New-York tribune., 1905-11-08
ON THE OSWEGATCHIE
Home and Haunts of Boyhood of
General Phil Kearnu.

AWAY up in Northern New-York With, . 49,
of miles of the far famed Thousand Island, g.
the boyhood home of Of the greatest generals
of the Civil War, a soldier OF fortune whose mama
as a warrior Is remembered not alone for his val
orous deeds in American wars, but on account NJ
his bravery in the engagements OF the French
of 1889, in Africa, writes Harold B. Johnson IN
The Four Track News" Ask any resident OF
the frontier counties of Northern New-York whsrs
General Philip Kearny spent his boyhood and yo,
will be directed to the picturesque district Of South
ern st Lawrence County. the oswesatchle countr,
some call it
The Oswegatchie River rushes down from tha
Adirondack Mountains to mingle with the St. Law
renee through Of the most beautiful valleys
to be found anywhere in the State. and it was In
this district that Philip Kearry, the father Of
the general attracted. and here he purchased
a vast tract of land early in the last century
Gouverneur Morris. the inancier Of the Revolution
was the original owner and it was from him that
Kearny made the purchase.
Safely preserved in the homes OF scores Of fam.
lilies of the district to be found TO this day
original deeds of land bearing the signature OF the
elder Kearny himself and conveying the title to
farms that. for fourscore years. have been family
homesteads.
The Oswegatchie River is a stream OF water that
from source to mouth is one of continuous beauty
and the land upon the banks is rich for agriculture
at the same time possessing the general char
acteristics OF the Adirondack country. which
strongly attract the tourist and the summer So
journer.
A century ago the land wild in the tangled
growth OF forest. and it was to this locality that
the original Kearny came. searching for place for
a summer home. far from the main travelled roads
On this Adirondack river he found what he con-
stdered ideal spot for his residence, and about
four miles below the present village or Gouvernear
he built his house out OF the native stone OF the
country.
wit a desire adventure Every summer ne
to the locality with the kearny 1anlly ana
remained until late in the autumn. hunting. fish
ing strolling the rocky hills which are so
II is told that the young Kearny enjoyed exceed
insy the summer evenings playing with nHndseas se
OF solo g asd wc refde H6 Of the Identical
locality will be found at the present time who re-
battle on the wide veranda of that home in the
woods. the narrator having himself manlpuated the
The young Kearny grew to manhood. continuing
to visit the country seat each season ana Wnen
5a bdT9e 5 Mc R to the Of the dis
trict. was wanton extravaganza for any man.
With Kearny's passage from youth TO MANHOOD
the love of adventure became more prominent he
gave up the practice ct law went I tito to sas apanse @ a
the field of battle.
The Mexican war followed soon aftsrysrd rsnd and
came the long service as soldier OF Iortuiit
length the Civil War broke out and Kearny came
into the land of his boyhood and youth again @ this
for his New-Jersey command Many good horses
went from the Oswegatchte country 10 pear Ins
cavalrymen of that New-Jersey brigade OF when
Kearny was commander. AS the war progressed
news Of the intrepid deeds of Kearny were brought
to those who had known and admired him in the
region of his st. Lawrence home: and then came
the account of that awful day at Chantilly. when
he was shot.
But the death of Kearny did not end the love
and admiration of the north country people Tor
him He had grown into the life of the country
side and to this day those who are three genera
tions removed from the original pioneers who knew
him man to man revere and cherish his memory
The old Kearny mansion has now fallen stone
n homestead
constructed IN its place, but the Oswegatche River
flows on in the same course and Kearny Falls and
Kearny Rapids still and send 1ortn tner
wild music as before Great pine trees continue
to grow along the banks Of the river for miles up
and down the stream-the same pines that the
soldier loved well. Fox HILL Vroomans Ridge.
Grays Mountain and all the rest kiss the skies as
in the DAYS long gone extending far away 10 the
Adirondack Mountains and submergtng the long
chain with the greater range beyond.