USA > New York > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 21
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6th Regiment Artillery, N. Y. S. V., Co. M: Donaldson Effingham, 2d Lieut.
13th Regiment, N. Y. S. V., Co. C: Stephen Ray. 1
59th Regiment, N. Y. S. V., Co. I: Gilbert Reed, Alexander G. Smith, Nelson Mead, John C. Dean.
95th Regiment, N. Y. S. V., Co. K: Elbert F. Bailey, Ser- geant; Zephaniah Dakins, jr., Jacob Brown, Tho. Booth, Harvey Wilson, Sergeant; John S. Boyd, Patrick Burns, John Barret, Jeremiah Curry, Oliver Daniels, John P. Daniels, Geo. W. Dakins, John M. Griffin, Henry Horton, Lewis Latham, Charles W. Leveridge, Wm. H. Miller, John J. Miller, Charles H. Miller, Abraham B. Travvis, Nathaniel J. Travvis, Stephen Worden, John Hilliker, Wm. H. Heady, W. H. Kirk, Alvah Kirk, John Kruly, Henry Otis, Samuel Rhodes, Silas Scickler, Tho. Stimson, David W. Travvis, Charles H. Travvis, Patrick Tracy, Peter Worden, Joshua B. Young.
Of Co. K., 95th Regiment, Capt. William F. Bailey was com- mander. The company was a consolidated one composed of parts of companies from this county and from Westchester and Rockland.
In regiments of other States: Francis A. Bush, 27th Iowa Regiment; Byron Crosby, 7th Conn. Regiment; Francis O. Myers, 54th Mass. Regiment; John Scruzar, Duryea's Zouaves;
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Wm. W. Newman, 7th Conn. Regiment; Chauncey Philips, 29th Conn. Regiment; Samuel Berry, 16th U. S. Infantry; John Davis, 7th Conn. Regiment; Frank Wells, Capt. 13th Conn. Regiment; Harvey Newell; Lieut. F. Burdick, killed in action; Daniel J. D. Crane, buried at Milltown. 7th Conn. Regiment; James Ballard, James Howard, John C. Swords, Henry Wil- liams. 88th Ind. Regiment: Samuel R. Burch, John M. Sloane, Brush Trowbridge, Sergeant Hart. 11th Penn. Regiment: George H. Crosby, Wm. H. Sweetman.
Among those who distinguished themselves in the service of their country in the Rebellion the following are deserving of special notice:
GOUVERNEUR KEMBLE WARREN was born at the village of Cold Spring, January 8th, 1830, and was graduated from the Military Academy and promoted to the rank of brevet 2d lieu- tenant in the Corps of Topographical Engineers July 1st, 1850. At the breaking out of the Civil War he was mustered into ser- vice May 14th, 1861, as lieutenant-colonel of the Fifth New York Volunteers.
"General Warren was promoted successively from the grade of Lieutenant to that of Lieutenant-Colonel, Corps of Engineers, and Major General, U. S. Volunteers. He received the brevets of Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army, 'for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Gaines' Mill,' Va., 1862; Colonel, U. S. Army, 'for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Gettysburg,' Pa., 1863; Brigadier General, U. S. Army, 'for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of Bristoe Station,' 1865; and Major General, U. S. Army, 'for gallant and meri- torious services in the field during the Rebelion,' 1865."
After the close of the war and up to the time of his death General Warren distinguished himself in various capacities in the civil branches of his profession. The Corps order under General Wright, announcing his death, says:
" In scientific investigations General Warren had few supe- riors; and his elaborate reports on some of the most important works which have been confided to the Corps of Engineers are among the most valuable contributions to its literature.
" In the field, in the late civil war, he was a brave and ener- getic officer, and in the high command to which he attained by his patriotic valor and skill he merited the admiration of the army and the applause of his country.
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" He was kind and considerate in all the relations of life, and his family in its affliction will have the hearty sympathy of the Corps of Engineers."
General Warren died at Newport, R. I., August 8th, 1882.
STEPHEN BAKER, son of Daniel and Eunice Nobby, was born in the town of Southeast, December 24th, 1835. His education was such as the hamlet of Milltown could afford. At the age of twenty-one years, during the excitement of slavery exten- sion, he emigrated to Kansas but afterward located at Omaha, Neb. Here he engaged in the transportation of supplies to Fort Kerney and Omaha Reserve. When gold was discovered in Colorado, Mr. Baker was the first to prospect the Rocky Mountains, in the regions of Pike's Peak, Long's Peak, South Park and Middle Park. All the plains from the Missouri to the mountains at this time were occupied by the Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Comanche, Apache, Sioux and Pawnee Indians. In consequence of failing health, Mr. Baker left the mountains and returned to his native town, where he soon recovered.
As a soldier, Stephen Baker has done gallant service for his country. He enlisted as first lieutenant, in Co. G, 135th N. Y. Vol. Regiment, which was converted into the 6th N. Y. Vol. Artillery and defended Harper's Ferry and Maryland Heights in the winter of 1863. The next June he joined the Army of the Potomac and participated in its marches, retreats, many battles and victories until the final surrender of the Army of Virginia, under General Lee, at Appomattox. Some of the battles in which he fought were South Mountain, Wapping Heights, Battle of the Wilderness, Po River, Chestnut Ridge, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Bethesda Church, Mechanicsville Road and Petersburg. Through the recommendation of supe- riors, he was promoted, for services in the field, and with his regiment, joined General Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, where he remained till after the Battle of Cedar Creek. Being ordered to the Army of the James, his regiment participated in preventing the Rebel ironclads from breaking through obstruc- tions and cutting off the base of supplies at City Point He was promoted a second time, in 1864, to the rank of major lieu- tenant-colonel, and remained in service after the general muster out of the Army of the Potomac. The 6th, 10th, and 13th New York Artillery Regiments, numbering 1,875 men, being consolidated into the 6th, he was made colonel of this regiment
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and placed in command at Petersburg. At the close of the war, in 1865, he was mustered out of the service.
Again he returned to his native town and engaged in the lumber and feed business until 1875, when he ventured into the manufacturing of hats, which ended in failure, in 1879.
Mr. Baker was member of Assembly, from Putnam county, for the years of 1866 and 1867. He has held the position of inspector of customs, in New York city, since 1880.
GENERAL WILLIAM HOPKINS MORRIS' is the son of General George P. Morris, author of "Woodman, Spare that Tree," whose former country seat, Undercliff, is situated on the east bank of the Hudson, near the village of Cold Spring. The grounds consist of thirty five acres, and are adorned with lofty shade trees, nearly all of which were planted by him. The mansion is massive in its architecture and commands from its windows views of West Point, Cro Nest, and Newburgh Bay. Lossing, the historian, calls Undercliff " The Gem of the Hud- son."
Gen. George P. Morris resided here for more than half his life time, and many of his most beautiful and popular poems were suggested by the enchanting surroundings of this roman- tic place. It was while living here that he began the successful weekly paper entitled "The National Press, a Journal for Home," but he changed the name after a few issues, to that of "The Home Journal," the title which it still bears. After a short time he was induced to take as a partner and joint editor, Mr. N. P. Willis, and Morris & Willis continued the editors and proprietors of that paper during the remainder of their lives.
Gen. George P. Morris married Mary Worthing, daughter of George F. Hopkins, of New York city, and had by her one son, William, and two daughters, Ida and Georgiana.
His son, William Hopkins Morris, was born in New York city, April 22d, 1827. He was graduated from the West Point Mili- tary Academy, in June, 1851, and entered the army as brevet 2d lieutenant in the 2d Regiment of Infantry. He was ordered to Fort Yuma, California, where he served under Major Heintzel- man. Ill health, caused by the severity of the climate, induced him to resign. Returning to New York, he engaged in literary pursuits. On the breaking out of the war he entered the vol-
1 The following sketch of General Morris was prepared by F. L. Beers.
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unteer army as an assistant adjutant general, with the rank of captain, and was assigned to duty as chief of staff to Gen. John J. Peck, and served as such through the Peninsular Campaign, under Mcclellan, in the Army of the Potomac, and was re- peatedly mentioned for gallant services by General Peck in his official reports of battles. At the close of that campaign, Cap- tain Morris was elected colonel of the 135th Regt. N. Y. Volunteer Infantry, raised in the counties of Putnam, Westchester and Rockland, and organized by Col. Lewis G. Morris, of Morri- sania. Col. William H. Morris took command, and the regi- ment was ordered to the front. On its way it was stopped at Baltimore. In six weeks time the regiment was so well in- structed and drilled that it was chosen by General Wool from among some dozen regiments, for the honor of conversion into artillery, and became the 6th Regiment of N. Y. Artillery, whose brilliant services in the field made it one of the most famous regiments of the Grand Army of the Potomac.
Colonel Morris was given the command of Fort McHenry, at Baltimore, and his regiment added to its garrison. Soon after he was ordered to Harper's Ferry. While here he was pro- moted to the rank of brigadier general and placed in charge of Maryland Heights with a force consisting of regiments of in- fantry and cavalry, and batteries of heavy guns. During the advance of Lee, Maryland Heights were for some days cut off from all communication with supports, except by flag signals, and as the great Southern general advanced, the prospect of de- struction seemed inevitable; but one bright morning the blue coats of the Army of the Potomac were reported by the signal officer, and then the suspense was relieved. Maryland Heights were abandoned by the Union troops, and General Morris was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac and his command be- came a part of the 3d Army Corps. When the Army of the Potomac was reorganized, the 3d Corps was divided, and a part was ordered to the 2d Corps, and the rest, including General Morris' brigade, joined the 6th Army Corps, commanded by General Sedgwick. During his service in this renowned corps, under Gen. U. S. Grant, General Morris' brigade, which was composed of the 106th N. Y., 151st N. Y., 14th N. J., 87th Penn., and 10th Vt. Regiments of Infantry, made for itself a record unexcelled for brilliancy. While in this corps General Morris was severely wounded in the Battle of the Wilderness,
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and for his "gallant and meritorious services " in that great battle, he had conferred upon him the rank of brevet major general by the president of the United States. After the war, having been honorably mustered out of service, General Morris returned to Undercliff, his home. and resided there, during which time he married Kate, daughter of Dr. Adrian K. Hoff- man, of Westchester county, and had by her one son, whom he named George Philip Morris, after the poet.
General Morris represented the county of Putnam in the Constitutional Convention of 1867, was chief of ordnance and inspector general of the State of New York, in the National Guards. He is the author of the "System of Tactics for In- fantry " armed with breech-loading or magazine rifles.
We cannot close this sketch without alluding to the deep friendship which existed between General Morris and Gen. G. K. Warren, of Cold Spring. It began in childhood and in- creased in strength with every year of their lives. Well may this village be proud of having contributed two distinguished general officers to the grandest of all our armies, the Army of the Potomac.
CHAPTER XV. THE MILITIA OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
BY GEN. JAMES RYDER.
T 'HE first account we have of any organization of the militia is from an order signed by Col. John Field to Lieut. Jonathan Crane in 1777, to wit: "You are hereby appointed a Commandant of the Guard for the protection of the inhabitants in this quarter agreeable to orders Late rec'd from our Gov'r. You are in person to call upon the persons whose names are In- serted in the annexed List this day to enter the service under your Command You are to Rendezvous this evening at the house of Major Mott when you will receive further orders. You will make Return to me of the names of any such person as may Neglect or refuse to put themselves under your Command.
"Given under my hand this 8th day of October, 1777. "JOHN FIELD, Colo. "To Lieut. Jonathan Crane."
In 1786 Jonathan Crane was commissioned " captain No. 3 of a company in the Regiment of the Militia of the County of Dutchess of which William Pearce, Esq., is Lieutenant Colonel Commandant." Commission signed by Geo. Clinton, Governor.
In 1793, Jonathan Crane, Esq., was commissioned second major of a regiment of militia in the county of Dutchess where- of Samuel Augustus Barker was lieutenant colonel command- ant.
April 25th, 1797, Jonathan Crane, Esq., was commissioned by Gov. John Jay as lieutenant colonel commandant of a regiment of militia in the county of Dutchess.
In 1808, Anson Crane was commissioned by Gov. Daniel D. Tompkins captain of a company in the regiment of militia in
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
the county of Dutchess whereof Joseph C. Field, Esq., was lieutenant colonel commandant.
By an act of Congress passed in 1792 for the organization of the militia, the commanding officer of each regiment was a lieutenant colonel commandant, which office was continued till 1818 when the organization of regiments was as before com- manded by a colonel; with a lieutenant colonel and major as field officers. This accounts for the lieutenant colonel com- mandants between Col. John Field and Col. Reuben D. Barnum. That part of the present county of Putnam consisting of South- east and Patterson was in the bounds of the 35th Regiment, and six of the eight companies in the regimental district were in the towns mentioned.
The Monkeytown Company held its company trainings near where the milk factory now stands. The captains of this com- pany from time to time were Samuel Ryder, Gilbert Reynolds, Stephen Ryder, Orrin B. Crane, Thatcher H. Theall and Isaac A. Crane.
The Sodom Company trained at Sodom Corners, now South- east Center. Among its captains were Orrin Richards, Jacob O. Howes, and Reuben B. Lawrence.
The Milltown Company's headquarters were at Milltown, and some of its officers were Joseph Palmer, Platt Baldwin, Albert Brush, William F. Fowler, H. K. Beebe and Isaac Volney Higgins.
The Elm Tree Company held its company trainings at a tavern near the " big elm," kept by Capt. Daniel Reed. Some of its officers were Daniel Reed, Elijah Barnum, Patterson Barnum, Orlando P. Barnum and Francis A. Seeley.
From a letter written by Col. Nathan Pearce in 1879, he says: "The next company paraded at Haviland Corner. It was com- posed of the Eastern part of Patterson and south eastern part of Pawling so as to include the Slocums. The most prominent Captain was Asa Akin."
The Sixth Company paraded at Harry Hayt's in West Pat- terson including the rest of the town of Patterson. Their for- mer captains were Dean, Smith, Pugsley, Squires and Samuel C. Reynolds.
The Seventh Company paraded at Hurd's Corner, and the Eighth at Jackson Wing's, but they were out of the county.
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GENERAL HISTORY.
The 35th Regiment was in the 30th Brigade and 7th Division. General Jacob L. Scofield was the last brigadier general of the brigade at the time of its disbandment in 1847. He died March 27th, 1886, at Fishkill, in the 92d year of his age.
Major General John Brush of Poughkeepsie was commandant of the Division as early as 1824, and to the disbandment, which took place in consequence of a change in the system.
Regimental parades of the 35th were held at Haviland Corner, now Aiken Corner, as far back as to the days of Col. Crane and. to the last meetings.
The succession of colonels and commanding officers as nearly as can be ascertained were: John Field, of Southeast, 1777; William Pearce of Pawling, 1786; Samuel Augustus Barker, 1793; - Burton, 1795 (By Gen. Orders); Jonathan Crane, Southeast, 1797; Joseph C. Field, Southeast, 1808; Isaac Cros- by, Southeast; Hart Weed, Southeast, 1815; Samuel Allen; John T. Hotchkiss; Reuben D. Barnum, Southeast, 1821; Nathan Pearce, Pawling. 1823 (died July 31st, 1882); Stephen Ryder, Southeast, 1828 (died April 30th, 1876); John Hall, Southeast, 1831; Platt Baldwin, Southeast; Lewis Doane, Southeast; Thomas Gage, Southeast, about 1840; Jacob O. Howes, South . east; Thatcher H. Theall, Southeast (died in 1886); and Leray Barnum, Southeast.
There was, about the beginning of this century, a company of light infantry commanded by David Lambert De Forest. A company of light horse cavalry was in existence for a long time. James Sherwood was its captain and Charles Brewster, lieutenant.
The 61st Regiment, N. Y. S. M., was composed of the four western towns of the county. Its last colonel was - - Hitch- cock. It was in the 30th Brigade and 7th Division as was the 35th. There was an artillery company in its bounds probably attached to it, of which Capt. Edmund Pierce was commandant and Abel Gregory was lieutenant.
The regimental parade was held at Boyd's tavern, near the present reservoir. It was a great day. Many an amusing anec- dote might be related of the actions of the " Mountaineers," a race now probably extinct; of their dances in the highways and throwing pumpkin pies at each other, besides other events not to be supposed to adorn history. Owing to the popularity
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
of general trainings the regiment continued in good order till the change of law. In 1846 a law was passed exempting members of the uniformed militia from military service by a commutation of seventy-five cents. The law was amended in 1847, and encouragement was given to the formation of uni- formed companies. The State was divided into eight division districts and thirty-two brigade districts. The 7th Brigade District was composed of the counties of Putnam, West- chester and Rockland.
The 18th Regimental District was composed of fourteen towns in Westchester and Putnam counties. Philipstown was the 6th Company district, Putnam Valley, Patterson and Kent com- posed the 7th Company district, and Southeast and Carmel the 8th Company district of the regiment. A uniformed company was organized at Cold Spring in 6th Company district called the " Kemble Guards," an infantry company of which Levi L. Liv- ingston was captain, and Jackson O. Dykman was first lieu- tenant. The company was well uniformed and a creditable organization.
Another company was organized in the 8th Company district, Southeast and Carmel, called the Putnam Guards, an infantry company of which James Ryder was captain, Jackson P. Bal- lard first lieutenant, and Edward Wright second lieutenant. The company was well organized and equipped and continued till the original members served out their time of enlistment. The organization was completed October 12th, 1848. In 1851 the captain was promoted to be colonel of the 18th Regiment, Lient. Ballard was elected captain and served till the company went out of service. An engineer corps was organized in Cold Spring in 1854 under the charge of Capt. George F. Sherman, Regimental Engineer, which was very complete in its organiza- tion and equipments. Capt. Sherman was promoted to the position of inspector general on the staff of Governor Morgan and Sylvester B. Truesdell was elected to succeed Mr. Sherman as captain of the corps.
In 1865 a draft was ordered by Gov. Seymour to fill the militia regiments to the minimum number required by law and there were reorganizations and companies in 6th, 7th and 8th Districts, which continued till the regimental organization was disbanded in 1867, since which time there has been no militia organization in the county.
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April 8th, 1864, James Ryder of the 18th Regiment was pro- moted by Gov. Horatio Seymour to be brigadier general of the 7th Brigade, and continued to hold the office till April 8th, 1875.
The Kemble Guards were out in the United States service in 1863 at the call of the 18th Regiment and were in service 45 days.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE BENCH AND BAR OF PUTNAM COUNTY.1
Hon. James Kent .- Henry B. Lee .- Ralsaman C. Austin .- George W. Niven .- Frederic Stone .- Walker Todd .- Jeremiah Hine .- Henry B. Cowles .- Elijah Yerks .- Howard H. White .- Benjamin Bailey .- John G. Miller .- Charles Ga Nun .- Peter M. Jordan .- William A. Dean .- Levi H. McCoy .- James D. Little .- Charles H. Slosson .- Samuel J. Owen .- Owen T. Coffin .- William J. Blake .- Jackson O. Dykman .- George W. Horton .- Ambrose Ryder .- Edward Wright .- Charles H. Ferris .- Hon. William Wood .- Seymour B. Nelson .- James Gardiner .- Abram J. Miller .- William H. Haldane .- George E. Anderson .- Ward B. Yeomans .- Frederic S. Bar- num .- Clayton Ryder .- Hon. Hamilton Fish .- Hon. Robert Livingston.
H ON. JAMES KENT, the famous lawyer and Chancellor of the State of New York, was the son of Moss Kent and grandson of Rev. Elisha Kent. He was born at Doansburg, town of Southeast, Putnam county, N. Y., July 31st, 1763. When five years old he was placed in a school at Norwalk, Conn., and lived with his maternal grandfather, Rev. Joseph Moss, with whom he remained till 1772, when he went to reside with an uncle at Pawling, where he learned the rudiments of Latin. In May, 1773, he went to a Latin school in Danbury, and entered Yale College in September, 1777. In after years he often mentioned the delight he experienced on his periodical returns from school, in rambling with his brother among the wild scenery of his native hills and valleys.
In July, 1779, in consequence of the invasion of New Haven by the British troops, the college was broken up and the stu- dents dispersed. At this time he met with a copy of Black- stone's Commentaries, which so excited his admiration that he resolved to be a lawyer. In September, 1781, he graduated from college and going to Poughkeepsie commenced the study
1 The sketches of the deceased members of the Putnam County Bar in this chapter were prepared by Hon. Ambrose Ryder.
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of law under Egbert Benson, who was afterward one of the judges of the Supreme Court, and was admitted to the bar as an attorney, in January. 1785. He then returned to his native place with the intention of commencing the practice of his pro- fession there, but that secluded place furnished no proper field for his abilities and talents, and he shortly returned to Pough- keepsie.
In April, 1787, he was admitted a counsellor of the Supreme Court. In politics he belonged to the Federal party, and was the intimate friend of Jay and Hamilton. In April, 1790, he was elected member of Assembly for Dutchess County, and again in 1792. At the urgent request of his friends he removed to New York in April, 1795, finding there a greater scope for the exercise of his talents. In December, he was appointed professor of law in Columbia College, and delivered a course of lectures there. The trustees of the college conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws, and he received similar honors from Harvard and Dartmouth. In February, 1798, he was appointed a Master in Chancery, and in the same year was elected member of Legislature for New York. In March, 1797, he was appointed recorder of the city, and in 1786 received the appointment of junior judge of the Supreme Court, and returned to Poughkeepsie, but in the following year removed to Albany, where he resided till 1823.
In 1800, Judge Kent and Judge Radcliffe were appointed to revise the statutes of the State, and in 1802 they were published in two volumes. In July, 1804, he was appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court and presided till 1814. In 1814, he was appointed Chancellor, and the various and learned decisions by him have given a lasting honor to his name. July 31st, 1823, having attained the age of sixty, which was the constitutional limit for the tenure of the office, he retired from conrt after hearing and deciding every case brought before him. It was at this time that he revisited his native place, and was a boy again when he entered the house where he was born.
In November, 1826, appeared the first volume of his " Com- mentaries on American Law." The second volume appeared in November, 1827, the third in 1828, and the fourth in 1830. It is enough to say of this great work, that until the present sys- tem of things shall be succeeded either by a higher law or utter lawlessness, "Kent's Commentaries " must be the source from
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