USA > New York > Dutchess County > Address delivered Wednesday, 28th November, 1866 : in Feller's Hall, Madalin, township of Red Hook, Duchess Co., N.Y. > Part 3
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way to Washington. In the former was WARREN W. CHAMBERLAIN, of Lower Red Hook, Lieutenant in the fine. In the latter, FREDERIC DE PEYSTER, Jr., of Tivoli. aged 18, Junior Assistant Surgeon .*
Almost simultaneously. on the 23d-28th April, the Ulster Guard. 20th N. Y. S. M., was likewise in march for the theatre of hostilities. Eight young men from the village of Madalin volunteered in it, and eight more from the town in this and other regi- twente. Tive first men were true patriots, and de- serve to be remembered by their fellow townsmen. If. there were others. it is a great pity that their names have not been preserved
ANDREW DECKER, CHARLES DECKER, CHARLES HOUGHTALING, MONTGOMERY MARSHALL. ADAM MOORE, CHARLES STATLEY, WILLIAM H. STOCKING, E-S-, the last name is suppressed because this individual sub- sequently deserted. The second eight were-JonN CLARK, EDWARD CURTIS. LE GRAND CURTIS,. PATRICK HAVES, WILLIAM HOLDRIDGE, GEORGE KELLY, STEPHEN SHERWOOD, JOHN VRADENBURGII.
Even already the North was learning to appreciate the energy, courage, and ability of a man, than whom none has been more abused and none less deserving of censure-I mean Major-General BENJAMIN F. BUTLER. Let the dogs of faction howl as they will around the old lion, the North owes to this improvised military leader the salvation of Fortress Monroe, of Fort McHenry, yes, I will say it, and of Washington. Just as Lyox saved us at the West, just so BUTLER preserved affairs in the East. He it was who reestablished the severed com- munications with the National Capital, and by that wonderful stroke of audacity seized and bridled rebel- lious Baltimore. With less than 1,000 men, half com- posed of the Sixth Massachusetts. half selected from the Eighth New York S. M., he mastered a city of 200,000 inhabitants. BUTLER crushed secession from the " monumental city " so thoroughly and effectually that he left to the Rebellion. as its only memorial of temporary success, the stains of blood shed by the
U. S. stramer Tennessee, Captain Johnson, to Vicksburg, with am- munition for the fleet-first attack on Vicksburg; June 28, had a skirmish with Confederates at Grand Gulf; July 9, reported on board U. S. ship Portsmouth ; remained here until May 10, 1863, when re- lieved and returned north-an eighteen months' cruise. C. II. T.
* As this regiment had more Surgeons than the United States would muster in, he consented to be sworn in as Hospital Steward at Ariington eights, in June, 1861, rather than be debarred from further usefulness. The regiment had, however, already done its chief work of opening the road to Washington and bridling Baltimore. Young DE PEYSTER continued to get as Assistant Surgeon, and to be rcc gnized as such. He was brevetted Captain New York Vol- unteers for unusual energy, coolness and meritorious conduct at the first Bull Run. When the three surgeons ( folder rank were captured a+ Sudler Church all the wounded and sick (who would otherwise hare been left without medical aid) came under his charge.
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martyrs of the Massachusetts Sixth- blood shed on the anniversary of Lexington-stains not yet washed out by the tropical Spring rains. One of the officers with him was Assistant Surgeon DE PEYSTER, from Red Hook.
The capture or rather bridling of Baltimore (13th and 14th May, 1861), was the initiative military move -. inent at the East. Its triumphant conclusion in the same quarter was the fall and occupation of Richmond (3d April, 1865). Here again Red Hook was in the van, and the " first REAL American FLAG" displayed over the Rebel capitol, wherein for four years the Rebel Congress had deliberated and resolved treason, was hoisted ; by another son of Red Hook. Lieutenant JOHNSTON LIVINGSTON DE PEYSTER, t Aide-de-camp to Major-General GODFREY WEITZEL, Commanding.
AS JOHNSTON L. DE PEYSTER was brevetted Lien- tenant-Colonel before he had attained the age of 19 years, he must have been the youngest officer of that rank in the service.
A very enrious concurrence of circumstances is con- nected with this first display of the American Flag over Richmond, after its evacnation. It was raised on the staff at the west end of the Rebel Capitol. From. this staff, throughont the four years of Rebellion, the State flag of Virginia had floated. This display of the Virginian standard had been kept up as indicative not only of the State Rights of Old Dominion as an inde- pendent sovereignty as regarded the Union, without, i. e., towards the North, but a'so as regarded the Rebel Confederation, to which it had joined its destiny, within, i. e., towards the South and West. The flag of Virginia was not only a signal of defiance hung out against the Stars and S ripes investing Richmond, but towards the mammoth Rebel Confederate Hag which had already been torn down from the staff at the cast end of the traitors' capital. Thus the banner emblazoned with " Sic semper tyran-
t Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel JOHNSTON LIVINGSTON DE PEYSTER, U. S. V. New York Volunteers. Even as an elder brother was among the first to enter the service, the younger was on of the last to eave it. At the earnest rec mmendation of Major-General S. W. CRAW- . FORD. he was promotel to a captainev in the 99th New York Volun- teer Infantry. This regiment was one of the last two New York reg- iments to be mustered out ( Adjutant-General's [ State of New York. ] Report, 1866, 1. 231), on the 6th February, 866. the Third Annual Report of the New York Bureau of Military Statistics (page 319 states that the 20th New York State Militia (or 80th New York Volunteer Infantry) .was "the last regiment o! the 'Army of the Potomac' to lease that field," Virginit. The date of its " muster out." however, is 29th January, 1866. It matters not, however, which was the last to lay aside its militare responsibilities. In both, Red Hook was represented, and well represented. See APPENDIX, " Biographical Sketch," also, H. B. DAWSON'S " The First Flag orer Richmond," or " The Colors of the UNITED STATES first raised over the CAPITOL of the CONFEDERATE STATES. April 3, 1855, Morrisania, N. Y, 1866 ;" HORACE GREELEY'S ." The American Conflict," ii, 737-'8, etc., etc.
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nis," the sentiment misapplied by LINCOLN's parri- ci lal assassin, had waved for nearly four years as the arrogant symbol of an unmitigated and unchangeable expression of the doctrine of State Rights. Accord- ingly, when it was hauled down, and the supplanting Stars and Stripes streamed out distended by the gale, no one who beheld it could misunderstand the inter- pretation. Like a rich jewel, set in a gorgeous frame of ebony and gold, "Old Glory" shone amid the conflagration which filled the air with roar and ruin. It was as clear in its signification as the haud- writing on the wall to the abandoned and doomed BELSHAZZAR. State Rights and Sonthern principles had been weighed in the balance, and had been found wanting ; the might and dominion of slavery had been broken and departed for ever. Babylon the mighty had fallen ! Lucifer, the son of the morning, had been brought low.
·· An end at last ! the echoes of the war- The weary war beyond the western wares- Die in the distance ; Freedom's rising star Beacon- above six hundred thousand graves !"
" The graves of heroes who have won the fight- Who, in the storming of the stubborn town, Have rung the marriage peal of Might and Right, And scaled the cliffs and cast the dragon down."
The first American flag over Richmond was not only the testimony of the total suppression of the "Slaveholders' Rebellion," but of the Nation's tri- umph over Secession, and Nullification State Rights- the Rebel Confederacy.
Before the Rebels tired on Suinter, the Stars and Stripes had been the harbinger of liberty and pros- perity. The Rebel rag had brought with it and upon its supporters, misery and ruin. Now again "Old Glory " floated majestically over the destruction which the substitution of the Rebel ensign had occasioned- over the waste and woe wrought out by the fire and sword, evoked by the South as their chosen arbitrators. The display of our Flag on the 3d April, 1865, in the Capital of Virginia, upon the State flag- staff, was the token of the termination of four years' inexcusable rebellion against the best Government on earth.
From Baltimore to Richmond-to the surrender of LEE and JOHNSTON-Red Hook was alwaysw orthily and numerously represented.
At the first battle of Bull Run. a son of Red Hook, FREDERIC DE PEYSTER. Junior, was present, and dis- charging his duty when the Union rear gnard re- puised the Rebel cavalry like jackalls snapping at the heels of the mishandled, overtasked. wounded and exhausted, but unconquered lion.
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Another officer, who might be said to belong to this district, since for years he commanded its Mi- litia, and drilled many of its men, who afterwards dis- tinguished themselves, was a Major in the 1st Brigade. BLENKER's 5th Division, which covered the Union re- treat at this same first Bull Run.
This officer, WILLIAM P. WAINWRIGHT, bel nred to the 29th New York, whose beautiful BATTLE FLAG was presented by a lady of this vicinity (Miss ESTELLE . ELIZABETH DE PEYSTER), by the hands of the speaker, in their camp near Alexandria, Va., just as the regiment was moving off to the first grand conflict of the war, and onl. a few days before it occurred.
This flag was present in every affair, combat or battle in which that regiment was engaged, and it was returned blackened and torn, but covered with glorious scars, to Tivoli, when the 29th was mustered ... out, 6th June, 1863.
In the crisis of Bull Run, Surgeon DE PEYSTER per- formed a marvellous feat of energy and endurance .. Ile saw the last shots fired which repulsed thar famous mythical Black Horse cavalry in their attempt to pick up prisoners. This was just before our re- serve pickets were withdrawn and our unbroken rear fell back, not beaten, but retiring in obedience to orders. Would that time permitted an exposition of the true history of this battle Our soldiers did not : not lose this battle, nor was the battle necessarily - lost when the Reserve division was withdrawn.
.- Surgeon DE PEYSTER's coolness, courage, prompti- tude and energy won him the commendation and warm remembrance of General BLENKER, of Colonel, - then Major WAINWRIGHT, and of Assistant Surgeon WILLIAMS, Ist N. Y. Artillery. The wounded in the temporary hospital at Centreville, owe what atten- tion they received to Surgeons WILLIAMS and DE PEYSTER and another whose name has never been re- , ported .. They may not remember our Red Hook youth : by name, for all was hurry and confusion-as is almost invariably the case with a retreating army-but they will remember the apparent boy who lavished his attentions upon them with such assiduousness.
Returning homeward on horseback after being mus- tered out, he followed the Old Post R ad along the . Hudson, and, in the mountains of Putnam County was overtaken by night and an almost tropical temd . pest. He soon lost his way in the rain and darkness, and wandering at random, applied at a farm house for shelter. On the plea that no man was at home he was refused admittance by the woman who came. to the doo .. He then requested permission to harbor in the barn until daylight ; the woman conceded a re- reluctant consent, more by silence than by words. In
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the barn then the young officer lay down on the straw beside his faithful gray which had carried him over 80 miles on half a feed to and from the famous Stone Bridge, over the red Bull Run. Wet, worn out and hungry he soon fell asleep. A short time afterward he was roughly awakened and saw a man standing over him with a lantern. "Are you a Union sol- dier ?" were the first words addressed to himn. ' Yes, I am, and I am on my way home from the battle on the Potomac." "" If you are a Union sol- dier." said the brute, doubtless a good peace demo- crat, "you cannot harbor here." Little more passed between them. The owner would neither furnish lodging for money nor concede a shelter for love of country or respect for the National uniform ; forth the young man had to go and wander on in the rain and darkness until daylight. Then be found the road wlach brought him chilled and half famished into Cold Spring.
It is a pity that the name of this Putnam County sympathizer with the Rebellion cannot be made known. The officer could furnish no clue, for few dis- tricts are rougher and wilder than the one he, a per- fect stranger to had traversed amid the darkness and storm. It was not likely that a man who had acted ao meanly and inhospitably would tell the story of his own shame. This incident, however, demonstrates what numerous examples afteward proved, that there was a party at the North perfectly worthy of affilia- tion with the Southern chivalry and as ready as the latter to do all the evil that they dared do to a Northern soldier.
Previous to the month of Angust, 1862, volun- teering in the town of Red Hook was only the result of individual, patriotic impulse. It was exceptional. This renders the enlistments in the Spri g of 1861 the more remarkable, inasmuch as they were the re- sult of mere energetic thought and action. Conse- quently, they are the more worthy of attention and record ; just as in epidemics, the first scattering or sporadic cases are always the most violent and fatal, and, therefore, the more deserving of careful remem- brance.t
That this Town did not furnish a Wing of a Regi- thent, or at least several Companies in the Spring and
; From the records of Justice FREDERIC H. BURNETT, Madalin, very imperfect but the best accessible, Red Hook furnished, 1861, April, noted, 18 Volunteers; August, 34, when the 20th New York State Militia went out :. s the 80th New York Volunteers; September, 24 ; October, 4; November, 1 ; December, 1 ; 1862, May, 1 ; June, 1; August; 32 (during this month the first War Meeting was held at Madalın, and the result shows the benefit of such Convocations) or, according to another account. 69; September, 41 ; October, 4; 1863, January, 3; February, 1; April, 1 ; September, prior to draft, 3.
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early Summer of 1861, was more owing to SEWARD'S Ninety days' war Prediction, and the erroncons calcu- lation of those in authority, than to the fault of the leading patriotic men of Red Hook. An offer of three picked regiments from the Counties of Duchess and Columbia was made to President LINCOLN lini- self. at the White House, by the Speaker. in May, - 1861. These regiments were to have been officered by the first men of our Senatorial District. The Colonel suggested for the Is: was WILLIAM P. WAINWRIGHT, of Rhinebeck. in May, 1861, Major 29th New York Volunteers, then Lieutenant Colonel 54th New York Volunteers, then Colonel 76th New York Volunteers. The Colonel of the 2nd was to have been CHARLES S. WAINWRIGHT, of Rhinebeck. 12th November. 1861. Major 1st June, 1862, Colonel 1-t Morgan N. Y. Light Artillery .. JAMES MULFORD, of Hudson, my dear and valued friend, was designated Colonel of the 3rd. He was formerly Lieutenant Colonel of the 22ml N. Y. S. M., and Assistant Adjutant-General, S. N. Y., in the Winter of 1855. It is scarcely possible to doubt that he owed his death to his untiring efforts in as-i-t- ing Colonel DAVID S. COWLES to complete the organ ization of the 43d (?) New York Volunteers. Colonel MULFORD finally fell a victim, after months of indis- position. to typhoid fever in the Fall of 1861.
The rejection of this offer, when related to the vet- eran General MANSFIELD, who fell at Antietam, it called forth his indignant remark, that if the war authorities pursued such a policy the Rebels could not be kept South of the Potomac.
The months of August and September. 1861. wit- nessed quite a lively movement i this Town. When, . . on the 25th of October, the 20th New York State Militia returned to the field as the 80th New York - Volunteer Infantry, Company B comprised twenty- five young men from Tivoli. Madalin, and their vicinity, besides others in Company A and dispersed throughout the organization .. This constitutes one of Red Hook's three representative regiments. As they will be re- ferred to more at length hereafter, in an appropriate place, let us resmne the consideration of individuals who went out tror our midst, rose to high rank, and survived.
While thins our sons and brothers were stemming the tide of battle on the land. another from Red Ilook was assisting to maintain the honor of the Flag in the Gulf and upon the Mississippi's flood. This was CHARLES HENRY TILLOTSON, belonging to a race connect- ed with the glories of the war of 1812. As Aide to Cap. tain Swarnorr. of the Portsmouth, he participated in that " River Fight," which will live in naval story
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while navies ride the waves. With FARRAGUT "the Peerless," he assisted in that fearful combat which forced the passage of those forts which were deemed the impassable barriers of the ascent to New Orleans. When our unequalled sea-chief, who, in himself, united the highest qualities of Holland's RUYTER, Gaul's DU QUESNE, and England's NELSON-that tri- minvirate of maritime skill, audacity and valor-had overcome the opposing batteries and fleets, and made the Crescent City once more the property of the Nation, young TILLorsox volunteered on board the Tennessee, to ascend the Mississippi and carry stores to our army and navy above, which were descending and vanquishing he upper river defences of the Rebels. After a varied service in the Gulf and River he re- turned home, enjoying the prond satisfaction of hav- ing been one of the heroic band who were with FAR- RAGUT when he smote the Rebellion in the far South- west by sea and by shore.
The Fall and Winter of 1861 and 1862 were barren of laurels in the Army of the Potomac, but they were prolific in hardships. During this menacing lull there were scores of our citizens scattered through the vari- ons regiments which composed it. Several belonged to that famous NEW JERSEY BRIGADE which Major (then Brigadier-General) PHILIP KEARNY drilled into a phalanx of iron. Others enlisted in the popular PEO- PLE'S ELLSWORTH AVENGERS (Forty-fourth New York Volunteers), which belonged to the brigade conmand- ed by General DANIEL BUTTERFIELD, and a magnificent brigade it was. I saw it parade on a dark and dreary November afternoon in 1861, and in all my military observations, which have been very extensive, I never saw a more stalwart or more soldierly body of men. General BUTTERFIELD'S Senior Aide-de-camp was . ROBERT L. LIVINGSTON. brother of Mrs. JOHNSTON LIV- INGSTON, of Tivoli. This handsome officer continued to serve with credit and fidelity throughout all the sub- sequent operations of the Army of the Potomac, throughout the Peninsular Campaign, and the con- cluding battles under that enigma PorE, at Antietam, and at Fredericksburg (first). After this last battle, severe illness, incurred in the field. compelled him. to leave the service, but not until he had proved himself on many an occasion a galiant and energetic soldier.
While the Army of the Potomac was still lying in the mud of its Winter quarters at Washington, another youth of Red Hook-J. WATTS DE PEYSTER. Jnnr .- left the Law School of Columbia College, and took a prominent place in its ranks as volunteer aide-de-camp to his cousin General PHILIP KEARNY. He was with that impetuous commander when he struggled through
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the April mire to occupy the Rebel works at Manassas Junction. Among the troops who led the way upon this occasion was our first representative regiment. Twentieth New York State Militia. As it had been among the first to volunteer. so again it was among the first to move at the first opportunity. and even so it was always among the foremost and staunchest in every subsequent operation unto the very last day of its protracted career.
General KEARNY, whom Lientenant-General ScorT pronounced the " bravest man he ever knew, and the best soldier." subsequently declared, a few days after the battle of Fair Oaks, that his young " aide was as brave as himself, and an excellent officer, and a very correct young gentleman." In his report of Williams- burg, the bloodiest battle, perhaps, of the whole war, as regards the troops actually engaged, KEARNY men - tioned. "my volunteer aide Mr. WATTS DE PEYSTER bore himself handsomely in this his first action." Re- warded with the commission of first lieutenant in SCOTT'S 900 CAVALRY, Colonel, now Brigadier General SWAIN, Engineer in Chief S. N. Y., certified that he had "occasion to notice and appreciate his zeal, in- telligence, faithfulness, and integrity." " I had occa- sion," he added. " afterwards to regret his promotion to another regiment as a loss to the company which he commanded in my regiment, for I felt that with experience, which he was rapidly acquiring, he would have been one of the best of cavalry officers."
Promoted to a majority in the First New York (MORGAN) light artillery, he joined his command at Harrison's Landing and was present with his batteries during the famons night attack of 31st July. 1862. Thence stricken with malarial fever, he managed to re- turn home before he succumbed. For four months it was a struggle between life and death, and it was only in the Spring of 1863 that he was again able to take the field. At the battle of Chancellorsville or Freder- icksburg second, he was chief of artillery of the Third Division, SEDGWICK'S, Sixth Corps. Brigadier-General A. P. HowE. Commanding Division, wrote under date 15th May, 1863. " Major DE PEYSTER was with my division in the actions fought on the 3d and 4th inst ... and it gives me pleasure to say to you that he acquitted himself with honor."
Finally, it is no more than just to cite the language of " FIGHTING JOE". HOOKER in regard to this young officer. who received his baptism of fire under his eyes at Williamsburg : "Permit me to recommend Major J. W. DE PEYSTER for promotion to the brevet rank of lientenant-colonel. Major DE PEYSTER entered the service as an aide-de-camp to Major-General KEARNY,
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and was greatly distinguished for gallautry and good conduet at the battle of Williamsburg. Subsequently he served under me at the battle of Chancellorsville. where he was no less remarked for his coolness and courage, and is, in my judgment, eminently deserving the distinction requested for him."
Lieutenant-Colonel DE PEYSTER never recovered from the effects of the fever, and he was honorably discharged as of date 14th August, 1863.
Another son of Red Hook next in regular order of events, played a conspicuous part in suppressing the " Slaveholders' Rebellion, " Lovis LIVINGSTON, youngest surviving son ot Hon. JOHN S. LIVINGSTON, of Tivoli. Appointed additional Aide-de-camp U. S. Army, with the rank of captain, he was assigned as senior aide to Brigadier-General, afterward Major-General S. W. CRAWFORD. of Pennsylvania. At Antietam, his first battle, his courage was so conspicuous that he received the brevet of major; and at Gettysburg, the decisive battle of the war, he is said to have accompanied his general leading a decisive charge, for which he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel. I have seen a letter in which his general attested his gallantry in the warmest and most flattering language. In this charge General CRAWFORD and his aide, Captain Louis LIVINGSTON, were the only two mounted officers in front of the line and were exposed to a double d .nger, from the fire of the excited troops following, as well as from that of the opposing Rebel force. General CRAWFORD distinguished himself on this occasion by emulating the example of the famous Archduke CHARLES at Aspern, carrying the ban er of the First Pennsylvania Reserves, which was pierced and torn with bullets. just as the. Austrian commander excited the conrage of his troops by seizing and bearing forward the colors of ZACH's veteran Austrian grenadiers.
This brings me in the regular order of events to September. 1862.
Red Hook may be sa d to have had three representa- tive regiments in the field. The first. the Twentieth, I have already alluded to ; the second was the One Hun- dredand twenty-e ghth New York. In the color com- pany, C. of this regiment 21 of our townsmen were pres- ent. This, one of the very first to volunteer. was one of the very last regiments from New York in the United States service. The third was the One Hundred and Fiftieth New York infantry. Its adjutant, STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER C'RUGER * was another of Red Hook's heroic young men. He went out as First Lieu-
* A more detailed notice of this officer, likewise of Sergeant T. B. PAULMIER and Corporal PETER W. FUNK. all of hed Hook, will ap- pear in the Appendix.
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tenant of Company F. but was its actual com- mander at Gettysburg. Subsequently transferred to the staff, he acquired the confidence not only of his immediate superiors, but of all the Generals with whom he came in contact, officially. After partici- pating in SHERMAN's famous march. he returned in command of Company A. In giving an account of the services of this (his) regiment (150th New York Volunteers ). Colonel. now Brigadier-General ALFRED B. SMITH. of Poughkeepsie, bore ample testimony to the merit of young CRUGER. Ile remarked: "Among the wounded at the battle of Ressaca. 14th-15th May, 1864. w s our noble Adjutant. now Brevet Lientenant-Colonel, STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER CRU- GER (now Brevet Major U. S. Volunteers. Lieutenant- Colonel New York Volunteers), who was every inch a man and a soldier of the highe t qualities. He was beloved by all. and maintained the brightest record for bravery fortitude and all the qualities that go to make up a man. His wounds were pronounced mortal, but, owing to his irreproachable mode of life and unimpaired constitution. he recovered and re- joined us at Atlanta. thence marched with us to the coast, and. through Richmond and Washington. home." This young officer. aged 20, belonged to the Upper District of Red Hook. It is a pleasant thought for those who are connected with him, to feel that his native town was in him so ably, bravely and worthily represented. Although our immediate vicinity was not numerously represented in this organization, it included many volunteers from the town of Red Hook, but principally from the Lower District. One young man of 25, JOHN McGILL, of Upper Red Hook. made for himself an honorable record. Two weeks after his enlistment (Ist October, 1862), he was made a sergeant (15th October). On the 29th July. 1864, he was promoted to be first or orderly sergeant, and. for meritorious conduct, he was commissioned second lieutenant Company B (30th November). with rank from 6th September, 1864.
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