When the signed pledges were returned to the Provincial Convention in

New York it invested the committees of safety with power to appoint

assessors and collectors, and these, with the committees, were

directed to assess, raise and collect the quotas required for the

support of the home government, and empowered to enforce collection

from defaulters by "distress upon their goods and chattels." They

might also arrest persons inimical to the measures which had been or

might be taken. These powers were afterward enlarged by Congress, and

the committees empowered to suppress the enemies of the revolutionary

government. Legislative duties devolved upon the Provincial

Convention until 1777, when the first Constitution of New York was

adopted, and meanwhile the committees of safety attended to the

execution of its laws. Methods differed somewhat in different

counties. In Orange the precincts chose committees, and these

constituted the county committee. A signature to the pledge

formulated by Congress was regarded as evidence of loyalty to the

revolutionary cause.

In the precinct lists of the Orange County signers of the pledge the

signatures in Goshen embraced the present towns of Goshen, Chester,

Warwick, Wawayanda, Greenville, and a part of Blooming Grove; in

Mamakating those of Mt. Hope and Deer Park; Cornwall and Highlands

were included in Cornwall; in Monroe parts of Blooming Grove and the

present county of Rockland; in Newburgh, New Windsor and Wallkill

with Newburgh. The signatures by precincts were as follows:

Precinct of Newburgh.

Col. Jona. Hasbrouck. Henry Cropsey.

Thomas Palmer. Wm. Harding.

Isaac Belknap. Joseph Belknap.

William Darling. John Stratton.

Wolvert Acker. Lewis Holt.

John Belknap. Samuel Hallock.

John Robinson. Samuel Sprague.

Saml. Clark. Burroughs Holmes.

Benj Birdsall. Samuel Bond.

Benjamin Smith. Thomas Campbell.

James Waugh. James Cosman.

Abel Belknap. Lewis Clark.

Moses Higby, M.D. Jonathan Sweet

Reuben Tooker. John Griggs.

David Belknap. Saml. Smith.

Daniel Birdsall. Jeremiah Ward.

Robert Lockwood. Wm. Ward.

Benj. Knap. Wm. Russel.

Saml. Westlake. John Tremper.

Josiah Ward. Charles Willett.

Silas Gardner. Jeremiah Dunn.

Jacob Gillis. Wm. Lawrence.

Wm. Kencaden. Robert Waugh.

James Denton. Wiggins Conklin.

John Foster. Robert Beatty, Jr.

Hope Mills. Abr'm Johnston.

John Cosman. Silas Sperry.

Wm. Wear. James Clark.

Thomas Fish. David Mills.

Wm. Lawrence. Jr. Caleb Coffin.

John Kernoghan. James Harris.

Robert Harmer. Theo. Hagaman.

Robert Ross. Wm. Dunn.

John Crowell. Nehemiah Carpenter.

Obadiah Weeks. Leonard Smith.

Francis Harmer. Wm. Day.

William Bloomer. John Wandel.

Abraham Garrison. Abel Thrall.

James Marston. Phineas Corwin.

Samuel Gardiner. Moses Hunt.

Anning Smith. Samuel Sands.

Richard Albertson. Jacob Concklin.

Martin Weigand. Joseph Price.

Wm. Foster. John Saunders.

Wm. Wilson. Benj. Lawrence.

Wm. Stillwell, Jr. Richard Buckingham.

Peter Donally. Jacob Morewise.

Charles Tooker. Nicholas Stephens.

Leonard Smith, Jr. Johannis Snider.

Henry Smith. Benjamin Robinson.

James Wooden. Andrew Sprague.

Thomas Smith. Thomas Beaty.

Caleb Case. Solo. Buckingham.

David Green. Wm. Bowdish.

John Stillwell. Jona. Belknap.

Luff Smith. Jacob Tremper.

John Gates. Abraham Smith.

Benj. Darby. Cornelius Wood.

Israel Smith. John Lawrence.

Thads. Smith. George Hack.

Jacob Myers. John Shaw.

Saml. Concklin. Corns. Hasbrouck.

Isaac Brown, M.D. Isaac Demott.

Peter Tilton. David Smith.

John Douaghy. John Stratton.

Ste. Stephenson. Absalom Case.

Joseph Dunn. John Weed.

Daniel Morewise. Daniel Duboise.

Jonathan Owen. Arthur Smith.

Jehiel Clark. Isaac Fowler.

Reuben Holms. Stephen Outman.

Nathaniel Coleman. Saml. Stratton.

George Leonard. Joseph Carpenter.

Elnathan Foster. Daniel Thurstin.

Neal McLean. John Fowler.

Wm. Palmer. Daniel Clark.

George Westlake. Isaac Donaldson.

Burger Weigand. Wm. Concklin.

Tunis Keiter. Charles Tooker.

Hugh Quigly. John Smith.

Daniel Darby. Isaac Fowler, Jr.

Isaac Brown, Jr. William Wright.

Hezekiah Wyatt. Wm. White.

Wm. Whitehead. Daniel Kniffen.

Daniel Goldsmith. Rob. Morrison. M.D.

Gabriel Travis. John Dolson.

Nathaniel Weed. Leonard Smith.

Precinct of New Windsor.

James Clinton. William Robinson.

John Nicholson. Arthur Carscadden.

James McClaughny. Edward Ryal.

Matthew Du Bois. Henry McNeeley.

Robert Cook. William Nicols.

John Umphrey. Roliert Boyd, Jr.

James Umphrey. Nathan Smith.

George Umphrey. Samuel Logan.

Oliver Umphrey. James Denniston.

James McDowell. Jacob Mills.

Alexander Telford. Thomas Cook.

Robert Smith. Daniel Clemenee.

Jonah Park. Robert Couhan.

Scudder Newman. John Waugh.

James Humphrey 2d. William Gage.

John Davis. Alexander Kernahan.

John Coleman. William Stimson.

Joseph Young. Henry Roberson.

Andrew Robinson. Benjamin Homan.

William Fulton. William Miller.

James Taylor. William Telford.

Hugh Polloy. John Burnet.

Samuel Given. Joseph Realty.

Robert Burnet, Jr. John Smith.

Timothy Mills. James M. Oliver.

William Buchanan. William Miller 2d.

Matthew Bell. Charles Byrn.

Robert Thompson. Walter McMichael.

Charles Nicholson. George Coleman.

James Gage. Alexander Fulton.

James Dunlap. James Faulkner.

Robert Stuert. David Clark.

Samuel Wood. Nathan Sargent.

Nathaniel Garrison. Gilbert Peet.

Andrew Dickson. James Docksey.

George Coleman 2d. Solomon Smith.

Peter John. Samuel Woodward.

Samuel Lamb. Jonathan White.

William Crawford. Alexander Beatty.

John W. Miklan. Jonathan Parshall.

Francis Mains. James Greer.

James Miller. John Mills.

John Morrison. Thomas Eliot.

Hugh Watterson. Robert Campbell.

Caleb Dill. Nathaniel Boyd.

John Dill. Charles Kernaghan.

Edward Miller. Eliphalet Leonard.

Robert Whigham. William Nichols.

John Crudge. Thomas McDowel.

Robert Boyd, Sr. James Crawford.

Silas Wood. Joseph Belknap.

Richard Wood. John Nicoll.

John Johnston. Samuel Brewster.

David Crawford. Samuel Sly.

John Morrison 2d. Matthew McDowel.

Henry McNeeley, Jr. Daniel Mills.

Alexander Taylor. John Close (Rev.)

James Perry. William Moffat.

Samuel Boyd. William Beatty.

John Cunningham. George Harris.

James Jackson, Jr. Stephen King.

Isaac Stonehouse. John Murphy.

John Hiffernan. Benjamin Burnam.

James Smith. Austin Beardsley.

William Park. Thomas Swafford.

David Thompson. Timothy White.

Nathaniel Liscomb. Dennis Furshay.

William Mulliner. George Mavings.

Isaac Belknap. Samuel Brewster, Jr.

Nathaniel Boyd, 2d. David Mandeville.

Edward Petty. William Welling.

Robert Johnston. Peter Welling.

Joseph Sweezey. Hugh Turner.

[Illustration: Clinton W. Wisner]

Precinct of Mamakating

John Young. Johan Stufflebane, Jr.

Capt. John Crage. John Thompson.

Benj. Cuddeback, Jr. Wm. Cuddeback.

T. K. Westbrook. Elias Travis.

William Johnston. Eli Strickland.

Johan. Stufflebane. Capt. J. R. De Witt.

Abner Skinner. John McKinstry.

Thomas Kytte. Harm. Van Inwegen.

Joseph Drake. Samuel Dupuy.

Isaac Van Twill. Chas. Gillets.

Joseph Westbrook. James McGivers.

Daniel Van Fleet, Jr. Joseph Hubbard.

Jacob Van Inwegen. G. Van Inwegen.

Corn. Van Inwegen. Eliphalet Stevens.

Reuben Babbett. Adam Rivenburgh.

Robert Milliken. Stephen Larney.

John Williams. Samuel King.

Wm. Smith. Valentine Wheeler.

Jep. Fuller. John Wallis.

Joseph Thomas. Jacobus Swartwout.

Joseph Skinner. Gerardus Swartwout.

John Travis. Phil. Swartwout, Jr.

John Travis, Jr. Jacobus Cuddeback.

Robert Comfort. Petrus Cuddeback.

Eph. Furgison. Rufus Stanton.

Moses Miller. Asa Kimball.

Jno. Barber. Zeb. Holcomb.

John Fry. Samuel Daley.

George Gillespy. Nathan Cook.

Henry Newkirk. Henry Ellsworth.

Philip Swartwout, Esq. John Seybolt.

Wm. Haxton. David Wheeler.

Robert Cook. Elisha Barber.

William Rose. Jonathan Davis.

James Williams. Gershom Simpson.

James Blizzard. Jacob Stanton.

Thomas Combs. John Gillaspy.

Ebenezer Halcomb. Abraham Smedes.

Abr. Cuddeback. Joseph Shaw.

Aldert Rosa. Abraham Rosa.

David Gillaspv. Jacob Rosa.

Abrm. Cuddeback, Jr. Stephen Halcomb.

Fred. Benaer. Moses Roberts.

Jonathan Brooks. Daniel Roberts.

Ebenezer Parks. Jeremiah Shaver.

Petrus Gumaer. Joseph Ogden.

J. De Witt Gumaer. Elias Miller.

Ezekiel Gumaer. George I. Denniston.

Elias Gumaer. Jonathan Strickland.

Moses Depuy, Jr. Johannes Miller.

Jonathan Wheeler. John Douglass.

Thomas Lake. Joseph Randall.

Jacob Comfort. Thos. Gillaspy.

Jonah Parks. Daniel Walling, Jr.

Saml. Patterson. Matthew Neely.

Joel Adams. John Harding.

James Cunen. Eph. Thomas.

Peter Simpson. Abm. McQuin.

Benjamin Dupuy. Joseph Arthur

Daniel Decker. Nathaniel Travis.

John Brooks. Ezekiel Travis.

David Daley. Joseph Travis.

Daniel Walling, Jr. Isaac Rosa.

Matthew Terwilliger. Abr. Smith.

Johannes Wash. Leonard Hefinessey.

Daniel Woodworth.

Precinct of Goshen.

Minisink District.

J. Westbrook, Jr. Isaac Davis.

Benjamin Cox. George Quick.

John Prys. Jacobus Davis.

Levi Decker. Jacobus Vanfliet.

Samuel Davis. Levi Van Etten.

Reuben Jones. Daniel Cole.

Petrus Cole. Benjamin Corson.

A. Van Etten. Joel Westbrook.

John Bennett. A. C. Van Aken.

Petrus Cuykendal. Johannes Decker, Jr.

Sylvester Cortright. Jacob Quick.

Jacobus Schoonhoven. Timothy Wood.

Jacobus Vanfliet, Jr. Benjamin Wood.

Thomas Hart. James Carpenter.

John Van Tuyle. Esee Bronson.

S. Cuykendal, Jr. Isaac Uptegrove.

Martinas Decker, Jr. Solomon Cuykendal.

Wilhelmus Westfall. Martimas Decker.

Moses Kortright. Benjamin Boorman.

Jacob Harraken. Nehemiah Pattison.

G. Bradcock. Arthur Van Tuyle.

Nicholas Slyter. Wilhelmus Cole.

Daniel St. John. Petrus Decker.

Allbert Osterhoust. Asi Astly.

Johannes Westbrook. Daniel Kortright.

Simon Westfall. Ephraim Middagh.

[Colonel Knox's Headquarters, New Windsor]

Blooming Grove District

Alexander Smith. Increase Wyman.

Joseph Conkling. Jonathan Smith.

Jonathan Horton. John Barker.

John Case. Moses Carpenter.

Phineas Ramsey. Joshua Corey.

Benjamin Harlow. John Corey.

William Hubbard. John Pain.

Garrett Duryea. Daniel Pain.

David Youngs. William Warne.

James Miller. Hezekiah Warne.

James Mapes. Zeba Owen.

Joseph Drake. Jonathan Jayne.

Samuel Haines Smith. Caleb Coleman

David Rogers. Daniel Tooker.

Henry Wisner. Isaiah Smith.

Thomas Goldsmith. William Best.

Jacobus Bartholt. David Rumsey.

Guilian Bartholf. John Meeker.

Abraham Dalsen, Jr. Joseph Browne.

Isaac Dalsen, Jr. David Horton.

Cornelius Decker. Solomon Smith.

David Demarest. John King.

John Denton. Cuppe Brooks.

Corns. Van Orsdale. Samuel Wickham.

Joseph Elliot. Silas Horton.

John Elliot. Charles Tooker.

Abraham Springsteen. John Budd.

Capt. Nathaniel Roe. William Horton.

Lieut. John Jackson. Joshua Brown.

Joseph Dixon. Joshua Brown, Jr.

David Godfrey. James Markel.

Silas Pierson. John Bull.

William Satterly. Richard Bull.

Gideon Salmon. Jeremiah Butler.

Phineas Salmon. John Minthorn.

John Brown. Abraham Chandler.

Silas Morton. Jacobus Laine.

John Cravens. Jacob Demarest.

Ezra Keeler. Joseph Todd.

James Aspell. John Bigger.

George Duryea. Elijah Doan.

John Ketchum, Jr. James Smith.

William Heard. Zephaniah Hull.

Phineas Heard. Joseph Case.

Joshua Reeve. William Marshall.

Obadiah Helms. Benjamin MacVea.

William Forbes. Christopher Springsteen.

Coleman Curtis. Hezeiah Watkins.

David Jones. Daniel Reeve.

Francis Baird. Samuel Bertholf.

Stephen Lewis. Henry Roemer.

Nathaniel Minthorn. Robert McCane.

Gamadid Tansdell. Peter Gumaer

Andrew Christy. Stephen Meeker.

Hendrick Bartholdt. Joseph Smith.

Peter Bartholdt. Thomas McCane.

Reuben Hall. Samuel Smith.

Solomon Carpenter. Jacob Dunning.

Martin Myer. Joshua Davis.

Joshua Smith. John Williams.

Ebenezer Beer. Richard Jones.

Samuel Mofat. Philip Borroughs.

Lieut. John Wood. Thomas Engles.

Ensign Daniel Drake Oliver Heady.

Richard Sheridan. John Van Cleft, Jr.

Jonathan Owen. David Cooley, Jr.

Joshua Wells. Nicholas Van Tassel.

Jonah Seely. Joshua Weeks.

Wright Smith. Benjamin Currie.

Silas Stewart. Samuel Jones.

Benjamin Carpenter. Michael Carpenter.

Squire Whitaker. Samuel Webb.

Silas Hulse. John Owen.

Elisha Hulse. Benjamin Dunning.

Benjamin Smith. William Kimber.

Samuel Cooley. Gilbert Bradner.

John Ferger. Jacob Finch.

David Kendle. Hidley Spencer.

Samuel Cole. William Walworth.

Peter Miller. Cornelius Bertholf, Jr.

Robert Thompson. Stephen Bertholf.

Matthew Billing. Joseph Allison.

James Little, Jr. Michael Allison.

Benjamin Whitaker. James Allison.

Henry David. William Carpenter.

Samuel Demarest. Casper Writer.

John Hopper. Jonas Wood.

William Wisner. David Linch.

Israel Wells. John Boyle.

Daniel Carpenter. Michael Coleman.

Samuel Carpenter. Abraham Harding.

Peter Arnout. Henry David, Jr.

James Bell. Jonathan David.

Jeremiah S. Conkling. James Thompson.

John Garvey. Jonathan Cooley.

Benjamin Forgesson. William Howard.

Elijah Truman. James Dolsen.

David Moore. Isaac Dolsen.

Nathaniel Tuthill. Reuben Smith, Jr.

Joseph McCane. Jacob Fegate.

Joel Cross. Jeremiah Smith, Jr.

Caleb Goldsmith. Amos Smith.

Henry Smith. Matthias Carvey.

John Finch. John Carvey.

Moses Smith. Francis Alvanjoy.

Robert Thompson, Jr. Solomon Tracey.

George Little. Amos Hubbs.

James Knap. Thomas Barer.

Jeremiah Smith, Sr. William Morris.

Amos Woolcocks. John Kennady.

Jeremiah Ferger. Joseph Wilson.

Zephaniah Drake. James Steward.

John Van Cleft. Joseph Steward.

Israel Holley. John Clar.

William Seely. John Feigler.

Benjamin Demarest. Richard Allison.

Peter Demarest. Henry Hall.

Sallier David. John Kinnett.

Edward David. Benjamin Halsted.

Jolin David. David Miller.

Jacob Cole. Henry Dobin.

George Kemble. Solomon Finch.

William Dill. Solomon Hoff.

Christopher Myers. Joseph Currie.

Thomas Wood. James Ramsey.

Philip Rodrick. James Masters.

William McCane. James Clark.

James McCane. Michael Dunning.

Martin McConnely. James Schoonover.

William Horton. John Morrison.

Philip Horton. Joseph Coleman.

Benjamin Carpenter. Jonathan Coleman.

Henry Samis. William Kirby.

Samuel Knapp. Orinns Bertholf.

Roolof Van Brunt. James Bertholf.

Abel Jackson. Joseph Halsted.

Nathaniel Knapp, Jr. Michael Halsted.

James Parshall. Gershon Owen.

Anthony Swartwout. Samuel Westbrook.

Benjamin Jackson. Anthony Westbrook.

George Howell. Joshua Hill.

James Mosier. Benjamin Gabrelis.

Samuel Finch. David Shephard.

Samuel Reed. Abraham Dolsen, Sr.

Jabez Finch. John Kinman.

Benjamin Wallworth. Daniel Rosegrout.

John Whitaker. John Davis.

Nathaniel Mathers. David Lowren.

Increase Matthews. Moses Whitehead.

James Gardiner. John Myers.

John Little. David Stephens.

James Reeves. Jeremiah Trickey.

John Knap. Henry Clark.

Jonathan Corney. John Carpenter Smith.

Solomon Roe. Nathan Roberts.

Saven Tracey. John Shepard.

Obadiah Smith. John Gerner.

Henry Bartoli. Hezekiah Lawrence.

David Demarest. Nathan Pemberton.

Jacob Demarest. Benjamin Cole.

William King. Caleb Smith.

Christopher Decker. Peter Arnout.

James McCane. Matthew Howell.

John Thompson. Matthew Howell. Jr.

Thomas Gale. Thomas Angel.

Charles Webb. Moses[?] Tracey.

Samuel Chandler. Elijah Egars.

James Hulse. John Miller.

Mark Chambers. John Rhodes.

David Cooley. David Mapes.

Nathaniel Cooley. Zacheus Horton.

Nathan Bailey. Joshua Wells.

Nathan Bailey, 2d. Benjamin Hill.

Zephaniah Kelly. Nathaniel Allison.

Samuel Satterly. William Kinna.

William Vail. John Bailey.

James Hamilton. Landrine Eggers.

Joseph Beckas. John Conner.

Elias Clark. Peter Mann.

Alexander Campbell. Daniel Cooley, Jr.

Elihu Horton. William Huff.

Hugh Fulton. Jacob Cole.

Phineas Parshall. Edward David, Jr.

Peter Townsend. Daniel David.

John Gardiner. Richard Halsted.

Michael Brooks. Joseph Oldfield.

David Howell, Jr. Joseph Chilson.

John Howell. Silas Holley.

Samuel Harman. Benjamin Dunning.

Jabez Knap. Daniel Holley.

Nathaniel Knap, Jr. Joshua Drake.

Peter Barlow. Walt Smith.

Elias Oldfield. Stephen Jackson.

Samuel Sawyer. Daniel Myers.

Jeremiah Oakley. John Smith.

Timothy Smith. Jonathan Rawson.

Benjamin Attwood. William Reed.

Gilbert Howell. William Egger (Eager).

Isaac Hoadley. Daniel Egger.

Nathan Arnout. Anning Owen.

Caleb Smith. Jacob Hulse.

Stephen Smith. Solomon Smith.

David Caser. Thomas Denton.

Matthew Tyrel. Asa Derba.

Andrew Miller. Moses Clark.

Asa Vail. William Helms.

Bazaliel Seely. Phineas Case.

Francis Gallow. William Knap.

John McDowell. Gilbert Aldrige.

William Hoff. James Kinner.

John Kimball. Joshua Hallock.

James Miller. John Mory.

James Stewart. Oliver Smith.

Abraham Johnston. Isaac Smith.

Stephen Conkling. Cain Mehany.

Joshua Howell. Ebenezer Holly.

Samuel Titus. Joshua Herbert.

Jonathan Hallock. John Armstrong.

Precinct of Cornwall.

John Brewster, Jr. David Stevens.

Silas Benjamin, Jr. Jonathan Stevens.

Smith Clark. Daniel Mapes.

Thomas Clark. Smith Mapes.

Ephraim Clark. Isaiah Mapes.

Benjamin Mapes. Nathan Marvin.

Bethuel Mapes. Samuel Gibson.

Isaac Corky. Solomon Little.

Patrick Cassaday. Jesse Woodhull.

Joseph Wilcox. Nathan Brewster.

Timothy Smith, Jr. Jonathan Brooks.

Richard Honiman. Elihu Marvin.

Nehemiah Clark. Seth Marvin.

John Seely. Elihu Marvin, Jr.

James Peters. David Beggs.

James Matthews. Timothy Brewster.

William Roe. Isaac Brown.

Joseph Smith. Jesse Teed.

John McWhorter. Benjamin Budd.

Josiah Pell. Benjamin Lester.

John Pell. Jr. Joab Coleman.

Abr'm Ketchum. Phineas Helmes.

Thomas Clark, Jr. Silas Youngs.

William Hunter. Silas Youngs, Jr.

Archibald Little, Jr. Reuben Youngs.

Jonas Seely. Abimael Youngs, Jr.

Israel Hodges. John Callay.

Samuel Knights. Thomas Sullivan.

James Sayre. Jeremiah Howell.

Isaac Corley, Jr. George Baitman.

Jesse Marvin. Josiah Seely.

Jeremiah Clark. John McCarly.

Joseph Wood. John Wood.

Archibald Little. Thomas Moffat.

Stephen Gilbert. Samuel Smith.

Abraham Loce. David Mandeville.

John Mapes. Vincent Matthews.

Joseph Ketchum. Samuel Ketchum.

Samuel Ketchum, Jr. Eleazer Yonmans.

Benjamin Ketchum, Jr. Stephen Yonmans.

Benjamin Ketchum. John Marvin.

Joseph Morrell. Jonathan Hallock.

James Tuthill. John Pecham.

Brewster Helme. John Burges.

William Brown. Patrick Odey.

Asahel Coleman. Isaiah Howell.

Samuel Sacket Samuel Seely.

Micah Coleman. Israel Seely.

John Smith. Nathaniel Seely.

Gershom Clark. James Little.

Timothy Little. Thaddeus Seely.

Samuel Mapes. Benjamin Gregory.

Justus Stevens. William Nicholson.

Sylvanus White. Bn. Cruft.

Daniel Coleman. Nathaniel Sayre, Jr.

John Brewster. David Clark.

Christopher Van Duzer. Richard Drake.

Isaac Van Duzer, Jr. Josiah Reeder.

Roger Barton. Peter Reeder.

Obadiah Thorn. Stephen Reeder.

Solomon Sheldon. Jacob Reeder.

Absalom Townsend. Samuel Reeder.

James Hall. Francis Vantine.

Silas Hall. Alexander Sutton.

John W. Clark. Samuel Smith.

Paul Howell. Thomas Smith.

Silas Howell. Jacob White.

Bazaliel Seely. Justus Philby.

Elijah Hudson. Benjamin Corey.

Samuel Moffat, Jr. Frederick Tobias.

Hugh Murray. Gilbert Weeks.

Dennis Cooley. Nathan Birchard.

Sylvanus Sayles. Zebulon Birchard.

Matthew Sweny. Robert Height.

Isaac Brewster. Daniel Thorne.

Ebenezer Woodhull. Timothy Wood.

Nathaniel Strong. Samuel Moffat.

Daniel Tuthill. Sylvanus Halsey.

Maurice Hearen. Barnabas Many.

James Smith. Luther Stuart.

Henry Dier, Sr. James Sayre, Jr.

Silas Pierson. John Sayre.

Silas Pierson, Jr. Birdseye Young.

Richard Coleman. Aaron Howell, Jr.

Francis Drake. William King.

Benoni Brock. Isaac Bower.

Justus Hulse. Thaddeus Cooley.

Stephen Howell. William McLaughlin.

Stephen Sayles. Nassiad Curtis.

Daniel Smith. Elijah Green.

Daniel Jones. Jonathan Tuthill.

John Brooks. Francis Tuthill.

John Moffat. Zachariah Du Bois.

Michael Kelly. Francis Brewster.

John Leonard. Joseph Collings.

Lewis Donnovan. Thomas Collings.

John Close (Rev.) James Moore.

John Pride. Benjamin Thorne.

Nathaniel Seely, Jr. John Parker.

Jesse Seely. Hezekiah Howell.

Obadiah Smith. Richard Collingwood.

Nathaniel Satterly. Silas Benjamin.

Hezekiah Howell, Jr. John Benjamin.

Patrick McLaughlin. John Kelley.

Daniel Deven. Aaron Howell.

James Davidson. John Carpenter.

Benjamin Carpenter. William Gregg.

Timothy Carpenter. Sylvanus Bishop.

Joseph Carpenter, Jr. Samuel Smith.

Robert Gregg. John Paren.

Samuel Bartlett. Isaac Vandusen, 3d.

William Owen. John Lightbody.

Silas Coleman. Gabriel Lightbody.

Hugh Gregg. Isaac Lightbody.

Francis Drake. Andrew Lightbody.

Charick Vanduzen. James Lightbody.

Azariah Martin. Thomas Hulse.

Abraham Butler. Selah Satterly.

Zachariah Burwell. Joel Tuthill.

Joshua Burwell. John Miller.

Joseph Reeder. Arch. Cunningham.

John Reeder. James Galloway.

William Reeder. Abner Thorp.

Joseph Reeder, Jr. John Johnson.

Samuel Tuthill. Arche. Coreham, Jr.

Benjamin Tuthill. George Whitaker.

Joshua Sandstar. Henry Myers.

Isaac Lamoureux. Henry Brewster, Jr.

John Lamoureux. Joseph Van Nort.

John Lamoureux, 2d. William Conkling.

Peter Lamoureux. John Brooks.

Luke Lamoureux. Neal Anderson.

Peter Lamoureux, Jr. James Mitchell.

Philip Miller. James Overton.

John Carpenter, 2d. Moses Strain.

Elijah Carpenter. Caleb Ashley.

William Carpenter. Benjamin Chichester.

Josiah Halstead. Jonas Garrison.

Jonathan Du Bois. Samuel Robbins.

Thomas Poicy. William Bedall.

Thomas Herley. Thomas Smith.

Zacheus Horton. Jacob Comten.

John McLean. Jacob Comten, Jr.

Austin Smith. Thomas Cooper.

Joseph Lamoureux. William Clark.

Eleazer Taylor. Abraham Sneden.

William Bradley. Adam Belsher.

Nathaniel Pease. Stephen Hulse.

Charles Howell. Eleazer Luce.

F. Taylor. Timothy Corwin.

William Cook. James Ludis.

Thomas Chatfield. Daniel Ramsey.

James Wilkins. John Tuthill.

William Moffat. William Owens.

Isaac Moffat. William Bartlett.

John Moffat. James Stought.

Thomas Lenington. John Carpenter, 3d.

Jesse Brewster. James McClugin.

Joseph Chandler. William Hooge.

James McGuffack. Tobias Wygant.

Silas Corwin. James Lewis.

Henry Brewster. Nathaniel Biggs.

Stephen Halsey. James Huff.

James Halsey. Daniel Curtis.

Jacob Brown. Nathan Strong.

John Earll. Solomon Sarvis.

Peter Earll. Richard Earll.

Abraham Cooley. Benjamin Earll.

Silas Tucker. John Brase.

George Everson. Robert Brock.

Thomas Everson. Neal Anderson, 2d.

Reuben Tucker. Benjamin Jayne.

David Wilson. Joseph Patterson.

Peter Lowrie. Thomas Gregg.

Elisha Smith. Jacob Vanduzer.

Aaron DeGrauw. Andrew Stuart.

Amous Wood. Henry Atwood.

John Williams. Isaac Vanduzer.

Togidah Dickens. William Ayres.

Samuel Howard. William Miller.

William Howard. Edward Robben.

Francis Bourk. Isaac Horton.

John Daynes. Hugh McDonel.

Aaron Miller. James Wilks.

Owen Noblen. James Wilks, Jr.

Jacob Devo. Richard Wilks.

Thomas Willett. William Thompson.

Thomas Horton. John Johnson.

Hanes Bartlett. John Wagent.

Reuben Taber. John Wagent, 2d.

Solomon Cornwell. Joseph Stevens.

John W. Tuthill. Thomas Smith.

Joseph Davis. Silas Reynolds.

Nathaniel Jayne. John Wolly.

Stephen Jayne Peter Stevens.

Daniel Jayne. William Obadge.

Joseph Hildreth. John Boucke.

Adam Miller. Silas Millis, Jr.

Isaac Tobias. Charles Field.

David Bloomfield. Henry Mandeville.

Gilbert Roberts. Jacob Mandeville.

Lawrence Ferguson. Francis Mandeville.

Daniel Harrison. Peter Reynolds.

Daniel Miller. Thomas Powell.

Joseph Gold. Benjamin Prindle.

Henry Davenport. Daniel Prindle.

Israel Osmun. Enos Prindle.

Ezekiel Osmun. Oliver Davenport.

Henry Hall. Chester Adams.

William Cooper. Joseph Canfield.

Samuel Lows. Benjamin Canfield.

Jacob Lows. John Canfield.

Amos Miller. John Carr.

Cornwell Sands. Garrett Miller.

Thomas Linch. David Causter.

George Galloway. Joshua Miller.

John Smith. William Bell.

Dariah Stage. Zophar Head.

Garret Willem, Jr. John Hall.

William Horton. Benjamin Kelley.

Benj. Miller. Henry Dier.

James Miller. William Compten.

Asa Buck. Philips Roblin.

Robert Miller. Samuel Hall.

John McKelvey. Matthias Tyson.

Benjamin Goldsmith. Vincent Helme.

Joseph Miller. L. Canfield.

Timothy Owens. Daniel Adams.

John Gee. Patrick Ford.

John Arkils. Amos Mills.

John Earll, Jr. John Barton.

David Standley. Andrew Southerland.

James Unels. James Southerland.

James Arnold. Alex. Southerland.

Nathan June. David Southerland (3d).

Fanton Horn. John Southerland.

Thomas Davenport. David Southerland.

Oliver Davenport. Henry Cunningham.

Robert Davenport. Henry Reynolds.

Gideon Florence. David June.

Uriah Wood. Richard Sheldon.

Amos Wood. John Celly.

Benjamin Wood. Stephen C. Clark.

John Wood (3d). Reuben Clark.

Daniel Wood. Joseph Plumfield.

James Scoldfield. John Wood.

Uriah Crawford. Stephen Wood.

Jonas Smith. Amos Pains.

Francis Plumsted. Joseph Cupper.

Samuel Whitmore. Joseph Canfield, Jr.

Amos Whitmore. Francis Welton.

George Everitt. John J. Hammond.

David Miller. Solomon Siles.

Zabud June. Thomas Porter.

Francis Smith. John Samson.

Thomas Dearin. Micah Seaman.

Jeremiah Fowler. Jonathan Earll.

Martin Clark. John Haman.

Richard Langdon. Alexander Johnson.

Stephen Pect. Samuel Earll.

John Cronckhite. Samuel Raymond.

Andrew Sherwood. Thomas Lamoureux.

William Sherwood. James Tuttle.

Samuel Strong. John Florence.

Thomas Oliver. Francis Miller.

Thomas Gilbert. Elijah Barton.

Alexander Galloway. Benjamin Quackenbush.

William Douglas. William White.

Patrick McDowell. Jacob Vanduzer.

[Illustration: Oscar Cochran]

In Newburgh precinct the "Committee of Safety and Observation,"

appointed January 27, 1775, consisted of Wolvert Acker, Jonathan

Hasbrouck, Thomas Palmer, John Belknap, Joseph Coleman, Moses Higby,

Samuel Sands, Stephen Case, Isaac Belknap, Benjamin Birdsall and John

Robinson.

In New Windsor precinct the committee appointed May 6, 1775,

consisted of Col. James Clinton, Capt. James McClaughry, John Nicoll,

John Nicholson, Nathan Smith, Robert Boyd, Jr., Samuel Brewster,

Samuel Sly, Samuel Logan. In May, 1776, the committee became: Samuel

Brewster, chairman; Robert Boyd, Jr., Nathan Smith, Hugh Humphrey,

George Denniston, John Nicholl, Col. James McClaughry, Samuel Arthur.

In the precinct of Mamakating, John Young, chairman of committee,

certified that the pledge was signed by all the freeholders and

inhabitants of the precinct, June 26, 1775.

In the precinct of Goshen the committee appointed September 14, 1775,

consisted in part of Isaac Nicoll, Benjamin Gale, Moses Hetfield,

Daniel Everett, James Little, Joshua Davis, with Daniel Everett as

Chairman. Later the names of John Hathorn, John Jackson, Henry

Wisner, John Minthornes and Nathaniel Ketchum were chairman at

different times.

In the Cornwall precinct, 1775, the committee consisted of Hezekiah

Howell, Archibald Little, Elihu Marvin, Nathaniel Satterly, Nathaniel

Strong, Jonathan Brooks, Stephen Gilbert, Zachariah Du Bois, with

Thomas Moffat as chairman.

In the precinct of Hanover no names of pledge-signers were reported,

but the committee, appointed May 8, 1775, consisted of Dr. Charles

Clinton, chairman; Alexander Trimble, Arthur Parks, William Jackson,

Henry Smith, Jacob Newkirk, James Latta, Philip Mole, John Wilkin,

James McBride, James Milliken, Samuel Barkley.

In the precinct of Wallkill there was no return of pledge-signers,

but the committee, Jan. 30, 1775, consisted of Abimael Youngs,

chairman; James Wilkins, Hezekiah Gale, Moses Phillips, Henry Wisner,

Jr.

The county committee of Orange in 1776 had Elihu Marvin, of Cornwall,

for chairman, and David Pye was deputy chairman for Haverstraw and

Orangetown. Robert Boyd, of New Windsor, was chairman for Ulster

County.

The Committees of Safety and Observation began immediately to gather

arms, and later to arrest inimical or suspected persons and bring

them to trial.

With few exceptions the inhabitants of Orange and Ulster Counties

were loyal, earnest and active for the cause of Independence. In the

early years of the war the militia was efficient in guarding the

frontiers, constructing Highland forts and placing obstructions to

navigation in the Hudson River; and two of the companies took part

in the expedition to Canada of 1775. In 1776 one-fourth of the

militia of the two counties was "drawn out for the defense of the

State" and stationed along the Highlands. They consisted of two

regiments from Orange commanded by Colonel Isaac Nicoll, and one

from Ulster commanded by Colonel Levi Paulding. In December, after

the British had captured New York, a more general requisition was

made, and men were obliged to leave their families and stock

unprovided for, which caused great disaffection for a time; but

after General Washington's victory at Trenton they were permitted to

return home.

In 1777 George and James Clinton were in command on the west side of

the Hudson, and General Putnam on the east side. Burgoyne, with an

army of 3,000 men, marching down from Canada, had reached Saratoga,

and Howe, with another army, was marching to capture Philadelphia,

when, about September 20, 3,000 British and Hessian soldiers arrived

in New York and joined the army of Sir Henry Clinton. Thus reinforced

Clinton soon started to force his way up the Hudson, and on October

6, approached Forts Montgomery and Clinton, defended by some 400 of

Colonel Du Bois's Regiment and Lamb's Artillery, and about 200

militia, mostly from Orange and Ulster Counties. They made a gallant

defense, but finally overwhelmed by superior numbers, were obliged to

retreat, leaving behind them 300 in killed, wounded and prisoners. In

Governor Clinton's report to General Washington of the fight at Fort

Montgomery he said that Sir Henry Clinton commanded in person; that

the enemy was repeatedly driven back by grape shot from a field-piece

and the well-directed fire of musketry during their approach; that

the militia retreated to the fort, when a demand to surrender was

refused; and that the enemy's superior numbers finally forced the

works on all sides. If expected reinforcements had reached the fort

it was believed that the enemy would have been defeated. Many

militiamen were in the mountains, but their communications had been

cut off. There were not more than 600 men in both the forts, while

the attacking army numbered 3,000. Governor Clinton escaped across

the Hudson, and many of his men were bayoneted after the works were

taken. DuBois's Continental Regiment and Lamb's Artillery bore the

brunt of the fight. The following other regiments were represented in

small numbers; Colonel Allison's from Goshen, commanded by himself;

Colonel James Clinton's from New Windsor, commanded by Lieutenant

Colonel James McClaughry; Colonel Harbourg's from Newburgh, commanded

by Colonel Masten; Colonel Jesse Woodhull's from Cornwall, commanded

by Colonel Dubois.

Sir Henry Clinton's ships moved on up the Hudson, and Putnam's and

Clinton's troops followed. The British Commander caused Kingston to

be burned, and here, receiving the news of Burgoyne's surrender,

turned back. His army tarried a few days in the Highlands to

complete the destruction of the forts, and then sailed to New York,

and the militia returned home.

The Indians on the western frontier of Orange and beyond were still

nursing grievances against the colonists, and were easily won over to

the British side by diplomatic agents. Their depredations began again

in 1777, when the family of a Mr. Sprague in the northern part of the

Minisink was attacked and some of them taken prisoners. Next they

killed some of the family of a Mr. Brooks, and took the rest

prisoners. In 1778 the upper Minisink was invaded by about 100

Indians, under the famous warrior chief, Brandt, and on Oct. 13 they

attacked two dwellings, killed three persons and destroyed much grain

and stock. The settlers repaired to the forts of Gumaer's and

De Witt's, and the Indians after following and firing a few times at

them from a distance, went away.

The Committee of Safety for Minisink in 1778 consisted of Benjamin

Depuy, Philip Swartwout and Ezekiel Gumaer, and they ordered the

erection of five forts, three in the upper neighborhood, and two in

the lower. These could not accommodate all of the fifty families in

what is now Deer Park, and many women and children were sent to the

older settlements. Scouting parties were sent out under command of

Captain Bezaliel Tyler, and persons suspected of aiding the Indians

were imprisoned or banished. Small companies of nine months militia

were obtained to garrison the forts.

[Illustration: Webb Horton]

The massacre of Wyoming in July, and the horrible cruelties practiced

upon some of the prisoners, had caused grave apprehensions, and these

were increased by the coming of Brandt and his Indians in October.

Count Pulaski and his cavalry legion were sent to Minisink, and

remained there during the winter of 1778-9, and Colonel Van

Cortlandt's Regiment was sent to Wawarsing. In the spring Count

Pulaski and his legion were ordered to South Carolina, and on July

19 Brandt, aware of the poorly defended Minisink, came with

sixty-five Indian warriors and twenty-seven Tories disguised as

Indians, to the lower section, now Deer Park, south of the Neversink

and while the settlers were asleep set fire to several dwellings.

Some of the inmates were killed as they were fleeing and others were

taken prisoners. The cattle were driven off, and much booty carried

to Brandt's headquarters, Grassy Brook, on the Delaware. When news of

the murderous raid was received by the militia, a council was held by

Lieutenant-Colonel Tusten of Colonel Allison's Goshen Regiment,

Colonel John Hathorn of the Warwick Regiment, and Captain Meeker of

the New Jersey militia, and contrary to Tusten's advice, it was

decided to march against the Indians with such numbers of men as

could be quickly brought together. Meanwhile Brandt's force had been

increased to about 300 Indians, and 200 Tories painted to resemble

Indians. The small band of militiamen, commanded by Colonel Hathorn,

marched to the hills overlooking the Delaware near the mouth of the

Lackawaxen, and then discovered Brandt and his warriors

three-fourths of a mile away. Colonel Hathorn prepared to attack

them, but Brandt outmaneuvered him, and cut off fifty of his men,

leaving only ninety in the fight that followed. Brandt got in their

rear, and hemmed them in on a rocky slope, with the advantages of

position and more than five times as many men. When their ammunition

was exhausted they formed in a hollow square to fight with clubbed

muskets, but the square was soon broken and the men sought safety in

flight. Tusten was killed by the Indians while dressing wounds of his

men behind a rock, as were also seventeen wounded men with him.

Others were shot or drowned in trying to swim across the Delaware.

Only about thirty survived.

In Colonel Hathorn's report of the fight to Governor Clinton he says

that "the enemy repeatedly advanced to from forty to one hundred

yards distance and was as repeatedly repulsed"; that his men

"defended the ground nearly three hours and a half and during the

whole time one blaze without intermission was kept up on both sides."

This was at the last stand on the slope. Hathorn's men had been

firing for five hours, when, ammunition being almost exhausted, he

ordered that no one fire "without having his object sure." Soon they

were forced to retreat down the hill towards the river, and

scattered, every man for himself. Colonel Hathorn further says:

"The Indians were under the command of Brandt, who was either killed

or wounded in the action. They burnt Major Decker's house, barn and

mill, James Van Vlock's house and barn, Daniel Vanoker's barn (here

were two Indians killed from a little fort around the house, which

was saved). Esquire Cuykindall's house and barn, Simon Westfall's

house and barn, the church, Peter Cuykindall's house and barn;

Martinus Decker's fort, house, barn and saw-mills, and Nehemiah

Patterson's saw-mill; killed and scalped, Jeremiah Vanoker, Daniel

Cole, Ephriam Ferguson and one Tavern, and took with them several

prisoners, mostly children, with a great number of horses, cattle

and valuable plunder. Some of the cattle we rescued and returned to

the owners."

A list of the names of the killed has been preserved, and is as

follows:

Killed in Minisink Fight.

Col. Benjamin Tusten. Gabriel Wisner.

Capt. Bezaliel Tyler. Stephen Mead.

Capt. Benjamin Vail. Nathaniel Terwilliger.

Capt. John Dimcan. Joshua Lockwood.

Capt. Samuel Jones. Ephraim Ferguson.

Capt. John Little. ____ Talmadge.

Lieut. John Wood. John Carpenter.

Adjt. Nathaniel Fitch. David Burney.

Robert Townsend. Gamaliel Bailey.

Samuel Knapp. Moses Thomas.

James Knapp. Jonathan Haskell.

Benjamin Bennett. Abram Williams.

William Barker. Daniel Reed.

Jacob Dunning. Jonathan Pierce.

Joseph Norris. James Little.

Gilbert S. Vail. Nathan Wade.

Joel Decker. Simon Wait.

Abram Shepherd. James Mosher.

____ Shepherd. Isaac Ward.

Eleazer Owens. Baltus Niepos.

Adam Embler. Samuel Little.

Ensign Ephraim Hasten. Benjamin Dunning.

Ensign Ephraim Middaugh.

There is a tradition that Joseph Brandt secretly visited the Minisink

some time before his second invasion, and was cared for by a Tory,

and thus became well informed of the condition of the region. Brandt

was supposed to be a half-breed, with a German father, but later he

was believed to be a pure Mohawk Indian. He was educated at Dartmouth

College, and at the commencement of the Revolution received a British

appointment as Colonel of the Six Nations. He was a Free Mason, but

neither this nor a good education tamed his savage nature. Dr. Wilson

said of him: "He was more cunning than the fox and fiercer than the

tiger."

Detachments from Woodhull's, Allison's and Hathorn's Regiments were

sent to guard the frontier, but Sullivan's expedition up the

Susquehanna and to the Genesee Valley drew the attention of Brandt,

and he and his Indians did not return.

The jails at Goshen and Kingston were filled with prisoners, but the

local Tories continued to be troublesome, and some of them joined the

British Army, while others made predatory excursions from retreats in

the lower Highlands, covered by the British works at Stony Point and

Fort Lee, and became a terror to the inhabitants.

The residents of this portion of the country and on down the Ramapo

Valley were mostly Tories, and in this defile in that region known as

the "Clove," the Tory Moody intercepted an express from Washington to

Congress regarding an interview about the land and naval forces of

France. This messenger was intended by Washington to be captured,

and the news thus obtained caused the withdrawal of a portion of the

forces under Cornwallis, rendering easier the capture of the latter

at Yorktown. Claudius Smith and his sons, who had their headquarters

in the Clove, were the boldest and most successful of its Tories.

Smith was a large, powerful and shrewd man and while he committed

many crimes and did many hazardous things, yet for a long time

managed to escape capture. In October, 1778, Governor Clinton,

enraged at Smith's depredations, offered a reward for his arrest and

that of his two sons, Richard and James. Alarmed by this, Smith fled

to Long Island, was recognized there, and seized in the night in bed.

He was tried for one of his crimes at Goshen in January, 1779, and

executed on the 22nd of the same month. Five of his associates were

executed with him--Matthew Dolson, John Ryan, Thomas Delamar, John

Gordon and Amy Angor. Retribution followed soon on all Smith's band.

His son William was shot in the mountains, and his son James was

probably executed in Goshen soon after his father, with James

Flewelling and William Cole. Silas Gardner, however, who was tried

and sentenced as a Tory, was pardoned, but the rest were slain or

driven from the country. Claudius Smith commenced his depredations in

the interest of the British in 1776, and first appeared on the

public records, charged with stealing, in 1777. He was confined in

the Kingston jail, and transferred from there to the Goshen jail,

from which he escaped. He was said to be the friend of the poor,

giving liberally to them of what he stole from the rich. Many

exciting stories were told of his doings.

One of the most brilliant exploits of the war was the night assault

on Stony Point, twelve miles below West Point, and now a State

reservation in Rockland County. This was on July 16-17, 1779. It had

been occupied by British troops since Clinton's expedition up the

Hudson in 1777, and was regarded as almost impregnable. "Mad" Anthony

Wayne headed the enterprise, and it was carried out in substantial

accordance with a general plan which had been suggested by General

Washington. The fort was garrisoned by 700 men, who had fifteen

pieces of artillery on the heights. Their surprise was complete, and

the capture quickly accomplished. The American loss was 15 killed and

83 wounded; that of the British 63 killed, 61 wounded and 575 made

prisoners, only one of the garrison managing to escape. The works

were destroyed and the place evacuated. In July, 1779, the British

reoccupied it, and began to build defenses, but were soon withdrawn

because of the coming of the French fleet, and the Americans took

possession and began restoring the fortifications.

Arnold's treason was discovered Sept. 23d, 1780, and Stony Point was

included in the fortifications which he intended to betray. His

treason, his conference with Major Andre below Stony Point, Andre's

stay at Hett Smith's house, his capture at Tarrytown and brief

confinement at West Point, Arnold's flight and Andre's trial and

execution, are too familiar to the readers of American history to

require recapitulation here.

[Illustration: John Devon]

CHAPTER IX.

THE WAR OF 1812.

Notwithstanding other ostensible causes, it was really necessary to

complete the independence of the United States, only partly effected

by the War of the Revolution, that the War of 1812 should be begun

and fought out. Great Britain claimed the right to search American

ships, impress American seamen into her service, and make prizes of

all American vessels going to or from France or her allies which did

not clear from or touch English ports. France issued retaliatory

decrees which were more damaging to America than England. They

declared that its vessels which had touched English ports or

submitted to be searched by an English ship should be the property

of France, and that English goods, wherever found, should be subject

to confiscation. Thus endangered by the policy of both nations,

Congress in 1809 declared an embargo prohibiting American vessels

from sailing from foreign ports, and foreign ships from carrying away

American cargoes--a law which virtually suspended our commerce and

exposed our merchants to the risks of bankruptcy. England gave notice

to the President that her claims before stated would be adhered to,

and Congress, seeing no other means of redress, formally declared war

on June 18, 1812.

Orange County citizens had given expression to their views on the

embargo act in March, 1800. A Republican county convention held at

Goshen selected General Hathorn as its chairman, and a committee on

resolutions was appointed consisting of Jonathan Fisk, Colonel John

Nicholson, General Reuben Hopkins and Judge Nathan White. The

resolutions reported and adopted asserted that the American embargo

was "a wise and patriotic measure, imperiously demanded by the exposed

condition of our seamen, shipping and trade to the audacious outrages

of foreign powers." In the Federal party's county convention, held

later, Daniel Niven was chairman, and its committee on resolutions

consisted of John Barber, Alexander R. Thompson, Alanson Austin, John

Bradner, J. N. Phillips, John Morrison, John Duer, Samuel Saver, James

Storey, Solomon Sleight, John Decker and Samuel B. Stickney. The

resolutions protested against the enforcement of the embargo, as

"unjust, illegal and oppressive, subversive of the rights and

dangerous to the liberties of the people."

But when the war came the views of many of the Federalists had

changed, and they sustained the Government.

The first call for troops was made April 21, 1812, when the militia

was arranged in two divisions and eight brigades, and the brigades

were divided into twenty regiments. The second brigade of the first

division, embracing the militia of Orange and Ulster, under Brigadier

General Hopkins of Goshen, was organized as the Fourth Regiment, and

its Commander was Lieutenant Colonel Andrew J. Hardenburgh of

Shawangunk. In 1813 and 1814, Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Belknap took

the place of Lieutenant Colonel Hardenburgh. The cavalry and

artillery were similarly organized.

The second call was made in July, 1813, and the third in July, 1814,

when the places of rendezvous were Newburgh and New Windsor, and from

these the men were moved on sloops to New York and assigned to the

neighboring fortifications. They embarked Aug. 28, and returned Dec.

4, having been absent only a little more than three months.

Among the uniformed companies at that time were the following: Orange

Hussars of Montgomery, Captain William Trimble (succeeded by Captain

Milliken); Captain Van Orsdal's and Captain Dorcas's companies of

infantry of Montgomery; Captain Kerr's company of artillery of New

Windsor; Captain Butterworth's company of artillery of Newburgh;

Captain Westcott's company of cavalry of Goshen; Captain Acker's

company of cavalry of Newburgh and Marlborough; Captain Denniston and

Captain Birdsall's companies of infantry of Newburgh.

It appears that Captain Westcott was afterwards appointed Major of

the first regiment of cavalry, when Charles Lindsay was made captain

of his company; Joseph H. Jackson, first lieutenant; Daniel McNeal,

second lieutenant, and Stephen P. Rockefellow, cornet, all being

residents of Montgomery except Major Westcott.

[Illustration: Signing of the Wawayanda Patent]

In the fall of 1812, Captain Denniston of the "Republican Blues"

enlisted about fifty volunteers to serve one year or during the war,

and they elected Jonathan Gidney captain. They formed part of a

detached regiment of riflemen of which Captain Denniston became

major and afterwards colonel.

A part of a company from Wallkill was included in Colonel

Hardenburgh's Ulster regiment, which went to Plattsburgh and thence

to Fort Hamilton, near the Canada line, for guard duty.

The following roll of a detached company in Colonel Michael Smith's

regiment of infantry, mustered in in September, 1814, embraces men

from both Orange and Ulster Counties:

Roll of Detached Company.

Dunning, John, Captain. Gardner, Samuel.

Mullicks, William, First Lieutenant. Gardner, Silas L.

Moore, Walter, Ensign. Goldsmith, John D.

Booth, Jeffrey, First Sergeant. Horton, Barnabas.

Crane, John A., Second Sergeant. Hulse, Jonas, Jr.

Dunning, Henry, Third Sergeant. Hudson, Eleazer.

Clark, Oliver, First Corporal. Hines, John W.

Genung, Pierson, Second Corporal. Jackson, Daniel T.

Murray, Archibald Y., Third Corporal. Jagger, Paul.

Lewis, James, Fourth Corporal. Kirk, Robert.

Smith, Derrick, Fifth Corporal. Kortright, John C.

Wilkin, Daniel, Sixth Corporal. Kerr, Nathan.

Brown, Samuel, Drummer. Kirk, David.

Genung, Harvey, Fifer. Keen, Elihu C.

Brown, Elisha. Knox, James.

Brundage, Abijah. Knapp, Elijah.

Brown, Neal. Long, Artemas.

Bennett, Levi. Lockwood, Jared.

Brown, Daniel. Loder, Isaac W.

Bailey, Nathaniel. Millspaugh, Samuel.

Benjamin, John. McNish, Joshua.

Booth, Thomas A. McNish, Spicer.

Bedford, Benjamin. McNish, Henry.

Cash, Stephen. McCarter, James.

Clark, Stephen. McCarter, Ardent.

Corey, Benjamin. McVey, James.

Crawford, James. Mires, John, Jr.

Caldwell, Gabriel. Monnel, Joseph.

Christie, Andrew. Moore, Loderwick.

Corwin, Nebat. Miller, John C.

Corwin, Joseph. McVey, John.

Cox, Jeremiah. McVey, Arden.

Cox, Thompson. McCarter, William.

Canfield, Joseph. Miller, George.

Decker, Stephen. Nicolls, Allen.

Dunning, Michael. Ogden, Gilbert.

Dunning, John, Jr. Prescott, Stephen.

Fanning, Samuel. Puff, Adam.

Goldsmith, Salem. Puff, James.

Gale, Henry. Robbins, John.

Gregory, Lyman. Robbins, Peter.

Goldsmith, Moses. Ray, James.

Selleck, Isaac. Rodgers, John.

Slauson, Alva. Taylor, Morrison.

Saver, William. Uptegrove, Richard.

Sands, Samuel. Van Benschoten, John.

Stringham, Jacob. Warren, David.

Smith, Isaiah W. Warren, Solomon.

Screder, Elijah. Warren, Eliphalet.

Smith, Grant. White, Jonathan.

Smith, Silas W. Watson, James.

Smith, Bezalell. Wilkin, William.

Thompson, Jonathan. Wood, John.

Treadwell, Charles. Youngs, Virgil W.

Orange County was represented in the Navy by Silas H. Stringham,

Charles Ludlow and Robert C. Ludlow, among others. Robert Ludlow was

on the "Constitution" when she captured the "Java," and Augustus C.

Ludlow as a lieutenant distinguished himself as a hero in the action

of the "Chesapeake" with the "Shannon."

After the British captured Washington in 1814, a public meeting was

held in Goshen, August 30, to consider the propriety of repairing the

fortifications at West Point or erecting new ones for public defense.

General James W. Wilson was chairman of the meeting, and a committee

to devise and report plans was composed of John Duer, Jonathan Fisk,

William Ross, John W. Wilkin, George D. Wickham, James Finch, Jr.,

and Nathan H. White. They reported at an adjourned meeting, and

recommended the following committee of defense, which was appointed:

For Minisink, John Bradner, Nathan Arnot; Deer Park, John Finch, Jr.,

Joseph Baird; Wallkill, Henry B. Wisner, Benjamin Woodward; Goshen,

John Duer, Freegift Tuthill; Warwick, Dr. Samuel S. Seward, Jeffrey

Wisner; Monroe, James D. Secor, Benjamin Cunningham; Cornwall,

William A. Clark, Joseph Chandler, Jr.; Blooming Grove, Col. Selah

Strong, Jeremiah Horton; Montgomery, John Blake, Jr., Johannes

Miller; Newburgh, John D. Lawson, Jacob Powell; New Windsor, Joseph

Morton, David Hill.

This Committee of Defense met September 7, and made Selah Strong its

chairman and John Duer its secretary. It passed resolutions in

harmony with those of the public meeting, and appointed the chairman,

the secretary, William A. Clark, Joseph Morell and Johannes Miller a

committee to tender the services of citizens in repairing the West

Point fortifications. At another meeting, September 17, the committee

instructed the town committees immediately to collect subscriptions

of money and labor, and report them to the General Committee, and

also inquire into and report the quantity of arms and ammunition

which the respective towns might need.

October 25 it was reported from the Secretary of War that he would

send a skillful engineer to West Point "to superintend the works and

point out the sites most eligible for defense."

Little was done, however, at West Point, but military companies of

exempts were organized in several towns.

The glad news of the treaty of peace, concluded in December, 1814,

was celebrated in every town of the county with great enthusiasm, and

included illuminations, cannon firing, speeches, toasts, and

thanksgiving services in the churches.

Peace with other nations continued from the close of the War of 1812

until the war with Mexico, 1846-8. For this war New York City

regiments drew a number of volunteers from Orange, but only one

company was recruited in the county, and this was in Goshen, and it

became Co. K of the 10th Regiment U. S. Infantry. Its captain was

Alexander Wilkin and its lieutenant, Francis M. Cummins. Captain

Wilkin resigned in April, 1848, and Lieutenant Cummins was promoted

to the captaincy. The regiment with this company was attached to the

Army of the Rio Grande under General Taylor.

CHAPTER X.

THE CIVIL WAR.

The patriotic services of the people of Orange County in the

four-years' Civil War of 1861-5 were as praiseworthy as those of

their ancestors in the two wars with Great Britain, which founded the

Republic upon a lasting basis of unparalleled prosperity and

progress. It was as necessary for the continuance of that prosperity,

and as a lesson of our republican experiment to the world, to defeat

the efforts of the slave-holding States to rend the Union in twain,

as it had been to compel the kingly power across the ocean to let us

establish it. This Orange County was quick to perceive and act upon.

Its Co. B, Third Regiment of Infantry, was the first company

recruited and ready for muster in the State. Recruiting for it was

commenced in Newburgh immediately after the passage by the

Legislature, April 16, 1861, of an act to authorize the equipment of

volunteer militia for the public safety, the movement being started

by Hon. Stephen W. Fullerton, Member of Assembly, and placed in

charge of James A. Ramney. There were seventy-seven men enrolled when

the company was mustered in for two years, May 14, 1861--less than

one month from the day the first man enlisted, and it had then been

ready several days for mustering in.

The following regiments and companies were recruited in Orange for

the Civil War, and there were many other enlistments from the county

in other regiments and in the Navy:

Infantry: Third Regiment, Co. B, 1861; 18th, Co. D and Co. H, in

part, 1861; 36th, Co. B, 1861; 56th, Cos. A, B, D and E, 1861; 63d

Regiment, 1864; 70th, Co. F, 1861; 87th, Co. C, 1861; 98th, Co. C,

1864; 124th Regiment, 1,047 men in 1862 and one company in 1864;

168th, 335 men, 1862; 176th, 272 men, 1862.

Mounted Rifles: First Regiment, Co. C, 1861.

Cavalry: Second Regiment, Co. B, 1861; 15th, Co. I, 146 men, 1864.

Artillery: Fifteenth Regiment, Co. M, 82 men, 1864; 7th, 70 men,

1864; 7th Independent Battery, 1861.

Militia: Nineteenth and 71st, 517 men, 1861-62.

The following are the aggregates by towns of the men furnished and

accepted in the county:

April, 1861, to July, 1862.

Towns. Volunteers. Militia. Total.

Blooming Grove 37 .. 37

Chester 31 2 33

Cornwall 36 .. 36

Crawford 11 5 16

Deer Park 104 .. 104

Goshen 30 .. 30

Greenville 3 .. 3

Hamptonburgh 2 .. 2

Highlands 1 .. 1

Minisink 17 .. 17

Monroe 25 .. 25

Montgomery 109 79 188

Mount Hope 9 .. 9

Newburgh 493 429 922

New Windsor 26 2 28

Southfield 12 .. 12

Wallkill 447 .. 447

Warwick 100 .. 100

Wawayanda 12 .. 12

______ ____ ______

1,505 517 2,022

In addition to the numbers tabulated there were in the 71st Militia

four hundred and twenty-nine from Newburgh, seventy-nine from Mount

Hope, five from Deer Park, two from Chester and two from Southfield.

The totals tell their own story of patriotic zeal.

Company B, Third Regiment, before referred to as the first to be

recruited and ready for muster in the State, was mustered out at the

end of its two years' service, but reorganized and was mustered out

the second time after the close of the war, on August 28, 1865. It

was in many fights, including those of Big Bethel, Fort Wagner,

Bermuda Hundred, Petersburg, Fort Gilmer, Chapin's Farm, Fort Fisher

and Wilmington. Its first captain, Stephen W. Fullerton, appointed

April 20, 1861, died in Newburgh, September 11, 1861, and was

succeeded by Ervine A. Jones, first lieutenant, September 25, 1861,

who was dismissed August 16, 1862. Alexander Mann, second and then

first lieutenant, was promoted to captain, June 10, 1861, and

discharged August 31, 1864. Jeremiah D. Mabie, who was promoted from

first sergeant to second lieutenant, and then to first lieutenant of

Co. B, was made captain of Co. F, June 15, 1863, and discharged

September 18, 1864. James H. Reeve was advanced from fourth sergeant

to first sergeant and then to second lieutenant of Co. B, was made

captain of Co. I, October 3, 1864, lost a leg at Fort Fisher, and was

discharged June 26, 1865.

The Eighteenth Regiment was recruited in several counties in

response to the call of President Lincoln for 75,000 volunteers. It

was mustered in for two years May 17, 1861, and mustered out May 28,

1863. Co. D was recruited from Orange County and organized at

Middletown, with John C. McGinnis, captain, George Barry, first

lieutenant and Roswell M. Sayre, second lieutenant. The commissions

of these officers date back into April. The enlistments were so many

that thirty men of the company were separated to form a part of Co.

H. The regiment supported a battery in the first battle of Bull Run,

but was not brought into action. It was stationed and remained near

Alexandria the most of the time until McClellan's Army went to the

Peninsula, and took part there in the seven days' fighting. Afterward

it did guard duty at various points until it was mustered out.

The following promotions of Orange County men in the 18th Regiment

are on record, the dates being those of rank, some of which preceded

dates of commission:

Thomas S. Lane, 2d Lieut., Nov. 6, 1861; 1st Lieut., Nov. 10, 1862;

mustered out with regiment.

W. E. Carmichael, 2d Lieut., May 7, 1861; 1st Lieut., Dec. 2, 1861;

resigned May 16, 1862.

Robert A. Malone, 2d Lieut., Nov. 11, 1861; Capt., Sept. 8, 1862;

mustered out with regiment.

Roswell M. Sayre, 2d Lieut., April 30, 1861; 1st Lieut., Dec. 21,

1862; Capt., June 26, 1862; mustered out with regiment.

John S. King, 1st Lieut., June 26, 1862; mustered out with regiment.

George Barry, 1st Lieut., April 30, 1861; killed at Gaines Mills, June

27, 1862.

John C. McGinnis, Capt., April 30, 1861; Major, Dec. 2, 1861; Lieut.

Col., Oct. 14, 1862; mustered out with regiment.

The 36th Regiment was organized in New York, and its Co. B was

recruited in Orange County by John Raney of Newburgh, captain of Co.

F, 19th Militia, assisted by Timothy Donoghue of the same company.

The enlistments were for two years. Between May 13 and June 17, 1861,

they enlisted seventy-seven men. The regiment arrived in Washington,

July 14, 1861, and remained in camp until March, 1862. It was

brigaded under General Couch, and attached to General Buell's

Division, afterward commanded by General Keyes. It went with General

McClellan's Army to the Peninsula and was in the fights at Seven

Pines, Gaines Mills and Malvern Hill. Afterward it saw much active

and perilous service in Virginia and Maryland. At Fredericksburg it

was in General Deven's Brigade, which was the first of the left

grand division to cross the Rappahannock, December 11, 1862, and

covered the retreat of the army, December 15, Co. B being detailed to

collect stragglers under the enemy's fire. May 3, Co. B, at Marye's

Heights, captured a battery from a Mississippi brigade, and was the

first to raise the colors on the heights. The regiment was a part of

Sedgwick's Corps in the attack on Salem Heights. The last active

service of the regiment and Co. B was in Hooker's campaign. The

officers of the company were:

John A. Raney, Capt., June 15, 1861; Major, Dec. 21, 1861; resigned

Oct. 15, 1862.

Timothy Donoghue, 1st Lieut., June 15, 1861; Capt., Nov. 12, 1861;

mustered out with regiment, July 15, 1863.

John M. Lewis, 2d Lieut., June 15, 1864; 1st Lieut., Dec. 2, 1861;

mustered out with regiment.

Charles B. Lewis, 1st Sergt., Oct. 1, 1861; 2d Lieut., Nov. 12, 1861;

1st Lieut, Aug. 20, 1862; mustered out with regiment.

FIFTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.

The 56th Regiment was formed of companies from Orange, Ulster,

Sullivan and Delaware Counties, Companies A, B, D and E being

recruited from Orange, as were also the 7th Battery and Co. C of

Mounted Rifles, afterward detached. It was a three-years' regiment,

but was continued by re-enlistment, and although the companies were

all mustered in between July 31st and December 10th, 1861, the

regiment was not mustered out until October 17th, 1865. Its services

in the army were varied and creditable throughout, and at times

brilliant, and deserved the detailed record of its movements,

hardships, perils and achievements in the history by John C. Fisk

and William H. D. Blake, members of the regiment, which was published

in 1906. It is this well-written history herein epitomized.

The 56th Regiment, first known as the Tenth Legion, was organized in

July, 1861, by Charles H. Van Wyck, with headquarters at Newburgh. It

consisted of ten companies of infantry, one of sharpshooters, two of

artillery and two of cavalry, when it went away, but in Washington

the four latter companies were detached and placed in the artillery

division and cavalry corps. Its camp of rendezvous and instruction

until November 6th was on a sandy plateau by the Hudson River, near

New Windsor. In Washington it was made a part of the Provisional

Brigade, including also the 52nd and 104th Pennsylvania, the 11th

Maine and the 100th New York Regiments. The 56th New York was

commanded by Colonel Charles H. Van Wyck until he was brevetted a

Brigadier General. Companies A, B and E were recruited in Newburgh

by Recruiting Officers Thomas S. Marvel, Charles T. Thayer and

William J. Williams, respectively; Co. C of mounted rifles in

Montgomery by Frederick Decker, and Co. D in Warwick by John J.

Wheeler.

The instructing officer at the New Windsor camp was Charles A. Van

Horne Ellis, of the 71st New York Militia, and he proved to be an

efficient drill-master in regimental and company movements and the

manual of arms, in which officers and men made rapid progress and

became expert before leaving for the seat of war. When the regiment

reached New York General Stuart L. Woodford presented to it a white

silk banner in behalf of a patriotic society called "The Sons of

Orange and Sullivan," and this was carried through the whole war. On

arriving in Washington in November the regiment was sent to Kalorama

Heights, near Georgetown, and tented there about two weeks. The

weather was severe, and many of the men contracted colds, pneumonia

and rheumatism from unaccustomed exposures, which also proved fatal

to some of them. Afterward they camped a few weeks by Rock Creek, in

the suburbs of Georgetown, and in January, 1862, went into the

Carver barracks on Meridian Hill. The brigade, under General Naglee,

had then become one of the best-drilled in the army, and President

Lincoln and family and General Scott and daughter repeatedly came to

Meridian Hill to witness its parade. It was in the grand review of

140,000 men under General McClellan which preceded the movement to

the Peninsula, and on March 26th crossed the Long Bridge in Casey's

division of four brigades, which marched thence to Alexandria, where

on April 1st they started down the Potomac on the steamer

"Constitution" for the Peninsula, reached Hampton Roads in the

evening of April 2nd, and proceeded to Newport News April 3d. On

this last trip the men had their first experience under fire, but the

shells which the rebels shot at them from Sewell's Point fell short.

At Newport News they went into camp on a large plantation, waited for

the rest of the army a few days, and marched with it to Yorktown.

Here the men on picket line were almost constantly under fire, and

all were kept in a fever of excitement by the roar of cannon and

cracks of rifles along the whole line from river to river, day and

night.

The first real baptism of fire experienced by the 56th was on April

16th, when a large force of the enemy came out and fell on the left

of the division near Lee's Mills. The rebels were repulsed, and the

officers commended the men of the regiment for their courage and

steadiness under fire. May 5th they had more fighting experience

after a swift march of the day before to the front of Fort McGruder

in the suburbs of Williamsburgh. Here they took part in a charge on

their enemies with fixed bayonets, which caused the latter to flee in

confusion leaving many dead and wounded and about 600 prisoners. They

remained in line of battle all night, standing in deep mud, and

drenched by a drizzling rain. When, the next afternoon, they were

each given three biscuits of hardtack it was the first food they had

eaten in two days, and ended the first experience of intense gnawing

hunger with the most of them. May 9th they followed the retreating

rebels over roads deep with mud, exchanging shots with them day after

day, sleeping on the ground at night, wading streams waist-deep

sometimes, with little to eat, and much of the time only what they

could jayhawk. May 19th they drove the enemy across the Chickahominy

at a point opposite Richmond, and as all the bridges had been

destroyed, waded the next day across the Oozy river without much

opposition, and waited for the rest of the corps, which followed in

three days, and crossed the river on a bridge which had meanwhile

been constructed for them. During the next three days the regiment

was kept on the move making reconnaissances and scouting, and

scouted to within four miles of the city of Richmond.

May 28th the 56th found itself assigned with Casey's division to a

position on the right of the Williamsburgh turnpike, remained on

picket till sometime after the attack of the 31st and captured a

number of the enemy's skirmishers. Later, when the two lines of

battle were formed, it was placed to support Spratt's battery, but

the battery's captain relieved it and left the division lying on the

ground exposed to the plunging fire of the enemy's artillery, which

killed the men "at a fearful rate." They then formed in the edge of

the woods, and there fought two hours, and Colonel Van Wyck was

wounded in the leg by a piece of shell. The division that day opposed

a force of 30,000, and held the line. Three times the enemy charged

to within reach of their bayonets, and each time was driven back. The

division made one of the most bloody and obstinate fights of the war,

and lost nearly half of its men, but, it was believed, saved the army

of the Potomac from great disaster.

Then to Malvern Hill. On July 1 the division, after a tedious march,

lay down on the hill near a large house, and there all day witnessed

the cannonading of 160 Union guns, expecting every moment to be

ordered to assist in the frequent fierce assaults made by the Army of

Virginia in three divisions, "only to be torn in pieces and hurled

back again to the cover of the woods by the awful storm of shot and

shell and volleys of the infantry supports." But the brigade was not

moved from its reserved position until late in the afternoon, when it

was sent to the southern slope of the hill, and on the 2nd acted as

rear guard of the whole retreating army, being in charge of the

artillery and wagon trains. The enemy's advance attacked it at

Carter's Hill, but was repulsed. The next day breastworks were thrown

up, and the army rested. On July 7th the men were cheered by a visit

and praise from President Lincoln. It was thought that the army would

move forward and capture Richmond, but General McClellan received

orders to withdraw by way of Aquia Creek and attack Richmond from the

Rappahannock. The Chickahominy was crossed October 16 in weather so

hot that large numbers of the officers and men dropped by the wayside

exhausted, and that night when the regiment bivouacked not more than

100 men stacked arms, and hardly an officer except the mounted ones

was with them. Key's corps, including the 56th Regiment, was left at

Yorktown to cover the embarkation. The Peninsula campaign was ended.

General Naglee's brigade remained in and about Yorktown for sometime,

doing picket duty and demolishing earthworks. On December 11 it went

on a raid into Gloucester, Kings and Queens Counties, and brought

back horses, mules, cattle, sheep and fowls. The brigade marched all

night closely followed by the enemy, the 56th doing excellent service

as the rear guard. On December 29th the brigade embarked on steamer

for Morehead City, N. C., and went from there to Newbern, near which

it remained two weeks. On January 8, 1863, orders were read informing

the men of the 56th that their regiment had been attached to the 18th

Corps, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, with General Naglee as division

commander, and Colonel Davis of the 104th Pa. as the brigade

commander. General Naglee, on taking leave, issued an order naming

the important events in the history of the brigade in which it acted

a conspicuous part, and which should be inscribed upon the regimental

banners. The 56th was included in all of them.

General Naglee also characterized the work and behavior of the

brigade in each of the events.

In connection with the preparations to attack Charleston the brigade

went to St. Helena Island and waited there until about April 1st.

Thence to woods near the shore of Edisto Harbor, where monitors and

gunboats lay at anchor, and covered its landing by shelling the

woods. After landing it followed the retreating enemy, and some of

the men were wounded. While in camp here it was several times

attacked in night forays and some of its picket men captured. Here

the 56th was temporarily brigaded with that of General Howell in

General Terry's division, under General Gilmore of the Tenth Corps.

On July 16th, this division, 4,000 strong, was attacked by a

superior force of Georgia troops, but with the aid of the gunboats

they were driven off with a loss of 200 prisoners. Soon afterward the

division went to Folly Island, and here, while the bombardment of

Forts Wagner and Gregg was in progress, the men were engaged in

arduous duties and got but little rest. August 16 they sailed to

Beaufort, S. C., and went into camp, with the regiment sadly reduced

in numbers and many sick. They remained there till September 3, 1864,

with the exception of an expedition to John's Island in July.

In February, 1864, the regiment veteranized,{_sic_} the most of the

men re-enlisting, and was mustered in as a veteran regiment February

29. In March it went north on a furlough and returned May 18,

commanded by Colonel Tyler. During its stay at Beaufort about 400 new

men had been recruited for it by officers sent north. The regiment

went from Beaufort to John's Island, near Charleston, July 1st, and

here became a part of J. P. Hatch's division. On July 4th it had the

most trying march of the year on account of the extreme heat and the

soft sand. Many of the men were sun-struck, and some of them died.

The march was continued the next morning to within seven miles of

Charleston, when, hearing that rebel cavalry were in their rear, they

were ordered back. The next day they started again for the front, and

had to do some fighting. July 9th they were attacked by the rebels in

force in a dense fog. A surprise was intended, but the rebels were

met with volleys of grape and canister, and were twice repulsed. On

July 10th, the regiment went back to Beaufort, and the St. John's

expedition passed into history. It was regarded as the most exciting

and perilous scouting expedition the regiment was ever engaged in,

but its object was accomplished. It remained at Beaufort until

September 3, when it moved over to Morris Island and assisted in the

siege of Charleston. Here the men could see every shot from their

batteries that struck Fort Sumter, and the firing was kept up night

and day. The heat was extreme, the whole island was covered with

shifting sand, which filled eyes, ears and hair, the heavy fogs at

night were like a drenching rain, and all the while they were under

the fire of the rebel forts and batteries, shells from which burst

over their heads; but they had the compensation of seeing their own

shells burst in the city of Charleston.

Many of the men became afflicted with scurvy, and the effective force

of the regiment was reduced to 600 men, one-half of whom were

detailed each day and night for field duty. Otherwise their duties

were severe, and in October the nights became very cold, and, being

without fuel, caused them much suffering. They remained there until

November 27, when they were taken to Boyd's Point, and the next

morning were marched by General Potter toward Honey Hill, where they

were surprised by a concealed rebel battery, and there was a bloody

fight in which the 56th lost fifty men in killed and wounded, and the

division 746, and they were obliged to fall back. On December 3d the

brigade, after a lively skirmish, returned to its old camp, and three

days later went up Broad River to Deveaux Neck, near which it had

many of its men killed and wounded in a severe fight. The next day it

was attacked by a large force, and there was a bloody fight in which

each man fired sixty rounds and the rebels were repulsed, but

resisted stubbornly and retired slowly. In this battle the 56th

encountered the 5th Georgia Regiment, drove it from its position,

captured its colors, and lost twenty-four men in killed and wounded.

The camp was thirty-six miles north of Savannah and seventy from

Charleston. December 23d the news came that General Sherman had

occupied Savannah. On the 29th Colonel Tyler was put in command of

three regiments, including the 56th, and they advanced to ascertain

the strength of the enemy. They encountered his picket line which

resisted but fell back, and killed and wounded seventeen of Tyler's

men. The camp was undisturbed until January 7th, when a rifled gun

began shelling them and kept it up for a week, night and day. This

was not restful, but the camp was so sandy that not more than half

the percussion shells burst, and not a man was injured by them.

January 15th it was discovered that the rebels had left, and our men

pushed on and took possession of Fort Coosawhatchie. Here the rations

were greatly improved by foraging expeditions. On the 17th they were

visited by Generals Sherman and Howard. On the 29th the 56th remained

at the fort while the rest of the brigade left to relieve General

Sherman's forces at Poctaligo. The 56th did not join it until

February 16, and afterward the brigade made a slow march to Ashley

River, across which lay Charleston, arriving there February 28. The

city had been evacuated after the cotton warehouses, quartermasters'

stores, bridges, vessels, etc., had been burnt by order of General

Hardie. March 1st the division started to pursue him, and if possible

prevent him from joining General Johnston's army. It marched several

days without finding any rebels, then was ordered to return and was

back in Charleston on the 9th. This expedition, composed of General

Potter's entire division, had marched ninety miles. It went on March

11th to the village of Mt. Pleasant, near Charleston, and remained

there until April 2nd, when it went to Georgetown. Major Eliphas

Smith being in command of companies A, B, C, D and E of the 56th. A

and B remained in Georgetown as a part of the garrison. C was sent as

guard of a transport up the Santee River, and E and D were attached

to the 157th regiment, and went with it on the "Kingsville

expedition." Kingsville was about 135 miles from Georgetown, and the

rebels had run in there from points on Sherman's march as many as 25

locomotives and 200 cars, with large quantities of stores and

ammunition. After a troublesome march, with some hard fighting, the

expedition reached Kingsville April 10. On the 9th companies B and D

of the 56th had gallantly charged a rebel battery, in the face of a

fusillade, and captured it, but with a loss in killed and wounded of

fifteen men.

[Illustration: G. W. Kern]

The next day news was received of the fall of Petersburgh and the

surrender of General Lee's army. In General Potter's order announcing

it he returned "special thanks to Lieutenant-Colonel Carmichael of

the 157th New York and detachment of the 56th New York for the

skillful and gallant manner in which they carried the enemy's battery

and drove him in confusion from the field."

The locomotives and cars at Kingsville were destroyed, and the

expedition marched back happy to their old camp at Mt. Pleasant. The

fightings and severe hardships were ended at last.

April 14 the men witnessed the raising of the Union flag at Fort

Sumter on the 4th anniversary of its surrender. Soon the regiment was

united again at Summerville, and remained near there until the men

were paid up. It started homeward October 6th, and was disbanded and

mustered out on Hart's Island, New York Harbor, November 10th, but a

number of the men whose terms had expired had been discharged on July

5th.

During its last campaign in South Carolina the distances the regiment

had traversed were about as follows: Beaufort to Morris Island,

seventy miles; to Coosawatchie by way of Honey Hill and Deveaux Neck,

ninety miles; to Charleston, seventy miles; to Santee River and

return, eighty miles; Kingsville raid, 390 miles; to Newberry by way

of Orangeburg and Columbia, 166 miles; to Chester, forty-five miles;

to Charleston by way of Winsboro, Columbia and Florence, 205

miles--all during the regiment's last year of service.

The regiment arrived in New York City October 20, 1865, was quartered

in the Battery barracks until November 9, was paid up and discharged

November 10.

From first to last there were 2,176 men and boys enlisted and

assigned to the 56th regiment.

The incomplete record shows the names of forty-one killed in battle,

twenty-three died of wounds; 216 died of disease; 170 wounded and

recovered; 415 discharged for disability and wounds; sixty-seven

transferred to other commands; five captured and paroled.

Following is a list of the engagements in which the regiment took

part:

Engagements of the Fifty-sixth.

1. Siege of Yorktown, Va., April 15 to May 4, 1862.

2. Lee's Mills, Va., April 28, 1862.

3. Williamsburgh, Va., May 5, 1862.

4. Bottoms and Turkey Island Bridge, Va., May 23, 1862.

5. Savage Station, Va., May 25, 1862.

6. Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862.

7. Seven Days' Battle, June 25 to July 2, 1862.

8. Railroad and Bottoms Bridge, Va., June 28 and 29, 1862.

9. White Oak Swamp Bridge, Va., June 30, 1862.

10. Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862.

11. Carter's Hill, Va., July 2, 1862.

12. Woods' Cross Roads, Va., Dec. 14, 1862.

13. Seabrook Island, S. C., June 18, 1863.

14. Grimball's Landing, S. C., July 16, 1863.

15. Siege of Fort Wagner, S. C., July 18, 1863.

16. Siege of Charleston, S. C., August and September, 1863.

17. Johns Island, S. C., July 1 to 10, 1864.

18. Honey Hill, S. C., Nov. 30, 1864.

19. Coosawhatchie, S. C., Dec. 3, 1864.

20. Boyd's Point, S. C., Dec. 5, 1864.

21. Deveaux Neck, S. C., Dec. 6, 1864.

22. Deveaux Neck, S. C., Dec. 7, 1864.

23. Deveaux Neck, S. C., Dec. 9, 1864.

24. Deveaux Neck, S. C., Dec. 19, 1864.

25. Deveaux Neck, S. C., Dec. 29, 1864.

26. Manningsville, S. C., April 8, 1865.

27. Dingle's Mills, S. C., April 9, 1865.

_REGIMENTAL AND COMPANY OFFICERS._

COLONELS.

Charles H. Van Wyck, and Brig. Gen., U. S. V.

Rockwell Tyler, not mustered.

LIEUTENANT-COLONELS.

James Jordan, to August 5, 1862.

Frederick Decker, not mustered.

John J. Wheeler, to Feb. 11, 1864.

Rockwell Tyler, to muster out and Brevet Colonel.

Eliphas Smith, not mustered.

MAJORS.

Jacob Sharpe, to Aug. 5, 1862.

John J. Wheeler, to Dec. 15, 1862.

Rockwell Tyler, to Feb. 27, 1864.

Eliphas Smith, to Oct. 17, 1865.

James Du Bois, not mustered.

ADJUTANTS.

Eli H. Evans, to Oct. 25, 1863.

Henri B. Loomis, to muster out of regiment.

QUARTERMASTERS.

John B. Gerard, to Sept. 5, 1862.

Jesse F. Schafer. to Oct. 15, 1864, from Co. K.

Addison J. Clements, to muster out of regiment, from Co. F.

SURGEONS.

Solomon Van Etten, to Sept. 28, 1864.

George H. Fossard, Oct. 7, 1864, to July 5, 1865.

Ira S. Bradner, Sept. 19, 1865; not mustered.

ASSISTANT SURGEONS.

O. A. Carrol, Sept. 2, 1861, to May 13, 1863.

Albert S. Turner, Aug. 9, 1862, to Nov. 18, 1863.

Daniel S. Hardenburgh, Nov. 11, 1863, to April 1, 1865.

Ira S. Bradner, April 25, 1863, to muster out of regiment.

George K. Sayer, Brevet 1st Lieut., and Asst. Surg.

HOSPITAL STEWARD.

George K. Sayer, from Oct. 20, 1861, to muster out of regiment.

CHAPLAINS.

Charles Shelling, to Dec. 23, 1862.

George P. Van Wyck, Dec. 30, 1862, to muster out of regiment.

SERGEANT MAJORS.

William N. Phillips, to Jan. 18, 1862.

Demmon S. Decker, Co. F, to Feb. 9, 1862.

Francis Hines, Co. E, to Aug. 8, 1862.

John Metcalf, Co. A, to Dec. 23, 1863.

Francis Might, Co. G, to July 1, 1864.

Robert C. Roper, Co. H, to Jan. 1, 1865.

James Gowdy, Co. C, to May 18, 1865.

Frank Hotchkin, Co. F, to muster out of regiment.

QUARTERMASTER SERGEANTS.

Jesse F. Schafer, original, to Feb. 27, 1862.

Noah D. Smith, Co. H, to muster out of regiment.

COMMISSARY SERGEANTS.

Isaac Rosa, original, to April 12, 1862.

William H. Merphy, Co. K, to Nov. 20, 1864.

William H. D. Blake, Co. C, Nov. 22, 1864, to muster out of

regiment.

REGIMENTAL BAND.

Berger, Albert B. King, Hiram T.

Biddle, John Kirkpatrick, Joseph

Canfield, George Little, James, Jr.

Count, Thomas H. Sloat, Cornelius J.

Cromwell, Charles Stewart, William H.

Depuy, Elias Turner, Joshua B.

Depuy, George Tuthill, Charles

Depuy, Calvin Van Cleft, Theodore H.

Frost, William N. Way, Richard D.

Harding, Elisha C. Welch, Theodore H.

King, George J. Wheat, Robert A.

[Illustration: Temple Hill Monument, New Windsor]

MUSICIANS--DRUM AND FIFE CORPS.

Aber, David, Co. B. Lamoreux, Timothy, Co. F.

Aher, George, Co. B. Mead, John, Co. L.

Baird, Charles, Co. H. Miller, Harman B., Co. A.

Bender, Conrad, Co. D. Miller, Thomas, Co. G.

Bradner, Fred H., Co. F. Nixon, Edward, Co. G.

De Sylvia, Dwight, Co. F. Pitts, Charles V. L., Co. H.

Graham, Nathaniel, Co. L. Reynolds, Newell F., Co. D.

Grannis, James H., Co. H. Robinson, John T., Co. A.

Hamilton, William, Co. B. Robinson, Henry, Co. C.

Howe, Westley, Co. H. Smith, Cornelius. Co. F.

Kennedy, Lewis E., Co. G. Smith, William T., Co. I.

King, Henry, Co. D. Weightman, Charles, Co. E.

Kinsler, George, Co. K. Young, William, Co. F.

RECORD OF FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS--ORIGINAL

Van Wyck, Charles--Age, 37 years. Enrolled at Newburgh, to serve 3

years, and mustered in as Colonel, Sept. 4, 1861; mustered out with

regiment, Oct. 17, 1865, at Charleston, S. C. Commissioned Colonel,

Nov. 13, 1862, with rank from Sept. 4, 1861. Original. Brevet Brig.

General, U. S. V. Brigadier General from Sept. 27, 1865; mustered out

Jan. 15, 1866.

Jourdan, James--Age, 29 years. Enrolled at Brooklyn to serve 3

years, and mustered in as Lieutenant Colonel, Dec. 19, 1861;

discharged, Aug. 5, 1862; prior service as Major 84th Infantry.

Commissioned Lieutenant Colonel, Dec. 20, 1861, with rank from Dec.

19, 1861. Original.

Sharpe, Jacob--Age, 27 years. Enrolled at Newburgh, to serve 3

years, and mustered in as Major, Sept. 3, 1861; discharged Aug. 5,

1862. Commissioned Major, June 28, 1862, with rank from Sept. 6,

1861. Original. Subsequent service in the 156th Regiment, N. Y.

Infantry Vols., as Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel.

Evans, Eli H.--Age, 25 years. Enrolled, July 31, 1861, at Newburgh,

to serve 3 years: mustered in as Adjutant, Sept. 1, 1861;

dishonorably discharged, Oct. 1, 1863; also borne as First Lieutenant

on rolls of Company A. Commissioned First Lieutenant and Adjutant,

Aug. 1, 1862, with rank from Sept. 1, 1861. Original.

Gerard, John C.--Age, 32 years. Enrolled, July 21, 1861, at Newburgh,

to serve 3 years; mustered in as Quartermaster, July 31, 1861;

discharged Sept. 4, 1862. Commissioned First Lieutenant and

Quartermaster, Aug. 7, 1862, with rank from July 31, 1861. Original.

Shelling, Charles--Age, 35 years. Enrolled at Newburgh to serve 3

years, and mustered in as Chaplain, Sept. 16, 1861; discharged, Dec.

23, 1862. Commissioned Chaplain, Aug. 7, 1862, with rank from Sept.

16, 1861. Original.

Van Wyck, George P.--Age, 35 years. Enrolled at Seabrook Island, S. C.

to serve 3 years; mustered in as Chaplain, April 8, 1863: mustered;

out, Oct. 17, 1865, while absent with leave. Commissioned Chaplain,

Dec. 30, 1862, with rank from same date, vice Charles Shelling,

resigned.

Phillips, William N.--Age, 30 years. Enlisted. Sept. 19, 1861, at

Newburgh, to serve 3 years; mustered in as Sergeant Major. Oct. 1,

1861; died of typhoid fever, Jan. 4, 1862, at Warren Hospital,

Washington, D. C.

DISCHARGED.

James Jourdan, Aug. 5, 1862, Lieutenant Colonel.

Jacob Sharpe, Aug. 5, 1862, Major.

Eli H. Evans, Oct. 1, 1863, Adjutant.

John C. Gerard, Sept. 4, 1862, Quartermaster.

Charles Shelling, Dec. 23, 1862, Chaplain.

Frederick Decker, Nov. 23, 1862, Lieutenant Colonel.

John J. Wheeler, Feb. 11, 1864, Lieutenant Colonel.

SURGEONS, ASSISTANT SURGEONS AND HOSPITAL STEWARDS.

Bradner, Ira S.--Enrolled, April 25, 1863, at Hilton Head, S. C, to

serve 3 years; mustered in as Assistant Surgeon, May 12, 1863;

commissioned as Surgeon, Sept. 19, 1865; mustered out with regiment,

Oct. 17, 1865, at Charleston, S. C. Commissioned Assistant Surgeon,

May 4, 1863, with rank from April 25, 1863, _vice_ O. A. Carroll,

promoted in 143d Infantry; Surgeon, Sept. 19, 1865, with rank from

Sept. 19, 1865, _vice_ G. W. Fossard, resigned.

Carroll, Oscar A.--Age, 34 years. Enrolled, Sept. 2, 1861, at

Newburgh, to serve 3 years; mustered in as Assistant Surgeon, Sept.

23, 1861; mustered out May 13, 1863, for promotion to Surgeon, 143d

Infantry. Commissioned Assistant Surgeon, Aug. 7, 1862, with rank

from Sept. 23, 1861. Original.

Fossard, George H.--Age, 25 years. Enrolled, Oct. 7, 1864, at Morris

Island, S. C., to serve 3 years; mustered in as Surgeon, Nov. 5, 1864;

discharged July 5, 1865; prior service as Assistant Surgeon, 146th

Infantry. Commissioned Surgeon, Oct. 7, 1864, with rank from Oct. 7,

1864, _vice_ S. Van Etten, mustered out.

Hardenberg, Daniel S.--Age, 23 years. Enrolled, Nov. 11, 1863, at

Beaufort, S. C, to serve 3 years; mustered in as Assistant Surgeon,

Dec. 11, 1863; discharged, April 1, 1865. Commissioned Assistant

Surgeon, Nov. 13, 1863, with rank from Nov. 11, 1863, _vice_ A. L.

Turner, promoted.

Sayre, George K.--Age, 22 years. Enlisted at Newburgh, to serve 3

years, and mustered in as Hospital Steward, Oct. 20, 1861;

re-enlisted as a veteran, Feb. 24, 1864; mustered out with regiment,

Oct. 17, 1865, at Charleston, S. C.; also borne as Sayer. Brevetted

First Lieutenant and Assistant Surgeon.

Turner, Albert S.--Age, 35 years. Enrolled at Yorktown, Va., to serve

3 years, and mustered in as Assistant Surgeon, Aug. 9, 1862;

discharged, June 30, 1863, for promotion to Surgeon, 103d Infantry.

Commissioned Assistant Surgeon, Aug. 29, 1862, with rank from Aug.

19, 1862.

Van Etten, Solomon--Age, 32 years. Enrolled at Newburgh, to serve 3

years, and mustered in as Surgeon, Sept. 23, 1861; mustered out, Oct.

7, 1864; also borne as Fetterman Van Etten. Commissioned Surgeon,

Sept. 23, 1861, with rank from Aug. 7, 1861. Original.

MEMBERS OF BAND.

Biddle, John--Age, 23 years. Enlisted at Middletown, to serve 3

years, and mustered in as musician in band, Sept. 21, 1861; mustered

out, March 1, 1862, at Washington, D. C.

Canfield, George--Age, 15 years. Enlisted at Middletown, to serve 3

years, and mustered in as musician in band, Sept. 21, 1861; mustered

out, March 1, 1862, at Washington, D. C.

Count, Thomas H.--Age, 35 years. Enlisted at Ellenville, to serve 3

years, and mustered in as musician in band, Sept. 21, 1861; mustered

out, March 1, 1862, at Washington, D. C.

[Illustration: Henry Seacord]

Cromwell, Charles--Age, 27 years. Enlisted at Middletown, to serve 3

years, and mustered in as musician in band, Sept. 21, 1861; mustered

out, March 1, 1862, at Washington, D. C.

Depuy, George--Age, 29 years. Was enrolled Sept. 10, 1861, to serve 3

years, and mustered in as musician in band; discharged, Dec. 6, 1861,

at Washington, D. C., by General Order, No. 91, War Department.

Harding, Elislia C.--Age, 26 years. Enlisted at Middletown, to serve

3 years, and mustered in as band leader, Sept. 21, 1861; mustered

out, March 1, 1862, at Washington, D. C.

King, George J.--Age, 31 years. Enlisted at Middletown, to serve 3

years, and mustered in as musician in band, Sept. 21, 1861; mustered

out, March 1, 1862, at Washington, D. C.

King, Hiram T.--Age, 27 years. Enlisted at Middletown, to serve 3

years, and mustered in as musician in band, Sept. 21, 1861; mustered

out, March 1, 1862, at Washington, D. C.

Kirkpatrick, Joseph--Age, 25 years. Enlisted at Middletown, to serve

3 years, and mustered in as musician in band, Sept. 21, 1861;

mustered out, March 1, 1862, at Washington, D. C. Subsequent service

in the Cavalry.

Little, James, Jr.--Age 24 years. Enlisted at Middletown, to serve 3

years, and mustered in as musician in band, Sept. 21, 1861; mustered

out, March 1, 1862, at Washington, D. C.

Stewart, William H.--Age, 24 years. Enlisted at Middletown, to serve

3 years, and mustered in as musician in band, Nov. 1, 1861; mustered

out, March 1, 1862, at Washington, D. C. Subsequent service in the

Engineer Corps, and Captain in the Regular Army.

Tuthill, Charles--Age, 24 years. Enlisted at Middletown, to serve 3

years, and mustered in as musician in band, Sept. 21, 1861; mustered

out, March 1, 1862, at Washington, D. C.

Van Cleft, Theodore H.--Age, 24 years. Enlisted at Middletown, to

serve 3 years, and mustered in as musician in band, Sept. 21, 1861;

mustered out, March 1, 1862, at Washington, D. C.

Way, Richard D.--Age, 24 years. Enlisted at Middletown, to serve 3

years, and mustered in as musician in band, Sept. 21, 1861;

mustered out, March 1, 1862, at Washington, D. C.

Welch, Theodore H.--Age, 23 years. Enlisted at Middletown, to serve 3

years, and mustered in as musician in band, Sept. 21, 1861; mustered

out, March 1, 1862, at Washington, D. C.

Wheat, Robert A.--Age, 25 years. Enlisted at Middletown, to serve 3

years, and mustered in as musician in band, Sept. 21, 1861; mustered

out, March 1, 1862, at Washington, D. C.

Company A.

Captains--Thomas S. Marvel, Jr., James H. F. Milton, John Metcalf.

First Lieutenants--Thomas B. Pope, Thomas Atwood, John Metcalf,

Robert C. Roper.

Second Lieutenants--Peter B. Steele, Wilbur F. Still, Robert C.

Roper, George R. Black, Daniel R. Franklin, Wilbur F. Still.

Company B.

Captains--Charles F. Thayer, James H. Smith, Norman Perkins, Alfred

W. Loomis, Melville Sears.

First Lieutenants--Effingham Vanderburgh, Alfred W. Lomas, James J.

Cox, Alphonse Richter, Edward H. Lomas, Jeremiah Strickland.

Second Lieutenants--Alfred W. Lomas, James J. Cox, Isaac Roosa,

Alphonse Richter, Algernon Rose, Jesse L. Stivers, Calvin Lambert.

Company D.

Captains--John J. Wheeler, Edward Wheeler, John Connell.

First Lieutenants--Edward Wheeler, Isaac Beckett, William J. Sayre.

Second Lieutenants--Isaac Beckett, John Connell, Robert E. Halstead,

Benjamin F. Clark, William J. Sayre.

Company E.

Captains--William J. Williams, Daniel D. Elting, James J. Cox.

First Lieutenants--Edgar E. Morse, Joseph A. Holmes, John L.

Thompkins, Francis Hines, Meeker G. Bell.

Second Lieutenants--Meeker G. Bell, Francis Hines, Edward J.

Scranton, Clement B. Newkirk.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.

The following brief story of the organization and military career of

the 124th N. Y. V. is condensed from the history of the regiment

prepared by Colonel Charles H. Weygant and published in 1877.

The 124th was distinctively an Orange County regiment, as all its

companies were recruited in the county under President Lincoln's call

of July 1, 1862, for 300,000 three years' men. The day after this

call was issued Governor Morgan made an appeal to the people of New

York urging them to respond promptly to the President's wish and the

country's needs. The State was immediately divided into military

districts and a committee of prominent citizens was appointed for

each, to superintend the work of enlistment and recommend suitable

persons for the officers of the regiments to be raised. Orange and

Sullivan Counties constituted one of these districts, and its

military committee was composed as follows:

Hon. Robert Denniston, Blooming Grove; Hon. Andrew S. Murray, Goshen;

Hugh S. Bull, Montgomery; Albert Post, Newburgh; James M. Barrett,

Cornwall; Alexander Moore, Washingtonville; Morgan Shint, Monroe.

A little later the following were added to the committee: E. A.

Brewster and William Fullerton, Newburgh; C. H. Winfield, Thomas

Edsall and Silas Horton, Goshen; James Cromwell and William Avery,

Cornwall; C. C. McQuoid, Halstead Sweet, John G. Walkin and John

Cummings, Wallkill; Charles J. St. John, John Conkling, Orville J.

Brown and C. M. Lawrence, Port Jervis; C. B. Newkirk, Monroe; A. S.

Dodge, Mount Hope; Dorastus Brown, Greenville; A. F. Schofield,

Montgomery; A. G. Owen, Blooming Grove; John Cowdrey and Thomas

Welling, Warwick.