USA > New York > New York County > Governor's Island; its military history under three flags, 1637-1913 > Part 9
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FROM MSS. MINUTES OF COMMON COUNCIL.
Monday the 22nd June, 1795.
The Committee on the subject of a ferry from this City to Governor's Island made a verbal report on the sub- · ject-
Whereupon it was ordered that it be referred to the Committee for directing public works on Governor's Island, to make such arrangements for the establishing of a safe and convenient ferry from this City to said
119
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
Island as they shall judge most proper, and that the keeper of the said ferry be allowed to demand and receive from each person (except such as shall be employed at the Public Works and the Troops of the Garrison there) six pence for going and six pence for returning.
Coming down to modern times we are reminded of the Civil War period when the Castle was filled to overflowing with prisoners and when at one time seven regiments were en- camped within our limited borders. One who was living here at the time describes the scenes in those days as being stirring in the extreme. The Wisconsin regiment marched on the Island 1,200 strong and made a particularly fine ap- pearance, and the scene at Retreat from the parapets of Fort Jay, with seven regiments, seven bands and seven separate functions going on at once is described as having been a thrilling spectacle.
About ten years before the Civil War the recruiting depot was transferred from Governor's to Bedlow's Island. This was before the advent of the steam ferry and the difficulties encountered by all who had occasion to visit either Post may be gathered from the recorded mention of the movements to and fro of the Reverend John McVickar, D.D., Chaplain of Governor's Island from 1844 to 1862, as found in Dr. Dix's History. He says (p. 9 of his book) : "Transit was effected by open barges. In all seasons of the year, in stormy or fair weather, on Sundays and when required on week days, the venerable Chaplain might be seen making his journeys from the Battery to the two Islands, visiting the permanent gar- rison at Governor's Island and the recruits at Bedlow's; and in the most bitter winter's cold, sitting in the stern sheets, wrapped in his military cloak, as the oarsmen pushed their way through drift ice in the bay and against the strong tides off the Battery." This transfer of recruits to Bedlow's Island was only temporary.
During Dr. McVickar's Chaplaincy there was no steam ser- vice between the Islands and the City. All communication was by barge at all seasons of the year, the Government land-
I20
TRANSPORTATION IN FOUR CENTURIES
ing being at Castle Garden, now the Aquarium in New York City, which at that time was connected with the Battery by a bridge-way.
Such adverse circumstances were met daily by the members of the Garrison in the winter months.
A lady who is now making her home with an officer's family on Governor's Island remembers distinctly the barge in which she used to travel to and from the City in visiting the Island sixty-eight years ago. It was similar in general appearance to the launches now used by the Navy and had a close-fitting canvas cover.
Great were the difficulties of passage for those on pleasure bent in cold and storm and darkness, but, as she recalls, greater still was the difficulty of remembering the counter- sign without which no one was admitted within the frowning draw-bridge gate of Fort Jay, where in those days all the officers' families resided.
It is interesting to note that the Barge Office at the Battery recalls by its title the fact that from the earliest days of the occupation of Governor's Island by the Colonial Governors in the 17th Century to the Civil War of the 19th Century transportation with the mainland was effected by small boats and barges.
The first place of which we have record as a point of de- parture from the Battery was a landing just south of the Castle, later Castle Garden, now the municipal Aquarium. This was in 1854 and probably had served for very many years, as the Castle was until the Civil War period separated from the mainland by water and the land on which the pres- ent Barge Office now stands was not made until about the same period.
There were at this time two barges in service, similar to the one in the illustration, one the Commanding Officer's, and one for general service. These boats carried twelve passengers each and were manned by a crew of six rowers in naval uni- form, with a non-commissioned officer in command as cox- swain. They made three trips a day each, the last one being
I21
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
at 5 P. M. in summer and 4 in winter. The landing-place on Governor's Island was at a stairway just north of the present pier.
The Ordnance maintained its own boat, rowed by two men. There were in addition to these official barges a fleet of eight or ten small boats plying to Pacific Street, Brooklyn, which were found convenient for persons going to market. The fare on these boats was 121/2 cents a trip. The late Captain James Feeney began his career in this service about the year 1860, and these private boats continued in service some time after the steamboat era.
During the contract period of transportation the price of passage was fifteen cents, return for twenty-five cents. School children received commutation rates of ten cents a day, and a late theatre boat cost fifteen dollars.
The family of the late Reverend E. H. C. Goodwin, Chap- lain from 1871-1904, have in their possession an original order signed by General Hancock, as follows:
HEADQRS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE ATLANTIC AND DEPARTMENT OF THE EAST. GOVERNOR'S ISLAND, N. Y.
To the A.A.G .- October 30, 1883. or Captain Tug "Atlantic"-
Let there be an extra boat coming this way for Rev. Mr. Goodwin and party at II:30 P. M. to-night. W. SCOTT HANCOCK, Major Gen., U. S. A.
(From Battery at II :30 P. M.)
It was in 1861 that the steam vessels were first engaged regularly in the ferry service. The first boat was the "Gen- eral Scott." This was succeeded by the "General Mcclellan," and that by the "Governor's Island." These were small ves- sels of the tugboat type. In 1878 the "Atlantic," a larger boat of the same type, was employed. At this time Head- quarters of the Department were established on the Island,
I22
-
-
GOVERNOR'S ISLAND BARGE AND CREW. (ABOUT 1860)
1
TRANSPORTATION IN FOUR CENTURIES
and with this boat, or possibly earlier with the "Governor's Island," a Government contract was made and persons using them were not required to pay ferriage. At first, and for some time, the steamers ran only till dark. This service has been gradually improved till the present admirable schedule of a boat every half hour from 6:45 A. M. till I A. M. has been reached.
The "Madden," a small tugboat, owned by Sergeant Gub- bins and a man named McKitchie, ran from 1870 to about 1873, when its owners sold it and bought the "Governor's Island," which was used for about five years. The fare on this boat was twenty-five cents the round trip.
In 1898 a great improvement was inaugurated in the build- ing of the "General Hancock," a vessel on ferry-boat lines, which has done good work for fifteen years.
The "Col. Wikof" served as an auxiliary boat for about twelve years, and there have been various launches of late years for the use of the Department Commander, the present one, the "Lieutenant Ward Cheney," being a beautiful speci- men of marine architecture. In 1910 the "General Otis" took the place of the "General Hancock" as the transport between Governor's Island and the Battery. This boat, with its larger cabins, more ample decks and accommodations for horses, carriages, wagons and motor cars, gives better service than has ever been enjoyed before, and in the fourth century of the history of the Governor's Island ferry points to the future of the enlarged Post and populous Garrison that is to be. The official figures given by the Chief Quartermaster's Office for transportation of passengers between Governor's Island and the Battery on the Q. M. Steamers "General Hancock" and "General Otis" for the month of April, 1913, state the number as 45,999. This is considered an average month.
A new landing has been made on the north side of the Island near the Quartermaster Storehouse. When this is in service the time of transit will be reduced. A new Barge Office is also being constructed at the Battery just opposite.
The accompanying illustration of the barge is the only one
I23
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
known to exist, and is taken from a photograph belonging to the late Captain James Feeney, who served, with great faith- fulness, forty-nine years, boy and man, in the transportation of the Governor's Island Garrison to and from the City.
Captain Wm. Gray Loring has been in the Government transportation service for 40 years, of which 4 have been spent in Boston Harbour and 36 in the Governor's Island service. There are few officers of long service in the Army who do not know Capt. Loring and all who know him recall with pleasure his genial character, his fund of deep-sea yarns and his attachment to the friends he has made on his countless trips across the salt highway.
à
THE "GENERAL OTIS"-1913.
CHAPTER VII.
THE NEW YORK ARSENAL.
The date of the establishment of the New York Arsenal is unknown. In Vol. I of "Ordnance Reports" Colonel Decius Wadsworth of the Ordnance in a letter to the Secretary of War dated Nov. 13, 1812, relative to the duties of the Ord- nance Department as a "new Establishment" and of needed stations says :
"The present establishment at New York may be continued on a reduced scale as subordinate for the purpose of supplying the seaboard with such articles as a laboratory can most con- veniently furnish."
During the War of 1812 Governor's Island was the scene of great military activity, but whether the laboratory men- tioned above was in New York City or on the Island cannot be definitely determined from the records here.
Colonel Wadsworth in another letter to the Secretary of War dated February 8, 1816, says:
"The laboratory near New York will suffice for supplying Maritime posts." * * * Whether this refers to a place on Governor's Island cannot be determined from the context. It is possible the reference is to one of the Arsenals in the City.
In June, 1812, as we learn from Guernsey, there was a United States Arsenal on Bridge Street, back of Government House, near the Battery. This was of brick and was con- sidered a good work for the locality. There was also a three- story brick magazine near it.
-The United States also held a plot of 2 acres on the Hudson River at the foot of West 12th Street on which were a maga- zine, arsenal and laboratory. The laboratory was surrounded by a brick wall 9 feet high. Fort Gansevoort was erected later upon this site.
Another U. S. Arsenal was at the junction of the old Bos- ton Road and Middle Road (now Madison Square), in the
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HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
grounds laid out for the Parade in 1811. This Arsenal was built by State appropriation with the expectation that the United States would repay. The Parade contained 238 7/10 acres and extended from 23d to 34th Street and from 7th Avenue to 3rd Avenue. It was used for military exercises and for a place to assemble the forces destined to guard the City.
In April, 1814, it was reduced to 89 1/10 acres; later to less than 7 acres, the present Madison Square.
On page 68, Vol. I of "Ordnance Reports," referred to above, will be found a "Statement of the battering cannon, mortars, howitzers, shots, shells and carriages not in service, deposited in the several arsenals and depots in the United States." A statement is given there of the number of each stored at "Arsenal, New York City." This is under date of January 29, 1822, and refers, no doubt, to an ordnance storage yard on Governor's Island.
The Arsenal may be said to have been definitely started when buildings were commenced here in 1833 under an ap- propriation made by Congress, the work being carried out by an Engineer Officer, Captain J. L. Smith, Captain of Engineers, under direction of the Chief of Ordnance. The buildings were paid for by the Ordnance Department.
The Commanding Officer's quarters and quarters No. 2 were erected in 1839 and enlarged in 1852. Quarters No. 3 were built in 1884. The old office was built in 1853, the new (present) office in 1860. The seven other buildings were erected between 1835 and 1904. A fire engine was maintained in service on the Arsenal Reservation from 1867 till 1910, when salt water mains were installed for the entire Island. An old Engineer map of the Arsenal marks a pump at a point near the S. E. corner of the store-house connected with the commanding officer's quarters. This probably represents the spring house described on p. 102.
In 1878 the Military Service Institution was formed, with General Winfield Scott Hancock as its head. The Institution was located on Governor's Island, where it established its
126
THIE NEW YORK ARSENAL
headquarters, with library and museum. It is at present (1913) housed in the building known as the "Clock Tower Building," in which the late Brig .- Gen. T. F. Rodenbough, Secretary, had his office and where the present Secretary, Brig .- General James N. Allison, is now located.
The area of the Arsenal is about 61/2 acres.
A list of commanding officers, from 1831 to the present day, follows :
NEW YORK ARSENAL.
NAMES OF OFFICERS RANK
ASSUMED
COMMAND
SAMUEL PERKINS M. S. Keeper Dec. 31, 1831
S. H. WEBER.
.M. S. Keeper.
Nov. 11, 1834
SAMUEL PERKINS
.M. S. Keeper.
April
5, 1835
J. A. J. BRADFORD .Capt. O. D. Sept. 15, 1835
GEO. D. RAMSEY .Capt. O. D. Oct. 1, 1836
L. L. VAN KLEECK
M. S. Keeper
. Nov.
9, 1836
J. F. LEE. .Lt. Cps. Engrs. Oct. II, 1837
GEO. H. TALCOTT .Lt. O. D. Oct. - 1838
I. A. D'LAGUEL. Mar. 27, 1839
.Capt. O. D.
L. L. VAN KLEECK .M. S. Keeper May 21, 1840
W. A. THORNTON
Capt. O. D.
July
2, 1840
GEO. H. TALCOTT Bvt. Lt .- Col. O. D. . July 31, 1849
W. A. THORNTON .Bvt. Major O. D ... Oct. 1, 1851 R. H. K. WHITELEY .Capt. O. D. .. . . Nov. 20, 1854
W. A. THORNTON .Bvt. Major O.D. . . May 31, 1858
R. H. K. WHITELEY
.Capt. O. D.
May
14, 1861
R. A. WAINWRIGHT Major O. D. Oct. 23, 1862 SILAS CRISPIN .Capt. O. D. . Apr. 14, 1864
A. R. BUFFINGTON
.Capt. O. D.
July
12, 1864
WV. A. THORNTON
.Col. O. D.
June
19, 1865
C. BRYANT
Lieut. O. D.
. Apr.
6, 1866
T. T. S. LAIDLEY
.Maj. O. D
May
15, 1866
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HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
NAMES OF OFFICERS
RANK
ASSUMED COMMAND
SILAS CRISPIN Lt .- Col. O. D. Apr. 10, 1871
T. G. BAYLOR.
Maj. O. D.
.June
10, 1876
G. W. McKEE .Maj. O. D. .July 17, 1883
T. G. BAYLOR Col. O. D. Oct. 3, 1883
CHAS. SHALER Capt. O. D. May 15, 1885
A. MORDECAI .Lt .- Col. O. D. May 25, 1886
J. MCALLISTER .Col. O. D. July I, 1886
A. MORDECAI Lt .- Col. O. D. Dec. 30, 1886
CHAS. SHALER Capt. O. D. . Mar. 28, 1887
A. MORDECAI .Lt .- Col. O. D. Apr. 16, 1887
J. E. GREER .Capt. O. D Dec. II, 1889
A. MORDECAI .Lt .- Col. O. D .. .Dec. 17, 1889
G. COMLY .Maj. O. D.
Feby. 9, 1892
FRANK HEATH .Capt. O. D. Apr. 19, 1894
F. H. PHIPPS
Maj. O. D. May 18, 1894
JOHN G. BUTLER Maj. O. D. June 10, 1899
J. W. REILLY Lt .- Col. O. D .. Sept. 13, 1900
J. E. GREER. .Lt .- Col. O. D ... .Aug. 1, 1903
R. BIRNIE .Lt .- Col. O. D ... . Sept. 19, 1907
O. B. MITCHAM .Lt .- Col. O. D ..... Oct. 1, 1907
The New York Arsenal has a charm and interest all its own, with its well-situated quarters, its groups of offices, its trees and walks and splendid views of the City, its towering buildings, the harbour, rivers and bridges. The records of Commanding Officers herewith given for a period of 82 years are exact and the author is indebted for these and for the dates of the buildings to the present Commanding Officer, Colonel Orin B. Mitcham, Ordnance Department.
I28
EXTERIOR OF CHAPEL OF 1846. VIEW TAKEN IN 1905.
CHAPTER VIII.
RELIGIOUS WORK AND INFLUENCE.
The earliest mention of religious ministrations on Gover- nor's Island, beyond the occasional services of the Church of England held for Colonel Prescott's Regiment in 1776, is in connection with the Reverend John McVickar, D.D., Chap- lain of Governor's Island from 1844-1862.
Dr. McVickar was a resident of the City of New York, a man of culture and distinction in literary and church circles, and at that time professor of moral and intellectual philosophy, belles-lettres, political economy, and the evidences of natural and revealed religion in Columbia College, a position which he filled with dignity and success. As he had already reached the age of fifty-five, his friends were fearful of the consequences of adding to his other duties those of an army chaplain; nay, strenuous efforts were made to persuade him to decline the offer. But remonstrance was in vain; Dr. McVickar was a devoted churchman and deeply interested in mission work, and had felt for a long time a warm and special interest in soldiers and all their concerns. He therefore promptly ac- cepted the proffer of the Government, and, as the call came during vacation at the college, he entered on his duties with- out the loss of a day. For eighteen years (1844-62) he held that position, serving not merely with efficiency, but with what might be called an enthusiastic devotion to the work. It is recorded of him by his biographer that he declared that he would resign his professorship in Columbia rather than the chaplaincy with its hard work among the soldiers and its salary of $700 a year. He was obliged, however, to resign in 1862, at the age of seventy-five.
There was then no chapel and Dr. McVickar held services in fine weather in a little grove of trees near the present Colonels' Row. At other times he used one of the rooms of the Post Headquarters, which proved inconvenient to all con-
129
.
HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
cerned. He made requisitions for a chapel building, but without success.
He therefore set about building one himself, and with gener- ous contributions from his own family and of friends whom he interested in the work and with substantial aid from Trinity Church, New York, which at that early date evinced an inter- est it has never ceased to hold, he gathered funds sufficient for the purpose.
The Commander-in-Chief, General Scott, was strongly in- terested in the plans and gave them the benefit of his influence for the good of the churchless garrison. The War with Mexico broke out during the period of the Chapel's erection, but it helped rather than hindered the work, and the little building, which Chaplain McVickar describes as "having the two elements of humility and reverence," was soon completed and was consecrated by the Rt. Reverend Wmn. H. De Lancey on April 19, 1847.
Chaplain McVickar served with great faithfulness from 1844 to 1862, at which time the War Department insisted that the Chaplain, owing to war conditions, should reside on Governor's Island. This was impossible in that day of limited transportation, and so with great regret he resigned his posi- tion and devoted the remainder of his active life to his Col- lege duties.
Chaplain McVickar was born in New York the 10th of August, 1787, and died in 1868, six years after giving up his much-loved duties on Governor's Island.
Inasmuch as he was the founder of religious work and in- fluence here, it may not be deemed amiss to mention some matters of interest connected with his life and work in and for the Garrison taken from his biography written by his son, William A. McVickar.
Speaking of Dr. McVickar's appointment by the Secretary of War upon the nomination of the Council of Administration of the Garrison of which Dr. Joseph Pynchon Russell, Post Surgeon, was a member, in 1844, his biographer says:
"My father had now reached his fifty-sixth year; a time of
130
RELIGIOUS WORK AND INFLUENCE
life when most men, if they do not think of rest, do still hesi- tate about adding to their work. Yet we find him this year accepting the chaplaincy of Fort Columbus in the harbor of New York.
He had always been fond of parochial work, and was not only ever ready to assist his brother clergymen, but constantly went out of his way to do so; generally singling out those, whether young or old, who he had reason to believe were over-worked. A friend and relative knowing his feelings in this respect, and being also acquainted with the officers of this Post, mentioned his name and secured his appointment. This unexpected proffer of missionary work, for it was really such, the performance of which was rendered possible by residence at the post not being required, came during the college vaca- tion, and my father accepted it at once.
On first entering upon his duties, the chaplain found no place set apart for public worship, except the large room used on week-days as Post Headquarters, and on several Sundays business requirements forced him to vacate even this and go to an inconvenient upper room for service. This quickly de- termined him to make an effort for a chapel, but he found the matter surrounded with apparently insurmountable diffi- culties. Government was not accustomed to build chapels; nor was it willing either to make an appropriation for the pur- pose, nor to allow others, even if prepared, to build on gov- ernment ground. But there was determined perseverance on the one side, and probably friends at court on the other ; not least among the latter being the then commander-in-chief of the army, General Scott. The result was a personal lease from the government of about one hundred and fifty feet square, on the south side of the island, subject to the exigen- cies of war; and within the year, the completion of a most tasteful and church-like building of wood after my father's own plans, and from funds, given and collected by himself.
The war with Mexico breaking out at this time increased greatly the difficulties to be overcome. These were fully ap-
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HISTORY OF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND
preciated, as the following extract from a letter from an Army officer to the chaplain shows :
"To me, and I believe all of us, the interest of the Church is greatly enhanced by its erection in war times on the very scene of active preparation for distant service. It seems a happy omen of those times when war shall be known no more. That it is fairly erected and completed seems to me almost a miracle, and to you, dear sir, it must seem almost a creation. It has taught me a lesson in the power of faith and perseverance that I trust I shall never forget. Those of us who knew the peculiar and tormenting discouragements under which you labored, and which seemed to us insurmountable, cannot too highly appreciate a labor which not only benefits Governor's Island but the whole army."
Another officer, writing from the far-off field of battle, says :
"I am much pleased to hear of your final and complete suc- cess in building a church on the Island, and shall place my small donation in your hands at the first good opportunity. May its hallowed walls echo back strains of pure devotion from the hearts and lips of its fortunate attendants, and may its erection prove the means of turning many from the power of Satan unto God. If it shall be my privilege to return again to the United States, it will arouse no ordinary feelings of emotion in my heart to enter into the courts of our little sanctuary, and there to join the voice of prayer and praise to Him who is the God of dangers and of protection. Be so kind, my dear sir, in your next letter, as to describe its posi- tion and its form, even in details."
Fort Columbus from 1850 was the great recruiting depot of the army ; the numbers, therefore, that came under the chap- lain's notice in war times was greatly increased. As the com- mon soldier is not generally considered very impressible, we may judge somewhat of the spiritual power of the work centring round this little chapel by knowing that it received several bequests from soldiers dying in the hospitals of Mexico. The circle of its influence was a large one. The regiments
132
RELIGIOUS WORK AND INFLUENCE
were often changed, and when they were, a practical symbolism was enlisted to give permanency to the spiritual impressions already made. The communicants among the commissioned officers were assembled by the chaplain and requested to choose a Bible text which should be the motto of their regi- ment, this was then inscribed, with proper device and color, on a metal shield, with the name of the regiment and solemnly hung on the walls of the chapel, a binding link to the absent, a suggestive subject of reflection to the present worshippers.
In July, 1849, writing to an absent son, my father says : "The little Church of St. Cornelius is growing in historic in- terest as well as beauty. The three successive commands of the Island have all their mementoes on its walls-texts selected by them with appropriate shields; and what is more satis- factory yet, I never had better attendance from the officers."*
An interesting episode occurred after the close of the Mexi- can War in the encampment for a time on Governor's Island of what was called the California Regiment of Colonel Steven- son. This was a semi-military colony, under government patronage, going to take practical possession of the newly acquired territory of California. The proposed expedition aroused all my father's clear-sighted zeal, both for the com- monwealth and the Church. He saw how much of the future of California, civil and ecclesiastical, might depend on the character and moral impetus of these men. He knew that they were mostly adventurers, but he never doubted the germ of goodness within. He worked among them untiringly, and before they sailed-they were going by the six months' voyage round the Horn-he persuaded them to elect a chaplain, de- termine on daily prayers on shipboard, and take the nominal position at least of a God-fearing body. The American Bible Society and the New York Bible and Common Prayer Book
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