Part I of the history of the Veteran Corps of Artillery of the State of New York and the Military Society of the War of 1812.
When the American Revolution ended in 1783 and peace declared, there were problems left undecided on both land and sea which were bound to be fruitful seeds of another war. British naval vessels continued to lie off the coast to illegally stop and search our vessels and impress our seamen into their service. Garrisons were still retained by the British on the northern frontier.
New York City had been the headquarters of the British forces for seven years during the Revolution. After their departure, many Tories remained and many elected to return. By 1790, a large number of businessmen and owners of property has, in fact, been British sympathizers. Also returned to the City were many patriot veterans of the late war. For the most part men of modest means, they felt they had sacrificed their lives, their fortunes, and pledged their sacred honor in the cause of American Independence. In the words of Dr. George Warren Chapman, commandant of the Veteran Corps of Artillery from 1813 to 1816, and again from 1826 to 1845: "Our former opponents being wealthy and imperious, frequently sought occasion to insult our flag and menace our cities; the policy of our government was forbearing and pacific, but the sensitive feelings of the Old Continentals (whose only patrimony was love of country) became indignant; to protect our city from insult an association of Continental exempts, the remnants of a hundred battles, sieges, and skirmishes, organized themselves into an Artillery Corps." This they did on Evacuation Day, November 25, 1790, in a meeting held at the City Arms Tavern, near the corner of Broadway and Thames Street.
These men would soon become a part of the Jeffersonian Democratic Republic party in New York. The Corps had many members in common with the Tammany Society. Thirty-eight members of the Veteran Corps of Artillery are known to have been early members of Tammany.
The first record of the Corps on public display is on the 10th anniversary of Evacuation Day, November 25, 1793, and on Independence Day, July 4th, 1794, as attested by Captain Chapman in 1838, as the first occasions on which the Corps fired the "National Morning Salutes, which have been faithfully and timely performed for the past forty-five years."
Until 1807, the Corps was content to parade and fire salutes on Independence Day and Evacuation Day wearing their old Continental uniforms. However, in that year, H.M.S. Leopard attacked U.S.S. Chesapeake, removing from her and impressing into the Royal Navy four American seamen. As a consequence, the Corps was re-organized along more formal lines and on November 6, 1809, it was recognized by Governor Daniel D. Tompkins under the Military Law of March 29, 1809 as an Artillery Corps of Exempts, and was equipped with brass 12-pounders. Its officers, John McLean, Captian-Commandant; Richard Nixon, 1st Lieutenant were commissioned by brevet.
"Exempt" meant that as the Corps members were all veterans of the Revolution over 45 years of age they were not liable to compulsory militia duty, yet had chosen to perform military service voluntarily.
Previous to this, the Corps had been recognized by a Federal law of May 8, 1792, stated, "Whereas sundry Corps of Artillery, cavalry, and infantry now exist in several of the States, which, by the laws, customs, or usage's thereof, have not been incorporated with, or subject to, the General Regulations of the Militia:
Be it further enacted that such Corps retain their accustomed privileges, subject, nevertheless, to all other duties required by this Act in like manner with the other Militia." This law has been incorporated by the State of New York on March 9, 1793 in a general revision of the State's militia law. Captain Chapman refers to these enactment's when he states that the Veteran Corps was, "regularly commissioned under the State laws of 1794(sic) and 1809, as an independent veteran corps of heavy artillery; therefore, we are not conscripts of the State of New York, but an independent corps of exempts."
The Federal law of May 8, 1792 is still in effect (see U.S. Code Title 32, section 104, Historical Notes, "Retention of Ancient Privileges and Organization") and forms the basis of the Veteran Corps of Artillery's federal recognition.
Upon the outbreak of the War of 1812, the Corps was the first militia organization in the City to volunteer its service and was assigned, on June 22, 1812, by General Bloomfield of the U.S. Army, to the North Fort on Hubert Street, New York City. This brief duty, performed with several companies of the 9th Regiment of Artillery, was followed by target practice at a hulk off the Battery on August 14, 1812, in which it was noted that the Veteran Corps, commanded by CPT DeLameter, fired several shots from a long nine, which raked the hulk repeatedly." Another target practice in which the Corps participated was held on November 3, 1813 under the supervision of General Henry Dearborn, who stated that "He observed with peculiar pleasure the Corps of Veteran who, at an advanced period in life evince a determination to be first in the defense of their country and its rights."
With the burning of Washington in 1814, New York City was completely mobilized and the Veteran Corps, along with 25,000 other militia, was called into service of the United States as a company of the 3rd Regiment of Artillery September 2, 1814 to December 3, 1814, although a V.C.A. detachment was on duty at the State Arsenal as late as January 11, 1815.
Continued ... More VCASNY History
