David Porter Dewitt (1817-1889)
The wonderful brick house that can be seen on Brown Avenue just next to the Wiles Avenue entrance to Hillside belonged to Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General David Porter Dewitt. He owned an apple orchard in his back yard and donated this land to Hillside Cemetery as an act of generosity and patriotism. He was the great great grandson of Charles Dewitt who was a founding father and New York Continental Congressman during the American Revolution. Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, David Dewitt entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in June 1832, and graduated 14th in the class of 1836 with a commission of 2nd Lieutenant. He soon resigned to work for the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad and later became a civil engineer who helped construct railroads in Canada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. In 1859 he served with the United States Express Company but resigned in 1861 to enter the Union Army after the start of the Civil War. He first served as Major of the 2nd Maryland Volunteer Infantry, then as Colonel and commander of the 3rd Maryland Volunteer Infantry. He served under General Nathaniel Banks in the campaign of 1862 and saw action at Dunker Church in Battle of Antietam on September 17, in 1862. He later became Colonel of the 143rd New York Volunteer Infantry, but illness forced him to resign his commission. Unable to serve in the field, he was commissioned as Colonel and commander of the 10th Veterans Reserve Corps, a regiment made up of soldiers whose wounds would not allow them field service. On March 13, 1865 he was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers for "faithful and meritorious service". After his retirement he re-entered the service of the United States Express Company. He died in Middletown, New York at the age of 71.
The wonderful brick house that can be seen on Brown Avenue just next to the Wiles Avenue entrance to Hillside belonged to Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General David Porter Dewitt. He owned an apple orchard in his back yard and donated this land to Hillside Cemetery as an act of generosity and patriotism. He was the great great grandson of Charles Dewitt who was a founding father and New York Continental Congressman during the American Revolution. Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, David Dewitt entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in June 1832, and graduated 14th in the class of 1836 with a commission of 2nd Lieutenant. He soon resigned to work for the New York, Lake Erie and Western Railroad and later became a civil engineer who helped construct railroads in Canada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. In 1859 he served with the United States Express Company but resigned in 1861 to enter the Union Army after the start of the Civil War. He first served as Major of the 2nd Maryland Volunteer Infantry, then as Colonel and commander of the 3rd Maryland Volunteer Infantry. He served under General Nathaniel Banks in the campaign of 1862 and saw action at Dunker Church in Battle of Antietam on September 17, in 1862. He later became Colonel of the 143rd New York Volunteer Infantry, but illness forced him to resign his commission. Unable to serve in the field, he was commissioned as Colonel and commander of the 10th Veterans Reserve Corps, a regiment made up of soldiers whose wounds would not allow them field service. On March 13, 1865 he was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers for "faithful and meritorious service". After his retirement he re-entered the service of the United States Express Company. He died in Middletown, New York at the age of 71.