USA > New York > New York County > Governor's Island; its military history under three flags, 1637-1913 > Part 6
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* The Veteran Corps of Artillery nearly a century after this event in- stituted relations with Governor's Island of a more peaceful character. (v. p. 150).
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PERIOD OF THE WAR OF 1812
the hulk was perceived to be on fire. This was caused by the hot shot fired by Colonel Curtenius' Regiment, which were heated in a travelling forge attached to the Brigade. The re- sult of the firing was as follows:
NO. OF SHOTS.
EFFECTIVE.
MISSED.
Castle Williams
30
27
3
Castle Clinton
40
36
4
The Artillery V. C. A.
and others
314
254
60
384
317
67
The military activity of the regular forces on Governor's Island at this period was reflected in the atmosphere of ex- pectation that prevailed throughout the City. In every walk of life there was but one theme of conversation, and the various armed organizations, whether shooting long nines or smoking churchwardens, were parati ad bellum. Even the fashionable restaurants of the day were redolent of war, as we judge from the description of the Shakespeare Tavern, which was one of a number of similar establishments.
The Shakespeare Tavern was situated at the southwest cor- ner of Fulton and Nassau Streets. It was here that the Vet- eran Artillery Corps had their holiday dinners, although it also dined, as it does to this day, at Fraunces' Tavern, on occasions of ceremony.
The Shakespeare was kept by one Hodgkinson and it was adorned in 1815 by a great sign of Columbia and Britannia with joined hands and an olive branch and the words, "Forgive and Forget."
Over the Eagle were draped the American colours and over the Lion was the shield of Great Britain. Over all were the names of our Commissioners, Adams, Bogart, Gallatin, Clay and Russell, and the word "Peace," with intertwined flags.
The decorations thus described were added to the other at- tractions of the Tavern at the establishment of peace, which was officially announced in the following orders :
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HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
General Orders.
ADJT. GEN. OFFICE, 3D MILITARY DISTRICT, NEW YORK. Feb. 6th, 1815.
* * * *
A Martial Salute will be fired tomorrow from Gover- nor's Island in honor of the Glorious Victory obtained over the enemy at New Orleans on the 8th January by the troops under Major Gen. Jackson.
This order was followed by a Gen. order, Feb. 20, reciting that a Treaty of Peace had been signed between the United States and Great Britain at Washington on Feb. 17th, and ordering a Martial Salute to be fired at noon on Feb. 21st from Governor's Island and all posts from Sandy Hook to the forts at Harlem, the Salutes to be followed by a "Feu de joie" and an "Extra Ration of Liquor to be offered to the troops to drink the glorious termination of an honorable War." It was also ordered that Feb. 25th should be "passed by the Troops of this Garrison in festivity and rejoicing and in the evening an illumination of the officers' Quarters and Barracks and Guard House to begin at dusk and to continue till 9 o'clock. At half after 7 o'clock in the evening "18 rockets will be discharged from the castle under the direction of the Artillery Quarter Master."
That War was over and Peace assured may be gathered from the following Orders relative to details generally neg- lected under war conditions :
Artillery Orders.
FORT COLUMBUS, 14 March, 1815.
A long standing Genl. Order regulating the cut of Hair & Whiskers has for some time past been too little attended to and there appear in the ranks as many fashions with regard to this part of the dress as there are kinds of men. There may be some excuse for these irregularities in new- raised Regts., but it ought to be expected that so old and respectable a corps of the Army as the Artillery would set the example of neatness. *
At the next weekly inspection every non-Com officer and Soldier will appear with his whiskers trimmed off in
76
PERIOD OF THE WAR OF 1812
a line from the tip of the ear to the bottom of the nose and the Hair cropped, and it is expected that Officers of Companies will set the example.
By order- CHAS. ANTIIONY, Adj. Corps Artillery.
It is interesting to compare with these Orders of 1815 the following Orders on the same subject thirty-three years later at the close of the Mexican War:
Genl. Orders No. 35
WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, July 6, 1848.
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America announcing the termination of the War with Mexico.
(Here follows the Treaty)
(Here follow directions as to discharge of officers and men of the ten additional Regiments, of the Volunteer troops, Recruits, &c., in 10 paragraphs.)
Paragraph No. II is as follows :
II. The hair to be short, or what is generally termed cropped: the whiskers not to extend below the lower tip of the ear, and a line thence with the curve of the mouth : Moustaches will not be worn (except by Cavalry regi- ments) by officers or men on any pretence whatever. (Army Regulations, page 215.)
The non-observance of the above regulation (tolerated during the war with Mexico) is no longer permitted. It is enjoined upon all officers to observe and enforce the regulation.
By order of the Secretary of War.
R. JONES, Adjt Genl.
La Scott 1847
CHAPTER IV.
MEXICAN AND CIVIL WAR PERIOD.
The Mexican and Civil Wars were so far removed geo- graphically from New York that the activities of the Gover- nor's Island Garrison were naturally of a different nature from those in the stirring times of the Revolution of 1776 and of the lesser War of 1812. This period may therefore be passed over more briefly in order not to prolong unduly our story.
In 1847 the Ist New York Volunteer Infantry was mustered in on Governor's Island, Colonel Ward Burnett, a graduate of West Point, commanding. After gallant service in Mexico the Regiment returned to New York and their colours were preserved for many years in the Governor's Room in the City Hall. In 1907 they were presented to Governor's Island by the City and with imposing military and ecclesiastical cere- monies were installed in the chapel of Saint Cornelius the Cen- turion, where their tattered remnants now hang. A dozen or more survivors of the Mexican War participated in the cere- monies. The history of the colours which follows is taken from the official tablet accompanying the flags upon their re- moval from the City Hall.
HISTORY OF THE COLORS OF THE
IST N. Y. REGIMENT-MEXICAN WAR.
The First Regiment of New York Volunteers in the Mexican War was presented with a stand of Colors on January 8th, 1847, by the City of New York. The Colonel of the Regiment, Ward B. Burnett, received the Colors personally, part of the Regiment having sailed for Mexico before the date of presentation. The flags were received by the Regiment when the first parade took place after the presentation, on the Mexican Island of Lobos about sixty miles north of Vera Cruz where the fleet con-
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MEXICAN AND CIVIL WAR PERIOD
taining the army assembled. The officers of the Regiment were called to the front and centre, where they formed a circle about the Colors. Each officer placed his left hand on one of the staffs, raised his right hand, and took a solemn oath under the direction of Colonel Burnett to protect the flags with his life blood. The Colors consisted of two flags and two guide colors, one the national flag and the other a red flag with the coat of arms of the City of New York on one side and the coat of arms of the State on the other. The red flag was the first over the inner wall of the Castle of Chapultepec, on the morning of September 13th, 1847. Color Sergeant Hipolite Dardon- ville carried the red flag. Orderly Sergeant Robert M. Harper, of Company D, supported him on one side and Ist Lieutenant Francis E. Pinto supported him on the other. All went over the wall together. The Regiment took an active part in the siege and capture of Vera Cruz, the storming of Cerro Gordo Pass, the taking of the City of Puebla, the battle of Contreras and Churubusco, where Color Sergeant Romein was killed, the storming of the Castle of Chapultepec, where Color Guide Zimmerman was killed inside of the inner wall of the Castle, and the capture of the City of Mexico. The Regiment belonged to the Ist Division that entered the City at daybreak of the morning of September 14th, 1847.
Four cannon, 24 pdr. bronze howitzers, are mounted at the steps of the Chapel leading from the nave into the choir. The inscription on each of these cannon, which are used to carry chains across the choir, is as follows:
Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco, Chapultepec, City of Mexico, 1847.
A letter from Captain Hungerford to George W. Morton, Esq., New York, gives some additional data in regard to this distinguished Regiment, mustered in on Governor's Island and memorialized by the exhibition of their Colours in the Chapel. It may be mentioned in this connection that Veterans of this Regiment come occasionally to look upon their old
79
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
colours and at the cannon mounted below them inscribed with the names of the battles in which they served. The letter follows :
CITY OF MEXICO-HALLS OF MONTEZUMA.
Decr 7", 1847.
The 2d Regt New York Volunteers in the Mexican War (known later as the Ist New York) were at Churu- busco with 300 men, 2 companies being on detached ser- vice.
The Regiment lost in killed and wounded 115. At Chapultepec the Regiment was the first to enter the works, carrying our colours, and the National standard was the first that took the breeze over Chapultepec. The flag of the Empire State was displayed from the balcony of the building (City Hall?) the Colour Sergeant not being able to find the passage leading to the top of the building.
The colours are in a very tattered condition, the National ensign in particular having only part of the Union and a little fringe left. This is reasonably supposed to be the state in which they were brought back from Mexico, as they have been preserved since 1847 in a glass case in the Governor's Room, New York City Hall.
Another interesting reminder of the Mexican War to be seen in the Chapel is a large oil painting, a Pieta, which was once the property of Colonel Thomas Staniford. The brass plate underneath recites that the "painting is donated as a memorial to the widow of the late Doctor N. S. Jarvis, U. S. A., Jennie B. Jarvis, a noble and faithful servant of God, identified with the Army for a period of over 70 years, who died May 26, 1907." Colonel Staniford was a veteran of the War of 1812, and was distinguished for gallantry and good judgment in the Florida and Mexican Wars. He served on Governor's Island in the 30's.
The Votive Shield in the Chapel referred to on p. 148 recalls the dramatic sinking of the San Francisco in 1853.
80
VETERAN ARTILLERY CORPS-CHURCH PARADE-1912.
MEXICAN AND CIVIL WAR PERIOD
In November and December, 1853, the Headquarters, Band and Companies, A. B. C. D. G. H. I. K. and L. of the 3rd Ar- tillery, about 300 officers and men, were on Governor's Island awaiting orders for station on the Pacific Coast.
They sailed for San Francisco via Cape Horn on December 22, 1853, on the "San Francisco," a side wheel steamer of 3000 tons, Captain James T. Watkins. There were 740 per- sons on board. Before leaving they had placed in the Gover- nor's Island chapel an heraldic shield with the name of the organization and date of their being here, little thinking of the way in which they were to return to their station. The "San Francisco" almost at once ran into heavy weather which soon became a tornado, and at 9 A. M. on December 24th a huge wave swept everything from the upper deck, including the main cabin, and carried with it about 175 persons who had taken refuge there. The brig "Napoleon," too small to render practical assistance, carried news of the wreck to Boston. The Government at once sent vessels to the rescue, and the survivors, nearly 600 persons, were taken off the "San Fran- cisco" by the American Ship "Antarctic," the American bark "Kilby" and the British ship "Three Bells." The boats of the vessel were swept away by the sea and her fires were put out and she soon sprang a leak. The soldiers and other passengers rendered aid by manning the pumps and jettisoning the cargo. Lieutenant L. K. Murray, U. S. N., a passenger on the "San Francisco," set a splendid example of heroism.
The "Kilby" took her rescued people to Boston. The "Antarctic" proceeded to Liverpool, where the survivors of the wreck were not allowed to land and after long delay they were returned to New York. The survivors of the "Three Bells" were more fortunate, being landed at New York Janu- ary 13th, 1845, three weeks after the disaster.
The return of the survivors to Governor's Island is de- scribed by the son of a 3rd Artillery bandsman, whose father and mother were on the "San Francisco," as being a thrilling occasion. Visitors to the Chapel will find a second shield
81
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
erected by the survivors of the Regiment "in sorrow and thankfulness." The shield is described with others of the Mexican War period, on p. 148.
The 3rd Artillery at the time of leaving Governor's Island was commanded by Colonel William Gates. His son was lost in the wreck, also the wife of Captain George Taylor. The officers lost were Major John Macrae Washington, Ist Lieu- tenant Horace B. Field, Ist Lieutenant Richard HI. Smith, all of the 3rd Artillery.
PERIOD OF 1861.
"Another interval of pipeclay and monotonous guard duty was succeeded by the stirring times of 1861-65, when Gover- nor's Island became the important depot for the United States. The ancient Castle became the dungeon for Confederate prisoners of war, large numbers being confined there during the war and several executions taking place." Doctor Rob- ertson recalls an interesting event of 1863. During the draft riots of that year the troops stationed on Governor's Island were guarding the Sub-Treasury in Wall Street. Their ab- sence was seized by the rioters as a time for attacking the Island and capturing ammunition, rifles and stores. The City authorities, hearing of this movement, withdrew all ferry-boats from their slips. The rioters, however, secured other boats and soon were on their way to the Island. Eighty employés of the Ordnance Department hurriedly armed themselves with muskets, trained some cannon on the invaders and succeeded in repulsing the attack. At various periods of the Civil War large bodies of troops were encamped on Governor's Island going to and returning from the front. On one occassion seven regiments were encamped here at one time and an eye- witness has described to the author the stirring events of those days and the inspiring scene from the glacis when this large body of troops was formed for retreat.
A Hospital was erected at this period. The middle wing survives in the present Dept. Hdqrs. Bldg., the school build-
82
MEXICAN AND CIVIL WAR PERIOD
ing, printing office and Hospital Steward's quarters repre- senting various wards. The Castle was crowded with prison- ers during the Civil War. Chaplain McVickar, who began his chaplaincy in one war and ended it in another, with the visitation of Cholera in 1849 between the two, had much to do with and for these prisoners of War. Bishop Whittingham of Maryland writing to him in 1861, says: "I am greatly pleased to find how thoroughly you had anticipated all that I wished to ask you about your work in the Port of New York."
The Castle is still (1913) used as a Military Prison. The stone magazines at the gate have been taken down to provide place for a much-needed guard house, which is being built of the same material just inside the main gate.
A picture in Harper's Weekly (May, 1861) shows troops drilling on Governor's Island near the Administration Build- ing. A view of the courtyard of the Barracks discloses a fence around the centre of the enclosure.
The book records on file in Washington of Fort Columbus at this period are as follows: Record of Convalescents, Strag- glers, etc., Union Forces, Received and Forwarded, 1863, 1864, 1865, and Record of Deserters and General Prisoners confined 1865-1870. To transcribe these would be hardly warranted by the scope of this book. An incident of April, 1865, throws light upon the use of the Castle for prisoners of war, of whom there were sometimes 1,000 confined at one time.
The account was written lately in connection with the elec- tion of the hero of this incident, William Robert Webb, as United States Senator from Tennessee.
"Three days before the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, in April, 1865, a young Confederate officer, William Robert Webb, was held as a prisoner of war in the stockade about Castle Williams on Governor's Island. He had been brought North from Virginia only one day before. Webb could look over the stockade toward the lower end of Manhattan, and could see the city easily. Although he had been so badly in-
83
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
jured that he could not march with the infantry, and had changed to the cavalry arm, he seemed to see only the city wharves, and not the four hundred yards of water in the channel between. After dark he climbed the stockade and slipped from the wall into the bay.
"The chill of early April was still in the water. In spite of it, Webb swam across to a point just below Castle Garden now the Aquarium, and lifted himself upon the dock. He wore a faded Confederate uniform, and found himself enjoy- ing the doubtful freedom of a hostile city clad in this garb and wringing wet. A citizen spoke to him in Battery Park.
"'Who are you?' he said. 'How did you come to fall in?'
"'I swam across from the Island,' Webb answered. I, escaped from the prison stockade over there. I am Capt. Webb of the Confederate army.'
"The citizen laughed and passed on. There with the lights of the prison twinkling just across the channel several other loungers and passers-by asked Webb the same questions and got the same answer.
"Webb stayed in the city for three days wearing his uniform and telling every one who asked for his story the plain truth. Doubtless if the war had gone on for some time, he might have been retaken. As it was, he went free."
Webb was Captain and Adjutant of the 2nd North Carolina Cavalry.
Another amusing escape from the Castle related by a con- temporary was that of a Confederate soldier who in some way managed to get out of a gate just as the sentry had passed. He ran as far as he could while the sentry was on the beat. Just before the sentry turned the prisoner also turned and boldly approached the main gate. The sentry, perceiving him, ordered him peremptorily away from the Castle, stating that visitors were not allowed to come near the gate, an order that coincided remarkably with the views of the Southern tourist who carried it into instant effect and did not return.
The inscription on the Castle, not often seen because of the
84
MEXICAN AND CIVIL WAR PERIOD
overgrowth of vines, is the name Castle Williams carved on a keystone over the main gate with graceful flourishes. To the left on a large block of stone are the words
Commenced and to the right, in the Compleated 1807 spelling of the day, 18II
The guns, except those on the parapets, were removed in 1893.
7
.
CHAPTER V.
GARRISON EVENTS AND NOTES, 1868-1913.
In this chapter various data of more or less importance are cited to throw light upon the life of the Garrison.
Governor's Island remained an Artillery post till 1850, then it was a Recruiting Depot till 1878, when it became Division Head Quarters with an Artillery Garrison. In 1894, the Gar- rison became an Infantry one and so remains.
The following brief extracts are taken from the Medical History of the Post by Surgeons Page and Elbrey, 1866:
Sea wall built at S. W. side of Island-1868-July, Mean strength of the Garrison in this month-618 men.
1870-August-172 cases of yellow fever-Troops in camp -drills omitted.
1869-The Music Boys being too crowded in South Bat- tery, half their number went into camp, wall tents being used. 1870-September-yellow fever-66 cases.
The S. E. portion of the Island appears the most infected. In one set of quarters 21 were sick out of 22. In another, 33 out of 40. This part of the Island was quarantined from the rest. The caretaker in the Chapel stricken with the disease- removed to hospital.
October-Total number of cases of yellow fever, 131. Patients transferred to West Bank Hospital, 10 miles down the Bay. Many died as result of transfer. Chaplain Alex- ander Davidson caring for soldiers, takes the disease and dies.
1871-March-Buildings in which yellow fever existed torn down.
In 1868 the barracks in Fort Jay were as now, but the one on west side was used for Officers' Quarters. The officers' quarters were divided on either side of the sally port into two parts by a hall, on each side of which were communicating rooms, 16 rooms in all and 8 kitchens reckoned for 8 sets of quarters.
86
GARRISON EVENTS AND NOTES, 1868-1913
From Circular No. 8, Surgeon Generals' Office, by Surgeon J. J. Millan we learn some details as to buildings on the Post. The building now used as Administration Building was at one time a Court Martial and billiard room and was used occasionally for dances. This is the long building just east of the Main Fort. The Q. M. Row, near Corbin Hall was built in 1871. This Row contains 19 quarters for families of employés. On the site of the present Chapel stood a frame building used for band quarters, later for Post Library and later still as residence for the Boat Captains. In 1905 when the Chapel was built it was removed to a position near the Quartermaster's Office and stables.
This building at one time was the Garrison Library and contained a fine collection of books. The first floor was used for school purposes ; the second floor for the library. It was burned in 1869 and the books were destroyed.
The first cemetery was near the present Colonel's Row ; the second was near the old Chapel. The victims of the yellow fever and cholera were buried here. The iron fence that sur- rounded this graveyard stands now behind the General's Row on the Lower Road. The Pest House stood near the present Colonel's quarters, Regimental Row. The present hospital was built about 1878. No interments were allowed in the Cemetery after 1878 and in 1886 the remains were re- moved to the National Cemetery, Cypress Hills, Brookyn.
A few years ago (1907) remains were found during ex- cavations for repairs at one of the quarters in Colonel's Row. This discovery recalled the site of the first Cemetery estab- lished on Governor's Island. There is no known record of its date, and it is quite possible that the British used it during their occupation, 1776-1783, as war conditions would make it difficult to establish one elsewhere.
Governor's Island was visited by epidemics of cholera in 1854, 1857, 1866, 1867 and 1868, and by the yellow fever in 1856 and 1870. These epidemics were general in their char- acter, affecting not only New York but adjacent territory. The fact of the Island's being a Recruiting Station during
87
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
that time serves to explain the failure to quarantine the Gar- rison.
The Hospital was overcrowded with soldiers and the other cases of which there were an enormous number, as noted on p. 86, were treated in the various houses in which they occurred.
The following list of burials, while accurate in detail, prob- ably omits the names of some, especially of those who were transferred to West Bank Hospital during the yellow fever of 1870, and of the prisoners of War, it being believed that more died in confinement than given in the list below :
LIST OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES BURIED ON GOVERNOR'S ISLAND.
DATE OF DEATH
Charles Frye, child. Sept. 27, 1798
Constant Freeman, child. Aug. 5, 1799
Robert Heaton, Jr., Lieut. 2d U. S. Art'y. Oct. 17, 1799 Mildred K. Souder, child. Sept. 6, 1807
James H. Boyle, Major U. S. Art'y Feb. 8, 1816
Helen S. Churchill, child. Sept. 27, 1818
Samuel Armstrong, Lieut. U. S. Art'y. Sept. 8, 1819
Lydia Gates, wife of Major Lemuel Gates. Aprl. 26, 1822 W. J. Page, child. Febr. 10, 1823
James C. DeKamp, status unknown Febr. 29, 1854
Susan J. DeKamp, wife of above Sept. II, 1824
James Mann, Surgeon. Nov. 7, 1843
Eliza F. Brown, child of Capt. H. Brown .June 3, 1835
Julia A. Brown, child of Capt. H. Brown. . Dec. 15, 1836 William Gates, Col. and Bvt. Brig .- Genl., 3d U. S. Art'y. Oct. 7, 1868 Collinson R. Gates, Bvt. Major, 8th U. S. In- June 28, 1849 fantry
Sarah M. Gates, wife of Col. Wm. Gates ..... Oct. 27, 1843
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GARRISON EVENTS AND NOTES, 1868-1913
DATE OF DEATH
Mary Reed Collins Gates, child of Wm. Gates. Dec. 3, 1838 Lydia Bedloe Gates, child of Wm. Gates .. . Febr. 28, 1839
Samuel L. Russel, Capt. 2d U. S. Inf'y. Febr. 26, 1839
James Green, Capt. 2d U. S. Art'y Aug. 17, 1842
Alexander Cummings, Colonel. Jan. 31, 1842
L. M. Shackleford, Lieut. Ist U. S. Art'y. Oct. 12, 1847 H. D. Wallen (Samuel G.), child of H. D.
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