USA > New York > Orange County > History of Orange County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 18
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party, which was ebarged with being in sympathy with the English (though perhaps without sufficient reason), at the election in 1808 and 1809, and again in 1814, when Jonathan Fisk, representing the War party, obtained a majority of 1785 for congressman over Jonas Storey. The issue was perhaps more fairly joined in 1809 than in 1814. In that year (March 9th) the Republicans held a county conven- tion at Goshen, preparatory to the State election,- Gen. Hathorn, chairman, and Jonathan Fisk, Esq., Col. John Nicholsou, Gen. Reuben Hopkins, Capt. Josiah Brown, and Judge Nathan II. White, commit- tee on resolutions,-and resolved, "That we view the laying of an embargo as a wise and patriotic measure, imperiously demanded by the exposed condition of our seamen, shipping, and trade to the audacious out- rages of foreign powers; that it has saved thousands of our seamen from imprisonment and slavery, and millions of property of our countrymen from capture and confiscation." On the other hand, the Federal party-Daniel Niven, chairman, and John Barber, Alex. R. Thompson, Alanson Austin, John Bradner, J. N. Phillips, John Morrison, Johin Duer, Samuel Sayer, Jonas Storey, Solomon Sleight, John Deeker, and Samuel B. Stickney, committee on resolutions- resolved, "That the act for enforeing the embargo, passed Jan. 9, 1809, in our deliberate opinion, is un- just, illegal, and oppressive, subversive of the rights and dangerous to the liberties of the people." When the war finally came on, many of the anti-embargo men of 1809 sustained the administration, holding with the majority that it was "just and necessary to redress our grievances and avenge our violated rights." The minority who withheld their assent are perhaps correctly represented by the vote in 1814 for Mr. Storey. We have no criticism to make on the course of any men or body of men, but believe it to be the highest prerogative of an American citizen to approve or refuse to approve of any war which may be declared by Congress, or into which the nation may be plunged. The citizen only becomes criminal by the commission of acts of treason, of which the expression of opinion is not a recognized element.
During the continuance of the war the militia were not without service in the field, while in the navy and in the volunteer regiments recruited by order of the government the county was honorably repre- sented. For the reasons already stated, an accurate account of the movements of the militia during the war cannot now be obtained. The plan for raising troops was simple enough. The coast fortifications were to be well garrisoned by the local militia, as- sisted, when necessary, by regular troops, while aggres- sive operations were to be intrusted to the regular army and volunteers. The militia was to be called out to garrison the fortifications and for coast defense in detachments which were to include uniformed com- panies only, and in case their ranks were not full, drafts were to be made upon the enrolled militia to
75
SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND.
supply the deficiency. Second requisitions were not to include those serving under the first, and from the third, the first and second were relieved, the object being to divide the burden of duty as equally as pos- sible. The first call was made April 21, 1812, and under it the detached militia were arranged in two divisions and eight brigades, and the brigades were divided into twenty regiments, to the command of each of which a lieutenant-colonel was given. Ste- phen Van Rensselaer, of Albany, was appointed to the command of the first division, the second brigade of which, under Brig .- Gen. Reuben Hopkins, of Goshen, embraced the militia detachments of Orange and Ulster, which were organized as the fourth regi- ment under Lieut .- Col. Andrew J. Hardenburgh, of Shawangunk. The cavalry and the artillery com- panies were similarly organized, the artillery in the first brigade of artillery, and the cavalry in the first brigade of cavalry. This arrangement was continued during the war, Lieut .- Col. Isaac Belknap, Jr., of Newburgh, taking the place of Cof. Hardenburgh, in 1813 and 1814. The first call (1812) included all the uniformed companies ; the second, made in July, 1813, included " all the uniformed companies of int- fantry, grenadiers, and riflemen," excepting members who had been on duty in 1812, and, as the number of exempts was considerable, the deficiency in the com- pany rolls was made up by draft ; the third call, made July 20, 1814, included infantry, artillery, and cavalry. Newburgh and New Windsor were made the place of rendezvous, and from thence the com- panies were moved to New York by sloops, and as- signed to Harlem Heights and the fortifications around New York. The periods of service were three or four months .*
We have been unable to obtain a complete list of the uniformed companies of the county at that time, but the following were among the number, viz .: the Orange Hussars, of Montgomery, Capt. William Trimble (subsequently Capt. Millikent) ; Capt. Van
* The detached militia rendezvoused at Newburgh and New Windsor in 1814, embarked Ang. 28th and returned Dec. 4th, a period of four months. + The history of this company was referred to by Mr. Hugh B. Bull, in an address delivered by him at the presentation of a staml of colors to the corps, Ang. 9, 1855, as follows :
"This company of cavalry has been in existence for more than six de- cades of years withont an interregnum. It was organized shortly after the Revolutionary war, under the auspices of Joseph Barbour, a patriotic citizen of the town of Montgomery, who some thirty years or more since went to that rest which awaits the soldier equally with others of our race llis descendants aod kindred are among the most respectable and honorable of our county. His commission bears date Oct. 9, 1793, under the hand and seal of His Excellency George Clinton, the then Governor of our State. This company has preserved an actual existence from that until the present period. It has been marshaled in succession under Barbour and Milliken; and in what is called the war of 1812, when the design was formed by the perfidions foe to humble amt crush our infaut nation, this troop rallied on Brooklyn Heights, and bore their part io turning back the invader and averting the tide of desolation that was about to flow over our domsius. Also, under Hill, Waugh, and that in" domitable and energetic soldier, William Wright, who, for a quarter of a century or more, caused bis ardeut soldiery to appear at his call, and they in turn responded with alacrity. He has sustained this corps during that period through good and evil report, under adverse aud favorable
Orsdall's and Capt. Dorcas' companies of infantry, of the same town ; Capt. Kerr's company of artillery, of New Windsor; Capt. Butterworth's company of ar- tillery, of Newburgh ; Capt. Westcott's company of cavalry, of Goshen ;# Capt. Acker's company of eav- alry, of Newburgh and Marlborough ; Capt. Dennis- ton's and Capt. Birdsall's companies of infantry, of Newburgh.
In 1812 (Nov. 30th), Capt. Denniston, whose com- pany was known as the " Republican Blues," proposed the organization of a company of volunteers, to serve for one year or during the war, and succeeded in en- listing about fifty men, who elected Jonathan Gidney captain. The company went to New York and formed part of a detached regiment of riflemen, ranked, we are informed, as the Twenty-seventh U. S. Infantry, of which Capt. Denniston became major, and subsequently colonel. The name of Capt. Ben- jamin Wood, of Goshen, also appears in connection with this regiment, which is presumed to have been the regiment in which volunteers from the county mainly enlisted.
From a sketch written by Moses H. Corwin, and published elsewhere, it appears that there was a com- pany or a portion of a company from Wallkill, in September, 1813. This company was known as the " Republican Blues," and proceeded to Waterford, ria sloop from Newburgh, where it was embraced in a regiment under Col. Abraham Hardenburgh, of Ulster County. From Whitehall the command moved to Plattsburgh, and from thence to Fort Hampton, near the Canada line. The regiment had no special ser- vice other than guard duty. The muster-roll of the company, as supplied from memory, was as follows:
Captain, - Clark ; lientenant, Stacey Beaks, commandant; first ser- geant, Nathaniel Penny,
Prirates .- John Canfield, John B. Cox, Samuel Cox, Abner Miller, Moses H. Corwin, Stephen Sayre, Andrew Gunsonles, Gabriel Hill, Daniel Parsons, David Youmans, Somnel Canfield, Henry Coleman, William Penny, Joseph K. Owen, Joseph Kien, Peter Quick, Alexander Par- sons, John S. Clark, Matthew Faulkner, Benjamin Parsons.
The following roll of a detached company cannot be located, from the fact, already stated, that all such companies were made up from other companies of an entire regimental district. The list embraces Orange as well as Ulster County names :
" Muster Koll of u company of New York militia under the command of Capt. John Dunning, in the consolidated regiment of infantry communded by Lieut .- Col. Michael Smith from the serenth of September, 1814, when mustered, to the first day of November, 1814, in the service of the United States:
John Dunning, captain.
William Mullicks, first lieutenant.
legislation. His mantle has now fallen on the present commandant, Capt. William C. Brewster, who is resolved to wear it manfully and with the true spirit of the soldier."
# The following brief record occurs in the local newspapers, April 11, 1813:
" In the squadron of Maj. Westcott of the first regiment of cavalry of this State, Charles Lindsey has been appointed captain; Joseph II. Jack- son, first lieutenant; Daniel McNeal, second lieutenant ; and Stephen P. Rockefellow, cornet." The persons named were all residents of Mont- gomery, except Maj. Westcott.
76
HISTORY OFJORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Walter Moore, ensign .*
Kortright, John C.
Kerr, Nathan. Kirk, David.
Keen, Elih C.
Knox, James.
Knapp, Elijah. Long, Artemas. Lock wood, Jared.
Loder, Isaac W. Millspaugh, Samuel. McNish, Joshua.
-
McNish, Spicer.
McNish, Henry.
MeCarter, James.
McCauter, Allen.
McVey, James.
Mires, Jolin, Jr. Monuel, Joseph.
Moore, Loderwick.
Mißer, John C.
McVey, John.
McVey, Arden.
McCarter, William.
Miller, George.
Niculls, Allen.
Ogilen, Gilbert.
Prescott, stephen.
Pui, Adam.
Cash, Stephen.
Clark, Stephen.
I'nft, James.
Robbins, John.
Robbins, l'eter.
lay, James.
Hodgers, John.
Selleck, Isaac.
Slauson, Alva.
Sayer, William.
Sands, Sumnel.
Stringham, Jacob.
Smith, Isaiah W.
Screder, Elijah.
Smith, Grant.
Smith, Silas W.
Smith, Bezaleel.
Thompson, Jonathan.
Treadwell, Charles.
Gregory, Lyman. Goldsmith, Moses. Gardner, Samuel. Gardner, Silas L.
Taylor, Morrison.
Uptegrove, Richard.
Van Bens hoten, John.
Goldsmith, John D.
Warren, David.
Horton, Barnabas.
Warren, Solomon.
Hulse, Jouas, Jr.
Warren, Eliphalet.
IIndson, Elrazer.
White, Jonathan.
Hines, John W.
Watson, James.
Jackson, Daniel T.
Wilkin, William.
Jagger, Pan].
Wood, John.
Kirk, Robert.
Youngs, Virgil W.
" Mustered as a company of detached militia at Quarantine Ground, Staten Island, Nov. 1, 1814.
" RODENT C. HUNTER (Blooming-Grove), Surgeon."
In the navy the county was represented by Silas Horton Stringham, Charles Ludlow, Augustus C. Ludlow, Robert C. Ludlow, and others. Stringham, then a midshipman, was with Commodore Rogers in the frigate " President" during her action with the "Little Belt," in 1809, and served until the close of | the war under his early tutor. His subsequent career is a matter of history. Robert C. Ludlow was on the "Constitution," and participated in the capture of
the " Java." Augustus C. Ludlow was on the " Presi- dent," the "Constitution," the "Hornet," and the "Chesapeake," of which latter he was lieutenant under Capt. Lawrence, in the action with the English ship "Shannon" (July, 1813). His heroic conduct in that action, and his almost tragic death, made for him a name which will be an example while American history shall be cherished. Sailors in merchantmen were captured by English cruisers and confined in Dartmoor prison, and among their number were those whose birthplaces and homes were in the county of Orange.
Immediately following the capture of Washington in 1814, the people of the county were brought to- gether in determination to resist to the utmost the apparent purpose of England to destroy the independ- ence of the nation. Party spirit was hushed in the presence of the impending danger, and, if at no other time, it could then be written, " patriotism reigns pre- dominant." At Goshen, on the 30th of August, a " patriotic meeting" was held, for the purpose of " taking into consideration the propriety of erecting new or repairing the old fortifications at West Point and in the vicinity thereof, and of devising some plan for effecting that object, and for other purposes of public defense under the present circumstances of the country."+ This meeting, of which Gen. James W. Wilkin was chairman, and Dr. David R. Arnell, secretary, " Resolved, That John Duer, Jonathan Fisk, William Ross, James W. Wilkin, George D. Wickham, James Finch, Jr., and Nathan H. White be a committee to devise some plan for accomplishing the above object," and to enable them to report, the meeting adjourned until the afternoon of the 31st. At the adjourned meeting, the committee reported as follows :
" The situation of our country calls npon the people to feel and net like freemen at war with a powerful enemy. An invading foe desolating opr towns must be met and repulsed. A sense of danger, the dictates of duty, and the spirit of patriotism summon us to offer our united and zealous exertions for the defense, the safety, and the protection of our country. If we cannot go forth to meet the enemy, we can prepare to receive him on his approach to ns. The forts nud works of defense at West Point and its vicinity we can repair, strengthen, and defend. That this object may be accomplished
" Resolved, That a Committee of Defense for the county of Orange, to consist of twenty-two members, be appointed.
" Resolved, That it be recommended to the people in the severni towns of the county to meet without delay, and take measures to co-operate with the Committee of Defense.
" Resolved, That the Committee of Defense invite our fellow-citizens of the counties of Duchess and Putnam, Ulster, Greene, und! Columbia, to unite and co-operate with the citizens of Orange Connty in adopting measures of defense.
" Resolved, That the Committee of Defense meet at the house of Co). Tuthill, in Goshen, on the 2d day of September next at 3 o'clock P.M., and afterwards on their own adjournments.
" The following gentlemen were then appointed a Committee of De- fense : From the town of Minisink, John Bradner and Nathan Arnct; Deerpark, James Finch, Jr., and Joseph Baird ; Wallkill, Henry B. Wis-
* Accompanying commission :
" Walter C. Moore, Ensign, of n company in the regiment of detached militia, whereof Benjamin Webb is Lientenant-Colonel commandant, issned Ly Dauiel D. Tompkins, Governor, Feb. 9, 1810."
+ The people of Philadelphia and New York took the lead in organizing committees of this character. Under the committee of New York three thousand persons gave voluntary Jahor on the 13th of August, and the work was continued hy volunteers until completed, Angust 31st.
Booth, Jeffrey, first sergeant. Crane, John A,, secoul ser- geunt.
Dunning, Henry, third ser- geant.
Howell, Josiah, fourth ser- grant.
Clark, Oliver, first corporal. Genung, Pierson, second cor- poral.
Murray, Archibald Y., third Corporal.
Lewis, James, fourth corporal. Smith, Derrick, fifth corporal. Wilkin, Daniel, sixth corporal. Brown, Samuel, drummer.
Genung. Harvey, fifer. Brown, Elisha.
Buunlage, Abijah.
Brown, Neal.
Bennett, Levi.
Brown, D.mich.
Baily, Nathaniel. Benjamin, John. Both, Thomas A. Beillord, Benjamin.
Corey. Benjamin. Crawford. James, Callwell, Galniel. Christie, Ambrew. Corwin, Nebut.
forwin, Joseph. Cox, Jeremiah. I'm, Thompson. Canfield, Joseph. Decker, Stephen.
Dunning, Michael. Dunning, John, Jr. Fanning, Samuel. Goldsmith, Salem. Gale, Henry.
77
SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND.
Der and Benjamin Woodward; Goshen, John Duer and Freegift Tuthill; Warwick, Dr. Samuel S. Seward and Jeffrey Wisuer: Monroe, James D. Secor and Benjamin Cunningham; Cornwall, William A. Clark and Joseph Chandler, Jr. ; Blooming-Grove, Col. Selah Strong and Jeremiah Horton ; Montgomery, John Blake, Jr., and Johannes Miller; New- burgh, John D Lawson and Jacob Powell ; New Windsor, Joseph Mor- rell and David Dall."
At the meeting of the Committee of Defense, ac- cording to appointment, September 2d, all the men- bers named were present except John D. Lawson and Joseph Morrell. Selah Strong was appointed chair- man, and John Duer, secretary. It was
"Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to communicate with the general and State goverments, to tender the services of the citizens of this county in repairing the fortifications in and about West Point, to ascertain the precise state of the works and the extent of the repairs that may be necessary, and that the committee consist of the following per- sons: The chairman and secretary, William A. Clark, Joseph Morrell, and Jobnunes Miller, and that they report to the committee at their next meeting.
"Resolred, That this committee recommend to their fellow -citizens of thuis county that town-meetings be held at the usual place of bolling the same in the different towns, on Saturday the tenth day of September, for the purpose of appointing committees to co-operate with the general committee in such measures of defense as the situation of the county may require.
" Resolved, That our fellow-citizens (exempt by law from the perform- ance of military duty) be requested without delay to form themselves into military associations for the defense of their country.
" Hesolred, That the chairman of this committee I authorized to call meetings of the general committee from time to time, as he may think necessary, and that seven members constitute a quorum."
At an adjourned meeting of the committee, Sep- tember 17th, it was
" Resolved, That the town committee be instructed to proceed without delay in collecting subscriptions of money and labor, from their respec- tive towns, for the repairing and erecting fortifications at all about West Point, and that it be recommended to thein to request subscriptions agreeably to the rate of the last assessment of town and county taxes, and that they report to the general committee the amount of their sey- eral subscriptions.
" Headed, That the town committees lo further instructed to inquire into the state of the arms and ammunition in their respective towns, and to report to the general committee the quantity of anns and ammunition which their respective towns may wish to procure.
" Resolred, That the town committees be further instructed to take the necessary measures for organizing the exempts and the volunteers of the Middle District (Senatorial, and that they report the number organized to the general committee."
On the 25th of October it was reported that a letter had been received from the Secretary of War inform- ing the committee that he wouldl "order a skillful en- gineer to repair to West Point to superintend the works and point out the sites most eligible for defense." At another meeting it was reported that the people of Montgomery had subscribed three hundred and thirty-two days' work and four hundred and eleven dollars. Here the newspaper record ends. It does not appear that the repair of the forts was commenced ;* but in several of the towns military companies, com- posed of exempts, were organized. Of the latter a single record has found its way to preservation, as follows:
* Maj. Boynton, in his " History of West Point," states that Fort Put- nam wus partially repaired about 1794, from appropriations made by Congress. It is not believed that any repairs were made in 1814 through the efforts of the Committee of Defense.
"NOTICE .- In the present alarming crisis of our affairs, when our country is invaded, our seaports destroyed, our rights infringed, and our lilierty and independence threatened, it becomes the imperious duty of every person capable of beating arms to step forward in defense of his bleeding country.
" We therefore, the subscribers, inhabitants of the Town of Warwick, in the l'ounty of Orange (bring exempt by law from military duty), do hereby agree to enroll ourselves for the purpose of forming an independ- ent company to be called the Warwick Volunteers,-and as soon as there shall be the number of forty able-bodied men thus enrolled, we agree that on notice being previously given at a day and place certain, we will meet and by a plurality of vote- present choose officers to com- mand said company ; immediately after which we will tender our ser- vices to the Governor and Council of this State in defense of the middle district of this State, and pray them to grant commissions to said officers agreeable to law.
" WARWICK, Sept. 16, 1814."
"WARWICK VOLUNTEERS.
" Company Roll: James Bort, captain; Samuel S. Seward, first lien- tenant; Benjamin Barry, ensign; Thumas Swezy, Wm. W. Brooks, Abraham Peck, John Palmer, Belden Burt, Samnel Drew, Cornelius Forshee, John Mager, Samnel Benjamin, John Wood, Jeremiah More- house, W'm. Holland, Amos Hyatt, Isaac Babcock, Samnel J. Vance, Joel Wheeler, Anthony Bishop, Wm. Johnson, Abraham Gregory, Silvanus Fancher, Shadrack Sellek, Enos MeDaniel, Josiah Everett, Nathaniel Ketcham, John A. Crossman, Wm. Minturn, Ichalan Barker, Joseph Lloyd, John M. Fought, Joseph Downes, Samuel G. Hopkins, Winans llarris, Jesse M. Foster, Wm. Jackson, Wm. Carr, Jr., Henry Ramlall, Daniel Carpenter, Zenophan Mead, Isaac Duseuberry, Jesse Wood, John MeAtubly, Joseph Wilcox, Benjamin Davis, Andrew Layton, Zebulon Wheeler, Nathaniel Wheeler, John Miller, Jolm Carr, Christopher Aspell, Sen."
The return of peace was celebrated in every town in the county. Speeches, toast-tables, cannon, and illuminations proclaimed the general joy, while the churches emulated each other in public offerings of thanksgiving and praise. As indicative of the gen- eral spirit, the action of the people of Hopewell is in point, viz. :
"On Thursday the 24th nlt. (April 24th), soon after information of the treaty of peace was received in Hopewell, a number of the inhabitants of the place assembled at the public-house of Isaac Schultz, in order to adopt such measures as might be deemed most expressive of the feelings of joy on the occasion. Mr. E. Gillman being called to the chair, and Mr. Isaac Schnitz chosen clerk, it was
"' Resolved, to assemble in the church, ou the Tuesday evening follow- ing, and there solemnly to offer up thanksgiving and Praise to Almighty God for granting Peace to our country. It was likewise resolved that the Rev. Mr. Van Doren, pastor of the congregation, be requested to lead in the devotion of the evening, and to deliver an address.'
" Agreeably to the foregoing resolution, on Tuesday evening a large concourse of people assembled in the church, which was elegantly illn- minated with about seven hundred randles; when, after appropriate sacred music and solenm prayer amt praise, the following address was delivered. The most becoming behavior was observed throughout the whole assembly, and joy and gratitude appeared to irradiate every conn- tenance.
" ADDRESS.
" Assembled, as we are, on this joyful occasion, to celebrate, in the honse ut God, the return of peace to our bleeding country, it becomes ns, in T're first place, to celebrate Ilis praise who maketh war to cease unto the ends of the earth ; who breaketh the bow, and entieth the spear in sunder; who burneth the chariot in the fire. Since not to acknowl- edge llis hand in our deliverance would be both ungrateful atid impious, let us then, as a Clinstian people, indulge the warm affections of grati- tude and joy, joy for the blessing of peace, which the Governor of the Universe has bestowed upon us, and gratitude, as an expression of our obligation to Him for the favor. Such affections are pleasing in llis sight, who looketh on the heart. While then our hearts are glowing with gratitude and leaping with joy minder a sense of the recent display of divine goodness to us, let us for a moment call to mind the many dis- tingnished with which the God of Heaven has been pleased to signalizs our infant country.
78
HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
" Collected on the shores of the American wilderness, as its first set- tlers were, from almost every nation and clime, fugitives from oppression, from persecution, and from want, the God of their fathers has prospered and blessed then, He cast ont the heathen from before them, and planted them in a goodly soil. Ile crowned the labor of their hands with plenty, and prospered their institutions, both civil and religions. Thus pardoned with the smiles of Heaven, they increased in numbers, in arts, in wealth, and respectability. Colleges were formed, temples for the worship of the living God were raised. the sound of the hammer was heard in every quarter, and commerce began to nufurl her thousand sails.
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