USA > New York > Rockland County > The history of Rockland County > Part 32
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The first burst of patriotic enthusiasm in our County bore instant fruit. At the call of the President for volunteers to save the Union, recruiting was begun in Nyack, which led the County in this matter, and by May Ist, 1861, the following company, lettered G, was ready to take its place in the 17th Regiment, N. Y. S. Volunteers, called the "Westchester Chas- seurs."
Captain, James H. Demarest .*
First Lieutenant, Luther Caldwell.
Second Lieutenant, James H. Christie.
Brevet Second Lieutenant, L. C. Mabie.
Orderly Sergeant, William Matthews.
Second Sergeant, Chas. H. Hawkins.
Third Sergeant. Jacob Baker.
Fourth Sergeant, Geo. E. Ingalls.
First Corporal, Anthony Lydecker.
Second Corporal, Towt J. Waldron. *
Third Corporal, Chas. H. Putnam.
Fourth Corporal, George Phillips.
Bolmer, Henry
Foley, T. V.
Rose, David
Bennet, J. H.
Garrabrant, Alfred
Salters, Dennis
Baker, David
Hawkins, George
Smith, 1. D.
Blauvelt, Isaac*
Harrison, Bernard
See, Thomas
Bertenshaw, Philip
Hoffman, Joseph*
Tremper, George*
Curtis, Harvey
Ives, William*
Thompson, A. G.
Conover, J. H.
Knapp, James
Waldron, Edgar N.
Dailey, John
Lyng, George
Waldron, Wm. J.
Devoe, George
Meissner, Charles*
Waldron, Carrol S.
Decker, George
Mondawka, W.
White, Adam
Dutcher, David
Minerly, Joseph
White, Richard
Dutcher, Jacob
Neve, George
Wood, llenry
Dealing, Wm. H.
Neal, Walter B.
Wood, John N .*
Dines, James N.
Palmer, John H.
Wood, Daniel*
Driscoll, James
Parcells, John
Wotten, Daniel
Ennis, Wm.
Putney, Burril
Dean, Isaac
Foster, George
Ryder, Alexander
Dean, Daniel
Foster, Anthony
Ryder, John H.
Baker, Wm. H.
On the evening of May 8th, 1861, the farewell services of Company G. were held in the Dutch Reformed Church at Nyack. Long before the hour appointed for the exercises to begin, that edifice was crowded, and after the volunteers had entered, it was difficult to find standing room. The sermon was given by William G. Hacselbarth, from the text found, Isaiah XXVI: 12; an address was delivered by L. D. Mansfield, and a copy of the Bible was given to each volunteer by William Voorhis.
On the following morning, Thursday, May 9th, the company rendez- voused at Union Hall, and marched from there to the steamboat landing, foot of Smith Place, from whence it was transported to New York by the steamboat Isaac P. Smith.
It seems wise to follow the further course of this organization before continuing with the story of events in the County. On its arrival at the
*Died in service.
298
City, the company was quartered at the Park Barracks, where it remained till June 14th. Then it was moved to Staten Island. While at New York, Luther Caldwell was promoted to the position of Paymaster of the 17th Regiment, and L. C. Mabie became First Lieutenant of Company G. At Staten Island the men received their uniforms, consisting of light blue pantaloons, dark blue coat and cap, and light blue overcoat. On June 2 Ist the start for Washington was begun. The subsequent history of this Nyack company is brief. During the autumn of 1861, dissention arose between the officers and men of the organization, and the company was disbanded, the men being billeted among the other companies of the 17th Regiment. Thenceforth the local identity of the original company was lost. That the services of the men who composed it were not lost, is only too grimly told by the asterisks which mark so many names.
To return to the County, and, for the sake of clearness, still continuing with Nyack; we find the feeling produced by the outbreak of the war not only dividing all social ties, but even extending so far as to affect the places chosen for public meetings. Union Hall, situated on the north side of Main street, a few steps west of Broadway, became the resort and head-quarters of all Union partisans, while only next in the frequency of its use was the chapel of the Rockland Female Institute, or, in warm wea- ther, its grounds. The disunionists met at the York House, corner of Main street and Piermont avenue.
A public meeting was held in Union Hall, May 24th, 1861, to take some action in regard to assisting the families of volunteers until such time as should permit them to be beyond danger of want. At this meet- ing a relief organization was effected with the following officers :
President, D. D. Smith.
Vice Presidents.
Isaac S. Lydecker,
D. D. Demarest. F. L. Nichols,
Aaron L. Christie.
John& W. Towt, Isaac Hart,
Tunis Smith.
Peter De Pew, John V. Burr,
George Green,
D. J. Blauvelt, W'm. B. Collins.
Secretaries.
William Voorhis, Daniel Burr, Col. Isaac Sloat.
The following committee was appointed to take charge of and supply the families in need of aid :
John W. Towt, David D. Smith, Tunis Smith, George Green,
William Voorhis,
D. J. Blauvelt,
D. D. Demarest, John W. Moison, R. P. Eells,
John V. Burr. Isaac Sloat, S. G. V. Edwards.
William B. Collins.
299
D. D. Demarest was made the treasurer of this organization. During the meeting speeches were made by Wm. G. Haeselbarth, Isaac Sloat and others. John W. Moison made a forcible plea, that Blauveltville should be permitted to do her share in the work in hand, and a letter was read from L. D. & C. F. Mansfield pledging $100 toward the fund. I may be permitted to state here, that the people of Blauveltville had contributed $700 toward the purpose of this meeting by July 4th, 1861.
While Nyack was thus actively moving in the cause of the Union, other parts of the County were by no means idle. As early as April 22d a public meeting was held in the Wigwam at Haverstraw for the purpose of encouraging volunteering and raising funds to assist the families of recruits. The Wigwam had been erected on the common directly south of the Central Presbyterian church and was opened to the public July 27. 1860. This edifice was used by the Unionists during the war. The meet- ing was organized as follows :
General George S. Allison, Chairman.
John I. Cole, Secretary.
The following committee was appointed to receive and disburse con- tributions.
Henry M. Peck,
Alexander Davidson,
Gen'l G. S Allison,
Alexander Waldron,
Rev. Fred. L. King,
J. I .. DeNoyelles,
Rev. Patrick Mahoney,
Rev. J. J. Smith,
William Call,
Rev. Dr. Crane,
Rev. A S. Freeman,
John W. Felter,
The following citizens at once subscribed to the fund :
George S. Allison,
$100
William Knight,
$100
John Biggs,
$ 25
William Call,
1 00
Samson Marks, Sr.,
100
Edwin Brockway,
25
II. M. Peck,
100
Isaiah Millburn,
100
T. J. Fredericks,
25
John M. Gardner,
100
George Benson, 100
R. A. VerValen,
25
John D. Gardner,
100
Levi D. West,
50
Sam'l A. VerValen,
25
Silas D. Gardner,
100
F. J. Wiles & Co.,
50
C. P. Hoffman,
25
A. Davidson,
100
Robert Smith,
15 Wm. J. Penny,
25
Calvin Tomkins,
100
Uriah Washburn,
50
A Friend,
25
Daniel Tomkins,
100
John I. Cole,
50
J. O. Schneder,
25
G. C. Vancleaf,
25
Thos. Shankey,
50
I. M. Gardner,
25
John Oldfield,
100
Geo. S. Wood,
50
G. G. Allison,
25
J. L. DeNoyelles,
100
J. H. Stephens,
50
Abram Felter,
25
Arnet Seaman,
100
Bradley Keesler,
50
James King,
10
By May 25th, 1861, the officers of this association were : George S. Allison, President ; George S. Oldfield, Secretary ; Edward Pye, Treas- urer. In December of the same year the committee had fifty families to care for.
300
Enlistments in Haverstraw were early begun, and continued through the summer of 1861. By October, a company called the DeNoyelles. Guards had been formed, consisting of the following men :
Captain Edward Pye *
Abbott, John
DeLaMontanya, J.
Odell, Abram
Ackerman, Wm. E. *
Dolson Chas.
Osborn, P. M.
Adams, F. C.
Frazer, Wm. M.
Palmer, John
Agnew, James
Fletcher, T. A.
Peck, Joseph *
Allison, Wm. J .*
Frederick, Levi
Phillips, John *
Babcock, S. W.
Gardner, Fenton
Rose, J. J.
Babcock, J. P.
Glassing, Adam
Ryan, Patrick
Barry, John
Gurnee, F. M.
Seely, R. J.
Blower, John
Hastings, Thos.
Snedeker, Abram
Brooks, Dan'l
Hedges, Ira M.
Smith, John H.
Broderick, P.
Hedges, Jesse B.
Sm b, Dick O.
Burke, Edw.
Herod, Wm.
Smith, Wm. G. *
Buno, B. B .*
Holden, Jas.
Slack, Wm. C.
Call, Nicholas
Hinman, W. C .*
Sherwood, Wm. L.
Conklin, W. S.
King, John. W.
Stammers Geo. *
Conklin, Lorenzo D .*
Knapp, Chas. E.
Stalter, John
Coleman, John
Knapp, J. N.
Scott, Wm.
Connolly, Mat.
Knapp, Daniel E .*
Titus, John J.
Cornelison, James
Jersey, Enos
'Terry, Seth
Cornelison, Wm.
Jones, Elihu
Turner, Chas. G.
Cosgrove, W. M.
Larkin, Jas.
Thompson, Edw.
Creney, Jas.
Luke Jas.
Traphagen. R. D.
DeBevoise, Pete.
Mackey, S. G.
Welch, Richard
Doyle, Hugh
McGuirk, John
Weiant, Edw.
DeNoyelles, P.
McDonald, John
Wright, Wm. H.
De Noyelles, John. F.
Nye, M.
Phillips, Wm. H.
Phillips, Edw.
On October 13th, 1861, the DeNoyelles Guard attended the Central Presbyterian church for their farewell service. The exercises on this occa- sion were conducted by Revs. Mr. Marsh, Dr. Crane, Mr. Hepburn and A. S. Freeman. On the following day, October 14th, a flag, raised through the efforts of Misses L. Ver Valen and L. Demarest, was presented to the company by Rev. A. S. Freeman, the exercises being conducted in the lot east of the Wigwam. On Tuesday, October 15th, 1861, the company marched to the steamboat landing, through streets crowded with people, and took passage on the steamboat Isaac P. Smith for New York. On reaching the city, the men were transported to Harlem, and entered camp at the Red House with their regiment, the 95th New York Volunteers. Thenceforth the organization was known as company F.
Even while this company was being enlisted, recruits were received for
* Died in service.
30t
another organization, and as soon as arrangements were completed, Col- onel A. F. Ingold, A. S. Gurnee and L. B. Weaver moved to the Wigwam and set actively to work. By November 20th, 1861, the Stephens Guards were ready to leave Haverstraw for the camp at Harlem.
Captain, A. F. Ingold. Lieutenant, A. S. Gurnee. Lieutenant, J. H. Weaver.
Aiken, Isaac
Knapp, Isaac
Osborn, Chas. W .*
Brewster, Morgan
Knapp, George
Thorn, William
Brewster, Dan. B.
Weiant, Wm.
Phillips, George
Benson, William
Keesler, Bradley
Phillips, Wm.
Bostedo, Charles
Keesler, Daniel
Stalter, Theodore
Waldron, Charles
Monroe, Jesse
Stammers, Jos. *
Fales, William
McCormick, Jas.
Smith, Richard
Hammond, Theo.
Lent, James
Springted, Winfield
Hill, Jas. M.
Weiant, Alexander
Seeley, John
Hudson, John
On the morning of November 21st, 1861, this company started. Marching first to the quarters at Beebe's, the members had breakfast, and then went to Bogert's dock where they took the steamer Metamora for New York. On arriving at the city they were transported to Harlem and entered camp with the 95th Regiment New York Volunteers as Com- pany B.
In October, Dominick Kenedy began recruiting at Haverstraw for the 95th Regiment. By December 5th, 1861, he had obtained twenty-seven members for a new company, and left Haverstraw with this nucleus for the camp at Red House. Beside these organized companies, volunteers were being recruited at Haverstraw for other regiments. As early as August IOth, 1861, ten recruits were obtained from Jolinsontown and two from Haverstraw for the 5th Regiment New York Volunteers. In October of the same year, Captain James E. McGee was recruiting for Company F, of the Irish Brigade. A month later, Lieutenant Samuel W. Babcock was appointed to recruit for the 95th Regiment, and had his quarters at W. W. Oldfield's-the Washington Saloon. By December, Lieutenant J. H. Weaver was recruiting for the same regiment, having his quarters on Main street.
The 95th Regiment, N. Y. Volunteers, was largely made up of Rock- land County men. It was at first called the "Warren Rifles," and its first Chaplain was Rev. A. S. Wolfe, of the M. E. Church at Mechanics- ville, now Viola ; its first Surgeon, Dr. S. S. Sloat, of Haverstraw. The regiment remained in camp at Harlem till February 20th, 1862. It was then moved to New Dorp, Staten Island, and lay there till March 8th, of the same year, when it started for Washington with 900 men. The first
* Died in service.
302
colonel of the regiment was George H. Biddle, who resigned, owing to bad health, in the fall of 1863. He was followed by Edward Pye, who died in June, 1864, from wounds received at the battle of Cold Harbor. From that time till the regiment was mustered out of service, on July 16th, 1865, it was under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel James Creney. During its service in the field this command had 1,900 men. It was mustered out with 255.
The loyal movement in the western part of the County was as spon- tancous and active as that among the citizens of the cast. At the news that Fort Sumter had fallen, that war had been begun, meetings for the raising of troops to support the Union were held at Ramapo Works and Sloatsburgh, and, on September 7th, 1861, a rousing Union meeting was held at Sufferns, with the following gentlemen as chairman and assistants :
Henry L. Pierson, President.
Vice-Presidents :
Charles D. Wood,
Isaiah Paterson, A. C. Wannamaker,
John D. Christie, Abraham Cornelius, D. C. Cooper,
Charles T. Ford,
Henry Kelly, John Crum,
E. J. Straut.
Speeches were made by H. S. Barnes, Abram S. Hewitt, Henry L. Pierson, Jr., W. B. McLauren and others. In November, 1861, Lieuten- ant-Colonel J. Fred Pierson opened a recruiting office at the Post office at Ramapo Works to obtain volunteers for the Ist Regiment, N. Y. Volun- teers. Most of the volunteers from this section, however, enlisted in com- panies formed in Nyack and Haverstraw.
At Spring Valley, a meeting for the purpose of raising volunteers and obtaining funds to provide for their families, was held at the Union School house as carly as April 30th, 1861. At this meeting Leonard Gurnee was chosen Chairman, and Henry E. Armstrong Secretary, while speeches were made by W. B. McLauren, Frank Charlton, Stephen D. Herrick, John Stillwell and others. A second meeting was held in the Spring Valley House, May 8th, 1861, under the following officers :
Andrew Hopper, Chairman.
Vice-Presidents,
Peter Yeury, William Van Wagenen, Henry Sherwood, Henry De Ronde. Henry E. Armstrong, Secretary,
A collection was taken up at the meeting for the benefit of volunteers
303
and their families, and the following committee appointed to solicit sub- scriptions for the fund :
Francis Charlton,
W. B. McLauren,
William Van Wagenen,
E. E. Straut. WV. T. Hesketh.
H. E. Armstrong, Andrew Smith,
Recruiting was begun, not only in the companies at Nyack and Haver- straw, but also by Captain J. G. Wellington at Nanuet. By October 1861, the local company, known as the Nanuet Guards, was about half enlisted, and barracks had been erected for their accommodation a little cast of the railroad station. At a later period, an attempt was made to merge this organization into some other company and the Guards at once disbanded.
Upon this termination of his efforts in Ramapo township, J. G. Well- ington visited Nyack and opened a recruiting office for the purpose of en- listing a company of sharpshooters to be known as " Mad Anthony Wayne Scouts." In Nyack, since the departure of Company G., vol- untcering had been energetic, and the following members of Companies A. and B., 127th Regiment, New York Volunteers, had enlisted :
Ayres, Wm. H .* Fields, James
Smith, Henry E. Smith, George
Ackerman, Edw. 11.
Górry, Thomas
Ackerman, James
Henderson, John
Snedeker, Chas. H.
Benson, Wm. A.
Hoffman, George
Thompson, Alfred G.
Brewer, Isane, Sr.
Hefferman,
Tompkins, Brundage
Christie, C. A.
Kelly, Richard
Tompkins, James
Christie, D. I.
Lowdie, Alfred *
Tucker, Edward
Cooper, George
Murray, James
Tallman, Peter
Conover, A. Jr.
Osborne, Jesse
Warner, Chas. H.
Creany, James
Rhodes, Josiah
Warner, T. V. W.
Conklin, Samuel
Rutherford, John
Ware, J. Bradley *
De Baun, Henry
Rodgers, Charles
Welsh, Thomas *
De Baun, John
Seott, Daniel
Wood, George W.
Forshay, Simeon
Seaman, Tunis D.
Ward, John
Waldron, Albert.
Among the other volunteer regiments, which contained men from our County, I may mention the the 65th N. Y. Vols. organized in July, 1861, as the Ist U. S. Chasseurs. This organization took from Rockland the following :
Brooks, Leonard
Rose, Albert
Whitaker Lewis
Felter, John
Lent, James
Hinman, W. C.+
Kirkpatrick, Hiram
Lawson, James Weinant, Edward
MeKenzie, John
The 6th N. Y. Heavy Artillery was organized and mustcred into service at Yonkers, on Sept. 2d, 1862, as the 135th Regt., N. Y. Vols.
* Died in service.
304
On October 3d of the same year, the organization was changed from an infantry to an artillery regiment. The following are among the volunteers from Rockland :
Company K, 6th Artillery. Captain, Wilson Defendorf. First Lieutenant, Charles H. Leonard
Campbell, Wm.
Higgins, R. E .*
No. 2. Phillips, George
Cypher, Edwin
Hyer, George*
Sherman, Wm.
Conklin, Alfred
Haeselbarth, Frank
Smith, Daniel.
Dailey, John G.
Jordan, William J.
Tetnure, Irvin
Dean, Chas.
Murphy, Peter C.
Temper, Wm. N.
Dean, John
Meissner, Chas. Jr.
Waldron, Matthew
Dickey, Wm .*
Osborn, Cornelius
Wergen, Simon
Felter, Isaac
Phillips, Wm. *
Youmans, Timothy*
Hagerman, Chas. *
No. I. Phillips, George
Youmans, Wm. H.
Wotten, John H.
Other company members from Rockland County.
Anderson, George
Fostor, Henry
Nife, Geo.
Allison, Geo. G.
Hudson, Lemuel 11.
Nife, Abram.
Babcock, E.
Higgins, Wm.
Neilor, And.
Babcock, Wm. H.
Ennis, Geo. A.
Phillips, Geo. H.
Babcock, H. H.
Ennis, Henry
Purdy, Edward
Basset, M. V.
Jones, Jno. Il.
Parcells, Wm .*
Blanch, Isaac*
Jones, Geo. Il.
Tallman, Chas. W.
Bolmer, Abr.
Henion, John
Sutherland, Geo. B.
Frisbie, Wm. A.
June, Baxter
Weyant, Wm.
Call, John
Gilman, Wallace
Rose, Jacob
Conklin, F. P.
Larkin, Jas.
Rose, James
Concklin, Francis
Goose, Wm.
Rose, Moses
Concklin, Geo. W .*
March, Isaac
Rose, John
Concklin, Wm. G .*
March, Wm.
Strickland, J. H .*
Conklin, Orville
Mann, D. L.
Strickland, Jno. *
Cosgrove, Henry
Hudson, Chas.
Strickland, J.
Davidson. John
Morgan, D.
Wood, Daniel R.
Fields, Valentine*
Miller, Jno. C.
Youmans, J. E. *
Dutcher, David
Moore, J. W.
Yerks, Wm. H.
The 6th Artillery, which was recruited in the 8th Senatorial District, comprising Westchester, Putnam and Rockland Counties, was mustered into service with 1,100 men. It was engaged in the following battles : Wapping Heights, July, 1863; Wilderness, May 6th and 7th, 1864; Laurel Hill, May 12th ; Po River, May 15th ; Ellison's Farm, May 19th ; North Anna River, May 23d; Bethesda Church, May 30th ; Mechanics- ville Pike, June 2d and 3d; Front of Petersburg, June 18th and July 26th ; Burnside's Mine Explosion, July 30th ; Cedar Creek, October 19th, 1864 ; Bermuda Front, Jan. 22d and April 2d, 1865. The regiment reached
*Died in service.
305
New York to be mustered out July 2d, 1865, with 698 men. Of these about 250 were original volunteers, the balance being one year men, recruited while the regiment was in the field.
At the invasion of Pennsylvania by the Army of Northern Virginia, in 1863, the militia regiments of this and neighboring States were hurried to the front. Among those called upon for duty was the 17th Regiment, N. Y. S. M. This organization at once responded and left Yonkers, July 8th, 1863, nearly 400 strong. The companies from our County in this Regi- ment were "D," of Stony Point ; " F," of Haverstraw, and " I," of Ram- apo. The officers and men of these companies at the time of departure were as follows :
John P. Jenkins, White Plains, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding. Wm. Govan, M. D., Surgeon. F. L. Nichols, Quartermaster.
COMPANY D, STONY POINT GUARDS. Captain, F. W. Christie.
First Lieutenant, M. D. Marks.
Second Lieutenant, Abr. S. Vanderbilt.
First Sergeant, E. Rose.
Second Sergeant, Robert Sims.
Third Sergeant, D. D. Mackey.
Fourth Sergeant, W. F. B. Gnmer.
First Corporal, P. G. Rose,
Second Corporal, J. H. Owens.
Third Corporal, John Loyd.
Fourth Corporal, T. W. Blauvelt.
Basley, Ilenry Dykins, Abr.
Oldfield, W. W.
Bird, Geo. W.
Dykins, Thos.
Peterson, Benj.
Bradbury, Lewis
Fox, llenry
Peterson, David
Brewster, R.
Jones, Chas.
Phillips, R.
Brooks, N. B.
Jones, Samuel
Phillips, J.
Burras, W. Il.
June, l'eter
Rose, J.
Call, James
King, A. J.
Rose, Peter
Crum, George
Marks, S. J.
Smith, Geo. S.
Davidson, T.
Macanly, Wm.
Van Wart, C.
Decker, Wm McElroy, Chas. Van Wart, Jacob
llerman B. Mckenzie, W'm. Percival, Drummers.
COMPANY F, INGOLD GUARDS.
Captain, C. P. Hoffman.
First Lieutenant, Stephen W. Allen. Second Lieutenant, Isaac De Baun.
First Sergeant, Geo. S. Oldfield. Second Sergeant, S. 11. Davidson.
Third Sergeant, J. M. Minnerley. Fourth Sergeant, James Wood, Jr. First Corporal, Dan. R. Lake. Second Corporal, Wm. Redner.
Third Corporal, Abr. P. Jersey. Fredericks, T. J.
Miller, B.
Anderson, Geo.
Felter, Edw. Owens, R. Il.
Bahcock, John
Grimshaw, J. Parson, O. W.
Babcock, Hiram
Gurney, M. Phillips, Abr.
Babcock, William
Gurney, Wallace Robinson, L. V. E.
Blauvelt, S. C. Johnson, W. S.
Ritzgo, IIenry
Buchanan, R. Kingsland, Wm. Il. Ryan, Wm.
Allison, E. T.
306
Bengkert, Wm.
King, Joe
Seaman, Wm. A.
Cranston, J. Comerford, A. Denike, C. A.
King, Stephen
Secor, Geo.
Keesler, Wm. H.
Stickinrider, Jno.
Kirkpatrick, Iliram
Waldron, Matthew
Alonzo Bedell, Walter Hicks, Drummers.
COMPANY I, RAMAPO GUARDS. Captain, William D. Furman.
First Lieutenant, Reuben Riggs.
Second Lieutenant, Augustus Coe.
First Sergeant, C. A. Blauvelt,
Second Sergeant, J. J. Wannamaker,
Third Sergeant, Daniel Springsteen.
Fourth Sergeant, D. Sherwood.
First Corporal, J. H. Goetschius.
Second Corporal, Leonard Cooper.
Third Corporal, Jno. 11. Crum.
Fourth Corporal, Alpheus J. Coe,
Ackerson, Geo. E. Hoyt, Harrison
Perry, Wm.
Bertholf, Edw. O.
Hoyt, Wm.
Phillips. D.
Blauvelt, S. l.
Johnson, A.
Sherwood, J. B.
Bush, IJarvey
Johnson, Levi
Slim, B. S.
Charlton, Francis
Johnson, Robert
Smith, Alfred
Coe, Larry, D. N.
Johnson, Tunis
Springsteen, R.
Conklin, Nelson
Johnson, Wm. D .*
Taylor, Edw. E.
Crum, Edw.
Jones, B. J.
Wallace, John
Dussenberry L.
McElroy, C.
Walmsley, Edw.
Forshee, C.
MIc Elroy, J. M.
Whaley, Ira
Forshee, Hiram
McMurty, A.
Youmans, C.
Furman, Wm. I.I.
Murray, Wm.
Young, Alfred
Gurnee, Wm. H .*
Morris, T. J.
Young, Charles
Hendricks, Wm.
Osborn, A.
Young, Judson
Hoyt, Rufus
Osborn, Chas. II.
The 17th Regiment N. Y. S. M , which had been called upon for thirty days' service, was mustered into the United States service July 22d, 1863, though its time counted from July 8th. It was hurried to Baltimore and did garrison duty, first at Fort Independence, and later at Fort McHenry. On August 6th, 1861, the regiment returned to New York, and later to the County. The trip from New York to Yonkers was made by steam- boat Metamora. At this town the regiment disembarked for a dress parade, and remained ashore longer than the steamboat captain liked. Accordingly, on the return of the Rockland County companies to the ves- sel, the captain refused to carry them further. The difficulty was at length compromised by his agreeing to transport them to Nyack, from whence they were taken to Haverstraw by the Nyack ferry-boat, reaching that village at 2 A. M.
Fortunate it was for this County, that her soil was not, in the Civil War, exposed to the march and battles of opposing armies, as in the War for Independence. In one sense our people did not realize what war was. The current of ordinary life, of ordinary business, flowed on, unbroken
* Died. Gurnee from typhoid fever contracted in camp. Johnson from sunstroke.
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within our boundaries, and the carnage of battle, the exposure ot camp life, the devastation that marks the track of marching forces, the sicknesses that beset military cantonments, were too distant to produce the effect which would have followed personal contact. But in another sense, the war did come home to us. Of a total population of military age amounting to 3,979, no less than 558 served in the armies, and of these, 89 died from camp exposure or wounds, or were killed in battle. Surely, any one who lived during those days of dread-dread, if a battle was not fought, that the South would be successful ; dread, if a battle was fought, that the lives of loved ones might have gone out in the conflict, or that they might be lying sorely wounded-surely, any one who has passed through such heartache, in a measure understands what is meant by war.
It is with pleasure that, for a moment, I turn from the enlisting of men, who went forth to inflict wounds and death, to the noble efforts and work of the men and women who toiled to alleviate suffering and prevent death.
When Company G. was enlisted, its members were supplied by the Union women of Nyack with flannel underclothing, handkerchiefs, towels, socks, combs, brushes, needle-books and havelocks, and on July 9th, these Union women made up and sent a box of dainties and $25 to the Nyack Company. During the fall of the same year-1861-a number of the Union women of Nyack organized a branch of the United States San- itary Commission, which magnificent and unique organization, after every discouragement from the Government authorities, had at length obtained recognition, June 9th, 1861. The first officers of the Nyack branch of the society were :
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