History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 22

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 664

USA > New York > Fulton County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 22
USA > New York > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents > Part 22

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we love its wide alluvials, where the graceful corn-tassels wave, and we love its meadow belts; we love the full volume of its freshet floods, and we love the silver line of its summer-dwindled current. We cannot but be proud of and proclaim our love for our wayward but ever beautiful Mo- hawk."

CHAPTER XVIII.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1812-THE MILITIA SYSTEM- HOW THE ELEVENTH BRIGADE WENT TO WAR.

Though the colonists had secured their independence and with the re- turn of peace could pursue their various avocations undisturbed by an in- vading foe, they did not beat their swords into ploughshares, for they realized the necessity of preserving some military organization. Their recent sufferings from savage warfare had warned them to be on their guard against Indian depredations as well as a possible invasion by a for- eign power. Hence arose the militia system, under which martial exercise was regularly practiced, the officers and privates supplying themselves with the necessary outnt. The apprehension that led to this military precau- tion was too soon justified. Scarcely had a quarter of a century rolled away before the signs of the times indicated the rapid approach of another war with Great Britain, which would require the yeomen to use their arms on the frontier, instead of flourishing them in harmless battles on some chosen field at home.

At this period the state of New York along the Canadian frontier was to a great extent an almost unknown wilderness, and communications and transportation were still slow and laborious. The Mohawk river, slightly improved in its natural wayward course by the Inland Lock Navigation Company, was the only route, except the rough highways, for the westward conveyance of cannon, which were loaded upon the Durham boats. April Ioth, 1812, Congress authorized the drafting of 100,000 men from the militia of the country, 13,500 being assigned as the quota of New York. A few days later the detached militia of the State were arranged in two divisions and eight brigades. The fourth brigade comprised the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th regiments in the Mohawk valley, and was under the command of Gen. Richard Dodge, of Johnstown.

The embargo act was extensively violated and much illicit trade carried on along the Canadian frontier, smugglers being sometimes protected by armed forces from the Canada side. To break up this state of things and protect the militiary stores collected at the outposts, a regiment of Mohawk valley militia, under Col. Christopher P. Bellinger, was stationed in May, 1812, at Sackett's Harbor and other points in northern New York. These, on the declaration of war in the month following, were reinforced by a draft on the militia not yet called into service. The Montgomery county militia responded promptly to the calls for troops to defend the frontier. and were noted for their valor and patriotic zeal, submitting, without com- plaint, to the various privations incident to the march and camp. A de- tachment of them, under Gen. Dodge, arrived at Sackett's Harbor Sep- tember 21st, and the General took command at that post.

The house in the town of Florida, now owned by Waterman Sweet, was kept as a hotel by one VanDerveer during the war of 1812, and was a place of drafting the militia into the service. At Canajoharie a recruiting rendezvous was opened by Lieutenant Alphonso Wetmore and Ensign Robert Morris of the Thirteeth regiment, residents of Ames, who raised two companies, which were ordered to the Niagara frontier in time to take part in the first events of importance in that quarter. The Thirteenth suffered severely at the battle of Queenstown Heights, Ensign Morris and Lieutenant Valleau being among the killed and five other officers severely wounded. After that engagement operations were for some time confined to bombardment across the river from the fortifications at Niagara and Black Rock. At the latter point Lieutenant Wetmore lost his right arm by a cannon shot. He was subsequently promoted to the offices of major and division paymaster.

During the two succeeding years, the militia and volunteers from the Mohawk valley were on duty all along the frontier. When the term of service of any company or regiment expired, it was sueceeded by another. Many of the garrison of Sacketts Harbor, when it was attacked by the British May 24, 1813, were from this section. That place was an im- portant depot of military stores, a large amount of which was destroyed by

THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

the garrison in fear of their falling into the hands of the British, who, how- ever, were finally repulsed.

A good number of the Montgomery and Fulton veterans of 1812 still survive. Among those in the western part of these counties are : Moses Winn, Minden, in his 88th year his father was a captain in the Revolution, and sheriff of the county after the war ; George M. Bauder, Palatine, in his 92d year he has a land warrant not yet located ; John Walrath, Min- den, nearly 82 ; William H. Seeber, Minden, about 86 ; Peter G. Dunckel, Minden, about 84 ; Henry Nellis, Palatine, about 84 ; John Casler, Min- den, nearly 86 after being blind for eight years his sight was restored) ; Abram Moyer, Minden, about 84 ; Cornelius Clement Flint, Minden, about 84 ; Benjamin Getman, Ephratah, 86; Henry Lasher, Palatine, 88 ; Py- thagoras Wetmore, Canajoharie, 80; John Eigabrandt, St. Johnsville, about 82. In the eastern part may be mentioned : J. Lout, Mohawk : David Resseguie, Northampton, 94 ; and Amasa Shippee and Capt. Reuben Wil- Jard of the same town.

When peace was once more restored and the militia were allowed to re- main at home, instead of camping on the frontier to dispute the ground with a foreign enemy, martial exercises were still required of them by the law of the State. The militia consisted of all the able-bodied white male citizens, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five. State officers, clergy- men, school teachers and some others when actively employed, were exempt from military duty. Students in colleges or academies, employees on coast- ing vessels and in certain factories, and members of fire companies were also exempt, except in cases of insurrection or invasion. Persons whose only bar to military service was religious scruples, could purchase exemp- tion for a stated sum annually. The Major-General, Brigade-Inspector and chief of the staff department, except the adjutant and commissary generals, were appointed by the State. Colonels were chosen by the captains and sabalterns of their regiments, and these latter by the written ballots of their respective regiments and separate battalions. The com- manding officers of regiments or battalions appointed their staff officers. Every non-commissioned officer and private was obliged to equip and uni- form himself, and perform military duty for fifteen years from his enroll- ment, after which he was exempt, except in case of insurrection or invasion. A non-commissioned officer, however, could get excused from duty in seven years, by furnishing himself with certain specified equipments, other than those required by law. It was the duty of the commanding officer of each company to enroll all military subjects within the limits of his juris- diction, and they must equip themselves within six months after being notified.

The first company of cavalry organized in this part of the Mohawk val- ley took in a large district of country, and was raised and commanded by Capt. Hudson, a merchant at Indian Castle now Danube , early in this century. Peter Young, of Fort l'lain, became its second captain ; and was succeeded by Capt. Wemple. At his death the command of the com- pany devolved upon Jacob Eacker, of Palatine. His resignation was fol- lowed by the appointment of Nicholas N. Van Alstine, as its captain. As he was not the unanimous choice of the company, which was then large, his appointment led to a division of the one into two companies, one upon each side of the river ; that on the north side being commanded by Barent Getman.

On the first Monday in September of each year, every company of the militia was obliged to assemble within its geographical limits for training. One day in each year, between the ist of September and the 15th of October, at a place designated by the commander of the brigade, the regi- ment was directed to assemble for a general training. All the officers of each regiment or battalion were required to rendezvous two days in suc- cession in June, July, or August, for drill under the brigade-inspector. A colonel also appointed a day for the commissioned officers and musicians of his regiment to meet for drill, the day after the last mentioned gathering being generally selected. Each militiaman was personally notified of an approaching muster, by a non-commissioned officer bearing a warrant from the commandant of his company ; or he might be summoned without a warrant by a commissioned officer, either by visit or letter A failure to appear, or to bring the necessary equipments, resulted in a court-martial and a fine, unless a good excuse could be given ; delinquents who could not pay were imprisoned in the county jail. When a draft was ordered for public service it was made by lot in. each company, which was or- dered out on parade for that purpose.

"General training " was usually regarded as a pleasant occasion by the men, as it gave them a chance to meet many acquaintances; and was the holiday of the year for the boys. Provided with a few pennies to buy the inevitable ginger bread from the inevitable peddler, they were happier than the lads to-day would be with shillings to spend among the greatest variety of knicknacks. The place of meeting and the extent of the parade ground were designated by the commanding officer. The sale of spirituous liquors on the ground could only be carried on by permission of the same official. Total abstinence was not the rule, however, on such occasions; and an officer who had the right to throw away the contents of a private bottle, did not always practice such extravagant wastefulness, particularly if fond - of the "critter." being persuaded, that if spared, some of the beverage would ultimately find its way down his own throat. A general training was once held at Glen, during an exceedingly severe drought, and the in- habitants of the neighborhood fearing that their wells would be drained of their scanty supply, resorted to the prudent precaution of taking away the fixtures for drawing up the water. This measure proved highly profitable to the innkeeper, who had plenty of whisky to sell, and water to give only to the purchasers of his liquor.

During the long period of peace which followed the second war with Great Britain, the militia who had seen service dropped out of the lists ; and when the riotous anti-rent disturbance, or Helderberg war, as it was called, gave the next prospect of belligerent operations, the ranks were filled by a generation entirely unacquainted with scenes of carnage, and anything but eager to take the field. Their reluctance was increased by the fact that many of them had the same grievances as the anti-renters, whom they were expected to quell. Particularly was this the case among the members of the Fourteenth Brigade, who lived along the south side of the Mohawk from Schenectady nearly to Canajoharie.

This brigade was also distracted with controversies over the office of brigade-inspector. Aaron Freeman, of Schenectady county, had held that position with great acceptability, but removing to Albany was obliged to resign it. He recommended the appointment of a certain man to fill the vacancy thus created, but the governor, probably influenced by political motives, made another choice. The appointment required the sanction of the Senate, but the Legislature was not in session, and the governor, with- out consulting the Senate, appointed Robert Green, of Duanesburgh, Schenectady county. Shortly after the officers of the brigade were sum- moned to meet for drill at Minaville, in the town of Florida. When Green appeared as brigade-inspector, the officers to a man bolted and refused to drill under him. Robert B. Harris, now living at Fultonville, who had formerly been Colonel of the 26th regiment, covering the towns of Char- leston and Glen and part of Root, was present, and by unanimous request conducted the drill exercises. At the general muster of the 26th Regiment. held at Charleston Four Corners soon after, a similar scene was enacted. The Brigadier-General, having refused to recognize Green as brigade-in- spector, was put under arrest. Such being the unhappy state of affairs in the Fourteenth Brigade at the time of the anti-rent insurrection, no call was made upon it.

The Eleventh Brigade, however, north of the Mohawk, was called to gird on the armor and repair to the seat of war to gather its share of laurels. The invitation seems not to have been universally appreciated. The mili- tiamen did not all grasp their firelocks with the cheerful alacrity and deter- mination so becoming to the soldier. On the contrary, some rather amus- ing feats were performed in the endeavor to evade being warned. One reluctant patriot, anxiously expecting the messenger of war, one evening heard the sound of hurried footsteps. He did not jeopardize his chances of safety by lingering to scrutinize his visitor, but taking it for granted that the dreaded notice had arrived, bolted from the house and fled at the top of his speed. As it happened, the comer was one in the same strait with himself, and whether seeing the joke, or hoping to catch up with the fugi- tive and have his company in their retreat, or infected with the panie which had seized his fellow soldier, he pursued the latter, and both ran until they were completely exhausted.

When the brigade had been mustered and had proceeded as far as Schenectady, a halt was made. There were many among the militia whose courage was settling toward zero, in anticipation of soon treading fields of carnage, and their plight was enjoyed by the majority of the force, who were not in similar trepidation. Among the latter was a waggish fellow named Abraham Soule, who had gained some notoriety in horse-trading, and who took great pride in being heard and observed by the crowd. It

THE PROJECTORS OF THE ERIE CANAL-ITS CONSTRUCTION.

was suggested to him that he should make a speech appropriate to the oc- casion. He promptly prepared himself and addressed the martial assem- bly with becoming gravity. If he assured his hearers that they were on the way to glorious triumph, he did not soothe the weak-kneed by promis- ing that it would be gained without a struggle. On the contrary, he repre- sented that he had been down among the Helderbergers and seen how desperately they were preparing for the conflict. They had broken up their plowshares to charge their field-pieces with the jagged fragments, and even the old gray-headed men with spectacles on were lying behind the fences and practicing sharpshooting. The force proceeded to Albany, but at roll-call next morning it appeared as though, during the night, a pestilence of mushroom growth had seized a portion of the brigade. When the drill exercises had been performed, and the militia were ordered to the arsenal to get their ammunition, a number more were taken. It was something wonderful how sickness had depleted the ranks by the time they were drawn up for parade and review in the afternoon, in anticipation of an immediate march to the seat of war; but on their being unexpectedly or- dered home instead of to the front, the suddenness of their recovery was equally remarkable. Convalescent symptoms instantly appeared, and when the heroes set out for home, they did so in full force and good spirits. The militia system was modified not long after, so as to make it less rigor- ous and encourage the formation of volunteer organizations.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE CONSTRUCTION AND ENLARGEMENT OF THE ERIE CANAL-AN INCI- DENT OF LAFAYETTE'S TOUR.

Schemes for the promotion of inland navigation, as we have seen, did not at first contemplate anything beyond the improvement of natural chan- nels from the Hudson to Lake Ontario. Efforts in that direction proving unsuccessful, the construction of an artificial channel from the Hudson to Lake Erie suggested itself to commercial and scientific minds. The first proposal, if not the original conception, of such an enterprise is claimed for Gouverneur Morris. In conversation with Simeon De Witt, Surveyor- General, at Schenectady, in 1803, Morris suggested the project of convey- * ing the water of Lake Erie direct to the Hudson by means of a canal so constructed as to preserve a continuous fall to the high lands bordering on the river, which should be surmounted by the instrumentality of locks. The Surveyor-General, in common with most to whom the scheme was mentioned, regarded it as visionary and impracticable, and so represented it to James Geddes, a surveyor of Onondaga county, in a subsequent con- versation with him on the subject. Geddes, however, on reflection viewed it differently, and concluded that with some modifications the plan could be carried out, and that the enterprise would be one of great utility. Peo- ple generally, however, appalled at the magnitude of the suggested work, hardly dared to consider the subject gravely. and for several years after the conception of the idea, nothing was done toward realizing it.

Yet it was not abandoned. Among the ablest advocates of the project was Jesse Hawley, who in a fourteen weeks series of contributions to the Genesee Messenger, beginning in October, 1807, elucidated it, and demon- strated its feasibility. The proposition was first brought before the Legis- lature by Joshua Forman, member from Onondaga, Feb. 4, 1808. l'ur- snant to a resolution offered by him, a committee was appointed to report on the propriety of an exploration and survey to the end that Congress might be induced to appropriate the requisite funds. The committee re- ported favorably ; a survey was ordered April 6, 1808, and a small ap- propriation made for the expenses of the same. The service was performed by James Geddes. He was directed to examine the route for a canal from Oneida Lake to Lake Ontario as well as that from lake Erie, eastward. He reported in favor of the latter, which he pronounced feasible. The re- port excited general interest and made such an impression on the Legisla- ture that a joint resolution was passed creating a board of commissioners to make additional explorations and surveys, for which $3,000 was appro- priated. The work was done in the summer of 1810, and a report made in the following spring in favor of the route to lake Erie. The cost of the proposed canal was estimated at 85,000,oco. April 8, 1811, an act was passed continuing and enlarging the commission, authorizing it to appeal to Congress and the Legislatures of other States for aid and appropriating $15,000, for further operations. I'recisely ayear later, the commission re-

ported that the legislatures of Massachusetts, Ohio and Tennessee only had asked the congressional delegations of their States to vote for the aid requested by New York. The length of the projected canal was estimated at 350 miles, and the cost of transportation six dollars per ton. The report spoke of the project in glowing terms and recommended its prosecution on the credit of the State. The commissioners in compliance with their re- quest were authorized to obtain a loan of $5,000,000, and procure the right of way.

The prosecution of the work was prevented by the war with great Britain, which so engrossed publie attention that the canal project was abandoned, and the act authorizing a loan in its behalf was repealed.

Toward the close of 1815, the enterprise was revived. A large meeting in its favor was held at New York, in December of that year, at which resolutions were adopted urging the construction of the canal. An able memorial from New York, and petitions from all parts of the State were presented to the Legislature. The memorial was a strong argument for the canal, and a rose-colored prophecy of the results that would follow its construction in the development of population and commerce. In spite of many obstacles, the efforts of the canal champions out of the Legislature and in it, especially of De Witt Clinton, among the latter, procured the pas- sage of an act, April 17, 1816, providing for the appointment of commis- sioners to take up the work. The men appointed were Stephen Van Rens- selaer, DeWitt Clinton, Samuel Young, Joseph Elliott, and Myron Holles. They had the same powers as the previous board, and were voted $20,000 for the expenses incurred by them. DeWitt Clinton was the president of the commission. The plan of a continuons slope from Lake Erie, first proposed, was abandoned by the commissioners, and that of following the undulations of the surface adopted. They also adopted the estimate of five millions as the cost of the work. April 15, 1817, an act prepared by DeWitt Clinton, was passed, though not without strennous opposition au- thorizing the commencement of actual construction. The canal was still considered by many a ruinous experiment, and lamentations were frequent- ly heard on the miseries of an overtaxed people and their posterity.

The canal was divided into three sections, from Albany to Rome, Rome to the Seneca river, and thence to Lake Erie. Charles C. Broadhead was engineer in charge of the eastern division, Benjamin Wright of the middle division, and James Geddes, of the western. The canal was planned to be forty feet wide at the surface, and twenty-eight at the bottom, and the depth of water four feet. The locks were ninety feet long and twelve wide in the clear. The commissioners were authorized to borrow on the credit of the State sums not exceeding $400,000 in any one year. Nearly $50.000 had been spent in explorations and surveys before ground was first broken. That event occurred at Rome on the nation's birthday, 1817. in the presence of DeWitt Clinton, the foremost champion of the enter- prise, who was then Governor, and the commissioners. John Richardson held the plow in opening the first furrow. It was more than two years be- fore any part of the line was ready for use. On the 22d of October, 1819, the first boat was launched at Rome, to run between that point and Utica, for the conveyance of passengers. It was called the "Chief Engineer ; " was sixty-one feet long and seven and a half wide : had two cabins, each fourteen feet long, with a flat deck between them, and was drawn by one horse. The next day, the commissioners and some of the most prominent citizens of Utica embarked there for the return trip to Rome, and set off with a band playing, bells ringing, cannon thundering and thousands of spectators cheering from the banks.

On the 21st of July, 1820, tolls were first levied, the rates being fixed by the commissioners ; the amount received that year was between five and six thousand dollars, taken by six collectors. The canal was used between Utica and Little Falls, in the autumn of 1821, the contractor at the latter point availing himself of the unprofitable labors of the Inland Lock Navi- gation Company : and the portion east to the Hudson, was under contract. Meanwhile, the river floated the canal boats from Little Falls to Schenec- tady. The Mohawk Valley below the former point, was thoroughly ex- plored under the supervision of Benjamin Wright, chief engineer, and the intended direct line from Schenectady to the Hudson river near Albany was abandoned in favor of the course of the Mohawk river. The accuracy of the engineering work on the line was considered wonderful in view of the fact that the engineers Wright and Geddes had had no previous experience of the kind, having been only land surveyors before their employment on this great work.

In the spring of 1823, the canal was open uninterruptedly from Spraker's

THE HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

to the western part of the State, and in September following, the St. Johns- ville feeder was completed. The spot at the "Nose," however, was still unfinished, and at that point merchandise was transferred to river boats for transportation past the unfinished section. In the later stages of the great work, unexpectedly rapid progress was made, its success being now assured, and on the 26th of October, 1825, the finishing touch had been given and the canal was thrown open to navigation throughout by the admission of the water from Lake Erie at Black Rock. The length of the canal was 363 miles, and its original cost $7, 143,780,86. Its completion was celebrated with unbounded joy which found expression in extraordin- ary civic and military ceremonies, and all the festivities that a proud and happy commonwealth could invent. On the morning of October 26, the first flotilla of boats bound for New York from Lake Erie, entered the canal at Buffalo, carrying the Governor and canal commissioners. Their departure was the signal for firing the first of a large number of cannon stationed within hearing distance of each other along the whole line of the canal and the Hudson river, and at Sandy Hook, by which the momentous news of the opening of through travel at Buffalo was announced at the Hook in an hour and twenty minutes. One of the signal guns, stationed at Spraker's Basin, was fired by the Revolutionary veteran, Goshen Van Al- stine. The official voyagers were everywhere greeted with enthusiastic demonstrations. The Advertiser, of Albany, commenting on their arrival at that city, said : " Wednesday last was a prond day to the citizens of the State of New York, and an important day to the Union. for then we had occular demonstration, that the great work of the age is completed and our inland seas made accessible from the ocean. * *

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History of Montgomery and Fulton counties, N.Y. : with illustrations and portraits of old pioneers and prominent residents, Part 22

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub Publication date: 1878 Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 664

Author: Beers, F.W., & co., New York, pub
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: New York : F.W. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 664