History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 172

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 920

USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 172

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" On one occasion, after the treason, the baron was on parade at roll-enli, when the detested name, Arnold, was heard in one of the infantry companies of the Connectient line. The baron immediately ealled the unfortunate possessor to the front of the company. He was a perfect model for his profession,-elotbes, arms, and equipments in the most perfeet order. The practiced eye of the baron soon scanned the soldier, and ' Call at my marquee ofter you are dismissed, brother soldier,' was his only remark. After Arnold was dismissed from parnde, he called at the baron's quarters as directed. The boron said to him, ' You are too fine a soldier to bear the name of a traitor ; change it at onee, change it at once.' 'But what name shall I take?' replied Arnold. 'Any that you please, any that you please; take mine, if you cannot suit yourself better; mine is at your service.'

" Arnold at once agreed to the proposition, and immediately re- paired to his orderly ; and Jonathan Stenhen forthwith graced the company-roll in lieu of the disgraced name of him who had plotted

# Verbal communication by John W. Mulligan, in Stapp's " Life" of the baron.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

William De Steuben an annuity of $2500 during life, to commence on the first of January last, to be paid in quarterly payments at the treasury of the United States; which said annuity shall be considered in full discharge of all claims and demands whatever of the said Frederiok William De Steuben against the United States.

" FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG, " Speaker of the House of Representatives. "JOHN ADAMS,

" Vice-President of the United States and President of the Senate. " Approved June 4, 1790.

" GEORGE WASHINGTON,

" President of the United States."

The "Order of the Cincinnati" was established by the officers in the spring of 1783, before the disbandment of the army. At the preliminary meeting, held on the 10th of May, Steuben presided. Washington was the first president. Steuben was vice-president of the New York State Society of the Cincinnati from 1785 to 1786, and president from 1786 until 1790.

Though Congress failed to make any donation of lands to the baron, several of the States remembered him in the most generous and handsome manner. The State of Penn- sylvania made him a citizen of the commonwealth, and presented him with a tract of 2000 acres of land in West- moreland County. Virginia presented him with 15,000 acres in Ohio, then a part of her territory, and New Jersey. gave him a life-lease of a forfeited estate belonging to John Zabriskie, in Bergen township. This, however, Steuben refused to accept when he found that Zabriskie, in conse- quence of the confiscation, was left without means. He also interposed in behalf of Zabriskie.

The cities of Albany and New York honored him with their freedom, and on the 5th of May, 1786, the Legisla- ture of New York granted him one-quarter of a township of land, equivalent to 16,000 acres, in the territory pur- chased of the Oneida Indians. This territory was situated north of the city of Utica, aud mostly within the present township of Steuben.

After the close of the war, "the baron," as he was fa- miliarly known, lived for some years in the city of New York, where he was a great favorite with all classes, and especially among the ladies.

A characteristic anecdote is related of him on the occa- sion of the " doctor's mab," about 1787, when by the care- less exposure of a subject in the dissecting-room a certain doctor called down the vengeance of the rabble upon his head. The militia had been called out, and Governor Clinton was on the ground, together with many prominent officials and citizens ; among the rest Steuben, who in the moment of greatest excitement was remonstrating with the Governor against firing on the crowd. While earnestly en- gaged, a stone struck him on the head, and for a moment stunned him; as his friends were carrying him away he revived, and waving his hand cried out, " Fire, Governor, fire !"

In April, 1787, Steuben was appointed by the Legisla- ture one of the regents of the State University. The body numbered twenty-two, and its duties were to visit and io- spect all the colleges and academies in the State, and make an annual report to the Legislature.

Previous to 1790 the baron had visited his lands once

or twice. In June of that year he made another visit, and remained several months.

Among the highest points in the county of Oneida are Steuben and Starr hills, which are on this tract; from the top of which, it is stated in Mr. Jones' " Annals," seven dif- ferent counties can be seen.

On the 4th of July, 1790, the baron gave a dinner to all the men on his land and the settlers in the neighbor- hood. Whenever he found a worthy Revolutionary soldier he made him a present of a lot of from 40 to 100 acres in extent.

He spent the summers on his land, but returned regu- larly to New York in the autumn, and remained through the winter.

In 1793, when there was prospect of trouble with Great Britain, Steuben made an examination of the harbor of New York, and drew up a plan for its defense. In March, 1794, a commission consisting of Steuben, Peter Ganse- voort, Jr., William North, Stephen Van Rensselaer, John Taylor, John Verner, and Daniel Hale, was appointed by the Legislature to superintend the erection of the necessary fortifications, etc., for the protection of the western and northern frontiers of the State. Of this commission Steuben was chosen president, and in company with Col. North and Stephen Van Rensselaer visited the region about Oneida and Onondaga Lakes. They met a large assemblage of Indians, some hostile and others friendly to the United States, at Salt Point, on the last named lake. The hostility of some of the savages was so manifest against Steuben that he was obliged to return by land to Fort Stanwix to avoid capture.

His lands were mostly leased at the rate of from ten to twenty dollars for every hundred acres, and at the time of his death some twenty families were living on his tract. He enjoyed himself greatly upon his estate, and intended erecting a splendid mansion and making great improve- ments, but had not accomplished much more than the erection of a log house at the date of his death.

Many of his old military friends visited him, and always enjoyed the most unbounded hospitality. He delighted to discuss the political situation and the wars in Europe, but never could comprehend why the Prussian eagles should retreat before the French.

" Ah," said an old man who had been a captain, and afterwards kept a public-house near Utica, "how glad I am to see you, baron, in my house ! but I used to be dreadfully afraid of you."

" How so, captain ?"

" You hallooed and swore and looked so dreadfully at me once, baron, that I shall never forget it. When I saw you so strict to the officers on my right, I felt very queer ; and when you came up to me, baron, I hardly knew what to do, and I quaked in my shoes."

" Oh, fi donc, captain !"

" It was bad, to be sure," said he ; " but you did halloo most tremendously."

In conversation with his friends about military matters, he once criticised the genius of the people of the different States for warfare, saying, " Of all the Americans the Yankees are, in my opinion, the best soldiers; they are the

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

most intelligent, and in some respects the best troops in the world. But they always want to know the reason for the orders given them by their superiors, and are too fond of improving upon the plans of the latter."

He was sharp at repartee, as the following anecdote from " Jones' Annals" illustrates : " An old seaman by the name of Simeon Woodruff, who had circumnavigated the world with Captain Cook, had bought a piece of land front Steu- ben. On a certain occasion, while on one of his annual winter visits to the city of New York, some of his friends rather jeered him for attempting to settle the mountains up at the head of the Mohawk. Steuben was a little nettled, and at once retorted ' that it was the best land in the world, and he could prove it.'

"The proof was challenged, and it was at once given, as follows: 'Why, there is Captain Simeon Woodruff, who has sailed around the globe with Captain Cook, and he has bought a farm on my patent and settled on it; and sure if in all his voyages a better location had been found, he would not have done so.' "

A rich anecdote is told at the baron's expense, which illustrates his irritability under difficulties, which was, no doubt, a prominent characteristic. It would appear that he was drilling a body of raw troops, who, between his imper- fect English and their own ignorance, made very indifferent progress :

" After having exhausted his rich store of German and French paths, he is said to have called Walker (his aid) to his assistance, vociferating, ' Viens, Walker mon ami ! viens, mon bon ami ! Sacré- God damn de gaucheries of dese badauts je ne puis plus, I can curse dem no more !'"

A couple of incidents at the close of the war show the baron's character in another light :

"Steuben was rather haughty in his bearing, which did not in the least diminish his frankness and cordiality in social intercourse, and he was of easy access, benevolent, and full of a high sense of justice. At a review near Morristown, a Lieutenant Gibbons, a brave and good officer, was arrested on the spot, and sent to the rear, for a fault which it afterwards appeared another had committed. At a proper moment the commander of the regiment came forward and informed the baron of Mr. Gibbons' innocence, of his worth, and of his acute feelings under the unmerited disgrace. 'Desire Lieutenant Gibbons to come to the front, colonel. Sir,' said the haron, addressing the young gentle- man, ' the fault which was committed, by throwing the line into con- fusion, might, in the presence of an enemy, have been fatal. I ar- rested you as its supposed author, but I have reason to believe that I was mistaken, and that, in this instance, you were blameless. I ask your pardon ; return to your command. I would not deal unjustly towards any one, much less towards one whose character as an offi- cer is so respectable.' All this passed with the baron's hat off, the rain pouring on hie venerable head. Do you think there was an officer or soldier who saw it unmoved by affection and respect ? Not one."*

At the disbandment of the Revolutionary army, when inmates of the same tent or hut for seven long years were separating,

" I saw," says North, "the haron'e strong endeavors to throw some ray of sunshine on the gloom, to mix some drops of cordial with the painful draughts. To go they knew not whither : all recollection of the art of thriving by civil occupations was lost, or to the youthful never known. To go in silence and alone, and poor and helpless, it was too hard. To a stern old officer, a Lieutenant-Colonel Cochrane, from the Green Mountains, who had met danger and difficulty at

almost every step from his youth, and upon whose furrowed visage a tear till that moment had never fallen, the good baron said what could be said to lessen deep distress. 'For myself, ' said Cochrane, 'I care not ; I can stand it; but my wife and daughters are in the gar- ret of that wretched tavern. I know not where to remove, nor have I the means of their removal.' 'Come, my friend,' said the baron, 'let us go; I will pay my respects to Mre. Cochrane and daughters, if you please.' I followed to the left, the lower rooms being all filled with soldiers, with drunkenness, despair, and blasphemy. And when the baron left the poor, unhappy castaways, he left hope with them and all he had to give."t

" A black man, with wounds unhealed, wept on the wharf, for it was at Newberg where this tragedy was acting. There was a vessel in the stream, bound to the place where he once had friends. He had uot a dollar to pay his passage, and he could not walk. Unnsed to tears, I saw them trickle down the good man's cheeks as be put into the hands of the black man the last dollar be possessed. The negro hailed the sloop, and cried, ' God Almighty bless you, Master Baron !'"}

"Steuben was never married. It seems, however, that he met with a disappointment in early life. While preparing to remove to bie farm, the accidental fall of a portrait of a most beautiful young woman from his cabinet, which was picked up by his companion and shown to him, with the request to be told from whom it was taken, produced a most obvious emotion of strong tenderness, and the pa- thetic exclamation, 'Oh, she was a matchless woman !' He never afterwards alluded to the subject."¿

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 Amerionn, who had the honor to he his aid-de-camp, the happiness to be his friend. Obiit, 1795."

* Life of Aebbel Greene, by Joseph H. Jones, New York. From Kapp's Life of Steuben.

Kapp's Life of Steuben.

# Thatcher; from Kapp.

¿ Garden's Anecdotes ; from Kapp.

| The accompanying sketch showe the new monument, erected in

1870-72. It bears the simple insoription-STEUBEN.

STEUBEN

UTH, BY L. N. 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-place complied 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 Steuben, 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 Steuben 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- mour 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 behalf of the Steuben Scheutzen 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 behalf of the citizens of Steuben and Remsen, to the distinguished guests and admirers of Steuben, who had come from near 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 greeted with hearty applause at the close :

" In November, 1794, in what was theo 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 then 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 comps, 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 misnothropy 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 generons gifts und 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 grentness of the results he and his compatriots had worked ont by the toils and sufferings of the Revolution. As these unfolded themselves the pnh- lic sense would not permit that his grave should be unmarked und unhonored. In 1824 the monument which now lies in ruins at your feet was put up by the citizens of the county of Oneidn. For the purpose of placing hero a more fit and lasting memorial, a number of years since the Legislature of New York mode a grant of public money. This was placed in the hands of n 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 Stenben wished, on their part, to place over his grave a suitable structure which would nlike honor his memory and show their pride in the services which he had rendered to the country of his and of their ndoption. We there- fore plnccd the work in their hands. They are here to-day to lay the coroer-stone of the monument of their representative mno with such ceremonies as ore customary in the land of his and their nativity.

"They incet 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 linenge, 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 Grent, und 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 opinione of the great soldier and statesman of the ern 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 npon which his countrymen are about to put up a suitable monument to hie memory. In this act there is another sentiment which nnimates those of German birth or descent, which does honor alike to them and to the buried chieftain by whose grave we now stund. They wish that his name und this monument should remind the world that their nationality has had mneh 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 hlood. .

" It is well that the grave of the hero-whose memory we now honor-lies upon the heights which overlook the great valley settled by his countrymen, which was defended by their conrage, 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 memory of the hero who won glory alike in the battles of his native land as well as in those which were fought in the cause of American independence. It remains for them to show, by their liberal and earnest action, that they care for the part taken by German nationali- ties in the infancy, 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 nationali- ties which have helped to build up American greatness and glory from the foundation-stone te 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-citizens, in behalf of the citizens of the State of New York, in hehalf of the whole American people, who desire that the memory of this great man shall never pass away, since his Revolutionary acts 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 Ged grant that it will ever serve to remind the American people of the great services which he performed in their cause, which he adopted as his own! May God grant that it may always he treasured as sacredly as we treasure his memory to-day !"

Immediately after this ceremony Governor Seymour 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 eulogy of the baron, in the German language,' which was received with rounds of applause.

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 172

Author: Durant, Samuel W Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss Number of Pages: 920

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 920