Page 35
History of Orange County
Town of Montgomery
Page 35
Mr. Eager, during the war of the Revolution was an ardent Whig, though he could take no active part in its prosecution or defence, in consequence of an accident which lamed him for life. At that day, in clearing up the land it was customary to girdle the large trees and let them stand, to be taken down at leisure. This process killed them, and by standing they injured the land but little. Passing beneath one during a high wind, a part of it was blown down, fell upon him and broke or injured the cords of the toes on one foot, so that ever after, while walking, the toes would drop on raising the foot, and he was compelled to use a cane.
Though he could not be a soldier himself, he highly esteemed those who were, and gave them the heartiest encouragement of final triumph and success. Being an Irishman he cherished no especial good will towards England. No one rejoiced more at the victories achieved by the army than he; and the battles of the country, the brave conduct of the Whigs, and the rascally, dishonorable acts of the tories were frequent and fruitful themes of remark and conversation through the after part of his life. He was a person of grave manner and few words. His conversation consisted of tart remarks, plain and to the point—every sentence embodying on aphorism, a rule of life. He always talked what he thought, and therefore unless you knew the temper and internal goodwill of the man, he was apt to offend by him open and undisguised mode of expression. This was calculated to get him into trouble when least expected.
When the militia of the county were at Forts Montgomery and Clinton in 1776-7, Mr. Eager went down occasionally to see them, as many of his neighbors and townsmen were there at the time. When he went he was in the habit of taking things for the use and comfort of the soldiers, such as bread, straw, etc. On one occasion he was invited by General Clinton to dine with the officers; and while at dinner he heard some of the officers speaking jocosely of the gallantry of a brother officer. From the remarks made he gathered the nature of the incident and the person alluded to, Mr. Eager had previously heard the story, and injudiciously asked if such a one, naming the officer (General Putnam) was the individual referred to.
The cream of the matter was, the General was present in the room and so near as to hear time question; and being somewhat offended at the publicity of the affair, deemed it personal, and after they left the table directed that Mr. Eager be put under guard. Gen. James Clinton, his personal friend and neighbor, then in command of the post, heard of it, instantly came and advised the offended officer to discontinue his proceedings and let him go free—saying “ he had been kind to the soldiers in feeding and warming them, and if they put him under guard they would have half the Whigs of the county down on them, and the last end would be worse than the first.” The General took wit in his anger and complied, and thus ended the unpleasant affair. Mr. Eager returned with all the credit of bearding a lion in his den, and with his confidence renewed in the personal friendship and good offices of General Clinton.