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A Brief History of the 22nd New York Volunteer Infantry

by  Patrick McSherry

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General:

The 22nd New York Volunteer Infantry served to defend the New York coast during the war. The unit never left New York state.

The Unit History:

The 22nd New York was formed after President McKinley's first call for troops was issued on April 23, 1898. The regiment was formed from eight companies of the 22nd New York National Guard and four companies of the 13th New York National Guard at Camp Black at Hempstead, New York. The unit was mustered into service on May 24, 1898 at Camp Black.  At the time of mustering in, the unit consisted of forty-nine officers and 960 enlisted men.

During late April and May, 1898, the U.S.'s coastline was considered to be the front line of the war. It was thought that Admiral Cervera's Spanish naval squadron, which was known to be loose in the Atlantic, could attack some of the U.S. coastal cities. The fear turned to relief when Cervera's squadron was located and blockaded in the harbor at Santiago, Cuba at the end of May. On June 10, the regiment was distributed as follows:

Headquarters, and companies B, E, and I were assigned to Fort Slocum
Companies A, C, H and K were assigned to Fort Schuyler (under the command of Maj. Hotchkin)
Companies D, F, G, L and M were assigned to the Engineer Depot at Willet's Point (under the command of Maj. George D. Russell)
The war's fighting ended with the August 12 armistice, though the war would not officially end until December 10, 1898 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. On September 25, the regiment was consolidated, with all battalions joining the headquarters at Fort Slocum. With the decreased need for coastal defense following the armistice, units such as the 22nd New York could be disbanded before the end of the war. The 22nd New York was mustered out of service on November 23, 1898 at Fort Slocum. At the time of mustering out, the unit consisted of forty-nine officers and 1,149 enlisted men.

During its term of service, two of its enlisted men drowned, and twenty-three enlisted men deserted. In addition, eighteen enlisted men were discharged for reasons of disability.



Bibliography:

Clerk of Joint Comittee on Printing, The Abridgement of Message from the President of the United States to the Two Houses of Congress, (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1899). Vol. 3, pp. 196, 493, 494.

Correspondence relating to the War with Spain And Conditions Growing Out of the Same Including the Insurrection in the Philippine Island and the China Relief Expedition. Vol. 1 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1902) 606-607.

New York in the Spanish-American War, 1898 (Albany: J.B. Lyon, state printer, 1900) 502-503. (data contributed by John LaBarre)

Statistical Exhibit of Strength of Volunteer Forces Called into Service During the War with Spain; with Losses from All Causes. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1899).


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