The Veteran Corps of Artillery of the State of New York (VCASNY) is an American historic

militia A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...

organization founded at the end of the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

for the purpose of preventing another British invasion of

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

. At the time of the

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revoluti ...

, the

British Colonies A Crown colony or royal colony was a colony administered by The Crown within the British Empire. There was usually a Governor, appointed by the British monarch on the advice of the UK Government, with or without the assistance of a local Coun ...

in North America did not have a regular standing army. Instead the colonies depended on an independent militia made up mostly of civilian farmers, with few weapons and controlled by the individual colony. While the Continental Congress established a regular army in June 1775, this was more of a formality rather than a reality. In 1776 George Washington wrote "I am wearied to death all day with a variety of perplexing circumstances, disturbed at the conduct of the militia, whose behavior and want of discipline has done great injury to the other troops, who never had officers, except in a few instances, worth the bread they eat" In other words, while the success of the militia itself is debatable, both the regular army and local

were used to win American Independence. The official end to the

did not occur until 1783 when the

Treaty of Paris Treaty of Paris may refer to one of many treaties signed in Paris, France: Treaties 1200s and 1300s * Treaty of Paris (1229), which ended the Albigensian Crusade * Treaty of Paris (1259), between Henry III of England and Louis IX of France * Trea ...

was signed. Until then, British troops, ships and

Tories A Tory () is a person who holds a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalism and conservatism, which upholds the supremacy of social order as it has evolved in the English culture throughout history. The ...

were present and active in

, and in fact,

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

would maintain a presence in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

until 1815 when the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States, United States of America and its Indigenous peoples of the Americas, indigenous allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom ...

ended.

... Nationalists, most of them war veterans, worried that the new nation was too fragile to withstand an international war, or even internal revolts such as the Shays' Rebellion of 1786 in Massachusetts. (see
American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revoluti ...
)

The Militia in the United States

Present day United States Code Title 10, Section 311 states that:

* (a)The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard. * (b) The classes of the militia are - ** (1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and ** (2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia

This definition is derived from the

Militia Act of 1903 The Militia Act of 1903 (), also known as the Efficiency in Militia Act of 1903 or the Dick Act, was legislation enacted by the United States Congress to create an early National Guard and which codified the circumstances under which the Guard co ...

which was specifically passed by

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...

to address the issues of the

Militia Act of 1792 Two Militia Acts were enacted by the 2nd United States Congress in 1792 that provided for the organization of militias and empowered the President of the United States to take command of the state militias in times of imminent invasion or insurr ...

, as well as the readiness of the existing state militia forces. On the face of it, it appears that the VCASNY is part of the ''unorganized militia''; however, The

National Defense Act of 1916 The National Defense Act of 1916, , was a United States federal law that updated the Militia Act of 1903, which related to the organization of the military, particularly the National Guard. The principal change of the act was to supersede prov ...

clarifies this in Section 63:

... Any corps of Artillery, Cavalry, or Infantry existing in any of the States on the passage of the Act of May eighth, seventeen hundred and ninetytwo, which by the laws, customs, or usages of said States has been in continuous existence since the passage of said Act, under its provisions and under the provisions of section two hundred and thirty-two and sections sixteen hundred and twenty-five to sixteen hundred and sixty, both inclusive, of title sixteen of the Revised Statutes of eighteen hundred and seventy-three, and the Act of January twenty-first, nineteen hundred and three, relating to the militia, shall be allowed to retain its ancient privileges, subject, nevertheless, to all duties required by law Of militia: Provided, That said organizations may be a part of the National Guard and entitled to all the privileges of this Act, and shall conform in all respects to the organization, discipline, and training of the National Guard in time of war: Provided further, That for purposes of training and when on active duty in the service of the United States they may be assigned to higher units, as the President may direct, and shall be subject to the orders of officers under whom they shall be serving

It would appear then that this is the federal precedence that makes the VCASNY subject to being part of the National Guard of the United States, National Guard in time of war; thus, The Veteran Corps of Artillery

State of New York New York, officially the State of New York, is a state in the Northeastern United States. It is often called New York State to distinguish it from its largest city, New York City. With a total area of , New York is the 27th-largest U.S. state ...

is comprehended under The National Defense Act Public No. 85, 64th Congress (H.R. 12766) as being one of the nine Historic Military Organizations, liable for duty under orders of the

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

in time of Wa

History

The VCASNY is the oldest military organization in New York (state), New York State. It was formed in

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

Evacuation Day (New York) Evacuation Day on November 25 marks the day in 1783 when the British Army departed from New York City on Manhattan Island, after the end of the American Revolutionary War. In their wake, General George Washington triumphantly led the Continental ...

, November 25, 179

by Veterans of George Washington, Washington's Continental Army Corps of Artillery. The founders met at the City Arms Tavern located off

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

near Trinity Church, to establish an independent artillery company of exempts in the event of a return invasion by the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

. Exempts were males beyond serving military age and thereby exempt from regular militia service. They are currently headquartered at

7th Regiment Armory __NOTOC__ The Park Avenue Armory Conservancy, generally known as Park Avenue Armory, is a nonprofit cultural institution within the historic Seventh Regiment Armory building located at 643 Park Avenue on New York City's Upper East Side. The ins ...

in the

City of New York New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

. Under federal law, they are part of the Organized Militia of the

, and under state law it is an Independent Military Organization and an Historic Military Command. Private, Federal and State records indicate that there has been, and may still be a lot of debate on this question even since the early days of the VCASNY. Some government authorities, have considered them an Organized Militia, while others still refer to them as an ''unorganized''

. In either case, it seems that regardless of their legal definition, the VCASNY has enjoyed fruitful relations with the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...

, the

New York Guard The New York Guard (NYG) is the state defense force of New York State, also called The New York State Military Reserve. Originally called the New York State Militia it can trace its lineage back to the American Revolution and the War of 1812. T ...

, New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs, and others. This appears to be especially true during the timeframe of

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, when the VCASNY volunteered for several missions, and received federal, and state backing. In the foreword to ''The Minute Men of '17'', Colonel George W. Burleigh of the NY Guard thanks Major General

Leonard Wood Leonard Wood (October 9, 1860 – August 7, 1927) was a United States Army major general, physician, and public official. He served as the Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Military Governor of Cuba, and Governor-General of the Philipp ...

''"... for his foresight in giving encouragement and approval to the whole plan. His successor commanding the Department of the East, Major General J. Franklin Bell, continued this support for the Corps ..."''

18th and 19th Century

When the VCASNY was formed, it consisted exclusively of officers and soldiers of the

. Few historical records exist to document their activities for the periods between their formation and just prior to the beginning of the

. It is known however, that the active part of the VCASNY was the ''Artillery Service Detachment''. This section was uniformed and it participated in drills. When hostilities with

became imminent, they became the first independent military organization in New York (state), New York State to volunteer their services for the field. At this time they entered service on June 25, 1812, until July 2, 1812, and then again from September 2, 1814, until March 2, 1815. In 1814, and then again in 1890, the VCASNY amended their regulations to include descendants of both the

and the

. This was most likely due to their decreasing numbers and the advanced age of its members.

The Military Society of the War of 1812 was formed 03 January 1826 by officers of the War of 1812 to press for pensions and bounty land legislation. The Military Society of the War of 1812 and the Veteran Corps of Artillery of the State of New York on 08 January 1848 merged as a sole organization. Since that time there has been a changing role between the two organizations. At present the Veteran Corps of Artillery of the State of New York operates under the leadership of the Military Society of the War of 181

20th Century

Records indicate that the VCASNY volunteered as an organization for federal service on various occasions in the early part of the 20th century. As in its origin, the VCASNY at the time consisted of men that were exempt from military service due to age or some other reason; however, given the fact that the

was at war, "The men of the Corps felt that not only their personal inclinations but the traditions of the organization demanded of them that they serve their country in some definite military capacity.". Tradition also demanded of course that they take up the defense of

. Two items of concern that would affect

directly were Civil disorder, civil unrest, and

submarine aircraft carrier A submarine aircraft carrier is a submarine equipped with aircraft for observation or attack missions. These submarines saw their most extensive use during World War II, although their operational significance remained rather small. The most fam ...

s. While the latter did not come into service in

, there was concern that, while these vessels could not inflict heavy damage, it would cost a morale issue in the

. As such, the VCASNY found a mission that they were suited for; however, they would first have to solve the issue of numbers in the ranks, while also not affecting the war effort. At first recruitment was from other hereditary organizations such as the

Sons of the American Revolution The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR or NSSAR) is an American congressionally chartered organization, founded in 1889 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. A non-profit corporation, it has described its purpose ...

, but they found that this would not greatly increase their ranks. So, on February 22, 1917, the regulations of the VCASNY were once again amended to allow for the enlistment of exempts who were "... men of good moral character, not qualified for hereditary membership ...". Although there were some initial problems with the number of recruits the VCASNY would eventually raise, they were eventually supported by New York state legislature and proceeded to form a total of twelve provisional batteries commanded by Colonel John Ross Delafield. Its first official public duty came in May 1917, when they were asked to participate as Honor Guard for the French and British Commission at City Hall. On October 8, 1917, the VCASNY transferred into the 9th Coast Artillery Corps,

.Annual Report Transmitted to the Legislature For the Year 1919...New York Adjutant General Office, p.187
/ref>

21st Century

With the attacks on the

on 9/11, the VCASNY volunteered to assist the 88th Brigade

. The role of the VCASNY as an organization was minor, but some members assumed their roles in the

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

law enforcement Law enforcement is the activity of some members of government who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by discovering, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules Rule or ruling may refer to: Education ...

emergency medical services Emergency medical services (EMS), also known as ambulance services or paramedic services, are emergency services that provide urgent pre-hospital treatment and stabilisation for serious illness and injuries and transport to definitive care. ...

, etc. and participated independently. Members of the VCASNY have served in several

wars War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular ...

and military actions involving the

including

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, the

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

, the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam a ...

, as well as

Desert Storm The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: ...

and the present WOT conflicts in

Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and K ...

and

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...

. Members have served in all of the

military branches, and many VCA members are still serving actively in either the regular branches or the National Guard of the United States, National Guard or reserves including the NY (State) Guard. As noted in it
web site
the current mission of the VCASNY is to "preserve the military heritage of the

and to support military activities in the

upon request". The VCASNY today serves primarily as a ceremonial unit, and during the course of its drill year, is invited to participate in numerous

parades, civic and patriotic events. Independently or in association with traditional

veteran A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in a particular occupation or field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in a military. A military veteran that h ...

s organizations, the VCASNY also serves as

honor guard A guard of honour ( GB), also honor guard ( US), also ceremonial guard, is a group of people, usually military in nature, appointed to receive or guard a head of state or other dignitaries, the fallen in war, or to attend at state ceremonials, ...

and provides firing parties for

military funeral A military funeral is a memorial or burial rite given by a country's military for a soldier, sailor, marine or airman who died in battle, a veteran, or other prominent military figures or heads of state. A military funeral may feature guards o ...

s, military anniversaries and other events of military interest. Drills and practice are held in several locations such as the

, Jamaica Armory in Jamaica, Queens, and Camp Smith. Their drill season begins in October with the

Columbus Day Columbus Day is a national holiday in many countries of the Americas and elsewhere, and a federal holiday in the United States, which officially celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. ...

Parade, and ends with the VCASNY " 4th of July" salute to the

nation A nation is a community of people formed on the basis of a combination of shared features such as language, history, ethnicity, culture and/or society. A nation is thus the collective Identity (social science), identity of a group of people unde ...

. Here they render an

artillery Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...

salute from its Firing Battery of 75mm pack howitzers. This practice began on July 4, 1794, when the VCASNY fired its first Federal Artillery Salute from the Battery in New York City

in celebration of U.S. Independence. Other events that they participate in during the drill year include: *

Memorial Day Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have fought and died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monda ...

* Independence Day *

Veterans Day Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces (who were discharged under conditions other than d ...

Saint Patrick's Day Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick ( ga, Lá Fhéile Pádraig, lit=the Day of the Festival of Patrick), is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (), the foremost patr ...

In addition to this, there are also several social events for VCA members and its 'sister' organization, The Military Society of the War of 1812. These include the VCA Annual Mess Dinner which is held on the Saturday in January nearest to January 15, and The Military Society of 1812 Annual Dinner, held on the Saturday of January nearest to January 8 to celebrate the

Battle of New Orleans The Battle of New Orleans was fought on January 8, 1815 between the British Army under Major General Sir Edward Pakenham and the United States Army under Brevet Major General Andrew Jackson, roughly 5 miles (8 km) southeast of the Frenc ...

. While highly unlikely, and possibly still debatable, the VCASNY may be subject to federal call-up and as such conducts individual weapons qualification each year at Camp Smith, New York National Guard Training site in

Peekskill, New York Peekskill is a city in northwestern Westchester County, New York, United States, from New York City. Established as a village in 1816, it was incorporated as a city in 1940. It lies on a bay along the east side of the Hudson River, across from ...

Image:vca city parade.jpg, VCASNY in full parade dress Image:vca formation.jpg, Forming up at the Battery Image:vca camp smith.jpg, alt=Training, Training at Camp Smith Image:vca monthly training.jpg, VCASNY troops in the ACU Field uniform of the US Army during monthly small arms training with the M4 rifle and M9 Pistol

Uniform

The VCASNY follows the

regulations on uniforms. ''"Upon the Organization of the Corps in 1790, the uniform of the Continental Corps of Artillery of the Revolution was adopted"''Roster of the Veteran Corps of Artillery Constituting The Military Society of the War of 1812 for 1901-1902, ''Uniform of the Corps'', VCA, Page 49,1901 * The Parade Dress uniform today is the United States Army, U.S. Army uniform from the War of 1812. This uniform is worn during parades and patriotic events. * The ACU (

Army Combat Uniform The Army Combat Uniform (ACU) is the current combat uniform worn by the United States Army, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Space Force. Within U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, it is referred to as the OCP (Operational Camouflage Pattern) Uniform ...

) is typically worn during weapons training, parades, exercises, etc. * U.S. Army Class A and Class B uniforms are worn during regular drills. As prescribed by AR 670–1, the VCA is transitioning to the new Army ASU (

Army Service Uniform The Army Service Uniform (ASU) is a military uniform worn by United States Army personnel in situations where formal dress is called for. It can be worn at most public and official functions. Over history, a number of different non-combat servi ...

). * The Blue Corps Blazer with the Corps Blazer Patch-Gold Bullion and the Corps Tie is worn during informal social occasions.

Membership

In 1917, the VCASNY regulations for membership were amended. Today, in order to apply for the VCA, prospective members must be a

U.S. citizen Citizenship of the United States is a legal status that entails Americans with specific rights, duties, protections, and benefits in the United States. It serves as a foundation of fundamental rights derived from and protected by the Constituti ...

and be 18 years of age or older. Additionally, while ''Prior military service'' is not a condition for membership, those with prior or active service enter as Privates (PV1) regardless of previous or current rank. One item of interest is that in spite of its name the Veteran Corps of Artillery is not a

Veteran A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in a particular occupation or field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in a military. A military veteran that h ...

s organization like the Veterans of Foreign Wars or American Legion.

Timeline of the Veteran Corps of Artillery and the Military Society of the War of 1812

Past Commandants of the Veteran Corps of Artillery

June 2011 – 2020 - Stephen J. Ryan, COL FA VCASNY - (COL USAR)
RYAN VCA

2008–June 2011- Charles C. Lucas, Jr., COL FA VCASNY

2002–2008 – David J. Ramsay, Major General
1998–2002 – John Edward Connelly, III, Major General
1996–1998 – Ralph Arthur Olson, Brigadier General
1985–1996 – John Edward Connelly, II, Major General
1975–1985 – James Watson Gerard, II, Major General
1970–1975 – Sherman Post Haight, Jr., Colonel
1965–1970 – William Ely Chambers, Colonel
1958–1965 – Joseph Baird Magnus, Colonel
1957–1958 – William Grandy Goodwin, Colonel
1950–1957 – Frances Florian Steers, Colonel
1947–1950 – Edwin Bertan Conklin, Colonel
1946–1947 – Chandler Smith, Colonel
1922–1946 – Charles Elliot Warren, Major General, U.S. Ret
1919–1922 – William Groves Bates, Brigadier General
1908–1919 – Asa Bird Gardiner, Bvt Major General
1890–1908 – Rev.

Morgan Dix Morgan Dix (November 1, 1827 in New York City – April 29, 1908) was an American Episcopal Church priest, theologian, and religious author. Early life Dix was born on November 1, 1827 in New York City. He was the son of Catherine Morgan, the ado ...

, S.T.D., D.D., D.C.L
1878–1890 – Abraham Daly, Jr., Brigadier General**–Last veteran "Original Member" to hold post of Commandant
1855–1878 – Henry Raymond, Brigadier General
1853–1855 – James B. Murray, Colonel
1850–1853 – Nicholas Haight, Colonel
1845–1850 – Richard Raynor, Captain
1826–1845 – Dr. George Warren Chapman, Captain
1816–1826 – George Mills, Captain
1813–1816 – Dr. George Warren Chapman, Captain
1809–1813 – John McLean, Captain
1807–1809 – William Boyd, Brigadier General
1790–1807 – John Delamater, Captain

References

Additional Material

''Books'' * Lineage of the Ninth Regiment, New York - Leonhard A. Keyes, LL.M -244th Antiaircraft Artillery Group. Published 1953. ''Pamphlets'' * The Veteran Corps of Artillery New York- The Military Society War of 1812, Published by the Council of Administration VCASNY,1970 . * The Corps Here and Now - material compiled by Colonel Malcom G. Smith,1987 * Military Society of the War of 1812 Veteran Corps of Artillery of the State of New York -Constitution and by Laws-Ruiles and Regulations-Special Laws index -Compiled by the Council of Administration V.C.A.S.N..Y 1994 * Roster of the Veteran Corps of Artillery State of New York (Red Book), -214th Anniversary Edition -2004. * A Short History of the Veteran Corps of Artillery -LTC Dwyer Wedvick, FA VCASNY -2008

External links

Official Website

Tarry Town Patch Story and Video
* 1st Battalion Ninth Regiment New York Guard website*
Andrew Cusack Website

Access My Library Article

Internet Archive - Roster of the Veteran Corps of Artillery constituting the Military Society

Google Books - The World almanac & book of facts, Pg 544

Journal of the National Institute of Social Sciences, Pg. 177

* ttp://www.nysun.com/arts/celebrating-125-with-the-knickerbocker-greys/31070/ The Sun article on the Knickerbocker Greys
The Patriot - March with Us

July Military History Strategy Page.com

Email from Courtney T. Burns of the NYS Military Museum

July 2005 issue of STAND-TO from www.army.mil
{{DEFAULTSORT:Veteran Corps Of Artillery Of The State Of New York Military in New York (state) Military units and formations established in 1790 Militia in the United States Historical societies in New York City Military history of New York City State based fraternal and lineage societies