9th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment - Military Service, 1861

Military Service, 1861

In April 1861 with the Secession of the Southern States and the calling up of Volunteers by President Abraham Lincoln, Rush C. Hawkins went to Albany, New York, and volunteered the services of a Company of New York Zouaves to the State. The Governor of New York accepted the offer of the Company, and also granted the authorization to Hawkins to raise a Regiment of Zouaves. With this authorization in hand he returned to New York City and opened a recruiting office which soon had drawn over 2,000 Volunteers, this large number of recruits quickly outgrew the size of the recruiting office.

In early April the Regiment moved to its new quarters at Castle Garden in New York City, where on April 23 and 27 the ten companies of the Regiment were mustered into State Service. After finishing their organization the Regiment was mustered into United States service on May 4, 1861, at Castle Garden by Captain S.B. Hayman of the 7th United States Infantry Regiment. On May 13 the Regiment was officially numbered as the Ninth Infantry Regiment of New York Volunteers, by the War Department and New York Adjutant Generals Office.

On May 15 the Regiment boarded a barge that was towed by the steamer “Young America” and moved from Castle Garden to its new Camp on Riker’s Island. This Camp was designated as Camp Hawkins and the men arrived at the Camp around 10 o’clock. It was here that they completed their training and were outfitted with their Uniforms, Arms, and Equipment.

On June 5 the Regiment moved from Camp Hawkins and boarded two steamships which took them to the foot of Thirtieth Street along the East River, where they disembarked and marched up 34th Street to 5th Avenue, proceeding to the home of Mrs. A.W. Griswold where they were presented the National Colors. They then moved to the home of Mrs. W.D. Moffatt where they were presented their Regimental Colors. After these presentations the Regiment marched down the Avenue onto Broadway and down to Pier Four on the North River. Here the Regiment began boarding the Steamer “Marion,” however it was found that the vessel would not be large enough to hold the entire Regiment properly for the trip. With the men and equipment loaded onto the “Marion” she steamed out to a point between Bedloe’s Island and Castle William where she dropped anchor for the night. It was during this brief trip that the Regiment suffered its first casualty, Albert “Tobe” Warren died after he fell overboard during that afternoon.

The following morning (June 6) the Marion steamed down the river and dropped anchor off of Staten Island to await the arrival of the additional transport required for the Regiment. Shortly thereafter the steamer “George Peabody” arrived and 400 men of the Regiment were transferred from the Marion to her. Once this was complete the two vessels set sail for Newport News, Virginia.