USA > New York > Ulster County > History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. II > Part 71
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" While the above-mentioned events were transpiring, the forts at Napanoch and Pinebush were the scenes of intense interest and sus- peuse. When the tiring ceased for a moment, they were ready to conclude that the Indians had gained the ascendency, and that they were engaged in scalping and mangling the dead bodies of their friends and brethren. Then again they would hear the report of one of the udd Holland guus, which could be plainly distinguished from the light arms of the Indians, and toll in unequivocal terms that all as yet was well. The first firing in the morning at Wuwasink was distinctly heard at Pinebush ; and as it was unlawful to fire a gun, except in self-defense or as an alarm, they immediately knew that the enemy wero there. Alarm-guns were immediately tired at Pinebush, at Millhook, and so along the frontier towards Kingston. Col. John Cantine, of Marbletown, was then the first in command at Finebush.
" There was a Capt. Burnet, from Little Britain, then in the service zt Pinebush, under Col. Cantine. Capt. Benjamin Kortrite, of Rochester, was a brave nud resolute officer. Ilr and Buraet had their men in readiness nt an early hour, anxions to proceed to the Mene of action. When the flames of the burning buildings wert: seen ascending in the lower part of Wawasink, either Burnet or Kor- lite addressed Col. Cantine as follows : ' How can you remain here when, in all probability, the Indians are murdering our friends at Wwawink ? How can you stand it?" Then he put the troops in motion for Wawasink. He sent a guard in advance, and when they
arrived at the place where the Kerlonkton school-house now stamle. the guard returned and told the colonel that the Indians were at the Kerhoukson. Hle immediately wheeled about with a few others and went back to the fort. Cants. Burnet and Kortrite marched their com .- panies to the summit of the bill, southwest of the school-house, ready to urect the enemy if they should advance, at the same time making the greatest possible show of numbers by marching in columus to the brow of the bill, theu wheeling suddenly in the rear, and then a]- vancing again to the summit, from which they might be seen by the enemy. The Indians not making their appearance, and appre hend- ing that they might take a circuitons route and pass thewi unuotierd, they returned to the fort, aud addressed Col. Cantine as follows : ' This will not do; the Indians may pass the fort ou either side and inurder the women and children below the fort.' Then Col. Cantine ordered out a guard some distance from the fort on each side to watch the enemy.
"We must now give an account of the proceedings at the fort at Napanoch. It has already been stated that the negro Flink escaped to this place, from whom they obtained some account of the number of the enemy, etc. The conduct of Capt. Pierson on this occasion is worthy of particular notice. Although he bad been laboring midler an indisposition for some time when the alarm came at Napanien, he left his bed, took off his handkerchief from his head, stepped out in front of the fort, and called out for volunteers. Ile said he did not want a man to go that would not face the enemy and tight like a hero. He was solicited by tho women and others to remain for their protec- tion, but he replied that he was bouwil by his official oath to go where the enemy was, and go he would.
"Among the first who responded to this call were Conradt Bevier and Jacobus De Witt, two of the bravest of the brave. Both bad served in the regular ariuy, and were present at the surrender of Bar- goyne. Ten or twelve volunteered on this occasion. A negro servant having a particular attachment to C. Bevier resolved that he would go with him, and die in his defence if circumstances should require it. This little band of veterans, resolving to live or die together. st forward for the scene of action. When they came to the school- house, half a mile from the fort at Napanoeb, they found it on fire, -- no doubt fired by the Indians. They carried water in their lats and put it out. They then advanced cautiously over the low-lan 1 till they came in sight of the fort. About this time an Indian senti- nel, who bad been stationed on a hill to give notice of the arrival of reinforcements at the fort. fired his gun, which made the Indians withdraw farther from the fort. At this moment those within the fort discovered Capt. Pierson and his volunteers, and made signs for them to approach and enter,-an undertaking which they effected with safety. Encouraged by this addition to their force, the besieged mon waxed bold, and went out of the fort and fought the Indians from behind trees, out-buildings, etc. In the mean time the Indian- en- tered the church am I amused themselves by throwing their tomabawls at the numbers which were placed on the panels of the pulpit, desiz- nating the psalin or hymn to be sung. This served as a mark to throw at. Two or three gashes were made clear through the puh it, which was never repaired, but left as a memorial like the gashes in the door of Col. Jansen's house in Shawangunk, made by Shanks Ben. Two Indians were seen standing in the church door, and Wul. Bodly and Conrailt Bevier determined to have a ernek at them. They crept along the fence in the bush until they emme within gun- shot. Bevier levelet his piece and drew the trigger, but unfortunately it suapped. The Indian looked round as though be heard it. He tried it again, and again it suappel. Bodly then fired, and they both rot. for the fort. about a quarter of a mile. As Hevier passed under the baughs of an apple-tree a shot from the Indians ent off a limb just above his head. It is remarkable that Bevier's gun missed fire at this time, as he said it was very sure at other times. Bodly's shot stin. & in the door-post, just grazing the crown of the Indian's head.
"Towards noon, when most of the Indians were in the lower part of the town. Cornelins Bevier went from the fort to water his enttle, where E. Vernooy now lives, and Jacobus De Witt went with him. While there, he aseended the hill towards the old burying-ground. Here he discovered two Indians walking directly from him in Indian file; l.c
$ In the midst of this deep suspense and nlarm, when the chrmy were hourly expected. a man by the name of De Witt very deliberately strapped his razor and commenced shaving. He was asked by another " if he wanted to have a nice scalp for the Indians."
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thought he could shoot them. both at once, but just as he got ready to fire they stepped aside of each other; so he shot one of them, and then ran for the fort. His eurpse was afterwards found near the place. In passing under an apple-tree, De Witt stubbed his toe and fell. Just at that justant the shot from the surviving Indian passed directly over his head.
"An Indian was seen from the fort going with a firebrand to burn the house in later years owned by C. Hoornbeek. Benjamin Hoorn- beek, brother of Daniel, having one of the long Holland pieces, tired at him. The ball struck a stone on the hill and bounded against the house in contact with his majesty's person. He dropped his firebrand, gave a tremendous leap, and suddenly disappeared in the woods. This single shot was the means of saving that house from the general cou- flagration of that eventful day.
"The old neighborhood of Wawasink, on the morning of that day, must have been the scene of sublime and awful grandeur. Five or six dwelling-houses, seven barns, and one grist-will were all enveloped in flames, which mounted up in ctrled columns to the clouds of heaven, sweeping all before them, no one being able to offer any resistance to their raging fury. The houses were stored with the products of the industry of many years, consisting of the articles requisite for the comforts and converiences of civilized life, and the barns had just been lilled with a plenteous harvest.
" About Monday the Indians left the town, heavily laden with spoils, consisting of stock, bedding, wearing apparel, etc. They took some lite or plaster, supposing it to be flour, ns far as Graimsville, where they tried to make bread of it, and found out their mistake.
" At Esquire Hardenbergh's, it is said, they fared sumptuously. They took the whortleberry pie, of which there was a good batch on band, and broke it up in tubs of sweet milk, and then ate it. The esquire bad barely time to escape with his family and two teams, which carried them to Old Hurley.
" Large quantities of clothing were taken from this place, some of which was left by the Indians when closely pursued. The Indians were very intent on getting as innich plunder as possible. Hlad they not occupied so much of their time in this, they might probably have gotten more scalp's. Some individuals, who had concealed themselves in the brush along the fences, made mirrow escapes; when the Indians came to drive the cattle from the fields, some threw little sticks at the cattle, in order to turn them away from the places in which they were concealed. When the Indians were leaving the place, a person- age of no ordinary appearance and pretensions was seen emerging from the woods into the highway near the old church. The sight was truly imposing. He was mounted on a noble steed, which they bad taken from Esquire Il.'s, and was arrayed in gorgeous apparel, ac- oording to Indian notions. He had silver bands about his arms, had on silver broaches, and a bunch of some forty silver broaches hang- ing about his majesty's person. He was discovered by some solliers who were constantly on the alert, watching for a chance to get a crack nt the enemy as they were leaving the town. John Mack, brother of Jesse Mack, leveled his rifle at bim, and fired. He was seen to sag oter on bis horse, but the other Indianssoon turned the horse into the woods, and for the present be disappeared. Some time afterwards. Cornelius Bevier found his corpse in the woods, near the place where he was shot. His ornaments and trinkets were still about him. It is probable that the loss of this chief did much to intimidate the Indians and hasten their retreat from the town.
" In the course of the afternoon, Capt. Paulain, of the Stato troups, came up with his company from Hurley, and was joined by Col. Can- tine's troops at Rochester. Among the captains were Burnet, J. L. Hardenbergh, and Kortright. They lodged at the obl stoue fort on Sunday night. Early on Mouday morning, the 13th of August, they set out in pursuit of the enemy. Their whole force did not exceed 100 men, including those who went from the fort at Wawasink.
" When the troops came to Graimsville, they saw where the Indians led lodged on Sunday night, where they had tried to make bread of time, etc. Towards night they got to Peenpeck, along the Delaware. The advance guard returned and informed the officers that they came to fire kindled of small sticks, and they were not burnt through. This was evidence that the Indians could not be far in advance. It. was proposed to double the advance guard. Capt. Kortright offered to go with his whole company. While a consultation was going on among the officers un necident occurred which was very unfortunate in its results. Dr. Vanderlyn, of Kingston, was sitting on a log. with hie guo in his hands, when by way of minusement he unthiuk-
ingly cockeil it, and on returning it to its place it was discharged. The Indians were nlarmed, and instantly fed in small parties, leaving their white commander alone with the Tories and the prisoners. Uline and Bonek. At this | lace large packages of spoils were left by the Indians in their hasty flight, but these were not found by the whites until severn! months afterwards. The result of the consulta- tion of the officers was to return home. Cart. J. L. Hardenbergh and some other brave spirits, who knew not what fear was, were anxious to jntrsue. ful they advanced they migt: Lave taken Colwell and the Tories, and released the prisoners. One thing is certain : they would have recovered n large portion of the spoils.
" The commander of the enemy, Colwell, being forsaken by his In- dian guides, told Silas Bouck that if he would pilot him through to Niagara, he would do all'in his power to save him from running the gauntlet when he came to the fort. This be consented to do. On their arrival at Niagara, Philip fine proposed allegiance to the British crown, and was permitted to have some liberty. It does not appear that be served iu any engagement against the Americans. Que tra- dition says that he came back after peace was restored ; another, that he escaped under pretense of going on a hunting expedition. De this as it tony, he arrived safe among his friends, and was received as from the dead.
" His brother-prisoner, Silas Bouck, met with quite a different fate. Ife was taken to Montreal, nnd put in a log hut, or prisou, with two other prisoners, and kept seant in provisions, and that of the filthiest and meanest kind.
"They succeeded in raising up one of the boards of the floor, and dug a hole under the side of the building, with the help of an oldl knife which they found in the building. In the daytime they lay still and peaceable: nt night they dug, carefully concealing the dirt under the floor, and replacing the hoard before morning. Having some reason to apprehend that the time of their execution was at band, and a dark night coming, they made their exit through the subterraneous passage, and entered the St. Lawrence. Bouck was abcad. They had not gone far before one cried out, in anguish, that he was sinking ; but no assistance could be afforded ; cach lidl work for himself. When wearing the opposite shore, the same ery was heard from the other. Bouck was growing very weak as he advanced towards the shore. He thought perhaps he might reach the bottom, but was afraid to try. At last he attempted and found it, and soon after reaching the beach he made his way into the wilderness, not knowing where he was going. At length morning came, the sun rose, and by the assistance of that celestial luminary he was enabled to direct his course with more certainty. Never were his benignaut rays more welcome to a traveler than on this cecasion. But hunger soon began to torture his already emaciated frame : and then it was that lle who " bears the ravens when they ery,' and who . satisfies the desire of every living thing,' interposed in his behalf. Ile saw a rattle- snake in his path. Fortunately he had preserved his jack-kuife, with which he cut a crotched stick and put it over his neek, and then cut off his head. This snake he dressed and ate raw. But this dil not last long, and langer again began to pinch him lari. In this ex- tremity he ente in sight of a small house. He watched it closely. and discovered that its occupants consisted of a man and woman only. lle resolved to wait until the umin should leave the house, when he would rush in, kill the woman, get provisions, and then be off. lle had not waited long before the husband left the house and went off in att opposite direction. He then went to the house. The moment be entered the door, the woman screamed out, ' You are a desciter!" There lay some bread and meat on the table, which she told him t: take and be of, or he was a dead man. She told him that there was a large body of Indians near by, and that her husband was gone tu them. fle took the bread and hastened into the woods, where. seeing n hollow tree lying down, he crawlel into it, a hole towards the top serving for air and light. He had been here but a short time when he heard the ludians traversing the forest in search of him. In the night he enme out und resumed his journey ; and after euduring a degree of suffering seldom equaled he arrived at Catskill, along the Hudson River, about fourteen months after be was taken by the In-lians.
" The freemen of Rochester were assembled at a public-house, sau. utel on the present stand, in front of the Reefester par meget !! transact some publie business. The long and bloody war with Gres! Britain was about coming to a happy and glorious termination, ar l every patriot's jelse beat high with the bright and animating por ...
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peet of domestic happiness and. peace, and national honor and glory. In the midst of this 'feast of reason and flow of soul' one was dis- covered in the distance, having the appearance of 'a wayfaring man.' As he approached some dared to hint that it might be Silas Bonek. As he advanced it became more evident that they were not mistaken, - they thought it was possible that he was yet alive. But they were not long in suspense; the joyful news resounded throughout the as- xemhly that Bouck was coming, when, with one simultancons rush, they left the house and went to meet him. They could scarcely be- lieve their own eyes. They seized him and carried him into the honse, while the air resounded with their shouts of joy."
WAR OF 1812.
The following persons served in that contest : David Smith, Lewis Henry, Martin Terwilliger, Joseph Wright, Benjamin Coddington, Benjamin Townsend, Elijah Rey- nolds, Mous Christian, Anson Yale, Peter Terbush, Corne- lins Van Wagener, Stephen Van Dover, Solomon D. Ter- williger, Abram Wood.
MEXICAN WAR.
The names of two soldiers of the Mexican war are men- tioned by Mr. John McElhone (pension agent): Charles Coons and David Denmark.
WAR OF 1861-65.
The opening of this struggle awoke au enthusiasm in Wawarsing not surpassed in any other rural town. After the lapse of nineteen years, citizens still tell, with seareely suppressed emotion, of the rising tide of patriotism that swept this community in that time of national peril. One meeting is remembered above all others. An eloquent ad- dress had been given by a speaker from abroad. He had painted in glowing colors the dangers and the duties of the hour. He had swayed the audience by the touch of his matchless logie and by the strength of his impassioned ap- peals ; but the speech of the evening was yet to be made. The orator sat down, and the pastor of the Methodist Church arose and said in substance, " During this brilliant address I have woudered to what regiment the speaker be- longed. For one, I am convinced it is an hour for action, not for words; and I say to you, my friends, that, God helping me, I am ready here and now to give myself to this cause, if I can have an assurunee that my family shall be cared for." The Hou. Joseph Tuthill, rising, pledged himself personally to the condition required by the pastor, and the latter affixed his name then and there to the en- listment papers. The shouts and the enthusiasm almost rocked Warren Hall to its foundation.
The records of ancient chivalry, the annals of heroie sac- rifice in all ages, furnish no nobler names than those en- rolled for the defense of the Union in the eventful erisis of 1861. Rev. Pelatiah Ward, theneeforward known as cap- tain, served in no mere holiday parade. He shared the hardships and the dangers of his men, led them into battle, and fell in the fierce conflict of Aug. 30, 1862. In that disastrous struggle Company E firmly held its ground until but a handful remained unhurt. Three color-bearers iu succession fell beneath the deadly iron hail. Capt. Ward, seizing the colors as they fell from the hands of the last one, himself raised them only to fall, dying three days later from his wounds.
Among the most noted cases of recovery from apparently
fatal wounds was that of Mr. II. II. Terwilliger, of Ellenville. In April, 1862, he enlisted in. the 20th Regiment, and re- enlisted for three years in September. As first sergeant of Company E he participated in all its. marches and conflicts until the second battle of Bull Run, Aug. 30, 1862. In the early part of this battle he received a wound in the calf of the leg by a Minie-ball. Though the wound bled freely, he kept his place about half an hour, when he was struck by a bullet in the left side between the eighth and ninth ribs, the ball passing through the chest, grazing the lungs and liver, and making its exit between the seventh and eighth ribs on the right side. It then lodged in the right elbow. He then left the field, dragging himself along as best he could until he fell exhausted. He was afterwards pieked up, placed in an ambulance, and about four o'clock P.M., September Ist (two days afterwards), deposited at the Fairfax Hospital, Alexandria, Va. He had been uncon- scions most of the time, and on his arrival was to all ap- pearance dead, and was laid aside to make way for the more pressing wants of the living. Subsequent examination showed signs of life, and with the return of consciousness came nature's determination to live. His case was regarded as hopeless for many weeks, but at length his wounds healed and he was pronounced convalescent. He was discharged from the hospital Jan. 14, 1863, and arrived home on the 17th. Perhaps the strangest part of this case was yet to come. Soon after his arrival he was taken with a cough and a severe pain in his left side, his breathing became laborious, his feet and limbs swelled, and his expectoration was profuse. His physicians considered his ease as nearly hopeless. From the large amount of matter expectorated it was suspected that a deposition might be in the cavity of the chest, and an operation was at length performed. A trocar was plunged into the eavity of the chest just below the left shoulder-blade and an India-rubber tube ingeried in the opening, the ends of which were left hanging down, the one within and the other without the chest. Through the syphon thus formed there were discharged during the ensuing ten days about seven quarts of matter. At the end of this time the tube was removed, and the opening immediately closed. The heart, which had beca pushed around to the right side, resumed its natural position ; his lungs resumed their proper functions; his cough ceased; the swelling disappeared from his limbs; in short. he re- covered. Ile went into business at Ellenville, and now, seventeen years from that fearful experience, he may le said to he in excellent health. Ile is obliged to be somie- what careful as to excessive exertion. Ilis right leg and right arm are hardly in a normal condition, but a stranger casually conversing with him would never suspect that his was one of the almost miraculous cases known to the an- uals of the medical profession.
Mr. Gilbert Du Bois relates another case of great interest. Three brothers in one family enlisted. One was supposed to be dead. Ile was known to have been shot in the battle of Gettysburg, from which many of the bodies of the killed were not recovered or recognized, and he was mourned for as one of the heroic dead of the national struggle. He was struck by a spent ball, that jarred through the upper part of his face, through his nose, ali
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HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
lodged under the left eyeball. Picked up by the enemy and taken to their hospital, he eventually recovered, but months elapsed. With difficulty he found his way back to the home of his childhood. Arriving ou the day of the town-meeting, he was scarcely recognized, but finally found a chance to ride to his father's house, waking the family at midnight to receive ahnost from the dead this son and brother.
Official Action .- At a special town-meeting held at the house of Luther J. Lefever, Sept. 6, 1864, the following resolution was adopted :
" Resolred, That there be raised upon the town of Wawarsing the sum of ##2,000, for the purpose of paying a bounty of $500 to every man who shall be mustered into the military service of the United States, and erelitel to said town to fill her quota under the last call of the President for 500,000 men."
The votes in favor of this resolution were 610; against it, 10. Additional resolutions were passed providing all the necessary steps and granting all necessary authority to the supervisor and town clerk to issue bonds for the pur- pose of raising the aforesaid sum of $92,000. April S, 1865, there was also voted the sum of $1250 to be ex- pended in the relief of indigent families of volunteers.
The following list has been prepared with great care from three sources: 1st, the printed muster-in rolls of the State; 2d, the manuscripts of the census enumerators of 1865; and 3d, the records in the office of the town clerk. With reference to the dead, it has also been compared with the lists of the newspapers published in connection with the services of the annual Decoration day. It is too much to expect that it will be entirely free from errors. It is, however, a list that tells, its own story of suffering and sacrifice,-an honor to the town of Wawarsing, an honor to the nation ber citizens fought to save.
ROLL OF THE DEAD.
Miles Anderson, enl. Sept. 30, 1861, soth Regt., Co. E; pro. to corp. ; killed at second battle of Bull Run.
l'etor Il. Ackerly, en1. Aug. 30, 1862, 156th Regt., Co. D; died in the service.
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