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| Captain William Saxton. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, January 31, 1903.
WAR REMINISCENCES
By Captain Saxton of the 157th Regiment, N. Y. Vols.
FIRST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS.
Arms and Supplies Transferred South by Secretary Floyd, Navy Sent to the Ends of the Earth—Both North and South Confident of a Bloodless Victory—Enlistment a Holiday Outing—First Student to Enlist from Cortland County.
(Chapter 3.)
To the Editor of The Standard:
Sir—The confederate secretary of war said, when the news that Beauregard had obeyed orders and fired on Fort Sumter, "that by the first of May the confederate flag would float over Washington city." The United States army was only about 16,000 strong when South Carolina seceded, and this small force was distributed in the remotest parts of the country, purposely, by Buchanan's secretary of war, Floyd, who was a party to secession. Our navy was mostly away on foreign stations.
General Twiggs, commanding the department of Texas, in February had disgracefully betrayed his trust and turned over all the government property in his department to the state of Texas and by this one single act the government lost at least half of its military force.
Arms Transferred South.
Secretary of War Floyd had been continually transferring arms, ammunition and stores from northern arsenals and armories to the southern states. He had ordered at one time [and] sent to Ship Island, Mississippi, forty-six cannon; to Galveston seventy-eight cannon; all of heavy caliber such as 10-inch Columbiads and thirty-two pounders. This is only a sample of his transferring to the South the government property of the United States so it would be handy to be seized when the South wanted it.
Mr. Pollard in his "Southern History of the War" (rebel) says, "Mr. Floyd of Virginia, secretary of war under Buchanan, had provided for the South; Fort Moultrie and Camp Pickney in Charleston harbor had been captured; Fort Pulaski at the mouth of the Savannah river had been taken; the arsenals at Mt. Vernon, Ala., with 20,000 stand of arms had been seized. Fort Morgan in Mobile bay, Forts Jackson and St. Philip, near New Orleans, and the New Orleans mint and custom house had been seized; over 115,000 improved muskets and rifles from Springfield, Mass., armory had been transferred to the South, and it was safely estimated that the South entered upon the war with the North with at least 150,000 stand of small arms of the most improved pattern and the best in the world."
Confederate Vice-President Stephens estimated the property of the confederate states to be worth $22,000,000,000.
Contemplate for a moment the situation of the government, when Fort Sumter was fired on. The navy in foreign waters, scarcely any arms at all, most of the forts and fortifications from Fortress Monroe all down the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico in the hands of the confederates. Small arms, ammunition, cannon and military stores had been sent to southern arsenals. There was not a penny in the treasury and the government could not borrow money without paying exorbitant interest, and the country was nearly $100,000,000 in debt.
The Call for Volunteers.
The next day after Major Anderson surrendered, Monday, April 15, President Lincoln issued a call to the governors of the states which had not seceded, for 15,000 militia to serve for three months, to assist in reoccupying the forts and arsenals and secure the property that had been taken from the government. Of these 75,000 men, New York was apportioned seventeen regiments. I was back in school again and before we hardly realized it, more than enough men had responded. The utmost enthusiasm existed throughout the North. We school boys thought what a picnic it would be to go down South for three months and clean up the whole business. Did we believe there would be any actual fighting? No, indeed. Up to the time that Sumter was fired on, in our locality at least, the impression was that there would be no fighting; that all we had to do would be to show those Southern fellows that we could not be browbeaten any longer; that if we put on a bold front and carried out Mr. Lincoln's recommendations they would yield and all would be settled, and if we actually did come to blows, one laboring man of the North would be equal to five southerners, who had never done a day's work in their lives.
Those of the South indulged in equally as foolish expressions. The "mudsills" of the North could not and would not fight; they didn't know a thing about a gun, or riding a horse; and all they had to do was to show fight, and they would come to [victory in] time. Hadn't they always yielded and granted what had been asked of them? "Sprinkle a little blood in their faces," said one, "and they would come whining around suing for terms." Each section forgot that we belonged to the same race, that the blood of the revolutionary fathers flowed in our veins alike, and that we were brothers of one great family.
The North Responds.
It was wonderful how promptly the Northern states responded to Mr. Lincoln's call of the 15th. The first company of troops marched into Boston the same day. On the 16th several Pennsylvania companies arrived in Washington. On the 17th the Sixth Massachusetts, the first full regiment, started for Washington, and on the 19th, while marching from one depot to another in Baltimore, was attacked by a mob of Southern sympathizers and three were killed, eight severely wounded and fifteen others sent to the hospital on account of their bruises and injuries, as soon as they arrived in Washington.
The Seventh New York left New York City on the 19th, and soon arrived at the capital. The Seventh New York national guard regiment was the crack militia regiment of the state, well officered, well drilled and equipped. Its rank and file were of fine character. The first service was for three months. It volunteered again in May, 1862, for three months, and again in June, 1863, for one month. It was so well drilled that 603 men became commissioned officers in other regiments during the war, and of these 603 officers, forty-one were killed in battle, and seventeen died of disease while in the service.
Southern Troops Advance.
Southern troops had been sent north into Virginia immediately after Fort Sumter had been captured, and soon had guns planted so that they commanded the Potomac river, and it did look for a while as though the prediction that the confederate flag would float over Washington by the first of May would become verified, and it would have been, had not the North responded so promptly. Here is what a Mr. Carr of Baltimore in a speech said: "I do not care how many Federal troops are sent to Washington, they will soon find themselves surrounded by such an army from Virginia and Maryland that escape to their homes will be impossible; and when the 75,000 who are intended to invade the South shall have polluted that soil with their touch, the South will exterminate and sweep them from the earth."
On May 2, President Lincoln called for 42,000 volunteers to serve for three years, or during the war, the regular army to be increased by 23,000 men and 18,000 men to be added to the navy.
First Student Volunteer.
Under the first call, so far as I remember, only one of the students of the academy responded. This was LeRoy Cole, 19 years of age, the son of a widow. He enlisted first on the 29th of April in the Twelfth New York Volunteers. The Twelfth was the first strictly volunteer regiment raised in New York state and it took the first volunteer number, twelve, there having been eleven regiments of infantry in the Mexican war. There were other regiments lower in number, like the Seventh, but they were state militia.
LeRoy was sent to Washington, helped guard the city, was among the first to advance into Virginia and afterwards participated in the first Bull Run battle. He was discharged after three months' service and came home the hero of the school and town. He now lives in Minneapolis, Minn. I shall have occasion to speak of him again later on. W. S.
UNDER A COAL TRAIN.
Slipped on Ice and Lost Leg and Will Lose Arm.
Patrick Lee of Lakeside, near Jamesville, N. Y., 36 years old, was this afternoon about 1 o'clock walking on the Lackawanna tracks near Blodgett Mills. He stepped aside to let a coal train pass and continued to walk on the sloping ground next the track and close to the train. He stepped upon a piece of ice and fell getting his right leg across the rail so that the foot was cut off just above the ankle. His right arm also went under and was so badly mangled that it will probably have to come off. The train was stopped and he was picked up and brought to Cortland in the caboose and taken to the hospital in Beard & Peck's ambulance. It is yet too early to know the outcome of the case.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
''Emperor Would Not Think of Violating its Letter or Spirit."
New York, Jan. 31.—Baron von Sternberg, Germany's representative, who arrived in this country yesterday in an endeavor to settle the Venezuelan rumpus, made an important statement last night, previous to his departure for Washington.
Speaking of the Monroe doctrine, which many people believe Germany has come dangerously close to infringing, the Baron said:
''The emperor would as soon have thought of colonizing the moon as to think of obtaining territory or even a coaling station in a South American republic. He understands the Monroe doctrine fully, for he has carefully studied everything that has been said or written about it by American statesmen. He knows and understands how the American people regard the doctrine, and admiring the American people as he does, and earnestly desiring their good will, he would never for a moment think of violating the letter or the spirit of the Doctrine."
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
The Fluctuations of Trade.
An interesting study in the fluctuations in foreign trade and commerce is furnished by the record of the year 1902, which shows a marked change in the share which the various ports have had in the distribution of the exports of the United States.
The gulf ports show a falling off of about 13 per cent in exportations as compared with last year and the Atlantic coast ports a decline of about 10 per cent, while the lake and northern border ports show a gain of 3 per cent, the Pacific coast ports a gain of 10 per cent and the Mexican border ports an increase of 25 per cent.
These marked contrasts, in which the ports tributary to the Atlantic show a reduction and those on the Pacific or fronting upon contiguous territory show an increase, are in keeping with the general trend of the year's commerce, in which exports to Europe show a marked decline and those to Asia and to the contiguous territory at the north and south a marked growth. Exports to Europe especially were affected by the crop failure of 1901. Since breadstuffs and provisions form the large proportion of the sales of the United States to that part of the world, while our exports to Asia, Mexico and Canada were less affected by crop failures, since manufactures form the bulk of our sales to those parts of the world; hence the decrease in shipments through gulf and Atlantic ports and the increase in those through Pacific ports and those fronting upon contiguous territory.
While the foregoing figures, which are furnished by the treasury bureau of statistics, include only eleven months of the year, they are presumably a fair index of the full year's operations at the various great doorways through which the exports of the country are distributed.
SIDNEY NOVELTY CO.
Outlook Discouraging for Raising the Needful Money.
ONLY ONE-THIRD SUBSCRIBED.
And Half the List of People Have Been Called Upon—Board of Trade Meeting Called for Monday Night—If there is not a Great Increase in Subscriptions Before that Time, Project Will be Abandoned.
The soliciting committee of the board of trade which has been engaged upon a canvas of the business men of the city of Cortland to endeavor to secure enough pledges to meet the proposition of the Sidney Novelty Co. about moving to Cortland is not meeting with the success that was anticipated and it is certainly a fact that the outlook is not encouraging. The committee has called upon about half of the people whose names were upon its list and has not secured from them over one-third of the sum needful. Unless there is a decided change for the better before Monday night the project will be abandoned.
A meeting of the board of trade has been called for next Monday night and at this meeting the committee will make its report and a vote will then be taken as to whether any further effort shall be made to secure this plant.
Some people in Cortland have recognized the value of having seventy-five families and from 400 to 500 new people come to town and of having a weekly payroll of $2,000 turned loose among the stores of the city, and have responded generously. Others have turned the committee down straight and in a very emphatic way, while still others are still considering. All should remember that this committee is not personally begging for itself and its duty in this matter is a thankless task at best. The committee is composed of busy men. Few in the city have more to fill every hour of their time than do the men who compose it. They expect no more return from the coming of the new plant than other business men may have, but they are doing their best to raise the money and secure the industry for the good of the community.
Every man knows his own business and knows what he can afford, and it would be a great favor to the committee if this matter could be decided upon speedily; also if any one who has not yet received a call from the committee and who would be willing to aid in bringing this company to Cortland by the gift of any sum whatever would call upon B. L. Webb at the Cortland Savings bank and signify his intention before Monday night.
It now depends upon the people of this city. If the money can be raised the new industry will come. And this company is not any experiment, but a concern that has an established business. It does not run a few months of each year and shut down the rest of the time, but is as continuously in operation as the wire mills of Cortland, and in its way and according to its size would be a s great a benefit to the place.
The committee cannot be expected to devote a whole month to canvassing and must close up its work soon, and as stated above, if there is not a great increase in the subscription list before Monday night and such an increase as to indicate that the sum can be raised the project will be abandoned. It is likely to be quite a time before there is another opportunity to bring a plant to Cortland that would be as great a benefit to the place as this one. What will the people do about it?
BOARD OF HEALTH
Transacts Business and Then Banquets With the Retiring Health Officer.
The board of health held its regular meeting at the city clerk's office last evening. In the absence of Clerk E. C. Alger, whose term of office expires today, the newly appointed clerk, Mr. E. S. Dalton, officiated. A bill of $17.05 in favor of the retiring health officer, Dr. Paul T. Carpenter, for services and disbursements, one of $6 in favor of Daniel Hurlehey for labor and one of $2.92 in favor of Beers & Warfield for labor and supplies was favorably acted upon. This was the only business to come before the meeting.
At the close of the session the members of the board, with the exception of Commissioner H. S . Bliss of the Fourth ward, who is ill, together with City Attorney Fred Hatch, Former Health Commissioner George T. Chatterton of the Fifth ward, now the supervisor of that ward and several newspaper men went to Hotel Brunswick and partook of an excellently prepared banquet that was tendered in honor of the retiring health officer. Roast pig was the chief article of the menu, and the officials pronounced it the best prepared pork product they had ever tested. After an hour of social pleasure, in which the many good times that had been enjoyed by the company and the splendid service that Dr. Carpenter had given the board and the city were recalled, the members of the party disbanded.
Sold His Residence.
Former Mayor S. N. Holden has sold his handsome residence at 5 Union-st. to Harry Woodin of Polkville. Mr. Holden will retain possession of the place until next September. Consideration $5,000. It has been reported that Mr. Holden expected to leave Cortland, but this is not the fact. He will locate somewhere else in the city when he gives up possession of the Union-st. residence.
To Rent.
After April 1, 1903, the middle store in the Standard building, including half of a story above, now occupied by C. F. Baldwin's grocery store. Store is 90 feet deep, with high, dry cellar, good elevator, furnace, shelving, counters, etc., Rent reasonable. Apply at Standard office. [Paid ad.]
CINCINNATUS RURAL ROUTES.
Two to be Started on Feb. 1—Prompt Delivery of Mails.
Two new rural free delivery routes are to be started from Cincinnatus on Monday, Feb. 1.
Route No. 1 leads up the Brakel creek to the guide board corners near Pharsalia, thence south over Moon hill to Beckwith's corner, thence west to Davis' corner, thence south to [Lull's] corner, west to Harvey's corner and thence via German Five Corners back to Cincinnatus, a distance of 22 miles.
Route No. 2 is via Taylor and Taylor Center to Cheningo and back via Taylor Valley and the Pritchard cross road, a distance of 23 7/8 miles.
E. C. ALGER'S APPOINTMENT.
Will be Chief of the Transfer Tax Bureau at Albany.
State Comptroller Nathan L. Miller has appointed Attorney Edmund C. Alger of this city to an important position in his office at Albany, and Mr. Alger is now making preparations to go to Albany next Monday to enter upon his new duties.
The office that Mr. Alger receives is that of chief of the transfer tax bureau at a salary of $3,000 a year. He succeeds E. H. Pindar of Cobleskill who has resigned from the position. The work of the office is that of supervising the collection of the inheritance taxes in the various counties of the state through proceedings in the surrogates' courts upon appraisals that are made by salaried appraisers in some counties and by the county treasurers of the other counties. The importance of this office is made very apparent by the report of the comptroller for 1902, which shows that there was collected in this department in taxes over $3,300,000.
Mr. Alger, who is one of Cortland county's able young attorneys, is well qualified to enter this responsible position. His fine legal mind and legal training will enable him to give this office, which deals mostly with court matters, an intelligence and understanding of court proceedings. He is a graduate of the Cortland Normal school in the class of 1890 and of the Cornell university Law school in the class of 1893. Since his completion of the study of law at Cornell he has practiced his profession in Cortland. He has for several years been clerk of the board of supervisors and for the past year the clerk of the city. He is painstaking in all of his work and has proven a very proficient public officer.
Mr. Alger will give up his law office in the Burgess block and give his entire time to the duties of his new position.
BREVITIES.
—The board of managers of the Cortland Hospital association will meet at the hospital Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock.
—Spot Cash Baldwin has rented the store in the new Tanner building on Main-st. and will move his grocery there April 1.
—New display advertisements today are—[Opera House], "Peck's Bad Boy," page 5; F. E. Brogden, Quinine hair tonic, page 5; F. E. Daehler, clothing at cost, page 5; Haight & Freese Co., Stocks, bonds, grain and cotton, page 7; Rev. E. E. Davidson, Mass-meeting for men, page 5.
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