USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878 > Part 173
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The baron died from an attack of paralysis, on the 28th of November, 1794, and his body was wrapped in his mili- tary cloak and buried by his servants and friends, in the midst of a dense grove of timber, on his land.
"No useless coffin enclosed his breast, Nor in sheet nor in shroud we wound him ; But he lay like a warrior taking his rest, With his martial cloak around him."
A road, which was subsequently laid out, passed over the grave, and necessitated the removal of the remains to another locality, about a quarter of a mile north of his house. His old friend, Walker, performed this duty, and afterwards placed an iron railing around his grave. A stone, with the simple inscription,." MAJOR-GENERAL FREDERICK WILLIAM AUGUSTUS, BARON DE STEUBEN," marks his resting-place.|| His friend, Colonel North, sub- sequently placed a tablet to his memory in the Lutheran Church, Nassau Street, New York, where he attended when in the city, and caused the following inscription to be placed upon it :
" SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF
FREDERICK WILLIAM AUGUSTUS, BARON STEUBEN, A GERMAN ; KNIGHT OF THE ORDER OF FIDELITY ; AID-DE-CAMP TO FREDERICK THE GREAT, KING OF PRUSSIA; MAJOR-GENERAL AND INSPECTOR-GENERAL IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. Esteemed, respected, and supported by Washington, He gave military skill and discipline To the citizen soldiers, who, Fulfilling the Decrees of Heaven, Achieved the independence of the United States. The highly-polished manners of the Baron were graced By the most noble feelings of the heart. His hand, open as the day to melting charity, Closed only in the grasp of death.
This memorial is inscribed by an American, who had the honor to be his aid-de-camp, the happiness to be his friend. Obiit, 1795."
# Life of Ashbel Greene, by Joseph H. Jones, New York. From Kapp's Life of Steuben. :
t Kapp's Life of Steuben.
# Thatcher ; from Kapp.
¿ Garden's Anecdotes ; from Kapp.
|| The accompanying sketch shows the new monument, erected in 1870-72. It bears the simple inscription-STEUBEN.
STEUBEN
LITH, RY L. H. EVENTS, PHILADELPHIA
BARON STEUBEN MONUMENT. ERECTED 1870-2.
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
STEUBEN'S MONUMENT.
Baron Steuben had given directions previous to his death that his remains should be interred under the wild forest- trees, in some secret spot, where they might forever remain hidden from human ken. But this request could not be fulfilled, though the few mourning friends who laid him in his last resting-placc complicd as far as possible with his desire. His grave was dug, amid the early snows of Novem- ber, in a quiet and secluded locality, under the great trees of what was then a wide-spreading forest. Many years later a road was opened, which made it necessary to remove the remains. His aid-de-camp and adopted son, Colonel Walker, re-interred them where they now repose, and deeded fifty acres of land to the First Baptist Society of Stcuben, on condition that five acres, including the baron's grave, should be set apart, fenced, and kept in a state of nature. The society was faithful to the trust reposed in them, and relig- iously preserved the ground.
In 1824 a plain, simple monument was erccted over the remains, which remained until replaced by the present more costly and substantial one, built in 1870-72. Some years before the war of the Rebellion, the State Legislature ap- pointed a sum of public money for the purpose of erecting a monument, and this was subsequently turned over to an association of the friends and admirers of the veteran, who have at length completed the work. [See accompanying view.] A large measure of credit is due to Governor Sey- mour for the success of this undertaking.
On the 1st of June, 1870, the corner-stone of this monu- ment was laid in the presence of a great concourse of people, largely composed of the citizens of Stcuben and other por- tions of Oneida County. The excursion train from Utica took up about a thousand persons, among whom were ex- Governor Horatio Seymour, General Franz Sigel, Mr. S. Carl Kapff, the New York Liederkranz, the Utica Citi- zens' Corps, accompanied by the Utica City Band and many distinguished citizens. The concourse upon the grounds, which are situated about four miles west of Remsen Station, was estimated at from 3000 to 6000, and was the largest ever seen among the hills of Steuben.
At the suggestion of Hon. William Lewis, Governor Sey- inour was unanimously chosen chairman. After music by the band, and prayer in the Welsh language, by Rev. Robert Everett, Governor Seymour introduced Mr. Kapff to the assembly, who spoke in bchalf of the Steuben Seheutzen society, of New York, giving a brief history of the origin and progress of the movement having for its object the erec- tion of this monument.
Following Mr. Kapff, Deacon D. M. Crowell made an ad- dress of welcome, in bchalf of the citizens of Steuben and Remsen, to the distinguished guests and admirers of Steuben, who had come from ncar and far to do honor to the hero's memory. At the conclusion of Deacon Crowell's remarks the Liederkranz society, of whom thirty-five members were present, sang the ode, Der Tag des Herren, which was most excellently rendered.
Following this piece of music, Governor Seymour made one of his characteristic and scholarly addresses, which never fail to interest and enlighten his hearers. We make a few extracts from this address, which was listened to with
the profoundest attention and grected with hearty applause at the close :
" In November, 1794, in what was then a dense and wide-spread forest, a soldier of Frederick the Great, and an associate of George Washington, was buried near this spot. The snow was shoveled aside, and a grave dug out among the roots of great trees, by the few humble and sorrowing neighbors, who lived in what was theu a re- mote wilderness. Wrapped in his military cloak, upon which glit- tered the star of his knighthood, Frederick William, Baron de Steu- ben, who had lived in courts and camps, the companion of kings, princes, and rulers, was buried without one ceremony, in a place which, by his will, he directed should be kept unknown and un- marked. . . . It was not in a spirit of misanthropy that Steuben di- rected that his body should be laid in a secret spot in the deep woods, for he was a kind and genial man, who was fond of the society of others, and loved to make generous gifts and do liberal acts.
" A childless man, he wished to be buried and lost amid the scenes of nature he loved, and to mingle with the soil of the grand domain given to him by this State. No one then foresaw the greatness of the results he and his compatriots had worked out by the toils and sufferings of the Revolution. As these unfolded themselves the pub- lic sense would not permit that his grave should be unmarked and unhonored. In 1824 the monument which now lies in ruins at your feet was put up by the citizens of the county of Oneida. For the purpose of placing here a more fit and lasting memorial, a number of years since the Legislature of New York made a grant of public money. This was placed in the hands of a commission, of which I am a member. We put off the performance of the duties with which we were intrusted, as the great change in the value of our currency made the sum in our hands insufficient for the work for which it was given. We also found that the countrymen of Steuben wished, on their part, to place over his grave a suitable structure which would alike honor his memory and show their pride in the services which he had rendered to the country of his and of their adoption. We there- fore placed the work in their hands. They are here to-day to lay the corner-stone of the monument of their representative man with such ceremonies as are customary in the land of his and their nativity.
"They meet here men of different nationalities, all of whom sympa- thize in the pious work of keeping alive the memory of one who did so much to give the blessings of freedom to all, of whatever lineage, who live in our broad land. They are justly proud of the soldier who won honors in Germany in the seven years' war of Frederick the Great, and on this continent in the seven years' war for American independ- ence. As time rolls on the value of his services grows in the public judgment. Baron Steuben gave to our armies the discipline and mili- tary training which they lacked at the outset. Without these patriot- ism and valor would have been without avail. In this work he was the right arm of Washington. The recorded opinions of the great soldier and statesman of the cra of the Revolution, the action of Congress, and the laws of different States, tell of the high regard in which he was held. New York granted him a township of 16,000 acres, which bears his name. It made him the owner of the hills and valleys which lie around us. It gave him the soil with which his dust now mingles, and upon which his countrymen are about to put up a suitable monument to his memory. In this act there is another sentiment which animates those of German birth or descent, which does honor alike to them and to the buried chieftain by whose grave we now stand. They wish that his name and this monument should remind the world that their nationality has had much to do with the beginning and the prog- ress of our common country. Living here among those of different languge and lineage, they wish it should be felt that they are not reap- ing in this country fruits or blessings which their people did not help to produce, or that they have not the same hereditary rights which belong to other nationalities. While the English language prevails in our country, no one race can claim that a majority of the American people are of their blood. . . .
" It is well that the grave of the hero-whose memory we now honor-lies npon the heights which overlook the great valley settled by his countrymen, which was defended by their courage, and which is the scene of the victory won by them for the whole American people.
" It is in view of this fact at which I have glanced that the com- missioners appointed by this State to put up a monument over the grave of Steuben have given over the work to his countrymen. It
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
now remains with them to show that they hold in due reverence the inemory of the hero who won glory alike in the battles of his native land as well as in those which were fought in the eause of American independence. It remains for them to show, hy their liberal and earnest action, that they care for the part taken by German nationali- ties in the infaney, and growth, and greatness of American affairs, and to show that they mean, by the honors shown by them to their representative man, to claim the rights which belong to all uationali- ties which have helped to build up Ameriean greatness and glory from the foundation-stone to its highest pinnacle."
After music by the New Band, Governor Seymour per- formed the ceremony of laying the corner-stone, while the assemblage stood with uncovered heads in profound silence. Standing in the excavation prepared for the monument, he received the trowel and mortar from the hands of the committee, and as the granite block settled to its place, spoke these words :
"In behalf of our German fellow-eitizens, in behalf of the citizens of the State of New York, in behalf of the whole American people, who desire that the memory of this great man shall never pass away, since his Revolutionary aets were instrumental in laying the corner- stone of our liberties, I now deposit the corner-stone of this monument, erected in honor of Frederick William, Baron von Steuben. May God grant that it will ever serve to remind the American people of the great services which he performed in their eause, which he adopted as his own ! May God grant that it may always be treasured as sacredly as we treasure his memory to-day !"
Immediately after this ceremony Governor Scymour proposed that a vote of thanks be given by the Steuben Association to the Welsh Baptist Church for the fidelity and care with which they had carried out the request of Colonel Walker in preserving and protecting the grounds made sacred by the dust of the great soldier. The motion was unanimously carried with hearty acclaim. The Gover- nor then introduced General Franz Sigel, who delivered a splendid culogy of the baron, in the German language, which was received with rounds of applause.
Short speeches from various individuals followed, relics of the baron were exhibited, and, after music and the bene- diction, the gathering dispersed.
The monument was designed and executed by Mr. Henry Reck, of New York, at a cost of $3500. The base and body of the monument are of Trenton limestone, and the surmounting shaft of granite. The base is 14 feet square, and the total height from the ground 15 feet. Within a wreath cut in relief in the granite upon one of the faces is the simple word "STEUBEN." Four Parrott guns are planted, en reverse, at the angles of the monument, The whole work is plain, simple, and substantial.
SKETCH OF COLONEL WILLETT.
Colonel Marinus Willett was born July 31 (O. S.), 1740, at Jamaica, Long Island, His grandfather, Samuel Willett, held the office of sheriff of Queens County. His father, Edward Willett, was born in 1701, and died in New York, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. There were thirteen children in this family.
Colonel Willett's first public experience was in 1755-56, when he was present and witnessed the operations of a British press-gang in New York City.
In 1758 he was commissioned a second lieutenant in a colonial regiment commanded by Colonel Oliver Delancy, a brother of James Delancy, then lieutenant-governor of
the colony of New York. His company was raised on Long Island, and was commanded by Captain Thomas Wil- liams. His regiment was in the northern campaign under Abercrombie, and participated in the disastrous attack upon Montcalm's lines at Ticonderoga. The regiment also formed a part of Colonel Bradstreet's expedition to Frontenac, which resulted so successfully to the British arms.
On his return from this latter expedition, Lieutenant Willett was taken sick at Fort Stanwix, where he remained until November, when he made a bateau voyage down the Mohawk to Schenectady, and thence to New York, in De- cember, which place he reached after an absence of seven months. He was not engaged in active service during the remainder of the war. He took an active part on the side of the colonies in the exciting scenes following the passage of the " Stamp Act," and in the opening of the Revolution.
On the breaking out of the war between the colonies and Great Britain he at once offered his services, and was commissioned captain in Colonel Alexander McDougall's regiment (the second company), June 25, 1775. In Au- gust following his regiment joined General Montgomery's army at Albany, which soon after departed on its way to the invasion of Canada. He was present at the siege and capture of Chambly and St. John's, and his company was detached as a guard to convey the prisoners to Albany, which duty was satisfactorily performed, and the company returned to Montreal on the 22d of November. From this point he was sent to take conmand of St. John's, where he remained until February, 1776, when he was again sent to Albany as a guard to a number of Britishi officers and their families, who had been taken prisoners during the campaign.
When the Continental army was reconstructed and re- cruited, the State of New York was called upon to furnish four regiments, and Captain Willett was commissioned lieu- tenant-colonel of the third, of which Peter Gansevoort was appointed colonel. The regiment not being full, Colonel Willett was sent to Fishkill on recruiting service.
In the spring of 1777 he was placed in command of Fort Constitution, and on the 22d of March was personally en- gaged in the affair at Peekskill, where the British forces were repulsed in an attack on the place. The celebrated " camlet cloak," used in the construction of the garrison flag of Fort Stanwix, was captured in this affair.
On the 18th of May, he was ordered with the regiment to Fort Stanwix, where he arrived on the 29th. The name of this fort had been changed to Schuyler, in honor of General Philip Schuyler, and was so known during the war. By Willett's advice, Captain Marquizee, the French engineer officer in charge of the work of repairing the fort, was re- lieved, and returned to headquarters at Albany, and Colonel Willett himself took charge of the work.
The part taken by Colonel Willett in the memorable siege of Fort Stanwix (Schuyler) is narrated in another portion of this work. During Colonel Gansevoort's absence from the fort, subsequent to St. Leger's retreat, Colonel Willett was in temporary command. Upon Colonel Gansevoort's return in September, Colonel Willett was granted a short leave of absence, and visited his family at Fishkill. Dur- ing the summer of 1778 he seems not to have had an active
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A LITTLE.
COL. MARINUS WILLETT.
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
command, for we find him visiting the main army under Washington in New Jersey. He was present at the battle of Monmouth, in June of that year, and took an aetive part as a volunteer aid of General Scott.
In 1779 he accompanied General Sullivan on his great expedition against the Six Nations .* During the winter of 1779-80 he was with the main army, and performed a noted exploit on Staten Island ; and in 1780 he commanded the Fifth New York Regiment, attached to the Grand Army. In the latter part of that year he was placed in command of all the troops raised for the defense of the northwestern frontier of New York, with headquarters at Fort Rensselaer, now Canajoharic. In the beginning of July, 1781, his command had several skirmishes with marauding-parties of the enemy. In October of the same year occurred the raid of Majors Ross and Butler into the Mohawk Valley, and their pursuit and defeat by Colonel Willett. Considerable fighting occurred near Johnstown, and during the enemy's retreat, when crossing West Canada Creek, the notorious Major Walter N. Butler was killed. The enemy were finally driven in a starving condition into the wilderness to the north of the Mohawk Valley.
In February, 1783, at the special request of General Washington, he led a well-equipped expedition for the pur- pose of surprising the British garrison at Oswego ; but the guide losing his way, they were discovered, and obliged to abandon the objeet. Peace had already been ratified, and was soon after proclaimed.
In 1784, Colonel Willett was appointed sheriff of the city and county of New York, which office he held for four years. In 1790 he was sent on a special mission to negoti- ate a treaty with the Creek Indians, then located in Georgia and Alabama. When the war with the northwestern In- dians broke out he was offered the position of brigadier- general, but being conscientiously opposed to the war he declined the honor.
He was mayor of the eity of New York in 1807, and held the position of chairman of the committee for the assistance of the Greeks in 1825-26. He died on the 23d of August, 1830, in New York, at the age of ninety years, universally honored and beloved.
For his distinguished services at Fort Stanwix, Congress, the same year, ordered an elegant and costly sword to be presented him. He was a member of the New York State Society of the Cincinnati, which order passcd complimen- tary resolutions at his death and attended his funeral in a body. His funeral was also attended by many military and civic bodies. t
CHAPTER XLIX.
MILITARY HISTORY AND ROSTERS.
WAR OF THE REBELLION, 1861-65.
ONEIDA COUNTY performed well her part during the struggle of four years to prevent the dissolution of the
union of States, and from the first alarm was up and ready for any emergency. It is estimated that she furnished ten thousand men for the Union army during the war, and, as their history shows, they everywhere covered themselves with glory. Five regiments were organized almost entirely in the county, and many others had representatives from it. The accompanying roster is as perfect as could be obtained from the adjutant-general's reports and the records of towns. Blanks were furnished in 1865 to every town clerk in the State, and each was directed to fill them up prop- erly, place a copy on file in his office, and forward the duplicate to the adjutant-general of the State. This was done in order to secure a perfect list of those who entered into the service of their country, and a reliable descriptive roll, giving the final disposition of cach man,-his dis- charge, muster-out, desertion, death by sickness or on the field of battle, his wounds, the fact of his being taken pris- oner, with dates, etc. ;- but not half of these blanks were ever filled out as directed. They were in many cases neglected entirely and in others but indifferently arranged, and the consequence is the record of the noble boys in blue has become almost an impossibility to procure in anything like a satisfactory shape. We present herewith, as fully as possible to ascertain them, short histories of the regiments in which Oneida's sons enlisted and took part in the great struggle for the preservation of the country from the evils of slavery and disunion. Sketches have been promised us of several regiments by competent members thereof, but after long waiting they are not forthcoming, and we present what is in our power.
FOURTEENTH INFANTRY.
This regiment was the first raised in the county, and was familiarly known as the " 1st Oneida." It was organized at Albany, New York, to serve two years, and was mustered into the United States service May 17, 1861. Among the engagements in which it took an active part were Gaines' Mills, Hanover Court-House, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, all of them most bloody affrays. The regiment suffered quite severely during its term of service. It was mustered out at the expiration of the time for which it enlisted, May 24. 1863.
TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY.
This regiment was organized at Elmira, N. Y., for two years' service, and was mustered in May 21, 1861. The companies composing it were raised in the countics of Monroe, Tioga, and Oneida, the majority of the men being from the latter county, and it was known as the "2d Oneida." This regiment also suffered severely during its two years of service, and the names of Cedar Mountain, Seeond Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg bring to its surviving members vivid recollections of the bloody days of war. The 26th was mustered out May 28, 1863, at the expiration of its term of service.
FIFTIETH INFANTRY (ENGINEERS).
Companies C, D, and E of this regiment contained men from Oncida County. The 50th was organized at Elmira
* He also served in Colonel Van Sehaiek's expedition against the Onondagas in April, 1779.
+ For a full account of Colonel Willett's military operations during the Revolutionary war, see general chapters.
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
for three years, and was mustered into the service of the United States Sept. 18, 1861. On the expiration of its term of service the original members, except veterans, were mustered out, and the regiment, composed of veterans and recruits, was retained in service until June 13, 1865, when it was mustered out in accordance with orders from the War Department.
FIFTY-THIRD INFANTRY.
A few men in Company D of this regiment enlisted from Oneida County. The 53d was organized in New York City to serve three years, and was mustered in from Aug. 27 to Nov. 15, 1861. It was mustered out, in accordance with orders from the War Department, March 21, 1862.
FIFTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY.
The companies composing the 57th Regiment were raised in the counties of Dutchess, Kings, New York, and Oneida, those from the latter forming Company B. The regiment was organized in New York City for three years, and mus- tered in from Aug. 12 to Nov. 19, 1861. At the expira- tion of its term of service the original members, except veterans, were mustered out, and the veterans and recruits transferred to the 61st New York Infantry, Dec. 2, 1864. The principal engagements participated in by this regiment were Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Gaines' Mills, Peach Orchard, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Antie- tam, Fredericksburg, Chaneellorsville, Gettysburg, Bristow Station, Mine Run, Wilderness, Po River, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Tolopotomy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Straw- berry Plains, Deep Bottom, and Ream's Station.
SIXTY-FIRST INFANTRY.
This regiment contained a considerable number of re- cruits from Oneida County, but was originally principally raised and organized in New York City, for a term of three years, and mustered in from Aug. 22 to Oet. 26, 1861. At the expiration of the three years the original members, except veterans, were mustered out, and the veterans and recruits retained in service until July 14, 1865, when they were mustered out in accordance with orders from the War Department. The battles in which this regiment was en- gaged were Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Peach Orchard, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Glendale, Malvern Hill, An- tietam, Bristow Station, Gettysburg, Chaneellorsville, Mine Run, Fredericksburg, Wilderness, Corbin's Bridge, Po River, North Anna, Spottsylvania, Tolopotomy, Cold Har- bor, Petersburg, Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, Ream's Station.
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