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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Wampum, (search)
Wampum, An Indian currency, consisting of cylindrical white, blue, and black beads, half an inch long, made from certain parts of sea-shells. The shores of Long Island Sound abounded in these shells, and the Pequods and Narragansets grew rich and potent by their abundance of wampum, which was much in demand, first for ornament, and afterwards as currency among the inte rior tribes. The settlers at Plymouth first learned the use and value of wampum from the Dutch at Manhattan, and found it profitable in trade with the Eastern Indians; for the shells of which it was made were not common north of Cape Cod. It soon became a circulating medium, first in the Indian traffic, and then among the colonists generally. Three of the black beads, or six of the white, passed for a penny. They were strung in known parcels for convenience of reckoning—a penny, threepence, a shilling, and five shillings in white; twopence, sixpence, two-and-sixpence, and ten shillings in black. A fathom of
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Willett's Point, (search)
Willett's Point, A fortified post of the United States; on the north shore of Long Island, between Great and Little Neck bays and Long Island Sound; opposite Fort Schuyler, and 20 miles from the Battery, New York City. The defensive works were begun in 1862 on a tract of 136 acres. In recent years the post has been used almost exclusively as a depot for engineer stores, and as the headquarters of a battalion of engineers. A special training in electrical engineering is here given young officers.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Wrecks. (search)
New Orleans to Galveston, burned near Galveston; fifty-five lives lost......May 31, 1857 Steamer J. W. Harris sunk in collision with steamer Metropolis in Long Island Sound; fourteen lives lost......Aug. 8, 1857 Steamer Central America, from Havana to New York, springs a leak in a heavy storm, Sept. 8; 100 persons are taken o1871 Staten Island ferry-boat Westfield explodes at New York; 100 lives lost, 200 persons injured......July 30, 1871 Steamer Metis sunk in collision on Long Island Sound; fifty lives lost......Aug. 30, 1872 Steamer Missouri, from New York to Havana, burned at sea; thirty-two lives lost......Oct. 22, 1872 White Star stea, 15 miles from Delaware light-ship; thirty-one lives lost......Nov. 7, 1879 American steamer Narraganset wrecked in collision near Cornfield Point shoal, Long Island Sound; twenty-seven lives lost......June 11, 1880 American steamer Seawanhaka burned off Ward's Island, N. Y.; twenty-four lives lost......June 28, 1880 Amer
Raphael Semmes, Memoirs of Service Afloat During the War Between the States, Chapter 8: (search)
two thirtytwos, or if not, two of smaller calibre should constitute their battery, your judgment will need no further guide. Be pleased, should your other important engagements permit, to make inquiries, in such manner as may not excite special attention, and give me such details as to cost, character, &c., as you may deem important. Under these instructions I made diligent search in the waters of New York, for such steamers as were wanted, but none could be found. The river, and Long Island Sound boats were mere shells, entirely unfit for the purposes of war, and it was difficult to find any of the sea-going steamers, which combined the requisite lightness of draught, with the other qualities desired. March was now drawing to a close, the war-cloud was assuming darker, and more portentous hues, and it soon became evident that my usefulness in the North was about to end. Men were becoming more shy of making engagements with me, and the Federal Government was becoming more wat
Knight's Mechanical Encyclopedia (ed. Knight), O. (search)
over adjacent objects and afford an extensive view. Used as a lookout-station for the firealarm service, for signaling, for meteorological observations, etc. The iron observatory on the roof of the Equitable Life Insurance Company, on Broadway, New York, is 22 feet high above the roof of the building, which is 130 feet above the sidewalk. The probabilities of the weather are indicated by balls 12 feet in diameter, displayed upon two signal-staffs and visible from various points on Long Island Sound, Sandy Hook, and the inland waters of the Hudson and Harlem rivers. In the building is a large map, displaying the territory throughout which the service has its stations, reaching from Mexico to Canada, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. The state of the weather is indicated by dials at each of these stations on the map, from which reports are received every five hours. Ob-stet′ri-cal chair. One capable of affording convenient position for the delivery of the child a
Knight's Mechanical Encyclopedia (ed. Knight), S. (search)
Engineering.) A means for the removal of submerged rocks, shoals, sunken vessels, or other impediments to navigation. The first effort in this direction was probably that of Colonel Pasley, about 1841, in blowing up the wreck of the Royal George, sunk at Spithead, England, in 1782. Fig. 6021 illustrates some of the operations for the removal of the submarine obstacles to navigation which formerly rendered that part of the East River known as Hellgate so dangerous to navigation in Long Island Sound. The principal of these were Pot Rock, on which the British frigate Hussar was wrecked at the close of the Revolutionary War, occasioning the loss of many lives and a large amount of treasure; Drake Rock; Holmes' Rock; the Frying Pan: and Way's Reef. These rocks were the cause of great injury to commerce, but though repeated surveys had been made and plans for their removal proposed, nothing was accomplished until the work was undertaken by Maillefert in 1851. Under an agreement wit
L. P. Brockett, Women's work in the civil war: a record of heroism, patriotism and patience, chapter 8 (search)
, all of whom took great interest in fitting her for the important duties she proposed to undertake, and gave her every opportunity to practice, with her own hands, the labors of a good hospital nurse. Dr. Warren and Dr. Townshend, two distinguished surgeons, took special pains to give her all necessary information and the most thorough instruction. At the end of one year and a half of combined teaching and practice, she was recommended by Dr. Townshend to Fort Schuyler Hospital, on Long Island Sound, where she went in October, 1862, and for two months performed the duties of hospital nurse, in the most faithful and satisfactory manner, when she left by her father's wishes, on account of the too great exposure to the sea, and went to New York. While in New York Miss Parsons wrote to Miss Dix, the agent of the Government for the employment of women nurses, offering her services wherever they might be needed, and received an answer full of encouragement and sympathy with her wishe
William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 2, Chapter 3: Berkshire County. (search)
Chapter 3: Berkshire County. Berkshire is the most westerly county in the Commonwealth. It is bounded north by Bennington County, Vermont; west by Rensselaer and Columbia Counties, New York; south by Litchfield County, Connecticut; and east by Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties, Massachusetts. In parts it is rough and hilly, but has many beautiful and picturesque streams and valleys. The Housatonic and Hoosick are its chief rivers; the former empties into Long Island Sound, and the latter into the Hudson River. The Hoosack and Greylock, which are partly in the town of Adams, are its chief mountains. Under the former, a tunnel for a railroad, four miles in length, is being made; and the latter is the highest land in Massachusetts. Its largest towns are Pittsfield, the county-seat; and Adams, in which there are many large and flourishing manufactories. The largest portion of the people, however, are agriculturists. The Boston and Albany Railroad passes through the c
Oliver Otis Howard, Autobiography of Oliver Otis Howard, major general , United States army : volume 1, Chapter 9: en route to the front; passage through Baltimore; arrival in Washington (search)
asm under such cheer and amid such surroundings underwent no abatement. All spoke to us in a language plainer and deeper than words: Go, fight for your flag, and free the land. From my boyhood the sight of a large steamer has been grand to me, and in my eyes the Bay State, at Fall River, exceeded all others. That night, June 5th, it took on the thousand soldiers, and they seemed to make little impression on the vast passenger space. This superb transport ferried us the length of Long Island Sound as it, or its sister ships, had ferried thousands before us. A committee of a New York association called the Sons of Maine met our steamer at the pier on North River. Unfortunately for us, it was a stormy day and the rain poured incessantly. In ordinary times there would have been little stir in New York City on such an arrival, particularly in the mud and slush of most unpropitious weather; but then the excitement ran high; nothing could dampen the patriotic fervor of the people
John Harrison Wilson, The life of Charles Henry Dana, Chapter 16: Dana returns to Washington (search)
as General Meade. The difficulty in both cases is that the law limits the number of major-generals and that the list is now complete. Perhaps you have already learned that both General Sherman and General McPherson have been appointed brigadiers in the regular army. Prime is at the home of his family on Long Island. Still very feeble. I am sorry not to have been here when Colonel Rawlins was here the other day. At that time, however, I was at Westport, sailing and swimming in Long Island Sound. The most enthusiastic imagination cannot exaggerate the delight of a few days spent in such recreations, nor the contrast with the infernal heat of this city. Pray let me hear from you as soon as you can, and keep me informed as to movements and improvements in the Army of the Tennessee. General Thayer was here yesterday seeking correction in the date of his commission — in vain. Remember me cordially to Rawlins and Bowers. Also to the general, who is, I trust, enduring with h
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