In 1860, the then Prince of Wales—now Edward VII, King of Great Britain—visited the United States, and was scheduled to arrive in New York City on Thursday, October 11, of that year. The First Division, New York State Militia, was ordered out to receive him and directed to form at the Battery for the purpose of parade and review. All the regiments of the Division with the exception of the Sixty-ninth Regiment, assembled at the time and place appointed for the formation. The order received by Colonel Corcoran from headquarters was not promulgated, and he was immediately ordered under arrest and a court martial summoned to try him upon a charge of disobedience of orders. This circumstance fixed firmly in the public mind the race and sentiments of the commander and the men of the 69th. April 12, 1861, witnessed the firing upon Fort Sumter, and on the 15th, President Lincoln issued his proclamation calling out the militia of the several states to the number of 75,000 men, and five days thereafter, the court martial which had been ordered to try Colonel Corcoran was dissolved, the pending charges were dismissed, and he was at once restored to his command. The order dismissing the charges, which bears date, April 20, 1861, is designated Special Order No. 9, and reads as follows: “In pursuance of Special Orders No. 58 from General Headquarters, the Court Martial detailed for the trial of Colonel Corcoran is dissolved, and the charges dismissed, and Colonel Corcoran is directed forthwith to resume the command of his regiment. “By order of “CHARLES W. SANFORD, “_Major-General_. “GEORGE W. MORELL, “_Div. Eng’r. and Div. Insp’r._”