Rensselaer William Foote
Contents
Artifacts in the Collection
Uniform
- Black Felt Hat of Renssalaer William Foote 1861–1862.
- Velvet Cadets Cap from West Point ca. 1835.
- Epaulets of Renssalaer William Foote 1861–1862.
- Belt for Federal Cavalry Uniform 1861–1862.
Journal and Letters
The Journal of Rensselaer William Foote was written, mainly in central Florida at various U. S. Army encampments, in 1839-42 when Foote was a young man, in his 20s. He was a Captain, 6th Infantry U.S. Army, in the Seminole Wars. After a term of service that included duty in California, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico and Wyoming territories, he died, æ. 48 at the battle of Gaine’s Mill. It was the first battle he participated in during the American Civil War.
Biography
Rensellaer William Foote, was born prob. Delhi, New York [William Rensellaer Foote], 12 Nov., 1815 [Foote Fam;205, foote fam rec ms Main Street Museum].
He died at Gaines' Mill, Virginia, 26 June, 1862, æ. 48. Buried at Arbor Hill, Delhi New York, in the family cemetery of his grandfather, Ebenezer Foote and his father, Charles Augustus Foote (US Congress from Delhi).
The Official Record states, [June] 26 to July 1—Seven Days Battles/The Seven Days' Retreat. Army of the Potomac, Maj.-Gen. George B. McClellan commanding, including engagements known as Mechanicsville or Ellison's Mills on the 26th, Gaines’ Mills or Cold Harbor and Chickahominy on the 27th, Peach Orchard and Savage Station on the 29th, White Oak Swamp, also called Charles City Cross Roads, Glendale, Nelson's Farm, Frazier's Farm, Turkey Bend and New Market Cross Roads on the 30th and Malvern Hill…” from his, the Sixth Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. Franklin, there were 245 killed, 1,313 wounded, 1,179 missing. The Sixth Corps, in the entire series of battles lost; Total 1,582 killed. 7,709 wounded, 5,958 missing.
“Capt. in 6th Infantry U.S. Army, Brevet Major and Acting Col. in the first battle in which he took part, and in which he was killed, Gaines’ Mill. Was stationed in Arizona when war broke out." Rensallaer William Foote,8 (Charles Augustus Foote,7 Ebenezer,6 Daniel,5 Nathaniel,4,3,2,1) —Abram W. Foote, Foote Family, p. 205
Provenance
Genealogy
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.
References
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Citations
- John D. Clarke, Congressman Thirty-fourth District, 1921–1925, Arbor Hill, 1797–1925, with pl. Reprinted from an article by Floyd H. Lincoln and published in “The Walton Reporter,” June 6, 1925.
- Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1744–1989, Bicentennial Edition, Washington, U S Government Printing Office, 1989 [alphabetical entries]
- Dorman S. Purdy, “Descendants of Francis Purdy”, ms., New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, date, folder number.
- Ebenezer Foote and Spencer, 1802, nypl ms.
- 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, ms. Main Street Museum.
- Abram W. Foote, The Foote Family, Comprising The Genealogy and History of Nathaniel Foote Of Weathersfield, Conn. And His Descendants..., two vols. Rutland, 1907.
- W. H. Munsell & Co. [publishers], History of Delaware County, N.Y., With Illustrations, Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Some Pioneers and Prominent Residents, N.Y.C., 1880.
- Henry R. Stiles, History of Ancient Wethersfield, N. Y., 1904.
- Jay Gould, History
- Mr. Abbot, “The Crisis of the Revolution”
http://www.dcnyhistory.org/cemdelhiwoodland.html
From Woodland Cemetery, Delhi, New York:
- Foote, Katherine, Charles Augustus, Adelia, Capt. Rensselaer W.
- Ford, Frances Maynard, Louisa
- Harris, Lucy Ford
- Maynard, Isaac Horton, Margaret Marvine
- Marvin, Charles Augustus, Francis, Charles, George E., Charles Augustus, (Babies)
- Marvine, Francis, Charles, Charles E., George E.
- Maynard, Isaac Horton, Margaret Marvin
