Happy Birthday
Mr. President
Abraham Lincoln, February 12, 1809
Abraham Lincoln, February 12, 1809
Compiled by
Regina Feeney, Librarian
Cynthia Krieg, Village Historian
Freeport has been honored to have had four presidential visits (George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Dwight Eisenhower). Though Abraham Lincoln never made it to Freeport, LI, relics from the 1860s located throughout the Village, remind us of his presidency.
The Lincoln Flag
In 1949, the Freeport Memorial Library was presented a 36-star "Lincoln Flag” by Mr. Knowlton K. Boyce. The flag, 5 1/2 by 9 feet, was made by Mr. Boyce's grandmother, Lucy Wiggin Keith, for President Lincoln's inaugural. It was later used at Lincoln's funeral and was on his funeral train as it passed through New York City in April 1865.In 1991, the flag was rediscovered by a Library employee in the archives of the Freeport Memorial Library. The flag was professionally restored and prepared for archival storage. Presently, the flag is in a wrapped box and is stored in Long Island Room collection of the Freeport Memorial Library. See Blog entry for October 13, 2007.
Civil War Plaques
The Library also has a bronze plaque inscribed with the Gettysburg Address. Donated to the Library in 1927 by the Woman’s Relief Corps, the plaque still hangs on a wall in the original building. Across from this plaque is another plaque honoring 13 Freeporters who died during the Civil War. Of the 12 battles etched into the stone edifice of the Library, Gettysburg is the only Civil War battle commemorated. See Blog entry for January 1, 2007.
Civil War Trophy
Standing on the triangle on Sunrise Highway and Centre Street is a 30-pound Parrot rifle. Made in Washington, DC in 1861, the rifle was on the USS Hartford (the Flagship of Admiral David Farragut) during the Battle of Mobile Bay. This war trophy, presented to the Village of Freeport in 1902, formerly stood on the ground of the Grove Street School. See Blog entry for April 8, 2007.
Freeport Historical Society
Located at 350 Main Street, the Freeport Historical Society and Museum contains many relics of the Civil War. The Museum’s military history room has the sword of William Gardiner (Freeport’s last Freeport Civil War veteran), knives, bullets, a Union soldier cap, a cartridge box, a rifle ramrod, pictures of the Grand Army of the Republic, and the D.B.P. Mott Post flag.
In the backyard of the Museum is the Mott Monument. This memorial is dedicated to two Freeport brothers who died during the Civil War. Dandridge Mott enlisted at the age of 15 to Company H, 119th Regiment, New York Volunteers, 20th Army Corps. He fought in 23 battles. The day before he died in June 1864, his regiment had held out against rebel forces near Marietta, GA and continued to do so half of the next day. A sharpshooter’s bullet killed him instantly while he was under the command of General Hooker, fighting his way towards Atlanta. His other battles included Chancelorville, VA, Gettysburg, PA, and Lookout Valley, TN. At the time of his death, Dandridge was 17 years old. His brother Joseph Mott was a member of Company H, Fourth Regiment, Heavy Artillery, New York, Volunteers. In March 1864, his regiment joined General Ulysses S. Grant’s advance upon James River in VA and his famous charge against Petersburg where a large number of Joseph’s companions fell. On August 19, 1864, he was captured with some 40 other Union soldiers at Ream’s Station, VA. Joseph died in October of starvation and exposure at the Confederate war prison in Salisbury, NC. He was 19 years old. See Blog entry for June 25, 2007.
Regina Feeney, Librarian
Cynthia Krieg, Village Historian
Freeport has been honored to have had four presidential visits (George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Dwight Eisenhower). Though Abraham Lincoln never made it to Freeport, LI, relics from the 1860s located throughout the Village, remind us of his presidency.
The Lincoln Flag
In 1949, the Freeport Memorial Library was presented a 36-star "Lincoln Flag” by Mr. Knowlton K. Boyce. The flag, 5 1/2 by 9 feet, was made by Mr. Boyce's grandmother, Lucy Wiggin Keith, for President Lincoln's inaugural. It was later used at Lincoln's funeral and was on his funeral train as it passed through New York City in April 1865.In 1991, the flag was rediscovered by a Library employee in the archives of the Freeport Memorial Library. The flag was professionally restored and prepared for archival storage. Presently, the flag is in a wrapped box and is stored in Long Island Room collection of the Freeport Memorial Library. See Blog entry for October 13, 2007.
Civil War Plaques
The Library also has a bronze plaque inscribed with the Gettysburg Address. Donated to the Library in 1927 by the Woman’s Relief Corps, the plaque still hangs on a wall in the original building. Across from this plaque is another plaque honoring 13 Freeporters who died during the Civil War. Of the 12 battles etched into the stone edifice of the Library, Gettysburg is the only Civil War battle commemorated. See Blog entry for January 1, 2007.
Civil War Trophy
Standing on the triangle on Sunrise Highway and Centre Street is a 30-pound Parrot rifle. Made in Washington, DC in 1861, the rifle was on the USS Hartford (the Flagship of Admiral David Farragut) during the Battle of Mobile Bay. This war trophy, presented to the Village of Freeport in 1902, formerly stood on the ground of the Grove Street School. See Blog entry for April 8, 2007.
Freeport Historical Society
Located at 350 Main Street, the Freeport Historical Society and Museum contains many relics of the Civil War. The Museum’s military history room has the sword of William Gardiner (Freeport’s last Freeport Civil War veteran), knives, bullets, a Union soldier cap, a cartridge box, a rifle ramrod, pictures of the Grand Army of the Republic, and the D.B.P. Mott Post flag.
In the backyard of the Museum is the Mott Monument. This memorial is dedicated to two Freeport brothers who died during the Civil War. Dandridge Mott enlisted at the age of 15 to Company H, 119th Regiment, New York Volunteers, 20th Army Corps. He fought in 23 battles. The day before he died in June 1864, his regiment had held out against rebel forces near Marietta, GA and continued to do so half of the next day. A sharpshooter’s bullet killed him instantly while he was under the command of General Hooker, fighting his way towards Atlanta. His other battles included Chancelorville, VA, Gettysburg, PA, and Lookout Valley, TN. At the time of his death, Dandridge was 17 years old. His brother Joseph Mott was a member of Company H, Fourth Regiment, Heavy Artillery, New York, Volunteers. In March 1864, his regiment joined General Ulysses S. Grant’s advance upon James River in VA and his famous charge against Petersburg where a large number of Joseph’s companions fell. On August 19, 1864, he was captured with some 40 other Union soldiers at Ream’s Station, VA. Joseph died in October of starvation and exposure at the Confederate war prison in Salisbury, NC. He was 19 years old. See Blog entry for June 25, 2007.
