USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884 Volume I > Part 124
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The Eastern District was also aroused-meetings were held nightly in almost every election district, and liberal contributions were received.
September. At Greenpoint, Capt. Albert Stearns recruited a company (C) for the 31st New York Volun- teer Regiment, then forming in New York city. The quota of Kings County at this time, was 8,632, of which 4,000 had been raised, leaving 4,632 still due.
November 24th. The Woman's Relief Society was formed.
December 2d. The 42d Massachusetts Volunteers left camp at Union Course, L. I., this day, and being delayed by not finding the transport vessel ready for their reception, spent the night in Brooklyn, at the ar- mory, where they were provided with a good hot sup- per by the 13th New York State National Guard. A member of the 42d writing to the Barre (Mass.) Ga- zette, thus describes the hospitalities received by him- self and comrades from the Brooklynites. "Mr. Geo. B. Lincoln, city postmaster, gave supper to ten of our company ; gave them a good bed, set a table in the
morning for sixty, but breakfasted about forty, that being all that he could find. Wm. Gilmore, 277 Hicks Street, gave about 250 meals ; a stanch old Democrat, said he could not go to the war, but wanted to feed the boys. One other man, on Atlantic Street, dealt out coffee for two hours, while we were waiting for the boat; and distributed cigars. One widow lady, name unknown, invited to supper about fifteen, gave them lodging, and gave breakfast to about twenty. There were other hospitalities, but I am unable to state them. The 42d say, with a will, 'Bully for Brooklyn !'"
During this year the Eleventh Brigade, New York State National Guard, was formed.
1863. January 16th. The 176th New York Volun- teer Regiment left New York city for the front. Three companies (B, I. and K,) had been recruited in Brooklyn during the previous fall.
February. The Long Island Historical Society was organized.
June. For the third time since the commencement of the war, the Brooklyn militia was called into active service, and over 2,000 men fully armed and equipped, were ready for departure within twenty-four hours after the call of the governor was recevied, viz. : the 13th, Col. Woodward ; 28th, Col. Bennett ; 23d, Col. Everdell ; 47th, Col. Meserole ; 52d, Col. Cole ; 56th, Col. J. Q. Adams. Col. Michael Murphy, under au- thorization of the State government, commenced the raising of a new regiment, called the Kings County Volunteers.
June 17th. The Brooklyn Twenty-third left en route for Harrisburg, Pa., to meet, with other New York regiments, the rebel invasion of Pennsylvania. Its campaign was fortunately a bloodless one.
July 13th. The great "draft riots" broke out in New York city, where, for three days, an infuriated mob literally held the city at its mercy, defying the consti- tuted authorities, reckless of life and property, raging like a conflagration, unchecked and irresponsible, strik- ing terror to the souls of peaceable citizens, suspending all business and travel, burning and plundering as they went. All this was incited by the enforcement of the draft by the United States authorities. The Navy Yard, Arsenal, Armory, etc., were all placed in readi- ness for any attack ; a large meeting of the reserves of all the regiments then at the seat of war was held at the armory, and another of the 70th Regiment, at the arsenal, at both of which gatherings, arrangements were made to furnish volunteers for the emergency, whenever required. A regiment of exempts organized under Col. A. M. Wood ; and (14th), Capt. Geo. Chap- pel's company (Co. C), 1st Battalion of New York Artillery, went over to New York, by order, to do duty at the Thirty-fifth street arsenal. A large body of police was kept in reserve at the City Hall, the mayor and other officials remained on duty during the night, and
491
CONSOLIDATED HISTORY OF BROOKLYN, 1863-'64.
every precaution taken to guard against any outbreak of mob violence, and to keep the people from undue excitement. Considerable apprehension was felt less the numerous artisans and workmen employed at Green- point, and in the manufactories along the East river shore, should become uneasy, and participate in the riotous demonstrations which were being made by many of the laboring classes in New York ; but the law-abiding disposition of the citizens of Brooklyn was shown in the universal observance of the peace through- out the city. A few trifling manifestations of ill-will to the negro were exhibited, but the ordinary police force was sufficient to overawe what malcontents there were. On Wednesday night (15th), an alarming act of incendiarism showed that a danger really did exist, and that there were some reckless and desperate char- acters in the city ripe for mischief. Two grain eleva- tors in the Atlantic Basin were fired by a mob num- bering about 200 persons ; both elevators were de- stroyed, one a costly structure, worth about $80,000, and the other (floating) about $25,000. The firemen did their duty nobly, although attacked and obstructed by the mob, who were finally dispersed by the police after a short but fierce encounter.
Sheriff A. F. Campbell, on the 15th, issued a proc- lamation to the citizens, recommending them to organ- ize as a posse comitatus, for the securing of the peace of the city ; and the mayor, after the fire at the Atlan- tic Basin, issued an address congratulating his fellow citizens on the exemption which Brooklyn had enjoyed from disturbance, etc., and offering a suggestion simi- lar to that of the sheriff's, relative to volunteer police service.
During the night of the excitement in New York a party of volunteers from Brooklyn reported individually at the State Arsenal in New York, where they did efficient service in guarding the building against the rioters. We regret that we have not the names of these Brooklyn volunteers. By the 18th, however, the riot was suppressed, and the community once more breathed free ; although during the month of August, the entire Eleventh Brigade and the two remaining regiments (13th and 28th) of the Fifth Brigade did guard duty in Brooklyn at an expense of three to four thousand dol- lars per day.
September. The draft was enforced in this county, comprising the Second and Third Districts. The Sec- ond District (the 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 17tlı, and 18th Wards, together with New Lots, Flat- lands, Flatbush, New Utrecht and Gravesend), was called on for a quota of 3,075, including the fifty per cent. in addition required by law to supply the place of exempts from physical disability. The grand total of persons of the first class, liable to conscription, in the district, was 21,553, the draft requiring one in every seven of those enrolled. The quota of the Third Dis- trict (1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, 7th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 19th
and 20th Wards), was 4,054, including the fifty per cent. additional, as above stated.
The Common Council voted to raise $500,000, to apply to the exemption of exempt and active firemen (includ- ing the members of the department prior to July 1st); all members of State militia belonging to the Second Division, N. G. S. N. Y., enrolled prior to July 1st ; $300 to the family, as a commutation fee, or for substi- tute for any drafted man dependent on his daily labor for support ; and if he went himself to service, four dollars per week would be given to the wife, and one dollar to every child under fourteen years of age. Afterwards, however, in consequence of the difficulty experienced in raising the money, the authorities were obliged to omit firemen and militiamen from the bene- fits of their substitute fund.
October. A new call for 300,000 men. Mr. S. B. Chittenden offered the sum of $10,000 for 200 volun- teers, under this call, for the 14th Regiment. The Second District quota was 3,034 and that of the Third District, 2,343.
November 2d. The charter election resulted in the choice of Alfred M. Wood, by 13,123 votes, out of a poll of 28,797; his competitors being Messrs. Prince and Kalbfleisch.
November 11th. At a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Kings County, in consequence of a new call for troops, it was resolved to borrow the sum of $250,000, for the purpose of paying a $300 bounty to each substitute enlisting in the county, before the 5th of January, 1864, or before another draft should be ordered. This county bounty was paid directly to the recruit himself, a measure for which the com- mittee, as a matter of course, was severely denounced by bounty brokers and others interested; but in which they were upheld by many prominent citizens and by general public sentiment.
December 23d and 24th. The Ladies Loyal League of South Brooklyn held a fair at the Atheneum, for the benefit of sick and wounded soldiers, through the United States Sanitary Commission.
1864. January 1st. The new mayor, Col. A. M. Wood, assumed the duties of his office.
COLONEL ALFRED M. WOOD was a native of Hempstead, L. I., where he was born on the 19th of April, 1828 ; removed to Brooklyn at an early age ; and was for some time a clerk in the store of the late Elijah Lewis, with whom he after- ward formed a partnership. Afterwards he engaged in busi- ness on his own account, but commercial reverses compelled him to resume the position of clerk.
Colonel Wood entered political life in 1853, as the demo- cratic candidate for collector of taxes. Although his party was defeated, such was Colonel Wood's position in the good opinion of his fellow citizens, that he was elected by six hun- dred majority. He served the public faithfully during a term of three years, at the end of which he was re-elected by an increased majority. In 1861 he was selected as the repre- sentative of the First Ward in the Board of Aldermen, of which he was chosen the presiding officer.
492
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
When the Southern Rebellion culminated in armed resist- ance to the authority of the government, and the war began, among the military organizations that hastened to offer their services for the defense of the country, and for maintaining the honor of the flag, was the 14th Regiment, New York State Militia. Of this regiment, organized in 1848, Col. Wood was at this time the commandant.
He resigned his position as President of the Board of Alder- men, and was indefatigable in his efforts to prepare the regi- ment for service, and to obtain from the government its immediate acceptance. Although other local regiments were accepted for the term of three months, the war department declined to receive the Fourteenth, except for three years, or the war. This condition was acceded to, and on the 19th of May, 1861, the regiment marched through the streets, lined with thousands, who cheered it God speed on its errand of honor, and went to the front.
In the memorable first battle of Bull Run, the 21st of July, the regiment, witli the brigade to which it was attached in the division of General Hunter, reached the field about eleven o'clock, and going at once into action, remained under fire six hours. The men behaved with great coolness and gallantry, and the Colonel was conspicuous for bravery. Four times did they charge the enemy up a hill, in the face of a terrific fire of artillery and musketry, Colonel Wood leading them. The loss of the regiment at this point was very severe, 143 being killed, wounded or reported missing. The Colonel was severely wounded just at the time that the fearful panic began, which ended in a disastrous route.
He was carried some distance on a litter and afterwards placed in an ambulance, the driver of which, as the retreat- ing flood swept onward, cut the traces and fled for his life. With the assistance of some members of his regiment, the colonel succeeded in reaching the woods, where they re- mained four days, living on blackberries, when they fell into the hands of the Eighteenth Virginia Regiment. The colonel was removed to Charlottesville, where he remained some months, and partially recovered. He was taken to Rich- mond, and shared the imprisonment of Gen. Corcoran and other brave Union soldiers.
Great anxiety was felt in Brooklyn as to his fate. It was reported at one time that lie was killed at Bull Run ; again, that he had been taken prisoner, and suffered amputation of the leg. When it was ascertained that neither of these reports was true, the public was startled by another, to the effect that he and others were held as hostages, to be ex- ecuted in retaliation for the execution of the Rebel pirates. This last report was well founded. How determined Col. Wood was to meet boldly any fate in store for him, and to give his life cheerfully to his country, if it was demanded, is shown by his speech to his regiment on rejoining them at Upton hill, after his release from captivity. He then said :
"This, soldiers of the old Fourteenth, is one of two event- ful moments of my life, which I shall ever look back upon with the happiest reflections. The first was that upon the occasion when I was taken from Henrico County jail, at Richmond, and in company with Col. Corcoran, was taken before the military authorities, to meet the issue presented in the question of retaliation, which at that time was under consideration with the rebel authorities, and which involved the execution of myself and others. The honor I considered as having fallen to my lot was one which every true Ameri- can should be proud of-the chosen sacrifice of a country and a cause like our own."
At length a change was effected, and Colonel Wood was released from rebel imprisonment in the latter part of February, 1862.
The citizens of Brooklyn were of course anxious to give public expression to their appreciation of the gallantry with
which Colonel Wood had represented them on the field of battle and the manner in which he had sustained the patriotic character of the city, during his long captivity. Appropriate resolutions were passed by the Board of Aldermen, and it was determined that a committee of the board should proceed to Philadelphia to meet their absent president, whose place had been so long and honorably vacant. A meeting of citizens was also held, and a committee appointed to co-operate with the city authorities. This reception, which occurred March 3, 1862, was one of the most impressive and memorable demonstrations ever made in this city. All classes of people united to do honor to a distinguished citizen whose name was inseparably connected with some of the most important and stirring events in the history of the country. Nor were the demonstrations confined to Brooklyn. The people of Brushville, where the colonel joined his estimable lady, were alive with enthusiasm, and a reception was given him such as the quiet towns of Long Island rarely witness.
It was his intention to rejoin his regiment at the earliest possible moment, but impaired health and consequent physi- cal disability compelled him to abandon his purpose. Some time afterwards he was appointed by the President, Collector of Internal Revenue for the Second District. On the 20th of October, 1863, he was nominated for the mayoralty by the Union city convention ; and, at the polls, the people elected him to that position. In a poll of 28,312 he received 12,672, being 1,728 over Benjamin Prince, and 7,976 over Martin Kalbfleisch, an honor the more marked and gratifying to the recipient of it because it was unsought. Opposed to him in the canvass was a gentleman who had the support of a powerful party, having a majority in the city ; but the con- test was a fair one, and Colonel Wood owed his success to the use of no means on his part except those entirely con- sistent with the rules of honorable political warfare.
1864. January. Mr. S. B. Chittenden placed in the hands of the special committee of the Board of Super- visors on substitute bounty fund, the sum of ten thous- and dollars, to be disbursed in sums of $50, to recruits who should enlist in the Brooklyn Fourteenth, all of which was so disbursed, to the entire satisfaction of the generous donor.
January 2d. The special committee on substitute bounty fund were authorized to pay $15 premium for each recruit enlisted, and credited to the quota of Kings County ; said sum being paid to the party pre- senting the recruit. This premium, however, was not paid to recruits for veteran regiments.
January 6th. The First Long Island Regiment (Brooklyn Phalanx), Col. Nelson Cross, returned on a short furlough, after an absence of nearly two years and a half, during which they had participated in four- teen battles; 234 men alone returned, out of the 1,000 who went forth to the war, and they had all re-enlisted for the war. They met with a cordial welcome home, were escorted by the 28th New York State National Guard to the City Hall, where they were addressed by the Mayor and Common Council, and partook of a col- lation prepared for them.
February 2d and 4th. Two amateur dramatic enter- tainments at the Athenaeum, in aid of the United States Sanitary Commission, produced the sum of $1,000.
493
CONSOLIDATED HISTORY OF BROOKLYN, 1864.
February 22d. A national and state flag, both of silk, with rosewood staffs and silver mountings, with the inscriptions, were this day presented to the 23d Regiment, New York State National Guard, by the ladies of Brooklyn. The presentation took place in front of Mr. S. B. Chittenden's residence, in Pierre- pont Street, addresses being made by that gentleman, the Rev. Francis Vinton, D.D., and Brig. Gen. Pratt, the colonel commanding the regiment. This day, also, was signalized by the opening of the great
Brooklyn and Long Island Fair-an event which is not only memorable in the civic annals as a magnificent exhibition of patriotism, but as being, in fact, the initial point of a new civic life and progress -previously undreamed of. This Fair resulted from the joint efforts of the War Fund Committee of Brook- lyn and County of Kings (acting through its sanitary committee) and of the Woman's Relief Association of the City of Brooklyn, recognized as the Brooklyn Auxiliary of the United States Sanitary Commission, and to which the sanitary committee of the War Fund was advisory. An appeal made, in May, 1863, by the War Fund Sanitary Committee to the churches of Brooklyn, asking cash contributions for the purchase of materials for hospital clothing, to be made up by the families of our soldiers in the field, through the agency of the Female Employment Society (created long before the war, for the object which its name in- dicates), placed about $6,000 in the hands of the com- mittee, which proved an ample provision for the sum- mer. In the following autumn it was found that the Woman's Relief Association, during its first year, had turned into the depot of the Sanitary Commission, hospital clothing, etc., to the value of nearly $50,000. It became a serious question with the committe whether fresh appeals should be made to the churches, or whether some new plans could be devised by which the citizens of Brooklyn could be brought into active and efficient sympathy with the work of the Woman's Relief Association for the winter of 1863-4. Early in October, the plan of a great fair for the city was sug- gested by Mr. James H. Frothingham, one of the War Fund committee. After conference with Dr. Bellows, president of the United States Sanitary Commission, and others, the Sanitary Committee broached the sub- ject (November 6th) to the Woman's Relief Associa- tion, in the form of a general plan for a great city fair, which it was thought might realize the sum of $75,000 to $80,000 for the United States Sanitary Commission. But it was feared that the local charities, whose an- nual fairs were already being prepared for, might suf- fer too seriously by such an undertaking, and the mat- ter, for the present, was laid over. Meanwhile, on the 14th of the same month, the ladies of New York, un- der thic auspices of the United States Sanitary Con- mission, announced by a circular the project of a great Metropolitan Fair, to begin in that city on the 22d of
February, 1864; and the cooperation of the Brooklyn ladies was invited, a department of the fair being as- signed to this city. On the 20th of November, the Woman's Relief Association decided to unite in the work, as the Brooklyn Division of the Metropolitan Fair; leaving open, however, the question as to which city the said Brooklyn Division would carry on their work in. At a special meeting of the Woman's Relief Association on the 24th, it was determined, in antici- pation of the great fair, to increase the representation from the respective churches; and, on the 4th of De- cember, a large meeting of the association was held at the chapel of the Packer Institute, Mrs. J. S. T. Stranahan presiding, and the project of an independent fair was developed by the secretary of the sanitary committee of the War Fund, who said that Brooklyn, as a city of three hundred thousand inhabitants, should make itself felt and appreciated, and accomplish as much relatively as the city of New York. Measures for the enlargement of membership of the executive board of the Woman's Relief Association and for the cooperation of the War Fund committee were adopted, and enthusiastic speeches were delivered by Rev. Drs. Buddington, Farley and Spear, the latter of whom ventured a prediction (which many then deemed a lit- tle "wild") that the fair would realize as high as $150,000. On the evening of the 5th, a meeting of the War Fund committee was held at their rooms, which was attended by about a hundred persons of recog- nized influence in the community ; and it was resolved that a committee of sixty gentlemen be appointed as a general committee, with power to add to their number, for the purpose of cooperating with the Woman's Re- lief Association in arranging for and condueting the Brooklyn Division of the Great Metropolitan Fair. This committee organized the same evening, with Mr. A. A. Low as president, and went vigorously to work. At a meeting of the Woman's Relief Association on December 18th, the spirit was found to be rising, and under the inspiration of the glowing remarks of Henry Ward Beecher and others, it soon ran up to fever heat. Notices were sent to the sewing societies of the various churches and to the towns and villages of Long Island, asking their cooperation in the Brooklyn Division of the great fair, and the response, from every quarter, was prompt and cordial.
On the evening of December 19th, a meeting of the War Fund Committee was held at the Chapel of the Polytechnic Institute, Mr. A. A. Low presiding, and Ex-Mayor Lambert acting as secretary. An advisory board of twenty-nine gentlemen was appointed, of which Dwight Jolmson was chairman, who were em- powered to cooperate with the Woman's Relief Asso- ciation in the conduct of the Brooklyn Division of the Metropolitan Fair; Rev. Dr. Farley made a report of his recent visit to the Boston Fair, then in progress, and earnest speeches were made by Dwight Jolmson,
494
HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.
Esq., Rev. T. L. Cuyler, A. A. Low and Walter S. Griffith, Esqrs. Mr. Jolin D. Mckenzie then made an effective speech, and the enthusiasm which he elieited was brought to a climax when he subscribed $1,000 to the objects of the fair. Amid the tumultuous applause which ensued, Mr. A. A. Low followed with his sub- scription of $2,500; and then, in rapid suecession, the $1,000 and $500 subscriptions flowed in until $25,500 had been pledged, and Mr. S. B. Chittenden, in addi- tion to his $1,000 contribution, offered a pair of Devon steers from his farm in Connecticut, which he promised to "make as fat as possible on Yankee corn," before the fair opened. This great meeting "drove the nail and elinched it." On the following day, the list of contributions was swelled to $29,750, and before the end of December the subscription had reached a point of over $50,000 through the activity of the chairmen of the several special committees. By this time, the managers of the New York side of the Metropolitan Fair had felt obliged to postpone its opening from February 22d to the 28th of March; but the Brooklyn- ites felt that it would be bad policy for them to accede to any postponement. The enthusiasm was at its height; the 22d of February was hallowed and heart- stirring in its associations, and these could not be ignored or lost; accordingly, at the regular weekly meeting of the Woman's Relief Association, December 30th, it was resolved that Brooklyn should proceed without regard to the arrangements of New York, and that the Fair should open on February 22d. Brooklyn, having thus fearlessly cut loose from leading strings, found that a new impulse was given to the work. The Academy of Music was engaged; arrangements rapidly matured for other buildings, as the case might require, and the eity became, thronghont all classes of the peo- ple, intent, energetic and enthusiastic to the highest degree, in preparation for the noble undertaking which they had assumed. A publie meeting at the Academy of Music on the 2d of January, 1864, was held; the managers of the Fair received from the municipal authorities permission to erect the necessary temporary buildings, and on the 19th the committee on internal arrangements and reception of goods announced that they were ready to receive donations of goods, pro- duce, etc., etc. On the same evening, Greenpoint was stirred to its core by a rousing public meeting on be- half of the Fair; on the 21st the town of Flatbush had an earnest public meeting, and the good people of the Island were not behind hand in their preparation for the coming event; public meetings being held in most of the towns, efficient committees appointed, and every energy used to bring out a handsome representation for the Island on the occasion.
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