Old Saint Patrick's Cathedral Parade - June 6 and 7, 2009

[Pvt_Sullivan]

The The 69th NYSV Historical Association has been asked to form a contingent of Civil War Re-enactors to recreate the march of the original 69th Regiment, New York State Militia at noon on June 7, 2009 from the Old Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. Consequently the 69th NYSV is asking fellow living historians to join the effort to fill the ranks of a recreated 69th Regiment, New York State Militia for the day.

The parade is being held to mark the 200th anniversary of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral located at the corner of Prince and Mott Streets in lower Manhattan. Joining the recreated 69th will be contingents from the New York City Police Department, the Fire Department of the City of New York, societies from the Irish, Italian and Chinese communities of New York City that St. Patrick’s serves and most importantly the “Fighting Sixty-Ninth”. Tracing its lineage to Michael Corcoran’s 69th Regiment, New York State Militia, The 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment (Light) of the New York Army National Guard is still part of the US Army force structure. The current 69th Infantry has continued the legacy of service, sacrifice and valor from Bull Run to Baghdad. Two of its companies have recently returned from deployment in Afghanistan.

A walking tour of lower Manhattan is planned for the afternoon of Saturday, June 6th to be followed by a reception at the historic 69th Regiment Armory on Lexington Avenue that evening. The parade will take place the following day, Sunday June 7th. The 69th NYSV is currently working with the Officials at the Armory to coordinate overnight billeting there for participants on Saturday night.

Name - Old Saint Patrick's Cathedral Parade 2009
Dates - June 6 to 7, 2009 (Saturday and Sunday)
Location - Lower Manhattan, New York City, NY
Coordinator - Ron McGovern - vmi82@comcast.net
Event Type - Historic Walk and Parade
Host - The 69th NYSV Historical Association
Website - http://www.69thnysv.org/Old_St_Pats_2009.htm
Discussion Site - AC Thread
Impression- Early War Army of the Potomac Infantry Impression
Preservation - This event draws attention to the Old Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Lower Manhattan
Registration - There is no registration fee for this event. Please contact Ron McGovern - vmi82@comcast.net to register your interest in participating.

[Pvt_Sullivan]

Old Saint Patrick's Cathedral Parade - Update May 4, 2009

New York, New York. On April 23, 1861, Colonel Michael Corcoran's 69th Regiment of the New York State Militia marched past St. Patrick's Cathedral on its way to the nation's capital in response to President Lincoln's call for the militia to "execute the laws of the Union" and "suppress insurrections"; following the firing on Fort Sumter.

The 69th NYSV Historical Association, Inc. and Company A, 69th Regiment, New York State Volunteers (together, the 69th NYSV) has been asked to form a contingent of Civil War Re-enactors to recreate the march of the original 69th at noon on June 7, 2009. Consequently the 69th NYSV is asking fellow living historians to join the effort to fill the ranks of a recreated 69th Regiment, New York State Militia for the day.

The parade is being held to mark the 200th anniversary of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral located at the corner of Prince and Mott Streets in lower Manhattan. Joining the recreated 69th will be contingents form the New York City Police Department, the Fire Department of the City of New York, societies from the Irish, Italian and Chinese communities of New York City that St. Patrick's serves and most importantly the "Fighting Sixty-Ninth".

Included in the festivities for this event is a walking tour of lower Manhattan on the afternoon of Saturday, June 6th to be followed by a reception at the historic 69th Regiment Armory that evening. Although we have no registration fee for this event, The walking tour costs $20 per person and is limited to the first 25 registered and paid participants. The parade will take place the following day, Sunday June 7th. For those interested, billeting is available for participants in the 69th NY Armory on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan on Saturday June 6th.

Event Information

May 4th, 2009 Information Letter in MS Word and PDF formats

Unit Registration Form in MS Word and PDF formats

Event Standards and Rules in MS Word and PDF formats

Those interested in participating are welcomed to submit the Unit Registration Form listed above and submit payment for those interested in the Walking Tour. For additional information on the Parade and the activities planned for the weekend, or to ask questions, please contact Ron McGovern by e-mail at vmi82@comcast.net or by phone at (908) 389-0580.

[FranklinGuardsNYSM]

Re: Old Saint Patrick's Cathedral Parade - June 6 and 7, 2009

I love the fact that, it seems, they didn't get most of their gear until just before the parade...wonder how soup-sandwichy they looked with the unfamiliar weight of '42s on their shoulders. Also, love the part about Hibernia H&L 18 working the field gun during the march!

From the New York Times, April 24, 1861.


"The Sixty-ninth formed in Great Jones-street, the right resting on Broadway. Long before the troops made their appearance, the neighboring thoroughfares were completely choked up with people, eager to catch a glance—perhaps a last one—of the familiar faces of friends before they should embark. The rush for positions in the regiment was tremendous, and thousands who have been enrolled, were left behind, in consequence of the orders of the Major-General, that not more than a thousand men, all told, should be taken from the City. The day was intensely warm, and the people who had assembled in such dense masses evidently suffered much from the heat and for the want of air. It is estimated that there were about 1,200 men in the Regiment, and the great difficulty was to separate the men, who applied in groups and all insisted on going.

Unexpected delay was occasioned in the formation of the line, by the lateness of the delivery of the muskets, blankets, &c., which had been ordered for the Regiment, but which the Colonel could not procure in season to enable him to have them distributed to his men in proper time. The Colonel and several members of his staff, and even the line officers, had been occupied most throughout the entire twenty-four hours preceding the departure of the Regiment, endeavoring to secure the necessary equipments, but partially failed of success until a late hour in the morning. As soon as the blankets, caps, arms, &c., had been distributed, the men were ordered to proceed from the Colonel's head-quarters, in Spring-street, to the parade-ground in Great Jones street, where the Colonel made his appearance in full uniform, between 1 and 2 o'clock P.M. Col. Corcoran had but just recovered from a severe illness, and seemed much worn and emaciated, but buyed up by the enthusiasm of his officers and men, as well as by the gratification afforded him of first responding to the call of his country immediately after his release from the Court-martial. He moved along the line of the Regiment with an elastic step, and issued his orders with unwonted vigor and cheerfulness. As soon as he was enabled to get the recruits arranged in the Companies to which they belonged, he gave orders to form into columns, and shortly before 3 o'clock the Regiment took up the line of march.

The Phoenix Brigade performed escort duty. They numbered some six hundred men. They had a brass field-piece, belonging to the Engineer corps of the Regiment, which they continued to fire at intervals throughout the line of march. A large company of firemen, members of 18 Truck, who volunteered their services to the Colonel for special police duty, worked the gun under the directions of one of Capt. Kirker's Company of Engineers.

When Sergeant-Major Murphy, bearing the magnificent national standard of the Regiment, and the Color Segreant, with a splendid silk Star-Spangled Banner, also the property of the Regiment, appear in Great Jones-street and unfurled the united standards of Old Ireland and Young America, the enthusiasm of the soldiers and of the surrounding masses was wholly indescribable. All along Broadway the multitude shouted their huzzas, and from windows and housetops waved flags and handkerchiefs; the members, as they recognized familiar faces, raising their hats and responding enthusiastically. So densely packed was the route that the regiment were obliged to march in file. Some five hundred persons who had been left out, determined to stick by their favorite regiment as long as possible, and accompanied them the whole way to the boat.

About 5 o'clock the regiment reached Pier No. 4, North River. here a most interesting spectacle was exhibited. In every direction people had clambered into the rigging of the vessels; they covered the tops of the pier-sheds and houses, and ever place where a view could be obtained.

Having already received the Albany Regiment of 600 men on board, the addition of the 1,200 of the Sixty-ninth crowded the steamer almost to suffocation."

[Pvt_Sullivan]

Final Information Letter

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Here is the 'Final' word on the events planned for the Old Saint Patrick's Cathedral Parade this weekend 6-7 Jun 2009...

http://www.69thnysv.org/Old_St_Pats_2009.htm

It is not too late to participate, please contact Ron McGovern if you are interested.

[bhutton]

Re: Old Saint Patrick's Cathedral Parade - June 6 and 7, 2009

Myself and several other members of the 67th NY are registered and looking forward to the event. Thanks for posting all the information and historical background.