Claim that 49 of the 60 Men Pelham Sent to Fight in the Civil War Died

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One of the most glaring holes in Pelham history, long a Pelham history mystery, is the list of Pelham men who left the little town to fight in the Civil War and never returned.  Indeed, for many decades Memorial Day remembrances that involve reading the names of those from Pelham who died while serving their nation begin with reading the names of Pelham's dead during the Spanish-American War fought in 1898, more than thirty years after the War of the Rebellion.

There is no memorial to Civil War dead anywhere in Pelham.  The Office of the Historian of the Town of Pelham contains no definitive records reflecting the names of the Civil War dead of the Town, although there are some early Memorial Day remembrance materials listing thirteen or so Pelham residents who served in the war and are listed "In Memoriam."  Extensive research has revealed the names of many who enlisted in the Union Army "from" Pelham but the designation was used in many records to indicate the men were "mustered in" in Pelham -- where there was a massive mustering in facility on Hart's Island.  Thus, it has been extraordinarily difficult to cross-reference multiple census records, Civil War casualty records, mustering in records, and other such records to identify -- with certainty -- young men from Pelham who died in the Civil War.

Research has revealed a very brief newspaper reference suggesting that Pelham suffered heart-breaking and large casualties among the young men it sent off to fight in the War of the Rebellion.  According to the account, sixty men from the Town of Pelham fought in the War and forty-nine died:  an astounding 82% casualty rate.  The brief reference is transcribed in its entirety immediately below, followed by a citation and link to its source:

"The town of Pelham sent sixty men to the front in the Rebellion, only eleven of whom survived.  The town is now anxious to erect a soldiers' monument to commemorate the deeds of her sons.  The site contemplated is at the entrance of Pelham and Pelham Manor, on a large hill, overlooking the Sound."

Source:  [Untitled], New-York Tribune, Jul. 10, 1897, Vol. LVII, No. 18,500, p. 4, col. 4 (Note:  Paid subscription required to access via this link).

No such monument was erected.  Moreover, although research has revealed much about Pelham's history as it relates to the Civil War, no definitive list of Pelham's Civil War dead has yet been prepared despite extensive research.  

A few of the many previous Historic Pelham articles about Pelham and the Civil War include:

Fri., Jul. 07, 2017:  James Francis Secor, Builder of Union Monitors, Ironclads, and Drydocks During Civil War, Lived in Pelham.

Fri., Mar. 10, 2017:  Pelham Taxpayers Funded Westchester County Bonds to Pay Bounties During the Civil War.

Tue., Dec. 13, 2016:  Rare and Stunning Images of Civil War Pelham Engraved from Photographs Taken In 1864.  

Mon., May 02, 2016:  Additional Research on the Confederate Prisoner of War Camp During the Civil War on Hart's Island in the Town of Pelham.  

Thu., Mar. 17, 2016:  Did Pelham Residents Die Fighting for the Union During the Civil War?

Wed., Feb. 24, 2016:  What is Pelham's Connection to the Civil War Ironclad USS Monitor that Fought in the First Battle of Ironclads?

Mon., Feb. 22, 2016:  Report on Prisoner Deaths at the Confederate POW Camp in Pelham During the Civil War.

Wed., Oct. 21, 2015:  Ministering to Troops on Hart and Davids Islands During and Shortly After the Civil War.  

Mon., Jul. 07, 2014:  More About Pelham Residents Who Served Their Nation During the U.S. Civil War. 

Thu., Jun. 12, 2014:  Eyewitness Account of Prisoner of War Concentration Camp That Once Stood in Pelham. 

Fri., May 21, 2010:  The Announcement of President Abraham Lincoln's Assassination in Pelham, NY on April 15, 1865. 

Tue., Mar. 30, 2010:  Obituary of William McAllister Who Built Civil War Gunboats in Pelham. 

Mon., Mar. 29, 2010:  Nathaniel H. Bouldin, a Poor Confederate Prisoner of War Who Died in Pelham in 1865. 

Tue., Nov. 03, 2009:  Pelham Students Help Civil War Soldiers on Davids' Island in 1864. 

Fri., Nov. 18, 2005:  A List of Pelham Residents Who Served the Union During the Civil War. 

Mon., Jul. 11, 2005:  Pelham Cemetery on City Island. 

Fri., Jun. 3, 2005:  Davids' Island Off the Coast of Pelham Manor During the Civil War. 

Tue., Apr. 12, 2005:  Pelham and the Civil War Ironclad USS Monitor.

Programs for Pelham's early Memorial Day remembrance ceremonies, at first, seem to shed light on the issue of identifying Pelham's Civil War dead.  For example, the program for the 1949 Memorial Day Exercises of the Town of Pelham held at the Memorial High School Field provides "In Memoriam" lists for the "Civil War," "Indian Wars," "Spanish War," "World War I," and "World War II."  The Civil War "In Memoriam" section of the program lists the following (I have provided units where I have found them so far):

William Dorrance Beach 
Samuel D. Bertine 
William Dally - Company D, 133rd Infantry Regiment New York 
Patrick J. Gleason 
James C. Hazen 
William P. Hibler 
John T. Logan 
David Lyon 
Samuel E. Lyon 
William Mercer 
Peter McLaughlin 
William H. Valentine - Company D, 5th Veteran Infantry Regiment New York 
Charles A. Walker

At first blush, this might seem to be a list of thirteen Pelham men who died in the Civil War.  That does NOT appear to be the case, however.  Research suggests that most if not all of these men survived the war.  The list, instead, seems to be a list of Civil War veterans who died after the war and were honored during the 1949 remembrance exercises, although it remains possible that one or more were Civil War casualties.  In short, the issue of the identities of Pelham's Civil War dead remains muddled.

Did Pelham lose forty-nine of the sixty men who fought during the War, as claimed by the New-York Tribune in 1897?  Hopefully future research will reveal the names of those dead.  For now, their identities remain a "Pelham History Mystery."

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Big Parade in Pelham to Honor Those Who Registered for World War I Draft

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The North Pelham fire whistle sounded its piercing blast at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 5, 1917.  The whistle blew five blasts -- ordinarily the signal for summoning police throughout the Village.  The five blasts awakened the entire village, but no one was alarmed.  Rather, the whistle signified the beginning of a day-long patriotic celebration.  That day the whistle summoned all residents of North Pelham to gather at the firehouse.

All three Villages of Pelham that day honored all townsmen who registered for the draft.  World War I was raging and the nation sought men for military service.  

At 6:45 a.m., the volunteer police force constituting the Home Defense Forces of all three villages in The Pelhams assembled at Village Hall in the Village of Pelham Manor.  At 7:00 a.m. that day, church bells began ringing at churches throughout Pelham.  The bells rang continuously for thirty minutes.  Also at 7:00 a.m., a 21-gun salute was fired, awakening any residents who had not yet been jolted out of bed by the fire whistle and the church bells.  At the same moment, the flags on all public buildings in the Town were hoisted.  In addition, the Home Defense Forces began a parade that wound its way from Pelham Manor Village Hall through Pelham Manor, the Village of Pelham (Pelham Heights), and the Village of North Pelham.  

The United States joined the allied forces of Britain, France, and Russia and, on April 6, 1917, entered World War I. Under the command of Major General John J. Pershing, more than 2 million U.S. soldiers fought on battlefields in France during the war.

To gear up for the fight, on May 18, 1917, the President signed into law the Selective Service Act (Pub.L. 65-12, 40 Stat. 76) authorizing the Federal government to raise a national army through conscription for service in World War I.  The law required all males aged 21 to 30 to register for potential draft into the military service.

Pelham showed its appreciation for its young men who complied with the new law through a day set aside to honor them on June 5, 1917.  In addition to the festivities described above, all three Pelham village presidents issued proclamations that, among other things, provided:

"The people of the several villages are earnestly urged to display the national flag and to assist the demonstration in honor of our defenders in every way possible, and to devote their entire day if feasible, to 'the men of the hour.'"

The little Town of Pelham was preparing for war -- World War.

Iconic World War I U.S. Army Recruiting Poster

Designed by Pelham Manor Native James Montgomery

Flagg.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"PELHAMS GOING TO HONOR MEN WHO REGISTER THERE
-----
Parade Arranged Through All the Villages -- Church Bells to Ring.
-----

North Pelham, June 4. -- All three villages in the town will take official cognizance of registration tomorrow.  In honor of those who register, a parade has been arranged to pass through the three villages.  This will begin at 7 o'clock tomorrow and will include the Home Defense forces.  The church bells will ring for a half hour and a national salute of 21 guns will be fired.  In North Pelham, the people will be summoned to the fire house at 6 o'clock tomorrow morning when the fire whistle will sound the police call which is five blasts.

The following proclamation was issued today by the village presidents in the town:

To the Citizens of the Villages of North Pelham, Pelham Manor and Pelham:

Whereas, pursuant to the provisions of an act of congress, approved May 18, 1917, as the day upon which all citizens between the ages of 21 and 31  years shall register their names for military service, and 

Whereas, pursuant to the requirements of such act of congress, some ten million men will offer their names from which are to be chosen the future defenders of the country, and

Whereas the act of these men in so registering their names is of vital interest and importance to every citizen of the United States and marks a new era in the life of the nation.  

Now therefore, we the undersigned, presidents of the respective villages set opposite our names for the purpose of affording the people of our villages an opportunity of expressing in part, their grateful appreciation of the sacrifices our young men are making, have made the following arrangements for June 5, 1917:  At 7 a.m., the hour of opening the polls, all the church bells in the several villages will be rung for one-half hour.  The flags on all public buildings will be hoisted.  A national salute of 21 guns will be fired at the place of assembly.  The volunteer police force constituting the Home Defense forces of all three villages will assemble at 6:45 a.m. at the village hall in the village of Pelham Manor, and at 7 a.m. a parade will form and will march through the villages of Pelham Manor, Pelham and North Pelham.  The people of the several villages are earnestly urged to display the national flag and to assist the demonstration in honor of our defenders in every way possible, and to devote their entire day if feasible, to 'the men of the hour.'

This is signed, William Edinger, president of the village of North Pelham; Joseph C. Wilbering, president of the village of Pelham Manor; A. C. Field, president of the village of Pelham."

Source:  PELHAMS GOING TO HONOR MEN WHO REGISTER THERE -- Parade Arranged Through All the Villages -- Church Bells to Ring, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jun. 4, 1917, No. 8384, p. 5, col. 5.

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Pelham Marches Into World War I in 1917

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This year marks the centennial of the entry of the United States into World War I on April 6, 1917.  That day, the United States entered the fight with its allies, Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Belgium, Serbia, Montenegro, and Japan.  With the Centennial of that historic date approaching, it is time to document the role Pelham and its citizens played during World War I.  The task, however, has proven exceedingly difficult since no copies of the local newspaper, The Pelham Sun, exist for that period.

Pelham men lost their lives in the war.  Pelham men were wounded in the war.  Pelham developed a sophisticated home defense program.  Pelham founded the Pelham Comfort Society and the Junior Comfort Society to assist Pelham soldiers.  Pelham created its famed Pelham Service Flag.  Pelham participated in the Liberty Loan Program.  It participated in the United War Work Program.  The Pelham Red Cross Society Program supported the war effort.  Young war recruits were quartered in Pelham homes before they shipped out.  Pelhamites grew Victory Gardens in support of the War effort.  Native Pelhamite James Montgomery Flagg created the famous "I Want You" Uncle Sam recruiting poster.  Pelham men and women drove ambulances at the front.  Pelham residents even won the French Croix de Guerre for their service during World War I.

Over the course of the year, the Historic Pelham Blog will include a series of articles intended to document Pelham's role in World War I.  Today's is the first such article.

Despite years of effort by President Woodrow Wilson to keep the United States neutral and, thus, out of World War I, those efforts ended in 1917.  In the beginning of that year, with the war raging in Europe, Germany decided to resume attacks on every commercial ship en route to Great Britain.  Though Germany knew that, as a consequence, America likely would enter the war, its submarines began sinking American ships in the North Atlantic.  On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany.  Months later, on December 7, 1917, the United States also declared war against the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  

Within days of the nation's entry into the war, the Westchester County Commission of General Safety's "Committee on Enrollment for Military Service" began calling for local men to enter into the service "for Liberty, Democracy, Honor."  Westchester County was assigned a quota to provide half a million men for the war effort, as indicated in the advertisement that appeared in a local newspaper below.

Local Newspaper Advertisement Published on May 9, 1917

Seeking First 3,500 "Loyal Stalwart Men" to Begin Fulfillment

of Westchester County's Quota of Half a Million Men to Fight

the War.  Source:  Service for Liberty, Democracy, Honor

[Advertisement], The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], May

9, 1917, p. 9, cols. 1-8.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

The full text of the advertisement that appear above is transcribed immediately below to facilitate search.

"'The supreme test of the nation has come.  We must all speak, act and serve together'
-- WOODROW WILSON

Service for Liberty, Democracy, Honor
-----
WESTCHESTER COUNTY'S QUOTA OF HALF A MILLION MEN NEEDED
To Bring Up To Full Fighting Strength, the REGULAR ARMY, the MARINE CORPS, and the NATIONAL GUARD is
3,500 LOYAL STALWART MEN
Young Men of Westchester Volunteer To Serve NOW.  Don't Wait:  Apply To Your Local Recruiting Committee.

COMMITTEE ON ENROLLMENT FOR MILITARY SERVICE
WESTCHESTER COUNTY COMMISSION OF GENERAL SAFETY
COUNTY COURT HOUSE, WHITE PLAINS, N. Y."

At about the same time, Congress enacted and the President signed into law the Selective Service Act, Pub. L. 65-12, 40 Stat. 76 (enacted May 18, 1917).  The Act provided for a compulsory draft that, unlike the draft during the Civil War, did not permit those drafted to send substitutes in their stead.  The Act required all males aged 21 to 30 to register for the draft.  The law was amended more than a year later to expand the age range to include all men 18 to 45.  The men aged 21 to 30 who were registered for the draft became known as the "First Call Men."

The first National Registration Day for the draft was held on June 5, 1917 for all men between the ages of 21 and 31.  Within about a month, on July 20, 1917, local authorities held the requisite draft lottery.  The local draft lottery encompassed young men in Pelham, Bronxville, and Tuckahoe.  More than one hundred Pelham men received the news that their numbers had come up  (See the list of draft lottery numbers with names and addresses of the men from Pelham below.)  

Even before exemption boards began considering appeals from First Call Men who sought exemption from the draft, young men in Pelham began volunteering before they were formally drafted into the service.  In July and early August, 1917 it seems that there were two military units that accepted Pelham volunteers.  One was "Mount Vernon division" of naval militia that was formed when officers of the U.S.S. Granite State visited the City of Mount Vernon "to see if enough young men were willing to enlist so that a division, to be a part of the new fifth battalion, could be formed."  Continue Recruiting For Naval Militia Division, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jul. 26, 1917, p. 1, col. 1.

Once again, Pelham and its young men were marching off to war.

*          *          *          *          *

Below are the names of the young men of Pelham who were among the "First Call Men" whose numbers were selected in the early draft during July, 1917.

2         Murel H. Consorty  (52 Young Avenue, Pelham)
3        Gong. Chang          (300 Fifth Avenue, Pelham)
5         Salvatore Cortaino (River Place, Pelham)
7         Thos. F. Carraher  (221 4th Avenue, Pelham)
12       Thos. A. Cornwall  (318 3rd Avenue, Pelham)
21       Geo. M. Clegg       (8 2nd Avenue, Pelham)
22       John Costello        (412 Fifth Avenue, Pelham)
24       Leslie S. Clark       (314 Seventh Avenue, Pelham)
26       Louis F. Edinger    (222 5th Avenue, Pelham)
28       Joseph Enright      (444 5th Avenue, Pelham)
30       Marno Barr            (19 Linden Avenue, Pelham)
34       Albert Brennley      (18 Storer Avenue, Pelham)
35       Luciano DeFillippi  (580 Sixth Avenue, Pelham)
39       Joe De Guglielmo  (582 Seventh Avenue, Pelham)
42       Wm. Daull              (520 River Avenue, Pelham)
44       Leon E. Leighton   (146 3rd Avenue, Pelham)
45       Martin J. Lowery    (21 5th Avenue, Pelham)
47       Edward Lambert    (56 Fourth Avenue, Pelham)
53       Allen Ferguson      (719 Pelhamdale Avenue, Pelham)
55       Thos. F. Flanagan (423 1st Avenue, Pelham)
57       Jesse A. Miller       (224 Fourth Avenue, Pelham)
60       Valentine Miller     (15 Linden Avenue, Pelham)
66       George Merz, Jr.   (534 River Avenue, Pelham)
68       James W. McGovern (65 Harmon Avenue, Pelham)
70       Angelo Gianico      ([Illegible] 5th Avenue, Pelham)
73       John Godfrey         (345 7th Avenue, Pelham)
74       John Godfrey         (345 7th Avenue, Pelham - same as above)
78       Salvatore Giordano (522 6th Avenue, Pelham)
80       Marno Barr (19 Linden Avenue, Pelham)
82       Fred W. Broege     (113 3rd Avenue, Pelham)
86       Joseph E. Bolding (34 5th Street, Pelham)
97       Geo. Kurtze           (226 5th Avenue, Pelham)
98       Gordon Kann         (222 1st Avenue, Pelham)
101     Angelo Tesero       (618 5th Avenue, Pelham)
110     William C. Penny   (31 Linden Avenue, Pelham)
106     Dominic Tardio      (439 7th Avenue, Pelham)
108     Edwin Pickhardt    (46 6th Avenue, Pelham)
110     William C. Penny   (31 Linden Avenue, Pelham)
111     Charles M. Pickhardt  (43 Sixth Street, Pelham)
116     Sabato Pesano     (439 7th Avenue, Pelham)
123     Francis J. Walker, Jr.  (24 Clifford Avenue, Pelham)
132     Geo. W. Saul         (137 3rd Avenue, Pelham)
134     Nicholas F. Spor    (30 1st Street, Pelham)
135     Frank Sattarelle     (133 6th Street, Pelham)
137     Peter F. Satterale  (138 6th Avenue, Pelham) (also listed as 138 6th St.)
139     Dominick C. Smith (65 Harmon Avenue, Pelham)
141     Ralph Renouf        (101 Fifth Avenue, Pelham)
143     Edwin W. Rottach  (413 First Avenue, Pelham)
145     James E. Reilly      (454 3rd Avenue, Pelham)
149     Jos. P. Ryan          (510 River Avenue, Pelham)
152     Albert C. Rice        (214 3rd Avenue, Pelham)
155     Sidney W. Tuttle    (50 Boulevard, Pelham)
159     Joseph P. Ryan     (510 [illegible] Avenue, Pelham)
162     R. D. Kenee           (489 Willard Avenue, Pelham)
165     John Asfendiancs  (New York Athletic Club, Pelham)
166     Carracos Ciriacos  (New York Athletic Club, Pelham)
167     James Akostulu     (Travers Island, Pelham)
170     Wilson Austin         (525 Willard Avenue, Pelham)
171     Samuel Abernathy (464 Siwanoy Place, Pelham)
172     Arthur Augur          (516 Fowler Avenue, Pelham)
173     Jas. H. Archer       (4745 Boston Post Road)
176     Albert J. Lambert   (Bolton Priory, Pelham)
177     Edward B. W. Luce (919 Pelhamdale Avenue, Pelham)
178     S. Lowy                  (Travers Island, Pelham)
179     Jas. R. Lawler        (283 Corlies Avenue, Pelham)
182     Guiseppe Clerice   (New York Athletic Club, Pelham)
184     John F. Connolly   (139 Reed Avenue, Pelham)
186     Thos. Bahan          (New York Athletic Club, Pelham)
188     F. S. Babcock        (Pelham)
192     Barclay Beaver      (132 Manor Circle, Pelham)
195     Edward F. N. Beck (207 Carona Avenue, Pelham)
196     Henry T. Boland    (New York Athletic Club, Pelham)
197     Edward H. Bragg   (Loring Avenue, Pelham)
198     Robert D. Brooks   (211 Secor Lane, Pelham)
200     Joseph A. Brown   (245 Corona Avenue, Pelham)
201     Clarence McGuire  (Monterey Avenue, Pelham)
203     Joseph Meribelli    (105 Wolfes [sic] Lane, Pelham)
204     Robert J. Miller, Jr. (Witherbee Avenue, Pelham)
208     John J. Miner        (Travers Island, Pelham)
215     Lyall Dean             (Willard Avenue, Pelham)
217     Walter M. Dotts      (248 Monterey Avenue, Pelham)
219     John Dickerson      (562 Monterey Avenue, Pelham)
226     James Sagules      (Travers Island, Pelham) [See below]
226     James Siagules     (Travers Island, Pelham)
227     John Simohojlon    (New York Athletic Club, Pelham)
232     W. V. K. Gillett        (Pelham)
233     Frederick Gaeng   (New York Athletic Club, Pelham)
234     William G. Graham (165 Boulevard, Pelham)
235     Estonestas Gilagaran (155 Corona Avenue, Pelham)
238     Roy H. Gardener   (New York Athletic Club, Pelham)
239     William Geist          (Pelhamdale Avenue, Pelham)
242     Christos Papacostintinoce (New York Athletic Club, Pelham)
243     Alfonse Paggano   (100 Wolfe [sic] Lane, Pelham)
252     Henry Tilford          (109 Hunter Avenue, Pelham; see also 253)
253     Henry Tilford          (109 Hunter Avenue, Pelham)
259     Imari Heino             (71 Witherbee Avenue, Pelham)
261     Frank L. Harrington (211 Secor Lane, Pelham)
263    Allen S. Hubbard     (James Street, Pelham)
264    Lenox Harve           (262 Pelhamdale Avenue, Pelham)
266     Chas. Ronccare     (New York Athletic Club, Pelham)
273    Cozo Thara             (Pelham Manor Road, Pelham)
276    Nelson H. Jewett     (444 Pelham Manor Road, Pelham)
277     Stephen Thomas Jones (1022 Pelhamdale Avenue, Pelham)
281     Charles A. Voight   (541 Rochelle Place, Pelham)
286     Wallace White        (177 Nyac Avenue, Pelham)
289     Shawbut C. Walz    (200 Elderwood Avenue, Pelham)
290     Edgar Walz            (200 Elderwood Avenue, Pelham)
293     Henry C. Wolffenstein (226 Highbrook Avenue, Pelham)
295     Edward F. N. Beck  (207 Corona Avenue, Pelham)
316     Northrop Dawson    (400 Pelham Manor Road, Pelham)

Source:  MEN OF VICINITY CALLED TO COLORS, The Daily Argus [Mount Vernon, NY], Jul. 25, 1917, p. 3, cols. 1-4.

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Another Story of the "Great White Hurricane" that Struck Pelham and Surrounding Regions in 1888

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The Great Blizzard of 1888, also known as the Great White Hurricane, was a monumentally-devastating nor'easter by which Americans who lived in the northeast measured their lives ever after:  time before the Great Blizzard or time after the Great Blizzard.  

I have written about the Great White Hurricane before.  For examples, see:  

Thu., Mar. 13, 2014:  The Great Blizzard of 1888 in Pelham: 126 Years Ago Yesterday and Today.

Thu., Feb. 20, 2014:  Pelham Manor in 1883 and in its Early Years - Recollections of An Early Pelham Manor Resident.

Tue., Feb. 14, 2006:  An Account of the Blizzard of 1888 by Pelham Manor Resident Henry W. Taft.

Bell, Blake A., The Blizzard of 1888: Pelham in the Midst Of the 'Great White Hurricane', The Pelham Weekly, Vol. XIII, No. 34, Aug. 27, 2004, p. 9, col. 1.

Only Known Photograph of The Little Peanut Train

on the Branch Line. Photograph Taken Several Days

After the March 12, 1888 Storm. Photo Courtesy of 

The Office of The Historian of The Town of Pelham.

Perhaps nothing can demonstrate the ferocity of the massive storm more than an account published in 1895 of the plight of poor soldiers stationed on Davids Island only hundreds of yards off the shores of Pelham and New Rochelle on the brutal night that the blizzard began.  The Officer of the Day refused to take pity and forced sentinels to walk their posts that horrible night.  Men nearly died.  Others lost their way trying to walk only hundreds of feet in efforts to relieve their comrades because the blinding snow made it impossible to see.  One man hoping to make it to the Officer of the Day to beg him to allow the sentinels to shelter nearly walked straight into the sea and had to return because he could not find his way a few hundred feet.

The account is a stark reminder of the brutality of the massive nor'easter.  The entire account is transcribed below, followed by a citation to its source.  

"STORY OF DAVIDS ISLAND.
-----
Bravery of Army Recruits During the Big Blizzard.
-----
STUCK TO POST THOUGH FROZEN.
-----

There is a hitherto untold story of the great blizzard which struck the Eastern states in the spring of 1888.  That storm was severe enough to overcome and kill a man in the sheltered streets of New York within fifty feet of his own doorstep.  This story has to do with the suffering and heroism of the members of the recruit guard at the government depot on Davids Island, New York harbor.

It was this wildest night on record in those parts, and the little unprotected island, given over to the government use as a recruiting depot, felt the force of the storm as did no other place on the seaboard.  

It had been the mildest kind of day.  The sentinel on the porch of the old frame guard house had dropped his overcoat and had buckled his belt and cartridge-box about his blouse.

Larks were singing in the strip of grass beyond the library, and robins piped in the pines by the Commandant's quarters.  At retreat parade it was growing cold, but the sun was clear in setting and touched with its beams the flag as it fell from the pole's head at gun fire.  At tattoo, 9 o'clock, it was snowing, and a gale was coming in in straight from the Sound from the east and the waves were beginning to pound the beach.  The first relief was posted, the chain of sentinels extending around the edge of the island from the guard house to the big coal sheds on the dock that pointed out toward Starin's Glen Island.  It takes ten minutes to post the Sentinel on Davids Island under ordinary circumstances.  The posting corporal returned and told Sergeant 'Billy' Pulshon, who had served from a time to which no soldiers memory ran, that it was going to be a wild night.  When the time came two hours later to post the second relief the gale had increased and was sweeping the island with fury, while the Sound was seething and  was hurling great waves on the rocks back of the barracks on the sandy beach above.

The corporal of the second relief managed to get his men posted in half an hour.  Then Sergeant Pulshon floundered through the already deep snow to the quarters of the Officer of the Day and asked permission to give orders that the sentinels might seek such shelter on their posts as they could find.  The officer looked out of the window.  A heavy porch and some big trees gave shelter to the place.  'Let them walk their posts,' he said, 'they can stand it.'  The Sergeant managed to get back to the guard.  At midnight it was a question whether or not the buildings would stand the storm's strength.  Every exposed light on the island had been blown out.  The guard house was full of snow, which came in through the window cracks.  The men were sleeping in wet blankets.  At 1 o'clock the corporal of the third relief called his men.  Outside one could see nothing, and the mingled roar of waters and howling of gale drowned all other sounds.  The relief formed in the hallway.  The Sergeant said:

'Corporal, I'll make another appeal to the Officer of the Day.  These men should be sheltered.'

He left the guard house, but in five minutes was back.

'I nearly walked into the sea,' he said.  'If it had not been for the light I never could have gotten back.'  

The Corporal turned to his relief and said:

'We must relieve the men on post.  You take what shelter you can find.  Exposure in this storm means death.'

There were eight men all told in relief.  They fell in in 'column of files' and left the guard house.  Once out from under the shelter of the porch the wind struck the members of the detail and bore its burden of snow full in their faces.  The Corporal could not see his command, so black was the night.  The soldiers were in momentary danger of piercing one another with their bayonets, their pieces being at 'secure arms.'  The Corporal ordered a halt and made his men unfix bayonets, come to a 'trail arms,' and then clasp hands.  He took the hand of the front file himself and led the way.  He headed as nearly as he could judge for the post of No. 7, back of D. Company barracks.  The distance was not more than 200 feet, but in the bewilderment of the blizzard the leader took his command to a bathhouse on the beach 150 yards from the place where the devoted sentinel stood awaiting relief.  New bearings were taken and an old soldier, who had recently re-enlisted and who was one of the relief, was brought to the front and, putting his head with that of the Corporal, a new direction was taken.  This time they found No. 7.  He was on the verge of being overcome, but was pluckily sticking to his post.  It is customary for each relieved sentinel to fall in and march with the relief until all his companions have been relieved, but the condition of No. 7 was such that it was necessary to return at once to the guard house with him, and the journey back, after posting the new man was undertaken.  The man had to be half carried and by the time warmth was reached he sank down utterly exhausted.  Hot coffee and a rubbing brought him around.  

The third relief started out again and headed for the hospital.  This building backs on the exposed east beach of the island, along which was the beat of Sentinel No. 6.The storm was from the east and this post caught its unbroken fury.  The sentinel was supposed to patrol the beach at the water's edge for its entire length of 400 feet.  When the relief finally managed to reach the hospital the men felt for the first time the full power of the storm.  As they came from the building's shelter the blast from the Sound threw them to the ground and broke the chain of hand clasps.  They struggled up and were ordered back under the lee of the building.  Then the Corporal took the man who was to relieve No. 6 and started for the beach again.  The two gripped hands and keeping close into the building managed to edge into the face of the wind.  

'If that man is on post he's dead,' said the Corporal to the recruit sentinel .  Blown here and there, soaked with the icy salt spray, and blinded by the drifting and falling snow they succeeded in covering the entire length of the post, but no sentinel could they find.  Back of the hospital and at the edge of the sentinel's post by the water stood a little wood shanty of one room and raised on brick foundations from the sand.  It was the island's dead house [i.e., a morgue].  As the Corporal and the sentinel passed in on their return the sentinel for whom they were looking came out of the door.  He was a colored lad waiting as a recruit to be sent to the negro infantry in the far West.

'I stood it out here,' he said to the Corporal, 'as long as I could.  I began to get numb and sleepy, and the wind was so strong I could not breathe, and then the spray froze on my arms and legs.  I found this door open, and saw that  could look out of the windows and so I came in.'

The Corporal led the way into the morgue again.  

'There's a dead man here,' he half gasped to the negro.

'I know it,' said the boy quietly.  'I was mighty scared at first, but I'd been dead too if I had not come here.'  -- New York correspondence of the Chicago Tribune."  

Source:  Story of Davids Island - Bravery of Army Recruits During the Big Blizzard, The New Rochelle Pioneer [New Rochelle, NY], Oct. 26, 1895, Vol. XXXV, No. 31, p. 2, cols. 1-2.  

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