Renssalaer William Foote

Rensellaer William Foote, American army officer from New York in the Seminole and Civil Wars, was born (prob.) at Delhi, New York, 12 Nov., 1815 [Abram W. Foote, Foote Family, p. 205]

He died at Gaines' Mill, Virginia, 26 June, 1862. Buried at Arbor Hill, Delhi New York, in the family cemetery of his grandfather, Ebenezer Foote and his father, Charles Augustus Foote (U.S. House of Representatives from Delhi).

Uniform and Journal

Foote (U.S. 6th Infantry, NY) was an officer in the Seminole wars in 1841. After a term of service that included duty in Oklahoma, Arkansas and New Mexico territory, he died at the battle of Gaine’s Mill. It was the first battle he participated in during the Civil War.

Along with a letter to his sister, the Journal and the uniform of Col. Foote are in the Collection of The Main Street Museum White River Jct. Vermont. [http://www.mainstreetmuseum.org]

R. W. Foote kept a 22 page journal while in Florida, dating from 1841. The cover is decorated in pen and ink.

Excerpts from the Journal

Pelatka, Fla. Dec 25, 1840...The day I left N York I had the blues horridly—at the idea of leaving so much comfort, but my duty required it. My two particular friends (Tyler & Fields,) went over to Governor’s Island, with me to see me off, but I returned to the City , and took leave of them in Wall street. We had some agreeable ladies on board ship, and spent our time pleasantly. Mrs. Merrill, with her husband, who board at the Astor House, going to the South for his health, made us drink, champagne every day for sea sickness—a very agreeable medicine, truly... At Savannah we had a fresh shad, the first said to have been caught this season...John King, a retired lawyer & daughter and niece, and Dr King, of the Army. Mr. King was on a visit to his daughter who lives , in Georgia. She is the [p. 2] same Mrs. Nightingale, who was so miraculously saved from the wreck of a steamship near N York, some years ago. We played whist and had hot punch on board. Passing up the St Johns we were hailed by a small boat which put off towards us from the shore, near which lay a schooner at anchor, and on shore, a fire and tent pitched. The boat contained Col McIntosh (a brother-in-law of Gen Clinch) who requested us to wait long enough for two gentleman who had a little affair of honor to settle—but we did not wait for them.

Dec. 28, 1844—Left this place in company with Col Riley, Capt McKensie, Lieut McKinstry, and 10 mounted men, about 2 o’clock, Pm for ^Fort^ holmes...we heard the report of what appeared to us a musket, and some half an hour after the Col exclaimed— “There’s a red skin, I’m damned,”—we saw two crouching along through the bushed that line the edge of the hammock, with white blankets on their backs, some 300 yards from us. We approached them some hundred Yards, waving white handkerchiefs, and shouting to them, but they took no notice of us. The col did not think it prudent to go any nearer...Riding on we found one of the teamsters stretched out on his back, in the middle of the road, shot with a rifle ball through his heart... I saved many valued little articles of importance to myself. Among the rest Mrs. C’s needlecase, which I promised to keep, until is wore out, unless the Indians got it. They had been interrupted in their plundering, by the advance of a citizen going to Pelatka, who fired at them, and retreated. He saw us, and came up. He said he saw three of the rascals, one of them appeared to be a negro...

Dec. 30th. 1841.—Left for Fort Russell, distant 10 miles, where we arrived about 8 Pm. Saw the poet Patten and his beautiful wife— drinked their health ... In the morning took command of some 30 recruits, and two teams, and started for Fort King, distant 27 miles, where I arrived the same night about 7 Pm. Mr. Anderson politely asked me to quarter with him...

Jan 12, 1841...Some Indians with their squaws are in camp this morning. They visit us most everyday—they are encamped a few miles from us. Uncle is holding another truce with them, in the vain hope that they will all come in, and they are very well satisfied to eat our provisions in the winter, and murder us in the summer. I would give a months ^pay^ to see them all hanging to some of the pine trees around us...

Jan. 16, 1841.—Lieut Tho [nn?] ton, of the Dragoons, just arrived from Tampa, in command of an escort and 24 teams. He confirmed the news of the death of Lieut Sherwood, 7th July, and Mrs. Montgomery, near micanopy, killed by Indians. I brought out a letter for poor Sherwood from a brother in N York. Mrs. M. was a beautiful woman it is said. Col. Harry has taken some 30 or 40 warriors, women and children, and hung five of the men, and killed several in an engagement with them. His loss was 3 or 4 privates.

...Adjutant gave me notice immediately after inspection that there would be a parade. I formed “F.” Compy on the right in line of battle, and was not aware of the object of the parade, until I saw the prisoner in front who was to receive 50 lashes for desertion, with some other punishment. After the proceedings and approval of the Court Martial were read, the prisoner was tied to three muskets stacked, and received the 50 lashes on his bare back, inflicted with a small rattan by the Chief Musician. He twisted and yelled a good deal, but I think he got off cheap. This was the first flogging I ever saw —

Friday, Jan. 12.—Yesterday Col. L arrived here from Fort Clinch with some women and children and a few women's on their way to Tampa...

February 3d—Nothing wonderful happened to day—nothing to stir up the dull blood, or drive off ennui.—The Sun rose as usual, and has set behind the everlasting pine trees,—and the Moon is now shedding its soft and gentle rays upon us, occasionally obscured by some passing cloud which impudently thrust itself before her face. [p. 10] ...Occasionally the notes of a flute come wafted to our ears from the quarter of the soldiers mingled with the song and merry laughter of ^many a^ reckless son of Mars. Here is a group of them squatted round one who seems to be engrossing their attention with tales of hobgoblins, witches, ghosts, and wonderful scenes in which he himself has acted no mean part—he is eloquent, as you may see by their silent attention only interrupted at intervals by an exclamation of surprise or wonder. A little farther on another group may be seen whom frequent shouts and peals of laughter, are evidently occasioned by some witty jest, or stage buffoonery of the oracle of their little circle. The soldier is the same the world over, as soon as enlists he throws dull care away, and becomes a reckless, thoughtless, light hearted being—thinking of nothing but the p [r] esent, and regardless of the future.

...Started the next day at daylight, and arrived at Tampa about H 12 o’clock—I encamped my men on this side of the river, and walked over to attend to my business. Tampa is quite a bustling place—the head quarters of the comdg General and of the Eighth Infy, but there are no persons settled there who are not in some way connected with, or interested in the army...

March 4 1841…This is Inauguration day—a great day at Washington, and Gen. Harrison is our President—for the next four years. Maj. H. asked me over this morning to drink a glass of toddy to the health of the new President. It is a cool, and delightful sunshiny day. A most propitious one for the assembling of a great crowd on such an occasion...

[p 17] Thursday April 29 1841...found on the road the Express man and horse dead, that I sent from here to Tampa, Yesterday morning. And horrid to relate, half eaten up by wolves!— His name was Dolso, and an honest, peaceable young man—“In the midst of life we are in death” &c...

Fort Wekiwa, Feb. 22d 1842 We leave this horrid Country soon for Jefferson Baracks —

The Removal of the Seminole People/Seminole wars

The US government committed almost $40,000,000 to the forced removal of slightly more than 3,000 Maskókî men, women, and children from Florida to Oklahoma. This was the only Indian war in US history in which not only the US army but also the US navy and marine corps participated. Together with the desultory Third Seminole War, a series of skirmishes that took place between 1856 and 1858, the United States spent much of the first half of the 19th century in trying, unsuccessfully, to dislodge about 5,000 Seminoles from Florida. [www.seminoltribe.com] [http://www.seminoletribe.com/history/indian_removal.html]

References

Citations

cite book
last = Clark
first = John D., Congressman Thirty-fourth District, 1921–1925
title = Arbor Hill, 1797–1925, with pl. Reprinted from an article by Floyd H. Lincoln and published in “The Walton Reporter,” June 6 1925
publisher =
date = [1925]
location =
pages =
isbn =

cite encyclopedia
title = Charles Augustus Foote
encyclopedia = Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1744–1989
volume = Bicentennial Edition
pages =
publisher = U S Government Printing Office
date = 1989
id =
accessdate =

cite book
last = Purdy
first = Dorman S.
title = Descendants of Francis Purdy
publisher = New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
date = n.d.

Margaret Maxwell Marvin [Maynard] , through Frances Maynard [Ford] pp., copies of Bible of other records of births and marriages. Collection Main Street Museum.

Katherine Adelia Foote, "Ebenezer Foote, the Founder; Being an Epistolary Light on His Time as Shed by Letters From His Files; Selected by his Great Granddaughter..." Delhi, 1927.

Foote Family Record, embroidered sampler showing the children of C. A. Foote, and Foote Family Bible Record, ms. Main Street Museum. cite book
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = History of Delaware County, N.Y.," With Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents
publisher = W. H. Munsell & Co.
date = 1880
location = N.Y.C.
isbn =

Citation
last = Foote
first = Abram W.
title = The Foote Family, Comprising The Genealogy and History of Nathaniel Foote Of Weathersfield, Conn. And His Descendants...
pulisher = Rutland
pages =
date = 1907
year =
id =