USA > New York > Delaware County > History of Delaware County, and border wars of New York, containing a sketch of the early settlements in the county > Part 22
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were on their march from Delhi to Andes. It was a motley group of lawyers, physicians, merchants, tradesmen, mechanics, and citizens-some on horseback-some on foot, and all armed with warlike weapons of some kind ..
The Indians, however, becoming aware of the approach of so formidable a foe, dispersed and fled upon their approach, leav- ing Steele and Edgerton masters of the field.
The Indians had cherished a strong antipathy against Steele, as may be inferred from the above correspondence, in conse- quence of his having been chiefly instrumental in the arrest of Squires on a bench-warrant, the preceding February. He was well known too, to be a fearless and faithful officer-ever ready and obedient in the performance of his duties, regard- less of smiles or frowns. His life had been repeatedly threat- ened, yet filled with the firm conviction of right, he taunted at their imprecations, and told them that they were disobeying the laws, and as the reward of that disobedience, the claims of justice would sooner or later overtake them. How well his own prophetic words were verified, and how well the dire threats of his life so often thrown in his face were executed, will more fully appear in the progress of the narrative.
A few days after Steele had been in limbo at Andes, he was dispatched upon a second expedition to Roxbury, for the account of which, the author is indebted to the following corres- pondence of the Albany Argus :
" Delhi, March 15, 1845, 10 o'clock P. M.
"DEAR SIR,-Yesterday morning, being the day after the return of the sheriff's posse from Kortright, another posse of about eighty mounted men, in two detachments, under the command of deputy sheriff Osman N. Steele, and Erastus S. Edgerton, started from Delhi for Roxbury, by different routes, for the purpose of making arrests. As that town is the most turbulent part of the anti-rent district, where large numbers
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of disguised men are frequently collected, and as the roads are exceedingly bad, some anxiety has been felt to-day as to the success of the expedition.
" The party has just entered the village with twelve Indians whom they have taken prisoners, disguised and armed.
" The particulars of the skirmish, which showed skill and intrepidity on the part of the officers and men, I cannot at present fully relate. After they had last evening arrested Pres- ton on a bench-warrant, the blowing of horns, and other move- ments in the neighborhood, announced great preparations for an attempt to rescue the prisoner, who was strictly guarded during the night.
"In the morning, after some reconnoitring, a party of about one hundred and thirty Indians, well armed, were discovered, and immediately charged upon by Steele and Edgerton, and about forty of the mounted men, and they fled to the woods. During the skirmish, there was some firing by the Indians, one of whose shots narrowly missed E. S. Edgerton, who grappled the Indian, and disarmed him of his pistols, which were found loaded with balls. Officer Steele also closed in with another Indian, who was armed to the teeth, and on stripping off his sheepskin mask, found he had captured a con- stable and collector of Roxbury. The eight Indians, with the prisoner apprehended on the bench-warrant in Roxbury, and four others taken at Bloomville, on their return, are now lodged in jail. The sheriff is now at the court house, detaching men to guard the jail and the village during the night. At the same time horns are blowing, and guns are firing on the moun- tain opposite the village, informing us of what we may expect, if the insurgents can muster in sufficient force to put their threats in execution."
Among the prisoners were Messrs. Burrill, Tompkins, Oster- hout and Knapp, who were severally convicted and sentenced to Sing Sing for two years. Gov. Wright, however, restored
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the unfortunate men to the rights of citizenship in September, 1846, a short time previous to the expiration of their sen- tences.
The arrests made in Roxbury in March-the trial and sen- tence of the prisoners, if anything, had a tendency to add fuel to the flame. The excitement assumed a far more angry and threatening aspect than it had hitherto presented, but no blood had as yet been shed on either side, until the seventh of Au- gust, when the public ear was startled by the lamentable death of Steele.
The following are the particulars of the painful tragedy, which put the climax on anti-rentism, as sworn to by Peter P. Wright, before the coroner's inquest, held over the unfortunate man :
" On the fourth of June last, I was called upon profession- ally to draw a warrant of distress for John Allen, the agent of Charlotte D. Verplanck, to collect sixty-four dollars, the arrears of rent due from Moses Earle, on the premises occupied by him, in the town of Andes. The levy was made, and the sale had been postponed until the seventh of August, at one o'clock. I went at the request of Mr. Allen, from this place in company with sheriff More, in a one-horse wagon, and arrived on the premises of Mr. Earle about ten o'clock in the forenoon. A number of spectators had then assembled.
" Our first business was to see Mr. Earle, to whom we pro- posed a settlement of the rent; his reply was, 'You will have to go on and sell, I shall fight it at the hardest.' Something was then said about his having written a letter to the sheriff in regard to it, and he stated in substance that he had since altered his mind, and should make no settlement. We discovered from appearances, such as killing of sheep, &c., that prepara- tions had been made to meet us, and we apprehended that there might be some difficulty. About eleven o'clock we dis- covered a company of six Indians, armed and in disguise, cross
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the road from the north side above the house, and pass through the pasture lot where the cattle were, and enter the woods near where the cattle were pasturing.
" I told the sheriff that he ought to command every spectator to assist in arresting them, and he did so. In the course of fifteen or twenty minutes I observed another company of about as many more pass into the woods, in the same direction. I observed nothing further until about twelve o'clock, when I discovered a party of forty or fifty come from the woods on the east side of the pasture lot, and pass, in single file, to the woods on the south side, where the others had congregated. At the same time I observed another company of fourteen coming off the side hill on the north side of the road, and were pass- ing in the direction of the others above mentioned; I went up the road about thirty or forty rods east of the house, and came within three or four rods of them as they crossed the road, and passed a few rods into the pasture lot, where they halted at the command of the chief, and looking at me as I stood in the road, cried 'tory, tory.' The chief then motioned with his hand in the direction of the others, who were passing through the lot, crying 'tory, tory.' .The only remark I made to them, was to ask them what they wanted of me .- The four- teen immediately turned, and coming towards-me, recrossed the road nearly in the same place. As they passed me I ob- served that several of them had their faces but imperfectly disguised, and I pursued them ten or fifteen rods on the north side of the road, endeavoring to ascertain who they were ; they passed up the hill, and I left them and returned again in the road.
"In about one-half or three-quarters of an hour, we observed the Indians coming out of the road, on the south side of the pasture lot, and marching in single file, they passed up near the bars about fifteen or twenty rods east of the house, on the southerly side of the road, when they formed in sections of
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four each, and passing through the bars, formed in single line in the road, the lower end reaching about opposite Mr. Earle's house. I stationed myself at the bars as they passed, and endeavored to count them. In observing their disguises I lost the count, but should think from the estimate I then made, they were about one hundred strong, all disguised and armed ; I saw not one unarmed, most had rifles ; there were some muskets, and in addition, several had small pistols, some toma- hawks, bags of feathers, &c., &c. I passed from the bars down along the line of Indians, from four to six feet in front, and on arriving at the centre of the line I met one of the chiefs, who, raising his sword, told me to stand back twenty feet; I stopped, and maintaining my position, told him I should not stand back one inch for him or any of his tribe ; he then placed his sword upon my breast, and again ordered me back : I in- stantly placed my hand upon my pistol, and told him to with- draw his sword from my person, or I would make a hole through him; he then withdrew his sword and drew a pistol ; I then told him to violate my person again and I should defend myself to the last, against him and the whole of his tribe ; that I should offer no insult or injury to any of them, but that they must let me alone, that I did not fear the whole of them; that I came there on lawful business, that their's was unlawful; they came there to violate the law, and were all outlaws, and liable to be punished in the State prison, every one of them; that they were not ignorant of the fact, for they knew what the law was.
"This was said in a loud voice, so that all could hear, and they responded, 'damn the law, we mean to break it.' I told the chief that I knew him well, and that I should remember him ; he replied, 'you can't swear to me.'-The Indians then asked me if I intended to bid upon the property ; I told them that I came there for that purpose, and that if I had an oppor- tunity I should. I was then told that if I bid upon the pro-
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perty I would ' go home feet foremost in a wagon.' To this one of the spectators responded, 'that's the talk.' A pail of whiskey was brought from the house of Mr. Earle, and carried along the line, from which they drank. A horn was blown, and some accession was made to their ranks. I remained in the same position about half an hour, during which time I was blackguarded and my life repeatedly threatened, to which I made very little or no reply. Officers Steele and Edgerton then came in sight, and rode up on horseback about two o'clock. The Indians then marched forward against the stone wall on the north side of the road, and about-faced. The sheriff then announced that he would proceed with the sale, and that he would go down and drive up the property, and proceeded with one or two citizens into the pasture lot for that purpose. After he had gone fifteen or twenty rods, the chief called for twelve volunteers to accompany him to see that the property was not sold down in the lot, that he might sell it down there, and that they must prevent it.
" The property was driven by the sheriff with some diffi- culty up near the bars, where the Indians prevented him from driving the property into the road. The line of Indians by the stone wall, then marched through the bars into the lot and formed a hollow square around the bars, enclosing the property and the sheriff; Steele, Edgerton and myself, took our position by the bars, and Steele told me to stand between him and Edgerton, and they would protect me. Considerable conversation then took place in regard to driving the pro- perty into the road. A Mr. Brisbane, an anti-rent lecturer, wanted to know what right we had to drive the property into the road : I told him we had a right to sell it any where on the premises, and we wanted it in the road for the convenience of the bidders. Something was then said about the notice of sale on the barn, when Steele and Edgerton rode down to read it; at this time ten or fifteen of the Indians ran from the lot,
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and crossing the road on the north side, as if they wished to head them off, supposing they had started for home.
"Steele and Edgerton returned to the bars, and the Indians again to the lot. I then called the sheriff out of the lot, and told him that he might say to the Indians, that unless they would permit the property to be driven into the road, he might adjourn the sale. The sheriff then went back into the lot, saying he thought he should be able to drive the property into the road, and was followed by Mr. Brisbane, about fifteen feet from the bars, a little to the right, where they were surrounded by a number of Indians, and considerable conversation ensued with the sheriff, which I cannot now relate. In a few moments I attempted to pass through the bars into the lot where the sheriff was, and a platoon of Indians guarded the bars, forbid- ding my passage, and an Indian raised his gun before me. Holding a cane in my hand, I placed it with both hands against his breast, and forced a passage into the lot, the file of Indians at the bars closing in behind me. Steele and Edgerton, appre- hending my danger, then rode into the lot about two lengths of their horses. I maintained about the same position near the horse's head. The file of Indians at the bars fell back, forming a semi-circle of fifteen or twenty feet radius around Steele, Edgerton and myself. The crowd around the sheriff formed in the same circle, and some came from the hollow square. The chief then gave the command : 'shoot the horses -shoot the horses :' ' shoot him, shoot him .: ' the spectators at the bars moved away at the motion of the Indians, and thirty or forty rifles were pointed at us, and we then supposed death was our portion. Steele and Edgerton then commanded the peace, and Edgerton, in a loud voice, called upon every citizen to assist in preserving the peace. A volley of rifles was then fired upon us, and I saw instantly the blood flow freely from the breast of Edgerton's horse, upon my right, and I should think Steele was wounded in the arm at this fire ; in the course
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of a very few seconds, a second volley was discharged, which came like a shower bath upon Steele and the horses, taking effect in the body of Steele, and also in both horses. Steele fell bleeding upon the ground, three balls having pierced his body, and others gone through his clothes. Edgerton's horse fell dead near Steele, another ball having passed through the saddle into his side.
"Sheriff More appealed to the Indians 'for God's sake to desist; they had done enough.' Edgerton and myself ran and took hold of Steele, and asked him how badly he was hurt : he replied that "two balls had passed through him, and that his bowels were all shot to pieces." We carried him into the house of Mr. Earle, where he survived between five and six hours, enduring the most excruciating pain. He fired once, and once only, and that was after he was wounded in his right arm. Edgerton drew his pistol but did not fire, mine was not drawn; I am sure that the Indians fired first, there can be no doubt about it. Drs. Peake and Calhoun were called, who rendered all the assistance in their power.
" While lying upon his bed in the agonies of death, Steele told Mr. Earle, that if he had paid his rent he would not have been shot; and Mr. Earle replied, he should not pay it if it cost forty lives. Mr. Steele was on the ground only about half an hour before he was shot, during which time the Indians used towards him the most insulting and abusive language, as well as threats upon his life, to which he made not the least reply, maintaining that cool temperament and presence of mind for which he was so much distinguished.
"The Indians remained upon the ground some two or three hours, holding an Indian pow-wow around the horses, and exulting in the blood of their victim. Thus has fallen a faithful and fearless officer of the law, who died at the post of duty, suffering martyrdom for no other reason than because he was faithful in executing the laws of his country."
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Steele had fallen bravely at his post of duty : he suffered the most excruciating pains, and it seemed evident to all that he could at farthest survive but a few hours. A messenger was dispatched in all haste to carry the painful intelligence to his family and friends, and his wife arrived barely in time to witness the untimely death of her husband, which took place about 8 o'clock in the evening. His remains were taken to Delhi, where the coroner's inquest was held. The funeral ceremonies were performed on the tenth. It was attended by a large concourse of citizens-about two thousand, who had assembled from all parts of the county, and who manifested the deepest feeling at his untimely death.
A monument has since been erected in commemoration of his memory by the citizens of this county, in acknowledgment of his worth as a citizen and his integrity as a public officer.
A correspondent of the Albany Evening Journal writes as follows :-
" Delhi, Sunday Evening, August 10, 1845.
"DEAR SIR,-I arrived at this village last evening, and found a deep gloom hanging over it. This day the remains of Deputy Sheriff Steele, were committed to the grave. The funeral services were performed by the Presbyterian, and Epis- copal clergymen of this place, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Adams, of the Episcopal Church, at Unadilla. There was a very large concourse of people, so much so that the largest church would not begin to hold them. The clergymen addressed the multitude from a piazza. The clergyman of this village impressed on the minds of his hearers eternal vigilance, until the murderers are brought to punishment, and the majesty of the law sustained.
"The citizens of the village held a meeting last evening, and organized a patrol to guard the village and public build- ings. Many persons did not close their eyes for fear of incen-
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diaries. There is a horrible state of things in this county. I found to day that a posse went out last night, to arrest six men living in Roxbury, the town adjoining Andes, where Steele was murdered, who were supposed to have been present. if not implicated in the murder. The posse had just returned bringing in three men, who are confined in jail. An express left here on Friday afternoon for Albany, to confer with, and bear dispatches to the Governor. The inhabitants say that the laws are insufficient. The grand juries will not find bills against anti-renters in this county. They further say, that, if the Governor does not act promptly, and provide relief, they, the people of this county, will take the law into their own hands.
" Steele had many very warm and ardent friends, who are determined to avenge the taking of his life. I presume there are a thousand men waiting anxiously to be led into the dis- affected towns, if the laws can have no effect. Much is said here about certain prominent men of this village, who are said to have thrown firebrands by encouraging the anti-renters.
" Men are pouring into the village, from different towns, to protect the public buildings. The anti-renters say that the jail will never again hold any of them long. They will endea- vor to destroy the State arms, that are here, by burning them. I am told that the Governor will be requested to declare the county in a state of insurrection, and to proclaim martial law."
Immediately upon the receipt of the intelligence of the death of Steele, meetings of the citizens were convened in various sections of the county.
On the eleventh a meeting of the citizens of Moresville, was convened, and the venerable John T. More presided.
On the fourteenth inst. a meeting was held at the head of the Delaware, at which A. M. Babcock presided. Isaac D. Cornwall, Charles Griffin, Calvin C. Covil, Joshua Draper, Hiram Fredenburgh, and Adam Grant, were appointed a
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committee of five to draft resolutions, condemning the late outrage, and sympathizing with the widow and relatives of the deceased.
A numerous meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Andes, convened at the house of E. B. Hunting, on the six- teenth inst., for the purpose of taking into consideration the late events which have transpired in that town : the following gentlemen were selected as officers of the meeting; Cyrus Burr, president, Samuel McCabe, vice president, John Dick- son, secretary ..
The meeting was addressed by several gentlemen in strong and energetic language, denouncing the whole course of pro- ceedings in the late- anti-rent excitement-showing the unpo- litic course pursued to obtain redress for any grievances they may have, and depicting in glowing terms the consequences which must follow.
The following persons were appointed to draft resolutions, expressive of the sense of the meeting, viz. M. T. Peake, H. Dowie, Jr., Ezra Waterbury, D. B. Shaver, and Luther Jack- son, including the president and secretary of the meeting.
The committee after retiring reported the following pream- ble and resolutions, which were unanimously adopted :
" Whereas, we, the inhabitants of the town of Andes, in consideration of the awful tragedy enacted in our town, result- ing in the death of our faithful public officer Osman N. Steele, who fell on the seventh inst., while endeavoring to sustain the laws against an infuriated mob unanimously :
" Resolved, That we hold in horror and detestation those cowardly assassins who have stained our land with innocent blood, and brought a reproach upon our character, as lovers of law and order.
"Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the widow and relatives of the deceased.
" Resolved, That while we sympathize with the afflictions of
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our neighbors who are implicated in this transaction, we tender to the law. and its officers our faithful allegiance and support.
" Resolved, That those political demagogues who have decoyed a confiding community into this vortex of crime and misery, deserve the execrations of an injured people."
The same day a meeting was held in the school-house, at Bovina Centre, and the Hon. James Cowan, was chosen chair- man. A preamble and resolutions were unanimously passed, among which was the following :
"Resolved, That the only safety we have for our lives or property, is to be found in the steady and inflexible adminis- tration and maintenance of the laws."
Meetings expressive of the indignation of the inhabitants were also held at Hobart, Delhi, Middletown, and several other places in the county. Nor was this exhibition of obedience to law confined to the limits of the county. Even the citizens of adjoining counties held numerous meetings of this character. And I perceive by a reference to a file of Kingston papers, that a large and respectable body of citizens assembled at the court-house in that village, " to express their indignation at the recent outrage in Delaware county." John Van Buren was called to preside. The meeting was addressed by Messrs. H. M. Romeyn, and Gen. J. G. Smith, in their usual forcible style. The preamble and resolutions were responded to with great applause.
These numerous assemblies, with the strong and emphatic language of the resolutions, in every instance unanimously passed, is sufficient of itself to illustrate the wonderful sum- merset anti-rentism had taken. The novelty of a calico dress, or a sheepskin face, lost all its magic fascination to those who had become the unfortunate dupes of its flattering pretensions, when it came in contact with the dark realities of an unpro- mising future. Even those who had secretly aided, and 24*
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abetted the organization, now came out openly in its opposition, while those, who trembled at the revelations which a court of inquiry would draw out, fled degraded outlaws to evade the vigilance of the officers of the law. Some settlements were almost entirely deserted by the male portion of the population, crops were left unharvested, farms and farm work were neglected, and a sad picture, far surpassing any thing which distrainment for rent could ever produce, was everywhere presented.
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CHAPTER XIII.
Action of the Executive-Proclamation of county in a state of insurrec- tion-Copy of the same-Its reception in Delhi-Arrival of Adjutant General Farrington-Organization of an armed force-Officers chosen-Extract from a letter-Mode of operating-Erection of tem- porary log-jails-Convening of the court-Grand Jury-Judge Par- ker's able charge-Allusion in the same to the demoralizing influ- ence of the excitement upon the county-Result of the trials-num- ber of convictions-O'Connor and Van Steenburgh convicted of mur- der-Sentence of the prisoners-Court adjourns-Attempt on the life of a guard-Reprieve of the sentences of O'Connor and Van Steen- burgh-Revocation by the Governor, of the declaration " declaring the county in a state of insurrection" -- Close-Closing remarks.
WOULD that with the closing up of the preceding chapter, we might have dropped the curtain over this painful narative. But it remains for us to follow out and delineate the restoration of equilibrium and order.
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