GENERAL HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, continued ...
CHAPTER XVIII.
PROMISCUOUS ITEMS.
The following figures show the population of the county at different dates: 1800, 13,047; 1810, 19,536; 1814, 20,210; 1820, 22,995; 1825, 26,229; 1830, 29,525; 1835, 30,173; 1840, 30,446; 1845, 31,957; 1850, 33,126; 1855, 31,137; 1860, 31,930; 1865, 31,710; 1870, 31,832; 1875, 32,592; 1880, 32,695.
A comparative view of the population may be seen by noticing in several relations, the percentages in the county and State.
The increase of population in the county from 1870 to ’75 was 2.39 per cent., while that in the State was 7.21 per cent.; the increase of foreign population was, in the county 2.37 per cent.; in the State 5.03 per cent.; the percentage of increase of white population was, in the county 2.23; in the State 7.22; increase of colored population, in the county 10.02; in the State 6.80.
In the matter of nativity, Greene county shows a large percentage of inhabitants born in the county, it being 69.43 per cent., while the like average throughout the State was only 53.33 per cent.
The foreign born population of this county is only 7.81 per cent. of its inhabitants, while that of the State is 25.45.
PREVAILING DISEASES.
The prevailing diseases of the county may be shown by the diseases causing death, as reported by the census of 1875, for the year ending June 1st as follows: Unknown causes, 22; scarlet fever, 33; enteric fever, 18; diphtheria, 25; consumption, 64; dropsy, 15; paralysis, 18; pneumonia, 37; old age, 29; total number of deaths, 439; of these, 22 were from unknown causes; 194 from general diseases; 55 from diseases of the nervous system; 23 from diseases of the circulatory system; 52 from diseases of the respiratory system; 33 from diseases of digestive organs; 5 from diseases of the urinary and generative organs, and 55 from causes nearly all of which were not necessarily either general or local in their association.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
THE HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, NY
Re: THE HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, NY
GENERAL HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, continued ...
CHAPTER XVIII.
PROMISCUOUS ITEMS, continued ...
COUNTY BUILDINGS.
Previous to the erection of a court house, courts were held in an academy building at Catskill, and criminals were confined in the Albany county jail.
The academy and its site was purchased May 26th 1801 by the county, of Stephen Day, Ira Day, George and Thomas Hale and John V.D.S. Scott for “100 cents good and lawful money.”
In January 1803, the Court of Common Pleas directed the sheriff to take possession of the building and grounds.
March 4th 1803, the Legislature authorized the supervisors of this county to levy and raise $1,000 with which to complete the jail which had been begun.
By a similar act of March 27th 1804, they were authorized to raise another sum of $1,000 for the same purpose.
This jail is of stone.
A wooden building for a court house, was erected in 1812, which was burned, and a new edifice of brick was afterward erected in its place.
An enlargement of the lot was made by the purchase of land 33X33 feet in the rear, of John Brestead, December 13th 1862.
County Poor House. – October 1825 the board of supervisors appointed a committee to select a site for a county poor house.
In pursuance of their report a committee was appointed February 16th 1826, with power to purchase a farm and erect buildings.
They did so, and under an act of Legislature, which had been passed January 13th, the supervisors were allowed to raise $5,000 to build the house.
The farm was located in Cairo, and consisted of 10 ¾ acres.
This farm was sold by the county to Hiram Stewart, December 27th 1839, and a new tract was purchased in the same town.
The annual value of crops from it were reported in 1860 at $900.
The poor house was a wooden building, in three departments, respectively 30 x 40, 20 x 120, and 20 x 120 feet.
They were valued at $5,000.
A new building is now in course of erection, having been begun in the summer of 1883.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
CHAPTER XVIII.
PROMISCUOUS ITEMS, continued ...
COUNTY BUILDINGS.
Previous to the erection of a court house, courts were held in an academy building at Catskill, and criminals were confined in the Albany county jail.
The academy and its site was purchased May 26th 1801 by the county, of Stephen Day, Ira Day, George and Thomas Hale and John V.D.S. Scott for “100 cents good and lawful money.”
In January 1803, the Court of Common Pleas directed the sheriff to take possession of the building and grounds.
March 4th 1803, the Legislature authorized the supervisors of this county to levy and raise $1,000 with which to complete the jail which had been begun.
By a similar act of March 27th 1804, they were authorized to raise another sum of $1,000 for the same purpose.
This jail is of stone.
A wooden building for a court house, was erected in 1812, which was burned, and a new edifice of brick was afterward erected in its place.
An enlargement of the lot was made by the purchase of land 33X33 feet in the rear, of John Brestead, December 13th 1862.
County Poor House. – October 1825 the board of supervisors appointed a committee to select a site for a county poor house.
In pursuance of their report a committee was appointed February 16th 1826, with power to purchase a farm and erect buildings.
They did so, and under an act of Legislature, which had been passed January 13th, the supervisors were allowed to raise $5,000 to build the house.
The farm was located in Cairo, and consisted of 10 ¾ acres.
This farm was sold by the county to Hiram Stewart, December 27th 1839, and a new tract was purchased in the same town.
The annual value of crops from it were reported in 1860 at $900.
The poor house was a wooden building, in three departments, respectively 30 x 40, 20 x 120, and 20 x 120 feet.
They were valued at $5,000.
A new building is now in course of erection, having been begun in the summer of 1883.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: THE HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, NY
GENERAL HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, continued ...
CHAPTER XVIII.
PROMISCUOUS ITEMS, concluded ...
WILD ANIMALS.
An act of Legislature passed April 3rd 1790, gave a bounty of 3 [pounds] sterling for every grown wolf or panther killed in this county, and half that sum for every like animal under one year of age.
The law required that the head of the animal, with the entire skin thereon, should be taken before any justice of the peace or supervisor and, upon the affidavit of the person producing it, that it was killed within the county, that officer should issue a certificate, which, being presented to the supervisor, would be allowed as a county charge.
This bounty was afterward increased, and the price changed at different times during the first thirty years of the existence of Greene county.
During most of this time the bounty was $20 for grown animals and $10 for cubs.
From 1800 to 1820 the county paid bounties on 96 wolves and 5 panthers.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
CHAPTER XVIII.
PROMISCUOUS ITEMS, concluded ...
WILD ANIMALS.
An act of Legislature passed April 3rd 1790, gave a bounty of 3 [pounds] sterling for every grown wolf or panther killed in this county, and half that sum for every like animal under one year of age.
The law required that the head of the animal, with the entire skin thereon, should be taken before any justice of the peace or supervisor and, upon the affidavit of the person producing it, that it was killed within the county, that officer should issue a certificate, which, being presented to the supervisor, would be allowed as a county charge.
This bounty was afterward increased, and the price changed at different times during the first thirty years of the existence of Greene county.
During most of this time the bounty was $20 for grown animals and $10 for cubs.
From 1800 to 1820 the county paid bounties on 96 wolves and 5 panthers.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: THE HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, NY
GENERAL HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, continued ...
CHAPTER XIX.
RECORD OF THE CIVIL WAR.
When the war clouds of 1861 began to darken the political horizon, the patriotic blood of Greene county was fired to take a part in the contest.
In the latter part of May, Company A, of the old 20th regiment of militia, and the Catskill Engineer Corps, took up their line of march to join the regiment at Kingston, and thence in the early part of June, to the seat of war.
The regiment was under command of Colonel George W. Pratt of this county.
In the emergency of the hour, party differences were forgotten, and all joined in expressions of patriotic devotion.
Enthusiastic war-meetings were held, liberty-poles were raised, and the stars and stripes floated on the air from conspicuous places in every village and hamlet.
As the echoes of the boom of war floated over the land, the sons of Greene, shoulder to shoulder with those of her sister counties, stood ready to march to the front of the battle.
During the summer of 1861, enlistments were numerous, and the prospect seemed to promise more men from Greene than her quota required.
The county seat was alive with volunteers, some enlisting there and others passing through on their way to join regiments recruiting at other places.
In December of that year, the supervisors at their meeting resolved to petition the Legislature to provide for the collection of its quota of the war tax of $20,000,000 which Congress had levied on the country, through the regular channel of tax collections.
In April 1862, recruits had poured in so rapidly that the department closed its doors against further enlistment.
In July, however, a call for 300,000 men was made, and enlistments again flowed in.
Meetings were held in the different towns to provide for the filling of the quota, and to encourage enlistments by stimulating speeches and the offers of reward.
Committees were appointed and money was raised by voluntary subscriptions for the payment of bounties.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
CHAPTER XIX.
RECORD OF THE CIVIL WAR.
When the war clouds of 1861 began to darken the political horizon, the patriotic blood of Greene county was fired to take a part in the contest.
In the latter part of May, Company A, of the old 20th regiment of militia, and the Catskill Engineer Corps, took up their line of march to join the regiment at Kingston, and thence in the early part of June, to the seat of war.
The regiment was under command of Colonel George W. Pratt of this county.
In the emergency of the hour, party differences were forgotten, and all joined in expressions of patriotic devotion.
Enthusiastic war-meetings were held, liberty-poles were raised, and the stars and stripes floated on the air from conspicuous places in every village and hamlet.
As the echoes of the boom of war floated over the land, the sons of Greene, shoulder to shoulder with those of her sister counties, stood ready to march to the front of the battle.
During the summer of 1861, enlistments were numerous, and the prospect seemed to promise more men from Greene than her quota required.
The county seat was alive with volunteers, some enlisting there and others passing through on their way to join regiments recruiting at other places.
In December of that year, the supervisors at their meeting resolved to petition the Legislature to provide for the collection of its quota of the war tax of $20,000,000 which Congress had levied on the country, through the regular channel of tax collections.
In April 1862, recruits had poured in so rapidly that the department closed its doors against further enlistment.
In July, however, a call for 300,000 men was made, and enlistments again flowed in.
Meetings were held in the different towns to provide for the filling of the quota, and to encourage enlistments by stimulating speeches and the offers of reward.
Committees were appointed and money was raised by voluntary subscriptions for the payment of bounties.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: THE HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, NY
GENERAL HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, continued ...
CHAPTER XIX.
RECORD OF THE CIVIL WAR, continued ...
Drafting now began to be talked of as one of the possibilities in case the quota was not filled with volunteers.
A recruiting office was opened in the store which had been occupied by D.J. Ely, in Catskill.
The interior towns were specially active, and Windham, Durham, Hunter, Greenville and Coxsackie did themselves honor in the readiness with which they responded.
To quiet any apprehensions of a draft, Lucius Robinson, then controller, wrote to the Windham Journal:
“We do not think that any draft will be made for the purpose of raising our proportion of the 300,000."
* * *
“I am highly gratified by the patriotic spirit shown by old Windham, and I am proud to claim it as my native town."
* * *
"The news is very encouraging from most parts of the State."
"I am paying out upwards of $10,000 per day in bounties, and the amount is rapidly increasing.”
The recruiting officers for the county were: Messrs. Greene and Hollister in Coxsackie; Barker in Greenville; Pierson in Cairo; Everett in Durham; Stimpson in Windham; Overbaugh, Oakley, Thomas and Barber in Catskill; and Grinnell in Prattsville.
As recruiting progressed, the voice of those who opposed the prosecution of war was heard in tones of discouragement, and the war department issued orders for the arrest of persons guilty of that offense.
The 5th New York heavy artillery, then doing garrison duty at Fort Marshall, Maryland, was strengthened by recruits from this county.
By the 21st of August, the first senatorial regiment which had been raised under the call of July, was full.
This regiment was the 120th New York infantry also known as the Washington Guard.
Greene county furnished companies D, K, and F.
The recruiting of another regiment in this senatorial district was now provided for.
The regiment was to be called The Mountain Legion, numbered as the 156th New York infantry and organized under the command of Colonel Erastus Cooke, of Kingston.
A second call for 300,000 men had now been made and efforts were put forth by the different towns, offering small bounties to encourage enlistments.
Catskill offered a bounty of $50, and Coxsackie and Athens offered local bounties of $100 for each volunteer.
An enrollment was made in September preparatory to a draft, but the draft was postponed from one date to another until the quota was filled without its being carried into effect.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
CHAPTER XIX.
RECORD OF THE CIVIL WAR, continued ...
Drafting now began to be talked of as one of the possibilities in case the quota was not filled with volunteers.
A recruiting office was opened in the store which had been occupied by D.J. Ely, in Catskill.
The interior towns were specially active, and Windham, Durham, Hunter, Greenville and Coxsackie did themselves honor in the readiness with which they responded.
To quiet any apprehensions of a draft, Lucius Robinson, then controller, wrote to the Windham Journal:
“We do not think that any draft will be made for the purpose of raising our proportion of the 300,000."
* * *
“I am highly gratified by the patriotic spirit shown by old Windham, and I am proud to claim it as my native town."
* * *
"The news is very encouraging from most parts of the State."
"I am paying out upwards of $10,000 per day in bounties, and the amount is rapidly increasing.”
The recruiting officers for the county were: Messrs. Greene and Hollister in Coxsackie; Barker in Greenville; Pierson in Cairo; Everett in Durham; Stimpson in Windham; Overbaugh, Oakley, Thomas and Barber in Catskill; and Grinnell in Prattsville.
As recruiting progressed, the voice of those who opposed the prosecution of war was heard in tones of discouragement, and the war department issued orders for the arrest of persons guilty of that offense.
The 5th New York heavy artillery, then doing garrison duty at Fort Marshall, Maryland, was strengthened by recruits from this county.
By the 21st of August, the first senatorial regiment which had been raised under the call of July, was full.
This regiment was the 120th New York infantry also known as the Washington Guard.
Greene county furnished companies D, K, and F.
The recruiting of another regiment in this senatorial district was now provided for.
The regiment was to be called The Mountain Legion, numbered as the 156th New York infantry and organized under the command of Colonel Erastus Cooke, of Kingston.
A second call for 300,000 men had now been made and efforts were put forth by the different towns, offering small bounties to encourage enlistments.
Catskill offered a bounty of $50, and Coxsackie and Athens offered local bounties of $100 for each volunteer.
An enrollment was made in September preparatory to a draft, but the draft was postponed from one date to another until the quota was filled without its being carried into effect.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: THE HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, NY
GENERAL HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, continued ...
CHAPTER XIX.
RECORD OF THE CIVIL WAR, continued ...
During the autumn of 1862, when a draft was talked of, examining surgeons were appointed to examine applicants and to decide as to who were exempt from military duty on account of physical disabilities.
Dr. E. L. Ingersoll and Abel Brace were charged with that duty, and their reports show that there were 1,828 applications to them for certificates of exemption from military duty.
In 1,482 cases such certificates were granted, and in the remaining number they were refused.
Of those granted the causes upon which they were founded were lumbar abscess 1, asthma 41, bronchial affection 76, chronic diarrhea 10, rheumatism 18, defective vision 62, defective speech 4, deafness 37, disease of bowels 9, disease of liver 102, disease of heart 107, epilepsy 9, fistula in ano 5, goiter 3, gravel 3, hemorrhoids 95, hernia 236, necrosis 9, pulmonary disease 153, renal disease 69, spinal disease 43, tumor 8, urinary calculi 8, unfitness for service 280, varicose veins 37, varicocele 60.
They were from Ashland 42, Athens 120, Catskill 435, Cairo 106, Coxsackie 120, Durham 170, Greenville 91, Halcott 9, Hunter 60, Jewett 41, Lexington 23, New Baltimore 102, Prattsville 73, Windham 90.
The ladies, meanwhile, with true womanly instinct, had taken earnest hold of the work of preparing materials for the relief of the suffering soldiers.
Refreshments, blankets, articles of clothing and knick-knacks were provided and forwarded through the different channels to the seat of war.
Up to the beginning of 1863 they had sent for the comfort and relief of the men in hospitals and in the field long lists of articles which we cannot here enumerate.
They had frequent meetings where, with willing hearts and nimble fingers, they prepared these various articles; they canvassed the villages and neighborhoods for money or materials, whichever the people could most conveniently give; and they held festivals and concerts to raise money to buy for the purpose what could not be otherwise obtained.
Their work sent joy to the hearts of hundreds of those who received their gifts.
They were making themselves a noble record, and one which it affords the historian pleasure to place upon these pages, where the eye of coming generations may see the beauty of their example.
It was not prompted by any sordid ambition; it was to be rewarded by no measure of worldly gain or glory.
We know not even the names of those who participated in it, but the work of those noble-hearted women is delightful to contemplate, as one of the bright chapters of that dark period of war.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
CHAPTER XIX.
RECORD OF THE CIVIL WAR, continued ...
During the autumn of 1862, when a draft was talked of, examining surgeons were appointed to examine applicants and to decide as to who were exempt from military duty on account of physical disabilities.
Dr. E. L. Ingersoll and Abel Brace were charged with that duty, and their reports show that there were 1,828 applications to them for certificates of exemption from military duty.
In 1,482 cases such certificates were granted, and in the remaining number they were refused.
Of those granted the causes upon which they were founded were lumbar abscess 1, asthma 41, bronchial affection 76, chronic diarrhea 10, rheumatism 18, defective vision 62, defective speech 4, deafness 37, disease of bowels 9, disease of liver 102, disease of heart 107, epilepsy 9, fistula in ano 5, goiter 3, gravel 3, hemorrhoids 95, hernia 236, necrosis 9, pulmonary disease 153, renal disease 69, spinal disease 43, tumor 8, urinary calculi 8, unfitness for service 280, varicose veins 37, varicocele 60.
They were from Ashland 42, Athens 120, Catskill 435, Cairo 106, Coxsackie 120, Durham 170, Greenville 91, Halcott 9, Hunter 60, Jewett 41, Lexington 23, New Baltimore 102, Prattsville 73, Windham 90.
The ladies, meanwhile, with true womanly instinct, had taken earnest hold of the work of preparing materials for the relief of the suffering soldiers.
Refreshments, blankets, articles of clothing and knick-knacks were provided and forwarded through the different channels to the seat of war.
Up to the beginning of 1863 they had sent for the comfort and relief of the men in hospitals and in the field long lists of articles which we cannot here enumerate.
They had frequent meetings where, with willing hearts and nimble fingers, they prepared these various articles; they canvassed the villages and neighborhoods for money or materials, whichever the people could most conveniently give; and they held festivals and concerts to raise money to buy for the purpose what could not be otherwise obtained.
Their work sent joy to the hearts of hundreds of those who received their gifts.
They were making themselves a noble record, and one which it affords the historian pleasure to place upon these pages, where the eye of coming generations may see the beauty of their example.
It was not prompted by any sordid ambition; it was to be rewarded by no measure of worldly gain or glory.
We know not even the names of those who participated in it, but the work of those noble-hearted women is delightful to contemplate, as one of the bright chapters of that dark period of war.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: THE HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, NY
GENERAL HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, continued ...
CHAPTER XIX.
RECORD OF THE CIVIL WAR, continued ...
In May 1863 the Legislature passed a bill offering a bounty of $75 for enlistments of three-years men.
An enrollment was made under the new conscription act, and a draft was talked of.
In July the terrible draft riots occurred in New York.
But the draft in this district was quietly consummated.
It took place at Kingston, beginning on Monday, September 7th.
Including the excess of 50 per cent., which was drawn for contingencies, the numbers drawn from the towns of this county were Ashland, 28; Athens, 94; Cairo, 59; Coxsackie, 101; Catskill, 232; Durham 77; Greenville, 71; Hunter, 42; Halcott, 17; Jewett, 21; Lexington, 38; New Baltimore, 68; Prattsville, 32; Windham, 43.
February 19th 1864, the board of supervisors, after several days deliberation, decided to raise $280,000 by issuing the bonds of the county, under the authority of Chapter 8 of the Laws of 1864.
This sum was to be used in paying bounties and furnishing aid for the families of volunteers in the military or naval service of the United States.
A bounty of $325 was offered for every volunteer, and a premium of $25 for procuring a recruit.
The following special recruiting officers were appointed: Albert Tuttle, Ashland; David Whiting, Athens; Edgar Russell, J. Atwater Cooke and J.H. Bagley jr., Catskill; George Houghtaling, Coxsackie; M.B. Mattice, Durham; J.T. Moseman, Halcott; N.H. Gray, Hunter; H. A. Towner, Jewett; Isaac Kipp, Lexington; Edgar Halstead, New Baltimore; Zadoc Pratt, Prattsville; James Laughran, Windham; B.S. McCabe, Greenville; and E.L. Dutcher, Cairo.
About this time the 80th N.Y. infantry (20th militia), having served its time, returned to Kingston, three hundred and fifty strong, where it was enthusiastically received by the people.
A call for 500,000 men had been made February 1st; the ranks of the regiment were refilled with recruits under this call; and the regiment returned to the field with nearly 800 men.
The board of supervisors, March 1st, called for an additional sum of $100,000, to be raised on the bonds of the county.
Volunteers were now wanted for which the county and local bounties offered were $345.
To provide for the quota under the call of March 14th for 200,000 men, the supervisors met March 22nd, and on the following day resolved to bond the county to the amount of $110,000 for this purpose.
At this time bonds to the amount of $150,000, ordered by the resolutions of February 19th, had been sold, and the supervisors directed the further sale of those bonds to cease.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
CHAPTER XIX.
RECORD OF THE CIVIL WAR, continued ...
In May 1863 the Legislature passed a bill offering a bounty of $75 for enlistments of three-years men.
An enrollment was made under the new conscription act, and a draft was talked of.
In July the terrible draft riots occurred in New York.
But the draft in this district was quietly consummated.
It took place at Kingston, beginning on Monday, September 7th.
Including the excess of 50 per cent., which was drawn for contingencies, the numbers drawn from the towns of this county were Ashland, 28; Athens, 94; Cairo, 59; Coxsackie, 101; Catskill, 232; Durham 77; Greenville, 71; Hunter, 42; Halcott, 17; Jewett, 21; Lexington, 38; New Baltimore, 68; Prattsville, 32; Windham, 43.
February 19th 1864, the board of supervisors, after several days deliberation, decided to raise $280,000 by issuing the bonds of the county, under the authority of Chapter 8 of the Laws of 1864.
This sum was to be used in paying bounties and furnishing aid for the families of volunteers in the military or naval service of the United States.
A bounty of $325 was offered for every volunteer, and a premium of $25 for procuring a recruit.
The following special recruiting officers were appointed: Albert Tuttle, Ashland; David Whiting, Athens; Edgar Russell, J. Atwater Cooke and J.H. Bagley jr., Catskill; George Houghtaling, Coxsackie; M.B. Mattice, Durham; J.T. Moseman, Halcott; N.H. Gray, Hunter; H. A. Towner, Jewett; Isaac Kipp, Lexington; Edgar Halstead, New Baltimore; Zadoc Pratt, Prattsville; James Laughran, Windham; B.S. McCabe, Greenville; and E.L. Dutcher, Cairo.
About this time the 80th N.Y. infantry (20th militia), having served its time, returned to Kingston, three hundred and fifty strong, where it was enthusiastically received by the people.
A call for 500,000 men had been made February 1st; the ranks of the regiment were refilled with recruits under this call; and the regiment returned to the field with nearly 800 men.
The board of supervisors, March 1st, called for an additional sum of $100,000, to be raised on the bonds of the county.
Volunteers were now wanted for which the county and local bounties offered were $345.
To provide for the quota under the call of March 14th for 200,000 men, the supervisors met March 22nd, and on the following day resolved to bond the county to the amount of $110,000 for this purpose.
At this time bonds to the amount of $150,000, ordered by the resolutions of February 19th, had been sold, and the supervisors directed the further sale of those bonds to cease.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: THE HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, NY
GENERAL HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, continued ...
CHAPTER XIX.
RECORD OF THE CIVIL WAR, continued ...
A draft was ordered in the latter part of May, but Greene county had filled its quota under all calls.
Under the call of July 18th for 500,000 men the different towns held meetings to raise money to pay the bounties.
The matter, however, was left to the supervisors, who met August 15th to provide for the quotas which were then due for the different towns, as follows: Ashland, 22, Athens, 72; Cairo, 67; Catskill, 204; Coxsackie, 89; Durham, 67; Greenville, 67; Lexington, 35; Hunter, 35; Jewett, 25; Prattsville, 27; Windham, 41; New Baltimore, 73; Halcott,12.
August 16th the board resolved to pay $350 bounty and $50 each for procuring volunteers.
At this time the bonds of the county had been sold to the amount of $260,000.
Some difficulty appears now to have been met in raising the necessary funds, and still further difficulty in procuring volunteers.
The supervisors resolved to issue bonds of the county to the amount of $300,000.
The board met again September 13th, and were in session several days, considering plans for meeting the demands of the hour.
The leading citizens were invited to confer with them and to suggest possible plans.
It was finally decided to offer a bounty of $800 to be paid part in cash and part in county bonds; and, an additional premium of $50 for procuring volunteers.
The draft at this time followed on the 19th.
A.P. Jones, B.S. McCabe and B.B. Osborn were appointed a committee to secure volunteers, and execute the plan.
The board met again on the 21st , and passed a resolution that $700,000 be raised on credit of the county for war purposes, $300,000 by immediate tax and $400,000 by bonds to run ten years.
From that time to the 13th of October the board was frequently in session.
Owing to the obscurity in which the record of their proceeding is wrapped, we cannot tell the steps by which they reached the consummation of the business which was announced to the chair on the day last mentioned, to the effect that the quota of Greene county under the last call was filled.
The county treasurer’s report, November 23rd 1864, shows that the sum of $822,502.82 had been received for the volunteer fund, from which $713,201.98 had been paid to 1,264 volunteers or substitutes.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
CHAPTER XIX.
RECORD OF THE CIVIL WAR, continued ...
A draft was ordered in the latter part of May, but Greene county had filled its quota under all calls.
Under the call of July 18th for 500,000 men the different towns held meetings to raise money to pay the bounties.
The matter, however, was left to the supervisors, who met August 15th to provide for the quotas which were then due for the different towns, as follows: Ashland, 22, Athens, 72; Cairo, 67; Catskill, 204; Coxsackie, 89; Durham, 67; Greenville, 67; Lexington, 35; Hunter, 35; Jewett, 25; Prattsville, 27; Windham, 41; New Baltimore, 73; Halcott,12.
August 16th the board resolved to pay $350 bounty and $50 each for procuring volunteers.
At this time the bonds of the county had been sold to the amount of $260,000.
Some difficulty appears now to have been met in raising the necessary funds, and still further difficulty in procuring volunteers.
The supervisors resolved to issue bonds of the county to the amount of $300,000.
The board met again September 13th, and were in session several days, considering plans for meeting the demands of the hour.
The leading citizens were invited to confer with them and to suggest possible plans.
It was finally decided to offer a bounty of $800 to be paid part in cash and part in county bonds; and, an additional premium of $50 for procuring volunteers.
The draft at this time followed on the 19th.
A.P. Jones, B.S. McCabe and B.B. Osborn were appointed a committee to secure volunteers, and execute the plan.
The board met again on the 21st , and passed a resolution that $700,000 be raised on credit of the county for war purposes, $300,000 by immediate tax and $400,000 by bonds to run ten years.
From that time to the 13th of October the board was frequently in session.
Owing to the obscurity in which the record of their proceeding is wrapped, we cannot tell the steps by which they reached the consummation of the business which was announced to the chair on the day last mentioned, to the effect that the quota of Greene county under the last call was filled.
The county treasurer’s report, November 23rd 1864, shows that the sum of $822,502.82 had been received for the volunteer fund, from which $713,201.98 had been paid to 1,264 volunteers or substitutes.
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: THE HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, NY
GENERAL HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, continued ...
CHAPTER XIX.
RECORD OF THE CIVIL WAR, continued ...
Another call was made for 300,000 men in December.
The supervisors met December 27th to provide for it.
The board on the following day prepared a petition to the Legislature, asking that body to pass a law making a uniform rate of bounties to be paid by the State.
The petition was not successful, and the supervisors met again on the 25th of January and voted to raise $500,000 for war purposes.
A committee was appointed to attend to procuring volunteers, and invested with power to contract with any party who could give proper security for furnishing volunteers to fill the quota, and to pay what they should consider necessary, not to exceed $750 each, for men to serve three years; $540 for two years; and $325 for one year.
After advertising for proposals until January 31st, the contract was given to Messrs. J.A. Meech, A.P. Jones, and J.A. Cooke, to furnish 650 three-year men for $750 each.
A draft took place at Kingston, March 22nd 1865, at which there were drawn from Ashland, 20; Athens, 34; Cairo, 28; Catskill, 68; Coxsackie, 28; Durham, 26; Greenville, 10; Hunter, 14; Lexington, 22; Jewett, 12; Prattsville, 8; Windham, 16; New Baltimore, 36; Halcott, 4.
These men not being needed were not called upon to report, the quota having been filled with volunteers.
The accounts of the marshal of the thirteenth New York district, composed of Ulster and Greene counties, show the following summary concerning the drafts.
The enrollment commenced May 27th 1863, and was completed July 1st following.
The whole number enrolled was 19,097.
Of the 10,468 men drawn 140 were held to service; 1,631 furnished substitutes; 551 paid the commutation; 1,783 were exempt for physical disability; 1,602 were exempt for other causes; 1,337 were discharged on account of the quota being full; and 3,424 failed to appear.
The first deserter was arrested May 18th 1863.
The whole number of arrests for desertion was 352.
The grand general result shows:
Drafted men held to personal service 140
Drafted men who paid commutation 551
Substitutes for drafted men, enlisted here 923
Substitutes for enrolled men, enlisted here 299
Volunteers enlisted and mustered here 2,277
Total 4,190
TO BE CONTINUED ...
CHAPTER XIX.
RECORD OF THE CIVIL WAR, continued ...
Another call was made for 300,000 men in December.
The supervisors met December 27th to provide for it.
The board on the following day prepared a petition to the Legislature, asking that body to pass a law making a uniform rate of bounties to be paid by the State.
The petition was not successful, and the supervisors met again on the 25th of January and voted to raise $500,000 for war purposes.
A committee was appointed to attend to procuring volunteers, and invested with power to contract with any party who could give proper security for furnishing volunteers to fill the quota, and to pay what they should consider necessary, not to exceed $750 each, for men to serve three years; $540 for two years; and $325 for one year.
After advertising for proposals until January 31st, the contract was given to Messrs. J.A. Meech, A.P. Jones, and J.A. Cooke, to furnish 650 three-year men for $750 each.
A draft took place at Kingston, March 22nd 1865, at which there were drawn from Ashland, 20; Athens, 34; Cairo, 28; Catskill, 68; Coxsackie, 28; Durham, 26; Greenville, 10; Hunter, 14; Lexington, 22; Jewett, 12; Prattsville, 8; Windham, 16; New Baltimore, 36; Halcott, 4.
These men not being needed were not called upon to report, the quota having been filled with volunteers.
The accounts of the marshal of the thirteenth New York district, composed of Ulster and Greene counties, show the following summary concerning the drafts.
The enrollment commenced May 27th 1863, and was completed July 1st following.
The whole number enrolled was 19,097.
Of the 10,468 men drawn 140 were held to service; 1,631 furnished substitutes; 551 paid the commutation; 1,783 were exempt for physical disability; 1,602 were exempt for other causes; 1,337 were discharged on account of the quota being full; and 3,424 failed to appear.
The first deserter was arrested May 18th 1863.
The whole number of arrests for desertion was 352.
The grand general result shows:
Drafted men held to personal service 140
Drafted men who paid commutation 551
Substitutes for drafted men, enlisted here 923
Substitutes for enrolled men, enlisted here 299
Volunteers enlisted and mustered here 2,277
Total 4,190
TO BE CONTINUED ...
Re: THE HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, NY
GENERAL HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, continued ...
CHAPTER XIX.
RECORD OF THE CIVIL WAR, continued ...
Letters from or concerning the representatives of this county in the field were read with eagerness at that time.
Some extracts from a few of them will be of interest here, for in them we may catch glimpses of the movements of the soldiers and the hard experiences with which they met.
We have room for only a few such extracts.
The first one is from Milton J. Howard, of Cairo.
“Vicinity of Pittsburg Landing, April 26th 1862”
“Dear Brother: -- After some considerable delay I proceed to answer your long and interesting letter."
"But first I must apologize for sending this letter without paying the postage."
"The fact is postage stamps are not now to be had in this wooden country, only as we receive them from our friends in the country we’ve left behind."
"No doubt, before this you have heard of the battle of Pittsburgh Landing, and have had better and more detailed accounts of it than I can possibly give."
"I do not intend to give an account of the whole fight, only such parts of it as came under my own immediate observation."
"When the fight commenced on Sunday, the division to which we belonged was at Crump’s Landing, four miles below here."
"I was on picket guard at the time, and I could plainly hear the roar of the musketry and the heavier booming of the artillery."
"About 9 o’clock Major-General Wallace, who is in command of this division, received orders to move forward his forces immediately."
"We started at 10 o’clock, but by some mistake we got on the wrong road, and had to retrace our steps for some distance, consequently it was nearly dark when we reached the vicinity of the scene of action."
"We immediately formed in order of battle, and in this way proceeded through a low, swampy piece of ground; heavily timbered, but no enemy did we find here."
"Soon we reached the line of encampments of our forces; by that time the firing from both sides had ceased, except from the gunboat; this, at intervals of about 15 minutes, would send a 6 ½ pound shell plump into the ranks of the rebels, causing great havoc."
"That night we remained in line, and slept upon the cold, damp ground."
"Many of the men were without blankets, having left them at Crump’s Landing."
"For myself before leaving Paducah I provided a good rubber blanket, which I have found to be a very necessary thing."
"To add to our disagreeable situation, about midnight it commenced raining, and rained from that until morning."
"In the morning, as soon as it was light, the battle commenced by the opening of our battery on the enemy’s left wing."
"During the night the enemy lay on one hill, while about 80 rods from them, on another, with a ravine intervening, lay ourselves."
"The battery soon silenced one of their guns, and then we charged across the ravine and up the opposite hill, and forced them to quit their position."
"The 8th Mo. was in the advance."
"The enemy then took up another position to the right and rear of their first position, in a swampy piece of ground, heavily timbered."
"Here they made a long and most desperate stand."
"Backward and forward the tide of battle surged, first one side giving way and then the other."
"One side would give way perhaps 50 feet, and then we in turn would drive the rebels back 50 yards, until finally they were driven from the field and entirely routed."
"Once some of their cavalry, called the Texan Rangers, made a charge upon one of our batteries, intending, no doubt, to capture it; but in this they were foiled."
"We lay in a little low hollow and in front of the battery, hid from the enemy, while the battery fired over us."
"On they came, yelling like so many savages, and no doubt thinking they were going to have things all their own way."
"But we soon changed their tune by emptying some 18 or 20 of their saddles, and sending the rest back in confusion and disorder."
"The enemy were driven from the field at about 4 o’clock P.M."
"Up to that time, from early light in the morning, there had been one constant and steady roar of artillery and musketry."
"At times it was almost deafening."
"As we followed the retreating rebels through the camps of the different regiments which had been forced to quit them on Sunday, we wondered why they had not destroyed more of their property than they had done."
"But the prisoners told us next day that Beauregard had ordered them not to destroy one of the tents, for said he, ‘they are all ours, and we shall need them all.’"
"True enough they were theirs on Sunday, but on Monday they were ours again, and it is my opinion that had it not been for the cowardice of some of the troops on Sunday, the rebels would not have had the privilege of ransacking our tents."
"The regiments that ran were mostly Ohio regiments, and belonged to Sherman’s division."
“The night after the battle and several succeeding ones, we slept in the open air with no covering over us but our blankets and the canopy of heaven."
"Since then we have received our tents again, and have moved about a half mile further out in the advance."
"Our general is determined that we shall not be surprised as they were on Sunday, so every morning at 4 o’clock we have to form in line of battle, and so remain till after daylight.”
TO BE CONTINUED ...
CHAPTER XIX.
RECORD OF THE CIVIL WAR, continued ...
Letters from or concerning the representatives of this county in the field were read with eagerness at that time.
Some extracts from a few of them will be of interest here, for in them we may catch glimpses of the movements of the soldiers and the hard experiences with which they met.
We have room for only a few such extracts.
The first one is from Milton J. Howard, of Cairo.
“Vicinity of Pittsburg Landing, April 26th 1862”
“Dear Brother: -- After some considerable delay I proceed to answer your long and interesting letter."
"But first I must apologize for sending this letter without paying the postage."
"The fact is postage stamps are not now to be had in this wooden country, only as we receive them from our friends in the country we’ve left behind."
"No doubt, before this you have heard of the battle of Pittsburgh Landing, and have had better and more detailed accounts of it than I can possibly give."
"I do not intend to give an account of the whole fight, only such parts of it as came under my own immediate observation."
"When the fight commenced on Sunday, the division to which we belonged was at Crump’s Landing, four miles below here."
"I was on picket guard at the time, and I could plainly hear the roar of the musketry and the heavier booming of the artillery."
"About 9 o’clock Major-General Wallace, who is in command of this division, received orders to move forward his forces immediately."
"We started at 10 o’clock, but by some mistake we got on the wrong road, and had to retrace our steps for some distance, consequently it was nearly dark when we reached the vicinity of the scene of action."
"We immediately formed in order of battle, and in this way proceeded through a low, swampy piece of ground; heavily timbered, but no enemy did we find here."
"Soon we reached the line of encampments of our forces; by that time the firing from both sides had ceased, except from the gunboat; this, at intervals of about 15 minutes, would send a 6 ½ pound shell plump into the ranks of the rebels, causing great havoc."
"That night we remained in line, and slept upon the cold, damp ground."
"Many of the men were without blankets, having left them at Crump’s Landing."
"For myself before leaving Paducah I provided a good rubber blanket, which I have found to be a very necessary thing."
"To add to our disagreeable situation, about midnight it commenced raining, and rained from that until morning."
"In the morning, as soon as it was light, the battle commenced by the opening of our battery on the enemy’s left wing."
"During the night the enemy lay on one hill, while about 80 rods from them, on another, with a ravine intervening, lay ourselves."
"The battery soon silenced one of their guns, and then we charged across the ravine and up the opposite hill, and forced them to quit their position."
"The 8th Mo. was in the advance."
"The enemy then took up another position to the right and rear of their first position, in a swampy piece of ground, heavily timbered."
"Here they made a long and most desperate stand."
"Backward and forward the tide of battle surged, first one side giving way and then the other."
"One side would give way perhaps 50 feet, and then we in turn would drive the rebels back 50 yards, until finally they were driven from the field and entirely routed."
"Once some of their cavalry, called the Texan Rangers, made a charge upon one of our batteries, intending, no doubt, to capture it; but in this they were foiled."
"We lay in a little low hollow and in front of the battery, hid from the enemy, while the battery fired over us."
"On they came, yelling like so many savages, and no doubt thinking they were going to have things all their own way."
"But we soon changed their tune by emptying some 18 or 20 of their saddles, and sending the rest back in confusion and disorder."
"The enemy were driven from the field at about 4 o’clock P.M."
"Up to that time, from early light in the morning, there had been one constant and steady roar of artillery and musketry."
"At times it was almost deafening."
"As we followed the retreating rebels through the camps of the different regiments which had been forced to quit them on Sunday, we wondered why they had not destroyed more of their property than they had done."
"But the prisoners told us next day that Beauregard had ordered them not to destroy one of the tents, for said he, ‘they are all ours, and we shall need them all.’"
"True enough they were theirs on Sunday, but on Monday they were ours again, and it is my opinion that had it not been for the cowardice of some of the troops on Sunday, the rebels would not have had the privilege of ransacking our tents."
"The regiments that ran were mostly Ohio regiments, and belonged to Sherman’s division."
“The night after the battle and several succeeding ones, we slept in the open air with no covering over us but our blankets and the canopy of heaven."
"Since then we have received our tents again, and have moved about a half mile further out in the advance."
"Our general is determined that we shall not be surprised as they were on Sunday, so every morning at 4 o’clock we have to form in line of battle, and so remain till after daylight.”
TO BE CONTINUED ...