LAST SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION by ELIAS BREWSTER HILLARD 1864
Interview With LEMUEL COOK Surviving Dragoon
Of all the men who had marched with Washington. and Arnold, with Gates and Greene and Mad Anthony Wayne, only seven were still alive. All were past 100 years, the eldest, Lemuel Cook was 105 years of age.
Lemuel Cook is the oldest survivor of the Revolution. He lives in the town of Clarendon, Orleans County, New York. His age is 105 years. Mr. Cook was born in Northbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut September 10th 1759 the son of Henry Cook and a grandson of the first settler of the town also named Henry Cook. He enlisted at Watertown when only sixteen years old. He was mustered in at Northampton in the Bay State 2nd Regiment of Light Dragoons in the command of Colonel Elisha Sheldon in the Company of Captain William Stanton. He served throughout the war and was discharged at Danbury, Conn. June 12, 1783. The circumstances of his service he relates as follows?
"When I applied to enlist, Captain Hallibud told me I was so small he could not take me unless I would enlist for the war. The first time I smelt gun powder was at Valentine's Hill (Westchester, N.Y. Oct 1776). A troop of British horse were coming, 'Mount your horses in a minute', cried the Colonel. I was on mine as quick as a squirrel. There were two fires-crash! Up came Parrow, good old soul, and said, 'Lem, what do you think of gunpowder? Smell good to you?'
The first time I was ordered on sentry was at Dobb's Ferry. A man came out of a barn and leveled his piece and fired. I felt the wind of the ball. A soldier near me said, 'Lem, they mean you, go on the other side of the road.' So I went over, and pretty soon another man came out of the barn and aimed and fired. He didn't come near me. Soon another came out and fired. His ball lodged in my hat. By this time the firing had aroused the camp and a company of our troops came on one side, and a party of the French on the other and they took the men in the barn prisoner and brought them in. They were cow boys. This was the first time I saw the French in action. They stepped as though on edge. They were a dreadful proud nation. When they brought the men in, one of them had the impudence to ask, 'Is the man here we fired at just now?' 'Yes,' said Major Tallmadge, 'There he is, that boy.' Then he told how they had each laid out a crown and agreed that the one that brought me down should have the three. When he got through with his story, I stepped to my holster and took out my pistol, and walked up to him and said, 'If I've been a mark to you for money, I'll take my turn now. So, deliver your money or your life! He handed over four crowns and I got three more from the other two."
Mr. Cook was at the Battle of Brandywine (September 11, 1777) and at Cornwallis' Surrender (October 19, 1781). Of the latter he gives the following account :
"It was reported that Washington was going to storm New York. We made a by-law in our regiment that every man should stick with his horse, if his horse went he should go with him. I was waiter for the quartermaster, and so had a chance to keep my horse in good condition. Baron Steuben was mustermaster. He had us called out to select men and horses fit for service. When he came to me he said, 'Young man, how old are you?' I told him. 'Be on the ground tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock' said he. My colonel didn't like to have me go. 'You'll see,' said he 'they'll call for him tomorrow morning.' But they said if we had a by-law we had to abide by it. Next morning old Steuben had got my name, there were eighteen out of the regiment, 'Be on the ground' said he 'tomorrow morning with two days provisions.' 'You're a fool,' said the rest, they're going to storm New York.' No more idea of it than going to Flanders. My horse was a bay, and pretty. Next day I was the second on parade. We marched off towards White Plains. The 'left wheel' and struck right north. Got to King's Ferry, below Terrytown, there were boats, scows, etc. We went right across into the Jerseys. That night I slept with my back to a tree.
Then we went to Head of Elk. There the French were. It was dusty, 'Peered to me I should have chocked to death. One of 'em handed me his canteen, 'Lem,' said he, 'take a good horn, we're going to march all night.' I didn't know what it was, so I took a full drink. It liked to have strangled me. Then we were in Virginia. There wasn't much fighting. Cornwallis tried to force his way north to New York, but fell into the arms of LaFayette, and he drove him back. Old Rochambeau told 'em, I'll land five hundred from the fleet against your eight hundred.' But he darnst. We were on kind of a side hill. We had plenty little to eat and nothing under heaven to drink. We hove up some brush to keep the flies off. Washington ordered that there should be no laughing at the British, said it was bad enough to have to surrender without being insulted. The army came out with guns clubbed to their backs. They were paraded on a great smooth lot, and there they stacked their arms. Then came the devil-old women, and all (camp followers). One said, 'I wonder if the damned yankees will give me any bread.' The horses were starved out. Washington turned out with his horses and helped them up the hill. When they see the artillery, they said, 'There, them's the very artillery that belonged to Burgoyne.' Greene came across from the southward, the awfulest sight you ever see; Some I should presume had a pint of lice on 'em. No boots nor shoes."
The old man's talk is very fragmentary. He recalls the past slowly, and with difficulty, but when he has his mind fixed upon it, all seems to come up clear. His articulation also, is very imperfect, so that it is with difficulty that his story can be made out. Much of his experiences in the war seem gone from him, and in conversation with him he has to be left to the course of his own thoughts, inquiries and suggestions appearing to confuse him. At the close of the war he married Hannah Curtis of Cheshire, Conn. and lived a while in that vicinity, after which he removed to Utica, New York. There he had frequent encounters with the Indians who still lived in the area. One with whom he had had some difficulty over cattle assailed him at a public house, as he was on his way home, coming at him with great fury, with a drawn knife. Mr. Cook was unarmed, but catching up a chair he presented it as a shield against the Indians thrusts until help appeared. He says he never knew what fear was, and always declared that no man would take him prisoner alive. His frame is large and his presence commanding, and in his prime must have possessed prodigious strength. He has evidently been a man of most resolute spirit, the old determination still manifesting itself in his look and words. His voice the full power of which he still retains, is marvelous for its strength and volume. Speaking of the present war, he said, in his strong tones, at the same time bringing down his cane with force upon the floor, 'It is terrible, but terrible as it is the rebellion must be put down'. He still walks comfortably with the use of a cane, and with the aid of glasses he reads his book, as he calls his Bible. He is fond of company, loves a joke and is good natured in a rough sort of way. He likes to relate his experiences in the army and among the Indians. He has voted democratic since the organization of the government, supposing that it still represents the same party it did in Jefferson's time. His pension, before it increased, was one hundred dollars. It has now increased to two hundred dollars. The old man's health is comfortably good and he enjoys life as much as could be expected at his great age. His home at present is with a son whose wife, especially seems to take kind and tender care of him. Altogether he is a noble old man, and long may it yet be before his name shall be missed from the rolls of his country's deliverers. -Elias Brewster Hillard.
This piece has been published several times in various forms. The original author's manuscript is at the New York State Library at Albany, which also included two pictures of Lemuel.
Copy of Article in Rochester Union Advertiser May 22, 1866
LEMUEL COOK - THE LAST REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOT AND PENSIONER - DEAD
Lemuel Cook, who is believed to be the last of the Revolutionary heroes and pensioners, died at Clarendon, Orleans Co. New York on Sunday evening, the 20th at the home of his son True W. Cook.
Mr. Cook according to his own statement was born in Plymouth, Litchfield County, Connecticut. The year of his birth is uncertain, but from statements made to the writer some years ago, when his mind was unimpaired, he was probably born in 1764. He was about 17 years old when he entered the service of his country in the spring of 1781.
A writer for the New York Herald, in giving a sketch of the surviving Revolutionary pensioners on October 10, 1863 states that, "He enlisted for the 2nd Light Dragoons, Col. Sheldon, but was mustered into Stanton's company of infantry, and continued in that company and in the service of the United States until June 1783, when he was, at the termination of the war, discharged at Danbury, Conn."
He has retained in his possession a copy from the War Department of his discharge, signed by George Washington, which states that he was a private in the 2nd Light Dragoons, Conn. Regiment. His field officers were stated as Col. Sheldon, Lieut. Jennison, and Major Benjamin Tallmadge.
The date of discharge is the same as stated in the Herald, it winds up as follows; The above named Lemuel Cook has been honored with the badge of merit for three years faithful service."
Soon after entering the service, Mr. Cook marched with the army to that memorable campaign in Virginia,. and was at the closing struggle at Yorktown, and witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis on the 19th of October 1871.
Mr. Cook moved from Conn. to Oneida Co., New York, thence to Bergen, Genesee Co. and from the latter place to Clarendon, N.Y. where he has resided for about 30 years.
Mr. Cook was a life long Democrat in his politics, and until within a few years ago was punctual in his attendance at town meetings and elections. He continued to write his name to orders and pension papers until the last winter when he became to enfeebled to write. His autograph has been sought for from all parts of the country. In the spring of 1861 a Hartford publisher sent an artist to procure his photograph, the first and only one that has been taken of him and the picture is remaricably correct.
Among the last autographs is one now in the possession of the Bureau of Military records at Albany, furnished at the request of Mr. Doty.
According to the statement of the Herald, there was on the twelfth of March 1861 12 surviving Revolutionary pensioners in the southern states. (This has now been proved to have been entirely false.)
The funeral will take place tomorrow at 10 in the morning in a grove near the house of his son, Curtis Cook, if pleasant, in the south east corner of Clarendon. As 'Ir. Cook was a Mason he will be buried under its honors as well as those of war, the Rev. Col. James T. Fuller has been sent for to officiate as chaplain of the ceremonies which will be attended to the burial of the Last Survivor of the Army of the Revolution.
Clarendon, May 22, 1866 -George M. Copeland.
There are several false statements made in this piece, but it is the most nearly correct of any of the articles published at the time of Lemuel's death.
The following piece appeared in the ORLEANS REPUBLICAN May 24, 1866
Lemuel Cook Sr, the last of the Revolutionary heroes, died on Sunday night in Clarendon, N.Y at the age of 107 years. He was born in Plymouth Conn. and at the age of 16 years he entered the Army of the Revolution, first in the Dragoons and then in the infantry under Colonel Sheldon. Mr. Cook in the second enlistment served 3 years in the Army, was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown and took an honorable discharge at the close of the war which was signed by General George Washington. Mr. Cook came to western N.Y, to reside over 30 years ago. He has been in feeble health for a couple of years past but up until 1864 was quite active The funeral of Lemuel Cook took place on Wednesday, none of the churches were large enough to accomodate the crowd attending so the body was taken to a nearby grove where he laid in state and the funeral service was held. The masonic fraternity took charge of the proceedings. The sermon was preached by the Reverend James M. Fuller, his discourse will be remembered as a masterpiece, his text taken from the Psalms 44-1 to 3. The burial was also with military honors at the family cemetery a short distance down the road.
The following description of the funeral appears in Copeland's History of Clarendon at page 284
A large procession brought Lemuel from the home of his son True to the woods across from the farm of his son Curtis, where the funeral was held. A few boards were placed in front of the speaker, where the coffin rested, and the large audience seated themselves as best they could, and for two hours listened to the eloquent words which came forth in memory of the departed soldier. The text was taken from the words, "We have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us". This was the most impressive funeral that ever took place in Clarendon, and the only one that has ever been held in that most beautiful and grand of all God's temples, the woods, where the golden pencils of light came streaming down through the arches of shade in all the richness of glory and softness of perfect peace and hollowed rest. In the words of Byron--"He has fought his last fight, He has seen his last battle, No sound can awaken him to glory again."
-David Sturges Copeland 1888
Mrs. Nettie Cook Smith often spoke of her memory as a little girl following the funeral procession from the home of True Cook on the Merrill Road, where Lemuel lived the last years of his life, to the large wooded section directly across from the farm of Curtis Cook on the fiunger Road for the funeral, and then on to the cemetery service a short distance down the road to the west. Nettie was a daughter of Franklin and grand daughter of Lemuel Cook Jr.
This article -By ROBERT SPENCER
It was July, 1864. Still another year of agony and desolation faced the nation divided by Civil War.
"It is terrible." Lemuel Cook, 105, of Clarendon, Orleans County, New York, was speaking of the carnage. "But, terrible as it is, the rebellion must be put down." And, as though making an exclamation point, he brought down his cane with force upon the floor.
Lemuel Cook was the oldest of the North's 12 surviving veterans of the American Revolution. And for a moment, the old determination flared again and out of his past, out of the present tumult and pain and pride, came the salty account of another struggle - Yorktown, Oct. 19, 1781, final British defeat in the American War of Independence.
Cook had been with General Washington's army at Yorktown and at Cornwallis' surrender there. Of the latter, the very old man now spoke, "slowly and with difficulty" and "his talk broken and fragmentary:"
"We were on a kind. of side hill. We had plaguey little to eat and nothing to drink under heaven. We hove up some brush to keep the flies off. Washington ordered that there should be no laughing at the British; said it was bad enough to have to surrender ... The army came out with guns clubbed on their backs ... Then came the devil - old women and all ... The horses were starved out. Washingtcn turned out with his horses and helped them up the hlll ... Greene came from the southard; the awfullest set you ever see. Some, I should presume, had a pint of lice on 'em. No boots or shoes."
Cook's interviewer that summer day in 1864 was the Rev. Illias Brewster Hillard, a Congregational minister from Connecticut. He was on a long journey - by rail, stage coach and horse - to visit and photograph the last 12 pensioners of the Revolutionary War. They lived from Maine to Missouri.
A strong sense of urgency spurred Hillard on the mission he had undertaken for N. A. and R. A. Moore, Hartford, Conn., publishers, who wanted to record the first hand stories and photographs of "The Last Men of the Revolution." Each man already was at least 100 years old.
Near Rochester lived two of The Last Men: - - Lemuel Cook, of Clarendon, who had served three years as a private in a Connecticut regiment, the Second Light Dragoons. Before witnessing Cornwallis' surrender, he was at Brandywine and in other battles. After the war he became a farmer near Utica. Late in life he went to live with his son in Clarendon, five Miles south of Holley.
- - Alexander Milliner, of Adams Basin, Monroe County, about midway between Spencerport and Brockport. He had been a First New York Regiment drummer boy for 3½ years, was at the Valley Forge encampment and was wounded in the thigh at the battle of Monmouth.
Hillard found that in the Continental army Milliner apparently was "the life of the camp, could dance and sing, 'nothing troubling him over five minutes at a time' ... he is small, more so than his picture would indicate." His enthusiasm never waned. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Milliner, then 101, wanted to take his drum. and go to Rochester and beat for volunteers. The drum now is part of the permanent collection of Irondequoit Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.
In the e'arly 1800s Milliner built boats and operated an Erie Canal dock in Rochester. He died in 1865 at age 105 and is buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester.
Still standing in Clarendon is the 143 year-old house in which Lemuel Cook lived and where, in 1866, he died at age 106.
Since 1934 the house has heen the home of Clarendon Supervisor and Mrs. Alvin Hilfiker. They have made many architectural changes in the building in the last 35 years.
The house is at 16575 Boots Road, near the Byron-Holley Road, in the southeastern corner of Orleans County.
Hilfiker was elected Clarendon supervisor four years ago.
Cook's closest surviving relative is thought to be a great-great-grand niece, Mrs. Gilbert L. Kishlar of 113 South Main St., Holley.
The above post card incorectly states his age at death as 102.
It was actually 106.