"Evacuation Day", 1783 Part 6

CORPS UNKNOWN.

John Donalds. Tobias Lent.

Joseph Mead. George Depew.

George Peck. Auris Verplank.

Jesse Lockwood. Albert Vanta.s.s.

WAGONERS.

John Randle. *Jacob Morris.

Elias Vanvolver. *John Tallow.

Samuel Anderson.

N. B.--The ten with a star are named in a list preserved by Col. Wm.

Faulkner, but are not in that furnished Gov. Clinton, by Joseph Loring, British Commissary of Prisoners. McArthur returned to his regiment, the other nine are not found again.

[30] GEN. LAFAYETTE, upon his last visit to this country, arrived at Staten Island, on Sunday, August 15, 1824. Capt. Van Arsdale had a grandson born on the same day. The next morning on landing at the Battery, the General was received by the Veteran Corps, and pa.s.sing along the line, took each member cordially by the hand. Coming to Capt.

Van Arsdale, he looked him intently in the face, as if he knew him, yet was not quite sure. But the instant the Captain alluded to his service in the Light Infantry Corps, the General's countenance lightened up, and there was a full recognition. "Van Arsdale," said he with emotion, as if the glorious past was flushing his memory, "Van Arsdale, I remember you well!" Going home, pleased beyond measure, that the General should recollect him, after a lapse of forty-four years, Capt. Van Arsdale went to see his little grandson, and being desired to give him a name, called him _John Lafayette_. This was the late Col. J. Lafayette Riker, of the 62d New York Volunteers, who in defense of the flag for which his grandsire sacrificed so much, n.o.bly laid down his life at the battle of Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862.

[31] Soon after Anderson's escape, the Indians, in retaliation, as was believed, burnt a house and several barns near Pinebush (in Mombackus), murdered two men, and carried off a third, named Baker, who was never heard of again, and was probably reserved for the worst tortures. Two or three hundred troops then lay at a fort on Honk Hill, under Lt. Col.

Newkerk, of McClaughry's regiment, and volunteers being called for, to go out and intercept the Indians who were supposed to be few in number, Lieut. John Graham offered himself, and set out with twenty man. At the Chestnut Woods (now Grahamsville, Sullivan Co.,) they lay in wait for the wiley foe, but were themselves drawn into an ambush, and only two escaped to tell the sad tragedy. Lieut. Graham fell at the first fire.

This happened on September 6th, 1778. Three hundred men went out and buried the dead where they fell. They had all been scalped. Graham was an uncle to the lady whom Van Arsdale afterwards married, and a half-brother to Wm. Bodle, Esq., before mentioned.

[32] He was ent.i.tled to a "Soldier's Right," (500 acres), in the unappropriated lands of the State, which was promised each recruit joining the Levies in 1781, to be given him as soon after his term of service closed, as the survey could be safely made; but it is traditionary in the family, that thinking it of little value, he neglected to secure it within the time prescribed by law, three years after the war should close. Rights sold for only $50, after the war.

[33] CAPT. VAN ARSDALE had five children who reached adult years; three of whom, his only son before named, and two daughters, yet survive. His eldest daughter, married to the late Alderman James Riker, and long since deceased, was the mother of the writer of this sketch, also of Col. J. Lafayette Riker, named in a preceding note; another daughter yet survives her husband, the late estimable John Phillips; another is the widow of Jacob G. Theall, and mother of Mrs. Dr. Jared G. Baldwin, of New York, and a fourth daughter married the late, much respected, Capt.

Andrew Dorgan, of Mobile, whose sons Augustus P. and Lyman Dorgan, are well known merchants at that place. (_See Annals of Newtown_, p. 307.)

MR. DAVID VAN ARSDALE.

This venerable citizen, son of Capt. John Van Arsdale, and to whom some humorous references have been made in these pages, has suddenly ended his pilgrimage, as our last sheet was pa.s.sing from the press. He died yesterday, (November 14th,) at the age of 87 years. His decease on the very eve of the Centennial, in the observance of which he was expected to take a special part causes the deeper regret; but we forbear remark, while the City Press is teeming with obituaries expressive of respect for his memory.