police on June 16, 1857...
, June 16, 1857; Dead Rabbits Riot
Dead Rabbits Riot
The Dead Rabbits Riot was a two-day civil disturbance in New York City resulting from what was originally a small-scale street fight between members of the Dead Rabbits and the Bowery Boys into a citywide gang war which lasted from July 4–5, 1857...
, July 5, 1857; Quarantine War, September 3, 1858; preserving order at camp of Spinola Brigade, September 12 to 19, 1862; Draft Riots, July, 1863; Orange Riots
Orange Riots
The Orange riots took place in Manhattan, New York City in 1870 and 1871, and involved violent conflict between Irish Protestants, called "Orangemen", and Irish Catholics, along with the New York City Police Department and the New York State National Guard....
, July, 1871; Labor Riots, July, 1877
Great railroad strike of 1877
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 began on July 14 in Martinsburg, West Virginia, United States and ended some 45 days later after it was put down by local and state militias, and federal troops.-Economic conditions in the 1870s:...
; Motormen's Strike, Brooklyn, January, 1895, and at strike, Croton Dam, April, 1900; service in the War of the Rebellion.
April 19, 1861, the regiment, commanded by Col. Marshall Lefferts, left the State, en route to Washington, D. C., where it was mustered in the service of the United States for thirty days, April 26, 1861; it served at Washington and was mustered out at New York city, June 3, 1861.
May 25, 1862, the regiment, still commanded by Colonel Lefferts, again left the State, and was mustered in the United States service at camp Hamilton, Va., May 29, 1862, for three months, from May 26, 1862. It served most of this time at Baltimore, Md., and was mustered out of the United States service, September 5, 1862, at New York city.
June 16, 1863, it again re-entered the United States service, and was mustered in at New York city, for thirty days. It left the State on the 17th, under the command of Colonel Lefferts, served at Baltimore, and Frederick, Md., in the 2d Separate Brigade, Middle Department, 8th Corps, and was mustered out of the United States service, July 20, 1863, at New York city.
In its service, in 1861, it lost one enlisted man, accidentally killed, and it took part in: The advance into Virginia, May 24, 1861, and the New York City Riot
New York Draft Riots
The New York City draft riots were violent disturbances in New York City that were the culmination of discontent with new laws passed by Congress to draft men to fight in the ongoing American Civil War. The riots were the largest civil insurrection in American history apart from the Civil War itself...
July 16, 1863.
Seventh Regiment Band
In 1852 the 7th Regiment Band was organized. A German musical society of the mid-19th century formed the Seventh Regiment Band consisting of forty-two professional German musicians. It was the only exclusively regimental band of the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
-era and one of the most popular brass band
Brass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
s of the time; the band-leader, who went by the name Noll, used brass and reed instruments in duo proportion.
In 1860 Claudio S. Grafulla
Claudio S. Grafulla
Claudio S. Grafulla was a composer in the United States during the 19th Century, most noted for martial music for regimental bands during the early days of the American Civil War....
became the band-leader and reorganized the band. He added woodwinds to the band and continued to serve as its director until his death in 1880. The band gained a high reputation under his leadership. He composed and is best remembered for his march, The Washington Greys.
The band was honored in 1922 by John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J....
's The Gallant Seventh march. On April 18, 1923, Sousa conducted the band in playing The Star-Spangled Banner
The Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
at the opening of Yankee Stadium.
Memorial in Central Park
The 107th Infantry Memorial is dedicated to the men who served in the 107th New York Infantry Regiment, originally Seventh Regiment of New York, during World War I. The memorial depicts seven men; the one to the far right carrying two Mills bombs, while supporting the wounded soldier next to him. To his right another infantryman rushes towards the enemy positions, while the helmet less squad leader and another soldier are approaching the enemy with bayonets fixed. To the far left, one soldier is holding a mortally wounded soldier, keeping him on his feet. The bronze memorial was donated by 7th-107th Memorial Committee, and was designed and sculpted by Karl Illava, who served in the 107th IR as a sergeant in WWI. The monument was first conceived about 1920, was made in 1926-1927 and was placed in the park and unveiled in 1927, near the perimeter wall at Fifth Avenue and 67th Street.Time-line
- 1806 - Established in New York in response to the blockade of New York Bay by British ships. Four companies were formed and assigned to the First Brigade of the Battalion of Artillery.
- 1807-1808 - Reorganized as the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Regiment of Artillery, New York State Militia.
- 1812 - Redesignated 2nd Battalion, 11th Regiment of Artillery, New York State Militia.
- 1812-1814 - Deployed in the harbor forts of New York.
- 1824 - Renamed the National Guards (National Guard from 1832) in tribute to the Marquis de Lafayette. Gray uniforms were adopted and the intention to become a regiment was declared.
- 1826 - Redesignated as the 27th Regiment of Artillery, New York State Militia.
- 1838 - A company of cavalry, Company I, is formed and designated the "First Troop, National Guard"
- 1847 - Redesignated the 7th Regiment of Infantry (National Guard), New York State Militia.
- 1849 - 7th Regiment suppresses the Astor Place riotAstor Place RiotThe Astor Place Riot occurred on May 10, 1849 at the now-demolished Astor Opera House in Manhattan, New York City and left at least 25 dead and more than 120 injured...
. - 1852 - The 7th Regiment Band is organized.
- 1855 - The Engineers Corps is organized, later called Company K (1860).
- 1857 - The 7th Regiment suppresses two riots, one of which involved the Dead RabbitsDead RabbitsThe Dead Rabbits were a gang in New York City in the 1850s, and originally were a part of the Roach Guards. Daniel Cassidy claimed that the name has a second meaning rooted in Irish American vernacular of NYC in 1857 and that the word "Rabbit" is the phonetic corruption of the Irish word ráibéad,...
and the Bowery BoysBowery BoysThe Bowery Boys were a nativist, anti-Catholic, and anti-Irish gang based north of the Five Points district of New York City in the mid-19th century. They were primarily stationed in the Bowery section of New York, which was, at the time, extended north of the Five Points...
. - 1861 - Mustered into federal service.
- 1862 - Mustered into federal service in Baltimore.
- 1862 - New York State Militia redesignated the New York National Guard.
- 1863 - Mustered into federal service in Maryland. Deployed in New York to quell the Draft Riots.
- 1869 - The 7th Regiment is deployed during the Orange RiotsOrange RiotsThe Orange riots took place in Manhattan, New York City in 1870 and 1871, and involved violent conflict between Irish Protestants, called "Orangemen", and Irish Catholics, along with the New York City Police Department and the New York State National Guard....
. - 1880 - The 7th Regiment Armory opens in New York City.
- 1895 - The 7th Regiment is called up during the Brooklyn Street-Car Strike.
- 1900 - The 7th Regiment is called for guard duty during the Croton Reservoir labor dispute.
- 1916 - The 7th Regiment is mustered into federal service to guard the Mexican Border.
- 1917 - The 7th Regiment is drafted into federal service.
- 1917 - Redesignated the 107th Infantry and assigned to the 27th Division.
- 1917-1919 - The 7th Infantry, New York Guard serves as the Depot (Home) Battalion.
- 1921-1922 - Consolidates with 7th Infantry, New York Guard, and reorganized and federalized as the 107th Infantry.
- 1940 - The 107th Infantry is redesignated the 207th Coast Artillery Anti-Aircraft on August 1st.
- 1940 - 7th Regiment, New York State Guard is formed.
- 1943 - The Regiment is broken up, reorganized and redesignated, becoming the HQ Battery 207th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group, the 771st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion, the 27th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion, and the 247th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Searchlight Battalion.
- 1946-1947 - Reorganized as the 107th Infantry with Headquarters in New York.
Further reading
- Emmons Clark (1890) History of the Seventh Regiment of New York, 1806-1889, Volume 2 (Digitized by Google Books)http://books.google.com/books?id=2xZEAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22Seventh+Regiment+of+New+York,+1806-1889%22&source=gbs_navlinks_s
- Gerald F. Jacobson {1920} "History of the 107th Infantry USA" 7th Regiment Armory
- Frederick P. Todd (1956) Pro patria et gloria; The illustrated story of the one hundred and fifty years of the Seventh Regiment of New York (107th Infantry Regiment, N.Y.N.G.), Published for the Seventh Regiment by Rampart House.