(Excerpt from the regimental history by Tenth Legion veterans Joel Fisk and William H.D. Blake, published 1906 by the Newburgh Printing House and Book Bindery)

     Organization of the Tenth Legion by Charles H. Van Wyck, Congressman - His Appointment and Commission as Colonel - Camp Van Wyck - Life in Camp - Captain A. Van Horne Ellis, the Regimental Instructor - Health of Men Fairly Good.

    The Tenth Legion was organized by Charles H. Van Wyck in July, 1861, he being at that time the Congressman of the 10th Congressional District of the State of New York, with headquarters at Newburgh, N.Y., and consisted of 10 companies of infantry, one company of sharp shooters, two companies of artillery, and two companies of cavalry. A camp of rendezvous and instruction was established on the sandy plateau near New Windsor, on the west bank of the Hudson River, until November 6, 1861, when the Legion was taken to Washington, D.C., where the military authorities detached the artillery and cavalry companies, placing the artillery companies in the artillery division, and the cavalry companies with the cavalry corps. The sharpshooters' company was designated Co. L, attached to and formed a part of the infantry regiment, then consisting of 11 companies and designated the 56th Regiment, New York Volunteer lnfantry, and attached to and formed a part of the Provisional Brigade, commanded by W.H.H. Davis, Colonel of the 104th Penna. Regiment. The brigade consisted of the 11th Maine, 56th New York, 100th New York, and 52nd and 104th Pennsylvania regiments. The regiment thus lost its identity as a part of the Tenth Legion, which name was never known or recognized by the War Department, although among the officers and members and their relatives and friends it was always considered and called the Tenth Legion regiment, and the large white "X" was worn on the uniform coat, until the coats were worn out, and on the knapsacks throughout the war.

Newburgh, N.Y., circa 1900. The river in the foreground is the Hudson, along which Camp Van Wyck was set up in 1861.

     Charles H. Van Wyck was appointed and commissioned colonel of the regiment, and commanded it until he was brevetted brigadier general, serving as such during the reconstruction period after the cessation of hostilities, and even during that time he was in close proximity to the regiment and kept close watch and strict supervision over his boys, as he was wont to call them, and was mustered out with them at Charleston and accompanied them home.

     The first company organized was Company A, which was raised in the Village of Newburgh, Thomas S. Marvel acting as recruiting officer, who was elected and commissioned captain of that company. The members of the company consisted almost entirely of the young men of that village, and went into camp at New Windsor in July 1861. Company A was there joined by the other companies in regular order as fast as formed. Charles F. Thayer recruited Company B, also at the Village of Newburgh, and was elected and commissioned its captain, and that was the second company to go into camp in the month of July 1861. Company C was recruited at Montgomery, Orange County, N.Y., by Frederick Decker, who was elected captain and commissioned as such, and with his company joined the other companies in camp in August 1861.

     John J. Wheeler recruited company D at Warwick, Orange County, N.Y., was elected and commissioned as its captain and joined the other three companies in camp in August 1861. Company E was recruited by William J. Williams at Newburgh, who was duly elected and commissioned captain of that company, which went into camp with the other companies in September 1861. Company F was recruited by Melvin S. Wells, at Liberty, Sullivan County, N.Y., who was elected and commissioned its captain, and went into camp with his company, with the other companies, in September 1861. Company G was recruited by William D. Fuller, at Ellenville, Ulster County, N.Y., who was elected and commissioned captain, and with the company joined the other companies in camp in October 1861. Company H was recruited by William K. Joscelyn, at Callicoon, Sullivan County, N.Y. He was elected and commissioned captain of that company, which went into camp with the other companies in October 1861. Company I was recruited by John Ernhout, in the town of Fallsburg, Sullivan County, N.Y. He was elected and commissioned captain of that company, which went into camp with the other companies in October 1861. Company K was recruited by Asa Hodge, at Neversink, Sullivan County, N.Y., and he was elected and commissioned its captain, and with the company joined the other companies in camp in October 1861. Company L, or the sharpshooters company, was recruited by Rockwell Tyler, from the whole of Sullivan County, N.Y., with headquarters at Cochecton. The members were selected for their superior marksmanship, all being experienced hunters and woodsman and experts with the rifle. Tyler was elected and commissioned captain of the company, he being himself an expert marksman, and with the company joined the regiment in camp in the latter part of October 1861, shortly before the regiment left for Washington.

     The camp was situated on a dry, sandy plateau, particularly well adapted for and was an ideal camp ground, with a slight incline. Providing excellent facilities for drainage, considerably elevated, well provided with excellent water and furnishing an extensive parade and drill ground, and was called Camp Van Wyck, in honor of our esteemed colonel.

     Each company was provided with "A" tents sufficient in number to accommodate the members, with straw to cover the ground inside, which we slept upon wrapped in woolen blankets, and made quite comfortable sleeping accommodations when the weather was dry and pleasant. But the wind had an uncomfortable habit of over-turning the tents, especially in a hard shower, and wetting our beds, and the water of running under the tents and flooding us out. Uniforms were furnished to all of the members with the letter "X" on the left breast, embroidered in white on the coat, of which we were very proud, and nearly every one had his picture taken and sent home to his parents or family.

     The members of the regiment were fed, or boarded, by Benjamin B. Odell and John Blizard, of Newburgh, who had the contract to furnish meals for the organization. Each company had a separate table, and at meal time were formed and marched by twos, in command of an officer, to the pavilion, each rank occupying opposite sides of the table, seated on long wooden benches, and were provided with abundance of good substantial food, and we used to have some good, high old times at meals, laughing, joking, and expressing our feeling in various ways hilarious and otherwise, which was done as is supposed to assist digestion.

     Captain A. Van Horne Ellis, an officer who served in the 71st Regiment, New York State Militia, in the battle of Bull Run, Va., July 21, 1861, then residing in the near vicinity of the camp, was detailed as instructing officer. He daily gave the officers instructions, and practiced them in the several movements of the company and regiment. He also drilled the regiment, and supervised the officers in drilling the men by companies as well as in the regimental movements, and the officers and men rapidly became proficient in all the movements, after which we were furnished Belgian muskets, with which we practiced and were taught the manual of arms.

Augustus Van Horne Ellis, later colonel of the 124th N.Y. Volunteers, killed at Gettysburg

     Shortly before leaving Camp Van Wyck, we were furnished short Enfield rifles with sword bayonets, were thoroughly drilled and instructed in their use, including skirmish drill and in street firing while marching through the streets of a city, and fighting and repelling attacks from a mob, as the regiment was expected to march through the streets of the city of Baltimore, where an attack was possible, as the 6th Massachusetts Regiment was attacked a few months before, and we were thoroughly prepared and willing, even anxious for them to try the experiment on us.

     The health of the men was fairly good during the time the regiment was encamped at New Windsor, but few cases of sickness, and those not serious, furnishing but little work for the surgeons. At the examination of the men for muster, quite a large number were found not to be up to the standard of physical ability fixed by military authority of the War Department, and were rejected and discharged for disability. Quite a large number, not liking military life as experienced, deserted, a few on the same day they were mustered in, before we left Newburgh.

     Colonel Ellis, having instructed and drilled the men and officers and thoroughly taught them the duties of soldiers and all the routine of military business, and brought the regiment to a high state of discipline and efficiency, was proud of his achievement, as well as of the officers and of the regiment as an organization, and very much desired to command it as its colonel, and used all his best endeavors and influence to that end. But Col. Van Wyck, however, would not consent and his influence, coupled with the fact that he had recruited the regiment, enabled him to retain the command of the boys he so much loved, and assured them that he would not desert them, but would look after them during their term of service according to his promise to their parents, families and friends and Col. Ellis, much to his regret, was obliged to sever his connection with the regiment.