There were at least 209 veterans of the Civil War from the Weedsport area - more than all of the other wars of this nation combined. In June of 1880, the "Whiteside Post" of the "Grand Army of the Republic" was formed and eventually totaled 90 men. The grim work of time then started to take its toll and soon they ceased to meet in 1928. Mr. Francis Hunting was the last of our Civil War vets to pass on.
I have asked one of Cayuga County's foremost students of the Civil War, John Lamphere, a retired deputy sheriff, and currently a member of the faculty at CCC to write the rest of this month's article on the war between the states. He writes:
I suppose I was inspired by H.G. Wells and his time machine, which I often viewed and fantasized over so often growing up as a child. Now as an adult, I know the one event that I would utilize such a device for to satisfy my historical craving.
I would love to have had the opportunity to see and hear Abraham Lincoln speak. What would be the chances of some guy from Weedsport standing in the shadow of one of the greatest men in recorded history? How many people from Cayuga County would have had this privilege? I know of at least three from this area!
Of course, there is the most notable, Secretary of State William Seward of Auburn, who not only heard Lincoln speak often, but he had such influence on the president that he probably wrote some of the words he said! Certainly, my friend and curator of the Seward House would have more to say about that, and I challenge you to tour this historic home.
Auburn also sent many men and at least one woman off with the thought of "we'll fight for Uncle Abe," as the singer Bobby Horton lamented. Sporangia E. Bucklin was a young single school teacher who wanted to help with the war and its wounded. Hearing the appeal for help, she traveled to Gettysburg where she eventually became a nurse at the huge Second Corps Hospital and later at Camp Letterman.
Camp Letterman was a large facility set up just outside of town. Bucklin was rewarded for her services by being asked to attend the dedication of the national cemetery, where the president had been invited to say a few "appropriate words."
As a note aside, Dr. Theodore Dimon, the surgeon of Auburn Correctional Facility, is credited with initiating the concept of the cemetery! Sadly, she would record in her journal afterwards only that "we stood almost suffocated, for an hour and three quarters listening to the masterly oration of the lamented Edward Everitt. In fact, Everitt's oration - done from memory, would actually take nearly three hours to complete, so it was no wonder that she was tired by the time President Lincoln would arise and complete his famous address within four minutes!
Another local person who was impressed with the president was the Assistant Regimental Surgeon for the 111th NY, Dr. James Dana Benton, of Cato.
Hugely patriotic and a rabid supporter of the president, Dr. Benton had been with the Army at Gettysburg, and Bucklin had been a nurse in his hospital where he had been one of only 13 doctors to treat some 3,400 wounded Union and Confederate troops. While at the siege of Petersburg, Dr. Benton became gravely ill and was sent to Washington D.C. to recover. During his stay, he was well enough to join the throng and attend the president's second inauguration. In a letter home he states that while he could not hear all that was said, he did have a good view of the president.
He noted that "Abraham's address was very short, but to the point. I am rather of the opinion that the occasion called for a more lengthy one. The morning was rainy and unpleasant enough, but the West was clear and just as Abraham made his appearance on the platform the sun burst into view and continued to be bright throughout the day. This is one of the good omens. Another is that during the afternoon a bright star made its appearance, although the sun shone bright and the sky was clear. You can attach whatever importance to them you wish. I never saw a bright star in the daytime before."
In just 40 days President Lincoln would be dead, killed by an assassin's bullet.
Next month, the great fire of 1871 in Weedsport.
Denny Randall is vice president of the Old Brutus Historical Society
I suppose I was inspired by H.G. Wells and his time machine, which I often viewed and fantasized over so often growing up as a child. Now as an adult, I know the one event that I would utilize such a device for to satisfy my historical craving.
I would love to have had the opportunity to see and hear Abraham Lincoln speak. What would be the chances of some guy from Weedsport standing in the shadow of one of the greatest men in recorded history? How many people from Cayuga County would have had this privilege? I know of at least three from this area!
Of course, there is the most notable, Secretary of State William Seward of Auburn, who not only heard Lincoln speak often, but he had such influence on the president that he probably wrote some of the words he said! Certainly, my friend and curator of the Seward House would have more to say about that, and I challenge you to tour this historic home.
Auburn also sent many men and at least one woman off with the thought of "we'll fight for Uncle Abe," as the singer Bobby Horton lamented. Sporangia E. Bucklin was a young single school teacher who wanted to help with the war and its wounded. Hearing the appeal for help, she traveled to Gettysburg where she eventually became a nurse at the huge Second Corps Hospital and later at Camp Letterman.
Camp Letterman was a large facility set up just outside of town. Bucklin was rewarded for her services by being asked to attend the dedication of the national cemetery, where the president had been invited to say a few "appropriate words."
As a note aside, Dr. Theodore Dimon, the surgeon of Auburn Correctional Facility, is credited with initiating the concept of the cemetery! Sadly, she would record in her journal afterwards only that "we stood almost suffocated, for an hour and three quarters listening to the masterly oration of the lamented Edward Everitt. In fact, Everitt's oration - done from memory, would actually take nearly three hours to complete, so it was no wonder that she was tired by the time President Lincoln would arise and complete his famous address within four minutes!
Another local person who was impressed with the president was the Assistant Regimental Surgeon for the 111th NY, Dr. James Dana Benton, of Cato.
Hugely patriotic and a rabid supporter of the president, Dr. Benton had been with the Army at Gettysburg, and Bucklin had been a nurse in his hospital where he had been one of only 13 doctors to treat some 3,400 wounded Union and Confederate troops. While at the siege of Petersburg, Dr. Benton became gravely ill and was sent to Washington D.C. to recover. During his stay, he was well enough to join the throng and attend the president's second inauguration. In a letter home he states that while he could not hear all that was said, he did have a good view of the president.
He noted that "Abraham's address was very short, but to the point. I am rather of the opinion that the occasion called for a more lengthy one. The morning was rainy and unpleasant enough, but the West was clear and just as Abraham made his appearance on the platform the sun burst into view and continued to be bright throughout the day. This is one of the good omens. Another is that during the afternoon a bright star made its appearance, although the sun shone bright and the sky was clear. You can attach whatever importance to them you wish. I never saw a bright star in the daytime before."
In just 40 days President Lincoln would be dead, killed by an assassin's bullet.
Next month, the great fire of 1871 in Weedsport.
Denny Randall is vice president of the Old Brutus Historical Society
The Citizens' Say
There are No comments posted.