Johnston De Peyster
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Johnston Livingston de Peyster (June 14, 1846 – May 27, 1903) was a soldier in the Union Army during the American Civil War and later a member of the
New York State Assembly The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits. The Ass ...
from
Dutchess County, New York Dutchess County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 295,911. The county seat is the city of Poughkeepsie. The county was created in 1683, one of New York's first twelve counties, and later o ...
. The son of a wealthy old
Dutchess County Dutchess County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 295,911. The county seat is the city of Poughkeepsie. The county was created in 1683, one of New York's first twelve counties, and later org ...
family, de Peyster joined the Union Army at the age of eighteen. He saw service in the eastern theater, and is best remembered for raising the first Union flag over the Confederate capitol of
Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...
, after its fall in 1865. After the war, de Peyster served overseas as a dignitary. When he returned to the United States, he ran for office and was elected to the State Assembly. His father disagreed with many of his political positions, and they eventually stopped speaking to each other. In 1900, the family feud culminated in a race for the office of Mayor of their native town, father running against son. After defeating his father, who owned the town hall, he was forced to move the Mayor's office to a new building. He died in 1903, survived by his three daughters.


Early life

De Peyster was born on June 14, 1846, in
Tivoli, New York Tivoli is a village (New York), village in Dutchess County, New York, Dutchess County, New York (state), New York, United States. The population is 1,012, according to the 2020 census. The village, which was incorporated in 1872 from parts of Upp ...
, at his family's estate. He was a member of the wealthy de Peyster family of New York, son of Major General
John Watts de Peyster John Watts de Peyster, Sr. (March 9, 1821 – May 4, 1907) was an American author on the art of war, philanthropist, and the Adjutant General of New York.Allaben, p. 205 He served in the New York State Militia during the Mexican–American War, M ...
(1821–1907) and Estelle Livingston. He was also the brother of Brigadier General
John Watts de Peyster Jr. John Watts De Peyster Jr. (December 2, 1841 – April 12, 1873) was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War and a member of the famous de Peyster family of New York. His father was Brevet Major General John Watts De Peyster of the New Y ...
(1841–1873). He was a second cousin of Maj. Gen.
Philip Kearny Philip Kearny Jr. (; June 1, 1815 – September 1, 1862) was a United States Army officer, notable for his leadership in the Mexican–American War and American Civil War. He served in Emperor of the French, French Emperor Napoleon III's Imperial ...
(1815–1862), and his great-great-great-grandfather was
Abraham de Peyster Abraham de Peyster (July 8, 1657 – August 3, 1728) was the 20th mayor of New York City from 1691 to 1694, and served as Governor of New York, 1700–1701. Early life De Peyster was born in New Amsterdam on July 8, 1657, to Johannes de Peyste ...
(1657–1728), an early
Mayor of New York City The mayor of New York City, officially mayor of the City of New York, is head of the executive branch of the government of New York City and the chief executive of New York City. The Mayoralty in the United States, mayor's office administers all ...
, whose father was
Johannes de Peyster Johannes de Peyster or Johannes de Peyster II (September 21, 1666 – September 25, 1711) was the 23rd Mayor of New York City between 1698 and 1699.Wilson, James Grant (ed.The memorial history of the City of New-York, Vol. II p. 54 (1892)Allaben, ...
(c. 1600–1685), a wealthy merchant.


Career

At the start of the war in 1861, Johnston was fifteen years old and attending Highland Military College in Newburg, New York. He remained in school through 1862, but then left to raise a company for a regiment being organized in New York. De Peyster's father paid ten-dollar bounties to the men who signed the muster roll of his company. He was not able to assume command because of his age, and his family also felt he was too young for service.Allaben, vol. 1, p. 33 However, in the winter of 1863, he threatened to travel to
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
, and stand for examination for an officership with a colored regiment. In 1864, at the age of eighteen, his family allowed him to join the Union Army as a second lieutenant. He was assigned to Company H of the 13th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment, assigned to the third division of XVIII Corps,
Army of the James The Army of the James was a Union Army that was composed of units from the Department of Virginia and North Carolina and served along the James River during the final operations of the American Civil War in Virginia. History The Union Department ...
, commanded by Brig. Gen. Edward Winslow Hinks. The division was part of Major General
Benjamin Butler Benjamin Franklin Butler (November 5, 1818 – January 11, 1893) was an American major general (United States), major general of the Union Army, politician, lawyer, and businessman from Massachusetts. Born in New Hampshire and raised in Lowell, ...
's disastrous Bermuda Hundred Campaign and was engaged at Swift Creek on May 9. It was left behind at Bermuda Hundred while the first and second divisions traveled to join Lieutenant General
Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was the 18th president of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1877. In 1865, as Commanding General of the United States Army, commanding general, Grant led the Uni ...
at
Cold Harbor The Battle of Cold Harbor was fought during the American Civil War near Mechanicsville, Virginia, from May 31 to June 12, 1864, with the most significant fighting occurring on June 3. It was one of the final battles of Union Army, Union Lieuten ...
with two divisions from the
X Corps 10th Corps, Tenth Corps, or X Corps may refer to: France * 10th Army Corps (France) * X Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars Germany * X Corps (German Empire), a unit of the Imperial German Army * ...
. He was stationed at Fort O'Rourke located in
Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. It had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Virginia, third-most populous city ...
, where he contracted a fever and was sent home for six months, missing the unit's heaviest engagements at the
siege of Petersburg The Richmond–Petersburg campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War. Although it is more popularly known as the siege of Petersburg, it was not a c ...
and the
second battle of Fair Oaks The Battle of Fair Oaks & Darbytown Road (also known as the Second Battle of Fair Oaks) was fought on October 27–28, 1864, in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In combination with ...
. The illness he contracted would plague him for the next eighteen years.Townsend, p. 40


Richmond

Upon his return, he joined the staff of Brigadier General George F. Shepley, commanding the military district of Norfolk.Moore, p. 361 When General Shepley was assigned as Chief of Staff to the XXV Corps commanded by Major General
Godfrey Weitzel Godfrey (Gottfried) Weitzel (November 1, 1835 – March 19, 1884) was a German-American major general in the Union army during the American Civil War. He was the acting Mayor of New Orleans during the Union occupation of the city and also captur ...
, de Peyster became an aide to Weitzel, and eventually his chief of staff. The unit de Peyster had originally joined, the 13th New York, was also assigned in the XXV Corps. He is credited with raising the first Union flag over the Confederate capitol of
Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...
, after its fall. The flag was the same one that had been raised over the city of
New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...
, after its fall. Shepley had been the military Governor of New Orleans, and later the State of Louisiana while it flew there. Initially, de Peyster had been selected to lead an assault on the breastworks outside the city, however the night before the assault he noticed the city aflame from a signal tower and informed General Weitzel. The men of the corps then entered the city unmolested. Admiral
David Farragut David Glasgow Farragut (; also spelled Glascoe; July 5, 1801 – August 14, 1870) was a flag officer of the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He was the first Rear admiral (United States), rear admiral, Vice admiral (United State ...
later claimed that de Peyster was due as much credit as he would have received had he actually taken the city by storming it, because doing it without bloodshed still carried the same intent.Allaben, vol. 2, p. 35 There was some dispute over who raised the first "flag" over the capitol in Richmond after it was learned that a Maj. A.H. Stevens had raised a guidon two hours before de Peyster hoisted the national flag,
Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was the 18th president of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1877. In 1865, as Commanding General of the United States Army, commanding general, Grant led the Uni ...
eventually declared that de Peyster should receive the credit because a guidon was not really a flag.Allaben, vol. 1, p. 34 Despite this, de Peyster's father, a military critic, was highly derogatory when writing about Grant and his achievements. The young lieutenant reflected on the incident in a letter to his mother: For this act, he received a brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel of volunteers, "for gallant and meritorious conduct, and for hoisting the first real American flag over Richmond, Va., after its capture by the Union forces, April 3, 1865, and as a testimonial of the zeal, fidelity, and courage with which he had maintained the honor of the State of New York in her efforts to enforce the laws of the United States, supremacy of the constitution, and a republican form of government". Shortly thereafter, he received another brevet promotion to colonel, although this order did not mention the flag raising incident. He opted not to go with General Weitzel and the XXV Corps to Texas, but instead resigned in June 1865. He thereafter was associated with
Samuel W. Crawford Samuel Wylie Crawford (November 8, 1829 – November 3, 1892) was a United States Army surgeon and a Union general in the American Civil War. He served as a surgeon at Fort Sumter, South Carolina during the confederate bombardment in 1861 ...
in an unofficial capacity.


Later life

After the war, he returned to
Tivoli, New York Tivoli is a village (New York), village in Dutchess County, New York, Dutchess County, New York (state), New York, United States. The population is 1,012, according to the 2020 census. The village, which was incorporated in 1872 from parts of Upp ...
, and was active in the American Archaeological Association and the
New York Yacht Club The New York Yacht Club (NYYC) is a private social club and yacht club based in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen. The members have contributed to the sport of yachting and yacht design. ...
. He also joined the
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), or, simply, the Loyal Legion, is a United States military order organized on April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Union Army. The original membership was consisted ...
and the
General Society of Colonial Wars The General Society of Colonial Wars is a Patriotism, patriotic Voluntary association, society composed of men who trace their descents from forebears who, in military, naval, or civil positions of high trust and responsibility, by acts or counse ...
. He was an attaché to
Daniel Sickles Daniel Edgar Sickles (October 20, 1819May 3, 1914) was an American politician, American Civil War , Civil War veteran, and diplomat. He served in the United States House of Representatives , U.S. House of Representatives both before and after t ...
when the former general was appointed Minister to Spain by President Grant. He was elected to the
New York State Assembly The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits. The Ass ...
from Duchess county in 1889 and reelected for a second term. He then served as Mayor of his native village of Tivoli-on-Hudson for several terms, and President of the
New York Society Library The New York Society Library (NYSL) is the oldest cultural institution in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the New York Society as a subscription library. During the time when New York was the capital of the United States, it was the de ...
. He was active in philanthropy, and made numerous donations to libraries and historical societies.


Feud with father

Although he shared interests in both philanthropy and military affairs with his father, they eventually had a falling out while Johnston served as a State Assemblyman, and was bitterly opposed by his father in a vote on the 1889 World's Fair Bill. The feud became so heated that while Johnston was Mayor of Tivoli, his father, who owned the building where the town government met, barred his son from entering the building.Philip, Cynthia Owen.
The Saga of Tivoli, Part II: Clambakes, Cock Fights, & Boxing Matches
''. About Town Magazine, Winter 2005 ed.
The village government was forced to move to another building and remained there until 1894, when they finally returned to de Peyster's building. Another incident occurred and was reported in the press when Johnston's mother fell ill, and he visited her at the de Peyster family home and was violently assaulted by his father. The father went so far as to run against his son for Mayor of Tivoli in 1900, but was defeated in the general election.


Personal life

He was married to Julia Anna "Annie" Toler and had three daughters: * Estelle de Peyster (1872–1953), who married Edward Sturges Hosmer (1867–1921) in 1905. * Mary Justine de Peyster (1875–1939), who married Henry Townsend Martin (d. 1915), brother of
Frederick Townsend Martin Frederick Townsend Martin (December 6, 1849 – March 8, 1914) was an American writer, advocate for the poor, and an acknowledged leader of society in New York. He was referred to as a "millionaire with a mission". Early life Martin was born in ...
, in 1906. * Carola de Peyster (1882–1950), who married Garrett Bergh Kip (1877–1930), in 1903, and was a writer for ''
Harper's Bazaar ''Harper's Bazaar'' (stylized as ''Harper's BAZAAR'') is an American monthly women's fashion magazine. Bazaar has been published in New York City since November 2, 1867, originally as a weekly publication entitled ''Harper's Bazar''."Corporat ...
''. De Peyster died in 1903, predeceasing his father, as did all of his siblings.


Notes


References

;Sources *Allaben, Frank.
John Watts de Peyster
'. 2 vols. Frank Allaben Genealogical Company: New York, 1908. *Brandt, Clare.
An American Aristocracy: The Livingstons
'. Doubleday: New York, 1986. * Champlin, John Denison.
Young Folk's History of the War for the Union
'. Henry Holt and company: New York, 1881. *Draper, John.
History of the American Civil War
'. 3 vols. Harpers & Brothers: New York, 1870. *Humphreys, A.A.
The Virginia Campaign of '64 and '65: The Army of the Potomac and the Army of the James
'. C. Scribner's Sons: New York, 1883. *Keep, Austin Baxter.
History of the New York Society Library
'. De Vinne Press: New York. 1908. *Lossing, Benson John.
Pictorial History of the Civil War in the United States of America
'. T. Belknap: Hartford, 1868. *Moore, Frank.
The Civil War in Song and Story: 1860-1865
'. P. F. Collier: New York, 1867. *Preble, George
''History of the Flag of the United States of America''
A. Williams and company: Boston, 1880. *Putnam, Sallie. ''Richmond during the war; four years of personal observation.'' G.W. Carlton & Co.: Richmond, 1867. *Townsend, Thomas Seamen.
The Honors of the Empire State in the War of the Rebellion
'. A. Lovell & Co.: New York. 1889.


Further reading

*Furgurson, Ernest B. ''Ashes of Glory, Richmond at War''. Knopf, 1996. *Hoehling, A.A. and Mary Hoehling. ''The Day Richmond Died''. Madison Books, 1991. *Kimmel, Stanley. ''Mr. Davis's Richmond''. Coward-McCann, Inc., 1958. *''The Times''. April 25, 1865. *Marain, Louis.
Richmond Occupied
'. Richmond Civil War Centennial Committee, 1965. *Sandburg, Carl. ''Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years and the War Years''. Harcourt Brace, 1989. *Townsend, George. ''Campaigns of a Non-Combatant''. Time-Life Books, 1981. {{DEFAULTSORT:De Peyster, Johnston L. 1846 births 1903 deaths People of New York (state) in the American Civil War De Peyster family Livingston family Schuyler family Van Cortlandt family Members of the New York State Assembly Union army colonels Mayors of places in New York (state) Philanthropists from New York (state) Politicians from Dutchess County, New York 19th-century members of the New York State Legislature