History of Tivoli, (Dutchess County) New York United States of America

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Johnston Livingston De peyster, soldier, was born in Tivoli-on-the-Hudson, N.Y., June 14, 1846; the youngest son of Maj.-Gen. John Watts and Estelle (Livingston) de Peyster, and eighth in descent from Johannes de Peyster, burgomaster in New Amsterdam, 1673. He was educated by private tutors, attended Highland military academy, Newburg, N.Y., and Columbia college grammar school. He raised the larger portion of company C of the 128th N.Y. volunteers in 1862 but his youth prevented his active participation in the early campaigns of the war. In May, 1864, he entered the volunteer army as 2d lieutenant, 13th N.Y. heavy artillery and gained promotion to the rank of 1st lieutenant. He was then commissioned captain of the 96th N.Y. volunteer infantry but was not mustered into service with that regiment. While in service at Richmond, Va., in 1865, he was with the advance troop that took possession of the Confederate capitol, and mounting to the roof, he attached to the halliards the Stars and Stripes and ran it to the head of the flagstaff surmounting the capitol, the "first real American flag" (as expressed by the vote of thanks he received from the municipality of New York in 1867) "hoisted over Richmond." He was brevetted major and lieutenant-colonel, U.S.V., and colonel N.Y.V. by the state. In 1869 he was made attach? to Daniel E. Sickles, U.S. minister to Spain. He was elected a trustee of the Society library, New York city, and in 1898 was elected its president. He served in the assembly in 1889 and again in 1890, and was president of his native village of Tivoli, N.Y., for several terms. He died in Tivoli, May 27, 1903.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Tivoli, (Dutchess County) New York

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