The April 1861 Confederate attack on Fort Sumter was the first battle of the Civil War. The Union surrendered the fort after a brutal 34 hour armed barrage. (HERE)
In the aftermath President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers for 90 days to recapture the Charleston, South Carolina fort.
A Natural Choice
Identified as the First Regiment New York Zouaves, Colonel E. Elmer Ellsworth recruited this regiment from the ranks of New York City volunteer firefighters. The regiment was accepted by the state April 20, 1861.
Colonel Ellsworth, an ardent Abraham Lincoln supporter, has a unique background.
Historical Sketch from the 3rd Annual Report Of The Bureau of Military Statistics:
Colonel E. Elmer Ellsworth,
E. Elmer Ellsworth, a native of New York, but at that time a resident of Chicago, a, young man of rare natural military abilities, inspired by the accounts of the organization and movements of the Zouaves in the French service, succeeded in establishing a company of Zouaves in his adopted city, and in so perfecting them in drill as to excite the admiration of men of all classes in the cities which they visited.
(Ellsworth) hastened to New York to raise a regiment of firemen — a class of men that he conceived to be the best adapted from their accustomed exposure to privations, for the Zouave discipline. He arrived in New York on the 18th of April, and laid his plans before the chief of the fire department, and received his cordial consent and co-operation
The record shows that 1100 volunteer firefighters were mustered within three days. They were drilled, supplied and left New York eleven days after Ellsworth met with the Chief Engineer of the fire department.
Rowdies, part II
Earlier we covered Chief Carson’s report on rowdies in 1854. (HERE)
When Colonel Elmer Ellsworth recruited volunteer firefighters for the First Regiment New York Zouaves in 1861 many of them were members who were suspended or thrown out of their departments, usually for bad behavior.
Even with this knowledge, the Board of the New York Fire Department unanimously resolved in April that all of the 1,100 men who had volunteered for military service would be retained on the department’s rolls, and their positions therein held until their honorable return.
Number of Volunteers Not Clear
Seven years earlier, Chief Engineer Carson reported 2,800 active volunteers, within a department with 4,515 available positions.
“Available Positions” is based on the maximum number of members allowed within a fire company, with 60 members for every engine company.
For a while the roster included four Hydrant Companies, members with four or more years of service who were too injured, disabled or old to function on an engine, hose or ladder company.
I do not have an accurate number of the total number of active volunteers in April, 1861, by 1865 the number was below 4000.
On to Washington DC
The Fire Zouaves proceeded to their first billet at the White House in Washington D. C.
next week: Fire at the Willard Hotel
References:
(1887) The Fire Zouaves. In A. E. Costello: Our Firemen: A History of New York Fire Departments, Volunteer and Paid, from 1609 to 1887. (pp. 286 – 303). New York: A. E. Costello.
Hermann, Marc A. and Shaun C, Grenan (2006 January 19) “TIGER! ZOUAVE!”: Portraying the 1st Fire Zouaves (11th New York Volunteers) website accessed 07/26/2010 at
http://www.myrtle-avenue.com/firezou/
New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs: Military History (July 18, 2006) 11th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry: Historical Sketch From The 3rd Annual Report Of The Bureau of Military Statistics. Accessed 7/29/2010 at http://dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/11thInf/11thInfBMSHistSketch.htm
Phisterer, Frederick (1912) New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Albany, J. B. Lyon Company. Accessed 7/26/2010 at http://dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/11thInf/11thInfMain.htm
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Mike worked on a project about Reconstruction after the Civil War
This is one in a series of articles about the Metropolitan Fire Department established in Manhattan in 1865.
Mike “FossilMedic” Ward
Also on FireGeezer…
- The Heart and Soul of the Pontiac Fire Department – January 31, 2012
- Worker Compensation – Friday followup – May 13, 2011
- Los Angeles Fire is 125 years old – February 2, 2011
- Riverside Volunteers Lose County Fight – December 13, 2010
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