USA > New Jersey > Passaic County > Paterson > History of Paterson and its environs (the silk city); historical- genealogical - biographical > Part 38
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he entered upon it with all the zeal and vigor of his early manhood. He had always been a commander. With thousands of acres as his domain, and hun- dreds of men under his control, he had always shown those qualities that are sure to distinguish the soldier. And now his old energy awoke at the call of his country. He went up the beautiful hills of his old home, and called upon his former retainers to join him, or to send their sons to act under his com- mand. He formed Company A of the Eighth Regiment, chiefly from those sturdy forgemen and axemen of his native place. He was the senior captain of his regiment, and was afterwards promoted to be major, which position he held at his death.
He delighted in his military duties. He seemed as erect and vigorous as at any period of his life. Tall and athletic, of a fine soldierly appearance and bearing, prompt in word and act, attentive to all the requirements of his posi- tion, he had gained the reputation of a thorough and faithful soldier, before he went upon his first battlefield, from which he was never to return.
Upon that field he met his death as he would have chosen to meet it. His regiment was sorely pressed by superior numbers on its left of the bloody field of Monday. At one o'clock Colonel Johnson was severely wounded, and the command of the regiment devolved upon Major Ryerson. Their ammuni- tion was exhausted, and they were slowly falling back before the greater force of the enemy seeking to turn their flank. The fate of the day, and perhaps of the army, depended upon their firmness. Major Ryerson, with his old habit of command, rallied them to the charge. Again they wavered, having nothing to fight with, and again and again he rallied them, standing in advance, a too conspicuous mark for the foe. At two o'clock he was struck by a bullet in the side as he was cheering on his men. Lieutenant Sines came to him and led him to a tree. He felt that the wound was fatal, he saw that the enemy were approaching in overwhelming force, and calmly begged Lieu- tenant Sines to leave him and not uselessly sacrifice his own life.
Brief interval remained for the dying thoughts of the soldier, but enough for the Christian patriot.
Frederick S. Weller was born in Paterson, March 6, 1819, and gradu- ated from the Old School College, Crosby street, New York City, in 1837. He was practicing in Paterson when he enlisted and was appointed surgeon of the Ninth Regiment. He was made brigade surgeon by order of General Casey. He was drowned at Hatteras Inlet, North Carolina, January 15, 1862. His body was recovered and returned to Paterson for interment.
Captain Hugh C. Irish, editor, merchant and politician, whose services in the organization of a company of Paterson soldiers have been told of on a preceding page, was killed while leading his men at the battle of Antietam. The regiment, of which his company formed a part, was ambuscaded on South Mountain, and the men suddenly found themselves under a murderous fire of musketry. It was too much for the raw recruits and they broke and retreated. Captain Irish sought in vain to restrain their flight, but he was shot through the chest and fell, crying, "I'm killed !" He died instantly and his body was captured by the enemy. It was recovered a few days later and buried near the spot, the following inscription being rudely carved upon a stake at the head of his grave and also on a tree near by: "Captain H. C. Irish, Company K, Thirteenth Regiment, N. J. Vols." "The fittest place for
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man to die, Is where he dies for man." A Sons of Veterans post in Paterson is named after Captain Irish.
George C. Gould entered the service from Paterson and was made a cor- poral in Company C, September 10, 1861 ; at the expiration of his term of service he reënlisted and served throughout the war. He composed a song which was frequently sung by the Ninth Regiment. It reads as follows :
SONG OF THE NINTH NEW JERSEY REGIMENT. Air-"Scots Wha Hae."
Sons of Jersey, swell the song, Let your notes be loud and long, Make the Union army strong- On to victory !
Roanoke has felt our power, Newberne, too, can tell the hour When the rebels had to cower 'Neath our infantry.
Jersey's sons stood front in fight, Jersey's sons have shown their might Jersey's sires rejoice to-night For our chivalry.
With our colonel at our head, There we rained our showers of lead, Strewed the fields with rebel dead From our musketry.
Let our friends at home rejoice With a loud and cheerful voice, Sing the praise of Jersey boys With all jollity.
Tell the tale to old and young, How the Ninth, so proud and strong, Have their glorious laurels won, All for victory.
Sing the praise of those who bled, Mourn with us the gallant dead, Who their richest blood have shed For our liberty.
Long they stemmed the battle's tide, Bravely fought and bravely died; Spread their praises far and wide, Dear their memory.
The following note is attached to the record of Company A, Twenty- fifth Regiment, Captain John McKiernan: "Company A, formed from a nucleus of Washington Fire Engine Company ( Paterson, N. J.), were men of average height, strong and healthy, and invariably reported more men for duty each day than any other company in the regiment. The company being composed of mechanics, were detailed to assist in building all of Colonel Derrom's patent bridges, notably the one crossing the creek near Suffolk. General Getty said to Captain McKiernan that if this bridge were com-
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pleted by a certain time it would be worth a million dollars to the govern- ment. The bridge was completed in the time, being over seventy feet long, and thrown across in the space of five hours. Captain McKiernan, of Com- pany A, was complimented by Colonel Derrom on the efficiency and willing- ness with which his men worked, in some instances up to their waists in mud and water. The bridges saved General Peck from being driven from Suf- folk."
Francis E. Butler, previous to entering Yale College, where he graduated in 1857, assisted his two brothers in the manufacture of paper in Paterson He enlisted, in September, 1862, in the Twenty-fifth regiment, and was made regimental chaplain. While moving about the field, near Suffolk, alleviating the sufferings of wounded soldiers, he was struck by a bullet and killed. Pat- erson honored his memory by naming one of its Grand Army of the Republic posts after him.
Charles Danforth, captain of Company I, Second New Jersey Volunteers, was killed, on the Peninsula, near Richmond, July, 1862, while gallantly fighting at the head of his company.
Andrew Derrom, colonel of the Twenty-fifth Regiment, was distin- guished by his endeavors in raising five companies of volunteers in Paterson. Although mention has been frequently made of his courage and skill at the battle of Fredericksburg, he was better known on account of the excellent use he made of his skill as an engineer and builder in constructing bridges. In recognition of this General Getty subsequently wrote to the colonel : "More especially were your suggestions on the subject of military bridges of value. The bridges constructed by you, and after your own invention, over Broer's creek, during the siege of Suffolk, in April last, were of the greatest importance. Thrown with great rapidity, and at a critical moment, by cutting off a detour of five miles, and thus bringing the troops on the Nansemond river into close and rapid communication with each other and with Suffolk, they contributed essentially to the successful termination of the siege."
CHAPTER XIV.
The Paterson military during the Spanish-American War-With full ranks prepared to meet the enemy-Saw no action, but suffered seriously from typhoid fever.
The Paterson contingent of the military force which the United States assembled in its war against Spain did not reach the soil of Cuba and conse- quently took no part in any of the engagements. Companies A, B and C, of the Second New Jersey Volunteer regiment, consisted of the Paterson militia regiments of the National Guard of New Jersey, brought up its full numerical strength by means of recruiting at the armory in Paterson. The companies
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arrived at Sea Girt, New Jersey, May 2, 1898, and were mustered into the United States service on May 13, 14 and 15. They left Sea Girt on June I and two days later arrived at Camp Cuba Libra, Jacksonville, Florida, where they were assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, Seventh Army Corps, commanded by Major-General Fitzhugh Lee. The regiment, of which the Paterson contingent formed a part, remained at Camp Cuba Libra (except Company G, which was detailed to the rifle range) until September 2, when they were sent to Pablo Beach, Florida. Owing to the prevalence of typhoid fever, the regiment was ordered back to Sea Girt on September 20, and from there the companies were sent to their respective home quarters. The regi- ment assembled again at Sea Girt on October 12 ; on the 17th a thirty-day fur- lough was granted to all. On November 17 all were mustered out.
Of the 330 men composing the three companies, twenty-four were not residents of Paterson at the time of their enlistment. Four died while in Florida.
The Paterson representatives on the field and staff were: Major Au- gustus Van Gieson, Regimental Adjutant and Captain John T. Hilton, Bat- talion Adjutant and First Lieutenant Frederic R. Reynolds, Quartermaster and First Lieutenant John H. Hopper, First Lieutenant and Assistant Sur- geon Charles R. Blundell and First Lieutenant and Assistant Surgeon George S. Terriberry.
The Paterson members of the non-commissioned staff were: Regi- mental Sergeant-Major Alexander P. Gray, Quartermaster-Sergeant William S. Friend, Hospital Stewards Robert A. Roe, Patrick J. Hynes and Orville R. Gillette, Chief Musician David L. McGinnis, Principal Musicians William Bradley and William Daly.
The officers of Company A were: J. Ernest Shaw, captain; Frank R. Stokes, first lieutenant ; James F. Dunphey and E. T. Bell, Jr., second lieu- tenants. The officers of Company B were: Edward A. Scanlan, captain ; Herbert Gould, first lieutenant; James F. G. Robinson, second lieutenant. The officers of Company C were: James Parker, captain; Albert A. Van Walraven, first lieutenant ; William W. Stalter and John Nolan, second lieu- tenants.
CHAPTER XV.
Paterson's participation in the World's War-Eight thousand men in national uniform-The National Guard absorbed in the 114th Regi- ment of the 29th Division.
What part did Paterson take in the World's War? The answer to this is the story which has been told, and will be told for many years in thousands of cities and villages in the whole country. When Belgium was invaded men hastened across the border line into Canada and offered their lives in order that they might do all they could in the interest of civilization. Others
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worked their ways into the ranks of the armies of France and Italy. When this country declared war the call for volunteers was heeded in many homes. Then came the mobilization of the local militia and the draft. As far as organizations were concerned the curtain dropped, for it would have been impracticable, well nigh impossible, for the men from any one locality to be kept together ; they were mingled in the many detachments, each taking its part in the horrible panorama that followed. Men were transferred from one command to another, officers were displaced and everything pertaining to local color almost obliterated. To tell the story of the experiences of soldiers from any particular city would be to tell the history of the war.
From Paterson there went to the front about eight thousand men; the exact number would be difficult of ascertainment, for men from Paterson enlisted in the ranks of companies from other States and men only on a visit to Paterson joined the local contingent. As far as voluntary enlistments were concerned, it was evident that Paterson men gave the preference to the navy and to the marine corps.
There had been considerable interest in military affairs in Paterson for some years before the outbreak of the war; when the call to arms came the Paterson military constituted Companies B, C, D and E, of the Fifth Regiment of the National Guard of New Jersey. The ranks were not full, but they were very nearly so when they entrained for camp; vacancies were filled up from replacements from other regiments. Nearly all were assigned to the 114th Regiment of the Twenty-ninth Division. On June 14, 1918, they saw the Virginia shore line fade away in the distance; on May 6, 1919, the regiment again saw that shore line. The days between those dates were filled with all the discomforts and horror of war. They arrived in France on June 27 and just one month afterwards they saw their first service in the trenches and this service continued until the signing of the armistice.
In the official list of casualties, under the headings, "Died of disease" and "killed in action," will be found the names of about two hundred former residents of Paterson.
Just as was the case nearly all over the country, the soldiers returned singly or in small detachments ; whenever there were any considerable num- ber of them the city extended to them a joyous welcome. This, however, did not satisfy a desire on the part of the people of Paterson to show their appre- ciation of the task accomplished and so arrangements were made for a wel- come to all. This took place on the Fourth of July, an occasion which will be long remembered, for on that day the city was in festive garb; profuse ornamentation had changed Market street, from Straight to Main, into a court of honor ; flags, bunting and other evidences of patriotism were in evi- dence everywhere. Returned soldiers paraded through most of the populous parts of the city and there were addresses and entertainments in numerous places
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PATERSON AND ITS ENVIRONS
CHAPTER XVI.
Home activities during the War-The Liberty Loans, the Salvation Army, Knights of Columbus and the United War Works drive-The proud record of the Red Cross.
Paterson was somewhat handicapped when it came to supplying the sinews of war by means of raising money for the government, for a great many residents of Paterson were identified with organizations in New York and thus thousands of Paterson dollars were credited to these organizations. Despite this, however, Paterson exceeded its quota at every call. The fol- lowing table tells its own story :
Subscribers.
Quota.
Raised.
Chairmen.
First Loan ....
7,600
$3,489,000
$3,700,000
Frank W. Furrey
Second Loan ..
16,000
5,000,000
7,523,650
E. T. Bell
Third Loan ...
33,692
4,443,300
5,550,250
Charles L. Auger
Fourth Loan ..
51,000
8,544,300
10,479,354
Charles L. Auger
Fifth Loan ...
31,000
6,400,000
9,300,000
W. D. Blauvelt
Ten communities in the New York federal reserve district were awarded captured German cannon for record oversubscriptions in the last drive; among these ten was Paterson.
Paterson's investment in War Savings and Thrift stamps during 1918 amounted to $1,202,632.82.
Paterson's quota for the United War Works Drive was $175,000; the amount collected was $260,000. The city contributed $23,000 to the Salva- tion Army, and $30,000 to the Knights of Columbus, instead of the $20,000 asked.
Paterson Chapter of the American Red Cross was organized in March, 1817, and in the following month Alfred R. Turner was elected president ; Mrs. Jennie T. Hobart, vice-president ; Miss Fannie Perry, secretary ; and W. Lionel Reed, treasurer. Dr. Walter B. Johnson was chosen general man- ager, and devoted nearly all his time to the duties of his office. The chapter had two drives for membership, netting respectively 21,020 and 15,689 members. The two campaigns for war funds netted respectively $125,045.68 and $213,863.21, instead of the assigned quotas of $100,000 and $125,000. Nine branches were organized in villages lying within a radius of a few miles ; Mrs. Arthur Livingston was entrusted with the work of securing the organization of branches in church congregations and soon had sixty-three at work. Miss A. L. M. Pittet had charge of the surgical dressings, Mrs. James Jackson of the sewing, Mrs. James P. Anderson and Mrs. Sidney Probert of the knitting, and Mrs. Samuel B. Farnum of the home service. Headquarters were established in Orpheus Hall, on the corner of Broadway and Carroll street, but the space proved wholly inadequate. The surgical dressings department was soon removed to the upper floor of the building on the northwest corner of Broadway and Bridge street and subsequently all the other branches found accommodations at No. 385 Broadway, a building which had been just acquired by the Masonic fraternity.
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In addition to these larger activities there were many of less pretence, noteworthy among these being the canteen for soldiers conducted by the Woman's Club, the "open house" of the Knights of Columbus and enter- tainments supported by various Jewish organizations.
P -20
PUELIO
8
Charles Curie.
James Beggs .
Rev . Charles. D. Shaw.
Dr. C.F.W. Myers.
)Joseph. W. Congdon
CO
2
) Samuel.V. S. Muzzy.
John T. Hilton.
8-
8
8
8-
THE MILITARY. CHAPTER I.
Early organizations-Stoffel Van Riper and his corps-The burlesque of mimic war-Drill and parade grounds-The City Blues and Mont- gomery Rifles-Disappearance of voluntary companies at the out- break of the war of the rebellion.
In the earliest days of Paterson the social feature in military organiza- tions was wholly lacking, for the soldier who carried a musket to the drill ground felt confident that in the near future he would carry the musket to the firing line. Long before the Revolution there were voluntary military organizations whose inception was due to laws the object of which was the protection of the home against the red man. As early as December 3, 1683, the records tell of the appointment of Major William Sandford, of New Barbadoes Neck as an "officer to exercise the Inhabitants of Aquaninocke." The struggles between the French, the Dutch and the English called for more sustained military work; the Revolution gathered together all the voluntary bands either for or against British sovereignty.
After the country had attained its freedom the red man had ceased to trouble the white settlers; those of the latter who had served in the ranks had had a surfeit of military discipline and the rising generation had enough work to do without looking for such as was not absolutely necessary. So the advent of the war of 1812 saw little of what would be called the militia at the present day. After peace had been declared in 1815 all were anxious for a rest from the exercise of the soldier. But the ripening days of time eventually brought forth the spirit of the man who was willing to "play at soldiering" without any disposition to shirk the more arduous and dangerous work required when muskets and swords ceased to be toys and ornaments. That the military organization in the thirties and forties had more play than work, just as later organizations had more dances than battles, is evident from the records of the time. Take, for example, the case of Christopher Van Riper and his band.
"Stoffel," as he was always called, was a carpenter by trade; he had a shop back of his house, and employed three or four men when he had occa- sion, and at other times worked as a journeyman. In person, he was very short and very stout, and like most corpulent men he had an unfailing fund of humor, enjoying nothing better than a joke, under any and all circum- stances. His fame rests principally upon his military prowess, for he was captain of one of the unorganized militia companies, which in his day were composed of the citizens who were required by law to turn out periodically for training. They were a motley crew, without uniforms or arms, often in their shirt-sleeves. "Stoffel" entered heartily into the absurdity of the spectacle, as attested by countless stories that have come down to us. Yea,
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even poetic muse has been invoked to celebrate the martial deeds of his "trained band:"
March! March! Stoffel Van Riper's men ! Up to the sidewalk, and right away back again.
Or thus :
Stoffel Van Riper ! Stoffel Van Riper ! Turn out your toes when you go 'round a corner. Stoffel Van Riper ! Stoffel Van Riper !
When drilling the men in "marking time," his order would be, "Hay foot, straw foot." Once when parading on Main street, between Ward and Oliver, he was somewhat puzzled, but finally gave the command, "With your backs to the Sandy Hill, and your fronts to the Brick Church, forward march!" At another time his company were advancing across a field; they approached a fence; "Stoffel" forgot how to stop them, and the men, in a spirit of mischief, began climbing the fence into a cultivated field. In des- pair, their commander appealed to Captain Garrabrant: "Captain, captain, stop my men!" "Halt!" rang out the order. "Gracious! why couldn't I think of that," ejaculated "Stoffel." One day he was drilling his company in Market street, opposite his residence, and was particularly zealous to im- press his wife and neighbors with his dignity and his abilities. As he put the company through one manœuvre after another, he gradually backed nearer and nearer to his house-and suddenly disappeared through the open cellar door! In great alarm his wife ran to his relief. But the military instinct was uppermost in his breast; he waved her imperiously away, even as he lay tumbled in a heap at the foot of the cellar steps, and majestically exclaimed : "Go away, woman! what do you know about WAR?"
The burlesque doings of some of the early military organizations, how- ever, did not pertain to all of them, and certainly not to the locally famous Godwin Guards. The story of Abraham Godwin has been told on preceding pages. He had been fifer in a company of New York volunteers commanded by his brother. Henry Godwin. The honors attained in his juvenile days had been succeeded by greater honors in later years and when peace prevailed he had exchanged the camp for a hotel and for many years was host at the Passaic Hotel, a building on Bank street, Paterson, which had sheltered Lafayette and Washington. He was made brigadier-general of the New Jer- sey militia, and subsequently major-general, and during the later days of his life had command of the Essex Brigade. The Godwin Guards were named in his honor and in it could enlist none but young men of the most approved reputation and standing. A side light on the character of the organization may perhaps be obtained from the fact that his daughter, Ariana, presented the Guards with a silken banner and that the address she delivered upon that
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occasion was printed on white satin. The company was the pride of Pater- son for upwards of thirty years.
The Montgomery Rifles, at least at its organization, consisted almost altogether of men of Irish birth or descent and sociability was its most prominent feature, for there were no clouds of war hovering over the con- tinent. Their social affairs were by no means confined to Paterson, for the newspapers of the day tell of receptions given them in New York, Newark and other places. The Emmet Guards, also composed almost exclusively of men of Irish birth or descent, enjoyed a period of popularity, although not of so protracted as that of the Montgomery Rifles.
A number of the local organizations for many years met in the once famous Military Hall, a structure in the rear of the building then located on the southeast corner of Market and Main streets. Here the militia of the day met for the purpose of relaxation ; there were gun racks and lockers for uniforms and even a considerable library.
The Union Cadets were organized in November, 1834, and were com- manded for some time by Captain Lafayette Congar.
The Continental Guards were patterned after the old Continentals of Revolutionary days-blue swallow-tail coats trimmed with buff on the col- lars, lapels and skirts, buff knee-breeches and cocked hats. They drilled in a brick building on the northwest corner of Main and Van Houten streets ; their existence as an organization was ended by the breaking out of the war of the rebellion ; the building succumbed to the great fire of February, 1902.
According to the first Paterson business directory, published in 1853, Paterson in that year had the following military organizations: City Blues, Captain George Griffith, drilling in the Armory, corner of Main and Market streets ; Montgomery Rifles, Captain C. H. O'Neil, drilling in Odd Fellows Hall, Main street; City Guards, Captain A. Wirth, drilling at the Armory, New Market, Cross street; Emmet Light Guards, Captain Felix Donnelly, drilling in the Passaic Hotel. In 1857 the Passaic Brigade had the following staff officers: General, Cornelius Garrison ; Major, James Kershaw ; Quar- termaster, John Brown; Surgeon, Benjamin Weller; Assistant Surgeon, John Van Den Bylardt; Chaplain, William H. Hornblower. George Griffith was captain of the City Blues Artillery ; Joel M. Johnson, of the Washing- ton Continental Guards; Charles H. O'Neil, of the Montgomery Rifles ; Felix Donnelly, of the Emmet Light Guard, and Samuel Smith, of the Pat- erson Light Horse ; the City Guard was then organizing. In 1859 Thomas D. Hoxsey was general of the Passaic Brigade; Absolom B. Woodruff, deputy quartermaster-general, and Philip Rafferty, lieutenant-colonel.
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