This Week's New York History Web Highlights

• War of 1812: HMS General Hunter Wreck Profile
• Mental Floss: President Tyler's Grandkids Still Living
• BIG Map Blog: Bridges' 1807 Survey of Manhattan
• Jake Wesley: Johnstown Boy, Young Historian
• Eastman Kodak: 130 Yrs in Pictures
• Did Teddy Roosevelt Write Obama's State of the Union?
• Gothamist: Sewer Tunnels Beneath Bushwick
• Dick Eastman: Education eBooks Cost Justification

Each Friday afternoon New York History compiles for our readers the previous week's top weblinks about New York's state and local history. You can find all our weekly round-ups here.

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Quebec Family History Society Goes Online

The Quebec Family History Society (QFHS) has announced the launch of its new website at www.qfhs.ca. The website features several new sections, such as Gary’s Genealogical Picks, research tips, surname interests, and a bulletin board.

QFHS members researching their ancestors in Quebec will benefit from the new Jacques Gagné Church Compilations in the members’ section. Long-time member Jacques Gagné has compiled historical information and the location of records for more than 1,000 English and French Protestant churches across the province, from 1759 to 1899.

The Quebec Family History Society is the largest English-language genealogical society in Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1977, it is a registered Canadian charity that helps people of all backgrounds research their family history. Its members, in addition to researching their Quebec roots, research historical records in all Canadian provinces and territories, the United States, the British Isles, and Western Europe. At the QFHS Heritage Centre and Library, members have free access to a collection of 6,000 books, manuscripts, and family histories, plus thousands of microfilms, microfiche, historical maps, and periodicals, and access to billions of online genealogical records.

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This Week's Top New York History News

JFK Library Releasing Last Secret Tapes

Brooklyn Historic Skyscraper District Upheald

Manning Marable Up For US Critics Award

Ancestry, Historical Society of PA Partner Online

AHA 2013 Call for Proposals

Irish American Museum Opens

South St Seaport Museum Reopens

Seaway Trail Director Mitchell Dies

2 Champlain Society Pubs Digitized

Each Friday morning New York History compiles for our readers the previous week's top stories about New York's state and local history. You can find all our weekly news round-ups here.

Subscribe! More than 2,300 people get New York History each day via E-mail, RSS, or Twitter or Facebook updates.

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British Assault on the Home of Pie a la Mode

“The British are coming” is the warning shouted in Washington County as the British TV Chef Gordon Ramsey comes to the historic Cambridge Hotel this week. Ramsey is expanding his Fox TV shows beyond cooking to remaking hotels in a new program called Hotel Hell. The concept of the show is “help fix struggling, privately owned hotels, inns and bed-and-breakfasts in destination towns across the U.S.”

“The Cambridge Hotel holds 126 year history of housing local celebrations and so seems to have a very permanent part in the memory of the people of our community,” explains General Manager Shea Imhof. “Often folks stop in to see us and share pictures and stories from their 1960's wedding or speak to how the whole family gathered for an elders passing. These memories are made stronger by sharing them in the setting in which they were made which is in part why we strive to exist.”

Today, the Cambridge Hotel is a hotel run by the Imhof family. It is best known for inventing pie a la mode, (French for “according to the fashion") apple pie with vanilla ice cream. In the 1890s, Professor Charles Watson Townsend dined regularly at the Cambridge Hotel. He would frequently end his meal with an ice cream topped apple pie, which another diner called “pie a la mode.”

While dining at the famous Delmonico's restaurant in Manhattan, Townsend requested his favorite dessert and was met with blank stares from the waiters. Townsend was quoted as saying "Call the manager at once. I demand as good service here as I get in Cambridge." Townsend was overheard by a newspaperman from the New York Sun, who reported in the next paper about Delmonico’s working to recreate the dessert served in Cambridge Hotel. The story was repeated and pie a la mode became a standard menu item at restaurants across the country.

Townsend died in 1936 at the age of 87 and his New York Times obituary notes that he "inadvertently originated pie a la mode." There are some conflicting reports including Barry Popnik's The Big Apple that mentions the dish appears to have been first served at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. However this being a New York History site, we are going to stick with the Cambridge Hotel as the inventors of pie a la mode.

The other little tidbit is that apple pie isn’t American, it’s British. There were no apple trees or pies in America before the British settled according to a recent Historic Foodways blog posting from Colonial Williamsburg.

It may be just dessert that a British Chef is helping to remake a historic American hotel best known for pie a la mode.

Sean Kelleher is the Historian for the Town of Saratoga and Village of Victory in the Upper Hudson Valley. He served as the Director of the Washington County Fair Farm Museum, and worked with a number of Champlain, Hudson and Mohawk Valleys historic sites on grant writing, interpretive planning, and marketing.

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Peter Feinman: Why is the Press Indifferent to History?How Do We Communicate History?

At the recently concluded annual conference of the American Historical Association, in addition to the passionate discussions about "NO HISTORY JOBS! NO HISTORY JOBS! NO HISTORY JOBS!" featured in my previous post, there were four panels on "Historians, Journalists, and the Challenges of Getting It Right." Excerpts from a report by Rick Shenkman, publisher and editor-in-chief of the History News Network on these presentations follow [his full report is online].

"The panels were established at the initiation of the National History Center's Roger Louis and USC's Marty Kaplan in cooperation with the Annenberg School of Communications [of the University of Pennsylvania]....At today's morning panel, Kaplan asked if journalists are beholden to a simplified view of history. Jackson Lears [Rutgers and author of Rebirth of a Nation, the Making of Modern America, 1877-1920] immediately answered in the affirmative. He noted that journalists tend to simplify events while historians try to show how complex they are. Simplicity is inadequate because "history is essentially tragic," considering the unintended consequences that attend most events. He got a laugh when he observed that any time a historian goes to a convention of social scientists, there's the feeling that their analyses are just too plain simple.

"Rick Perlstein [author of Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America] groused that when Rick Santorum gave his (second place) [now first place!] victory speech in Iowa, no one noticed that the story he told about his grandfather's escape from Mussolini's Italy led to years working in a coal mine in a company town where miners were paid in script, turning them into indentured servants. So much for the American dream....This prompted laments about the absence of a grand narrative."

The topic of a grand narrative for New York State has been raised among others by Peter Eisenstadt, editor-in-chief of the Encyclopedia of New York State (2005) and managing editor of the Encyclopedia of New York City (1995). Part of the challenge in writing a textbook or popular history of New York State is due to the extraordinary range of peoples, places, and events in the one state. While some peoples history date back to the colonial period or earlier, many others are locked into the Ellis Island/FDR or 9/11 time periods. Developing a single story to encompass all our residents requires an extraordinary range of expertise and writing skill to engage an audience that may only care for their own story and no one elses.

This topic relates to several issues of immediate concern that will be the subject of future posts:

1. New York State is now in the process of reviewing its social studies curriculum. What should the role of the NYS History Community, if any, be in this process?

2. How do we bridge the gap between scholarly or academic history and popular history?

3. What communication forums need to be developed so members of the History Community can have ongoing dialogue on these issues? As an example here is a recent example from a listserv that highlights the issue.

H-Net List for Teaching Social Studies in Secondary Schools
From: "Hunt, Tamara L."
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:09:39 -0600
To: H-HIGH-S@H-NET.MSU.EDU
Subject: Developing a Course

I am developing a class on teaching methods for college students planning to teach high school history, and while I have more than 20 years of experience teaching at the college level, I've never taught in high school. I'm wondering if the list members could give me some input on things they think should be addressed in such a class, including types of assignments, texts, exercises, or anything else they would like to share with me.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Dr. Tamara L. Hunt
Professor and chair, Department of History
University of Southern Indiana
8600 University Blvd.
Evansville, IN 47712

What active forums exist in New York today for such a discussion among teachers, public historians, historical societies and museums, and history and education departments in colleges on these questions? Considering that the social studies curriculum is now under review and the under-appreciated significance of cultural heritage tourism particularly in areas of economic difficulties in the state, now more than ever is the time for leadership and action in the New York State history community.

At the AHA conference, the following comments also were included in Shenkman's report:

"Perlstein said that he's less concerned when movie-makers, for example, make errors than when they wholly falsify history, as Oliver Stone did with his movie about JFK."

Perlstein's analysis is shortsighted, counter-productive, and dangerous - he lived through the times of JFK so he remembers it first hand. What about someone who scarcely knows who JFK even is yet alone when he lived? If we don't take charge of the teaching of history and its dissemination, Hollywood and "I read it on the internet" will.

To be continued.

Peter Feinman founder and president of the Institute of History, Archaeology, and Education, a non-profit organization which provides enrichment programs for schools, professional development program for teachers, public programs including leading Historyhostels and Teacherhostels to the historic sites in the state, promotes county history conferences and the more effective use of New York State Heritage Weekend and the Ramble.

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Albany Institute 'Lives of Abraham Staats' Sunday

This Sunday, January 29 at 2 PM the Albany Institute of History & Art will host Dr. Eric Ruijssenaars as he tells the life story of Abraham Staats, a Dutch founding father of Albany. Ruijssenaars is a Senior Scholar in Residence at the New Netherland Institute, and operates the research firm Dutch Archives. The event will be FREE with museum admission.

The lecture will examine Abraham Staats’ varied roles in the Capital Region, beginning with Staats’ 1642 emigration from Amsterdam to Kiliaen van Rensselaer’s vast estate, Rensselaerswijck (now part of Albany and Rensselaer counties). As a surgeon, Staats not only treated ailing residents, but also acted as advisor to the Patroon. He served as a magistrate of the court; and outside the court, he was often called on to resolve disputes between his neighbors. Well-respected within Rensselaerswijck, Staats was also something of a diplomat. Entitled to trade in beavers, he learned the Algonquin Indian language and was therefore able to act as an intermediary between colonists and Native Americans. The sloop Staats purchased to further his commercial interests placed him in contact with leaders in New Amsterdam and allowed him to develop a personal relationship with Peter Stuyvesant.

Following the talk, guests are invited to explore Albany’s Dutch colonial history by visiting the permanent exhibition Traders and Culture: Colonial Albany and the Formation of American Identity, located on the third floor of the museum. The Albany Institute of History & Art is located at 125 Washington Avenue, Albany. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students with a valid ID, $6 for children 6-12, and FREE for members and children under 6.

Photo: The Abraham Staats house, which he built, is currently the oldest home in Columbia County.

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Teresa Mitchell, Seaway Trail Executive Director, Dies

Teresa Hall Mitchell, 59, the Executive Director of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, passed away on January 24 at her home in Clayton with family at her side. She was an advocate for history and tourism along the 518 mile scenic driving route that follows the shores of Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River in New York and Pennsylvania.

Mitchell had been been fighting a very aggressive cancer. She was determined to finish a quilt commemorating the War of 1812, which she did between hospice visits and pain medication. Just 11 days ago, she was sending out emails to colleagues sharing that plans for an 1812 guide book and wayside exhibits that were moving forward.

“Teresa was a hard and dedicated worker who made good things happen, and we were all privileged to have had the opportunity to have worked with her,” said Robert Weible State Historian and Chief Curator at the New York State Museum. “Her untimely passing is a loss for the state's entire history community.”

"Teresa was always the one to push the envelope for America's Byways, I am honored to call her a friend and greatly appreciate all of the support she has provided over the years -- she will be greatly missed." said Janet Kennedy, Executive Director of Lakes to Locks Passage, an All American Road.

“The best thing I got from being on the NYS French and Indian War 250th Anniversary Commission was Teresa Mitchell, as a friend and mentor,” said Barbara O’Keefe, Executive Director of Fort La Présentation. “Our trips to Albany flew by with talk of quilting, knitting, children and grandchildren and marketing ideas. I have never met an individual who loved their job more or did it better. NYS has lost an amazing tireless advocate for cultural heritage tourism.”

I had the pleasure of working with Mitchell for 5 years as a member of the NYS French and Indian War 250th Anniversary Commemoration Commission. We shared a passion for marketing historic sites and events. She was relentless in her efforts to work with legislators and state agencies to promote unique historical locations and cultural heritage sites. Mitchell’s work with web sites, tour guides, wayside exhibits and the award winning Great Lakes Seaway Trail Travel Magazine made history exciting and accessible to visitors. The entire State has lost a special individual and a strong advocate for history in the North Country.

To learn more about Great Lakes Seaway Trail

To learn more about the success of the Seaway Trail visit the The National Trust for Historic Preservation's Heritage Tourism Program

A full obituary can be read at Newzjunky.com

Sean Kelleher is the Historian for the Town of Saratoga and Village of Victory in the Upper Hudson Valley. He has a particular interest in colonial history, being active as a reenactor for 34 years and has served as a Commissioner on the New York State French and Indian War 250th Anniversary Commemoration Commission.

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Lawrence Gooley: Occupy Movement History Lessons

Despite the wisdom of elders and some noted quotations (“Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it”), we are often caught up in another axiom that defines insanity: “Doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results.” It struck me recently that followers of the “Occupy Wall Street” movement should read pertinent history to avoid the results of the past when issues of the 99 percent vs. the 1 percent have surfaced.

As for the two opposing arguments, that the extreme wealth of the 1 percent should have limits, and that the 99ers are waging class warfare against our wealthiest citizens ... timely, new, and forward-thinking, right? Think again.

If you enjoy history, you’ll probably enjoy this headline from 105 years ago, appearing in The New York Times of January 6, 1907: “The Country’s Wealth: Is 99 percent of it in the Hands of 1 percent of the People.” Similar stories appeared in many other publications.

What happened then is happening again today: supporters of the 99ers are speaking out on behalf of the unemployed, the underemployed, the underpaid, and the poor. The other position is defended by those who feed off the 1 percent (the “trickle-down theory”) and so must serve as their bullhorn.

And as usual, the 1 percent itself remains largely silent, content to have others speak for them. Depending on how it all plays out, they’ll be either less rich or more rich … but still rich.

Those siding with the 1 percent have declared the Occupy Wall Street movement as “class warfare against the wealthy.” Were they using a new catchphrase to encapsulate such a huge issue? Hardly. A catchphrase, yes, but new? Check out these three quotations.

Pro 99: “The cry of class warfare was raised against us by the government and wealthy classes as pure propaganda in the hope of enlisting sympathy of the public against labor.”

Pro the 1 percent (regarding tax loopholes for the wealthy): “… to collect the taxes, the administration now seeks to attack the rich and the thrifty. This becomes part and parcel of the class warfare which has been waged … to gain popular favor with the masses.”

And finally, pro 99, who are characterized by some media as lazy, shifty, and troublemakers: “A peculiarity of all professional agitators of class warfare in the United States is their personal aversion to toil. Many of them never did a day’s work at manual labor. They know no more about the working people of America than a pig knows about Christmas, yet profess to be the tireless champions of the working class … and have hit upon a plan for feathering their nests without ever laying an egg. They just cackle and collect.”

Those quotations are from 1920, 1937, and 1949, respectively, but they sound like excerpts from today’s 24/7 “news” broadcasts. The OWS folks might be well served by researching protests of years past to prepare for arguments made against the movement. We’ve been here before.

Perhaps by knowing the questions that have been asked so many times in the past, along with the answers that were given, there might be hope for a different outcome.

But for observers who look at history to see what has gone before us, it’s hard not to subscribe to another famous axiom: “Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.” General translation: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

Photo: NY Times headline, January 6, 1907.

Lawrence Gooley has authored ten books and dozens of articles on the North Country’s past. He and his partner, Jill McKee, founded Bloated Toe Enterprises in 2004. Expanding their services in 2008, they have produced 19 titles to date, and are now offering web design. For information on book publishing, visit Bloated Toe Publishing.

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N-Y Historical Black History Month Offerings

The New-York Historical Society has a number of exhibits and programs planned for Black History Month. All exhibitions are presented at the New-York Historical Society 170 Central Park West, New York, N.Y., unless otherwise noted. Phone (212) 873-3400 or visit www.nyhistory.org for more information.

THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT SIGNED BY LINCOLN
February 1 through April 1, 2012

The New-York Historical Society displays a rare handwritten copy of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution--the measure that abolished slavery—signed by President Lincoln himself. The document, which was recently acquired by David Rubenstein, managing director of The Carlyle Group, will be on loan to the New-York Historical Society until April 1, in the new Robert H. and Clarice Smith New York Gallery of American History.

FREEDOM NOW: PHOTOGRAPHS BY PLATON
Until April 29, 2012

This installation of large-scale images by the celebrated photographer Platon, gives the historic struggle of the 1950s and 1960s a stirring contemporary presence. Julian Bond—statesman, professor, writer and a leader in the Civil Rights movement—has written a personal introduction to the exhibition. Among the subjects of the photographs are the Little Rock Nine, whose attempt to enter Little Rock Central High School in 1957 became a national cause célèbre; Joseph A. McNeil and Franklin E. McCain, participants in the 1960 Greensboro lunch-counter sit-in; Southern Christian Leadership Conference members Joseph Lowery, Fred Shuttlesworth, C.T. Vivian and Andrew Young; Student Non-Violent Co-ordinating Committee leaders James Lawson, Robert Moses and Diane Nash; Chris and Maxine McNair, parents of Denise McNair, murdered in the bombing of Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church; Black Panthers Kathleen Cleaver, Emory Douglas and Bobby Rush; Muhammad Ali; Harry Belafonte; Congressman John Lewis; and Jesse Jackson, Sr.

REVOLUTION! THE ATLANTIC WORLD REBORN
Until April 15, 2012

The path-breaking exhibition Revolution! The Atlantic World Reborn, is the first exhibition to relate the American, French and Haitian struggles as a single global narrative. Spanning decades of enormous political and cultural changes, from the triumph of British imperial power in 1763 to the end of the Napoleonic wars in 1815, Revolution! traces how an ideal of popular sovereignty, introduced through the American fight for independence, soon sparked more radical calls for a recognition of universal human rights, and set off attacks on both sides of the Atlantic against hereditary privilege and slavery. Texts and audio guides are in English, French and Haitian Krèyol. Highlights on view: the original Stamp Act as it was passed by Parliament in 1765, setting off the riots that led to the American Revolution, on loan from the Parliamentary Archives, London, displayed for the first time outside the U.K. the only known surviving copy of the first printing of the Haitian Declaration of Independence (1804, National Archives, London), recently discovered and exhibited here to the public for the first time.

Napoleon's authorization to French negotiators to sell the Louisiana Territory to the United States (1803, New-York Historical Society), as a direct consequence of the Haitian rebellion

THE BATTLE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
Thursday, February 16, 6:30 PM
David Levering Lewis, Khalil Gibran Muhammad (moderator)
Location: Robert H. Smith Auditorium at New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West

In this powerful program, two experts reflect on the successes and setbacks in the struggle for civil rights and the changing ways in which the story of the Civil Rights Movement is told, from early writers and activists like W.E.B. DuBois, to the turbulent years of the 1950s and ’60s, to the present. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Freedom Now: Photographs by Platon. A collaboration with the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

MEET AUTHOR MAIRA KALMAN—LOOKING AT LINCOLN
President’s Day, Monday February 20, 2012, 1 pm

Award winning artist and author, Maira Kalman, reads from the historical gem Looking at Lincoln. From his boyhood in a log cabin to his famous presidency and untimely death, Kalman shares Lincoln’s remarkable life with young readers. Her charming text and bold artwork make history come alive in a fresh and exciting way.

HISTORY DAYS PRESIDENT’S’ VACATION WEEK
February 20 - 24, 2012

Show off your presidential history skills at our daily family quiz show; drop in for some art making, or join our presidential history scavenger hunt. Best for ages 4 – 14. No preregistration required. Free with museum admission.

Family Presidential History Quiz, 2 pm

Where did George Washington take his first oath of office? Team up, sharpen your pencils, and enter our family quiz! Prizes for participation and grand prizes for high-scorers.

Presidential Art making, 1 – 4 pm
Make and decorate your own election button or poster.

Join the Hunt! Presidential Scavenger Hunt, 11 am – 4 pm

We don’t know if George Washington had a cat, but we do know he had a cot and we’ve got it! Find amazing memorabilia when we let you loose in the museum looking for everything presidents! Prizes for participation, and everyone can enter our Liberty the Dog raffle!


Living History Days: 1st RHODE ISLAND REGIMENT (CONTINENTAL)

Sunday, February 5 and February 19, 2012 11 am – 5 pm

As one of the earliest regiments in America to actively enlist African Americans, the 1st Rhode Island Regiment was assembled into service in late 1776 and early 1777. The Regiment fought in the battle of Newport in 1778, spent the infamous winter at Valley Forge, and participated in the Yorktown campaign without receiving any post-war compensation for their efforts. Since 2002, the 1st Rhode Island re-enactors have portrayed the regiment by recreating battles and encampments and presenting programs to audiences in an attempt to educate them about the role of African-Americans in the war effort.

Photo: Platon for The New Yorker, Emmett Tills’ cousins: the Reverend Wheeler Parker, Jr. and Simeon Wright, November 2009. Light jet print. Courtesy of the artist.

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Tom Shanahan: Daniel Tompkins, Not So Trival

“Who was the Vice President under John Quincy Adams? -- Daniel D. Tompkins. And I’ll bet your Mr. Sawyer doesn’t know that!”

It’s a line from that classic Christmas movie, “Miracle On Thirty Fourth Street.” In that scene the protagonist, Kris Kringle, tries to demonstrate that not only isn’t he delusional, but is so in touch with reality he can recall trivial facts most people couldn’t possibly remember.

Unfortunately, in typical Hollywood fashion, they actually got the trivia wrong. Tompkins was Vice president under Adams’ predecessor, James Monroe, which only serves to reinforce the point of how obscure Tompkins seems to us today. That’s a shame. Because not only did Tompkins serve as Vice President for two terms, but as Governor of New York during the War of 1812, he played a vital role in protecting a state that was at the epicenter of the conflict. His nearly ten years at the helm of state government, was the longest tenure of any Governor of the 19^th century.

When a Federalist state legislature, opposed to the war, refused to appropriate sufficient funds to sustain the state militia, Tompkins personally guaranteed the loans that kept the state’s volunteer soldiers fed and armed. His personal wealth was committed to the tune $130,000 – certainly no small sum even today – but a fortune at the time. It was an act of dedication that literally took him from a Staten Island estate to the poor house, although his heirs later recouped much of the loss.

While the war cost him greatly, Tompkins also used it to propel his political career. When it became apparent that the opposition Federalists would most likely nominate Stephen Van Rensselaer to challenge him in the 1813 election, Tompkins devised an interesting strategy to counteract the challenge. As Governor he had the power to name the Commander of the state militia. He offered the post to Van Rensselaer, in the belief that if he refused the post, Van Rensselaer would look cowardly, and if he accepted it, his lack of military experience would lead him into some blunder that would not reflect well on his command abilities. At the battle of Queenston Heights, the latter circumstance came to pass, and Van Rensselaer’s reputation was damaged – resulting in a narrow victory for Tompkins the next year.

Grateful for his support at a time of both national and political crisis, Madison offered Tompkins the post of Secretary of State, but the small salary, combined with his deteriorating financial circumstances, would not allow it. He was, however, able to accept the nomination for Vice President. Still, late in his second term, his dispute ground on with the federal government over whether it owed him money from the War of 1812 or he owed it. At one point, his name was placed on a list of government debtors and his Vice Presidential salary was withheld, forcing him to sue to get paid. The court saw things his way, and ruled that not only was he due his salary – but the government was, in fact, in debt to him – to the tune of $136,799.99! Congress appropriated partial payments, but the compensation did him little good. He died three months after leaving office.

Tompkins was treated little better by posterity – as our little Hollywood vignette shows. But that may be changing. Governor Cuomo’s program to redo the Hall of Governors on the Capitol’s second floor, has for the first time, placed the portraits of the Governors in chronological order, along with information about each. It also has resulted in some portraits being hung there for the first time. Among those – Daniel D. Tompkins. Just in time to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812.

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New War of 1812 Contributor Tom Shanahan

Please join us all here at New York History as we welcome our newest contributor Tom Shanahan. Tom has more than 25 years experience in politics, political communications, lobbying, election campaigns, and public relations. Since 1990, he has operated his own government relations and communications firm. An accomplished writer and researcher, Tom has authored articles on public policy and political history, which have been published in venues across New York. He will be writing about the War of 1812 here at New York History during the 200th anniversary commemorations.

With special interest in the early federal era, he presented at the Researching New York 2007 history conference, presenting a paper entitled "Lobbying: The Exercise of Power and Politics in New York," and as part of the New York State Library's public lecture series. He is currently a lecturer in the New York Council for the Humanities’ speaker’s series, speaking on the topic – 1812 – Uncle Sam’s First War and is developing a web documentary on the same subject.

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Hudson Valley Hessian Winter Muster on Sunday

Little known are the attacks on Forts Montgomery and Clinton on October 6, 1777. Even less known is the fact that the assault was a multinational effort involving German and Scottish troops, and a Polish nobleman.

On Sunday, January 29th, learn about Hessian participation in the Revolutionary War, as the Landgraf Regiment presents Hudson Valley Hessian Winter Muster. The program will feature period drill and a slideshow presentation: Martial Splendor: Introduction to the Clothing, Weapons, and Accoutrements of the “Hessian” Soldier in the Revolutionary War.

Schedule

1:00 PM: Muster and Drill (Field Behind Museum)

3:00 PM: Slideshow Presentation: Martial Splendor: Introduction to the Clothing, Weapons, and Accoutrements of the “Hessian” Soldier in the Revolutionary War. (Fort Montgomery Museum Classroom)

For more information, please call (845) 446-2134. Fort Montgomery State Historic Site is located at 690 Route 9W, in Fort Montgomery, Orange County, NY.

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Guest Essay: Black Troops, White Civil War Units

What follows is a guest essay by Bob Farrell, a researcher of the 123rd and 169th New York volunteer infantry regiments in the Civil War. This essay was inspired in part by New York History contributor Carol Kammen's recent post on the life of Ira T. Brum, who enlisted in the 185th New York Volunteers in June 1864.

It was their country and they wanted to defend it. Their neighbors were enlisting and going to war, however, by law, that option was not available to them. Regardless of being free hard working citizens protecting their way of life, serving their country was denied to them. Despite this, all across upstate New York men of color went to a recruiting depot along with their neighbors to enlist in a regiment to be credited to their counties and their enrollment quota.

Stepping forward were James Brady from Malone, Ira Braum from Tompkins County, two step brothers from Fort Ann, Alonso Eddy from Owasco, and Bruce Anderson who in January 1865 would be awarded a Medal of Honor for his actions at Fort Fisher, North Carolina, stepped forward These are some names which have surfaced and been verified in the past few years.

The obstacle to identifying Blacks in all White regiments is the fact that nowhere in the regimental rosters provided by the Adjutant General for the State of New York is a racial distinction found. Mostly from postwar history have these names begun to emerge. Hopefully, with the current attention to the Civil War Sesquicentennial and the rising interest in the contribution of black troops to the success of Union victory, local historians and newspaper reporters will develop and further investigate and report on men of color.

Patriotism and a desire to defend the Union took the black man along with his neighbors to the recruiting tent. It is undeniable that the shade of his skin was a factor in being accepted into a company. In one example, three members of one family attempted to join the 169th New York Volunteers, one was accepted while the other two were sent to Riker’s Island which at that time was the training camp for the United States Colored Troops with the notation on their enlistment papers “of African descent”

For all those who successfully entered the military despite the shade of their skin, one thing is certain, their heritage was known to the other members of their company. For during the Civil War a company was a generally recruited from a specific town or region. Most of these towns, like today, were both rural and small. As anyone who grew up in one of these hamlets can tell you, everyone knows everyone and their business. With this in mind, no one served unobserved. Each man was accepted in his company and regiment not for his heritage, but for his commitment to serve in combat alongside his hometown neighbors.

Not until May 22, 1863 did General Order Number 143 establish a Bureau of Colored Troops to facilitate the recruitment of Black soldiers to fight for the Union Army. This bureau ultimately became known as the United States Colored Troops . From this simple beginning the USCT swelled to 170 regiments of approximately 178,000 members.

In the year 1862 there was no recognized means for a black to enlist. Emancipation was months away; plus any change in attitude by the Lincoln government was slow to emerge. Blacks remained in a limbo. The men in our story took history into their own hands and defied the government they were willing to defend. Let us hope that the clouds of history will clear and we will be able to enjoy more of their story of courage and determination

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