USA > New York > Rockland County > The history of Rockland County > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
In 1835 William Lyons began cutting ice on Lake Sinipink, then known, among those residing near by, as the "Bloody" or " Hessian Pond," now called Highland Lake. In a short time Lyons was succeeded by the Brown Brothers, and later, Dennett having joined the firm, it took the name of Brown, Dennett & Brown. For several years this firm con- tinued the ice business at this place; then J. D. Ascough & Co. obtained control of the ice interest at Highland Lake, retaining possession till 1855. In that year the Knickerbocker leased the place, enlarged the storage capacity of the ice house and improved the methods of getting the ice to the landing on the river.
This company maintained control at the lake till 1861, and were fol- lowed by a company composed of Jefferson Wilcox, Hiscock, Coles and A. C. Cheney, who remained in possession till 1881, when the firm was changed to A. C. Cheney, George Robinson and Bigelow.
182
Under the new management an ice house, with storage capacity for 40,000 tons, has been erected and the gravity road by which the ice is gotten to the river landing improved.
The present officers of the Knickerbocker Ice Company are:
Robert Maclay, President. E. A. Smith, Treasurer.
L. O. Reaves, Secretary.
E. E. Conklin, Superintendent.
Until 1856 the manufacturing and repair shops of the company re- mained at Rockland Lake. Then they were transferred to the foot of West Twentieth street, New York city. The present Knickerbocker manufacturing and repair shop covers 13,000 square fect. D. E. Felter has a wheelwright and blacksmith shop at Rockland Lake, at which the repair of ice wagons and ice tools is still carried on, but most of the busi- ness is done in New York. The company has storage capacity along the Hudson and its lakes and ponds for 3,500,000 tons of ice; it owns sixty barges, with a capacity of 40,000 tons; 1,000 horses, 500 wagons, and a ship yard and harness shop. The number of people steadily employed in the business is 1,200.
NOTE .- The separation of this Chapter on the industries of the County from the Chapters de- voted to the histories of the towns is, in a measure, arbitrary. I have thought that it might give the reader a clearer idea of the causes which developed the County, in the early days of its erection, by placing them apart from the other data which must necessarily be touched on in the histories of the towns, and by grouping them together ; and in the case of the stone quarry and ice business more than one town was interested. The other manufacturing interests will be found in the Chapters devoted to the towns.
Authorities referred to: "Documents relating to the Colonial History, S. N. Y.," Vols. VII., VIII. " Natural History, S. N. Y." Part III. "Mineralogy," by Lewis C. Beck, Part IV. "Geology," by Wm. W. Mather. "History of American Manufactures," 3 Vols., by Bishop. " History of Dutchess County, 1609 to 1876," by Philip H. Smith. "History of Herkimer County," by Nathaniel S. Benton. "N. Y. S. Geological Reports," Vol. I. "The Hudson from its Source to the Sea," B. J. Lossing. " History of Ramapo," by Rev. E. B. Cobb. "Catskill Recorder," January, 1877, article by E. E. Conklin. Archives of the Rock- land County Historical Society.
CHAPTER XI.
THE EARLY MILITIA OF ROCKLAND COUNTY-WAR OF 1812-THE MILITIA OF THE COUNTY CALLED UPON FOR SERVICE-THE COMPANIES OF CAP- TAIN'S BLAUVELT AND SNEDEKER LEAVE FOR HARLEM-THE LIGHT HORSE ORDERED TO REPORT FOR DUTY-ORGANIZATION OF A BAT- TALION OF ARTILLERY-DESERTIONS-ORGANIZATION OF THE NA- TIONAL GUARD-MUSTER ROLL OF TIIE MILITIA OF 1812-MUSTER ROLL OF THE BATTALION OF ARTILLERY.
The treaty concluded between the United States and Great Britain, at Paris, on September 3d, 1783, was but a hollow truce. Neither people were satisfied with the result, and the English Government, not realizing that the separation was final, was not active in complying with certain terms of the agreement. Clashing interests on commercial matters only aggravated the ill temper of both nations, an aggravation, which was in- creased by the evident sympathy of this people with France, in her con- fliet with England, and the retaliating acts of embargo and confiscation with which Great Britain hampered our merchant marine. One act of violence followed another, each side being mutually aggressive, till at length on June 18th, 1812, war was formally declared between this Gov- ernment and Great Britain, because of the latter countries' acts, in laying blockades on American Ports ; in insisting on the right to search Ameri- can vessels for deserters; in refusing to comply with the treaty obliga- tions of 1783. These, though the nominal reasons given for the war, were but the outcome of a far deeper feeling of jealousy and anger that existed between the two peoples.
With the acts of that war we have nothing to do save as it affected our County. We have already seen in a preceding chapter, that the attain- ment by this people of autonomy found them in a crude mental condition as regards the idea they had won, and that the process of education in their new relationship to government was attended by some friction and the organization of partisan ideas. On some points of policy however, nearly every citizen agreed and notably on that which opposed a standing army. In vain military men pleaded for this weapon of offense or de- fense; in vain the Chief-magistrates recommended an increase in this powerful auxilliary to government. Plea and recommendation were alike futile, with a people who had had too much regular army before and dur-
184
ing the Revolution, and had suffered too greatly from it in days past to risk placing themselves again within the power of armed force. So that army, which had come forth from the War for Independence, with all the perfection of veterans, had been permitted to disintegrate until a mere handful of men remained.
At different times in the years that had passed, the regular force, of which a nucleus was always preserved, had been increased or diminished as the exigencies of the Nation demanded ; but as a general thing, the standing army did not exceed 1,500 men, a force only used then as now, to police the frontiers. While the people were thus niggardly in regard to a standing force, they were correspondingly generous in the laws enacted for the maintenance of the militia. With pride they boasted, that it was a volunteer army of citizens, which had accomplished at Louisburg, what men educated in the arts of war were afraid to attempt ; with pride they pointed out that it was citizen soldiers who had beaten the well trained troops of Great Britain, and her Hessian mercenaries in the Revolution, and with the same pride they proclaimed, that in any future contest the militia would be the saviors of liberty. It behooved the people then to combine with the quiet occupations of peace the sterner arts of war, and to carry out this plan every white citizen between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, with a few exceptions, such as government officers, mem- bers of Congress, etc., was expected to provide himself with the accoutre- ments of war and appear, at least once a year, for inspection and drill.
Even in the first years of peace when, above all other times, the en- thusiasm of victory and the stern pride of power would be most apt to lead to the observance of this law; men found this self imposed duty irk- some. Peace by no means brought ease. The country was wretchedly poor, and hard, earnest work was necessary to maintain an existence. The devotion of a day to drill was felt to be an idle waste of precious time and it was given grudgingly. Time, instead of improving these mus- ters, made them worse, and a general muster day became a period of riot and drunkenness. Straggling groups of men, clad in various forms of dress-here one, arrayed in a Continental uniform which had graced some Revolutionary hero and which had been inherited or bought by the pres- ent wearer without regard to the accuracy of the fit ; there another, clothed in home made stuff that had been grown and woven in the County, anon a third, who being more gifted with this world's goods than his neighbors, evinced the fact by appearing at muster in broadcloth and strutting before the gaping yokels who did not know him; marched to and fro, armed with every imaginable object that could be used as weapons of offense
185
or defense, while the shrill scream of fife and the rattle of drums attracted the attention of the women and children to this truly motly gathering.
Excellent material for an army was in this militia, doubtless, if it had been disciplined and properly officered, but as it was managed, rather fitted to be the admiration of slaves and school children than to strike terror to an enemy's heart. One branch, and one branch only, of the service made any pretention to uniformity in dress-the cavalry. Com- posed, as a rule, of a wealthier class than the foot soldier, the light horse- men did take some pride in their appearance and presented, on muster days, a fair semblance of force ; but when the call to " boots and saddles" sounded, or when, at the order of "Return sabres" the swords clankcd against their scabbards, then came a scene which baffles description. The horses, either taken from the plough or only half-broken colts, frightened by the unwonted excitement and noise, plunged, rolled, kicked or, gaining the mastery, ran away, while riders clung fast to saddle and manc, or rolled helplessly in the dust.
The congregation of such a numerous body of men, led to a liberal demand on the hospitality of the neighboring hostelries, and peach brandy, rum and apple whiskey were consumed to an alarming amount. Drinking, which began in a friendly way as acquaintances met, soon produced the effects of alcoholic stimulation on the different dispositions of the users, and maudlin greetings, bacchanal shouts of laughter and sullen threaten- ings resounded through the air. Boastfulness grew rampant. The different sections of the County were represented by bullies, each more abusive than the other, and at length from words the disputants passed to blows, and a general free fight ended up the day. From what I have said, it may be inferred that discipline and subordination were unknown. Such inference is correct. The officers were neighbors of the privates and met them in daily intercourse; their social standing and business relationship were too close all the year for familiarity not to breed contempt; and while the soldier might deign, out of respect to the day, to address his commanding officer by his military title instead of his Christian name and, in a good- natured way, obey his orders up to a certain limit ; he most certainly would permit no autocratic commands of that officer to change his precon- ceived plans and intentions. To obtain that respect and obedience, to which his rank entitled him; the officer needed to be physically able to enforce his demands.
With firm dependence on an army, composed mainly of such material, this Nation declared war against Great Britain. Can we wonder, under the circumstances, that our land forces made such a poor showing in that
186
war? Can we wonder that a force of only 3,500 men could march to and burn the Capital of a government whose population was 8,000,000?
As in the Revolution, English strategy again consisted in attempting to separate the New England from the other States by scizing the valleys of Lake Champlain and the Hudson; and while Sir George Prevost, with 11,000 men, invaded New York at the north, a British fleet blockaded the harbor, and transports with English troops were expected to land at its southern boundaries. Alarmed for the safety of New York city, the Government hastened the building of defences. A small fortification already occupied the site of the present Fort Hamilton, and Castle Wil- liam, on Governors Island, which had been begun in 1807, was standing. To these were added the erection of Fort Diamond-now known as Fort Lafayette-on Hendrick's Reef, and the red fort, which used to stand at or near the corner of the present Desbrosses and West streets. At the same time the militia of the State, not previously called out, was ordered on duty.
One of the absurdities of the militia law now became plainly apparent. Every able bodied man in the State belonged to the militia, and the requi- sition for troops, in the midst of the harvest season, was equivalent to letting the harvest rot in the fields from lack of means to gather it. Gov- ernment seemed to grasp this idea, and, to rectify the evil, granted per- mission to the commanding officers of the different counties to draft only such proportion of their command for service as could be spared from the necessary labors of life. Other commanders at once took advantage of this grant. But the officer in charge of the militia in this County-General Peter Van Orden-with more zeal than discretion, determined that the full force under his command should serve. He, accordingly, issued orders for the militia of the County to assemble on September 3d, 1814. This was not the last occasion in his life in which General Van Orden's ardor excelled his judgment, but it was one of the most unfortunate ones for the reputation of our County.
On September 3d, seventy-one, out of a company of seventy-seven men belonging to the 83d Regiment, N. Y. S. Militia, Lieutenant- Colonel Benjamin Gurnee commanding, assembled at John G. Blauvelt's, in Greenbush, under the immediate command of Captain Jacob I. Blauvelt, and, after a brief inspection, started for the front. Marching down to Tappan Landing, this force was there conveyed on board of a sloop by small boats and sailed for New York. It was a cloudless, hot day, such as often occurs in early Autumn, and the long march through the dust had made the men hot and thirsty. For some unexplained reason, no
187
provision had been made on the sloop to supply the troops with water, and, as they idly drifted down the river, parched and choked, these worthy soldiers obtained their first lesson of the deprivations of war. By the time Phillipse-Yonkers-was reached their agony was unbearable, and the vessel was compelled to land and allow the troops to slake their thirst. Again they started for the city, which they reached at three A. M., Sep- tember 4th. But their experience of the difference between playing at soldier and being in actual service was but begun. The relief, which had been given their thirst, had passed, and, aggravated by recollections of the freedom with which they had always heretofore obtained water, the war- riors muttered curses, both loud and deep, at their present restraint. It was not till ten o'clock that they were landed and marched to the Battery where they obtained water. Re-embarking at the Battery, Captain Blau- velt's company proceeded up the East River to encamp on Ward's Island. But their trip was further prolonged by the error of a drunken pilot, who ran the vessel aground off Bellevue at sundown, and they passed another night on the water. Finally they reached their camping grounds on September 5th, and were quartered in a five story factory. For three weeks the company remained on Ward's Island. At the end of this time they were moved to Harlem Heights, where they were inspected on Oc- tober 8th, 1814. At Harlem Heights they remained till November 29th, 1814, when, as their services were not longer required, they were per- mitted to return home.
When Captain Blauvelt's command started from Greenbush, the com- pany of Captain John Snedeker set sail from Haverstraw and joined the other companies of the 83d Regiment of New York State Militia at Harlem Heights.
The exposure, the change in the manner of living and that disease so common to army encampments-measles-made sad havoc in the ranks of Captain Blauvelt's company. No less than one-third, among whom were the Lieutenant and Ensign, were on a sick furlough at one time or another ; and of these the greatest number were suffering from measles, which became epidemic in camp about November 15th. Besides drilling and laboring on the fortifications either in the quarries or trenches, there was little to disturb the monotony of camp life except desertions. This offence was wonderfully common. The militiaman, who probably had never been away from his home for a week at a time before, grew dreadfully home- sick in his strange surroundings and walked off from camp. When he felt so inclined, he returned to his comrades, not before; and when he had returned no punishment save that of confinement or extra labor awaited
188
him. To shoot a militia deserter was unthought of, for, while a Congress- ional act had been passed at the outbreak of the war, placing the militia in the service under the same rules and regulations as the regular army, court-martials for the trial of a militiaman could only be composed of militia officers, and we can readily see that a board so composed would hesitate long before passing the death sentence. So, without terror of death to prevent, individuals or squads were constantly missing, and the evil became so widespread, that on November 16th, the 83d Regiment camp was suddenly called to arms at 9 o'clock in the evening, under the impression that some neighboring troops were about to desert.
If desertion was thus prevalent among the militia of other counties, some excuse can be found for it among the troops under command of General Van Orden. Not alone did they suffer from the same homesick- ness common to all, but a further and tremendous inducement to abandon camp was found in the complaints which reached them of the impossibility of those remaining at home, to gather the fall crops and prepare for the winter. Reiterated requests for furloughs met with constant refusal. So the men took the matter in their own hands and came home. By Novem- ber 21st, forty of Captain Blauvelt's company had been returned for court- martial on account of being absent without leave ; at one time no less than sixteen men were absent from duty; and during a period of twenty con- secutive days the morning report shows never less than three and usually from twelve to thirteen, privates and non-commissioned officers recorded as deserters. Sometimes one would start alone or with a single companion but more commonly squads of five or six would go off together, followed next day by a similar number. The punishment meted out to these mili- tary sinners was the marching and counter-marching them up and down the roads from breakfast time till nightfall without rest. This means may have been chosen on the principle, that the men would be so tired out by evening as to be content to remain quiet and not walk off home again, but from the expressions of one of those, who was punished, I judge the plan was not effectual.
In the Light Horse, the cavalry branch of the militia, a draft of seven men was made in the County. Five immediately disqualified, and only Isaac S. Lydecker and James De Clark responded. These gentlemen started for the rendezvous, Montgomery in Orange County, on a bright Sunday afternoon, and were accompanied as far as Sufferns by a cavalcade of neighbors. On reaching Montgomery, they, with some seventy or eighty others of the force, who had assembled, were inspected and were then dismissed to their homes subject to instant recall in case of need. The call never came.
189
In the year 1814 a battalion of artillery was organized in the Middle Senatorial District composed of Rockland, Orange, Duchess and Ulster Counties. This battalion was at first under the command of Major Har- mon Tallman, of Nyack. The uniform was composed of white pants and vest, dark blue coat, turned and faced with red, and fur caps with red plume. The armament consisted of brass field pieces. The battalion entered camp at Harlem Heights. Almost immediately trouble arose between the rank and file, and Major Tallman was relieved of the com- mand, which was given to Major Tyler Dibble. During part of its period of service, this battalion remained at Harlem Heights, and for a portion of the time at Greenwich, Connecticut. Captain Jonathan Reynolds' com- pany remained in service the longest period, entering August 18th and being mustered out November 18th, 1814. The other companies remained on duty from August 18th to September 30th, when they were dis- charged.
In proportion to her population Rockland County turned out more men in the War of 1812 than in our late Civil War, but not one of those men ever saw more of war than is comprised in a fortified camp, except the few who enlisted in the United States Army. Doubtless, if placed in action, the militia of this County would have acquitted itself in as worthy a manner as raw troops ever do. There would have been the usual amount of malingering; the usual number of desertions ; and the usual stam- pede that follows a break in the line when green soldiers are in battle. The militia system in the Revolution, in the War of 1812, and up to the organization of the National Guard, was the most illusive system that ever deceived a people; and though that delusion must have been apparent to the dullest intellect, the citizens of this country did not wish their favorite hobby disturbed, but hugged it the closer to them, and were lulled by it into fancied safety. Fortunate for us was it, that, when the crucial test of war came upon this Nation in 1861, the opposing army was as new to conflict as we, and that each side became skilled in battle in the same proportion as the other.
At the close of the War of 1812, the militia resumed its former apathe- tic indifference to discipline, and the annual muster gradually became more and more of a useless farce. Occasionally some enterprising Legis- lator would stir up the topic of the State's military force, and then a new law or two would be passed to add to the many already on the Statute books, nugatory because of their non-enforcement; and if enthusiasm enough could be roused, the whole service would be reconstructed. By 1848, the companies in this County had become a part of the 17th Regi-
190
ment, N. Y. S. Militia, Colonel William W. Scrugham, commanding, and the regiment was attached to the 7thi Brigade under the charge of General Aaron Ward. A momentary interest in the service had been caused by the Mexican War, but recently ended, and during its excitement, a cavalry company of about fifty men was organized and mustered into service in 1848, bearing the title of "Rockland County Rangers." The officers of this company at its organization were : Captain, Isaac Pye; First Lieutenant, Charles McOblenis; Second Lieutenant, Edward Pye.
The "Rangers" were ordered on duty during the Haverstraw riot of 1853. Sheriff Henry L. Sherwood, finding himself unable to cope with the rioters by the civil powers, and remained on duty two days and a night before quiet was restored. In 1855, General Ward resigned his commission on account of age, and W. W. Scrugham, was promoted to the command of the brigade, while Edward Pye, became Colonel, and Isaac Pye, Major of the 17th Regiment, and Charles McOblenis, Captain of the "Rangers." Thus officered the regiment remained till the Civil War. At the call by the National Government for protection to the Capital ; the 17th Regiment was ordered to proceed to Washington, by Governor Seymour. Ere the hour for departure, however, the immediate danger to the Capital had passed, and the 17th Regiment remained on waiting orders for the next three or four weeks ; at the end of which time it was relieved from duty. By the departure of members either as volun- teers or conscripts, the organization was practically abandoned, the small remnant remaining, being used for home duty, and, without its members being mustered out, the company of " Rangers " ceased to exist for want of men. Once more it was ordered out, as we shall see in the chapter on the Civil War, and performed duty at the front in the year 1863.
The accoutrements of a " Ranger " consisted of horse, saddle, bridle, saddle-cloth, knapsack, holster, pistol, belt, saber, and spurs; while dark blue coat, trimmed with red, blue pants with red stripe, and bear skin cap with long black feather tipped with red formed his uniform.
Early in the Civil War the whole subject of the State troops was taken up by the Legislature, and on April 23d, 1863, the result of the deliberations of that body took form in the organization of our present National Guard. On June 19th, of that year, Adjutant-General Sprague issued the neces- sary orders for the formation of a regiment or battalion in each Assembly district, and under those orders the Fifty-seventh Regiment, N. G. S. N. Y., was organized, with General James Ryder, of the Seventh Brigade, brigade commander; James S. Haring, Colonel, and John H. Stephens, Lieutenant-Colonel. This regiment, composed entirely of Rockland County men, contained seven companies.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.