Doc. 71.--departure of the New York Seventh Regiment.
The intelligence that the Seventh Regiment, the “crack” Regiment, the almost adored military body of New York; would leave for Washington, created an excitement scarcely surpassed by any-thing that has transpired since the first news of the attack on Fort Sumter. Although it was announced that 8 P. M. was the time for the assembling of the Regiment at their Armory, over Tompkins Market, Broadway was the scene of gathering for hundreds of people long before noon. The march of the second instalment of Massachusetts troops,. early in the forenoon, was but an incentive to their patriotism. If they had to wait many hours, as indeed they had, they were prepared to stand on the tip-toe of expectation till their favorite Regiment passed, even if nightfall came. The aspect of Broadway was very gay indeed. Minus the firing of pistols and the explosion of Chinese crackers, it was many Fourth-of-Julys rolled into one. The Stars and Stripes were everywhere, from the costliest silk, twenty, thirty, forty feet in length, to the homelier bunting, down to the few inches of painted calico that a baby's hand might wave. It would be invidious to say from what buildings the National flag was displayed, because it would be almost impossible to tell from what buildings it did not wave, and never, if flags can be supposed to be animated with any of the feelings of their owners, with a purer devotion to the Union. Evidently, all political partisanship was cast aside. But the gayest, and in this respect, the most remarkable thoroughfare was Cortlandt-street. Lafayette-place, where the Regiment was to form previous to marching, was very attractively dressed — a huge flag being displayed from the Astor Library, among numerous others from private buildings. But Cortlandt-street showed a gathering of flags, a perfect army of them. They were not, in that comparatively brief space from Broadway to the Jersey City Ferry, to be numbered by dozens or by scores: every building seemed like “Captains of Fifties.” It was flag, flag, from every window from the first floor to the roof, from every doorway,--in short, it was flag, flag,--and of quite large sizes, too, till the wearied eye refused the task of counting them. Such was the display along the route of the “Seventh.” Such is and will be the route for all noble troops entering our City from the New England States. Around the Armory of the Seventh Regiment crowds gathered at an early period of the day, and moved on, only to be replaced by other crowds. So the excitement was kept up, till towards three o'clock the throng became stationary. It was, by no means, an ordinary crowd. Well-dressed ladies, men whose checks can be honored at the best Banks for as many dollars as would build a church of excellent architecture, were among them. They were about to witness the departure of the Seventh Regiment, too probably, to the battle-field. Though the flags waved gaily over them, their faces wore a grave look — not sad exactly, but it was no time for mirth. From all quarters the members of the Regiment, in full fatigue dress, with their knapsacks and blankets, kept pouring into the Armory. Guards at the doors kept the crowd, who had no business inside, from entering, but the building was filled to its utmost, notwithstanding, by the members, their relatives and friends. There were many touching scenes of farewell-taking, but these were merely episodes. Mothers, wives, sisters, will weep on such occasions, but there was no faltering among the men. A heartier shake of the hand than usual, to a friend,--a warmer kiss — let it be reverentially said — to a wife or mother, and the manhood of the soldier grew the greater, and he trussed his knapsack the tighter to his back as he gave the last adieu. They formed in Lafayette-place about 4 P. M., in the presence of an immense crowd, each window of each building being filled with such fair applauders as might cheer the heart of the forlornest bachelor, if there was any such among those noble soldiers. Once in line, they proceeded through Fourth-street to Broadway, down that great thoroughfare to Cortlandt-street, and across the ferry, in boats provided for the purpose, to Jersey City. The line of march was a perfect ovation. Thousands upon thousands lined the sidewalks. It will be remembered as long as any of those who witnessed it live to talk of it, and beyond that, it will pass into the recorded history of this fearful struggle. The [81] Regiment was escorted by a band of Zouaves, who volunteered for the occasion. Their gay uniform and peculiar step revived the excitement that had begun somewhat to droop among the crowd that had waited for hours, the Regiment not reaching the Park till 56 o'clock. After the Zouaves came a strong body of police, and after the police, the Regiment. Not as on festival days, not as on the reception of the Prince of Wales, but nobly and sternly, as men who were going to the war. Hurried was their step, not so regular as on less important occasions. We saw women, we saw men shed tears as they passed. Amidst the deafening cheers that rose, we heard cries of “God bless them.” And so along Broadway, and through Cortlandt-street, under its almost countless flags, the gallant Seventh Regiment left the City. The excitement in Jersey City, long before they had crossed the ferry, was scarcely less intense, and when they landed there, they found they were by no means in a foreign State. It seemed that all the people of the sister city had turned out. It was a reenaction of what their fellow-townsmen and townswomen had done for them. White handkerchiefs, waved by ladies' hands, were as numerous as the dog-wood blossoms in Spring, and it was proved that a Jerseyman can raise as hearty a cheer as the best New Yorker. And so it was till all were fairly disposed of in the cars, and the cars moved off.--N. Y. Times.Officers of the Seventh Regiment.
The following is a list .of the officers of the Seventh Regiment: Colonel--Marshal Lefferts. Lieutenant-Colonel--William A. Pond. Major — Alexander Thaler. Adjutant — J. H. Libenau. Engineer — E. L. Viele. Surgeon — T. M. Cheeseman; Surgeon's Mate, J. C. Dalton, Jr. Chaplain--Rev. S. H. Weston. Quartermaster — L. W. Winchester. Assistant-Quartermaster--G. W. Brainard. Paymaster — Meredith Howland. Commissary — William Patten. Ordnance Officer — John A. Baker. Military Secretary--C. T. McClenachan; and the non-commissioned staff, eight officers. First Company--Captain, William P. Bensell; First Lieutenant, James H. Hewett; Second Lieutenant, James E. Harway, five sergeants, six corporals, and 90 privates. Second Company--Captain, E. W. Clark; First Lieutenant, N. L. Farnham; Second Lieutenant, Edward Bernard; five sergeants, six corporals, and 120 privates. Third Company--Captain, James Price; First Lieutenant, J. J. Wickstead; Second Lieutenant, George T. Haws; five sergeants, six corporals, and 100 men. Fourth Company--Captain, William H. Riblet; First Lieutenant, William Gurney; Second Lieutenant, John W. Bogert; five sergeants, six corporals, and 100 men. Fifth Company--Captain W. A. Speaight; First Lieutenant, F. Millard; Second Lieutenant, J. F. Cook; five sergeants, six corporals, and about 100 men. Sixth Company--Captain, B. M. Nevers, Jr.; First Lieutenant, R. F. Halsted; Second Lieutenant, J. B. Young; five sergeants, six corporals, and. 100 men. Seventh Company--Captain, John Monroe; First Lieutenant, John P. Schermerhorn; Second Lieutenant, John D. Moriarity; five sergeants, seven corporals, and about 100 men.The complete force.
| Non-commissioned staff, | 8 |
| Government staff, | 11 |
| Field officers, | 8 |
| Artillery corps, 54 men, 2 howitzers, 2 officers, 2 sergeants, | 61 |
| Engineer corps--2 men, 2 officers, 2 sergeants, | 29 |
| Recruits in fatigue dress, | 175 |
| Company 1--63 men, 3 officers, 4 sergeants, | 70 |
| Company 2 — 100 men, 3 officers, 5 sergeants, | 108 |
| Company 3--70 men, 3 officers, 5 sergeants, | 78 |
| Company 4--82 men, 3 officers, 5 sergeants, | 90 |
| Company 5--54 men, 3 officers, 5 sergeants, | 62 |
| Company 6--80 men, 3 officers, 5 sergeants, | 88 |
| Company 7--60 men, 1 officer, 5 sergeants, | 66 |
| Company 8--78 men, 3 officers, 5 sergeants, | 86 |
| Band--40 pieces, | 40 |
| Drum corps, | 12 |
| Total, | 985 |
