USA > New York > New York County > Governor's Island; its military history under three flags, 1637-1913 > Part 7
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Wallen Mar. 22, 1848
Sidney Smith, Lieut. Ist U. S. Art'y. Nov. 6, 1849
B. K. Pierce, Lt .- Col. Ist U. S. Art'y. Apr1. 1, 1850
- Pierce, daughter of above, No date
F. F. - , Lieut. No date
C. B. -, Lieut. No date
William Walters, Capt. M. S. K. .June 27, 1864
Katie Walters, daughter of above June 26, 1860
Ward Miller, child of Lieut. T. E. Miller Sept. 25, 1862
Robert O. Abbott, Col. and Surgeon. . June 16, 1867
T. A. H. Gabel, Lieut. Batn. Major 45th U. S. Infantry Dec. 12, 1868
Bessie Auman, child of Lieut. Auman. Febr. 19, 1875
Joseph Plympton, Col. Ist Inf'y. No date *removed to Woodlawn Cemetery, N.Y.C. S . Nov. 6, 1897 Courtney, child. No date
Thomas B. Weir, Captain 7th U. S. Cavalry. . Dec. 9, 1876 Charles McCormick, Col. and Surgeon U. S. A .. Aprl. 28, 1877
Officers and families.
39
Enlisted men and their families known are. . 169 Enlisted men and their families unknown are ... 191
Military convicts
4
families
60
Total 463
* From National Cemetery, Cypress Hills.
89
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
The reinterment of officers was made in a row on the North side of the Cemetery; of the non-commissioned officers and privates about the middle of the Cemetery, east of the centre line.
Among the stones which were removed from Governor's Island and re-erected in 1878 are two of a fine brown sand- stone, beautifully cut in the ancient style with inscriptions which are given here:
SACRED TO TIIE MEMORY OF WILLIAM MCINTYRE, LATE SERJEANT IN CAPT. RICHARD WHILEY'S COMPANY U. S. REGT. OF ARTILLERISTS, WIIO DEPARTED THIS LIFE MAY THE I2TII I808.
The other is in memory of
-
HIRAM ANDRUS OF CO. F, 4TH REGT. OF U. S. ARTILLERY WHO DIED AT FORT COLUMBUS JULY 10, 1833.
Another of white marble, with a non-commissioned officer's sword and belt carved at the top records the death of
SERGEANT CHARLES HENKE BORN IN DENMARK NOV. 12, 1794 DIED JAN'Y 14, 1872 AGED 78 YEARS- IN THE 50TH YEAR OF HIS SERVICE IN THE U. S. ARMY
90
GARRISON EVENTS AND NOTES, 1868-1913
LIST OF ENLISTED MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES AND CIVILIANS BURIED ON GOVERNOR'S ISLAND.
+
DATE OF DEATH
William McIntyre, Sergt. U. S. Art'y. May 12, 1868
Ann Snelling, child. Oct. 28, 1815
William Patterson, Sergt. Sept. 3, 1826 Catherine Littlefield, wife of Walter Littlefield. Aprl. II, 1829
William Cherrington . July 10, 1830
Adeline M. McGuire, daughter of James Mc- Guire Oct. 3, 1830
John B. Manning
June
2, 1831
Hiram Andrus, 4th U. S. Art'y.
Febr. 10, 1833
Harman L. Hemstreet, Music Boys . Mar. 7, 1833
Douglas Morrison, child. Dec. 19, 1833
May Morrison, child. Dec. 19, 1833 Ann E. L. Morrison. Aug. 27, 1845
Jane Douglass, wife of R. Douglass Mar. 24, 1847
George W. Douglass, child of R. Douglass Mar. 24, 1847
William F. Fried, child. Oct. 31, 1848
Wilhelmina Fried No date
John Fried, Sergt. Co. B, Union Boys Sept. 20, 1865
John Hughes, Sergt. 4th U. S. Art'y. . Jan. 7, 1851
Martha Hughes, wife of John Hughes Mar. 7, 1852 Mary -, "our Mary," child of John
Hughes (supposed) No date
Charles Stanley, Musician. Mar. 18, 1854
Ann Henke, wife of Charles Henke. Sept. 2, 1856
Charles Henke, Sergt. Co. B, Music Boys Jan. 14, 1872 Esther T. Pfefferle, child. .July 28, 1856 Francis Smith Oct. 3, 1856
David L. Walsh, Sergt. . Jan. 9, 1857
Jessie Horan, child. May 15, 1861
91
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
DATE OF DEATH
Ann M. Lowe, child. July 17, 1861
Alexander D. Hoyt, child. May 29, 1861 John B. Pinghard. Feb. 28, 1856 Maria Pinghard, wife of John B. Pinghard. . . May 29, 1862 Bridget Stuart, wife of Sergt. Patk. S. Stuart. Aug. 12, 1868 William R. Stuart, child of Sergt. Patk. S.
Stuart May 5, 1863 Mary J. Stuart, child of Sergt. Patk. S. Stuart. Apr. 28, 1868 Rosanna Stuart, child of Sergt. Patk. S. Stuart . Aug. 22, 1868 Jolın Haintz, Sergt. Ordnance, U. S. A Feb. I, 1864 Julia Haintz, child of John Haintz April 18, 1865
Mary Haintz, child of John Haintz. No date
Fred Haintz, child of John Haintz. Sept. 25, 1870
P. H. Guerin, Sergt. Co. A, Permt. Party, U. S. A. Feb. 23, 1864
Emeline Allen, wife of G. W. Allen Apr. 16, 1864
John Henion, Pv't Co. B, Union Boys . Nov. 21, 1864 William Head, Sergt. Apr. 24, 1865
William N. Head, child of Wm. Head. Nov. 3, 1865
James Casey, Pv't Co. A, Permt. Party, U. S. A. Aug. 13, 1866
Hutchinson M. Howe, Pv't. Co. A, Permt.
Party, U. S. A Sept. 13, 1870
Albert Lagenboner, child. .Jan. 24, 1877
Gustav N. Lagenboner, child Feb. 9, 1877
Hannah M. Kieley . June 12, 1861
Patrick Kieley, child. No date
Giles D. Taylor, child. July 15, 1869
Winford R. Farlie, child. May 18, 1864
George H. Arthur, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A' Aug. 16, 1866
92
GARRISON EVENTS AND NOTES, 1868-1913
DATE OF DEATHI
William Meredith, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. Aug. 5, 1866
John Moore, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Aug. 3, 1866 David Lieberson, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A. . Aug. 8, 1866
James Smith, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Aug. 6, 1866
Thomas Kelly, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Aug. 5, 1866 Patrick Riley, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. July 28, 1866 Rudolph Kaimer, Mus. Co. B, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A. . July 20, 1866 Charles McKoon, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . July 15, 1866
Robert Wolf, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Aug. 4, 1866 Herbert Dailey, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A. .July 21, 1866 Elias Morris, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . July 24, 1866 John McHugh, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A. . July 25, 1866 Thomas Wheeler, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . July 30, 1866
Thomas Martin, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
Isaac J. Robinson, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A. . July 30, 1866 U. S. A. July 28, 1866
Peter Glandon, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. July 16, 1866 James Connors, Prisoner . July 15, 1866
Francis King, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . July 13, 1866 John McMahon, Pvt. Co. B, Gen. Serv., U. S. A . July 18, 1866
John McColgan, Mus. Co. B, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A.
. July 20, 1866
93
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
DATE OF DEATH
Lawrence Broderick, Mus. Co. B, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . July 20, 1866 Frederick W. Johnson, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. .July 21, 1866 Alexander Wise, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . July 19, 1866
Henry Wier, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. July 31, 1866 George Rixford, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A . July 26, 1866 David Ewing, Prisoner Co. B, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . Aug. 3, 1866 David Forney, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Sept. 28, 1866 Fritz Mathisson, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A. Aug. 18, 1866 Daniel Dunford, Mus. Co. B, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. July 20, 1866
Francis Lurst, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A. Aug. II, 1866 Monroe McKelsey, Pvt. Co. C, Permt. Party, U. S. A . Aug. 7, 1866
Carl Gross, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Aug. 7, 1866
Charles Howe, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. Aug. 4, 1866
Martin Coster, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . Sept. 15, 1866 Henry Boyer, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Aug. 3, 1866 Josiah Harrison, Mus. Boys, Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. July 20, 1866
Emanuel Ferguson, Pvt. 9th U. S. Inf'y .. . July 23, 1866 Abraham Walk, Pvt. Co. B, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. July 31, 1866
Joseph Emerson, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A. Aug. 10, 1866
94
GARRISON EVENTS AND NOTES, 1868-1913
DATE OF DEATH
John R. P. Smith.
. Aug. 1, 1866
J. Denanny No date
James Neland, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Sept. 26, 1866 Christ. Saltmeyer, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . Sept. 12, 1866 Peter Burke, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Sept. 26, 1866 John Bush, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Sept. 17, 1866 Lewis T. Young, Pvt. . Jan. 3, 1856
Elizabeth G. Ives Julý 7, 1873
Charles Bessamore, Co. B, Union Boys June 20, 1861
Frederick O'Brien, child Mar. 24, 1862
Winifred O'Brien, child. Mar. 27, 1862
Fred. Reynolds Aug. 17, 1862
No date - Reynolds
William Gulick, Sgt. Co. F, Permt. Party ..... June 25, 1862 Alexander Moore, Pvt. Co. M, 2d U. S. Art'y . Sept. 24, 1861 Franz Hooper, Pvt. Co. A, Permt. Party ..... Apr. 28, 1865 C. McCormick, Sgt. Co. A, Permt. Party, U. S. A. Aug. 12, 1865
F. Holfriede, Pvt. Co. F, Ist U. S. Art'y. Nov. 2, 1861 Frederick Grunert, child. . July II, 1872
J. Johnson, Pvt. Co. C, 6th U. S. Infty Dec. 25, 1861
Walter Kilborn, Pvt. Co. K, g1st N. Y. Infty .. Jan. 5, 1862
J. Morrison, Pvt. Co. G, 98th N. Y. Infty. ... Jan. 6, 1862 W. A. Huckbone, Pvt. Co. I, 91st N. Y. Infty .. Jan. 9, 1862
W. McBride, Pvt. Co. F, Permt. Party. . May 19, 1862 John Fish, Pvt. Co. E, 91st N. Y. Infty. . Jan. 17, 1862 W. Simmons, Pvt. Co. I, 9Ist N. Y. Infty . .. . Jan. 30, 1862 Joseph or James Trumble, Sgt. Co. G, Permt.
Party Dec. 2, 1861
David Flecke, Corp. Co. A, Permt. Party. . Dec. 16, 1861
95
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
DATE OF DEATH
Francis Shields, Sgt. Co. I, Permt. Party . . Oct. 1, 186I
Robertson, woman No date
Grace Robertson, child. No date
P. Griffin, Pvt. Co. H, Ist U. S. Infty
Feb. 20, 1862
Alfred Pitt, Pvt. Co. E, 98th N. Y. Infty. Feb. 23, 1862 Patrick Conkly, Pvt. Co. H, 28th Mass. Infty. . Mar. 7, 1862
James Carr, Musician. Feb. 22, 1863
Charles Allen, Corp. Co. K, 7th N. Y. Infty. .. Dec. 18, 1864
Rudolph Schaer, child. Sept. 15, 1867
William Muller, Pvt. Co. D. Mar. 6, 1866
James Kellog, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. Sept. 19, 1867
Fernando Snyder, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. Sept. 18, 1867 Adelbert Rogers, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. Sept. 16, 1867 William Swain, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. Sept. 14, 1867 Christ. Nolte, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Sept. 6, 1867 Adolph Aikens, Pvt. Co. C, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. Sept. II, 1867
John H. Etzold, Pvt. Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Sept. 12, 1867 Benjamin Williams, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. Sept. 5, 1867
John Horan, Recruit, U. S. A. Sept. 3, 1867
Christ. Liesbert, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . Sept. 1, 1867
Henry Peck, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Sept. 5, 1867 Edward McLaughlin, Pvt. U. R. C., U. S. A ... Sept. 3, 1867 Charles Donnely, Pvt. Co. B, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Sept. 1, 1867
Frank Gallagher, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A. Aug. 31, 1867
96
GARRISON EVENTS AND NOTES, 1868-1913
DATE OF DEATH
Francis Mckeon, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . Oct. 2, 1866
Thomas Patston, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A. July 24, 1867
James Patston, child of T. Patston. No date
Lewis Vassell, Pvt. Co. B, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . Aug. 2, 1867
Joseph Recaid, Recr. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A. Aug. 31, 1867
Oliver Hersher, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A. . July 4, 1866
William Hilliers, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. Sept. 6, 1866
Patrick Hart, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Aug. 8, 1866 Frederick Weil, Prisoner, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Sept. 22, 1866 Simon S. Schultz, child. Sept. 16, 1866
P. McGuire, Pvt. Co. G, 28th Mass. Infty. . Feb. 19, 1862
Henry Shipley, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. .Oct. 3, 1866
Andreas P. Karberg, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A.
Oct. 6, 1866
Henry Schlegel, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . Oct. 13, 1866 Frank Jones, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Oct. 15, 1866 John H. Totten, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . Oct. 19, 1866 John Heberger, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A . Oct. 20, 1866
John Sanberg, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A
. Oct. 27, 1866
Frederick Traub, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A! . . Nov. 6, 1866
97
A 743 55 Hp
74355
×
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
DATE OF DEATH
Martin Leonard, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. Dec. 4, 1866
Edward Tryer, Pvt. .Feb. 2, 1867 John Jones, Corp. Co. C, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Mar. 27, 1867 Louis A. Harry, Pvt .. . Apr. 6, 1867
Andrew Flickinger, Pvt. . Apr. 15, 1867
Thomas McHugh, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A. Nov.
7, 1867
John Hooley, Pvt. Ist Prov. Co., Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A. Apr. 14, 1869
Thomas Cryon, Pvt. Co. C. Aug. 25, 1868
Patrick Byrne, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv., U. S. A.
Apr. 25, 1868
John Kennedy, Pvt. Co. A, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . Jan. 3, 1868 John Burke, Pvt. Co. A, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Nov. 22, 1867 John Smith, Pvt. Co. A, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. . Oct. 29, 1867 Charles Huber, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . Oct. 8, 1867 Frank Burke, Pvt. Co. A, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Sept. 26, 1867 Carl Schaer, Pvt. Gen. Serv., U. S. A .... .. Sept. 18, 1867 Henry Weber, Pvt. Co. C, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Sept. 14, 1867 George Gass, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Sept. 14, 1867 Robert F. Jern, Pvt. Co. C, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. Sept. IT, 1867
John Hyler, Pvt. Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . Sept. 10, 1867 Thomas McGrath, Prisoner Co. B, Gen. Serv., U. S. A Sept. 9, 1867
Thomas Flynn, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv., U. S. A Sept. 6, 1867
Frank Keckynar, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A. .Sept. 8, 1867
98
GARRISON EVENTS AND NOTES, 1868-1913
DATE OF DEATH
James C. Elliot, Pvt. Co. D, Gen. Serv.,
U. S. A. Sept. 6, 1867
Charles Dillman, Pvt. Co. B, Union Boys, U. S. A. . Sept. 29, 1865
Andrew T. Ford, Sergt. Co. C, Permt. Party,
U. S. A. Sept. 10, 1865
Jacob Haefele, Sergt. Co. C, Permt. Party, U. S. A.
. Apr. 20, 1873
James Bodgers, child. Jan. 15, 1878
Magdalen Stigler, wife of Band Master Mar. II, 1878
Ann Mouriff No date
George E. Hanna, child. Oct. 28, 1861
Samuel Meades, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv., Apr. 26, 1871 U. S. A.
William Gibson, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv., Mar. 31, 1870 U. S. A.
Stephen D. Lockwood, Pvt. Co. A, Permt.
Party, U. S. A. .Feb. 20, 1870
Ellen Farrell, child. Apr. II, 1862
Mela Reynolds, child. Aug. 25, 1873 Chris Marlin, Pvt. Co. B, Music Boys May 23, 1873 William McFarland, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. . Sept. 16, 1870
Peter Luck, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv., U. S. A .. Aug. I, 1870 James Kelcher, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv., U. S. A. .June 24, 1870 Francis Bungent, Pvt. Co. D, Select Recruits. . Apr. 12, 1870 William Seery, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv. Recr. . . Feb. 18, 1872 Henry Carroll, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv. Recr ... Jan. 1, 1872 William F. Curtis, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv.
Recruit . Aug. 27, 1871 Joseph Villenger, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv. Recr .. Jan. 18, 1871
99
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
DATE OF DEATH
Thomas Sullivan, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv. Recr .. Sept. 25, 1870 Henry Rathkamp, Pvt. Co. A, Permt. Party ... Sept. 27, 1870 Henry Bennett, Pvt. Co. B, Music Boys Oct. 1, 1870 Patrick Daley, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv. Feb. 8, 1871 Willet C. West, Fifer Co. B, Music Boys. Mar. 25, 1871 Michael Kinsell, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv. Rcts .. May 7, 1871 James Colgan, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv. Rcts .... Mar. 5, 1872 Patrick Colden, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv. Rcts. .. May 25, 1872 Peter Storms, Sergt. Co. A, Permt. Party. . Oct. 19, 1863
Lizzie Corliss Lynch, child. No date
Daniel Nowlan, child.
No date
John C. Indale, child No date
Alfred B. Haynes, Pvt. Co. B, Music Boys. ... July 23, 1873 Julius Steinman, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv. Rcts. . Oct. 24, 1873 Michael Morrissey, Pvt. Co. C, 22d U. S. Infty . Ang. 20, 1872 Albert O. Dennis, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv. Rcts .. Mar. 29, 1872 Justus Schlessing, Pvt. Co. E, Gen. Serv. Rcts. Mar. 13, 1872
Henry Christopher, Pvt. Co. C, Permt. Party. . Jan. 8, 1872 William Skelly, Pvt. Co. M, 5th U. S. Art'y .. . Dec. 17, 1871
Robert Scott, Pvt. Co. A, Permt. Party. . June 10, 1871
Jacob Mertins, Sergt. Co. A, Permt. Party. . . Sept. 19, 1870
Patrick Leonard, Corp. Co. C, Permt. Party ... Sept. 17, 1870 Ernest Dallye, Pvt. Co. A, Permt. Party. Sept. 13, 1870 Peter Creamer, Corp. Co. B, Music Boys .. ... Sept. 10, 1870
CONFEDERATE PRISONERS OF WAR.
J. E. Barbury, Co. D, 28th N. Carolina. . June 7, 1862 Hosea G. Blount, Co. F, 7th N. Carolina. .. Sept. 29, 1861 David L. Rodgeron, Co. F, 7th N. Carolina. . . Oct. 8, 1861 M. G. Roberson, Co. F, 7th N. Carolina. ... . Oct. II, 1861
100
GARRISON EVENTS AND NOTES, 1868-1913
DATE OF DEATH
Stephen Kite, Co. G, 7th N. Carolina. Oct. 27, 1861
Saml. D. Titterton, Co. F, 7th N. Carolina. . . Oct. 29, 1861 - Simpson, Co. F, 7th N. Carolina Nov. 19, 1861 Alpha Modlin Nov. 24, 1861
Jennings Mar. 11, 1862
Smitlı Bartley May 30, 1862
G. Townsend, Pvt. Co. E, 27th N. Carolina. . . June 3, 1862
In the carly days Governor's Island must have been a dark place after retreat. Up to 1854 candles were the only source of illumination. Later, whale oil was introduced and then kerosene. Until 1878, when General Hancock made his head- quarters here, there were no street lights at all, except one light at the dock, a condition which was not so brilliant as that enjoyed by New York in 1697, when the Common Council ordered the city to be lighted by lanterns from poles that pro- jected from every seventh house.
The Common Council, at a stated meeting held at the House of John Simmons, Innholder at the N. W. corner of Wall and Nassau Streets (now the site of the Bankers' Trust Building) on the 17th day of February, 1784, issued a Warrant No. 15 to Wm. Deal and others for lighting the City lamps, to the amount of £21 5s.
Electric lighting was introduced on May 10, 1904. The Arsenal at that time had and for some time later continued to use acetylene gas manufactured at a private plant in the Yard.
Dances were held in various places at various times : at one time in the present Administration Building; in the Hospital (now Dept Headquarters Building), where the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia was entertained in 1872, a marquee being erected in front ; at one time in the present Q. M. Storehouse, east side of Island, and later, as now, in the Officers' Club House, Corbin Hall.
101
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
The water supply was in those days a troublesome question. Surgeon Page in his history (1868) writes :
"The wells are four in number. One is in Castle Williams and furnishes a small supply of tolerably good water. It dries in ten minutes and requires some time to refill .* An- other well is in front of Fort Columbus, but unfit for drinking purposes. Another is near the Hospital (now Department Headquarters) and is the best and most used on the Island, all the animals being watered at this well."
Water from the City (Ridgewood) was introduced by mains under Buttermilk Channel about 1880, soon after General Hancock's arrival.
The Hospital mentioned in this report is the Hospital of 1868, now (1913) Eastern Department Hdqrs. The pump connected with this well was in situ, handle and all, as late as 1905. Another well not mentioned was in the Arsenal Yard. This was quite a pretty spot, arranged in the nature of a spring house, with a flight of stone steps going down and a little arbour to protect it from the sun."
A well of pure water in South Battery is also mentioned by Surgeon Page, who goes on to say that rain water is collected from the roofs of nearly all the buildings in cisterns. No attempts were made to sink artesian wells on account of the geological formation and great dip of the strata. In this con- nection it may be interesting to mention the natural history of Governor's Island.
"The basic rock of the Island is gneiss composed of quartz, feldspar and mica arranged in laminæ, the rock being strati- fied and hypozoic, covered with alluvial and drift deposit. The direction of the stratum corresponds with N. S. and the dip, though generally to the west, averages within 10° vertical. The water now in use, derived from shallow wells, is hard and contains a great quantity of organic matter. The high angle dip and deep surrounding channels make good water unattain- able. The alluvial deposits consist of loam, clay, sand and gravel. The drift is composed of abraded boulders, gravel
* It was more efficient in 1812 (v. p. 72).
102
GARRISON EVENTS AND NOTES, 1868-1913
and sand and all were driven probably by ice pressure. The alluvial and diluvial deposits are probably 100 feet deep at the N. and S. ends."
The Island was undoubtedly separated from the mainland during the Glacial period.
Circular No. 8 (1875) states that the cisterns frequently ran dry. At these times they were cleaned and fumigated and filled with Croton water brought from the City in tanks of Quartermaster boats.
These cisterns are being gradually filled. A number were filled from the excavations of the new Chapel in 1905-6.
The use of the drum for calls was given up about 1876. There is a tradition that the last official drum hung in the tree where it was kept for a year or so after that time. An officer has told the author he remembers seeing it so on several occa- sions.
A marked depression in the surface of the Park near the fountain often arouses curiosity, as to what it represents in the otherwise level surface of the ground.
Major Kendall, a veteran of the War of 1812, lived on Governor's Island after retirement with his daughters and held the position of Sutler. His residence was at the western end of a long row of houses that stretched from the present Post Quartermaster's office and carpenter shop to what is now No. 18, Colonels' Row.
This row was of wooden houses, one story in height, with cellar, and besides the Sutler and his store accommodated a number of soldiers and their families.
According to tradition, these buildings were erected for the accommodation of the builders of Fort Jay after the American Revolution. Some believe they represent the English occupa- tion of 1776-1783 .* The beams and all the wood were of very heavy construction. Some were burned down in 1856, and the rest were removed after the yellow fever epidemic in 1870. In removing them it was found inconvenient to fill in all the cellars,
* This is confirmed by the fact that the group of buildings as late as 1850 was called "Rotten Row."
103
·
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
the supply of earth being limited. The depression alluded to marks this ancient row and probably Major Kendall's quarters.
Major Kendall, upon the burning of his quarters in 1856, moved to quarters in the S. E. angle of the barracks, Fort Columbus.
The condition of the works on Bedlow's and Ellis' Island and of the fortification at the Battery may be learned from Colonel Williams' Report of Jan'y 19, 1810, in which he says Ellis Island mounts 8 32 pdrs. with a platform capable of mounting 20; that Bedlow's Battery is ready for 8 or 10 mortars, with the main work of 40 guns half completed, and that by July the first tier of a castle at the Old Battery will be completed, mounting 30 of the heaviest guns. This castle was at first officially known as the South West Battery, after the war as Castle Clinton, whence its peaceful designation of Castle Garden was derived.
In 1822 Castle Clinton was ceded by the Government to the City of New York, and the soldiery were removed to Gover- nor's Island. At this time and for many years following Castle Clinton was separated from the shore by a channel and access was had by a long wooden bridge.
In addition to its military uses Governor's Island served as a flagging station to report the arrival of ships before the in- vention of the telegraph. New York's most famous hotel in 1823 was Holt's, afterward the United States Hotel, on Fulton Street. This hotel had a lofty cupola in which a ship signal station was located. When ships were sighted at Sandy Hook the news was flagged to Staten Island, from Staten Island to Governor's Island, the station being probably at the Castle, and from there to the station on Holt's Hotel for the benefit of the whole City.
In Wall's painting of the Castle (frontispiece) appears on the parapet a cupola which it is reasonable to suppose was the ship signal station.
Old pictures of the Castle, though later than this painting, show a flag flying from a staff erected in the middle of the courtyard. This flag was used 25 years ago for saluting and
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GARRISON EVENTS AND NOTES, 1868-1913
other special purposes only, the garrison flag being at Fort Jay. The staff was removed about 20 years ago. The guns, except those on the parapet, were removed about the same time.
In 1821 Fort Columbus was garrisoned by a battery of the Ist Artillery under the command of Lieut. Peter Melendy, Jr .* It is not known what troops garrisoned Governor's Island upon its occupation in 1809. In 1826, Bvt. Colonel W. Mac- Rea, 2nd Artillery, was in command.
In 1832, thorough repairs of the works were begun and prose- cuted until August, when the work was abandoned on account of the cholera. In September, 1832, new barracks were begun within the fort, some of the troops having previously en- camped on the parade. The scarp wall, the counter scarp revetments and the revetments of the glacis were completed, also the facing of the covered way revetment leading from Fort Columbus to the Castle.
In this year the Post was re-occupied by Battery F. 4th Artillery, under command of Captain L. Whiting. In Sep- tember Captain W. W. Tompkins with a large detachment of recruits of the 2nd Dragoons arrived and assumed com- mand.
In 1833 the sum of $50,000 was appropriated for repairs to Castle Williams and Fort Columbus. How this was expended so far as the fort is concerned we learn from the report of Capt. J. L. Smith, Corps of Engineers, who writes under date of Oct. 19, 1833 (condensed) :
"The scarp and curtain are finished. The counter scarp and revetment of the glacis are finished except the W. front. The passage way through the postern is raised to the height of the spring of the arch. Four cisterns, of 4,000 gallons each are finished under the rampart. Four more are to be made. The redan with casemated flanks on the N. front was formerly approached from the parade through a gap in the rampart. The gap has been filled by a magazine.
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