USA > New York > Ontario County > History of Ontario county, New York : with illustrations and family sketches of some of the prominent men and families > Part 12
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132
HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
In the spring of 1813 General Lewis invited the warriors of the Six Nations to come to his camp, and soon received three or four hundred of them under the lead of Farmer's Brother. However, it is difficult to state who was their acknowledged leader, one account saying it was Farmer's Brother, and another names Henry O'Bail (the Young Corn- planter) as holding that position, while a third authority credits Young King with being the principal war-chief. After their enrollment by General Boyd, the Indians remained in service a short time and then returned to their habitations.
Turning from these events of the war, we may observe the move- ments and disposition of the Ontario county soldiery. During the year 1812 the local troops were on the frontier much of the time and en- gaged in such movements and operations as were required, yet the bat- tles of the campaign were not of such a character as to test the mettle of the county militia. However, in 1813 the men of Ontario county were actively engaged in the campaign in Western New York. The report of General Hall shows that he reviewed his force in Buffalo and that they comprised one hundred twenty-nine mounted volunteers from Ontario county under command of Colonel Seymour Boughton ; also four hundred thirty-three Ontario county volunteers commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Blakeslie, together with other militia from Buffalo, Canada and Genesee county. General Hall's command was in the bat- tle at Black Rock, where the Ontario militia did most of the fighting and acquitted themselves with credit by sustaining the attack of the Royal Scots with much firmness, but not being properly supported and finding the enemy attacking them on two sides, they were compelled to retreat. However, General Hall was determined to make a firm stand at the borders of Buffalo village, but at that time the cry of " In- dians are coming " filled the men with terror and they fled precipitately. The result was that Buffalo village was plundered and burned, while the inhabitants of the entire region deserted their homes and sought refuge and safety in the villages and settlements to the east. In the campaign of the year the Ontario militia suffered severe loss, forty of Colonel Blakeslie's regiment being made prisoners. General Hall rallied two or three hundred of his discouraged troops at Williamsville, but their services were not required, and no further conflict followed. The gen-
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FROM THE REVOLUTION TO 1815.
eral acted with all possible energy and failed only through the defection of his force and his own inexperience in military art.
The destruction of Buffalo, and the threatened invasion of Genesee county, carried dismay into every heart and suffering into every house- hold. The defenceless families at once abandoned their homes and possessions and fled eastward, having no definite end in view other than to escape death at the hands of the British and their Indian allies. Along every thoroughfare of travel they came, foot-sore, weary and half-starved across the border of Genesee county and into Ontario, where they were received and cared for as well as the means of the people would permit. Their sufferings would have been greater had not the prompt measures of relief been taken by the public authorities and the citizens of more fortunate localities. The Legislature voted $40,000 in aid of the devastated territory, besides $5000 to the Tuscarora Indians and a like sum to residents of Canada who were driven away from home on account of their friendship for the United States. The citizens of Canandaigua appointed a committee of relief, who raised a considerable amount in that and surrounding towns, and sent communications soliciting aid through all the country eastward. They were promptly responded to, and liberal contributions were raised throughout the State. With this aid, and that of the commissary de- partment and the assistance of personal friends, those who remained on the frontier managed to live through the unfortunate winter of 1813- 14.
The Canandaigua Relief Committee just mentioned addressed a com- munication to Hon. Philip S. Van Rensselaer and others, of which the following is a copy:
CANANDAIGUA, January 8, 1814.
GENTLEMEN,-Niagara county, and that part of Genesee which lies west of Batavia, are completely depopulated. All the settlements in a section forty miles square, and which contained more than twelve thousand souls, are effectually broken up. These facts you are undoubtedly acquainted with; but the distresses they have produced none but an eye-witness can thoroughly appreciate. Our roads are filled with people, many of whom have been reduced from a state of competency and good prospects to the last degree of want and sorrow. So sudden was the blow by which they have been crushed that no provision could be made either to elude or meet it. The fugitives from Niagara county especially were dispersed under circumstances of so much terror that in some cases mothers find themselves wandering with strange children, and children
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
are seen accompanied by such as have no other sympathies with them than those of common sufferings. Of the families thus separated, all the members can never again meet in this life ; for the same violence which has made them beggars has forever de- prived them of their heads, and others of their branches. Afflictions of the mind, so deep as has been allotted to these unhappy people, we cannot cure. They can prob- ably be subdued only by His power who can wipe away all tears. But shall we not endeavor to assuage them ? To their bodily wants we can certainly administer. The inhabitants of this village have made large contributions for their relief, in provisions, clothing and money, and we have been appointed, among other things, to solicit further relief for them from our wealthy and liberal-minded fellow-citizens. In pur- suance of this appointment, we may ask you, gentlemen, to interest yourselves par- ticularly in their behalf. We believe that no occasion has ever occurred in our conntry which presented stronger claims upon individual benevolence, and we humbly trust that whoever is willing to answer these claims will always entitle himself to the precious reward of active charity. We are, gentlemen, with great respect,
WILLIAM SHEPARD, THADDEUS CHAPIN, MOSES ATWATER, N. GORHAM, MYRON HOLLEY,
THOMAS BEALS, PHINEAS P. BATES,
Committee of Safety and Relief at Canandaigua.
The campaign for 1814 was a remarkable contrast to those of the previous years of the war. Early in April there came to the general rendezvous (Williamsville) Brigadier-General Winfield Scott, followed soon after by Major-General Brown, the latter having been ordered to command the army that should be collected in Western New York. His force consisted of two brigades of regulars under Generals Scott and Ripley, and one of volunteers under General P. B. Porter. This was composed of five hundred Pennsylvanians, six hundred New York volunteers, all of whom had not arrived when movements began, and nearly six hundred Iroquois warriors. In General Porter's command were the Ontario county militia. They took part in the capture of Fort Erie, the battle of Chippewa, Lundy's Lane, Conjockety Creek and the later attack and attemped capture, by the British, of Fort Erie. The fort was relieved and saved, however, by the splendid action of General Porter and his Western New York and Pennsylvania volunteers. Very high credit was given to General Porter for his eloquence in engaging the volunteers, and his skill in leading them. The press sounded his
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praises, the citizens of Batavia tendered him a dinner, the governor brevetted him major-general, and Congress voted him a gold medal.
The raising of the siege of Fort Erie was substantially the close of war on the New York frontier, and all the troops except a small guard were withdrawn from Fort Erie. During the following winter com- missioners were endeavoring to negotiate a treaty of peace at Ghent, and there was a universal desire for their success, for in Western New York at least the people had had enough of the glories of war. The victory at New Orleans was soon afterward followed by the signing of the treaty at Ghent, and everywhere was immediately spread the wel- come news of peace.
In the present chapter we have already stated that the early settle- ment of Ontario county was somewhat retarded by the events of the War of 1812 and the years immediately preceding it. A glance at the records of the war will suffice to show why this was so. But, not- withstanding the fact that settlenient and development may for the time have been checked, they were by no means suspended ; and it is a fact that regardless of adverse circumstances and unfortunate events the growth in the county's population, even during the decade in which the war took place, was almost remarkable. In proof of this we may with interest refer to the population of the county at different periods.
In 1790, the year following that in which Ontario was separated from the mother county, the census enumeration of the several towns showed that the number inhabitants in the entire county, with its 6,600,000 acres, was only one thousand and eighty-one. Ten years later, in 1800, the territory of the county had been materially reduced by the erection of Steuben county, notwithstanding which the census of that year showed Ontario to have 15,218 inhabitants. During the next ten years, the county of Genesee was created, taking within its boundaries almost half of the original territory of Ontario, nevertheless the census of 1810 gave the latter county a population of 42,032. By 1820 the number of inhabitants had increased to 88,267, as shown by the census of that year. Between 1820 and 1830 the area of this county was still further reduced by the erection of Livingston, Monroe, Yates and Wayne counties, and the enumeration of the last named year naturally showed a less population, the number then being 40, 167.
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
No further curtailment of the county's territory has since been made, and the fluctuations of population, as shown by the several federal census enumerations, have been as follows : In 1840, 43,501 ; 1850, 43.929 ; 1860, 44,563 ; 1870, 45, 108 ; 1880, 49,541 ; 1890, 48,453.
CHAPTER XII.
ONTARIO COUNTY IN THE REBELLION-1861-1865.
G ROWING out of the agitation of the slavery question there be- came engendered a feeling of bitter hostility between the people of the North and the South many years before the actual outbreak of the War of the Rebellion. In November, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected to the presidency, and the news of that election was received by the southern people with great indignation and the violent expres- sion of treasonable sentiments. On the 20th of December South Caro- lina passed an ordinance of secession, and less than a week afterward seized upon certain forts and public properties of the government and raised over them the palmetto flag. Still later, on the 9th of January, 1861, the rebel batteries in Charleston harbor fired upon the Star of the West, a merchant steamer in the government employ, which had been sent with supplies and troops for the relief of Major Anderson.
The example set by South Carolina was soon afterward followed by other Southern States, and the final result was that the whole country became involved in a civil war which continued for more than four years, and cost the State of New York more than $150,000,000, and more than 50,000 men
The war of 1861-5 was actually begun by the firing upon Fort Sunter at half-past four o'clock on the morning of the 12th of April, 1861. The news of the bombardment was received at the capital on the 14th, and on the following day the president issued a proclamation calling upon the militia of the several States to the number of 75,000 men to suppress the treasonable combinations and to enforce the law. To the State of New York was assigned the quota of seventeen regi-
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THE COUNTY IN THE REBELLION.
ments, or an aggregate force of 13,280 men. Governor Edwin D. Morgan and other officials, who comprised the State Military Board, took immediate action and issued orders for the available organized militia to prepare to march. Military depots were established at Albany, New York and Elmira, with branches in other prominent cities and needed supplies and equipments were provided with all pos- sible dispatch.
The efforts of the governor and other officials were ably and heartily seconded by the Legislature, which was then in session, the senator from Ontario county being Thomas Hillhouse, while the respective assembly districts were represented by Perez H. Field and Stephen H. Ainsworth. In this connection it is proper to mention the names of the senators and assemblymen who served in those respective capacities during the other years of the war. In the fall of 1861 Charles J. Folger was elected senator and continued in that capacity throughout the war. In 1862 the Ontario county assemblymen were David Picket and Francis O. Mason ; in 1863, Perez H. Field and Lanson Dewey, who also were re- elected and gerved during the legislative session of 1864. In 1865 Volney Edgerton and Edward Brunson were members of assembly from this county.
It would be extremely difficult, if not almost wholly impossible, to state the number of men furnished by Ontario county in all branches of the service during the period of the war. However, we may state in a general way that representatives of Ontario county served in twenty - nine different military organizations of the State and in each of these was at least a considerable contingent. In the Cavalry service men from the county were in the Eighth, Ninth, Fifteenth, Twenty-Fourth, First Mounted Rifles, and the First Veteran. In the Artillery the county was represented by men in the First, Fourth, Ninth, Eleventh, Thirteenth and Sixteenth regiments. In the regiments of Engineers men from the county were in the First, Fifteenth (new) and Fiftieth. The county was also represented in the following Infantry regiments, viz .: Eighteenth, Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, Thirty-third, Thirty- eighth, Eighty-fifth, One Hundredth, One Hundred Twenty-sixth, One Hundred Forty-eighth, One Hundred Fifty-fourth, One Hundred Sixtieth, One Hundred Seventy-ninth, One Hundred Eighty-eighth, and One Hundred Ninety-fourth.
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
It is the purpose of the present chapter to make some reference to each of the several regiments in which were men from Ontario county ; but inasmuch as each of these commands has had its history previously written, many of them at length and in great detail, it will be unneces- sary in this work to repeat what is already extant, and our record may therefore be very much condensed, and at the same time furnish to the reader all the facts desirable to be known in connection with the services of each command.
The Eighteenth Regiment of Infantry, otherwise known as the New York State Rifles, was the first organization that numbered in its ranks men from this county. Company G, which was recruited at Canan- daigua was organized by the election of Henry Faurot as captain ; James H. Morgan, first lieutenant, and William H. Ellis, jr., ensign. The regiment, which was under command of Colonel William A. Jack- son, was accepted by the State and mustered into service on May 13, 1861. It was organized at Albany and mustered into service May 17, 1861, for two years. At the expiration of the term the three years' men were transferred to the 12 Ist New York Volunteers.
The companies comprising the Eighteenth were recruited mainly as follows; A and E at Schenectady ; B, F, H and I at Albany and its vicinity ; C at Fishkill ; D (Walkill Guards) at Middletown and in Sul- livan county ; G at Canandaigua, and K at Ogdensburg. On June 19 the regiment left the State, served for a time at Washington, D. C., and from July 13 in the Second Brigade, Fifth Division, Army N. E. Vir- ginia. Later on it served in Franklin's and Newton's Brigade in the Army of the Potomac, with which army, though variously assigned, it continued its service until May 28, 1863, when it was honorably dis- charged and mustered out at Albany.
During the period of its service the Eighteenth lost an aggregate of seventy-five, being five officers and seventy enlisted men, three of the latter dying in the hands of the enemy.
Battles of the Eighteenth .- 1861: Braddock Road, Va., July 16; Fairfax Station, July 17 ; Blackburn's Ford, July 18; Bull Run, July 21 ; Munson's Hill, August 28 and November 16; Springfield Station, December 4. 1862 : Union Mills, March 12; West Point, May 7 ; Seven Days Battle, June 25 to July 2; Gaines Mills, June 27; Gar-
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THE COUNTY IN THE REBELLION.
nett's and Golding's Farms, June 28; Glendale, June 30; Malvern Hill, July 1 ; Burke's Station, August 28 ; Crampton Pass, September 14; Antietam, September 17; Fredericksburg, December 11-15. 1863 : Franklin's Crossing, April 29 and May 2; Marye's Heights and Salem Church, May 3-4.
The Twenty-seventh Regiment was organized and accepted by the State May 21, 1861, and mustered into the service at Elmira in the early part of July, to serve for two years. The companies of the Twen- ty-seventh were recruited in Southern and Western New York, a part of the Company G being from Ontario county. The regiment left the State July 10, 1861, in command of Henry W. Slocum, served the full term of its enlistment and was mustered out of service May 31, 1863 at Elmira. During its service the Twenty-seventh lost, from all causes, a total of 146 men. The battles in which it participated were as follows : 1861: Bull Run, July 21 ; Pohick Church, October 4. 1862: West Point, May 7 ; near Mechanicsville, May 22, and June 1 ; Seven Days Battle, June 25 to July 2 ; Gaines Mills, June 27 ; Garnett's and Gold- ing's Farms, June 28; Glendale, June 30 ; Malvern Hill, July 1; Cramp- ton Pass, September 14; Antietam, September 17; Fredericksburg, December 11-15. 1863: Franklin's Crossing, April 29 to May 2; Marye's Heights and Salem Church, May 3-4.
The Twenty-eighth Regiment of Infantry, otherwise known as the "Niagara Rifles " and the "Scott Life Guard," was recruited princi- pally in the western part of the State, companies A, B, C and K, being raised at Lockport; D at Medina ; E at Canandaigua ; F at Batavia ; G at Albion ; H at Monticello ; and I at Niagara Falls. The Ontario county company was commanded by Theodore Fitzgerald, captain ; J. J. Whitney, first lieutenant, and Harry Paddleford, ensign. When mus- tered in the regiment was in command of Colonel Dudley Connolly, and when mustered out was in command of Colonel Edwin F. Brown. The Twenty-eighth was organized at Albany, and mustered into service for two years, May 22, 1861. It left the State June 25, serving for a time at Washington, thence in Butterfield's Brigade, Keim's Division, Dis- trict of Pennsylvania, and after October 15 in Banks's Division, Army of the Potomac. Later on it served with the Army of Virginia and the Army of the Potomac until mustered out at Albany, June 2, 1863. The
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
Twenty-eighth during its service lost an aggregate of 115 officers and men. The engagements in which it took part were as follows : 1861 : Near Martinsburg, July 11 ; in Virginia, opposite Point of Rocks, Au- gust 5 ; Berlin, September 18. 1862 : Winchester, March 23; Monte- veido, March 27 ; near Columbia Furnace, April 15 ; near Harrisonburg, April 24 ; operations in Shenandoah Valley, May 23-25 ; Front Royal, May 23; Middletown, May 24; Newtown, May 24; Winchester, May 25 ; Bunker Hill, May 25 ; near Luray, June 30; Rappahannock, July 25 ; Cedar Mountain, August 9 ; General Pope's campaign, August 16 to September 2 ; Rappahannock Station, August 23 ; Sulphur Springs, August 23-24 ; Antietam, September 17. 1863 : Chancellorsville, May 1-3.
The Thirty-third Regiment of Infantry, which afterward became known as the " Ontario Regiment," Col. Robert F. Taylor command- ing, was organized at Elmira, and mustered into the United States serv- ice July 3, 1861, for two years, to date from May 22, 1861, at which time the regiment was accepted by the State. To the numerical strength of the Thirty-third the county contributed nearly three com- panies, one' from Canandaigua, under Capt. John R. Cutler, and the others from Geneva, commanded by Captain Walker and Captain Wa- terford, respectively. However, the most recent recognized military authority in the State places the organization of the companies of the Thirty - third as follows: A and K at Seneca Falls ; B at Palmyra ; C (Waterloo Wright Guards) at Waterloo ; D at Canandaigua; E at Geneseo ; F at Nunda ; G (Richmond Guards) at Buffalo; H at Ge- neva; I (Keuka Rifles) at Penn Yan.
The Thirty-third broke camp at Elmira, July 8, 1861, and proceeded at once to Washington, where it performed service for some time. On August 4 it was attached to W. F. Smith's Brigade, and on September 25 was transferred to Stephen's Brigade, Smith's Division, Army of the Potomac. In March, 1862, it formed a part of the Fourth Corps and in May following was attached to the Sixth Corps. The appended list will give the reader an idea of the service performed by the Thirty- third, in addition to which we may say that it lost an aggregate of 152 men from all causes. On June 2, 1863, still under command of Colonel Taylor, the regiment was honorably discharged and mustered out of service at Geneva.
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THE COUNTY IN THE REBELLION.
The engagements in which the Thirty- third participated were as fol- lows: 1861, near Chain Bridge, July 25 ; near Lewinsville, September 25 ; Big Chestnut, October 13. 1862, Watts's and Young's Mills, April 4; siege of Yorktown, April 5 to May 4; near Lee's Mills, April 5 ; Lee's Mills, April 8 and 16; before Yorktown, April 26; near Lee's Mills, April 28 ; Williamsburg, May 5 ; Mechanicsville, May 24 ; Gold- ing's Farm, June 5 ; Seven Days Battle, June 25 to July 2; Garnett's Farm, June 27 ; Garnett's and Golding's Farms, June 28; Savage Sta- tion, June 29; White Oak Swamp, June 30; Malvern Hill, July 1 ; Harrison's Landing, July 3; Jefferson Pass, September 13; Crampton Pass, September 14; Antietam, September 17 ; Fredericksburg, De- cember 11-15. 1863, Marye's Heights and Salem Church, May 3-4; Gettysburg, detachment, July 1-3; Fairfield, July 5 ; Antietam and Marsh Run, July 7 ; Williamsport, July 14.
The Thirty-eighth Regiment of Infantry, otherwise known as the "Second Scott's Life-Guard," was organized in the city of New York for two years, June 3 and 8, 1861. Its colonel was J. H. Hobart Ward. The companies were recruited as follows: A, B, C, D and F in New York city ; E in Westchester county ; G in Westchester and Dutchess counties; H at Geneva ; I at Horseheads, and K at Elizabethtown The Geneva company was commanded by Captain W. H. Baird.
The Thirty-eighth proceeded to Washington June 19, 1861, and be- came a part of the Army of the Potomac. In December, 1862, the regiment was consolidated into six companies, to which was added four consolidated companies of the Fifty-fifth Infantry, which completed the regiment. On June 23, 1863, Col. Augustus Funk was authorized to reorganize the regiment, but this he did not succeed in doing, and the enlisted men were transferred to the Seventeenth Veteran Volunteers. The Thirty- eighth was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Col. James C. Strong, June 22, 1863, at New York city. During its service the Thirty-eighth lost a total of six officers and 115 enlisted men, but the following list of engagements will furnish a more compre- hensive idea of the services of the regiment. 1861, Fairfax C. H., July 17 ; Bull Run, July 21 ; near Munson's Hill, August 18. . 1862, siege of Yorktown, April 5 to May 4; Williamsburg, May 5; Fair Oaks, May 31 to June 1; Seven Days Battle, June 25 to July 2 ; Jourdan's
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HISTORY OF ONTARIO COUNTY.
Ford, June 29; Glendale, June 30; Malvern Hill, July 1 ; General Pope's Campaign, August 26 to September 2 ; Centerville, August 28 ; Groveton, August 29 : Bull Run, August 30; Chantilly, September 1; Fredericksburg, December 11-15. 1863, Chancellorsville, May 1-3.
The Eighty-Fifth Regiment, (Veteran) .- This command was organ- ized November 7, 1861, and was the first regiment in which were On- tario county men that was mustered into service for three years. Its first commander was Col. Uriah Davis, under whom the regiment was mustered into service between August and December, 1861. The On- tario county contribution to the Eighth-fifth comprised two companies, B, which was credited to Canandaigua, and G, which was recruited principally at Geneva. William W. Clark, of Naples, practically organ- ized Company B. and was chosen its captain, C. S. Aldrich and Amos Brunson being respectively first and second lieutenants. Company G was raised in and about Geneva by John Raines, who was made its cap- tain, with George W. Munger and Thomas Alsop first and second lieu- tenants.
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