USA > New York > Franklin County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 1 > Part 41
USA > New York > Jefferson County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 1 > Part 41
USA > New York > Lewis County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 1 > Part 41
USA > New York > Oswego County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 1 > Part 41
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 1 > Part 41
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The Confederates in Canada did make one successful raid, that against St. Albans in Vermont, and it did not add to the comfort of the residents of the border counties in New York state, either. On October 19, 1864, three banks at St. Albans, Vermont, were entered by strangers, who later proved to be Confederates, and looted of $150,000. Bank officials were forced to take an oath of allegiance
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to the Confederate government, after which the raiders fled back to Canada. The Canadian government showed little interest in the inci- dent and it became evident that other raids might be expected. There was tremendous excitement all along the border. Two companies of home guards were organized at Malone, one of infantry and one of cavalry. Three companies of home guards were organized at Ogdens- burg and a company of Massachusetts regulars sent there for protec- tion against possible Confederate raids. It was reported that a force of Confederates were being organized at Cornwall, Ontario, for a raid on Ogdensburg but apparently the rumor was a false one. It does seem to be established that a camp of Confederate veterans who had escaped from Union prison camps was discovered near the site of the present Thousand Island Park on the St. Lawrence river, but no more raids were attempted.
There was no organized relief work during the Civil War as the term was understood during the World War, but nearly every town had a fund for the relief of the families of soldiers in case of need. The funds in no case were large but here and there a town made a splendid record as for example Copenhagen, Lewis county, which raised $3,000 for relief purposes. Women scraped linen for lint and made blackberry brandy and jellies for the sick. The soldiers were always remembered on Thanksgiving and Christmas. For ex- ample twenty-five barrels of poultry were forwarded to the South for Franklin county soldiers on Thanksgiving, 1864, from a single Malone district. Prices for foodstuffs soared. Calico sold from 19 to 45 cents a yard, muslin from 371/2 to 75 cents a yard, cotton from 25 to 631/2 cents a yard, ham from 14 to 22 cents a pound, fresh pork for ten cents a pound, veal from ten to 121/2 cents a pound, turkey 121/2 cents a pound, butter from 20 to 47 cents a pound, coffee from 40 to 75 cents a pound, flour from $7 to $14 a barrel, sugar from 17 to 20 cents a pound, kerosene from 75 cents to $1.25 a gallon and salt pork for $45 a barrel. These prices are taken from an old Civil War account book and may be considered as typical.
THE SOLDIERS COME HOME
Then the telegraph brought the news to the north that Lee had surrendered. The Daily Reformer, published at Watertown, featured the news on the third of its four pages under the heading: "Glorious,
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More Glorious, Most Glorious. Lee's Surrender with Army!" In every village and town in Northern New York there was a joyful demonstration. At Madison Barracks, Sackets Harbor, where many regiments had been mustered in during the war, a salute of 200 guns was fired. An old cannon was dragged out in the middle of Public Square, Watertown, and fired continuously during the night. The newspapers complained the next day that $100 worth of plate glass had been broken as a result and suggested that in the event of an- other celebration the cannon be moved away from expensive windows.
Then came the news that the soldiers were coming home and in every county preparations were made to give a royal welcome to the various regiments as they arrived from the front. Col. Bradley Winslow, who had been badly wounded in front of Petersburg, was invalided home to Watertown. Col. Joseph Spratt, after whom the G. A. R. post at Watertown is named, died at that city April 9, 1865, of wounds received in action. He was only thirty-four years of age. There were joyous times when the soldiers came home, scenes remi- niscent of the day four years before when the first recruits has left so proudly for the front. Perhaps the homecoming of the 186th New York Volunteers, called the Jefferson county regiment, was typical. This was Bradley Winslow's regiment, which had participated in the Wilderness campaign and had made a good record.
At 6:30 one June morning a long train of fifteen cars pulled in at the lower depot in Watertown. Despite the early hour a great crowd of people were gathered at the station and the inevitable com- mittee was on hand to see that the ceremonies proceeded smoothly. The 186th regiment, some 600 strong, were aboard the train. In a few moments they had formed in companies in front of the station and the triumphant march started. The Watertown Cornet Band led the line of march. The Sackets Harbor Band was also in line. Then to the stirring notes of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" the regiment swung into Public Square, 600 bronzed, bearded men in faded blue. The Square was crowded and a great shout went up from the people as the tattered regimental colors emerged from Stone street followed by the files of marching men. There were flowers in the muzzle of every musket. Flowers were tossed from the sidewalks and from windows. Then just as the regiment wheeled to the right and formed a line a little south of Washington Hall, a lone figure
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appeared on horseback riding slowly down Washington street. In a moment the soldiers recognized the rider. It was Col. Winslow, their old commander, still so weakened from his wounds that he could hardly sit upright in his saddle, riding down to greet his old command. It must have been a dramatic sight, the soldiers in their worn, faded uniforms formed in a single, long line; the pale man swaying in his saddle riding towards them; the Square crowded with a great throng of people. Then the soldiers cheered, the people applauded, the bands played. Col. Winslow shook hands with his officers and men, the soldiers filed into Washington Hall where a bountiful breakfast had been prepared and after breakfast there was more music and speeches. Then the regiment re-formed and there was another parade, through Public Square towards the Baptist Church with its high, front platform, up State street with its white houses far up on a high, grassy terrace, then through Park street and Sterling to Washington, up Washington to Ten Eyck, down Sherman to Clinton, up Clinton to Massey, through Massey to Arsenal, down Arsenal to the Square once more. Col. Winslow led the parade, this time riding in a carriage. The bands played, the people cheered and the marching soldiers waved at friends on the sidewalks. After the parade everyone had to go to Washington Hall for lunch and immediately after lunch the soldiers piled into wagons volunteered for the occasion and left for Sackets Harbor to be mustered out.
From that time on for several months there was a constant home- coming of the soldiers. Most of them went to Sackets Harbor, or Fort Ontario, to be mustered out and from there went on to their homes in various sections of Northern New York. On June 16th a detachment of the 1st New York artillery, most of them from Lewis county, came home from Virginia. On June 25th the 5th artillery, mostly from Lewis county, arrived at Sackets Harbor to be mustered out of the service. And then at 3:30 in the morning of June 29th, the sleeping residents of Watertown were awakened by the ringing of church bells. Six companies of the Tenth Heavy Artillery had arrived at the lower station. Half dressed villagers peered through their windows as the marching men passed, their band bravely play- ing stirring war airs, but there was nothing of the welcome which had greeted the 186th. They had not been expected so early in the day. But at Washington Hall breakfast was ready and after the
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men had washed in the reservoir on the Square they filed into the hall, had their breakfast and then took up the ten-mile march to Sackets Harbor. At midnight four more companies of the Tenth arrived at Watertown, and marched on to Sackets to be mustered out.
THE FENIAN RAIDS
With the war over the North Country tried to get accustomed to the things of peace once more. Former army officers resumed the practice of law, with a weather eye on the next political campaign. Former soldiers tried to find jobs and did not always succeed. Prices were high and so were taxes. The after-the-war slump was on and there was much grumbling and discontent. It was hard for the peo- ple to settle down to the humdrum task of making a living. After four years of band-playing, flag-waving, cheering, fighting and marching, life was indeed a drab thing at best. But then came the Fenian raids which gave Northern New York and Canada, too, enough excitement for the time being. For a time it looked like an- other war with Northern New York as the base of operations. Only the firmness of the national government prevented a repetition of the Patriot War of the '30s with its bloodshed and loss of life.
It is said that plans for the organization of the Fenian Society were actually formulated in Paris as early as 1848. The object of the Fenian, Society and its predecessor, the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood, was the freedom of Ireland from British rule by force of arms. The society was organized in the United States by John O'Mahoney in 1858, the original purpose of the American branch being to supply arms and money to the movement in Ireland. Mem- bers of the brotherhood swore allegiance to the "Irish Republic" and agreed to take up arms when called upon to do so by their superior officers. Little was accomplished during the Civil War, but immedi- ately after the war with the discharge from the Union armies of thousands of soldiers of Irish birth or extraction interest was re- vived. The Fenians in the United States finally hit upon the idea that the first move toward freeing Ireland should be made by attacking Canada. It was considered that such a movement was especially opportune in view of the bitter feeling that existed all over the North towards Canada for the Confederate raids which Canada had per- mitted during the Civil War.
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So Fenian lodges were organized all over the United States, very much as Hunter Lodges had been organized in the days before the Patriot War. Military companies and regiments were formed, mostly from ex-soldiers of the Union army and under the command of offi- cers who had gained distinction in the Civil War. Drilling went on openly and large sums of money were raised for the purchase of arms and munitions of war. The plan was for a movement against Canada from various points simultaneously. Mobilization points were Detroit, Rochester, Ogdensburg, Plattsburgh and Portland, Maine. For example the army moving into Canada from Ogdensburg and Plattsburgh was to proceed against Montreal and Quebec. Bases were to be established in Canada, one to be located at Prescott, just across the St. Lawrence river from Ogdensburg, so that there would be no interference from the United States authorities. A navy was to be created on the Great Lakes and the war against Canada was to proceed by water and land. The Fenians hoped to be able to send some 75,000 men into Canada and claimed to have a war chest of about $15,000,000.
Naturally the people in Canada were alarmed. Troops were sta- tioned in all the frontier villages and a call for volunteers was issued. Captain Edward J. Mannix of Malone, who had served in the Civil War, was commissioned a colonel in the Fenian army and seems to have been in command of Fenian units in Northern New York. Then T. W. Sweeney, Fenian "secretary of war," issued a call to arms. He had come out of the Civil War a brevet major general and had dis- tinguished himself as a soldier in both the Mexican War and the Civil War. Suddenly, Northern New York was electrified in the spring of 1866 by the news that the Fenians were on the move. Singly and in groups, bronzed, bearded men of military bearing moved by train and road toward the Canadian border. The most intense excitement prevailed in the Canadian towns of Brockville, Prescott, Gananoque and Cornwall. A Canadian gunboat patrolled the St. Lawrence river. Armed men guarded all Canadian roads. At such a high pitch of excitement were the Canadians that when rockets were discharged and guns fired off in Ogdensburg in celebration of St. Patrick's Day, Canadian pickets stationed along the river fired and fell back, bells were rung in Prescott, drums rolled and alarm
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guns were discharged from Fort Wellington, the Canadians being certain that Sweeney and his men were about to make an assault.
In the meantime the United States authorities, aroused to the seriousness of the Fenian movement took drastic steps to prevent trouble. D. M. Chapin, collector of the Port of Ogdensburg, was ordered to put armed vessels on the St. Lawrence river and sink any ship that attempted to transport Fenians into Canada and to raise a military force if necessary. But still the Fenians came. On June 2nd, the train from Rome carried three carloads of Fenians, who transferred at DeKalb Junction for Malone. The next day other carloads of Fenians arrived at Malone. Every train brought from fifty to 300 Fenians. Many came by road, sleeping in haystacks and barns, but invariably moving towards Malone. All this time muni- tions were moving towards Malone which, it was now evident, was to be the concentration point in Northern New York for the Fenian forces. The deputy United States Marshal, E. W. Benedict, seized three boxes labeled machinery at Ogdensburg. The boxes proved to be filled with muskets. Two thousand muskets, packed in boxes and also labeled "machinery," were also seized about this time at Rouses Point. Both shipments were consigned to Captain Edward J. Mannix at Malone.
By this time a very formidable force was gathered at Malone. In all there were some 2,500 men. Nor were these men amateurs at the game of war. They were veterans of Shiloh, Gettysburg, Antietam and Petersburg, men who had learned to stand firm under fire, and they had efficient officers. Gen. M. J. Heffernan and Generals Mur- phy and O'Reilly, all Civil War officers, were in command. The men camped at the fair grounds where a few years before Franklin county recruits had received their first taste of army life. There was no commissary system and the Fenians depended largely upon the bounty of the villagers for their food. The people of Malone were naturally apprehensive with such a large body of men in their midst but there was no disorder excepting when some Canadians came to Malone out of curiosity to view the Fenian "army." One was badly beaten and another hid under a couch for hours before he could be spirited out of town and across the border.
Gen. George C. Meade, the hero of Gettysburg, hurried to North- ern New York and made his headquarters at Ogdensburg. Railroad
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officials were instructed to carry no more Fenians towards Malone. General Sweeney, Fenian "secretary of war," was arrested at St. Albans, Vermont, and on the same day there were wholesale arrests of Fenian officers all through Northern New York but particularly at Malone. The giant General Heffernan was arrested and so were General Murphy, Captain Fallon, Lieutenant O'Brien, Colonel Quinn, Colonel Riley, Colonel Enson, Major Connolly and a number of others. But more Fenians came on to Malone, defying railroad employes, and with them came Gen. John O'Neill. Federal soldiers were sent to Rome, Watertown, Ogdensburg, De Kalb Junction and Potsdam Junction. Soldiers patrolling the highways captured ten wagon loads of arms and ammunition near Brasher Falls but the guard was overcome and before morning the munitions were on their way to Malone once more. Despite all the Federal authorities could do some arms and ammunition reached Malone, including a part of a battery of artillery.
The 1866 movement of Fenians collapsed. It never got any fur- ther than Malone. Lack of arms and ammunition was the main cause. Although considerable munitions got through the blockade, much were intercepted. Two carloads of arms were seized at Water- town. The Fenians overcame the marshal's force and manned the train themselves, but it was stopped at DeKalb and the arms taken into custody. June 3rd, General Meade arrived at Malone with 1,000 Federal troops. This was too much for the Fenians, so when on June 9th General Meade issued an order commanding the Fenian forces to disperse, the order was generally obeyed. The government furnished transportation for the Fenians home and soon all were gone. But the Fenians had not given up hope.
THE SECOND FENIAN ATTEMPT
For the next four years rumors were circulated freely that the Fenians were planning another invasion. It was known that the Fenian leaders felt the 1866 movement would have been a success had not the United States government interfered by seizing large quantities of arms and munition designed for the raiders. They still believed that a successful advance could be made into Canada and all this time money was being raised, Fenian companies and regi- ments being organized and munitions were being purchased. In the
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spring of 1870 the word reached Northern New York that plans were now complete for the invasion. Still no definite announcement was forthcoming from the Fenian leaders. They had had their lesson. They proposed to move in secret, so as not to give the United States and Canadian governments advance information as to their plans. Weeks and even months in advance war materials were shipped to Malone. They were secreted in barns and cellars of sympathizers. Many were gathered in Malone but Chateaugay, Fort Covington and Hogansburg were important assemblying points.
Then the word went out to the Fenians that the time was at hand. Once more the trains coming into Malone were loaded with Fenians. Hundreds of them came but this time passed through Malone to a camp that had been established at Trout River. Within a week or two some of the most important leaders of the Fenian Brotherhood in America were gathered at Malone, making headquarters in the Flanagan and Hogle Hotels. Here were General Gleason and General Starr, Colonel Lindsay of New York and Dr. Donnelly of Pittsburgh, and Captain Mannix, the Malone leader, was again very much in evidence.
However, the United States authorities, as soon as it became apparent that another raid was planned, did not long hesitate. Presi- dent Grant issued a proclamation warning all people against a demon- stration against a friendly power. General Meade came again to Malone and with him came Maj. Gen. J. M. McDowell, Maj. Gen. L. Van Vliet, Gen. Rufus Ingalls and other officers of high rank. Patrols of regular troops were placed at various places along the railroad and halted Fenians advancing towards Malone. Convoys of arms and ammunition were seized at Hogansburg, Fort Covington and Mas- sena. And within a week or two there were 1,000 Federal troops at Malone prepared for any eventuality.
The Canadians, too, lost no time in getting ready. Five thousand Canadian militiamen were called out for the defense of their country. The militiamen were slow in mobilizing, however, and none reached Huntington, objective of the Fenians, until May 26th. In the mean- time that place had only a defense of 150 men and had the Fenians advanced immediately they would have taken it. But the Fenians delayed and soon there were 1,000 Canadian troops lined up along the frontier prepared to give the invaders a hot reception.
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Under such conditions the Fenian advance started. The first advance penetrated Canada a distance of three miles where the Fenians encamped but soon retreated over the American border when reinforcements failed to appear. But the next day reinforce- ments to the number of 500 arrived and an advance into Canada was again started. A strong position was selected. A trench, defended by a breastwork, was constructed, the Fenian line resting on the river on one side and a dense wood on the other. It was a position that ought to be easily defended. Certainly the Fenians should have given a good account of themselves. But after the shortest of en- gagements the invaders abandoned their trenches and fled in the greatest of disorder. The Fenians apparently fired but one volley and that too high. The Canadian marksmanship was not much better and the total casualties of the "battle" were two or three Fenians wounded and one made prisoner.
Some of the Fenians never stopped running until they reached Malone. Arms and even clothing were thrown away along the route. The discouraged raiders encamped at the fair grounds at Malone and although their leaders attempted to persuade them to make an- other advance into Canada the rank and file were not enthusiastic. According to the late Frederick J. Seaver, Franklin county historian, current opinion in Malone was that the Fenians were good soldiers but the incompetency of their officers and their lack of discipline was largely responsible for the inglorious showing which they made. The play was now over. Captain Mannix was arrested, made a sensa- tional escape from the guard house, but was soon recaptured. The Fenians started back home by road and railroad. Many of them traded their muskets for food and lodging. The United States army officers at Malone gave a dinner to the Fenian officers, the superin- tendent of the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg railroad opened the stations so the Fenians could sleep in them at night and the Federal soldiers took over the Fenian ammunition depots. Such Fenians as were arrested were convicted but soon afterwards pardoned by the president.
Thus the Fenian raids ended. It was the last attempt ever made to invade Canada from the United States. The Patriot war had left a heritage of ill feeling between the people of Canada and those of the United States. The Civil War did not help things, which
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accounted for the sympathy for the Fenians in the northern counties. But once the Fenian troubles were over a better spirit came into existence. Hundreds of Canadian families settled in Northern New York during the panic of the '70s. For thirty years and over this migration continued until today it is said that one-third of the in- habitants of the important Northern New York city of Watertown are either of Canadian birth or descent. In Ogdensburg the propor- tion is probably even larger. There is now no trace of the old bitter- ness between Northern New York and Canada. All along the border a feeling of friendliness exists, and it is hard to realize today that a little over sixty years ago the people of Northern New York looked placidly and approvingly on when a large body of armed men mobil- ized in Franklin county intent upon invading the domain of a friendly and neighboring nation.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RESORT REGION
THE THOUSAND ISLANDS AND THE OLD CROSSMAN HOUSE-VISITS OF PRESIDENTS TO THE THOUSAND ISLANDS-BOLDT'S CASTLE-ADIRON- DACK MURRAY PUTS THE ADIRONDACKS ON THE MAP AS A VACATION RESORT-PAUL SMITH'S-DR. TRUDEAU AND SARANAC LAKE-ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON'S QUEST FOR HEALTH.
The old Crossman House, a bleak little hotel at the water front of the fishing hamlet of Alexandria Bay. Paul Smith's a wooden hunt- ers' hotel of seventeen bedrooms on St. Regis Lake, in the heart of the then almost unknown Adirondack wilderness. Who would have thought back in the fifties that from this small beginning would de- velop two of the greatest resort regions in the world, the Thousand Islands and the Adirondacks. Today great summer hotels, with all the appointments of big city hostelries, cater to the thousands of tourists who yearly come to the Adirondacks and the Thousand Islands. Concrete roads have replaced the rude, forest trails that led to the hunting grounds which Adirondack Murray made famous seventy-five years ago. Speed boats flash among the islands which in the days of the elder Crossman were but masses of tree-covered rocks. The Adirondacks and the Thousand Islands have become a great playground for a nation.
The Thousand Islands have been called the Venice of America. From the time of the first Jesuit explorers, passing up the river in their bark canoes, men have marveled at the beauty of the upper river, studded with hundreds of islands. Early travelers caught the lure of the river and commented on the plaintive airs of the French- Canadian batteaumen. There is probably no river on earth which has heard so many vows of love as has the majestic St. Lawrence.
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AIRPLANE VIEW OF A PORTION OF THE THOUSAND ISLANDS
YTITTY
BELL TOWER, HEART ISLAND, THOUSAND ISLANDS
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Never a Canadian boatman ever dipped his oar into the St. Lawrence who did not sing-
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