Official Publication of the St. Lawrence County Historical Association April 1984 THE

Official Publication of the St. Lawrence County Historical Association

VOLUME XXIX APRIL 1984 NO. 2

CONTENTS

Richard Rumrnel From the Editor Jonathan G. Rossie The St. Lawrence and the American Revolution Kathryn Benham War of 1812 in Hopkinton Elizabeth Baxter Closing Scene at Windmill Point Ernest Krag Gettysburg Revisited: Monument to the 60th New York State Volunteers David Dickinson Story of a Gun Donald Brown Donald Brown Memoirs-An Excerpt Varick Chittenden "To Day Papa Has Gone to the War" Edward Reynolds "Russell on the Grasse" (poem) Peter Longshore Medals of Honor of the Civil War Peter Lrmgshore - The Too-Tall General Richard Rummel Women at the Front: Civil War Nurses Judith Ranlett Against the Enemy in St. Lawrence County "Blood is Ankle Deepn-A Madrid ~o~ Writes Home "Over Heren-World War I Photographic Essay on St. Lawrence County ~veretiDona Dress Rehearsal: War Maneuvers of 1940 atwood kanleg A Very Big 3rd of July Thomas Coakleg Vietnam Story: Boys Grow Up to be Soldiers

The Quarterly is published in January, April, July and October Programs of the St. Lawrence County Historical Association each year by the St. Lawrence are made possible in part with public funds from County Historical Association. the New York State Council on the Arts.

Extra copies may be obtained from the History Center, P.O. Box ISSN 0558-1931 8, Canton, N.Y. 13617, at $2.00 Copyright St. Lawrence County Historical Association plus 254 postage and handling. 1984 Editor: Richard L. Rummel Cover: Simon Crowder. 20th New York Cavalry. Pride braces the old soldier. April 1984 From the Editor . . The history of war hostilities in St. retired to Prescott, and the citizens of the war ended. Lawrence County goes back to as early Ogdensburg returned to their homes. The Spanish-American war signaled as 1749 when Father Francois Picquet Hopkinton was also the scene of a new and much larger arena for was commissioned by the French to British-American confrontation during American military involvement. War- establish a fort at the present site of the war of 1812. Although minor in fare on American soil had ended with Ogdensburg to hold the British in comparison to the open hostilities in the Civil War. The 20th century, with check on the St. Lawrence River. The and around Ogdensburg (there was no all its remarkable advances, would fort, named Fort LaPresentation, had a actual warfare), the brave residents of raise the horror of war to unspeakable stockade with five two-pounder can- Hopkinton nevertheless carried out levels. By 1917, with war three years nons. The same year of the fort's con- their duty with equal spirit by hiding old in Europe, an orderly kind of con- struction a party of Mohawk Indians foodstuffs and other valuable material fusion reigned in the county. The surprised the garrison and burned all from the enemy as he passed through National Guard was called and draft the buildings except Father Picquet's the area. The British, knowing of the boards were set up in all the towns. house. During the French, Indian and supplies and intending to confiscate The draft took men ages twenty-one to English war of 1754-1760 several them, uncovered the plot but dealt leni- thirty-one, with 7,652 men registered important engagements took place ently with the conspirators. in the county. At war's end on Novem- near Ogdensburg, the most noteworthy Hostilities flared anew in the county ber 11th. 1918 one hundred and being was the French surrender to a when in 1837 a band of American patriot twenty-four St. Lawrence County men superior British force at Isle Royal. sympathizers, many of them from Og- were listed among the dead. This English victory resulted in the densburg, sided with a disgruntled class America was only thinking about surrender of all French possessions of Canadian reformers in an attempt to war in 1940 - but thinking of it seriously east of the Mississippi River, opening wrestle Canada from British control. enough to choose St. Lawrence County the region to settlement by English After nearly a week of fighting, known as the site for the largest military speaking peoples. as the Battle of the Windmill, the patri- maneuvers ever conducted in North Although very little hostile action ots surrendered, with a loss of five killed America. Two armies, the Blue and the took place in St. Lawrence County dur- and thirteen wounded, were court mar- Black, staged a mock war over one of ing the Revolutionary War, many of its tialed and the leaders hung. Hostilities the rainiest and hot summers in county residents answered the call to duty. On and ill-feeling did not subside until 1840. residents' memory. Thousands of sol- April 1, 1779 Lieutenants McClelland When Fort Sumter was fired upon diers, supplies, horses, tanks and artil- and Hardenburg of the Colonial army and civil war broke out St. Lawrence lery poured into St. Lawrence County were sent from Fort Schuyler with a County residents were quick to answer but what was planned as a serious event force of soldiers and Indians to capture the call. Meetings were held in Ogdens- but what in the soldier's mind was Fort LaPresentation (by that time burg, Depeyster, Gouverneur, Potsdam, somewhat of a vacation. Little could called Fort Oswegatchie). Their plan Canton and other towns for the purpose they - or anyone else, for that matter - was to surprise the garrison, but before of raising volunters. The first company know what lay ahead a year and a half they could reach the fort a number of formed was company A of the sixteenth later at Pearl Harbor. straggling Indians fired shots and N.Y. Volunteer Infantry. Other com- Given the actual length of time a aroused the British garrison. Failing to panies quickly followed: B and F at nation's military is engaged in actual entice the enemy out of the fort, the Potsdam, D at Gouverneur, G at Depey- combat seems but a small part of the American officers withdrew their ster, and H at Stockholm. The 60th total experience of what is termed "the party and returned to Fort Schuyer. N.Y. Volunteer Regiment, whose com- past." A perspective of this sort, of The war of 1812 resulted in many pany A was led by Colonel William course, reduces and simplifies the important events taking place in the Goodrich of Canton, was made up larger question. The history of a nation's county, particularly in and around almost entirely of St. Lawrence County military involvements is really a history Ogdensburg. In June, 1812 President men. It was popularly known as the St. of the profoundest kind - a history of Madison declared war against Great Lawrence County regiment. Other regi- people's hopes, fears, its sense of right, Britain. Six companies were drafted ments that St. Lawrence County gave morality, its ideals. In this light St. by General Brown in the Ogdensburg its young men were the 92nd N.Y. Lawrence County's part in America's section. A battle which lasted three Volunteer Infantry, the 106th, and the existence and growth is certainly hours between the United States 142nd. All in all about 500 men from worthy of study and recognition. As schooner Julia and the British vessel St. Lawrence County enlisted or were this introduction, and the articles that Earl of Moravia took place in July near drafted, many never to return. follow, attest there can be no doubt Morristown. Little damage was done to The last call for military service in that, for whateverreasons, St. Lawrence either vessel, and after dark the British the 19th century came almost at its County people have willingly heeded ship was taken to Brockville while the close when in 1898 the battleship Maine the call to service in the country's Julia proceeded to Ogdensburg. Then blew up in Havana harbor. The conflict cause. From the War of Independence on October 2, 1812 forty British boats with Spain that followed marked Amer- to Vietnam, men and women of the attacked Ogdensburg but were repulsed ica as a growing power in the world. north country have followed what they by the American forces. In February, The war in Cuba, however, was of such thought to be right. There is great his- 1813 a party of about two hundred short duration that St. Lawrence tory in that. Americans crossed the ice from Morris- County was not called upon to any Richard Rummel, Editor town to Brockville to free prisoners great extent. Meetings were held in held captive there. The British were several towns to raise volunteers, but swift to retaliate. Eight hundred troops very few of those who volunteered actu- stormed Ogdensburg, driving away the ally reached the scene of battle. The inhabitants (many went to Depeyster) 40th Separate Company, comprising and ransacking the town. Shortly after members of the National Guard got as this lesson-teaching foray the British far as Greenville, North Carolina when April 1984 The St. Lawrence River and the American Revolution by Jonathan G. Rossie

The St. Lawrence River was not the scene of major military operations dur- ing the American War for Independ- ence. It was, however, of considerable strategic importance since whomever controlled the river held the key to the defense of Canada and the western ports at Niagara, Detroit, and Macki- nac on the Great Lakes. The French regime in Canada had ended when British forces achieved control of the river in 1760. Consequently, following the unsuccessful American campaign in Canada in the fall and winter of 1775-1776, the British command took steps to strengthen its hold on the St. Lawrence. The long stretch of the river from Montreal to Cataraqui (present-day Kingston) was especially vulnerable to attack by American raiding parties intent upon disrupting the flow of mili- tary supplies to the upper posts on the Great Lakes. To meet this threat, British garrisons were strengthened at Fort Oswegatchie and Carleton Island. It was assumed by the British command that British and Loyalist forces sta- tioned at these posts, with the assistance of Indian allies, could not only protect the St. Lawrence line of supply, but also function as staging points for raids against New York frontier settlements. By the spring of 1779 certain devel- opments forces the British to reevalu- ate the adequacy of this defensive arrangement. The dramatic failure of the Burgoyne- A figurative map showing Fort La Presentation in 1749 at the site of present St. Leger campaign in 1777 not only day Ogdensburg. (By Rt. Rev. P.S. Garand, 1927, from The History of the frustrated British efforts to secure con- City of Ogdensburg) trol of the province of New York, it also undermined the confidence of vari- their neutrality. To some degree, how- from frontier settlements in New York ous Indian nations in the power of the ever, this alignment was misleading. and Pennsylvania. Oswegatchie was British army. Of greatest concern was Kinship and tradition still bound the held by a detachment of twenty men the division the British set-back created Iroquois together more strongly than from the 31st Regiment. Since both within the powerful Iroquois Confeder- either the Americans or the British garrisons were small, they depended acy. At the out-set of the war between realized. As a result, the so-called upon Indian scouting parties consisting England and her rebellious colonies, "rebel" Iroquois avoided when possible of mostly Iroquois and Missasaguas to the Iroquois had adopted a neutral posi- hostile action against their pro-British provide early warning of the approach tion and although still technically still kin and vice versa. This ambivalent of enemy parties and to assist in repuls- neutral, by 1778 the Confederacy was attitude by the Iroquois posed a special ing any attack upon either post. Any seriously divided with braves from the threat to the St. Lawrence supply line sense of security that this arrangement various tribes joining either the Ameri- and the two posts, Carleton Island and provided was rudely shattered on the cans or the British. Oswegatchie, which guarded it. evening of April 25, 1779. In general, the Oneidas and Tuscor- At the end of 1778, Carleton Island Years of boring garrison duty had oras had cast their lot with the Ameri- was garrisoned by a detachment of led to lax security and discipline at cans, while the Mohawks, Senecas, and British regulars of the 8th Regiment Fort Oswegatchie and towards evening Cayugas sided with the British. Only and a company of Butler's Rangers, a on the 25th there were a number of the Onondagas remained steadfast in Loyalist corps recruited principally small work parties outside the fort April 1984 when, without warning, they were the loss of Indian lands to American rebel cause. Colonel Campbell of the attacked by a party of thirty-five speculators. He also directly accused Canadian Indian Department, informed Oneida and Tuscorora braves and a the St. Regis tribe of sending delegates of what was happening, sent a detach- detachment of American rangers. In to the Oneida villages on the Mohawk ment of twenty Regulars to seize the the brief fire-fight that ensued, two in November of 1778 to promise support Oneidas. There ensued a pitched battle British soldiers were killed and four of the American cause and then failing in which the Caughnawagas fought to captured before the other members of to report the approach of the Rebel protect the Oneida emissaries. One of the work parties escaped to the safety raiding party in April. the Oneidas was killed, the rest of the fort. After exchanging fire with The chief sacham of the St. Regis, escaped, several soldiers were seriously the fort's garrison, the Rebel party Teherese, admitted that he had recently wounded, and the Caughnawagas were withdrew in the direction of Carleton returned from the Oneida Castle, and, thoroughly outraged by this gross viola- Island where they alarmed the garrison further, that he brought with him a tion of the rules of protection and hos- before returning unscathed to Fort letter from the Marquis de Lafayette pitality that traditionally protected Schuyler (Stanwix) in the Mohawk which called upon all Canadian Indians emissaries. Valley. to return to their former allegiance to At this critical point in the summer of In the overall context of the war this the King of France and give all assist- 1779, as the Canadian Indians were attack might seem a minor affair, but ance to the enemies of England. Having turning against the British, the Ameri- it caused great concern for General made this admission, the sacham con- cans initiated a campaign which irre- Frederick Haldimand, the British com- fessed his error, promised that the vil- vocably turned them back to a firm mander in Canada. Not only would the lage would henceforth support the allegiance with the British. In retalia- laxity of the garrison's commander, British cause, and detailed twenty tion for the raids of the previous year Ensign James Davis, have to be dealt braves to accompany Fraser and act as against the settlements of Wyoming with summarily, but an answer had to scouts to detect any future enemy raid- and Cherry Valley, an expedition be found to the question of how the ing parties. under the command of Generals John rebel force had approached the fort If Fraser thought he had won over Sullivan and James Clinton struck into without detection by the pro-British the St. Regis fully to the British cause, the heart of the Iroquois country in the Indians at Oswegatchie and nearby St. he was soon disillusioned. On June 9th, summer of 1779, laying waste to the vil- Regis. with the St. Regis scouts deployed to lages of the Onondaga, Cayuga, and The Oswegatchie Indians were a detect any enemy movement, more Seneca. The savage destruction by the small band of Cayugas and Onondagas than sixty rebel Iroquois and American American troops as they swept through who had been converted to Catholicism rangers crept to the very walls of Fort the Finger Lakes region sent a shock by the French and removed to the river Oswegatchie, killed two members of wave through the Indian nations. in the 1740's. Similarly, the St. Regis the garrison and carried off another as The Clinton-Sullivan campaign de- were mostly Mohawk converts to prisoner. Two days later, the same stroyed whatever illusions the Indians Catholicism and were also known as party crossed undetected to Carleton might have had concerning their fate if the Oughquissasines, or, as it was Island and took two more prisoners the Americans won the war. The Iro- modernized, the Akwesasne. Since the from the garrison there. quois and their allies now fully commit- influence of the French priests among Captain Fraser was now convinced ted themselves to the British cause and them was still strong, the British that the St. Regis, Oswegatchie, and fell with a furious vengeance upon the authorities had some doubts about probably other supposedly loyal tribes New York and Pennsylvania frontier, their allegiance. were cooperating with the rebel Oneida making 1780 and 1781 the bloodiest In the aftermath of the raid on Fort and Tuscorora raiding parties. Indeed, and most destructive years of the war Oswegatchie, Haldimand and the two Fraser discovered that one of the Oswe- for that region. principal Indian Superintendents, gatchie chiefs, feeling slighted by the The American assault on the Iroquois Daniel Claus of the Six Nations Depart- British troops at Carleton Island, had nation also made life much easier for ment and John Campbell of the Cana- actually sent a request to the Oneidas Captain Fraser and the men charged dian Department, concluded that there for the attack on the two posts and with the responsibility of defending the had been some collusion between the promised the support of the local Indi- St. Lawrence River. Warriors from the supposedly pro-British Indians and the ans. In return, Fraser reported, the villages at Oswegatchie and St. Regis Iroquois in the attacking force. chief had received a certificate of now eagerly volunteered for raids Acting with commendable speed, friendship and protection from the against American settlements, and Haldimand, within two weeks of the American Congress. with their fellow Iroquois from New attack on Oswegatchie, relieved Ensign If Fraser was not totally disillusioned York kept sufficient pressure on the Davis of his command, ordered the concerning the loyalty of the Canadian Americans to preclude any repetition detachment of the 31st garrisoning the Iroquois, he was not alone. In July, of the river raids of 1779. The vital St. fort back to Montreal, and replaced 1779, Col. Claus of the Six Nations Lawrence River supply line was now them with Captain Daniel Robertson Department reported that belts and secure and would remain so for the and a full company of the 84th Regi- messages from French and American duration of the war. Indeed, British ment (Royal Highland Emigrants). In authorities were passing openly among control of Oswegatchie and the sur- addition, he sent the senior deputy of all the Canadian tribes, and there was rounding territory was so secure that the Canadian Indian Department, Cap- every reason to fear that the French they would retain jurisdiction over the tain Alexander Fraser, to ascertain the Canadian population was aiding the area for more than a decade after the loyalty of the Oswegatchie and St. spread of disaffection. Peace Treaty of 1783. Regis Indians and assure their future Indeed, by the end of July, anti- support in detecting and repulsing any British propaganda had spread to the future attacks on the river posts. Caughnawaga village on the very door- Arriving at St. Regis on May 5, step of the British command in Mon- About the Author: Fraser immediately called a formal treal. Six elders of the village returned Jonathan G. Rossie is Vilas Professor of conference at which he warned that from a secret visit to the Oneida Castle History and Government at St. Law- any assistance given to the American and brought with them official emissar- rence University and author of the book cause, direct or indirect, would lead to ies from that tribe to advocate the Politics of Command. April 1984

*- - .- War of 1812 in Hopkinton by Kathryn Benham

In the early dawn of a cold February morning in 1814, the residents of the little village of Hopkinton (St. Lawrence County) suddenly became aware that the war they had at most been indiffer- ent to was, in fact, a reality. A troop of British soldiers had just arrived, and the village was in the hands of the enemy! When Congress in June of 1812 de- clared war on England, the feelings throughout the nation ranged from true hawkish patriotism to opposition bor- dering on treason. New England went so far as to threaten secession, and even on the remote frontier people sometimes worried more about political disunity within than the threat of a foreign power.' Hozise and barn (center and left) of Judge Hopkins which held the flour the On the northern frontier, along the British so desperately wanted. (From Early History of Hopkinton, by St. Lawrence River, the first news of Carlton E. Sanford, 1903) the outbreak of war brought a normal amount of concern. Militia companies al troops from General Dearborn at expedition never got beyond Cornwall. drilled and more men were drafted Plattsburgh, he received an interesting On November 11 the Americans met into local militia units. The greatest reply. Dearborn answered that he could the enemy in a brief skirmish now fear was the imagined threat of Indians. not send any troops; Forsyth should known as the Battle of Chrysler's Farm. The early months of the war were filled evacuate if he felt it necessary to save Wilkinson's force took a heavy loss (102 with rumors that the British were arm- his command. The loss of Ogdensburg dead, 339 wounded), and Wilkinson ing Indian allies to set upon the help- might arouse the American ~pirit!~ gave up the idea of trying to take less settlers. The people at Hopkinton When Ogdensburg did fall in Febru- Montreal. He pulled back across the St. were so concerned that in July they ary 1813, Elisha Risdon, a resident of Lawrence to the blockhouse at French's sent to the arsenal at Russel for 32 Hopkinton, noted the event in his diary Mills.7 Among the wounded was Briga- guns to "defend against Indians." 2 and copied a letter he had received dier General Leonard Covington, who These fears proved unfounded, how- giving an account of the incident. The soon died of his injuries. French's Mills ever, and the immediate excitement letter began with a report of an inquiry in 1817 was renamed Fort Covington soon died down. It was hard for the about the cost of building a barn. The in his honor.8 people of the St. Lawrence Valley to loss of Ogdensburg was only of second- An article in the Boston Weekly Mes- think of the Canadians across the river ary interest to the author!5 senger in January 1814 commented on as enemies. The geographical nature of The village of Hopkinton was thrown the foolishness of the Wilkinson expedi- the area encouraged friently relations more directly into the events of the tion. How could anyone think that less across the St. Lawrence. Poor roads or War of 1812 than it might otherwise than 8000 raw troops could take and lack of roads altogether made overland have been because of its location. The hold on to Montreal and maintain com- travel very difficult, and the rivers overland route for troop and supply munications with the United States in became the main arteries of communi- movements between Plattsburgh and the midle of the winter?g cation and transportation. The Ameri- French's Mills in the east and Ogdens- The raid on Hopkinton in the spring can settlers in the valley developed burg and Sackets Harbor in the west came as an indirect result of Wilkinson's closer contacts with British subjects passed through Hopkinton.6 The vil- failure in November. After the retreat than with their own people in the inter- lagers could not help but notice the to the Mills things grew worse for ior of the state. After the initial panic military personnel and supplies moving Wilkinson's troops. Most of the wounded of the war, life soon resumed as before, through the area. were sent to the hospital in Malone, but including visits across the border. In the spring of 1813, signs began to proper facilities and medical supplies The American army in the North was appear that the war was much closer were not plentiful.1° Intensely cold tem- disturbed about this "fraternising" with than the people probably wanted to peratures followed in December and the enemy. John Lovette, secretary to think. A plan was beginning to take January. Clothing and blankets were General Stephen Van Rensselaer at shape for an invasion of Canada and scarce, and many of the soldiers became Ogdensburg, wrote that ". . . social life the capture of Montreal. Troops and sick. apparently went on as though there supplies flowed through Hopkinton on Finally on February 9, 1814, Wilkin- was no war. The people must rouse the way to Sackets Harbor, the base of son received the order to evacuate. One quickly, or we shall inevitably be operations for the invasion. division, under General Brown, was to crushed."3 When General Forsyth By November of 1813 General Wil- return to Sackets Harbor; the remain- learned of an impending British attack kinson was ready to make his move der, under Wilkinson, was to go to on Ogdensburg and requested addition- down the St. Lawrence, but Wilkinson's Plattsburgh.ll Meanwhile, while Wilkinson was at respected, but all U.S. military supplies the evening, taking most of the men as French's Mills, quantities of food were that could be found were seized and prisoners. The men were all released still being forwarded from Utica and teams and drivers were pressed to on the way back to the Mills, however, Plattsburgh to supply the defunct expe- service to move the provisions to and they soon arrived home again with dition. A last minute attempt was made Chateaugay. no harm done.25 to ship these provisions out before the It is at this point that the events that The villagers at Hopkinton lost most Mills was abandoned. Quantities of are the main interest of this account of their guns, their horses, and some pork, beef, flour, and whiskey had to be occurred. The British had just returned heavy blankets. On the other hand, moved by wagons, a slow process. In to French's Mills from their excursion they were left with a good supply of spite of efforts to avoid it, much of it to Malone when a civilian spy informed flour to last the rest of the winter, and was left behind at Malone, Chateaugay, them of a large amount of flour belong- they had had a little excitement which and Hopkinton. It was recorded that 60 ing to the U.S. army stored in a barn in would provide them with a good story tons of hard biscuits were sunk through Hopkinton with no guard.18 for many years to come. a hole in the ice of the Salmon River to A Major DeHeirne, a Lieutenant Following their one day of war, the keep them from the enemy.12 Charlton, and thirty soldiers were dis- people of Hopkinton soon resumed their There are conflicting accounts of just patched immediately that night in six normal everyday life. In March Elisha how the 287 barrels of flour that were sleighs to Hopkinton, a distance of about Risdon wrote in his diary about the soon to attract the attention of the Brit- 28 miles.Ig They arrived early in the cold weather and the dissatisfaction ish found their way to Judge Hopkins' morning before most of the inhabitants with a new doctor. In April he told of barn in Hopkinton. Artemus Kent, a were up. They awoke Joel Goodell as making maple sugar, and in May of Hopkinton resident, in his journal indi- they passed his house on the way into planting his corn. The only other men- cated that the evacuating soldiers on town. Realizing what was happening, tion of the war in his journal is a brief their way to Sackets Harbor left the Goodell ran across the road to James reference in July to his selling some supplies behind.13 Another account has Thomas' house, where Mike Arquette, cattle to the British! There is no men- it that a party of teamsters, on their a recent deserter from the British army, tion of the American victory at Platts- way to French's Mills from Sackets had just arrived. After being warned burgh in September nor of the eventual Harbor with the flour, received word by Goodell, he grabbed his snowshoes peace agreement.2Qs the war moved to report to the Mills to help remove and gun and went into the woods, out of the immediate area, the people existing supplies to Plattsburgh. They where he remained until the soldiers soon lost what little interest had been left their load behind at Hopkinton and had left.20 stimulated by their brief encounter with proceeded to French's Mills to help the The British posted guards and made the British army. evacuation.14 a search for weapons. A Mr. Thomas The two accounts agree on one point. claimed the British took all the horses NOTES The villagers did not like the idea of and heavy "Indian" blankets they could 1. Carlton E. Sanford. Enr1.1~Histor!! offhr Torcvr of Hopkintan (Boston: Bartlett Press. 1903). p267. having military supplies left in their find. This same Mr. Thomas claimed 2. Ibid.. p266. town with no protection. Artemus Kent that he saved his own horse by covering 3. Glyndon Cole. "Mr. Madison's War along the tells how Mr. Hopkins and others urged him up completely with hay in the St. Lawrence." North Countrj/ Life nnrl York the army to take the flour farther west barn and that this was the only horse Stnte Tradition. Winter 1963, p16. 4. Ibid.. p18. where it would be safer and even offered the British did not take. Mrs. Thomas, 5. Sanford. p268. to transport it themselves. The army apparently as quick witted as her hus- 6. "Rich History Surrounds Hopkins House at insisted on leaving it, however. band, pried loose a board in a floor of Hopkinton." Wntertoic,n Dail!~Times. September The Americans had hardly left the house and hid their gun and Indian 4. 1948. 7. Franklin B. Hough. Histor?! of St. Lnuwnce French's Mills - in fact, some teamsters blankets under the floor.21Another fast nnd Franklin Counties. New York (Albany: Little were still picking up supplies - when thinking resident reportedly saved sev- & Co.. 1853). ~643.645. the British arrived. After securing any eral muskets by slipping them under 8. Ibid.. ~645.501. public property that had been left the crumpled and still warm covers of 9. "Wilkinson's Expedition," Weekl!~Messenger behind, they proceeded in pursuit of the bed he had moments before been (Boston).Januarv 7. 1814. ~3. Wilkinson. The main body of the British sleeping in. Although the troops looked went as far as Chateaugay. Here they under the bed, the guns went un- confiscated beef, pork, flour, and whis- detected.22 14. Hough, p651. key, about 150 to 200 barrels in all. It Major DeHeirne soon discovered the 15. Ibid. is said that they took private property 287 barrels of flour in Judge Hopkins' 16. Ibid. as well as provisiofis left behind by the barn, but he found that they were 17. Ibid.. p508. army.15 Some of the same teamsters unable to transport all the flour and set 18. Ibid., p323. 19. Sanford. p270. who had left the flour at Hopkinton about destroying the balance. The in- 20. Ibid. were said to have been on their way habitants, appalled by the destruction 21. Ibid.. p271. back to the Mills from Plattsburgh for of valuable food, begged the British to 22. Hough, p323. another load when they ran into the stop. They finally agreed and distrib- 23. Sanford. p271. 24. Ibid. British at Chateaugay and were im- uted the remainder among the people, 25. Ibid. mediately made prisoners.16 who seemed to have no qualms about 26. Ibid.. p271-72. One detachment of British advanced taking their own government's property to Malone, where they had learned sup- as a gift from the enemy.23 plies had been abandoned by the Amer- The British apparently conducted icans. Twelve hundred regulars and themselves well, respecting private 400 Canadian militia, under the com- property (except items of obvious mili- mand of Colonel Scott, arrived in tary value) and offering compensation About the Author Malone the evening of February 19, for anything they used or took. Mr. Kathryn Benham is a native of the town posted sentinels at all roads leading Thomas was kept busy all afternoon of Hopkinton. This article appeared in into the village, and proceeded to search shoeing horses for the British. For this the spring issue of York State Tradi- for good~.~IExcept for arms and muni- he was given seven barrels of flour and tions and is reprinted here with permis- tions, private property was generally some silver.24 The detachment left in sion from the author. April 1984

Rtrttlt, c!t' tlrt, LVi~rtlr~rilltrs rc~it~rt~sst~rlcirrrl poirrtorl b!/ Snlntlric~l Ellis. (Photo courtesy of Frederic Remington Art Museum. Closing Scene at Windmill Point by Elizabeth Baxter St. Lawrence County has been home to artists of both modest and great reputation, among them Frederic Remington, Sally James Farnum. Charles Chapman and, as we see in the following account, Salathiel Ellis, whose painting of the Battle of the Windmill as he witnessed it caused the kind of excitement one might expect upon seeing the first photograph or moving picture. The article appeared in the Rural News in March, 1978. and is reprinted here with permission from the author.

A great painting by Salathiel Ellis of view of the battleground, memorable the patriots, of whom 10 were hanged the Battle of Windmill Point was exhib- for the conflict of Tuesday, the 13th of at Fort Henry, Canada, for piracy, 57 ited at Canton on February 7,1839. November, and its finale on the Friday were sent to Van Dieman's Land, a The artist witnessed the battle from following, as it appeared in the evening, British penal colony, four died of the St. Lawrence River shore in the old lit up by the lurid glare emitted from wounds, 72 eventually were released. Village of Ogdensburgh November 12- the buildings consumed on that occa- Salathiel Ellis, besides being a paint- 16. 1838. The site, a mile west of the sion. There is a grandeur and sublimity er and lithographer, also was noted for Canadian terminus of the Ogdensburg- in the picture that all will appreciate his cameos, medals, and bas-reliefs. Prescott Bridge, depicted the conflict who witnessed the reality, which re- Among the latter was one of United in this area of "the patriots" to sever flects much credit upon the artist for States Senator Preston King, of Ogdens- "the Canadas" from Great Britain. fidelity and good taste. burgh, 1806-65. At the time of the Battle Ellis announced, on February 5, in "The expense which Mr. Ellis has of the Windmill, King was a New York the St. Lawrence Republican: incurred in bringing out this interesting State assemblyman. "The painting of the closing scene at piece we hope to see cancelled in part Ellis may have been a native of Og- Windmill Point will be exhibited at the or whole by our citizens, who will felici- densburg. although some sources say Town Hall (in Ogdensburgh) on Wed- tate themselves on so fit an opportunity he was born in Canada and others nesday evening, the 6th. S. Ellis. to extend a fostering hand to native claim it was in New England, possibly "Tickets of admission. 25 cents. to be genius. The picture will afford a rich Vermont. had at the post office, Mr. Gilbert's treat to the lovers of the fine arts." The bas-relief of King, a circular store and the Exchange Hotel. The painting shows the Windmill. medallion, now is at the Remington "The same will be exhibited at Canton built in 1824, the Mill Point, a store, a Art Museum. on Thursday evening, the 7th." schoolhouse, two stone houses, one of In 1839, the local weekly, with pride, At the same time, the newspaper said: them officers' quarters, a wooden build- referred to Ellis as a "native genius." Painting Six by Four Feet ing, the "barn burned on Tuesday p.m.." His painting of the Battle of Windmill "Mr. S. Ellis of this village (Ogdens- the "place where Lieutenant Johnson Point was copied in lithographs, one of burgh) has completed a painting of the fell," three warships in full steam, with which is at the Ogdensburg Public 'Closing Scene at Windmill Point,' which their guns firing, and tophatted specta- Library. he proposes to exhibit at the Town Hall tors lining the Ogdensburgh shore - at ********** on Wednesday evening. least one using a telescope for better About the Author "The painting is upon canvas six feet viewing. Elizabeth Baxter is historian for the by four, and embodies a comprehensive The British on November 16 captured city of Ogdensburg. April 1984 9 Gettysburg Revisited: Monument to the 60th . by Ernest Krag

When I visited the Gettysburg Nation- al Military Park some summers ago my plans were directed to seeing where the 60th St. Lawrence Regiment had fought and the monument that had been dedicated to the regiment. The 60th and its role in the great battle were of particular interest to me be- cause the majority of its soldiers were recruited from St. Lawrence County; and many of the veterans' names are similar to those to be found in Canton and its surroundings today.' The regiment's official name was the 60th New York State Volunteers, but it was known as the St. Lawrence regi- ment.The unit was organized in the late summer and fall of 1861 in Ogdens- burg, out of the 33rd regiment of the New York State Militia with its person- lJrtitrtitr!l I)!/ I.Jtlrc.itt !,'o/.hc,s of' t//o r~,l)r'lrrtttrcli o/r C'ttl/)'.s Hill. 7'/r1, 1rrt:clc nel being recruited from all areas of hortldar. in the rlistcrrrc~rtws tltc n.trc./ior.of thp /.i!l/rt.fln~r/ir!f t/te /i~fhRcgiutrvrt. St. Lawrence County, and it served (Photo courtesy of David Dickinson) with distinction throughout the Civil War until it was mustered out of the directed in the early morning of July 2 tion took place after Gettysburg and service in July of 1865. The regiment's to Culp's Hill. The hill, which was heav- recorded the 60th'~participation in most notable engagement as a part of ily wooded and covered with rock those engagements when the regiment the Army of the Potomac before its ledges, constituted the right flank of served in the Army of the Cumberland involvement in the battle of Gettysburg the Union forces whose line curved and later in the command of General took place at the battle of Antietam on from Culp's Hill around to the principal William T. Sherman on his famous September 17,1862. It was at Antietam, front on Cemetery Ridge with the left march to the sea. the bloodiest one day battle of the war, flank of the front near Round Top. The The ceremonies at the dedication in- that the regiment's commander, Colonel line of the Union forces at Gettysburg cluded the invocation given by Chap- William Goodrich, a resident of Canton had the configuration of a hook or cane. lain Arvine B. Bowdish of the 149th and founder of the St. Lawrence Plain- By 9 o'clock in the morning the 3rd N.Y.S.V., and oration rendered by Gen- dealer.3 was killed at the height of the Brigade had constructed extensive eral Henry A. Barnum, and a historical battle. The 60th fought at Chancellors- breastworks of logs and stones in order sketch presented by Lieut. Edwin A. ville in May of 1863, and at the unsuc- to secure the hill. There then followed a Merritt. The description of the activities cessful resolution of that struggle, ac- series of moves that placed the 3rd recorded in Neul York State at Gettys- companied the Union forces north as Brigade in a precarious position and burg5 also included a poem "Russell on they shadowed Lee on his second inva- which was to make the Brigade's resist- the Grasse", and the summation of re- sion of the north. The Army of Northern ance on Culp's Hill crucial to the out- marks made by General James Long- Virginia under the command of General come of the battle, to the Union cause. street of the Confederate Army who Robert E. Lee, and the Army of the On the morning of the last day of the testified to the importance of the 3rd Potomac led by General George G. battle, July 3rd, the XI1 fought their Brigade's action and cited his admira- Meade, who had replaced General way back to their original positions on tion for General Greene, the brigade's Joseph Hooker on June 28.1863, met at Culp's Hill. The 60th St. Lawrence as commander, whom he had known as a Gettysburg where the famous conflict part of the 3rd Brigade had made its soldier before the Civil War. The was fought from July 1 to July 3,1863. greatest contribution on Culp's Hill address taken together evinced a deep The battle was termed "the highwater- and it was on this site that a monument religious feeling combined with a fer- mark of the Confederacy", and, with was later placed and dedicated to their vent patriotism. the fall of Vicksburg on July 4, was valor. It was with emotion and anticipation considered the turning point of the Shortly before I visited Gettysburg I that I approached Gettysburg now that Civil War. read an account of that dedication, I was soon to see where Lincoln spoke, The 60th played a vital role in the which took place on July 2,1888, twenty- the 60th fought, indeed, the sites of all battle on July 2, the second day of the five years to the day after the 60th'~ the events of those three fateful days engagement. At that time the 60th was ordeal. The granite monument was in- that did so much to shape the country's part of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division scribed on two sides. The front of the future. I soon found sentiment had to (white star)4of the XI1 Corps. The 3rd monument read: 60th New York Infan- wait on more practical concerns. My Brigade which consisted of the 60th, try, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Div. 12th Corps; visits to historical parks had been 78th, 102nd, 137th and 149th Regi- on the reverse, July 2 and 3rd 1863; limited to those that had manageable ments, New York State Volunteers, Killed 11; Wounded 41. Principal En- geographic dimensions. I was not pre- was commanded during the battle by gagements, Antietam, Chancellorsville, pared for distances measured in miles Brigadier-General George S. Greene. Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Ring- and the terrain which demanded some Colonel Abel Godard led the 60th St. gold, Atlanta. athletic effort. It was something of a Lawrence. The regiment had been The last three battles on the inscrip- shock to learn when I inquired at the April 1984

Park Center that there were over 1200 sometimes afterward I concluded in a apparent of the causes of the guide's dif- monuments and markers on the battle- manner we are familiar with, that I ficulties. The photograph had shown ground. should have done that in the first the monument in the middle of a field, Fortunately the National Park Ser- place). I knew the numbers of the other or at least a clearing, and it was sur- vice does have an excellent program to regiments which were part of the 3rd rounded now by high brush and trees. orient the visitor. The most effective Brigade and I decided that if I could After examining the monument I device. I thought, was a large electric find one of their markers or monuments found that there was a barely discern- map that fixed the locations and the I could use it as a base point since the ible path leading from the monument complicated progress of the battle records of the battle indicated the 60th to the summit of Culp's Hill. about as clearly as it could be done, con- was in a line next to units of the XI My first thoughts after I savored the sidering the complexity of the battle Corps. The 60th was the furthest left in satisfaction of finding the monument and the extent of the battlefield. It was the line of the 3rd Brigade's regiments. turned to my ascent of the hill. What a apparent after this demonstration that My luck changed quickly for in less grim prospect it must have been for it was beyond my capabilities to make than five minutes I found a marker a Ewell's Confederates to start up that a meaningful tour without a guide. little off the road that indicated the hill in the withering fire of the 3rd'~ Guides are available and the one that 149th had been situated in that area. Enfields. What tenacity the 3rd must accompanied us in our car was a native So if my calculations were correct the have had to have had, when greatly out- of Gettysburg, a man in his sixties who 60th should have been obliquely up the numbered, they resisted attack after was helpful, well informed, and eager hill. I did not know, however, how attack. After the battle 541 Confederate to answer any question posed. All went much area was occupied by a regiment's dead were found upon the slope. well when, after about two hours of front, and how far I would have to Later when we had left the battlefield observation and lecture, we reached climb through the woods with my prog- I began to think about the monument Culp's Hill which was near the end of ress impeded by the intermittant ledges. and my experiences. It is impossible to the itinerary. I had informed the guide The 60th would be five regiments away say if there are other "lost" monuments of my particular interest of the 60th if the 149th was last in line. The sun at Gettysburg. but certainly no casual and its monument and when we arrived was about to set and it was fairly dark visitor will ever see the 60th'~memorial. we started looking for it. It seemed to in the woods but I was spurred on by It may not have been deliberately be straightforward task since the monu- another marker. Finally after about 15 neglected, but the only reason I could ments were clearly identifiable and minutes of stumbling up the hill I heard see that bushes and trees was the near the road, but after a half hour of my wife calling from the clearing desire to see the hill return to its climbing up and down the road and where I had left my car on the summit. natural state, but the condition of other examining each of the numerous monu- She had begun to wonder if I had be- markers did not seem to sustain that ments it was apparent that the 60th'~ come lost, knowing well that I had no theory. It was also disturbing to observe monument could not be found. Our credentials as a woodsman and nearly that the metal decorations that were on guide was clearly embarrassed and a half-hour had elapsed since I had the monument originally had been re- frustrated; protesting several times started my final search. A moment after moved for some purpose or vandalized. . that this was his first failure to find a I heard her voice I came abruptly upon It seemed to, at least, that there was specific monument. The guide suggest- the 60th'~monument. It was quickly something ignoble about its state. The ed that we return to the Center to see if memories of the 60th'~service and sac- we could secure any information that rifice are not diminished but I believe might help us. their unique symbol merited more At the Center we consulted an official respect. register which had an excellent photo- The reader will find the following graph of the 60th monument with the story of the rifle that the monument's information that it was on Culp's Hill. state and location notwithstanding, the The designated location was not precise respect for the 60th still prevails with a but at least the photograph and the proper reverence for those who served. information did confirm the existence of the 60th and the monument; facts NOTES not to be deprecated, since I suspected 'Richard Eddy. History of thr 6Otlr Rrginl~nt.Nerv by this time the guide had doubts York Stofr Volrortrrrs. (Philadelphia. Pa.. 1864) about their existence and some reserva- pp. 23-38. 'The regiment was sometimes called the "Ogdens- tions about me. It was apparent that burg Regiment", but only Company F was re- the whole affair had become something cruited in Ogdensburg. The majority of the of a point of honor with him and he recruits came from county towns. volunteered to return with us to Culp's Frederick Phisterer, Nrlc I'ork i~rthr Wor of the Rrhrllio~r.2nd ed. (Albany. 1890) p. 420. Hill for another try. We spent another 31bid: pp. 178-179. half hour with no results and I drove lThe badge of the XI1 was a flannel star worn on him back to the Center, my frustration the men's caps, red for the First Division, white tempered by his obvious chagrin. We for the second. William T. Fox. Nrri' York at Grtt!lsOro:g. (Albany. 1900). Vol. I. p. 70. had been at it for nearly four hours and "Ibid: pp. 442-454. the Center was closed and he suggested that if I were to return the following day he would seek assistance for me. I think I would have taken his counsel if my wife had not suggested that I should try one more'time by myself. About the Author We returned to Culp's Hill where I left Titr h'Otlr Re!gi)nc~nt)nonlrpnr)tt crs it Ernest Krag teaches in the Social Sci- my car at the summit and proceeded appeawd in 1910. The pnonument ences department at Canton ATC and via the road to the bottom of the hill. I has silzce been zqandalized. (Photo has had a long time interest in Civil decided on a different approach (which courtesy of David Dickinson) War history. April 1984

It immediately became important to wounded and left the Regiment; he Story of a Gun learn the identity of this John Brown would recover. However, Gettysburg who had carried "my" rifle through the was not the end of the ordeal for John by David Dickinson War. It was a curiously appropriate Brown and his Enfield musket. Trans- name for a soldier in the Civil War! ferred to the Army of the Cumberland, The National Archives answered my John and his fellow soldiers of the 60th It was a mystical moment. With the query with a wealth of information. New York saw new countryside and old musket in hand, I poked among the Miss Clarice Brown of Canton, a niece new conflict. Other battles and skir- leaves and fallen branches. There it of the soldier, also provided much infor- mishes followed, among them Ricggold was, the stone which marked the right mation. John Brown has enlisted with and Lookout Mountain. Tennessee. flank of the 60th Regiment-New York his brother Donald in Ogdensburgh John was on his way to the sea with State Volunteers. Sighting diagonally (sic) on October 23, 1861 for a term of Sherman in the spring of 1864. But for up the hillside, past the granite monu- three years. John was from Pierrepont John the march halted on May 28,1864 ment, I could envision the line of and was about nineteen years of age. near a little town called Dallas, Georgia. trenches and log barricades that stood He was born in Scotland. Off went John A wound in the leg brought Brown there on the second and third days of and his brother on November 4, 1861, back to Nashville. Tennessee, in hospi- July, 1863. After one hundred nineteen undoubtedly by rail, as part of the tal. He remained on sick call through years, I had returned this old Enfield "Ogdensburgh Regiment" officially February of 1865. musket to the site of its most famous known as the 60th Regiment, New On July 17, 1865 John Brown was and perhaps most vigorous use. I stood York State Volunteers Infantry. Action mustered out of the 60th Regiment at on Culp's Hill, the northeast anchor of came their way quick enough: Cedar Alexandria, Virginia. His muster-out the Union line at Gettysburg. I held the Mountain, Second Bull Run, Sulphur roll states that six dollars was "stopped" rifle as if to fire, aimed downhill toward Springs and Antietam. Meatgrinders or deducted from his pay for rifle and Rebel lines. I tried to conjure up the fought with tactics decades old but accoutrements. In this fashion, John excitement, the thrill, the horror of with weapons much more efficient and Brown's rifle came home from the Civil those days when Hell was Gettysburg. deadly. With Antietam behind them, War to St. Lawrence County. Being a I envisioned Brady's photographs of John and his brother went into winter practical man, apparently, John may shattered trees and a hill almost camp. The following summer again have decided that, to be a proper hunt- stripped of brush by the sheer quantity found them trodding the dusty roads of ing rifle, the musket should be short- of shot and shell. I remembered read- war. In the summer of 1863, these ened to allow easy movement through ing of the bodies quilting the slope in roads lead to Gettysburg and to that the wooded foothills of the Adirondacks. patterns unknown to genteel ladies in hill upon which I stood one gray after- Like many a soldier before and after, St. Lawrence County. Rock Creek, at noon one hundred and nineteen years John probably "sporterized" his mus- the base of the hill, had been choked later. ket. Off came eleven inches of barrel with rebel dead and wounded. I could At Gettysburg, John's brother was and many inches of wooden stock. On only read and imagine. This rifle I held went a new front sight. Why he removed probably could remember; its owner the rear sight we'll never know. was at the Battle of Gettysburg. Perhaps it just broke. Conjecture takes I noted mentally, as I first picked it over. up: "Enfield rifle. . . 577 caliber, three After the war, John Brown returned lands and three grooves . . . lock dated to Pierrepont. He bought a farm, the 1862 and marked with England's crown house of which up until recently, was . . . stock a light brown, almost yellow occupied by Millard Hundley. Report- . . . metal gray but sound . . . barrel edly, Brown spent his last years living and stock both cut back several inches in a veteran's hospital in Hampton, . . . military sights removed . . . rear Virginia during the winters. When sight replaced with a lump of lead in green began to cover the hills of St. which a crude "V" notch had been cut Lawrence County, he returned home to . . . blade type front sight fixed near be with familiar folk and scenery. the end of the raw muzzle, not a sight Buried in the cemetery in Pierrepont, to hold a bayonet". As a specimen of a John's grave is marked by a substantial Civil War rifle, it was a piece of junk. I red granite stone. When I visited his bought it anyway. It needed a home grave. I promised myself that someday and tender loving care and so, in 1975, I would return young John Brown's the rifle-musket came to stay with me. musket to Gettysburg, that touchstone Little did I know that it was a special battle of the Civil War. And so it was gun with an identifiable past. that on that day in April of 1982 I Once home and with hurried explana- found myself poking over a wooded tions to my wife, Mary Ann, as to why I hill, gazing up at a large monument needed this old relic, proper cleaning dedicated to the men of the 60th Regi- and oiling began. What had appeared ment. I felt that I somehow had been to be a particularly rusty area near the faithful to the memory of a young breech of the barrel proved to be letters Union soldier from Pierrepont. I had stamped into the metal. "John Brown, brought the rifle full circle. I felt good. Co. D. 60th Regiment, N.Y.S.V." (New York State Volunteers) In an instant, the rifle had a past and a future. Its Thr~rrtithor- posirrfq cc'ith Jehu About the Author past was linked to an unknown soldier Br-ou?n'.s.glcn in frorrt of the 6otl1 David Dickinson is a native of Lisbon named John Brown. Its future was to Nezc York monument at Gettys- who presently lives in Newfane, New return to Gettysburg with me in April burg. The view behind shows Culp's York. He has an MA in history from of 1982. Hill. (Photo courtesy of the author) SUNY Binghamton. 12 April 1984 Donald Brown Memoirs: An Excerpt by Donald Brown 1 In the summer of 1859 a lad from Scotland landed at New York and found his way to Pierrepont. Barely understanding what his adopted land was about, he enlisted in the Civil War in 1861, Cmpany D, 60th New York State Volunteers. His daughter, who presently lives in Canton, thinks he was just the adventuresome type, always ready for a little excitement. Following the war he dictated to a daughter his Civil War experience. The patriotism and glory of the time is captured in h,is opening lines: "We embarked at Albany. with light hearts-a thousand strong. Fathers, fond mothers, and sweethearts followed their loved ones thither, while banners waved, heavy drum rolled, and tears fell fast." Here, from his final chapter, Donald Brown describes the horror he had come to at last-Gettysburg.

CHAPTER VIII us back. his men to scale the breastworks in the Flushed with their late victory, the However, we increased our shots to face of our musketry, fell, sword in rebels now seemed determined to get such an extent that they began to fall hand. Many, throwing up their hands, us out of Virginia. We learned that they back in dismay, leaving the ground tried to surrender but were shot down were assembling with force powerful strewn with their dead and dying. En- in the confusion. enough to sweep us from the face of the couraged by this, we kept up a continu- In the face of death, hundreds of earth. ous firing until they were out of sight. rebels now leaped the breastworks and So, again we fell in line, marching Then, in spite of the oncoming dusk, cut their way through, only to be met our way this time straight into the those determined ranks approached by the bayonet points of the second line memorable Battle of Gettysburg. This again. How well I remember it! Slowly of battle, where they were forced to battle, as my readers know, was the they came and with great caution, but surrender. turning point in the great campaign. also with a sullen determination to con- An order now came along the line for But we did not know when we started quer or die. volunteers to bring in our men who had out. nor did Abraham Lincoln himself Now, some fresh troops came in on fallen on the picket line. The moon was who now reviewed our troops again, our right and opened on the approach- still behind the clouds when we quietly riding past, covered with dust and suf- ing foe the deadliest fire I ever wit- slipped through among the dead, but fering with heat, that the God of Abra- nessed. A rebel grasped our flag and we were obliged to keep a sharp look- ham of old was going to crown his received at the same moment a bayonet out ahead, for the rebel sharpshooters army with victory at last. through his body. A rebel officer, urging were not far distant and would open For the second time during the war. the rebel army now attempted to march North but that great invasion was neat- ly checked by our Union army. We had reached a heavy growth of timber where we built up a temporary breastwork and remained for the night. In the morning we could see the rebel pickets at our left. Groups of cavalry started to march through the field. reviewing our line. One of our batteries was immediately opened on them, send- ing them flying in all directions; but before long, our pickets were driven in, which we knew meant business. We prepared ourselves, reserving our fire, until the long grey columns came in sight. Then, the work of death was recommenced in earnest. Volley after volley we poured into their staggering ranks, but on they came. A cross fire was now opened from an angle further to the right. They seemed determined to break that wing, but we were equally determined that they should not. They brought their old frightful yell into requisition but it failed this time to make any impression on our ranks. So, for a time, they staggered back under cover of the forest but only to reappear in greater number. Again, shot and shell poured into both armies with determination, and I feared for a time in spite of the good start we had made Donald Brouw, about 1880. (Photo courtesy of Clarisa Brown. that the enemy would succeed in driving the author's daughter) April 1984 13

Grnjld Arm!/ of the Republic 50th reunion at Gettysburg. 191.7. The 60th regiment 1c'cr.s collerl tllr St. Lawrence reginlent. (Photo courtesy of SLCHA archives)

fire every now and then with a heavy I laid my rifle on the edge of the breast- Sergeant Clark on my left and slap! storm of lead. works and peered over. Near enough to went another through the hand of Com- As I moved along silently behind the cut my throat with a jack knife, had he rade Bullock, beside me. trees, I observed a dark form just seen me, stood a rebel. In a flash, I I was now left alone in this particular ahead of me. Suddenly this form stooped, drew my rifle on him, at the same time spot in the breastworks. It is difficult glancing stealthily towards our line. bidding him surrender. In a dazed for a private soldier to conjecture He arose, moved on a pace, and stooped manner, he raised his hands, exclaim- whether victory or defeat is to be a again. ing, "My God, am I in the hands of the battle's outcome. So, weary and worn, I I cocked my rifle and coming up enemy?" dropped my head in my hand and leaned behind him asked, "What are you As soon as it was light enough, the against the breastworks in the hope of doing?" rebel sharpshooters opened the "ball." gaining a moment's respite. But I had Taken by surprise, the big burly Some were in the tree tops, some behind no sooner taken this position than a rebel muttered that he was giving one trees, while others hid behind the dead ball crashed through the wrist on which of our soldiers a drink of water. Instead bodies that lay scattered about. Fight- my chin was resting. Passing length- of performing this kind act, he was ing now opened in many sections of the wise through the hand, it came out quite obviously robbing the dead. field. between my fingers, taking the tops of Levelling my rifle on him, I told him Sheltering ourselves as best we could, two of them with it. to put for the breastworks, which he we sent forth a volley of lead. Captain As the blood commenced to flow free- did, with a growl. When halfway there, Stanley, who was almost behind me, ly, I now left my rifle for the first time we were fired on by my confederates in was in the act of handing me a car- in my three years' service. the darkness, but I bade them cease tridge, when a bullet, grazing my face, The ground in our rear was higher and succeeded in getting my prisoner cut his throat. He did not bleed exter- than the breastworks, hence no one in, whom I handed over to Captain nally but when I looked at him, I knew could go out unseen by the foe. With a Stanley. At the Captain's order, I now from his eyes that he would die. He shower of bullets at my heels, however, lay down to get some rest. tried to rise, only to topple over, dead. I reached a place of shelter where by When I awakened from a short sleep, Slap! went a bullet through the body of reason of extreme fatigue, loss of blood, April 1984 and an empty stomach, I fell fainting Christmas came while I was here, I often saw President Lincoln, his to the ground. and the good women of Philadelphia wife and little son, while I was in When I came to, another wounded did not forget us. Our tables were Washington. In spite of his immense man gave me a mouthful of water which loaded down with turkeys and all good worry, the president now appeared to helped to revive me, so we staggered things to eat. We had a large reading be always in good spirits. down the road together, in search of room where every afternoon the ladies Rumors now reached Washington the field hospital, a farmhouse just out entertained the soldiers who were able that General Early was crossing the of reach of the enemy's guns. to be about. We also had a fine library, Potomac, with the intention of seizing The grounds around the house were furnished with all kinds of books. the Capitol, so all possible preparations covered with large tents and ampu- There was, of course, a great deal of were made to give him a hearty recep- tating tables. A row of dead for whom suffering among the boys. Gangrene tion. All available men received long amputation had proved too much, lay set in and carried away many who had muskets and having marched to Fort side by side and near them two heaps been doing well, and typhoid fever took Stephens, were placed in breastworks of amputated limbs. its toll. on the left hand of the fort. Farmers Upon finding some of the boys of my The bed next to mine was occupied began to leave their homes, hurrying own Company who showed me their by a sergeant. a very powerful fellow, through the field, loaded down with place of rest. I gladly entered their who had been shot in the throat. One children and household goods. large tent and lay down. night, having taken his medicine as Soon, now, the enemy appeared on Ladies came with their servants, usual, he lay down and went to sleep at the ridges. Our heavy guns were opened bearing us baskets of linen and did all once. on them. After a while, we got range in their power to alleviate our suffering. The lights were always turned low at on a large house about three quarters One kind lady begged me to let her put nine o'clock. I must have been sleeping of a mile in front, where the rebel sharp- a clean bandage on my hand and wrist myself for a couple of hours, when I shooters were at work, and smashing but as soon as the condition of it was was suddenly awakened. The sergeant, in the gable ends, soon drove the enemy exposed to view. she fainted. with a sheet from his bed wrapped out. During this scrimmage, the presi- Later, I bound my hand in a sling as around his shoulders, stood over me. In dent who was inside the fort came near best I could and slipped back to the a subdued voice, he said, "Follow me!" being shot by a musket ball. battlefield. The rebel army was now I did so as far as the head of the ward Orders now came for all those who marching south, leaving the highway where we paused in the dim light. He could handle a musket to leap the strewn with wagons, cannons and now assured me that I had been in breastworks and march out to meet the wounded men. Thousands of our boys great danger. "For," said he, "there are rebels who were advancing from all in blue had fallen too, never to know four men under my bed and they are directions on the fort. that this great Battle of Gettysburg in laying a plan to kill us both". Of course, Somehow, we managed to keep them which they gave their lives would be I knew at once that he was delirious, so at bay until the carbines of our dis- our victory. I coaxed him back to bed, telling him mounted cavalrymen relieved us, but I rejoiced in having been able to take that I would stand guard. When he had we lost a great many men in this my part in it and now as I bade goodbye straightened himself out on his bed, I battle. In fact, those of us who survived to the boys of my Company who were felt his pulse and found it still. He was it had some very "close calls." But the marching out and away, my heart was dead. enemy was driven back and the victory heavy, for this was the first time that I The man in the bed on the other side was ours. had ever been separated from my regi- of mine was a one-armed man who was When morning came, since there was ment and Company since we had left subject to horrid nightmares. He would not a living rebel in sight, we were Ogdensburg. dream that he was in his tent and could ordered back to the city, to our old I was thankful when my name was hear footsteps approaching. The door headquarters. called with others, to go to Philadelphia of the tent would be cautiously drawn Thus it was in defense of Washington where we could get proper treatment. aside and the devil would appear, seize that I fought my last battle in the for my hand had become most painful him by the feet, drag him out, and Great Rebellion. Now, my three years and was swollen to a frightful size. stamp the breath out of him. During of service were drawing to a close and The long train for Philadelphia was all this time, he would lie with his eyes after a good dose of fever and ague, I soon filled and on its way. We reached wide open, unable to move as much as received my honorable discharge. Then. Baltimore in the night and found the a finger. He used to beg me, if I should with a free transportation ticket in my streets lined with people, bearing bas- ever find him suffering thus, to drag pocket, I turned my back upon the kets full of every good thing to eat. him out of bed. South. With their linen bandages too, they did Being very young, I soon regained So end my reminiscences of the great their best to relieve the suffering. my general good health, but the condi- war. If I have omitted many interesting Again we s'topped at Wilmington, tion of my hand forced me to remain in features, I beg my readers to remember Delaware, where we were given the the hospital until the following spring. that what I have written is entirely most loyal reception imaginable. An When examination day came, I was pro- from memory after a lapse of many immense crowd, young and old, begged nounced not fit for active service and years. us to partake of their food and wine. was turned over to the Invalid Corps. The train moved off amid the cheers of I was armed now with a sword which our boys for the people of Wilmington. we called a "toad stabber" and was sent At last we entered the city of Phila- in a short while to Washington where I YEAR-ROUND GIFT delphia where we were conveyed by was consigned to light duty. Here we Membership in S.L.C.H.A. ambulance from the train to a hospital. patrolled the city and guarded the ac- Here three thousand of us were distrib- queduct bridge that spans the Potomac. uted throughout the wards. While on guard one night, I heard a By this time my hand was getting voice calling from the middle of the black and my whole arm pained me river, "Help! Help!" I knew well what greatly so I was glad when my time that meant. Some poor deserter going came for an operation. down to a watery grave. April 1984

To Day Papa has Gone to the War

Edited by Varick Chittenden

In the fall of 1861, when lawyer Wil- liam B. Goodrich, aged 39, of Canton joined the 60th Infantry, New York State Volunteers, and took command of Company A of its 60th Regiment, he was soon to distinguish himself as a soldier and a leader. Like every other young man going to war, he left behind a family worried about his safety and anxious for his return. While the glories and horrors of men at battle have been much described in print, we are far less likely to read about the life back home, especially that of the children of the soldiers and officers, who must have been mystified at all the confusion and disruption in their own lives. Just how did they react to these times of national trouble? What follows is a rare expression of a Civil War - period child's view when "Papa has gone to the War." Seven- year-old Stella M. Goodrich began her diary on the day her father left. By sel- ecting entries (recorded here with some punctuation added for clarity but otherwise as written) from the first four months - the remaining small books in a child's inexact pencilled handwriting are apparently missing - we can understand both the sense of fear and lonesomeness we would expect and the real sense of distance this small girl felt from it all. Rarely does she refer to soldiers, never to the vio- lence and bloodshed of the war effort. She is even allowed to visit her father's military camp in Baltimore, as a child today would be treated to a trip to "the Colonel William Goodrich of Canton, commander of Company A, 60th office" and lunch. More often she writes Regiment. He would he killed at Antietam within a year of daughter Stella's of school and spelling "bees." piano diary entry of "papa"going offto the war. lessons and parties, her big sister's dresses and "sparking," and a variety who later became one of the County's good Papa. How we shall miss him. of childhood interests. Of course, we most distinguished citizens; Rollin C. November 4 don't know what she had to say as her Gale, adjutant; Lyman M. Shedd, a I was sick all night so I could not sleep father left for battle or of his injuries second lieutenant who apparently was much. The Dr. has been here again to and death at Antietam on September Goodrich's personal aide; and Richard night. Mr. Eddy has been here to night 17, 1862. Eddy of Canton, described as a "Uni- to bid us good bye. Her daily observations mention sev- versalist Preacher" in the 1860 census. November 6 eral people who were from St. Lawrence and the chaplain of the regiment. Eddy, We got a letter from Papa and we County: Col. Abel Goddard of Richville, aged 32 at the time of the diary, and are glad to here from him. later a very prominent businessman; his wife Sarah, 30, were apparently November 7 Lester Wilson, who actually joined the very close friends of the Goodrich I wrote to Papa today. Mrs. Gurley Army in October 1862, after Goodrich's family. has got a baby and I have been over to death, and later became a colonel; November 1,1861 see it. Edwin A. Merritt of Potsdam, accord- To day my papa has gone to the War November 9 ing to Everts the quartermaster, but and I am sick with the croup. Dear I have been to see Ellen about my 16 April 1984

day. He had not got three we had writ- sied of it. What a good Papa I have got ten to him. I had perfect lessons. Not and what a good letter Papa writes me. whispered today. December 6 November 13 Mama has gone up to the college and Mama wrote to Papa to day. I got I have been writing to Papa and Mary above three boys to day in my spelling is writing to her sister Clary. class. December 16 November 14 We sent the letter to Papa to day. We got anothe(r) letter from Papa to Mrs. Eddy has been here to day and day and I have got a new slate and she said that she had got a letter from pencil and it cost a shilling. Mr. Eddy and thay are going to winter November 20 there and that Mrs. Eddy and her chil- It is time to go to bed but I thought I dren and Mama and me come there too. would write a few lines in my book December 20 before I went to bed. We got a letter I got a letter from Papa to day and from Papa to day and he said he had he said that we might come there if we got the first letter I had wrote to him. wanted to. Gorge Boman is here this November 22 evning as he dose every week and Jennie I got a letter from Papa again to day and he are in the parlor sparking. and it was written all to me and it was December 25 good as it could be and I have got the Last night was Christmas and we all best papa in the world. got something and I got a gold ring The young author. November 23 from old Sanda Claus. Aunt Laura was (Photo recent gift to the SLCHA) I begun to write to Papa to day the here and I has glad to see her. way Mama does. Uncle Gustus has December 27 mu-sic and I have been down town and been here this evening to here me play Jennie has gone to the dance to night got a nice new hood. It was a nice little on the piano and he thought I played on and she wore her white dress. vail to put over my face in the cold the piano very nicely. In five days more January 3,1862 weather. It is just a week today since will be Thanksgeving. I hope it will . . . Mother and Katy are beginning Papa went a way. snow so we can have some slaing and to get ready to go to Baltimore. I am November 10 have a real nice time. glad I am going but I hate to leave I wish I could see Papa. It is so November 25 Mary and all of them. lonsome here without him here. I hope I sent my letter to Papa to day by January 4 we will get a letter from him by to Mr. Merrit and I wish I could go with it. . . . Lester Willson was here to night morrow. December 4 and he said he wish he was going with Novermber 12 I got a nice long letter from Papa to us to Baltimore. I wish he could go We got another letter from Papa to day and he directed it to me on the out with us too. January 7 We are on the cars for Baltimore. We left home at noon and passed through Watertown. January 8 We stayed in Rome all night last night and to night we are in New York with Mrs. Eddys sister. January 10 I saw Papa to day. I was real glad to see him and he was glad to see me too. Mrs. Eddy has gone over to her new house to night. January 11 Papa and Mama and my self went to Mr. Eddys this morning and we are going to live here the rest of the time I stay here. January 13 I wrote to brother Davis to day. Papa went to camp again to day. Sissy Eddy and me have strung some beads to day and freddy Eddy has begun to go to school to day too. January 15 Papa did not come up to the house to day. I want to see him ever so much. February 3 It snowed all day to day. Papa went to washington to day too. I heard the slay bells to day and it sound real good. February 4 Stella Goodrich's diary (4% x 2%). dated November 1st. 1861. (Recent gift to Papa got back from washington to the SLCHA) day but he did not come up to the house. April 1984

February 6 Papa and stayed all day. Lyman came children (all but benny) and myself went Before I got up this morning I heard home with me and he walked back. I to the hall and the band played and the band play in the night and I had a real nice time. Martha and me they sung they stamped their feet and hop(p)ed out of bed and looked out of got some valentines to night. clapped thier hands and they waved the window and I wanted to dance it February 15 thier handkerchiefs. They hurraid for sound so pirty that I wanted to dance. Martha and me sent some valentines the union and groaned for Jeff Davis. It was the first time that I had heard to the little Masons boys. I went in the February 26 the band since I have been here. evening and lade them on the doorstep To night we came home in the rain. February 8 and rung the door bell and ran away. We walked all the way from the depot. Today is Mamas birthday and Mrs. February 19 We took supper to night in Capt Eddy and Mr. and Mrs. Mason and Papa came home to night to go to the Godards quarters and it was just as Mama went to camp.. . theater with Mama. I am going to stay nice as it could be. February 10 to Mrs. Masons to night. March 6 Mama and me went to see George February 21 I am going to a party to night and I Washington monument and went all a We have been to camp to day. We am going out with Mama this morning round it and Mrs. Eddy and Mama took dinner with Mrs. Gale. We saw to try to find me a new hoop skirt. went to George Washington again this the soldiers drill and fire thier guns. afternoon. The cars did not stop for us and we had February 11 to come home in the evning. Lyman brought me a slate that Papa February 22 sent me. It is a real nice one. Sissy and Today is George Washingtons birth- me can writes on it to gather. day and the stars and Strips are waving Varick Chittenden is professor of February 14 over the city. Mr. Masons little boys English at Canton ATC and former edi- I went to camp this morning with and his girl and Mr. Eddy and all his tor of The Quarterl!j.

Russell on the Grasse by Edward Reynolds

The 60th New York State Volunteers was made up of many soldiers from Russell on th.e Grasse, Edward Reynolds being one of them. Reynolds served at Gettysburg as a mounted orderly to General Slocum, and in the course of his studies was on Culp's Hill, where a boyhood friend, Sergeant William W. Clark, of the 60th, lay mortally wounded. (Reprinted from New York at Gettysburg)

A soldier of the sixtieth lay dying on "Tell my brothers when they gather "In coming years, when you relate the Culp's Hill: round, the story of to-day- story of 'the war',- There was lack of tender nursing, there How gallant Green's 'New York Of the days when 'millions marched to was dearth of surgeon's skill; Brigade' held Ewell's hosts at bay beat of drum and cannon's jar',- For the battle hot was raging, and each And tell them that 'twas at the point You can truly say the sons of old St. moment added one where foemen turned and fled Lawrence were as bold To the thousands that lay dying in the That their brother 'Bill' was found, As the boldest of their comrades-brave hot midsummer's sun. among a score of Rebel dead. as bravest knights of old. A comrade, fighting near him, bent to Tell my sister not to weap for me, nor And of all the gallant regiments that hear what he might say- grieve that o'er my tomb. faced the 'fire of death', To receive his latest message to the No roses planted by her hand, nor None faced it with a firmer front than dear ones far away. violets may bloom; did the Sixtieth; The dying soldier faltered: "Ned, I'll And tell her if she's true and good her And, 'mid the bravest of the brave, were never more, alas! soul at death shall pass none who could surpass See my home and friends in Russell- To a happier home than Russell- In courage men from Russell-loyal dear old "Russell on the Grasse!" happy 'Russell on the Grasse' 'Russell on the Grasse'. "If you're among the lucky ones who, "There's another-not a sister-you will He paused-the comrade lower bent to when the war is o'er, know her when she speaks hear his latest word; Returning home in triumph, hear the By the music in her voice and by Roses The swelling roar of battle was the only 'High Falls' greeting roar, on her cheeks- sound he heard; And see the sister's sunny smile and But no-; her voice will lose its ring, The wounded heart had ceased to beat, mother's gleam of joy, the roses take to flight, the spark of life had fled; When the one beholds her brother, and When she reads my name tomorrow in Another happy home was filled with the other clasps her boy; the death-roll of the fight. sorrow for the dead; If, with trembling voice a maiden asks Last night, in a dream, I stood within One more recruit was mustered in to about her brother 'Will' a church, and by my side, swell the length'ning train, You can tell her that you saw him fall Her hand confiding in mine, she stood Of "troops en route from Gettysburg on Culp's foe-girded Hill. my queen bride: to Heaven's peaceful plain" And tell her, too-'twill soothe her grief A happy dream! but oh! 'twill never, And none who knew him doubts that -how traitors fled en masse. never come to pass! good St. Peter let him pass; When they met with men from Russell We shall meet no more in Russell- And showed him where the boys were and the towns along the Grasse. peaceful 'Russell on the Grasse'. camped from 'Russell on the Grasse.' 18 April 1984 Medals of Honor of the Civil War by Peter Longshore The Medal of Honor, the country's most cherished mark of esteem, was created for the Navy December 21, 1861. The Army Medal of Honor was established six months later. These early Medals of Honor, when given, were done so by the President of the United States or by the Secretary of War. President Theodore Roosevelt, by ex- ecutive order, on Sept. 20, 1905, pro- vided that the presentation of a Medal of Honor always be made with "formal and impressive ceremony". Presidential instructions read: "the recipient of a Medal of Honor will, whenever practi- cable, be ordered to Washington and the presentation made by the Presi- dent". Most of the St. Lawrence County men so honored won their medals for the capture of confederate colors. The most cherished item of a regi- ment is their flag, (colors), which is presented to them with great pomp and ceremony and which they are sworn to defend with their lives. Now just imagine that this prize is in the center of about 600 men, armed to the teeth with cannon, swords, muskets, pistols, bayonets, and knives and you are going to try to capture it. Thomas Wells of DeKalb captured two stands of colors! The eleven men listed represent only a fraction of the brave soldiers of this county. Many men left St. Lawrence County never to return, and many more lay in unmarked graves from Canton to Appomattox. It is sad to know that not one of these men has a marker to denote the award of the Medal of Honor, yet each of them is entitled to a special marker denoting that he has earned the nation's highest service award, the Medal of Honor. The Army Medal of Honor adopted 1862-1896. JAMES ALLEN CHARLES HOUGHTON THOMAS M. WELLS Pvt., 16th N.Y. Infantry 14th N.Y. Artillery Chief Bugler, 6th N.Y. Cavalry "Gallantry in Action" "Gallantlyrepelled a confederate assault "Captured two Confederate Colors" on his position" DAYTON P. CLARKE 2nd Volunteer Infantry FALLET JOHNSON Editor's Note: Mr. Longshore's research "Gallantry in Action while command- Corp., 60th N.Y. Volunteers has found that a twelfth Medal of Honor ing 2nd Vol. Inf." "Voluntarily exposed himself to divert recipient from the County was Michael fire of a Confederate sharpshooter who Valente, of Ogdensburg, a private in NEWTON MARTIN CURTIS had been doing great damage to Union the 107th Infantry, 27th Division in Col., 16th N.Y. Volunteers forces" World War I. Valente was cited for "Gallantry in Action, he being the first JOHN MOFFIT "Gallantry in Action, France 1918, "vol- man to pass through the stockage at Fort untarily exposed himself to great fire Fischer " Pvt., 16th N.Y. Volunteers "Gallantry in carrying and defending removing wounded soldiers." JOHN GILMORE the colors" Maj., 16th N.Y. Volunteers JOHN T. RUTHERFORD "Gallantry in Action" Lieut., 9th N.Y. Cavalry FRANCIS HALL "Captured two Superior Forces" About the Author Chaplain, 16th N.Y. Volunteers WILLIAM WALLING Peter Longshore is a native of St. Law- "Gallantry in administering his holy Lieut., 142nd. Regiment rence County and has spent much of duties on the Battlefield" "Captureof Confederate Colors" his life researching military history. April 1984 19 The Too-Tall General by Peter Longshore

Newton Martin Curtis of Depeyster became the county's most prominent Civil War soldier, receiving the Medal of Honor for his daring-some believed foolhardy-assaults upon Fort Fisher. Disregarding orders to retreat, Curtis, then a Colonel, led four assaults against the rebel defenders of the fort before finally overcoming the resistance. Various accounts of his war service indicate that he seemed to face death defiantly. The exploit most often connected A. Davies was promoted to be Briga- to the general's quarters to hear with General Newton Martin Curtis dier-General United States Volunteers. moderately loud conversation, were was the assault and capture of Fort Curtis tells of an overheard remark silenced by a remark from the general: Fisher, a strong seacoast fortication in which may have planted some subcon- 'Did you see Captain Curtis who just North Carolina. Curtis, a colonel at this scious inclination toward heroism: left here? I want to tell you that he will time, proved himself an extraordinary "The officers called on the general in be of no use in an active campaign; all soldier by leading four assaults on the the evening to express their con- the time and money spent on him has fort after being ordered to retreat. He gratulations, and to thank him for his been thrown away.' Someone said that received four wounds during the care in qualifying then to discharge the they had never heard him speak course of the day, the last and most duties of their new profession . . . unkindly of Captain Curtis. 'O!' said he, severe took his left eye. Leaving his quarters, I passed a 'Curtis is well enough as a man and an Acts of gallantry were not uncommon number going in, and met another officer, in camp; but, for active service, in the Civil War, but General Curtis' is party. who said they would wait until he will be utterly useless, and for the interesting in light of a passage from those within should come out and give reason that he will get killed in the his book From Bull Run to Chan.cellors- them an opportunity to see the general. first engagement and all the instruction zlille. On March 7, 1862 Colonel Thomas Those of us on the outside, near enough given him will be lost. I did not like to tell him, but you remember what I now say. He is too tall and cannot escape the enemy's bullets; if he does, their firing will not be very creditable.' Following Curtis' adventure at West Point. Virginia, where he had received a wound. General Davies wrote him a letter in which he said: "You take two chances to one of a man of average height, and I am afraid the enemy will get you next time." This attitude certainly of a senior officer toward another officer of lower rank could not have raised a great deal of confidence in the young Curtis. Perhaps if one went from day to day with the shadow of death over him, a "presentiment," as Curtis called it, that one was going to die, this sort of grim opinion might well have supported the feeling to a burdensome degree. It is not far-fetched to assume that Curtis' behavior in battle was either a result of a fatalistic philosophy - that events are fixed in advance and the individual is powerless to change them, and therefore one might just as well do and not think - or of the pessimistic opinion of his chances held by General Davies -acting oppositely so as to prove his worth, despite the opinion. Either way General Curtis survived the war, received the highest honor the country could give, and returned to Depeyster to become Postmaster. Dur- ing the war his regiment was viewed by President Lincoln. Lincoln, not used to meeting men taller than himself, eyed Curtis up and down and remarked: "Colonel, how do you know when your feet are cold?" At age seventy-four, Ne~c*to)rMartitr Cicrtis (c.r)rter) as a captain. He tr~asn'tgit,e,t rnrrch chance while in New York, durtis suffered a of s~rrt*i~+ingbattle. (Photo courtesy of the author) seizure and died. April 1984 Women at the Front: Civil War Nurses by Richard Rurnmel The common image of the opening days of the Civil War is one of the local men and boys riding or marching off to an uncertain destiny, with rows of women and children cheering and wav- ing flags. The rebellion would be put down: and the men would be home before Christmas. As the fighting raged on and it became all too painfully clear that the confederacy was just as determined to win the war and secede as President Lincoln was in keeping Mnt-in Ol~trsfcc~dEldr-irl lir,ed ill Pic>t.r-epotrtdrtri)lg tltp Cir*il Wnt., nnd (IS (I the republic intact, many wives and yolrttg girl tcqertt.solct/t to care for the sick nr~dtcyownded. (Photo courtesy of mothers left their homes to serve the Mrs. Ben Ware of Canton, granddaughter of Maria Olmstead Eldrid) cause with the same spirit of patriotism that had spurred the men before them. thirty, many young girls offered their "good moral character" and have served The history of these women and their services independently. The army sur- at least three months as a regular or role in the war is almost unknown, but geons were reluctant to have them volunteer nurse.4 without them, certainly, the task of employed and, in many cases, made caring for the staggering numbers of their lives as unbearable as possible, In Camp on the Chickahominy, sick and wounded that came to the that they miaht be forced in self-defense June 12,1862 field hospitals would have been far to leave-thelhospitals. Delicate, refined "From old Saint Paul till now, greater, and many of them who lived to and cultured women were often re- Of honorable women not a few see another day owed their good fortune quired to perform the hardest and most Have quit their golden ease, in love to do to the women who came to nurse them. menial labor, to subsist on poor fare, The saintly works that Christ-like At the beginning of the war the Medi- and to rest at niaht on wretched beds.3 hearts pursue. cal Department of the government Yet through their persistence and Such an one art thou, God's fair apostle, thought to be in the worst condition of strength the women endured these Bearing His love in waryshorrific train; any branch of public service. Many sur- hardships willingly without complaint, Thy blessed feet follow its ghastly pain geons who passed the technical exami- and won for themselves a high place In And misery and death, without disdain. nation were utterly incompetent to dis- the history of medical service. charge their duties required, and, in Maria Olmstead Eldred of Pierre~ont TO one borne from the sullen battle's some cases, physicians sought the posi- was one such woman who travel& to roar, tion merely for the purpose of perfecting Falls Church. Virginia as a medical vol- Dearer the greeting of thy gentle eyes, themselves in surgery.' The system for unteer. It was believed Mrs. Eldred When he aweary, torn and bleeding lies, caring for the sick and wounded was (then Mrs. George Olmstead) went to Than all the glory that the victors prize. greatly improved as the war progressed.' care for her husband. Many of the When peace shall come, and home shall But of the women who had seen their women who went to the front did so for smile again, men off to war then followed as the hor- the purpose of tending to a loved one, Ten thousand solders' hearts, in nor- rors at the front came back to them, and then assumed greater duties as thern climes, the story of medical care in field hospi- general and much needed nurses. She Shall tell their little children, with tals is really their story. Given the ines- served for nine months, drawing a $12 their rhymes, timable value of such associations as per month pension; $50 at the end of Of the sweet saint who blessed the old the United States Sanitary Commission, her life. war times."5 which raised millions of dollars in In 1881 Miss Dix invited all nurses to medical supplies, it was the groups of meet her in Washington, where the Ex- This poem was written by First Lieu- women, braving battlefield dangers Nurses Association of the District of tenant Royal Corbin in honor of a Mrs. and public opinion (it was probably as Columbia was formed. In 1892, follow- Howland for her personal attention brave for women to act in this untradi- ing the formation of other nurses' paid the sick and wounded in the Penin- tional way as it was to confront the dan- groups, the National Association of sula campaign. ger of warfare) who received the great- Army Nurses of the Civil War formed NOTES est praise and appreciation from the to meet at each encampment. The goal 'Newton Martin Curtis. F,a>)tBrtll Rror to Cl)n~trel- highest commander to the lowliest of the group was "to keep green the lo,:ur*ill~.New York and London (G.P. Putnarn's soldier. memory of those days of civil strife, to Sons. 1906). p. 275. ZIbid.. o. 275 When the government finally began keep in touch with the Grand Army of SIbid., p. 275 to see the value of the service women the Republic in its efforts to perpetuate 'Mary H. Biondi. ed.. St. Lawrence County Histori- rendered, an attempt was made to the grand principles for which the boys cal Association Qna)?evl!~."National Association organize them as nurses. Dorothy Dix, in blue fought and died, to seek out and of Army Nurses of the Civil War" (July, 1969). p. 16. who acquired the name "angel of aid unfortunate and needy nurses and SNewton Martin Curtis. From B~llRror to Chn)rrel- mercy," was appointed to enroll women. assist in procuring pensions." Those lo,nt.ille. New York and London (G.P. Putnarn's But as she would not take anyone under admitted to membership had to be of Sons. 1906). p. 279. April 1984 Against the Enemy in St. Lawrence County, 1917-1918 by Judith Ranlett

America's first foreign war was as notable for the voluminous flow of propaganda, and the runaway emotion that it caused, as the war itself. No one who read a newspaper, especially, was spared the "awful facts" about the "horrible Hun." Everything German was despised. The freedom to hold and express opposing views was tantamount to treason. In this account of anti-German sentiment in St. Lawrence County we are given cause to wonder about how fragile the rights are that we take for granted.

Sandstone, Pershing, Clarkson, papers) to insure that its readers fully region. The Courier and Freeman was Streatfield - all were suggested as more shared in this national nightmare. especially concerned about the local suitable names than Potsdam for that Elsewhere in the nation, anti-Ger- labor scene and concluded that Austro- St. Lawrence County town and village manism gave rise to lynchings, to bans Hungarians employed in lumber camps during the height of the anti-German on the teaching of German in schools were no threat, but that those employed hysteria that characterized World War and on the playing of so-called "Ger- in Unionville or at the aluminum works I. The Ogdensburg Advance declared man" music in concert halls. Names in Massena could do "considerable dam- Potsdam to be too "Dutchy" and the were changed, not only of people and age" because of their "access to valu- Saranac Lake News asserted, "All places, but even of things. Sauerkraut able and costly machinery." Conse- neighboring towns have wondered for became liberty cabbage, for example. quently, in the event of war, all such months why a change was not made. Much of this activity was supported by aliens should be put "in detention camps The quicker it is done the better it will the Committee on Public Information immediately.12 By early 1918, the same look to the rest of Northern New York."l whose assigned task it was to inspire paper rejected internment as devastat- A former Potsdam resident claimed enthusiasm for war.6 Furthermore, the ing to the local economy.I3 that a name change would give "the draconian Espionage and Sedition Acts Internment did not occur, but aliens world proof of [Potsdam's] patriotism."Z passed by Congress put federal force of "Teutonic birth" were disarmed and The existing name, regardless of its behind efforts to produce a national males did have to register.14 Neverthe- origins, did have its defenders. The conformity in ideas. The Sedition Act less, some efforts were made to reassure Watertown Times labelled demands for of 1918 prohibited "disloyal, profane, such people that they had "no need to a name change "excessive patriotism" scurrilous, or abusive language" about fear" as long as they heeded the follow- and pointed out the "complications . . . the government or language that might ing advice: "Obey the law; keep your if we change the name of every city or bring the government, the Constitution mouth shut."15 Soon after the United village that has a German origin . . ."3 or the flag "into contempt, scorn, con- States entered the war, the secretary of What, for example, would be the new tumely or disrepute."7 Such sweeping the State Emigration Bureau and the geologic name for Potsdam sandstone? language made all sorts of statements chief investigator of the New York And one Civil War veteran claimed only that could in no way harm the war State Industrial Commission toured non-residents wanted a name change effort violations of law. New York, stopping at Unionville, while "one hundred percent" of resi- There were no lynchings in Northern Hewittville, Norfolk and Massena, tell- dents were opposed.4 New York, though there was perhaps ing foreign-born workers they were in Surely, the debate over the name of one close call in Ogdensburg when a no danger if they obeyed the laws and Potsdam was an isolated instance, and naturalized citizen of German birth did not withdraw their savings from not a manifestation of a common theme "was seized, tied with a rope and American banks.16 The Courier and in World War I North Country life? dragged" from his porch into his front Freeman later added editorially that What did St. Lawrence County have to yard by a gang of young men who "loyal Germans or Hungarians" also fear from the tiny number of Germans apparently intended to tar and feather had another responsibility: "to help un- or Austro-Hungarians in its population? him.8 Demands to ban Bach were not mask those who deserve punishment," (The special military census taken in evident. In fact, June 1918 baccalaure- for they best knew who the "scoundrels" the summer of 1917 revealed fewer ate ceremonies at the Potsdam Normal were within their group.17 than 5000 alien adults in the county, of School which excoriated everything German and Austrian spies and sabo- which many must have been Canadian.5) German (the speaker proclaimed the teurs were feared. "Every German or What was the probability that Northern primary characteristics of German Austrian in the United States unless New York attract spies and saboteurs? social life were "suicide, insanity, and known by years of association to be Whatever reason and common sense illegitimacy") were accompanied by a absolutely loyal should be treated as a might seem in retrospect to dictate, in Mendelssohn duet.9 As late as June 1917 potential spy," warned the American fact a reading of the World War I era the Potsdam Herald-Recorder was will- Defense Society.l8 Northern New Potsdam Herald-Recorder and Courier ing to print a recipe for German Yorkers has anticipated that warning and Freeman indicates that Northern kuchen.10 But six months later the same and were busily "finding" spies and New York - at least as reflected in paper was reassuring readers that saboteurs at every turn. Especially in their pages - was not immune to the pinochle was not German, presumably the early days of the war, spy reports virulent hatred of all things German or freeing afficionados from changes of were numerous. Someone speaking with demands for unity of opinion which disloyalty for their Friday night card an accent and carrying a camera or a swept the nation. The Courier and games." pair of skis might find himself on the Freeman especially did its best through Even before the United States entered wrong side of the law:l9 One man editorials, news reports, and its selection the war in April 1917, there were those reported as "apparently disguised" and of material from other papers (fre- who worried about aliens of German or "acting strangely along the Potsdam- quently other Northern New York Austro-Hungarian background in the Hopkinton road" was at first thought to April 1984 be a spy; he turned out to be an "aged The "tainted teacher" was an object the Rev. Powers, the Canton Plaindealer peddler residing in the vicinity of of special concern. Firings of "pro- also claimed the speech was "socialistic," Hopkinton."20 Similar spy accusations German" teachers elsewhere in the for Powers showed pictures of German against a group of photographers, country were favorably reported,28 and workers' houses built by Krupp and travelling about making enlargements the paper applauded the dismissal of said ". . . if Andrew Carnegie had built of pictures, were also found to be an Edwardsville teacher subsequent to houses like those for his workmen his groundless. What had initially aroused an investigation by a United States libraries would come with better suspicion about this group was appar- Attorney and a representative of the grace."36 According to the Ogdensburg ently the fact that they carried a map State Department of Education. What Advance, "This sort of business must be of the area with them.2' was described as a pro-German poem vigorously suppressed."37 The Canton And then there was the fear of sabo- fell out of the teacher's pocket outside Commercial-Advertiser was somewhat teurs. In May of 1917, the Courier and of school hours, and she was prevailed milder in its criticism, but even it said Freeman was already editorializing upon to read it, which she did "reluc- "Certainly a lecture that was very against fireworks on the Fourth of July tantly." Some parents complained, but pleasing to known pro-Germans must because fireworks could mask efforts the local school board found "no serious be of a nature that will bear ex- to "blow up factories or bridges or any- offense has been committed." The com- amination."38 thing of imp~rtance."~Indeed, very plaints went further, and a full-scale Other St. Lawrence faculty leaped early in the war it was suggested that investigation concluded ". . . that she into the combat to dissociate them- the Home Guard be assigned the task should not have had in her possession selves from the taint brought by the of protecting - presumably from sabo- literature of that character." The Theological School, and President F.A. teurs - the local bridges on the New Courier and Freeman found her actions Gallup quickly pointed out that the uni- York Central and Rutland railroad^."^^ "excuse the tar pot and feathers" and versity itself was not to blame, for the At various times during the war, the insisted she "ought to be driven out of speaker was sponsored only by the communities of Canton, Gouverneur and St. Lawrence C~unty."~~ Theological School. "The Officers and Ogdensburg all experienced incidents If the teacher of a one-room school faculty of the Seminary never consult that were wishfully interpreted as failed could foment such a storm, imagine the University executive as to details of sabotage. Dynamite was found in two what the faculty of students of the area procedure or even as to general policy, milk plants in Canton and Gouverneur, colleges could inspire! Even before and on this occasion they made use of a both of which were said to have con- American entry into the war, a Clark- college building without securing exec- tracts with one of the Allies. In each son student of German descent was utive permission."39 No ringing defense case, worker carelessness was ultimate- reported to have been compelled by the of academic freedom here! ly accepted as the source of the dyna- government to dismantle the aerial of During the height of the Powers' mite, but not before the more delicious his wireless telegraphy station. The stu- ruckus, the local press seemed to take prospect of sabotage was thoroughly dent had to deny he was sympathetic to the existence of "a nest of pro-Germans" entertained. In Canton, "taking no German, and a Clarkson College spokes- at St. Lawrence for granted.40 Perhaps chances," five deputies were assigned man described the young man as that assumption helps to explain the to guard the Paige "greatly upset."30 The reported expul- letter written to the Canton Commercial Super-patriots in Northern New York sion of a former Clarkson professor of Advertiser by an assistant professor of as elsewhere sought to squelch German mechanical engineering from Columbia modern languages at St. Lawrence, pro- language publications and end the University as "a typical German," testing herself "to be as sincerely and teaching of German. Wiping out "Ger- offensive to his colleagues, and "sus- truly American in thought and feeling manism" was "a plain and bounden pected of peculiar work in the testing as every high minded, patriotic citizen duty." "Nothing that is German must out of crankshafts for aeroplane motors" of the United state^."^^ be allowed to exist on this continent. . . provoked local attention. ". . .[T]here Somewhat different was the situation The German language must be cast out has been a growing belief that the pro- of an instructor in the Crane Normal of our system of education, German fessor's work locally might have had Institute of Music in Potsdam, who newspapers must be put out of business more motives than were at first ap- found herself appearing before the . . ." inveighed the Courier and Free- parent.lY31In spite of the fact that senior class of the Institute, with a man.25 Since there were no local Ger- Clarkson seniors offered their services representative of the United States man publications to close down, efforts as "technically trained men" to the gov- Department of Justice in the audience, concentrated on language teaching. The ernment before war began and that to make a retraction of statements she Courier and Freeman approved the Clarkson College itself carried out had made the previous week. She was request made by the Board of Trustees special war-related programs, Clarkson alleged to have said "that there were of the Potsdam Normal School to the students were charged with being those in high governmental positions State Department of Education to sub- "slackers" or "yellow streakers" by a who had no real desire to see the war stitute the teaching of Spanish for Ger- local minister because they did not en- prosecuted to a full and successful con- man in normal schools.2Vhe Board of list.s2 The entire student body responded clusion." In her defense, the Courier Trustees was reported to claim that in outrage, pointing out that they were and Freeman pointed out that the enrollment in German classes was de- told by the government not to enlist but instructor's statements came from an clining, a highly probable development to complete their engineering training.33 excess of patriotism and not from any in view of the kinds of charges that Clarkson students were not the only pro-Germanism.42 As the Crane instruc- could be levelled at one who wished to local students who had to protest their tor learned, it was the case during study German: "No patriotic boy or patriotism. The faculty and students of World War I that not only might one girl will desire to waste any more time the Saint Lawrence Theological School be accused of sympathy for the enemy, in the study of such a language [de- had to do likewise.34 Late in 1917, the but almost any criticism of governmen- scribed as "harsh, guttural, barbaric"] Rev. L.M. Powers, of Gloucester, Mass- tal war policy or leadership, even and certainly no parents will care to achusetts, a pacifist, lectured on "What disrespectful statements, could find demand this branch of work for their Germany Has Done for the World" at one on the wrong side of the law. As children." Teachers of German were, of the invitation of the Theological one headline in the Potsdam Herald- course, themselves highly suspect School.35 AS if pacifism were not an Recorder concisely put it, to be safe, creature~.~7 inflammatory enough charge to level at "Don't Criticize Your Government."43 April 1984

People were encouraged to watch each or coercing contributions were ugly W&F, 2 Oct. 1918. p. 4 other, and to report to the authorities enough manifestations of the dark side quoted in C&F, May 1918. p. 2. 'C&F, 9 Oct. 1918. pp. 6 & 2. any "disloyal" statements. At least of World War I at home. Northern &Potsdam[New York]Herald-Recorder (hereafter some did so. New York was spared the worst forms H-R),20 July 1917, p. 1. The local press praised such actions of vigilantism which engulfed some 'For a survey of the domestic experience in World and urged more of the same. Week communities, but no action taken in the War I, see David M. Kennedy, Over Her?: The First World War and American Society (New after week in late 1917 and early 1918, name of patriotism elsewhere was ap- York, 1980). especially the first chapter. "The the Courier and Freeman printed, com- parently bad enough to win condem- War for the American Mind." pletely in capital letters, an editorial nation. Even the tragic lynching of TKennedy,Over Here, p. 80. which proclaimed, "IT IS THE DUTY young Robert Prager near St. Louis in %'&F. 12 June 1918. p. 1; 3 July 1918, p. l! 2 Oct. 1918. p. 1. OF EVERY LOYAL CITIZEN.. . TO the Spring of 1918 was justified. The 9C&F. 26 June 1918. p. 1 REPORT IMMEDIATELY ANY DIS- Courier and Freeman editorialized 'OH-R.22 June 1917, a. 6. LOYAL STATEMENT THEY OVER- that the government's failure to bring "H-R. 25 Jan. 1918, p. 7. HEAR OR WHICH MAY BE AD- any spies or criminals in front of firing 127 Feb. 1917. p. 1. W&F.16 Jan. 1918, p. 3. DRESSED TO THEM" to the authori- squads compelled mob action.50 And, as 14C&F, 18 Apr. 1917. p. 1; 23 Jan. 1918. p. 2. ties and, of course, to the Courier itself, a substitute for lynching, the Canton 1"-R. 13 Apr. 1917. p. 1. for "We want to point them out to the Plaindealer suggested that govern- l@C&F,2 May 1917, p. 1. public." Such statements, in the editors' ment doctors administer strychnine to 'I16 Jan. 1918, p. 4. 18H-R. 31 May 1918. p. 1. judgment, included refusal to work for pacifists.51 W&F.25 AD^. 1917. D. 1: 2 Mav 1917. D. 1: 17 Oct. the Red Cross.44 The point is not that Potsdam or 1917, p. 1; + Nov. 19i7, p. 8: 23 an. i918,'p. 3. Such exhortations perhaps helped Canton or any other St. Lawrence W&F,23 May 1917. p. 4. lead a travelling salesman to make a County community was worse than "C&F, 23 May 1917. p. 4. 22C&F, 2 May 1917. p. 4. citizen's arrest of an Ogdensburg man other places in their demands for con- 23C&F, 18 Apr. 191% p. 2. overheard on the train to DeKalb calling formity of thought or hatred for all 24C&F. 24 Oct. 1917, p. 1: 7 NOV. 1917. p. 8; 27 President Woodrow Wilson "an edu- things German during World War I. March 1918. D. 1. cated A native-born Gouverneur They were not worse. If the Courier 258 May 1918.p. 4. '"9 May 1918, p. 2. man, son of a Civil War veteran, was and Freeman justified lynching and 27C&F, 29 May 1918, p. 2: 13 March 1918, p. 4. arrested and given a six-month sus- excused vigilantism, so did the Wash- W&F.26 Dec. 1917, p. 4. pended sentence for remarks he made ington Post, which referred to the W&F,8 May 1918. D. 1; 22 May 1918. D. 4: H-R. at William White's grocery store while Prager lynching as "a healthful and 31 May 1918, p. 9. W&F,14 March 1917. p. 2. discussing high prices.46 And a Russell wholesome awakening in the interior of W&F,30 May 1917. p. 1. woman was held for the federal grand the country."52 If a Canton minister W&F.28 March 1917, p. 1; 18 Apr. 1917, p. 1; 30 jury at Auburn for allegedly tearing was willing to claim ". . . the only good Jan. 1918, p. 4. down a liberty loan flag on the hotel in German is a dead German,"53 similar W&F,30 Jan. 1918, p. 4; 13 Feb. 1918, p. 4. 34C&F.8 May 1918. p. 3. Russell, saying "that the government assertions were coming from pulpits 3T&F,28 Nov. 1917. p. 4. did not need to offer bonds for sale as it all over the country. And there lies the 36Quoted in C&F, 28 Nov. 1917. p. 1. was rich enough to finance the war and point. If Potsdam or Canton was no '?Quoted in C&F. 28 Nov. 1917. p. 4. to take care of the boys in the service." worse than most other communities, it 3RQuoted in C&F. 28 Nov. 1917. p. 4. When one's 3T&F, 5 Dec. 1917, p. 1. A complaint was made to the United was no better either. The anti-German 40C&F, 28 NOV.1917, p. 4. States District Attorney that the hysteria, the suppression of civil liber- 41Quoted in C&F. 3 Apr. 1918, p. 8. woman had violated Section 3 of Title I ties, the demand for absolute unity d2C&F,23 Jan. 1918. p. 1. of the Espionage Act, an offense which, which accompanied World War I were 434 Jan. 1918. p. 1. "19 Dec. 1917, p. 4; Dec. 1917. p. 4: 3 Jan. 1918. the Courier and Freeman was quick to not limited to big cities or to the Far p. 4. point out, could net her a $10,000 fine West or to places with substantial 45C&F. 16 Jan. 1918. p. 1. or twenty years' imprisonment or both. German or Austro-Hungarian popula- 46C&F, 25 Apr. 1917. p. 1. She was not, however, indicted.47 tions. They were also found in St. Law- 47C&F, 15 May 1918. p. 3; 29 May 1918. p. 3; 12 . June 1918, p. 1. Liberty loans and war relief work rence County. The progressive faith in 4T&F. 5 June 1918. D. 6. were causes that absorbed many St. a rational and decent public - a belief 'SC&F;5 June 1918; p. 8. Lawrence County citizens. The papers which helped inspire the great reform Apr. 1918, p. 4. were full of ads urging people to buy period at the beginning of the twentieth 6lQuoted in C&F. 24 Apr. 1918. p. 1. ' W&F.5 June 1918. D. 4: Kennedy. Over Here. D. 68. Liberty Bonds and of lists of the specific century - did not meet the test of experi- SC&F. 1 May 1918, p. 4. contributions made by individuals to ence in World War I, not in the United ********** various fund-raising drives. Community States as a whole, and not in St. Law- pressure on those who, for whatever rence County. About the Author reason, chose not to contribute or who Judith Ranlett is an Associate Professor contributed less than others thought NOTES of History at Potsdam College, with their fair share could be inexorable. !Quoted in Courier and Freeman (hereafter special interest in women's history and Yellow paint, a large red cross, and the C&V. Potsdam. New York, 18 Sept. 1918, p. 4. family history. words "Friends of the Kaiser" painted on the sidewalk before their store com- This pro-German sentiment, penned by an Edwardsville teacher, was a pelled two Norwood merchants to in- serious enough "offense"to have her dismissed. crease their contribution to one war relief drive more than tenfold.48 A The Germans were Germans Hurrah! Hurrah! for Germany, Canton merchant caught buying stolen When England wasn't much. The land of good cheer. goods was given the choice of going to The Germans will be Germans We'll step up with the Kaiser jail or contributing $30. to the Red When England speaks Dutch. And have a good drink of beer. Cross. He chose the latter.49 There is no Here's to sweet Germany, The Germans were Germans way of knowing how many people gave The land of my birth. When England wasn't much. in such canvasses because they feared Hurrah! for sweet Germany, And before the year is up the results of doing otherwise. The best land on earth. They will all be speaking Dutch. Reporting one's neighbors for sedition 24 April 1984 "Blood is Ankle Deep" Madrid Boy Writes Home What could have prepared the north country soldier for what he encountered in the trenches of France and Belgium? Surely the gentle hills and curving rivers and farm-rimmed roads of his home must have seemed infinitely far away or non-existent. In this letter, which appeared in the Ogdensburg Journal ' near the end of the war, the writer reveals an incongruous playfulness of boy soldiers caught up in th.e reality of war.

Ogdemburg, Nov.6 - Private Ivan H. Robinson, a Madrid boy who is serving with Company D, 107th Infantry, in a letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Robinson, gives the following description of the big battle in which the New York state troops smashed the Hindenburg line: "Well, it's all over. I mean our drive, and I don't think we will make another one for a while. My old friend Fred Northrup got killed. I was beside him when he got his lead pill. I avenged him, for I shot seven of the dirty skunks and finished the eighth with a bayonet, so I think I have done my bit. Our first fight was in the second trench that we took, and mother, I don't suppose you will believe it, but the blood was ankle deep in that sector of the trench. Oh, it was awful. It was there poor Fred got hit in the head with a machine gun bullet. I had been running my machine gun and had tired myself out. I said to Fred. 'For God's sake. Fred, take a turn at this, and don't spare the ammu- nition.' He took the gun, and he got his. Oh, how badly I felt, for he and I were together all the while. We slept together like a couple of kid brothers, but he had to leave me. That makes two of my friends who have gone west. That morn- ing before we started we shook hands and I said. 'Fred, we are going through this and we are coming back to cele- brate.' but we were mistaken. One can never tell. I came through all O.K. until Sunday night, when I was with a party carrying out some wounded, and a big mustard shell broke beside us. Well, I am in the hospital now, blistered a little, but expect to be out again soon.

-- went over Sunday morning, Sept. 30, World Wrtr One rnonnment to those ~rhomode the slip?-ernesrtcrifice. Canton at 5 o'clock, when we climbed over the court how.se. Note the name Fred Northrnp under Ogdensburg, ~i~ho141as a top of our trench, and our artillery bar- friend of the Madrid boy u~ritinghome. (Photo courtesy SLCHA Archives) rage started and we started. Inside of 15 minutes we had gained our objective and had gone way beyond it. The Huns was that after we had taken their first Although we lost heavily, we gained had got word of our coming over and trench a few of them had hidden in dug- what we were after and a whole lot were ready for us. They had practically outs which we had neglected to throw a more. The Hindenburg line, one of the a machine gun to every seven feet of bomb into and kill them. Well, they strongest fortified of any German line, trench. Well, our trouble was we failed grabbed a machine gun and turned it is now in our hands, and the bunch that to 'mop up' as we call it, and that is to on us from our rear. One or two of the relieved us are still moving forward." kill all the enemy that is left in the dogs can do a whole lot with a machine trenches and dugouts after the first gun. We got them and stuck a bayonet wave had gone over. The consequence through them and they were finished. =!!?P April 1984 25 "Over Here" World War I Photographic Essay on St. Lawrence County

The First World War broke out August 1st 1914. President Wilson was strongly opposed to America being involved and signed a proclamation of neutrality as this country's official position. But American property and citizens were fair game for German war machine. Six ships, including the Lusitania with. many Americans on board, were sunk in 1915 alone. German U-boats continued the assault through, 191 6, but it wasn't until April of 191 7, nearly three years after a declaration of war in Europe, th,at the United States engaged in war with the Axis powers. The draft went into effect in June, 191 7, an.d th,e first St. Lawrence County detachments were on their way to France by August.

Veterans marching on Main Street, Canton, 1919. (Courtesy SLCHA Archives)

Kri tlr r~t,K)~orr,lcs W/~rolor of Potsdam. She gn r9e SP/~/QSS/!J a.7 a war nurse. (Courtesy Potsdam Public Museum)

Geo).gc. B~llt'r,Jr. .fan)ily ~lv'thsoldier. son, 191 7. Troops frrr iued it! Potsdam. (Courtesy Potsdam Puhlic Museum) 26 April 1984 April 1984 2 7

Lihtlr.f!/Public Museum) locr ,7 ptr rrrclo, Pofsrltr rrc, ahorit 191 7. (Courtesy Potsdam

('otupfrrcrl D, 40th St~ptrr.nteCo., 1!117, shorrw ma~.chitc!ltlo/c*rc fi7or.tl Str,rlcf irc O!ltlo/sh?trgorr ir-a!l to train depot. (Courtesy SLCHA Archives) Black troops rtcn rch it!(/ th roligk Rich rsille jrtst prio). to Amoricc~k irrr~ol~.rnt~nti~ the war. (Courtesy SLCHA Archives)

The i??nocenceof youth still glo~cjson these faces during the draft of Jztly 1918 in Potsdam. (Courtesy Potsdam Public Museum) 28 April 1984

NORTHERU NEW YORK 1940

The rnanc~rr*ersco~vered an area from Plattsburgh to Watertouw, but the center of activity uras in St. La tcv-en re Co~rnty beca ztse it was considered to ha rje ideal conditions. War Maneuvers of 1940 by Everett Dona

The phrase "wargames" suggests a wry commentary on the real nature of the business at which soldiers play. This is even more of an irony when one considers that in little more than a year from the time of the St. Lawrence County maneuvers, we would have real misery and death to contend with. We in the north country, as everywhere else, could not have known what awaited us. War raged in Europe, but to us Americans war was someone else's problem. The manuevers were just another spectator sport.

August, 1940 has not been forgotten flict. During the war games the nation's in less than a month, and blitzing by St. Lawrence County people who military, as it then existed, assembled through Norway, Denmark, Luxem- remember the "gunfire" that echoed in St. Lawrence County to prepare for bourg, the Netherlands, Belgium and over the countryside as two armies "bat- an invasion of the United States. Mater- France before the maneuvers com- tled" in the largest peace time maneu- ials to wage war were in short supply. menced here. The British and French vers ever held on the North American Trucks were designated as tanks. were escaping to Britain. The Soviet continent. At the same time across the Wooden sticks were rifles. And stove Union was pushing to gain its share of Atlantic Adolph Hitler's Nazi troops pipe and plumbing pipe were fashioned territorial spoils. Japan had already were continuing their conquest of Eur- to resemble mortar and machine guns. taken most of the coastal region of ope, and the Soviets were annexing Bal- Our military leaders in late 1939 and China by 1938. President Roosevelt con- tic Sea countries. Our nation had al- early 1940 would not admit in public sidered it critical that military tr-ain- ready declared its neutrality, and two that our boys would become part of the ing be stepped up rapidly to wartime months previous had authorized the sale world conflict. But plans were mapped basis at installations all over the coun- of surplus war material to Britain. to stage "war" in St. Lawrence County try. The St. Lawrence County maneu- Little did we in the North Country know whose terrain was considered a natural vers signaled the commencement of a that in fifteen months, at Pearl Harbor, route for any foreign invader. The Nazi new era in military activities in the we would become part of the world con- war machine was conquering Poland U.S.A. April 1984 29

Plans Outlined On March 2, 1940 a seemingly ordi- nary event was taking place at St. Law- rence University. There, at a luncheon, Brigadier-General Irving J. Phillipson, Chief of Staff at Governor's Island, out- lined plans for war maneuvers to a group of north country civic leaders, seeking their cooperation and support. The entire finalizing of the maneuvers would depend on Congress approving a $2 million appropriation requested by the War Department. Congressman Clarence L. Kilburn, R-Malone, pledged "every effort" to get the bill passed. County Farm Bureau agent Russell Cary was named to head the group to secure lease and trespass rights for property owners. In turn the suDer- Ar~rt!!troops t~tarchingon King Street in Rensselaer Falls. (Courtesy visors of the townships to be involved SLCHA Archives) were selected to handle the local lease- trespass rights signatures, giving the army the right to move over grounds . . - .. listed. No money was to be paid for the leases, but the army was to provide "proper and equitable payment for any damage that might occur." A civilian committee would determine the extent of damage, or whether there was cause for restitution. Conservative estimates were that $5 million would pour into the north country - $2 million of federal funds for payrolls, quarters, rations, fuel and other expenditures; and $3 mil- lion from entertainment, hotels, etc., would accrue from the thousands of relatives, friends and observers staying in the area for the three week maneuver period. Every speaker at that first meeting agreed that one of the finest patriotic gestures the civilian population could provide was the utmost cooperation with the military. Many of the speakers were veterans of the First World War Car*al7?lhorses detraining at Canton. (Courtesy SLCHA Archives) who said they hoped and prayed that any man who fought for this country in the future would have the advantake of actual field training before having the misfortune of going into actual battle. It was stressed that actual damage to land and buildings would be kept low by strict discipline, and Engineer Corps personnel would follow soldiers, repair- ing any damage they might do. Law- rence F. Cuthbert, an Ogdensburg civic leader and farm owner, said "the army could have all the rights it wanted on his farm. If the soldiers happened to kill a sheep on the way through they could have it, without damages, for a mutton dinner." The Old C.C.C. Camp The Civilian Conservation Corps camp at Pierrepont became the maneuvers area headquarters, under the command of Colonel Cassius M. Dowell of the 28th infantry. There many of the battle details were developed; but one factor Troop tr-nit! trr.t.ir.itrcl to rtrnrtir~lrpritsic clt Cntttoti ticpot. (Courtesy SLCHA not under headquarters' control was Archives) the weather. It seemed that the weather- 30 April 1984

Drum, and at Malone) formed the larg- est military exercise ev;er conducted on American soil. The entire war maneuvers were under the leadership of Lt. General Hugh- A. Drum, First- Army commander, who served as the Chief of Staff under Per- shing in the First World War. In a pre- maneuver speech he said: "Modern wea- pons are of little value in battle if an offensive military s~iritis lacking in I the ~ersonnelmanning them. Our mili-

of war. The lesson to be learned Prom recent European conflicts is that our people must stop basking in the sun- shine of peace and in the security of two oceans and search for a sound de- fense solution." Cn~-nl~.!jIOIif 011 Mtr i~tSf., Cn~tton,ns pc11.t ofthr ,]I.(/.rtrthet. f11at1the 4th, of' The objective of the maneuvers was Jzrl!] parade. The ?nilifaryco?nntarzd anted the Folrl-th left open .for the for the western army to repel the invad- troops. (Courtesy Canton Historian's office) ing eastern army. The "Black" (western) army was grouped near DeKalb Junc- man was not very keen about the ma- 182 men and officers, including a 31 tion, Depeyster and Gouverneur, with neuvers being held in the north country, piece band from Newark, New Jersey. its extreme flank at Morristown. The for when the early troops arrived with They came in five coaches, two baggage "Blue" (eastern) army moved from their horses and equipment the skies cars and four stock cars. At DeKalb Plattsburgh to positions south and east opened up wide. On June 18th, in a Junction the 10lst. 51st, and 121st of Potsdam, with the center of opera- three hour period, 4.49 inches of rain Cavalry Regiments arrived, bringing tions at Plumb Brook, Sanfordville, fell, marking the start of a two-week troops from as far away as Virginia, and Parishville. The "industrial area" rainy period, described by many old- Pennsylvania, and the New England of Watertown was the blue army's ob- timers as the worst weather in twenty states. Top among these was the famed jective. "Umpires" housed in the men's years. Before the sun regained its reign "Yankee" Division of World War One. residence hall (now Sykes Hall) at St. 6.79 inches fell. A big casualty of the All in all seventy-five to a hundred Lawrence University, were part of each weather was the land. Mud like that thousand troops, comprising "eastern" unit in the field, and whose job was to had never been seen created impossible and "western" armies, plus seven air declare winners and losers in the "bat- conditions, with the troops hard put to squadrons with better than a hundred tles." Fifteen hundred rounds of blanks establish their campsites. Milk for the fighter and bomber craft (these were were provided the troops for rifles, soldiers would not have gotten delivered stationed at Pine Camp, now Fort machine guns, and 75mm nuns. Medical were it not for the perseverance of Edwin Sykes driving his loaded milk truck over the impassable roads, or for the engineers who built temporary roads with logs, winches and cables. The horses made the best of the deep mud; and the cavalrymen did not lose their sense of humor. They just smiled and grinned at the visitors who flocked to their campsites to watch the military in action. The Army Engineers were critical to the success of the maneu- vers. They found that cordoroy roads (built with their firewood) were not suf- ficient to withstand the additional rain- fall, so plank roads were laid for better movement in camp areas. Pre-Maneuvers Action On June 23rd, over a four hour period in bright sunlight, cavalry troops with their horses arrived at the New York Central railroad station on Park Street - fl- in Canton in four movements, while -L military bands provided martial music for the thousands of spectators on hand to watch the unusual sight. State troop- ers, village police and deputy sheriffs President Rooser,elt (trqhiff~sicif) rrnd!j to OPQ~~Ia tour of the maneurer aren at were on hand to maintain order among Noncqood. With him are Secretary of WarHenry Stimson, New York Gotternor the on-lookers. The first to detrain were H.H. Lehman and Lieutenant-General Dmm. (Courtesy SLCHA Archives) April 1984 31

Each soldier was vaccinated for small- pox and typhoid. The Big Push As the opening of the maneuvers approached a D-Day like atmosphere prevailed. A constant flow of troops and army equipment gave one the im- pression -that, indeed. a gigantic life and death strunnle was at hand. A 1 scorching sun aid vaporous humidity in July added to the seriousness that the mind of the military man locks into I as the battle approaches. Contact be- 1 tween the lack-and the Blue armies k came in the vicinity of Lisbon and b3 Madrid, with the center of no-man's- ? land at the little hamlet of Eben, between Potsdam and Canton. Nor- C wood's rail junction was the scene of a i- "furious" overnight "battle" by New England troops. Clatter of small arms fire wakened north country folks early mbkF ilk-- - as things got under way Monday, August 19th in 90 degree heat. All day Y'c~lr~'~.srotrc.r.rlrc. sc~t rtp I tr jt.otrf I!/ Hr.c~rc~tr~jrc~lill~o~~s~~irli~trr~I'tr t.k Stt.c,c f o)r tho Sundav was spent making readv the St. Lu1c9wnce Uniri~r.sit?ycamplts. (Courtesy Canton Historian's office) trucks-and other equipmeit, and out- lining their maps. arrival of its cavalry and was in con- the Racquette River. But two Black bat- The Blue army, which included the cealed bivouacs prepared to move in talions of the Fifth Maryland Infantry First Corps. Regular Army and consid- accordance with orders issued by Gen- and a tank company of the 29th Division ered the most modern equipped infantry eral Drum. Its air defense command were captured by the Blue army after division, was presumed to have ad- had established general protection and they had broken through the north vanced from New England through the an aircraft warning service covered an flank and moved into enemy territory. Lake Champlain area and had reached area of Troy-Albany, Cape Vincent- Umpires ruled the entire battalion out the general line of the Raquette River Boice-West Pierrepont-Port Douglas. of action after it had been enveloped by by Monday night. The Black army, The main Black forces were responsible the Blues. under the command of General Drum, for providing protection south of that Main activity in the morning was was presumed to have retired in the area. near Colton where control of the Rac- direction of Watertown. Its aerial forces Zero hour, Tuesday, was 5 a.m. when quette River was seized by the Blacks had indicated the Blue concentrations General Drum and unit commanders after units of the 27th Division had were the first day in the vicinity of issued their orders. Mechanized "sui- advanced, under cover of darkness, from Norwood, Potsdam and North Law- cide squads" of New York National Russell. Company M of Ogdensburg re- rence, with horse units west of Nor- Guardsman led repeated stabbing as- mained as a guard for the right flank wood. At 9 p.m. the Black army had saults at the main flank of the invading of the defending army at North Russell. completed its concentration with the Blues, and secured vital crossings on There was numerous spots of action in other locations during the day as the soldiers fought under poor weather con- ditions. Monday had been very wet, the Mr. .- .at . .&w??...... field soggy, and the humid air brought Representing : /*P-. .~~RHK(.K&?- misery in abundance. Tuesday was a df~d//~~9.-:.@Y-R~IRG JovecjL bit better. Five enemy planes were "downed" by anti-aircraft fire by the is an officially accredited public relations defending Black forces, largely due to representative accompanying the First 1 the civilian air raid warning personnel. Anny on Maneuvers in the Plattsburg- (Bags of flour were dropped to simulate Watertown Area August 3-31, 1940. He bombs.) The Black units encircled the will be accorded all courtesies. left of the enemy invaders, crashing through his right and center. Concern in Headquarters was the "only skillful use of strong reserves" would prevent defeat and end the battle earlier than planned, thus terminating needed troop training. Press pass of the author. A press pass ulas essential for anyone given At 1 p.m. Wednesday the major battle assignment to cover the maneuvers, but few restrictions were placed upon was called off by umpires a day early reporters. (Courtesy of the author) when the Black forces had knifed stead- April 1984

C'c~t.1)~~)1 t~c~tr~. Ctrt~fot~ rvtr ititl!lji)t. fhc "0t.trss" rrtlrl ot1tc.t. rii~jt~ittrt.ics.(Courtesy Canton Historian's office) ily into Blue territory and reached Par- someone remarked, "Oh, yeah, what's cylinder Cadillac, the other a 12 cylin- ishville after overcoming a strategic the gag?" A half hour later a runner der Packard - arrived from Washington Blue retreat late the previous day. brought the "cease fire'' word to the at General Drum's official residence on Tuesday night Black forces had used area. East Main Street. Canton. FDR arrived light assault boats to cross the Rac- By nightfall some of the troops had at Norwood aboard his special train to quette River at Hannawa Falls under loaded their trucks and had started mov- commence his first visit to the green cover of darkness. ing out of the maneuver area. Trucks hills and valleys of the north country. I have noted only some of the action and crowded troop trains started to roll After official greeting ceremonies, he of the main maneuvers, for "battles" south and east on Friday. By Sunday was given a 21 gun salute, an army were fought all over the "front" as all but a few of the suntanned, khaki- band played the National Anthem, and farmers and their families and other clad units cleared for home. Only units cavalry troops presented arms as he spectators tried to keep up with the committed to maneuver clean-up and stepped off the train, accompanied by "war." The Black forces on Thursday, damage repair were still around. The Secretary of War Henry Stimson. The August 22nd, were back in their camps, job took about a month. There were long trek from Norwood to Ogdensburg dog tired, bewhiskered and hungry from very few claims to process with the included staff cars, four buses for news- the three-day war. Charles S. Cantwell. civilian population. General Drum, in papermen and photographers, and a a First World War veteran, covering an address to 8,000 troops of the First signal corp truck with amplifying the maneuvers for the Ogdensburg Army, made a final critique when he equipment. The route took the President Journal kept a keen interest on the said, "A valuable return has been through Sanfordville, where lunch was Ogdensburg Company M boys. Wednes- secured by your efforts. National de- prepared. Planes flew overhead in per- day noon he caught up with Lieutenant fense has been greatly improved there- fect formation, soaring in over the Elder and his tired gunners sprawled by, and the financial outlay of about $2 motorcade through sun-baked clouds. about in a thicket a quarter mile south million dollars has been more than Then it was on to Potsdam and Canton, of the Racquette, and about the same justified." where thousands lined the streets; De- distance from the pontoon bridge over FDR's Visit Kalb Junction, Rensselaer Falls, Lisbon which the 27th Infantry troops were On August 17th President Franklin Corners, and finally to Ogdensburg. still pouring. Having just come from Delano Roosevelt visited the maneuver There, he entered the State hospital the Public Relations Headquarters in area after Secret Service officers had grounds, and the Ogdensburg streets Ogdensburg, Cantwell brought the inspected the routes of the chief execu- filled with thousands and thousands of pleasant tidings to the 108th Infantry tive would take. The scene created as people. Prime Minister of Canada Mac- that "war" was to end at 1 p.m. Passing much excitement as the maneuvers kenzie King met the President there the word among troops of Company M, themselves. His official cars - one a 16 for dinner and talk. Ogdensburg had April 1984 33

vrt elf tltc? ttrc~t~c~tct~o~s,loc.rrtiott rittktrorc.tt. (Courtesy Canton Historian's office) never seen such a day as that; nor all of listed men's bed sacks. They did not demic proportions. A makeshift hospital the north country, for that matter. enjoy modern mattresses and box was set up in the old St. Lawrence Uni- Traffic that weekend was full of long springs when they had a chance to doze versity fieldhouse. delays and very heavy. An example of while not on alert. A Few Reflections this was that it took a reporter and a -During the maneuvers the troops The maneuvers were good for the photographer three hours and one hun- found time to help with a carnival on north country and the nation - the dred and twenty miles over a circuitous the "Island" to raise funds to beautify north country because of the sizable route to reach Ogdensburg from Canton! the community picnic area and trailer economic impact, the fact that the oper- Other Facts of Interest camp behind Charlie Cook's garage ation was a major event that brought A special sight for Canton residents (now Willow Island Restaurant). St. Lawrence County to the attention of occurred during payroll pickup time at -Two fatalities occurred when a the country, and, most importantly, the St. Lawrence County National Bank. Maryland private died of head injuries that the north country had the honor of National Guard and regular army units, when a telephone pole he was helping playing a critical role in what was a carrying machine guns and rifles, to unload hit him. The second died national defense operation; and the guarded the money handlers and their from meningitis. nation because valuable training under 836,000 or so in payroll. Merchants and -One soldier was court martialed field conditions (including the rain and tavern owners did a landslide business and given a dishonorable discharge for horrible humidity) was gained. The after the soldiers were paid off. Up- attacking a village police officer. soldiers, despite the mimic nature of wards of $20,000 (a vast sum in those -NBC and CBS radio (then CBC) the "war," had a pretty rough go of it days) was spent between March and made their headquarters in the dorm- and did not complain much. I was for- July at locations in Pierrepont and itory of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity tunate in being part of the tremendous Canton. house. undertaking, because it was, really, the -Trains ran daily from Watertown -The maneuvers "No Man's Land" first step in a long, five year march and Plattsburgh bringing food and was strikingly similar to the French- that would end on a battleship in Tokyo other supplies. These trains carried Belgium coastline, if one examines a Bay. fresh vegetables and fruits during the map of France and Belgium and com- week and ice cream on Sundays. Food pares the channel area with that of St. was also dropped in by parachute. Food Lawrence county between Ogdensburg About the Author poisoning occurred among some officers and Massena - a very interesting re- Mr. Dona covered the 1940 maneuvers and troops from egg sandwiches. semblance. for the Watertown Daily Times. He is a -Some $20,000 worth of straw was -Sickness among the troops from former resident of Canton who presently purchased for forage and for the en- the adverse weather was of nearly epi- lives in Bedford, Massachusetts. 34 April 1984

Itc~rrri!/it~!gccrt illi,t.!/ J;)t. rrc.tiot~.(Courtesy Canton Not c.rrrctly lilir, mothc,~t,rrrkc.s. (Courtesy Canton Historian's office) Historian's office)

A Very Big 3rd of July The Association extends apprecia- "We were sitting down at the hotel (Harrington. Ed.) one evening a week tion to the follo?rring people for or so later and Colonel Guthrie was with us. He was a southerner. He their contribution of fiftly do1lar.s turned to father and said, 'Well, Man-lee, with all these troops 'round here or more over the past tu*eltqe you mean you ain't gonna have a pee-rade on the Fourth of July."' months. So begins Atwood Manley's gleeful and fond memory of how he and a Barbours few stalwart citizens of Canton set off on a patriotic mission to organize a Barnhart Trust parade of war maneuver troops. The parade was actually held on the third John A. Baule of July, because the commanding officer believed the troops would want Mrs. Edward Blankman the Fourth to themselves. Here exerpted from a long conversation with Dr. & Mrs. Foster S. Brown Atwood is his account of that "big show." (Ed.) M/M Ralph Brown They had twelve hundred and fifty horses out on the Pike farm (the Canton Rotary Club main cavalry headquarters, Ed.) with the troops there. Came the evening. Canton Federal Savings & Loan Father, Colonel Guthrie and some other families got on top of the portico M/M Barry Carson -there was a second floor veranda right out on Main Street down at the Clark Insurance Agencies M/M Walter Clark hotel, and we had the prize level. Then we had a reviewing stand up in Betty N. Coots front of the old town hall; and the troops started coming down the Park Corning Glass Foundation Street road in columns of two. They'd been burnishing their brass and Dillingham, Jones. & Cissel polishing their leathers and grooming their horses - a gorgeous sight! Insurance In columns of two they came, down Park Street, up Elm Street, across Warren & Mary Dittes Jay Street, and as they came onto Main Street at the Jay Street crossing Dragon & Benware. P.C. they formed into columns of eight. They marched straight down Main Nils & Lynn Ekfelt Street to the riverside crossing, opposite the hotel (Hodskin House, where Paula Faust the IGA store now stands - Ed.) Then they turned in columns of four, up Judy & George Gibson Dr. & Mrs. Harry E. Howe over here to the flat iron turn up on State Street, then into twos and back Alice Van Iderstyne to the farm. Every inch of that march was protected by military police Institute of Museum Seyices standing shoulder to shoulder. The troopers marched between two rows of Fredereka L. Linder military police. Dori K. Lyons We had twenty-five thousand people in Canton that night; and we had M/M Orvo Markkula cars parked two and three miles out on every road out of Canton. People Massena Building Supply were walking in from two and three miles out - whole families. Main Molnar Tax Service Street was packed from the stores to the curbs. When seven o'clock struck New York State Council on there wasn't a thing, not even a mouse, on the pavement between the the Arts M/M Allan P. Newell railroad and the bridges. The Newell Companies Then of course these troopers all loved to sing. They had some M/M John Oliver I11 magnificent voices in the group. They came in with their colors flying Elaine Peterson first. General Powell came with his beautiful palomino mare leading the J.B. Pike. M.D. procession and his staff with colors flying. Then came a gorgeous band Pinto. Mucenski &Watson. P.C. playing all the old songs. The troopers'd all wail, and there'd be a band Frank & Anne Piskor coming in farther up - they had eight bands. These bands would be coming Dr. & Mrs. Gustave Rabson in playing popular and army numbers, the troopers singing their hearts St. Lawrence Gas out, riding their horses, clanking and everything. Just glistening and St. Lawrence National Bank George E. Schermerhorn stepping high. The horses felt it just as well as the men. They were just all Schermerhorn Boat Sales at their very best. It was simply a wonderful, wonderful sight. It was Mary Jane Watson probably the largest cavalry parade the army ever held. They had one M/M Harold Wilder down in Mississippi one time, but they said this one was bigger. Elizabeth C. Wood

-I April 1984 35

"IJrrr~rrrl~~"-rrrli~rr.nrr~cr frorrt tr c.o/locttor~of I;i~trt(r~rSC~,~IPS I)!/ I'C~P).(OI Mic/rtro/ C'olrsirro c!f ('1011 t.fJt.)t(,to.. The irony, of course, is that there was no parade for ttlr~returtling Viatnnrn I-eteralr. Vietnam Story: Boys Grow Up to be Soldiers by Thomas Coakley

By late afternoon, the sun had beaten ment. (Yes, just like the covered in the kill zone and we were forced to down for so long that you had stopped wagons in the old western movies. execute the ambush. The claymore feeling it. We had been assigned to an Some survival tactics are as basic as mines, the first line of attack failed to armored cavalry unit for three or four eating and sleeping.) It was break time detonate resulting in only a harmless days on a search and destroy mission. and I began talking to the guy from the "pop" of a blasting cap which exposed The mission of search and destroy cavalry unit who had been riding next our presence to the enemy. What wasn't new; we had been doing that on to me all day. With the usual inventive- ensued was the sound of enemy soldiers foot for months, walking and searching ness of conversation I began with, running in all directions, a volley of for the enemy by day and lying in am- "Where are you from?" Of all the small grenade throwing, and the need for our , bush by night. We were ground pound- world stories I'd encountered. this one platoon of eighteen men to get up and ers, the foot infantry, and none of us was most pleasant. The fellow was relocate in the pitch black of the jungle relished being assigned to the cavalry from Norwood, New York, a mere night. Worst of all, we were ordered to unit. Rather than walk, we now rode on stone's throw from my home in Canton.. link up with a South Vietnamese army tanks and armored personnel carriers The mutually shared familiarity with unit in ambush, which required walking that would crush their way through the St. Lawrence County provided a won- into their "kill zone" with only indirect. jungle. On foot we would move quietly, derfully reassuring feeling of nostalgia radio communication. All told, the noc- but the "cav" with their mammoth as we quizzed each other on local sports turnal activities were far from comfort- Chrysler engines in the track vehicles heroes, area schools, famous local ing, and I have forgotten how and telegraphed our position over hundreds saloons, and many other persons and when we rejoined the cavalry unit. I of yards, or so it seemed to us. The places of importance to each of us. We never saw the fellow from Norwood cavalry units covered far more territory spoke, yes fondly, of winter and how again. We parted with only first names. than our foot unit normally would, in- wonderful it would be to dress to keep a bit of a tradition in the field. That creasing our chances of combat and warm. We had talked for fifteen min- eliminated the possibility of learning decreasing our chances of survival. Yet utes, then the army intruded once later if an acquaintance had been killed. the men of the cav unit abhorred the again, ordering our foot infantry to "Hours of boredom, followed by thought of being foot soldiers with the saddle up and proceed back into the seconds of terror." That was a favorite gruelling daily schedule of walking jungle about 500 yards to set up an cliche describing one's tour in Vietnam. miles and sleeping night after night in ambush. True to form, we were robbed Often times I was left in these hours of the jungle. They felt uneasy without of the one part of the cav assignment waiting to contemplate all the circum- the firepower of tanks and fifty caliber that we did appreciate: the chance to stances that led to my being twelve machine guns. sleep almost restfully within the safer thousand miles from home. It was 1969 By four o'clock the day's operations confines of the "covered wagon" and very few of us suffered from any were done, and the track vehicles were encampment. illusion of winning a war. Nixon had forming a circle for the night's encamp- That night we heard the enemy with- already promised the people to reduce April 1984

and self-esteem. The noble cause of sur- vival carried the day, pushing us to skillful performance of duty, and often heroic actions. Self-esteem, a mere extension of survival, dictated that we perform well at what we were trained for, and, when the situation demanded, survival became secondary to the self- esteem that only perfect execution of one's duties could provide. The political insanity surrounding the war and the severely weakened feelings of patriotic cause, placed a very heavy importance on the internalized motivation of survival and personal esteem. The U.S. presence of ground combat troops in Vietnam ended in 1973, and 7'11(1(I tctltot. (c~',tt(,t.)c~t (I hrr.soc.(rtttp (Photo courtesy of the author) the nightly news no longer reported the body count just prior to the Dow Jones troops and end the war. Rumors were win. Taking land was like building Industrial average. Society gladly rampant that The Big Red 1 (First sand castles by the sea. When the job closed the door on an inglorious esca- Division) would be the first to be with- was completed, these efforts would be pade, unwilling to be consumed with drawn, and we all waited anxiously for wiped out within days by the incoming its costs and its failure. But, noticed or that day. Who of us could have known tide of North Vietnamese and Viet not, Vietnam did leave its afflictions the emptiness of that promise, that war Cong. while we were off building castles upon us. Families of 57,000 dead, would carry on four more years. It elsewhere. twenty-nine from St. Lawrence County, seemed to most of us a trick of bad fate Division on the homefront was anoth- grieved in private, their sadness height- that kept us fighting for our lives while er factor making this an entirely differ- ened by the lack of public recognition. the politicians contemplated the great ent war. St. Lawrence County played a Seventy-five thousand disabled veterans question of how to "leave with dignity". major role regarding this aspect of the began reassembling their lives again The physical events leading to the war as well. Local disenchantment and without public recognition. As time departure for, and the arrival in. Viet- eventual protest over the war in all passed, delayed reactions to the war nam are a story in themselves, but the probability began with the various col- began to set in. The toxic chemical greater story may be in the thought leges in the county. but as time moved dioxin used in agent orange, an exten- process and the conditioning that led on, the war continued to lose popularity. sively used jungle defoliant, began to many of us there. Our generation saw and significant numbers of "stop the take its toll among vets, in the form of great numbers of heroic World War I1 war advocates" could be counted beyond death, nerve disorder, skin disorder, movies, and spent countless days of the campuses in the traditionally more and even birth defects. Delayed effects childhood mimicking those celluloid conservative business and farming com- of the war began to take their toll men- heroes. Many of us had fathers, uncles munities as well. As well represented tally in the form of Post Traumatic and family friends who had fought in as St. Lawrence County was in the Stress Disorder, which in its blandest that war of a truly noble cause. The battlefields of Vietnam, the county was form, surfaces as recurring Vietnam- end result for so many of us was an also representative of the nation as a related bad dreams. It is estimated inpenetrable (though possibly subcon- whole in the peace effort. that as many as 80,000 Vietnam vets sious) belief in the infallibility of the We were very aware of the peace contend with some form of this problem. United States government. The belief movement raging on the homefront, And, saddest of all, Vietnam veterans in the infallibility strengthened by a and a great number of soldiers firmly in the thousands, possibly approaching loyalty that put one's own safety second believed that the protesters were right the number killed in Vietnam, have to the country's call, led so many young in their efforts. The same peace sign chosen to end their own lives. men from St. Lawrence County and carried by the protesters at home, was At the root of many of the problems elsewhere to volunteer or join when the a most popular symbol in Vietnam by mentioned above, the Vietnam veteran draft notice came. And young they 1969. It was a symbol of hope that the returned to a hostile society, sometimes were; the average age of the Vietnam diplomats would be pushed to bring an openly hostile, where overly zealous veteran was nineteen versus twenty-six end to the war sooner rather than later. war protesters spit on the returning vet in World War 11. The typical infantry There were of course an equally great in an erroneous displacement of anger soldiers in Vietnam was the rural, number of soldiers who aborred the from the government to the returning small town boy just out of high school; lack of patriotism in the states. I would soldier; and sometimes passively hostile. and St. Lawrence County gave its not venture to say what view carried where there were no parades, no recog- share, nearly thirty-seven hundred the majority. That depended on the nition, and no "thanks" for his year of Vietnam era veterans. time and the place. Nevertheless, the sacrifice. He returned two years Why didn't patriotism, loyalty, and a division at home and division in behind his contemporaries with respect sense of government infallibility carry Vietnam had all but eliminated those to career. To be sure the obvious skills the day in Vietnam? The answers are noble and patriotic causes that moti- developed in Vietnam carried little many. For one, the war just wasn't the vated, so well, our own fathers in value in society's workplace, and the same as World War 11. Many heroic World War 11. I would hasten to add indirect skills of leadership, and task acts were performed in that war of a that the division of opinion among the orientation were ignored. He returned very clear and unmistakable cause. In troops very seldom affected perform- to a government offering considerably Vietnam heroic deeds were done but it ance. Vietnam, like all wars had its less than the WWII vet received in the was all but impossible to determine if heroic deeds, but the noble causes or form of a GI bill, and he returned to an they had any meaning. Contrary to motivators of these deeds were inter- antiquated and inept Veterans Admin- World War 11, there was nothing to nalized and personalized into survival istration, which often failed miserably April 1984 in treating or even recognizing medical need. But the worst problems was the intangible ones, society's attitude. People would not listen to the veteran. America was bred on stories of winning and Vietnam was not that kind of story. Society's attitude had a great deal to do with the vet's ability to get back on track. After WWII the patriotic attitudes that prevailed helped to make jobs readily available to the returning vet. After Vietnam, however, those returning nineteen year olds with little or no previous job experience, found a society unwilling to bend in the slight- est to help in securing that first job. Sad as it may sound vets often learned the hard way that it was better to omit Vietnam entirely from their resume. To be sure a great number of returning Vietnam vets were able to duck the roadblocks of a hostile society. Typically those vets who were older and who had already acquired a college degree or a previous job were able to rejoin society, filling their lives with family and occu- pations, and more often than not, writ- ing off Vietnam as a wasted year. Many other veterans never found their niche, and never got on track, and therefore the wounds of their tour in Vietnarn and their hostile return to the U.S. are not easily forgotten. Almost as if society can now better cope with the healing processes that never took place, the subject of Vietnam has recently taken on a new resurgence of sorts, and again activities within our county portray events nationwide. After ten years, a national memorial to the Vietnam dead and missing in action was erected totally through private donations. In a similar manner a memorial to St. Lawrence County's veterans killed in Vietnam was recently established at the courthouse in Canton. Nationally the thirteen part public tele- vision series on Vietnam presented the Congr~ssnrat? Da /lid Mnrtin a nd Colonel David Hannum. Jr. unveiling Kororc- viewing public with its first chance to Vietnam memorial on Memorial Day, 1983. (Photo courtesy of the author) learn about Vietnam in an objective environment that only the distance of the Vietnam Era veteran. In unity and sons we learn in this post-mortem will time could provide. Locally, university largely through the efforts of the deter the recurrence of such a situation courses are being offered with surpris- Vietnam Veterans of America, veterans again. That in itself would give Vietnam ing popularity to a student audience have forced the government to recognize a happy ending. The real stories, how- whose average age was five years at the effects of agent orange and of Post ever, are the individual stories from an the height of the U.S. involvement in Traumatic Stress Disorder. In attack- individualistic war. The interest in Vietnam. Nationally, Vietnam Veterans ing the latter problem a national out- Vietnam history is here and will pass, Service Organizations are beginning to reach program has been created to pro- but while it is here there is a great grow and flourish. Ten years ago that vide Vietnam era veteran counselling. opportunity for Vietnam veterans to could not have happened. Never in our and again, St. Lawrence County has, make their reconciliation with society. history had a group returned from war through the efforts of many, established Society never has been and never will in such a nonaligned manner, coming such a program locally. be so receptive as it is today. It is in home one by one, quietly absorbed into Indeed the story on Vietnam is not this area that the story of Vietnam can society, and with a great deal of politi- yet complete. Nationally the bitter hopefully arrive at many many happy cal polarization over the war they just tasting end in 1975 is being countered endings. left behind. Locally, a group has been by a nation of people who have sought ********** formed, the Vietnam Veterans of St. to understand more fully the war and About the Author Lawrence County, with the intentions its effect on the soldier. If we can avoid Thomas Coakley spent four months in of vet comraderee, the enhancement of recollecting the Vietnam war as the Vietnam before being severely wound- the Vietnam veteran's public image, continuation of some sort of "glorious ed. He teaches in the Social Sciences and the general support and service to human tradition", then maybe the les- department at St. Lawrence University. 38 April 1984

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