Had I not known that my grandfather had joined the Sixty Ninth Regiment, shortly after arriving in NY, I would never have been
able to identify him in any of the articles, as his name is too common to offer me the luxury!  I happened upon these clippings
as I was searching for Obituaries and death notices. I decided to print a few that mentioned a lot of surnames.  When I returned
home, I was pleasantly surprised to find my own  Corporal F.J. RYAN , Company I, listed amongst the many other Irish Americans
who found a sense of purpose as well as a way of socializing, in their adopted country, by serving in NYC's 69th Regiment of the Nat'l
Guard.  Times of peace, apparently, allowed for many a party- as the paper is filled with such articles as follow.  I have transcribed
only those parts which list surnames.
Jan 26 1887
Irish-American newspaper
MILITARY NEWS
(Re the annual ball of Company G)
"…The march was led by the Floor Manager, Private Walter C MAGEE and Miss Annie RUTLEN, followed by Capt Stephen P
RYAN and lady…Adjutant MORAN, Commissary RYAN, Capt COLEMAN, Quatermaster Jas. J WARD, Capt D.C. McCARTHY,
Liet. John MURPHY, Lieut. John O'CONNELL, William FORESTAL, of the 22d Regiment, and sister;  William CUSICK and
sister. J.J. DISCOM and wife, Sergt. Thomas F. COEN, of the 8th Regiment, and Miss Mary SMITH; Lieut. MONAHAN and Miss
Sophia SMITH, Sergeant E. BYRNES, of the 23d Regiment, and Miss Christina SMITH; Joseph DUCKETT, Patrick CASEY
and wife, Mr CUNNINGHAM, Valentine BECKER, 8th Regiment, Daniel DORIS, 8th Regiment, William H POWERS and wife,
Henry W. RENACK, 71st Regiment, and wife; Charles NELSON, 23rd Regiment, & c.
    The Commitees managing the ball were as follows:-
   Floor Committee-Sergeatn Michael C DOWNS and Henry P. MANGAN, Private Ed BOURKE, Andrew COFFEY, Matt. CASEY,
James E. COGAN, Joseph DUCKETT, James H FISHER, John HANLEY, Thomas KILLIGON, J.J. MONAGHAN, Matthew
McCARTHY, Joseph NOLAN, Michael O'SULLIVAN, Jas. P. O'DONOVAN, Edw'd H. O'CONNOR, Timothy REGAN, James
REGAN, John J SOMERS and John WARREN.
   Committee of Arrangements- Lieut. Patrick S. GOGGIN, chairman; First Sergeant James D. QUIRK, Corporal Alexander
ROBERTSON, Private Laurence DILLON,  Sergeant Patrick HAYES, Private John V. McKEON and Private J. O'HEA.
   Reception Committee-Liet. William HOGAN, chairman; Quatermaster, Serg't D.L. O'LEARY, Corporal D.T. GUINANE,
Private patrick CASEY, Private D. HEGARTY, Sergeant Frank MAGEE, Corporal Patrick CREMIN, Privare McCOSTIN and
Daniel O'CONNOR".
Jan 22 1887
Irish-American newspaper
MILITARY NEWS
  "The members of Company A, 69th Regiment, Capt BRENNAN, are making preparations for a ball at Irving Hall, Jan 21st.
  Last Wednesday, Company C, Capt D.C. McCARTHY, gave their annual entertainment and reception at Turn Hall.
  Company  G, Captain RYAN, will hold their annual ball on February 11th, at Irving Hall.
 The members of Company I, Capt CUNNINGHAM, will hold their annual ball at the Armory on January 25th.
  At the annual meeting of Company D, Lieut. FARRELLY was elected Treasurer and private BRODERICK was elected corporal,
vice ADAMs reduced to the ranks at his own request.
  The annual meeting of the Boward of Officers for the election of officers and commitees resulted as follows: Lieut. J. MURPHY
of Company C, was elected Treasurer; Capt KERR was re-elected recording secretary; Lieut. McCRYSTAL, financial secretary;
Capt RYAN was the choice for chairman of the Finance Committee; Capt CUNNIGHAM, chairman on Committee of Dress;
Col. CAVANAGH, on music; Capt COX, chairman Committee on Printing; Capt. RYAN, chairman Committee on Entertainment;
 Lieut. DESMOND, chairman Committee on Armory; Delegated to National Grand Convention, Colonel CAVANAGH, Adjutant .
MORAN, Liut. WARD and Capt COLEMAN."
Feb 5th 1887
Irish-American newspaper
MILITARY NEWS
  "…It was the annual ball of Company I, which has gained an enviable reputation fo its excellence in drill and the remarkable
discipline of its members…The Committee of Arrangements consisted of Private Charles HEALY, Corporal M.J. LONERGAN,.
 Private T. J. CAREW, Sergeant Thomas SEXTON, Corporal T. J. MORAN, and Corporal J. McCALL.  Floor manager Private Phillip
POWERS.  Floor Committee: Sergeant James HEALY, Corporal Michael HART, Corporal B. F. McCABE, Private R.L. McHALE,
Private Thomas M. CAHILL, Private P FITZGERALD, Private George J FOSTER, Private William P. DEVEREUX, Private J
GORDON, Private Edward GRAY, Private P.S. KIRWIN and Musician Robert CONDON.  Reception Committee-Capt. James P
CUNNINGHAM, Liet. J. MALONEY, Lieut. L.C. QUINN, Private Edward WALL, Private Thomas BRADY, Private D DONOHUE,
Private M. TALTY, Sergeant John GLEASON, Sergeant P.J. COLEMAN, Sergeant F. DUFFY, Private D. DUFFY, Private D.
DONOVAN, Private M. SCANTON, Private J.J. MURPHY and Sergeant Thos. SEXTON."
May 7 1887
Irish-American newspaper
THE 69TH'S ANNIVERSARY
  " Last Monday evening, the twenty sixth anniversary of the departure of the Sixty-ninth Regiment for the seat of war, was
celebrated by the Veteran's Corps in the style at the Armory over Tompkin's market…The exercise was opened by the Rev Father
 DOUGHERTY, of St Monica's church, the chaplain of the 69th Veteran Corps.  He retired to make room for Mr. Edwin L ABBOTT,
which was followed by his brother, Leon ABBOTT, ex governor of New Jersey.  Assistant District Attorney FITZGERALD then
addressed the audience…he was followed by Col F.A. CONKLLUG. Coroner LEVY, and several other gentlemen, who spoke on
the glories of the regiment.
…Some well known Irish Americans were on the platform, among them being Adjutant James MORAN, Major Edward DUFFY,
Thanddeus MORIARTY, James ROGERS, John McCARTHY. J.P. FARRELL, Commissioner James S COLEMAN, Colonel
James CAVANAGH, Leon ABBETT, Lawrence G. GOULDING, P.E.TARPEY, Mathew P. BREEN, E.J. McCARTHY, Judge 
Van HOESEN, and the following delegates from the 7th Regiment: Liet-Colonel ARTHUR, Adjutant C.H. CAVELL, Major J.H. KEMP
, Capt. R.L. SALISBARY, Paymaster J.P. BURRELL, and Lieutenants W.R. MACDIARMUD, J.P. McDONALD and B.W.B.
 GREENE. The following were the managers of entertainment: Surgeon William O MEAGHER, M.D., Chairman; Colonel T.J.
 O'DONOUGHUE, Corresponding Secretary; Col. M.C. MURPHY, Capt. P.J. BRADY, Captl John STACOM, Committee;
Colonel Thomas LYNCH, President".
June 4, 1887
Irish- American newspaper
THE SIXTY-NINTH
   "On last Monday evening the 69th were reviewed by General ROBBINS, Inspector of Rifle Practice, after which markmen's badges
were presented…Adjunct MORAN has placed in the armory a bronze copy of the statue of liberty, weighing fifty pounds, to be
given to the company that qualifies the greatest number of marksmen this year.  The appointment of Lieut. RYAN as Inspector of
Rifle Practice, is a good one….We noticed the Colonel and Adjunct watching Capt. CUNNINGHAM drill forty recruits recently…
After presenting the marksmen's badges Capt BRENNAN and KERR received testimonials of affection from their respective companies-
to the former a handsome medal, and to the latter a sword and belt of fine workmanship, were presented.  Privates RYAN and
 O'FARRELL of company A, received medals from their comrades, as did also Corporal Emerick KISS of Company B.
  Among the many military visitors we noticed Adjutant JOHNSTON, of the 8th Regiment; Adjutant TILDEN, of the 71st; and Lieut.
GURNY, of the 71st."