Delaware County, New York Civil War Newspaper Clippings
UNION COUNTY CONVENTION.
At a Union County Conention [sic] held at Delhi, in and for the County of Delaware, on the 26th day of August, 1863, Wm. Gleason was elected Chairman and I. J . St. John and James Oliver, Secretaries. Upon a call of towns the following delegates responded:
Andes—Wm. H. Johnson, James McCabe
Bovina—Michael Miller, Walter A, Doig.
Colchester—B. R. Johnson, George A. Fuller.
Davenport—J. W. Kinyon, James Oliver.
Delhi—James Mable, Wm. Gleason.
Franklin—Edwin Taylor, Hermon Brownson.
Hamden—Robert Jamieson, H. B. Johnson.
Hancock—E. K. Carrier.
Harpersfield—A. S. Gibbs, Amos Peck.
Kortright—Wm. B. Peters.
Masonville—Frederick S. Freeman, Daniel McKinnon.
Middletown—John Grant, A. R. Chapman.
Meredith—N. B. Flint, Thomas Covert.
Stamford—Cornelius Becker, Wm. B. Stanley.
Tompkins—Benj. Cannon, Charles Knapp.
Walton—John Alexander, I. J. St. John.
The Convention the proceeded to ballot for delegates to the State Convention with the following result:
1st District—B. R. Johnson, Hon. S. F. Miller, Benj. Cannon.
2d District—John Calhoun, Wm. B. Stanley, James Oliver.
The following persons were then unanimously elected delegates to the Senatorial Convention:
1st District—Jonas H. Bixby, Wm. Lewis, Jr.
2d District—Wm. H. Johnson, D. C. Thomas.
The following were chosen delegates to the Judicial Convention—John Grant and Wm. Murray, Jr.
The delegates were authorized to appoint substitutes in case of inability to attend.
The County Committees were requested to call the Convention to nominate Member of Assembly and School Commissioner for the First Assembly District at Walton.
The following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That we are in favor of the prosecution of the war in such a manner and to such an extent as shall make peace, when it comes, perfect and permanent, and leave no "root of bitterness" in our land to spring up and again put the glorious Union of these states in jeopardy.
The Convention then adjourned.
WM. GLEASON, Chairman.
ISAAC J. ST. JOHN,
JAMES OLIVER, SECRETARIES.
DIED IN HOSPITAL.—It is with pain we announce this week the death of Levi Snyder, only son of Benjamin F. Snyder, of Eddyville, in this town. He enlisted in the service of the country some few months ago, and has been at Sprague Barracks, New Dorp, L. I., during the whole time of his enlistment, where he died on the 5th inst. His disease was typhoid fever. He was a very amiable and promising young man, and leaves many friends to mourn his early departure. His age was 20 years 10 months and 25 days.
The following are the Committees in the several towns appointed by the District Conventions in 1862:
Colchester—Barna Radeker, George W. P. Horton, Alexander Elwood.
Delhi—William P. Hatfield, John A. Aitken, James Elwood.
Franklin—John Edgerton, James G. Fisher, Beriah L. Bowers.
Hamden—Marcus L. Bostwick, Harvey M. Seamans, Hatsel P. Wilber.
Hancock—Samuel Doyle, James M. Miller, Frederick M. Wheeler.
Masonville—William Bixby, Alfred A. Van Horne, Hiram Scofield.
Sidney—David Siver, Henry E. Fisher, Solomon Yeomans.
Tompkins—Jacob Hathaway, Charles Maples, Marshall R. Hulce.
Walton—Theodore Childs, Samuel Smith, Truman Guild.
Andes—Geo. E. Hunting, Robert Oliver, J. A. Huntley.
Bovina—Thos. McFarland, W. D. Telford, A. Hoy.
Davenport—D. Simpson, J. Coulter, C. Miller.
Harpersfield—G. Merriam, W. Buckingham, R. D. Baird.
Kortright—R. Kilpatrick, M. Keeler, S. McCune.
Meredith—E. A. Strong, L. Strickland, R. W. Knowles.
Middletown—O. S. Decker, H. A. Clark, G. Elwood.
Roxbury—P. Egan, E. Mead, G. A. Dent.
Stamford—G. F. Bristol, G. Silliman, R. S. Brownell.
General Brown.
Gen. Harvey Brown, who had command of the troops during the riot in New York, was formerly a circuit preacher in this county, and is one of the noblest and best of men.
More Deserters Arrested.
On the 4th inst., Darius Purdy was brought in, having been arrested at Unadilla.
Charles E Evans, of Sidney, was brought here in the same day, but discharged on account of his youth.
Reuben Rundell, arrested at Colchester, and Hawley J. Denio, at Harvard, were brought in on the 7th.
Peter Houghtailing was arrested at Colchester, on Saturday, but escaped from the officers through the complicity of certain individuals, no doubt sympathizers with rebellion, who were very decidedly informed by Mr. Carpenter, the officer, that if the escaped deserter was delivered up to the Provost Marshal at Delhi within a certain number of hours it might prevent their arrest under a charge of aiding and abetting the escape. Houghtailing was brought in by the persons in question within the prescribed time.
The four deserters are now in jail, and will soon be taken to head-quarters.—[Delhi Express.
_OOMVILLE, DELAWARE CO.
HEADQUARTERS 1ST DIVISION, 6TH ARMY
CORPS, FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE, June 22.
Mr. Mirror—My last article to your columns was captioned "White Oak Church, Va." So your readers may observe our army has been making a backward movement, or in military language—a "change of base." The reasons assigned for this movement are yet somewhat mysterious, although our army is now in a position either to defend the Capitol, or to follow Lee's rear should he attempt to march his forces across the Potomac.
The main body of the enemy are at present behind the Bull Run Mountains; so it is dificult [sic] to know what will be the next movement. Yesterday heavy cannonading was heard in the direction of Snicker's Gap, ceasing at intervals, but from the sound they seemed to be warmly engaged. No news has reached us as to the result.—Posibly [sic], these are preliminaries to another great battle.
This Division broke camp at White Oak Church, on Saturday, June 6th, to commence the Summer campaign. Our place of destination turned out to be on the south side of the Rappahannock, to relieve the 2d (Gen. Howe's) Division, which had crossed the day previous. As our corps was the only one which had broke camp, it created some surprise among the troops as to what was to be accomplished by this movement.
A strong line of rifle pits and redoubts were thrown up for defense in case of an attack. So our division lay behind the intrenchments [sic], watching the enemy's movements on the Heights below Fredericksburg. On the right the sharpshooters of both parties kept picking off officers, who rode along the lines to reconnoiter. Sometimes a poor sharpshooter or picket would meet with a casualty.
Every evening at nearly sunset, the artillery of the enemy would open upon our trains or some other object, when the guns from the forts on Stafford Hills, below Falmouth, would reply, when the rebels would cease. Things continued thus until Friday evening, when arrangements were made to evacuate. The exceeding stillness, and a moon-light night, rendered it impossible without being discovered, so it had to be postponed. On Saturday it was generally known that our force would re-cross, even if the picket line had to be sacrificed. At sunset on Saturday evening, seven companies of the 15th N. J., 1st Division, and details from the 3d division, 7th and 37th Mass., 36th N. Y. and 2d R. I., were ordered on picket. Away they started, bidding their comrades goodbye, promising to write from Richmond, as they had little expectation of getting off picket without being captured. The rebel pickets told ours in the morning we should never get our pickets away. At dust a heavy thunder storm commenced, the rain pouring down in true Southern style, when our artillery could be heard re-crossing, followed by the troops. At about 11 P. M., orders were given to the picket line to withdraw as quietly as possible, when each man began to fall back. After getting behind our rifle-pits, each man made an independent run for the pontoon bridge, turning somersets in the darkness, in spite of fate. Reaching the crossing place, we found the bridge has been taken up, and so we had to be patient until boats could be sent to carry us across. More than an hour was spent before boats were sent, though at any moment the enemy might have appeared. The fault was soon found out to be that commissary whiskey was plenty. We waited until daybreak loading pontoons, when we bid the Rappahannock adieu, and ascended the Stafford Hills. Gen. Hooker came riding along towards the river, no doubt to see what the enemy were doing. We halted at Potomac Creek Station until dusk, when we made a night march, reaching Stafford Court House shortly before daybreak. After resting about an hour, we again started, hungry and weary, having been deprived of sleep for three nights successively. But such is a soldier's life. The day became warm, and towards noon the heat was intense. A short time was allowed about 10 A. M., to cook breakfast, but many were too tired to cook, and some there were whose stock of provisions were exhausted.—In the march of the afternoon, the troops were so exhausted they could be seen in groups along the road resting. There were some who still kept up until they dropped in the road and ditch. It is said there were eight who met such a fate. Many were sun struck, and among them I saw Sergt. Wm. McK. Thompson, who was some time insensible. He was brought in an ambulance to this place, and is again recovering.
The corps bivouacked for the night at Dumfries, and on Tuesday marched to Fairfax Station, and reached here on Thursday. Gen. Wright, formerly of the Ohio Department, commands this Division. Our former Gen., Brooks, is now in command of the Pittsburg Department. His departure from this command is much regretted, as he was a great favorite with all. Where he commands there is no need of fear. He is a hero in every respect.
This army is in expectation of a great battle at almost any hour.
LYON & Co.
DELAWARE COUNTY.
22 Andes, 82
23 Bovina, 35
24 Colchester, 63
25 Davenport, 64
26 Delhi, 75
27 Franklin, 92
28 Hamden, 43
29 Hancock, 91
30 Harpersfield, 31
31 Kortright, 48
33 Masonville, 44
33 Meredith, 29
34 Middletown, 95
35 Roxbury, 75
36 Sidney, 53
37 Stamford, 34
38 Tompkins, 92
39 Walton, 77
Total 1123
OTSEGO COUNTY.
40 Burlington, 50
41 Butternuts, 52
42 Cherry Valley 80
43 Decatur, 20
44 Edmeston, 52
45 Exeter, 41
46 Hartwick, 64
47 Laurens, 58
48 Maryland, 61
49 Middlefield, 103
50 Milford, 76
51 Morris, 59
52 New Lisbon, 40
53 Oneonta, 54
54 Otego, 48
55 Otsego, 136
56 Pittsfield, 31
57 Plainfield, 31
58 Richfield, 51
50 Roseboom, 56
60 Springfield, 77
61 Unadilla, 69
62 Westford, 35
63 Worcester, 57
Total 1402
Aggregate total of District, 3582
To ascertain the number of able-bodied men which will be taken from any town, deduct one-third of the quota given above, and the remainder will give the actual quota.—[Chenango Telegraph, 12th inst.
NOTICE.
Enrolling officers of the several towns in the 19th District are appointed special agents to serve notices on persons enrolled in their respective sub-districts who shall be drawn in the draft. The agents above mentioned will take and forward to the Marshal's office, without delay, the necessary oath preliminary to the performance of the service required of them. Blank oaths for Delaware County can be had at the office of Gordon & Clark, in Delhi; for Chenango County, at the office of B. Gage Berry, Dep. Marshal, in Norwich; for Otsego County, at the office of George Gorham, Commissioner, in Burlington; or at Head quarters, Unadilla.
Unadilla Head-quarters. July 11th, 1863.
Capt. S. GORDON,
Provost Marshal. 19th Dist., N. Y.
Provost Marshal S. Gordon given notice to enrolling officers that they must complete their work by the first of July. Here is a copy:
DELHI, JUNE 13, 1863.
SIR: If you cannot make the enrollment of your Town sp as to return it at Unadilla Headquarters on or before the first day of July you should engage some competent person to assist you. You will of course review his work and certify it. In other words, you will see it is right and adopt it as your own.
S. GQRDON,
Ch'n of the Board of Enrolment.