Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 19

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders
Number of Pages: 1384

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890 > Part 19

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One pathetic incident in the examination of Rev. E. W. Reynolds, the eloquent and patriotic Universalist clergyman in Watertown at the time, is worthy of record. He attended the examination, and when Dr. Walker sounded his lungs he quickly said, " Mr. Reynolds, you are clearly unfit for the duties of a soldier." "I know it only too well," replied the clergyman, " for I should have been at the front had I been strong enough. My heart is with the army, and how I wish I could be at the seat of war in this trying hour." The pathos of his touching words drew tears from those present, as he passed out, to die not very long afterwards. These examinations " cleared the rolls " of those who could not render military service on account of plain and permanent physical disabilities, and thus a sound basis for computing the quota of each town was provided.

Substitutes and recruits .- After it became clear to all that extra induce- ments and efforts would be necessary to fill the depleted armies of the Union a system of bounties was hit upon in the towns, whereby a sum of money was raised to pay for volunteers, as an inducement to enlist. Those who were fit for military service were liable to the draft, and many enlisted and took the local bounties, and a bounty the general government offered in addition.

Many also, being of sound body, patriotically furnished a substitute so as to be free from annoyance from the draft, and to be represented at the front by a good soldier, in lieu of personal service. The first bounty generally paid by towns was $300 for three years' men. The supervisors of the towns were active in securing substitutes, and tried hard to fill their quotas without a draft. Canadians came over quite freely, and men were ready to get them a chance to go as a substitute. Some amusing cases of disappointments took place among those seeking a substitute. One instance was well known-that of Elmer Everett, a prominent citizen of Watertown, who, though a staunch Democrat, was not averse to having a colored man fill his place in the army. Through a broker-one who made it a business to bring principal and sub- stitute together-Mr. Everett sent to Montreal and had a colored appli- cant come to Watertown to go in as his substitute. The man reached the city on a Saturday after the office had closed, and Everett secured an order from the provost-marshal to have his man kept in the guard-house until Mon- day morning, at his own expense. Bright and early on Monday Everett brought his man up for medical examination, when, lo, and behold ! it was found that he was suffering from compound hernia. The surprise and dis- gust of Everett can well be imagined in view of the expenses he had already borne in getting the man to Watertown. The colored brother seemed to enjoy the situation immensely, " for," said he, "you knows I's ready to go, boss." It was not pleasant afterwards for any one to inquire of Everett how his colored substitute was getting along. Among the volunteers from Canada were quite a number of deserters from the British force stationed at Kings- ton. A well-known Canadian became somewhat famous for his prophetic

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forecast of coming visitors to the provost-marshal's office, who wore the scarlet uniform of British soldiers. His horoscope of the stars was so fault- less that he frequently foretold to an hour when a squad of deserters would make their appearance. There was one thing, at least, to be said in favor of this man, and that was his perfect fairness in dealing with the Canadian de- serters, who relied upon him for advice. Captain Emerson always made it a rule before enlisting a man to explain to him the amount of bounty he was entitled to receive, and insisted that the money due him should be paid to the recruit in his presence. These deserters made fine soldiers, and as they had no sentiment behind their first enlistment in the British army they gladly availed themselves of a chance to enlist in our army for better pay. Few or none of this class ever deserted from our army and went back to Canada. The writer knew one of these men well. His name was Charles Flemming, and he was a member of Co. A, 35th N. Y. Vols. At the battle of Fred- ericksburg he lost both legs by a cannon shot, and died the next day in hos- pital. He had served in India and in the Crimea, and often declared that he never had seen hotter fighting than he experienced in our regiment. He lies in an unmarked grave within sight of the bloody field on which he re- ceived his death wound. How many thousands-foreigners to our soil-died like Flemming, on the battlefields of our struggle, in helping tread out the heresy of secession amid the horrid havoc of contending armies !

Some of the incidents attending the escape of British deserters from the 47th Regiment of the line at Kingston are worthy of record. The distance between the American shore and Kingston is only some 12 miles, but to most of the soldiers it was an unknown route. Long Island intervened, and guards were thickly stationed on its southern shore to intercept any deserters who might be caught making their way to the American side. For many months during 1863-64 the 9 o'clock evening gun at Kingston was eagerly listened for, as one gun each was fired at that hour for all deserters, in order that the guards might keep a keen watch for them. A party of six deserters from this regiment seized a boat at Kingston late one evening and rowed away around the head of Long Island, intending to land at the light-house on Tibbitt's Point, in Cape Vincent. By some mistake, being strangers to the route, they kept too far to the westward, and after an exhausting tug at the oars, an exercise few of the soldiers were used to, they made land on Grenadier Island, near its eastern point. Seeing a light in the early morning one of their number cautiously approached it, and this proved to be in the house of Abram Cooper, a wealthy farmer, and owner of most of the island. The deserter nervously inquired, " What place is this ; is it in Canada or the United States?" " The United States, and you are all right," was Cooper's cordial greeting, as he took in the situation at a glance. Turning to his comrades, who were anxiously awaiting his report, he shouted, "Come on, boys, we are all safe !" Their delight was unbounded, and happier men never sat down to an ample breakfast than were these weary and hand-blis-

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tered deserters. The next day Mr. Cooper accompanied them to Cape Vin- cent, where quite an excitement was created by their appearance in bright scarlet uniforms. They were splendid fellows, and several officers of their regiment came over in the afternoon to try and induce them to return to their regiment. The citizens made it somewhat uncomfortable for these officers, and the soldiers would not go into any private room for consultation, making the interview very public, with any amount of advice freely inter- spersed by the excited by-standers. The change in the relations between these soldiers and the young martinets, who a few hours before were formal and indifferent to them, was striking. The deserters appreciated it keenly, and curtly refused all the persuasive appeals made to them on the part of the officers. They all at once enlisted in our army. Another party of 10 de- serters crossed over on the ice, following the line of the Long Island Canal. Big Bay somehow bewildered them, and two of the party became exhausted through the heavy walking in the deep snow, and had to be left behind. The others pressed forward, and seeing a light on Carleton Island made for this point. The walk was a long and tiresome one, and they soon found that they had several miles to tramp before they would reach Cape Vincent. Few can realize how bitter cold a walk in the night on the ice in the River St. Lawrence really is, who have had no experience, and when the night is cold, and the distance long, the situation is far from being an agreeable one. On finally reaching the Cape they struck the shore near the engine house, at the railway, and seeing a light, just at the dawn of day, one of them peeped in, much to the surprise of the night watchman. " Is this in the United States?" was his pathetic query. On being assured that he was on Uncle Sam's free soil he called to his half-frozen companions to "Come on," and a grateful coal fire never seemed friendlier to these deserters than on this occasion. The following day they enlisted at Watertown.

The case of a Lowville applicant to have his name struck off the enroll- ment on account of short sightedness was most amusing. He protested stoutly that he could not see 50 yards to distinguish a man from a cow. After a severe examination Dr. Walker became satisfied that his eyes were good, and that the man was shamming. When told that he must stand his chance in the draft he said, " I can't see to fight." "Oh," said the Doctor, " we have had so much running lately in our army that it will be a good thing for one like you to be there so as not to see the enemy and hold your ground."

The tricks tried upon the officers to enable men to get " exempt," or to secure bounties as substitutes when unfit for military duty, covered a wide range of cunning, and it often required the utmost vigilance to detect these brazen-faced frauds. A drafted man in our district was exempt on account of the total loss of his upper teeth. Months afterwards he presented himself as a substitute when the bounties were largest, and, not being recognized in the rush of recruits, he was accepted and sent down to Quartermaster Sim-

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mons, on Court street, to be furnished with a suit of Uncle Sam's clothing. By some mischance he took out his new set of teeth while being clothed, and the quick eye of Special Agent Kirby detected him in the act. After he had put on his uniform he was taken before Captain Emerson-who had been made aware of the facts-for a short drill. "Take off your cap," ordered the captain in a quick, sharp voice. It was promptly done. "Front face !" and he faced to the front looking every inch a soldier. "Take out your teeth," came next, and so unexpectedly that, amid a shout of laughter from those present, he instantly took them out. The Captain sent him before Dr. Walker, with his teeth in his hand, with the request that he be informed how a soldier was to eat hard-tack without his upper teeth ! The Doctor, who had been shrewdly deceived by the man, was in a furious rage, and made it lively for the would-be deceiver. Dr. Walker did not hear the last of this ludicrous incident during his service in Watertown.

Deserters and " bounty jumpers."-There were two classes of deserters who became well known along the northern frontier, bordering on Canada, during the war days of 1862-65. First, there was the "bounty jumper, ' who enlisted with the sole intention of securing a large bounty and then making his escape to Canada, only to reappear at some distant point in the states to repeat the operation. "Jumping the bounty " and " bounty jumpers " described this precious class of rascals in the popular speech of the time. Second, there came the much smaller class who deserted from the front, or while home on furlough, and made their way to Canada, or, as was frequently the case, hired out to farmers on the American side near the bor- der, so as to easily cross into the Dominion in case of danger. The first class named were, as a rule, a bad lot, without patriotism or character, and mere robbers of the bounty paid for the purpose of securing recruits for our army, while many of the second class, returning to their homes along the northern border on furlough, in a moment of weakness, and weary of the dangers and hardships of active service, and not unfrequently suffering from wounds and ill-health, were tempted to make their way across the St. Law- rence into the Queen's dominions. The records of deserters from various New York regiments were sent to the provost-marshal-general at Washington, and through his office transmitted to the provost-marshal of the section in which the original enlistments were made out. It was found that the usual course of a deserter finally led him back to his old home haunts, and there traces of him were most likely to be found.

The record of some of the arrests made in this county will be of interest, as a part of the stirring events of this exciting period, and a few will be given. It may be said in this connection that Jefferson County and the provost- marshal's office in Watertown were regarded as poor places for bounty jump- ers and deserters to conceal themselves or ply their game of fraud, owing to the excellent organization of Captain Emerson's office, and the zeal displayed in bringing all delinquents to justice.

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Information having reached the provost-marshal that several deserters were lurking about in a not distant town. Special Agent Shaw was ordered to take a couple of guards and carriages and seek their arrest. It was a beauti- ful October morning in 1864, and the drive was delightful. By 1 o'clock P. M. two deserters had been arrested, and a third was known to be in the vicinity. The utmost secrecy was necessary, for these men were always on the alert, and took to their heels at the first suspicion of any danger. Most deserters changed their names, and this deepened the difficulties of finding out through inquiries where they were located. In this instance, while a full description of a deserter known to be in the immediate vicinity was in the officer's possession, no trace of him could be found. At last, well along in the afternoon, Officer Shaw sent the guards on to Watertown with the two deserters already secured, and set out in a single carriage to make still further efforts to find the person wanted. By diligent inquiries he got trace of his man, but failed for some time to find out where he was working. While passing a school-house, just as the scholars had been dismissed for the day, a bright lad of seven or eight years of age, with ruddy cheeks and neatly dressed, was asked by the officer if he would not like to ride. He nimbly climbed into the carriage, and was soon on terms of intimacy with the driver. The small boy is always one of the detective's best friends, for what he does not know about a neighborhood and its current gossip is not worth knowing, as a general rule. Under careful questioning the boy was asked if he knew a man by the name of -, the assumed name of the deserter. " Oh, yes," was the prompt reply, " he works for my pa." The officer's horse was given a free rein, and the boy was told that he would be driven home. The house where he lived was situated off the main road on which he was driving about half a mile, and they were soon at the place. Hitching the horse the boy led the way, and luckily the farmer was at home. The officer took the farmer one side and told him the facts. He knew Captain Emerson well, and when assured that his favorite hired man was a deserter his aston- ishment was great. "A deserter !" he repeated, " it cannot be, for he is one of the best men I ever have had on my farm. His young wife works for us also, and they have been here for some weeks. They are very loving and religious people, and there must surely be some mistake about this." He was given to understand that there was no doubt about his identity. "Well," said he, "- is just putting the horses into the stable down under the barn there, and you can soon see whether you are right or not." Walking quietly down to the stable, under the guidance of the alert small boy, the officer had just reached the stable door when - stepped out. " How are you ? " said the official. The deserter stood bewildered for a moment on being called by his real name, but quickly shaking off his embarrassment re- plied, "That's not my name." He was told it was one of his names, as he edged away in the direction of some straw stacks near at hand. The care- less display of a large Colt's revolver by the officer had a magical effect upon

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him, and he retraced his steps saying, " There is some mistake about all this; but what can be done ? " He was informed that he must accompany the officer to Watertown, and at this point liis face was a picture for an artist. The agony of the situation was really painful to witness. "Great Heavens !" he said, " what a mistake you have made. My name is - -, and I know nothing about the army. My wife and I work here, and we have been here for weeks. What can I do?" It was soon made clear to him that he must get ready to go to Watertown, and at once, and placing him in front he was marched to the house from the barn. Here a strangely pathetic scene took place. The farmer, his wife, and the small boy, with the deserter and his wife, met in the dining-room. "What does this mean ?" asked the farmer. " Mean ! " bravely answered

-- , " I don't know. This man declares I am a deserter, and I am now under arrest and must go with him to Water- town. It's all a big mistake." At this point his really very pretty young wife threw her arms about his neck and sobbed as though her heart would break. The farmer's family were all in tears, and the officer looked on not unmoved by the picture of pain before him. For nearly a minute not a word was spoken, and the almost frantic wife clung to her husband as though it was to be her last interview with him before he was shot. Finally he was ordered to hastily make ready to go to Watertown, when he asked to have an oppor- tunity to change his clothes before going away. This request brought its embarrassments, for the officer well knew how great the temptation to bolt out of a window would be, and frankly told him so. It was arranged that the wife should bring his clothing into a closet, with no window, and here, under the range of the officer's revolver, a fitting change in dress was made. This proceeding called forth angry remonstrances from the deserter, who loudly declared that he would " make the officer smart " for such indignities prac- ticed upon an innocent man !

The farmer and his wife were completely overcome and presented a woe- begone appearance. "Why," said the farmer, " -- has always joined in our family prayers, and so has his wife, and nicer Christian people I have never known, to all appearances." He was told that the man was no doubt a deserter, and arrangements were made for the prisoner's wife and their effects to come to Watertown the following day, when " all was to be made clear," to use the deserter's words. "Dear me," replied the farmer, " how unfortunate I am! This is the second deserter who has worked for me this fall." After a leave-taking, mingled with tears and prayers, the officer and the deserter drove off. As soon as the carriage was out of hearing the offi- cer said to the deserter, " What cheek you have got ! You would make a good actor. How could you lie so, looking that good man and his wife square in the face ?" " I'll tell you," was the quick and frank answer ; " the truth is that I could not do otherwise after making them believe I was a Christian man, and kneeling down every day with them at family prayers. I really had not the courage to tell them the truth when you so suddenly

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brought me before them face to face. No, sir, I could n't do it. I am the man you want, and I'm glad you have got me, for I have lived in a hell within myself for months past. Every man I've seen coming across the lots, or down towards the house, has seemed to me to be an officer coming to ar- rest me. Twice when plowing recently I have dropped the lines, ready to run for the woods, before I found out there was no cause for alarm. I'm glad it is over, for I've grown poor under the ever present fear, and now I 'll go back to my regiment and manfully serve out my time. I was a great fool to desert ; but I got married when I came home on furlough, and when they re- fused to grant me a longer furlough I very foolishly took one. It was kind of hard to leave her and go back, and so I told her I had been discharged, for I had been wounded in battle. I went to -'s to work, half resolving I would give myself up and go back to my regiment again. I'm glad I am going back now, and if I don't redeem myself, as a good soldier, when I take my old place, then I don't know myself." The next morning the wife and trunk were brought in, and the farmer-a loyal Republican and a good citizen-found out that his " hired man " had a previous engagement to keep with Uncle Sam. No amount of persuasion, however, would induce . - to see the farmer. He said he " could not bear to have him see what a sneak he had been." This deserter, who was at heart a really good fellow, was sent back to his regiment along with some new recruits, and proved as good as his word in his soldier record.

A second adventure of the same officer took place about the same time on the St. Lawrence, a few miles below Millen's Bay, at Grennell's Island. On the Canadian shore opposite this point quite a little colony of deserters had found work at small pay on farms about the section, and several were in the habit of crossing over the river to pay visits to relatives and friends who met them at the shore. Word having been sent to the provost-marshal Private Payne and Special Agent Shaw were sent to the river to break up the practice, and secure the arrest of some of the deserters if possible. Tak- ing up quarters with a family named Carter, living just across from Gren- nell's Island, the detectives had not long to wait before the wife of a deserter came down and waved a signal to her husband to come across. The detec- tives were concealed in the chamber, and soon saw a small boat put out from the other side. It came over, and just as it struck the beach the offi- cer, pistol in hand stepped forward and ordered the deserter to surrender. He was sitting in his skiff, talking to his wife, so as to be ready for any sur- prise, as was his custom, and the moment he was confronted by the officer he sprang up, and with an oar quickly pushed his boat out beyond reach. Pointing his pistol at the deserter Shaw commanded him to come ashore or he would fire. His wife jumped up and down and shouted " Don't you do it ; don't you do it ; let him shoot you first." She was no coward, and her ringing words had a strange effect upon the now pale-faced deserter-giving him courage, the blind courage of despair, and his wife's stirring words,

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shrieked into his ears, spurred him on in his desperate effort for freedom. Shaw shoved off his boat, and, being a good oarsman, soon gained upon the retreating deserter. The wife kept up her encouraging appeals, while the lady residents of the house on the shore were eager spectators of the comical race taking place before them. The deserter had a small sail to his skiff, and this began to aid him as he pulled out from under the shore. Shaw found that the race was an uneven one under the conditions of oars and sail, and in hastily looking over his shoulder to see how the thing was working, an oar slipped up on the thole-pin, and it bent down, and over went the officer on his back, in the bottom of the boat, with his heels in the air. A shout from the jubilant wife on shore did not add to the officer's feelings, and regaining his feet, in the tottling boat, he shouted that he would shoot if the deserter did not in- stantly surrender. No heed was paid to the summons, and fire was opened upon him in brisk fashion, at less than 100 yards distance. Bullet after bullet, from a heavy Colt's revolver, was sent point-blank at the desperate man, who was row- ing for dear life to get across the river. Each shot went close to the mark, as could be seen as they splashed into the river just beyond him. Six shots were fired, when the chase had to be abandoned, and Shaw returned to the shore, a disgusted and beaten man.

The deserter's wife was on the shore and greeted him with jeers, but a threat that her own arrest might follow silenced her abuse-which was, per- haps, not unnatural under the circumstances. Later in the day a drum and fife was heard across the river, and by the aid of a good glass a gathering of men could be seen there. Early in the evening a neighbor, who had been on the other side, came and told us that an attack was contemplated from the de- serters, who had sworn vengeance on us for our attempt to arrest one of their number. The officer and guard prepared to give them a warm reception in case they should come. Bullets were cut up into slugs so as to make a scat- tering charge, doors and windows were barricaded, and all was made ready for a stubborn defence. The ladies volunteered to go out on picket, but this was not permitted. The drum and fife could be heard plainly for more than an hour, and when darkness came on a sharp outlook was kept for the threat- ened attack. But none came. The night passed with no alarm, and the next day the forces of the United States withdrew.

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 19

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders Number of Pages: 1384

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders
Number of Pages: 1384