when the copies of the Act of April 16th were received in Ogdensburg, Mr. James and a few others announced their inability to abandon their business for two years, and it was decided that no further steps to organize a company for six months' service would be taken. When the company proposed by Mr. James was abandoned, a new one, started by those willing to enlist for a term of two years, was organized and officers were elected, on Monday evening, April 22, 1861. A great impetus had been given to enlistment in Ogdensburg by David A. Nevin, who had returned home, on the day the first company was abandoned, from the Indian Territory, where he had been employed as a clerk in the office of an army quartermaster. Mr. Nevin was a native of St. Lawrence County, the son of a well-known resident of Ogdensburg, and his offer to go in command of the company was promptly accepted. He was unanimously elected Captain; Peter L. Van Ness, First Lieutenant; Charles L. Jones, Second Lieutenant; with a full complement of non-commissioned officers, musicians, and sixty-four privates, whose names appear in Company A roster, Sixteenth New York. At a meeting held the same evening, a committee was appointed, consisting of David C. Judson, Chairman, William C. Brown, Norman Sackrider, William J. Averell, and Ela N. Merriam, Secretary, to disburse $2,600 then raised for the benefit of the families of the volunteers. On April 24th, the company left by the Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain Railroad for Rouse Point, thence by steamer to Whitehall and by rail to Albany, where it arrived on the 25th, and was accepted the same day. The company organized in Ogdensburg on the 22nd of April did not include all in that village, and in the vicinity, who wished to go to the war. Immediately after the completion of the first company, steps were taken to form another. This company was soon filled, and selected the following officers: David L. Bartlett, Captain; Albert S. Seely, First Lieutenant; Horatio G. Goodno, Second Lieutenant; with a full complement of non-commissioned officers, musicians, and sixty-four privates, whose names can be found on the muster roll of Company K, Eighteenth New York. The company left Ogdensburg May 3rd, and arrived in Albany on the 4th. WAR MEETING IN DEPEYSTER Several Depeyster farmers were in Ogdensburg when the news of the surrender of Fort Sumter was received, and heard the announcement that Henry R. James would address a meeting in their town that evening, to ask their co-operation in raising a company under the call of the President. As they returned home, they spread the news, so that it reached all parts of the town. The meeting, held in the Methodist Church, was presided over by Captain Benjamin Eastman, an old line Whig, a Protectionist and an active Republican worker, one of the best informed and most respected men in the town. Prayer was offered by the pastor, Reverend Horace M. Danforth, and Mr. James was introduced. He gave a plain statement of the facts of the surrender of Fort Sumter, the call of the President for troops, and the steps taken in Ogdensburg to organize a company for six months' service; he then asked the young men of the town to join with them and raise the company to the maximum as soon as possible. He further stated that twelve or fourteen men would be received from Depeyster, and that it was doubtful if more than one company from the county would be required. After Mr. James had spoken, several prominent citizens were called upon by the chairman, but none responded. Captain Eastman mistook their modest reluctance for want of patriotism, and very vehemently expressed his regret that those who should speak at this time remained silent. Had he called for subscriptions for the prosecution of the war, they would have responded promptly and liberally; they were good contributors, but not talkers. The captain then said that he would like to hear from a young man who had the courage of his convictions, although his political convictions were all bad, and asked Martin Curtis to give his opinion as to what action should be taken at this crisis. I said that patriotism was of no party, and regretted that the question of party politics should be raised when there was nothing to be considered but the preservation of the Union. I then advised that a regiment for the war be at once organized in St. Lawrence County. The last statement brought out the declaration that there would be no war if the slightest show of decisive action were made by the Administration, and that all that was required was to give the Administration moral support; hence one company from the county would be sufficient for that purpose. It was further stated that the South did not mean to precipitate war. To this I replied that the South had inaugurated what I believed would be a great war, one that would test the resources of the country as never before; and that if, in bringing it to a successful conclusion, the County of St. Lawrence was not called upon to furnish more than half ' a dozen regiments, I should be glad. How well this prediction, made April 15, 1861, was verified is shown in the number of men furnished by the county,-more than enough to fill eight regiments to the maximum of those organized under the first call.1 I gave notice that a meeting of those who were willing to aid in raising a company in Depeyster would be held in 'See page 176. Mason's Tavern after the adjournment; the pastor was called upon, and he urged the organization of a regiment; at the next call he proved loyal to his counsel, volunteered, and was promoted to a captaincy in the Sixth New York Heavy Artillery. At the meeting held in Mason's Tavern that night, fifteen volunteered to go to the war. A later meeting in Depeyster was addressed by James C. Spencer and Daniel Magone, two young and active democratic lawyers of Ogdensburg. On April 26th a meeting for organization was held, at which Captain Eastman presided; the Town Hall was filled, the centre seats being occupied by the volunteers. The chairman asked the company to name candidates and vote for the officers; Newton Martin Curtis was chosen Captain; John Snyder, First Lieutenant; William L. Best, Second Lieutenant; with a full complement of non-commissioned officers, musicians, and sixty-four privates, whose names will be found in Company G roster, Sixteenth New York. Soon after sunrise on May 2nd, the company met at the Town Hall with Captain Eastman in the chair. Miss Helen Tuttle presented to the company a purse containing four hundred dollars, from the women of Depeyster, in place of a flag which they had been disappointed in obtaining. The company proceeded to the village of Ogdensburg, where they formed at the Baldwin House, kept by a brother-in-law of Major-General John E. Wool, U. S. A., and, before being marched to the railroad station, were halted in front of Norman's hat store, where James C. Spencer, United States Attorney for the district, presented each member with a cap. These checked gingham caps were worn until the men were clothed by the State. In passing the Judson Bank, on the way to the train, the Honorable David C. Judson, the man on whose motion Silas Wright was made secretary of the Democratic County Convention of St. Lawrence County, the first recognition he of patriotism, and very vehemently expressed his regret that those who should speak at this time remained silent. Had he called for subscriptions for the prosecution of the war, they would have responded promptly and liberally; they were good contributors, but not talkers. The captain then said that he would like to hear from a young man who had the courage of his convictions, although his political convictions were all bad, and asked Martin Curtis to give his opinion as to what action should be taken at this crisis. I said that patriotism was of no party, and regretted that the question of party politics should be raised when there was nothing to be considered but the preservation of the Union. I then advised that a regiment for the war be at once organized in St. Lawrence County. The last statement brought out the declaration that there would be no war if the slightest show of decisive action were made by the Administration, and that all that was required was to give the Administration moral support; hence one company from the county would be sufficient for that purpose. It was further stated that the South did not mean to precipitate war. To this I replied that the South had inaugurated what I believed would be a great war, one that would test the resources of the country as never before; and that if, in bringing it to a successful conclusion, the County of St. Lawrence was not called upon to furnish more than half ' a dozen regiments, I should be glad. How well this prediction, made April 15, 1861, was verified is shown in the number of men furnished by the county,-more than enough to fill eight regiments to the maximum of those organized under the first call.1 I gave notice that a meeting of those who were willing to aid in raising a company in Depeyster would be held in 1 See page 176. |