(Thank you, Forgotten Bookmarks, for tweeting about this.)
A few days ago I received a tweet stating that there was a hamlet in upstate NY that had seceded from the Union, joining the Confederate States of America, in 1861. Further, they didn't rescind their secession and rejoin the United States until 1946.
In other words, the final outpost of the Confederate States of America was located in upstate New York.
Sounded like a hoax. Being bitten once by an apparent research error when I did a blog post on a Lee's Surrender quilting pattern and mentioned a secret quilting pattern language used by escaping slaves and the Underground Railroad, I wasn't going to fall for this one.
Except, I've done quite a bit of Internet browsing- including hanging out in a couple of Civil War discussion forums. And, this "fact" appears to be true - if it isn't even the Voice of America has been fooled. Fooled, along with the good people of Town Line, NY, in Erie County (pop. about 2500), which commemorated the 150th anniversary of their secession from the United States earlier this month.
Strangely, no one seems to know why they seceded. But join the C.S.A. they did.
Internet sources also report that Town Line didn't join the Confederacy just in name. They may have sent five citizens down south to join the Confederate Army.
After the war, it is said they would fly the Confederate flag from time to time.
It would appear that, in 1945, then President Truman became involved. The President of the United States asked Town Line to rejoin the Union. They did.
But even today, according to various Internet sources and forums, the fire department wears a patch declaring Town Line "The Last of the Rebels", with both a United States flag and a Confederate flag.
(A grateful thank you to the sources I linked to, including a couple of blogs. You gave me some very pleasurable reading experiences! I invite you to read the various links if you are interested in this topic.)
So, as a native of New York State, I can proudly celebrate the Union heritage of my state - and the Confederate.
Amazing!
This is so very cool. Shared it on Sunday but only just had the time to read it. Would love to know more.
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