When I am visiting Albany on business, I like to have dinner at P&Gs Tavern in New Paltz. While I have been to New Paltz in the Hudson Valley more than a hundred times, I recently visited the village’s Civil War monument for the first time. The monument was erected right after the Civil War in 1870. It is not in the middle of town, it was put up in the New Paltz Rural Cemetery, about a mile from the village’s downtown.
The monument has the names of men from the village who served during the war engraved on its base. Unfortunately nearly all of the names have been worn off over the ears by the elements. I did not see marks of vandalism on the monument and It is well-maintained and cleaned. However its location means that few local residents are aware of it and it is not seen by the many visitors to the small town.
While local histories refer to the 156th New York Volunteer Infantry as “New Paltz’s Own” and 16 of those from New Paltz who died in the war were in that regiment. Even a small town like New Paltz had men join a number of other regiment. Six men died in the 120th New York. The 40th and 44th New York regiments each saw two New Paltz men die. Men from a number of other regiments, including Richard Oliver of the 20th United States Colored Infantry, gave their lives.
The sun went down behind the Wallkill River. At the time of the Civil War, only about 2,000 people lives here in the 1860s. In the early years, the Huguenot refugees settled here in 1678. You can go to see several examples of this the pre-Revolutionary houses on Huguenot Street.
Behind the monument is the flag that so many men fought over.
This photo of Civil War veterans at the New Paltz monument was taken in the early 1900s.
If you go, please go on a good day. The Huguenot Street is well-worth seeing, the rail trail west of town is enjoyable, and for those who love climbing the mountains, the Gunks are only a mile west of the town. P&Gs Tavern at 91 Main Street is a local favorite. They are good for lunch or dinner.
