Grand Lodge of New York - Onondaga and Oswego Masonic District ...

“The Story of a Cavalry Regiment,” by Thomas West Smith, page 293.
http://books.google.com/books?id=amgUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP16&dq=%22remington,+s.+Pierre%22&lr=#
This book covers the interesting exploits of “Scott’s 900” Cavalry, of which Col. Remington was an officer. There are several
anecdotes concerning him in this book, the following of which is included for review:
A VIRGINIA GIRL.
Much has been said and written about deeds of heroism of the soldiers of the war, but, as I find little mention made of the brave
women, I will tell you of an incident that happened in 1862. In June of that year, Company D, of which I then was 2d Lieutenant, was
on duty near Leesburg, Va. I was sent to the village of Middleburg to capture some horses for the cavalry. A widow lady had a team
of bays that was admired by the Yankee officers and I was detailed to get them. Maj. Remington was at that time captain of the
company; he was, in appearance and action, a good deal like Gen. Custer; he was a fearless soldier, a fine horseman, and a. kind
and gentlemanly companion, "with a heart in his breast as big as a pumpkin."
I went to the home of the widow and found her and her daughter sitting on the wide front piazza. I raised my cap and told her that
I had been sent to take her team of horses; that the government was greatly in need of cavalry horses, and that my orders were to
bring them to the cavalry camp near Leesburg. While I was talking the young lady left her seat and went into the house; a minute or
two later she returned, passed by me, and stationed herself in front of a gate between the house and the barnyard. I paid but little
attention to her until after we had halters on the team, and had got as far as the gate, where the young lady stood, pointing a big
revolver in my face. I was somewhat startled by her action, and tried to argue with her; but her large black eyes snapped like fire,
and she said she would kill the first man that passed with the horses.
Up to this time I had considered myself brave enough to perform any duty that I was ordered to do, however dangerous it might be;
but here was some thing unexpected—a beautiful woman defending her home. I could not use force with her, and my arguments
were in vain. Leaving the horses I said to the sergeant who was with me, "We will let Remington get these horses,'' and I left them
and rode back to camp.
I told Remington of my experience and why I did not get the team; he said I was chicken-hearted. I made a bet with him of a
turkey and wine supper that he would fare no better than I did. Remington mounted his horse and we rode to the widow's farm. The
young lady, who by this time had grown more beautiful to my eyes because of her bravery, stood at the outside gate and refused
Remington admittance even to the house. The captain talked and argued with her and said he must and would take the horses, but
she kept her revolver ready and said that no one could enter the gate. Remington rode over to me and said we never could get the
horses unless we shot the girl. I told him I would not shoot her or any woman for all the horses in the Confederacy. He said, "Neither
would I." We said good-by to the brave lady, and rode back to camp without the horses.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic_Remington
Frederic Sackrider Remington (October 4, 1861 - December 26, 1909) was an American painter,
illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in depictions of the Old American West, specifically
concentrating on the last quarter of the 19th century American West and images of cowboys,
American Indians, and the U.S. Cavalry.
Remington was born in Canton, New York in 1861 to Seth Pierre Remington (1830-1880) and Clara
Bascomb Sackrider, whose paternal family owned hardware stores and emigrated from Alsace-
Lorraine in the early 1700’s. Remington’s father was a colonel in the Civil War whose family arrived in
the United States from England in 1637. He was a newspaper editor and postmaster, and the family
was active in local politics and staunchly Republican. One of Remington’s great grandfathers,
Samuel Bascom, was a saddle maker by trade, and the Remingtons were fine horsemen. Frederic
Remington was related by family bloodlines to Indian portrait artist George Catlin and cowboy
sculptor Earl W. Bascom.
Colonel Remington was away at war during most of the first four years of his son’s life. After the war, he moved his family to
Bloomington, Illinois for a brief time and was appointed editor of the Bloomington Republican, but the family returned to Canton in
1867. Remington was the only child of the marriage, and received constant attention and approval. He was an active child, large
and strong for his age, who loved to hunt, swim, ride, and go camping. He was a poor student, though, particularly in math, which
did not bode well for his father’s ambitions for his son to attend West Point. He began to make drawings and sketches of soldiers
and cowboys at an early age.
The family moved to Ogdensburg, New York when Remington was eleven and he attended Vermont Episcopal Institute, a churchrun
military school, where his father hoped discipline would rein in his son’s lack of focus, and perhaps lead to a military career.
Remington took his first drawing lessons at the Institute. He then transferred to another military school where his classmates found
the young Remington to be a pleasant fellow, a bit careless and lazy, good-humored, and generous of spirit, but definitely not soldier
material. He enjoyed making caricatures and silhouettes of his classmates. At sixteen, he wrote to his uncle of his modest
ambitions, “I never intend to do any great amount of labor. I have but one short life and do not aspire to wealth or fame in a degree
which could only be obtained by an extraordinary effort on my part”. He imagined a career for himself as a journalist, with art as a
sideline.
William Reese Remington, b 1839; St Lawrence County Clerk and Canton Post Master; brother of Col. Seth P. Remington.
Leslie Wead Russell
http://northcountry.bobsterner.com/Russell%20Family.htm
RUSSELL, Leslie W., a Representative from New York; born in Canton, St. Lawrence County, N.Y., April 15, 1840; attended the
common schools; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1861 and commenced practice in Canton; delegate to the State
constitutional convention of 1867; district attorney of St. Lawrence County in 1869; member of the board of regents of the University
of the State of New York 1878-1891; county judge of St. Lawrence County 1877-1881; attorney general of New York 1881-1883;
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