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Archiver > NYC-ROOTS > 1999-01 > 0915509569


From: Jeff Morgan <>
Subject: Re: [NYC] Anderson's Army
Date: Mon, 04 Jan 1999 23:12:49 -0500


This is a shot in the dark, but it is possible that it is a reference to
the 7th NYNG for whom Major (later General) Robert Anderson had great
esteem. Anderson was the defender (and hero, at least in Northern eyes)of
Fort Sumter which was the scene of the opening shots. Following its
surrender there was a great outpouring of patriotic fervor.

I checked the regimental history of the 7th NYNG and found that a J.C.
Colley is listed as a private in 2nd Company during the emergency callup
in 1861 and went with the regiment to defend the capitol following the
disastrous 1st Battle of Bull Run. No other info such as age is listed.

There are no listings for musicians with the 7th, but it is well documented
that musicians were an integral part of the regiment, and as such, were
presumably carried on the regimental rosters as privates.

When the 7th left for the front (Washington) in April of 1861, it paraded
in formal review past a reviewing stand where Anderson and other
dignitaries were, and the patriotic fervor was so intense and the crowd so
enormous that they almost didn't make it to the docks.

I'm not sure if this helps, it is speculation on my part as it is quite
possible that Anderson's Army was an expression that was used to describe
the flood of volunteers from all states who immediately flocked to the
colors following the fall of Ft. Sumter.

An indication of how close Anderson felt to the 7th may be given by the
fact that they were requested as an honor guard for his burial.

Good luck with your search,

Jeff Morgan

At 12:24 AM 1/4/99 EST, you wrote:
>According to verbal family history, passed on to me by an aunt, my gg
>grandfather, John COOLEY served as a drummer boy in the Civil War at age 14.
>I was told that he and five brothers served in "Anderson's Army" and that all
>survived the war. I have searched the 1890 Veteran's Census, but find no
>mention of him (and I don't know who his brothers are, yet). I do know that
>drummer boys are notoriously difficult to find records for, but if I knew the
>unit he served with I'd have a fighting chance. Is anyone familiar with a
>unit from Manhattan that was known as Anderson's Army? Any idea as to
where I
>could find additional info on this unit, particularly the unit number?
>
>John COOLEY's Death Certificate in 1897 indicates that he arrived in
Manhattan
>in 1860, which is the year he would have been 14. I realize Death
Certificate
>info is not the most reliable, but in this case it seems to fit. With the
>help of a friend who is a fellow lister, I have obtained his Naturalization
>Papers, issued in 1867, the year he became 21. I know from the 1870 and 1880
>Federal Censuses that he married Johanna NEENAN in 1865 and they had five
>children (that I am aware of): Andrew, Mary, Margaret, John and Nellie.
>
>Since he was 14 in 1860, I could not find him in the 1860 Census Index (his
>parents names were not listed on his Death Cert.). I did find four John
>COOLEYs in the 1860 Census for Manhattan, but he was not included with any of
>those. I had hoped he was named after his father, but being the youngest
son,
>I guess that wasn't the case. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Bob Meany
>()
>
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