DISH DI ROODE TOE DE KSHINGS FARRY

Montrose "Although small in size, Montrose has played an important role in history. The King's Ferry at Verplanck's Point was the most direct route between New England and the Middle Colonies during the Revolutionary War. King's Ferry Road starts at the traffic light in Montrose on Albany Post Road and continues to Verplanck's Point. At one time, a sign at the Post Road intersection read: "DISH DI ROODE TOE DE KSHINGS FARRY." Troops and military equipment passed over this road en route to the ferry making it of primary importance to the safety of the Hudson Highlands." - p. 64 History of the Town of Cortlandt, Westchester County, NY 1988. Interestingly, nearby Alexander Hamilton was sick and stayed at the Kennedy House on the Kings Highway, where also a court martial trial was held of General Lee, resulting from actions in a battle in New Jersey. It was postponed, though he was later suspended for a year. Alexander Hamilton recovered after two weeks. The Kennedy House burned in 1979 and is under the expansion of a school athletic field. Nearby 6000 French troops with General Washington and American troops crossed the river for the fateful battle with General Cornwallis in Virginia that resulted in the formation of America. The American (?) troops and General Washington returned to the New Windsor Cantonment, near Newburgh, NY to wait out for six months or more after the treaty to see if it would be honored by England. I once camped out there in January when it was 9 degrees F outside with my Explorer Post 222, its charter cancelled later for "camping too much". Today it is a NY State Historic Site. Interesting, further in the American Civil War, in Montrose, NY: "In the mid-1800's, the original church land on Montrose Point became the home of Frederick W. Seward (1830-1915), son of William Seward (1801-1872), U.S. Secretary of State during the administration of Abraham Lincoln. The elder Seward was the man instrumental in purchasing Alaska from Russia for $7 million, a purchase which was known as "Seward's Folly" or "Seward's Icebox." Frederick, the son, who was a journalist and diplomat, became politically prominent himself as Assistant Secretary of State under his father. In spring 1865, Frederick assumed the position of acting Secretary of State when his father was seriously injured in a carriage accident. On the evening Lincoln was assassinated, one of the conspirators forced his way into the injured Seward's home in Washington, intent on killing him. Frederick confronted him in the hall and was severely injured trying to prevent the slayer from reaching his father's bedside. The gun, broken on Frederick's skull, was unusable for the assassination, thus saving his father's life. Both Sewards survived the vicious attack, but it is said that Frederick lived out his life with a silver plate in his skull. The handsome Seward Estate covered 30 acres. A stately mansion with a beautiful Victorian garden and various outbuildings, it commanded a magnificent view of the Hudson River. The grounds of the estate were dotted by little ponds that had been made by excavating clay for the brickyards which flourished along the Hudson during that period. Frederick married Anna M. Wharton of Albany on November 9, 1854. He died in Montrose on April 25, 1915, and was buried at Fort Hill Cemetery, Auburn, NY. Sometime after Frederick's death, the house, which was occupied by Mrs. Seward alone, burned. The property is currently owned by the Catholic Kolping Society. The gardeners house and other outbuildings are used to house vacationers seeking a peaceful country setting." pps. 64-66. - by The Town of Cortlandt Bicentennial History Committee for The Town of Cortlandt, 1988. c) 1988 by The Town of Cortlandt, Town of Cortlandt Supervisor, Municipal Building, Van Wyck Street, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520 Interesting, they left out April 14, 1865 the assassination plot date. Today April 14 is celebrated as Pan American Day, 'A day celebrating political and economic unity among American countries.' - Word Web 3.02 In another bicentennial publication, this one in Tishomingo, Mississippi, after the 1776-1976 bicentennial, I met an historian (of Shelby County, TN where Memphis is) who was working on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Barge Canal (the project Congress decided was better than an "Energy Island" for NYC. The barge canal connects the Tennessee River with Mobile, Alabama on the Gulf of Mexico today) which we were working on somewhat near Shiloh National Battlefield, one of the bloodiest in the Civil War, he stated that this small publication has published that Aaron Burr had stayed in Tishomingo after the duel with Alexander Hamilton. It was found in letters and or notes read for the bicentennial history of the small town, near once "Indian Medicine" springs and the once stalwart Confederate locality. In nearby Columbus, MS (playwright, author "Tennessee" Williams home town, not far from Tupelo, MS where Elvis Presley was born, an historic site now) it's said the Civil War began its end when the ladies there began putting flowers on Yankee graves. Former Vice-President Aaron Burr (back when both of the highest office holders in the land could come from different parties, changed by amendment, and maybe arguably why there is an Electoral College) was probably on his way to the Natchez Trace or trail, commemorated today by the National Parks Service created highway. Numerous articles of the trade between the North and South are still apparent (ice from Boston used to come to the Waverly Plantation, outside Columbus, MS on the Tombigbee River, for example, furniture in Natchez that had been made in NYC, etc.) Interesting what a few dollars and a reason, i.e., a bicentennial, can do for history, the historian thought.