The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-05-15
From the Albany State Register, Gath ult.
Death Of Gen. solomon Van Rensselaer,, of Al
bauy.

|
brave and distinguished soldier, that emf
nent civilian and good citizen, Gen. Solo
mon Van Rensselaer,, is dead. He clos
ed his long, brilliant and eventful career
at about one o'clock P. NJ, yesterday, at
his residence on Cherry Hill, near this
city, at the ripe old age Of about seventy
eight years. The manner of his death
was sudden and unheralded. Through
the past severe winter he had felt, much
more than usual, the infrmities of that
life that had far passed the point of
three score years and ten, and had re-
manned more in the house than he was
wont to. He arose yesterday morning in
his usual health, and about | | o'clock in
the morning left the house temporarily.
His absence was SO long protracted as to
occasion some apprehension on the part
of his family, and his son-in-law, DR..
Elmendorf, going out to seek him, found
him in an clubhouse, alive, but insensi-
BILE. He was borne in, and in a short
time breathed his last, without recovering
speech or consciousness. He was strick-
en- with apoplexy.
This heavy blow has fallen with start
ling suddenness upon his family and
friends, and the whole community. To
the former he was endeared by all the
holiest and strongest affections of the
human heart-for those who knew him
best, loved him most for those noble ouali-
ties of head and heart which SO eminent
ly distinguished him in all his domestic
relations; and the latter remember him
for all his brilliant civil and military SER
vices, and sincerely mourn his loss as
public calamity. Here, his worth as a
man has long been known and apprecia-
ted; but his military deeds are part of
the imperishable history of the country
he loved SO well, served long and defend
ed SO heroically.
We have only time this morning to
sketch, in the briefest and most cursory
manner, and imperfect record Of portions
Of his life. Some older hand will doubt
less ere long perform this s'labor of
love-"
Gen. Solomon Van Rensselaer, was
born in the town of Greenbush, and in
the old Genet Mansion, at the foot OF the
hill, half mile back from the river, and
about three miles from this city. His
father was Gen. H. X. Van Rensselaer,.
who fought with great ardor and distinc-
tion in the Revolutionary War, and was
desperately wounded at the battle of Fort
Ann, Washington Co., in this Slate.-
This action has never occupied the place
in the history Of that war which its i'm
portance entities it to. 1t occurred sew
eral days before the great battle which
resulted in the defeat and surrender Of
Burgoyne, on Bemis Heights, and was
swallowed up and forgotten in the supe-
rior brilliance and importance of that de-
cisive conflict. 1t was maintained for an
entire day, by force of about 1000 men
against an advance brigade of Burgoyne's
army, and was series Of desperate and
bloody skirmishes. 1t was foug ght by or
der of Gen. Schuyler, who felt the i'm
portance Of checking the enemy's ad-
vance at that point. General, then COL
Henry K. Van Rensselaer, commanded a
regiment Of 500 men, which was entirely
mustered on the Van Rensselaer, manor.
The stand taken by them held Burgoyne
in check an entire day, and enabled
Schuyler to remove artillery and stores
from Fort George, strengthen his posi-
ton on Bemis Heights, and gain invalua-
bic time. But it nearly cost the brave
Van Rensselaer, his life. As he was ris-
ing from kneeling position, after firing
a fusee, he received a musket ball in his
thigh, which passed down to his knee
The ball was afterwards removed by a
surgeon, by most trightful operation,
and he never entirely recovered from the
terrible wound. So close and desperate
was the encounter, that he lay many hours
after he fell, within hearing of the groans
of Col. Armstrong, of the British army,
who was also badly wounded.
Gen. H. K. Van Rensselaer, afterwards
lived for many years in this city, and
died here some % years since, at the age
Of about rs years.
Gen. Solomon Van Rensselaer, inherit
ed the military disposition and da,.ntless
heroism Of his father. At the early age
of eighteen, he was appointed coronet
in a company of Dragons, mustered in
Greenbush, and joined the army under
the command of Gen. Anthony Wayne.
Before he was twenty he was promoted
to the command Of troop. In the battle
OF Miami. August, 1894, under g Mad
Anthony" he received terrible wound
through the lungs, which was supposed
to be mortal, but which his youth and
vigorous constitution enabled him to sur
mount. How he acquitted himself, the
dispatches Of Gen. Wayne bear ample
and conclusive testimony. He suffered
greatly from the effects of this wound
until 1897, when he was commissioned
by Gen. Wilkinson, at Philadelphia, to
perform delicate and dangerous military
duty, which he promptly and satisfactory
ly discharged. He was also particularly
noticed by Gen. Washington, and raised
by him to the command OF squadron of
cavelry, after personal interview with