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and was commissioned a Master's Mate. In 1863 he was promoted to Ensign, and to Acting Master in 1864. He served with distinction in the Department of the Gulf on several different vessels. He took part in the opening of the Mississippi River, the battle of Mobile Bay and several other important naval engagements. He was an intelligent and brave young officer, never shirked a responsible duty, and was well liked by his comrades of the navy. He was honorably discharged from the service in 1867, and died in Kingston in 1883. Like all mortals, Comrade McEntee might have had his failings, but as a brave, unflinching hero in the hour of battle he had no superior. The green grass in summer-time covers his remains in Montrepose Cemetery, near the village where he was born, and may his ashes ever rest in peace. 
Thomas C. Masten, son of the late William Masten of Kingston, was appointed Assistant Paymaster in the regular navy in 1861. He was assigned to active duty soon afterwards and was attached to the corvette Juniata in the Gulf waters. He served with distinction in the flying squadron of Commodore Wilkes, and afterwards in other places. He was promoted to a full Paymaster in 1862, and held till 1876, when for some cause unknown to the writer he left the service. He was a popular and competent officer. 
Matthew T. Trumpbour, the present very efficient Assistant Treasurer of the Ulster County Savings Institution, was appointed an Acting Assistant Paymaster in the Navy in January, 1865. His first and only cruise was in the iron-clad Monadnoc, a double turreted monitor. The trip made by this vessel from New York to Havana, in the Island of Cuba, was a very stormy and boisterous one, and by many during the trip it was feared the vessel would founder at sea. In consequence of the close of the war Mr. Trumpbour was honorably discharged in September, 1865. 
Robert H. Shultis, the present Commander of Pratt Post, No. 127, Grand Army of the Republic, was an engineer officer in the navy during a portion of the late war. He was appointed a Third Assistant Engineer in July, 1862, and served with credit until February 1, 1864, when he resigned. Mr. Shultis served the greater portion of his time in the East Gulf Squadron, blockading various points of that coast between Key West and Appalachicola. He was attached to the steamer Magnolia at first, which vessel was the fortunate captor of the blockade runner Memphis off Charleston. He was rather more fortunate than many others of his fleet companions, as his share of this prize alone amounted to over $6,000. 
Henry D. Bladwin of Kingston was appointed a Master's Mate in the spring of 1862, and was ordered to report for immediate duty on board the United States steam gunboat Port Royal, then lying in the Potomac river in front of Washington. This vessel was commanded by the late Commander Geo. U. Morris, the hero of the frigate Cumberland, whose portrait appears in the Century Magazine for March. The vessel at that time was attached to the Potomac flotilla, but soon afterwards was ordered to the Gulf of Mexico. She participated in many important engagements with the enemy, including the passage of the forts, and battle with iron clads in Mobile Bay, and the operations of the army and navy in front of the city of Mobile, where in December the writer of this article was recommended for promotion to the grade of Ensign, and was detached and ordered to the steamer Conemaugh. This vessel proceeded homeward to the North Atlantic Squadron, and in January, 1865, he was again detached and placed on waiting orders. In February he was again ordered to duty and served on board the steamer Periwinkle (afterwards called the Polaris) till September 25, 1865, when in consequence of a reduction of the naval forcehem with hundreds of other volunteer officers, was honorably discharged from the service with the thanks of the Navy Department. 
Carroll Whitaker of Saugerties, con of Egbert Whitaker, Esq., was appointed a Master's Mate on the 22nd of February, 1865. It being near the close of the war it was not his good fortune to be fired at many times by the enemy, but this was no fault of Carroll's. He stood ready for a target in case of emergency. He was honorably discharged, 
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an opera. He played some of it which seemed very pleasant and he seemed a refined young man. I did not see Fuller as I hoped to and Mrs. Warren  said nothing more about my picture. I am afraid some one damned it in the Century. I can not bear to seem to ask or expect something from my friends and I carefully refrained from touching in  the remotest way on my own affairs.
 
Thursday March 5" 1885. The weather has been warm and genial since Monday and I began to think of the spring but not with much elation I fear it will bring me many anxieties. I found a letter from Sara. My father had looked badly to her but after all did not seem to be any worse. He had walked on his crutches and into the hall and I hope soon he can go down stairs. Also a letter from [[Steve?]] with a draft for $175 for the little picture. I walked up to 51st St. to get Clarke to make a box for it, and then called on [[Rand?]] at his studio. Found him at work on the statue of W.E. Dodge. Went and set up on the platform with him while he talked about a proposition to change the constitution of the Academy so that the associates which now are limited to 60 be reduced to 60 and that they with the academicians elect the academicians. I think it worth it reflecting upon. I see objections but am not prejudiced against it.
Friday 6" I dined at Mrs. Claus Akers last evening with Julia Dillon, Mrs Carter and Rouse. They live in the [[Morell?]] building where Gifford first lived after his marriage and their apartment is a fair simile of his. I had an agreeable evening. He is a brother of Paul Akers the sculptor and draws in crayon. I became acquainted with him and his wife through Julia Dillon. Began a new picture today 20 x 24 but it is not very good so far. Emma [[Brace?]] called and shortly after Fuller came in. He did not seem to care for my cliff picture which I rather hoped he would buy, but was greatly taken with all of my [[new?]] [[?]] I recently painted. I hope he will buy it. He staid a long time and seemed really to want the picture. He has asked me to his home this evening to see one of [[?]] pictures he has recently bought and I will after dinner. I very much liked the [[?]] picture which seemed to me one of the best of his later works. He also had a small picture by Church and another picture painted by [[James?]] in 1868, with a fair [[sky?]] and painted in a more carefree manner. He referred again to my picture he saw in my room and said he wanted to sell it for me, either to [[Nancy?]] or to take it himself.

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-04-27 20:39:51 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-02 23:01:02