USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > The Society of the Sons of the Revolution in the District of Columbia > Part 10
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ALEXANDER MACKENZIE WATSON October 24, 1916.
Major, U. S. Marine Corps. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.
Great-great-great-grandson of Harry Innes (1752- 1816); superintendent of lead and powder mills in Vir- ginia in 1776 under the direction of the Committee of
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Safety and the Council of Virginia with rank of Colonel; Appointed Deputy Attorney for the County of Bedford, Virginia, by Gov. Henry, October 14, 1778; appointed by Thomas Jefferson, Gentleman Escheator for the County of Bedford, July 26, 1779; was Commissioner of Specific Tax in 1781; was commissioned District Commissioner by Gov. Benjamin Harrison for the Counties of Charlotte, Halifax, Henry, Bedford, and Campbell, March 27, 1772; was Quartermaster for Bedford Militia.
HAYWARD HUTCHINSON WEBB. October 24, 1916.
2029 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, D. C.
Great-great-grandson of John Webb (1759 -.... ) of Connecticut; Captain, Second Regiment of Dragoons and Aide-de-Camp and Private Secretary to Major-General R. Howe. Was hardly of age during the War of Indepen- dence; was at one time special Aide to General Greene; the appointment, evidently written on the field, is in the possession of H. Randall Webb, Washington, D. C.
Great-great-grandson of John Randall ( ....- 1825) of Maryland; Was Clothier General to the Maryland Line, an officer taking the duties of Quartermaster, Paymaster and Commissary, with the relative rank of Colonel; was one of the Committee of Safety from Anne Arundel County and the family in Annapolis have letters indicat- ing that he held the rank of Ensign in the Colonial Militia.
FRANK ERASTUS WEBNER. September 30, 1920.
Technical Advisor. Compensation Board, Navy Department.
Great-great-great grandson of Private Silas Peck, Lyme, Connecticut (1724-1808). Enlisted May 10, 1775, Eighth Company, Captain Samuel Gale, Colonel Samuel Holden Parsons' Sixth Regiment, Continental Troops; Re-enlisted February 10, 1777, Captain Elisha Lee's Company, Colonel John Durkee's Fourth Regiment, Connecticut Line.
WALTER AUGUSTUS WELLS. June 27, 1912.
Physician. The Rochambeau, Washington, D. C.
Great-great-grandson of Joshua Clarke ( ....- 1781); First Lieutenant, Middle Battalion, Prince George Coun- ty, Maryland Troops (Militia.)
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VERNON ESKRIDGE WEST. January 8, 1914.
Attorney-at-Law. Century Building, Washington, D. C.
Great-great-great-grandson of Thomas Washington (. . . .- 1794); Second, and later First Lieutenant in Cap- tain Thomas Triplett's Company of Colonel William Grayson's Regiment of Virginia Foot, Continental Troops.
FRANCIS BRADFORD WHEATON. December 13, 1915. Major (Quartermaster Corps), U. S. Army. War Department.
Great-grandson of Levi Wheaton (1761-1857) of Rhode Island; who participated as a "Minute Man" in the first battle of the Revolution, June 1, 1775. When a lad under 15 years of age he and his elder brother Joseph Wheaton joined a small party of patriotic youths in Provi- dence and marched 40 miles to join the three Rhode Island Regiments encamped near Boston under General Nathan- iel Greene and participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill.
CHARLES VAN CISE WHEELER. January 8, 1914.
Capitalist. 1609 Sixteenth Street, Washington, D. C.
Great-great-great-grandson of Andrew Rabb ( ....- 1804); Captain, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Rangers.
Great-great-grandson of David Pollock (1755 -.... ); Private in Captain James Maxfield's and later Captain Robert Campbell's Companies, Maryland Militia.
GEORGE YANDES WHEELER. May 27, 1915.
280 Broadway, New York, N. Y.
Great-great-great-grandson of Andrew Rabb ( ....- 1804); Captain, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Rangers.
Great-great-grandson of David Pollock (1755 -.... ); Private in Captain James Maxfield's and later Captain Robert Campbell's Companies, Maryland Militia.
HARRY MARSHALL WHEELER December 13, 1915.
Washington Steel & Ordnance Company. 1868 Columbia Road, Washington, D. C.
Great-great-great-grandson of Andrew Rabb ( ....- 1804); Captain, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania Rangers.
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Great-great-grandson of David Pollock (1755 -.... ); Private in Captain James Maxfield's and later Captain Robert Campbell's Companies, Maryland Militia.
NORMAN TWEED WHITAKER. December 11, 1916.
Attorney-at-Law. Whitaker Building, 922 F Street, Wash- ington, D. C.
Great-great-great-grandson of Samuel Westcott ( .. - 1792); Commanded a Company in Colonel Silas New- comb's Battalion of Cumberland County Militia; was in commission as Captain of New Jersey State Troops.
GEORGE WHITNEY WHITE. March 29, 1916.
President, Metropolitan National Bank. Washington, D. C.
Great-great-grandson of Daniel Barron (1755-1810); who enlisted in July, 1776 in Captain Belain Posey's Company, Charles County, under Colonel William Smallwood, General Rezen Beall of Prince George County, Commander, Maryland Flying Camp; also served through the New York campaign.
ERNEST WILKINSON. July 1, 1895.
Attorney-at-Law. Ouray Building, Washington, D. C.
Great-grandson of James Wilkinson (1757-1825) of Maryland; Captain, Second Continental Infantry, 1776; Aide-de-Camp to General Arnold; Brigade Major, and as such on the staff of General Gates; Brigadier General, Pennsylvania Militia, and Lieutenant Colonel, Com- mandant Second United States Infantry, 1791.
JULIAN PARSONS WILLCOX. October 24, 1916.
Major, U. S. Marine Corps. U. S. S. Wyoming.
Great-grandson of John Willcox (1760-1800); Private, in Captain Williams' Company, Connecticut Militia, 1779; Seventh Connecticut, Colonel Heman Swift, 1780; Private, Captain Prentice's Company, Colonel McClel- lan, 1782.
DION WILLIAMS. April 14, 1915.
Colonel, U. S. Marine Corps. Commanding Tenth Regi- ment, U. S. Marine Corps, Santo Domingo, D. R.
Great-great-grandson of Colonel John Cooley; Adju- tant of the Third Regiment, West Chester County, New
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York Militia; later Adjutant of the Fourth Regiment from the same County and State.
Great-great-grandson of John Parke (1760-1839); Pri- vate, who served during the Revolution in the Virginia Militia.
DAVIS BOWLES WILLS. April 14, 1915. Auditor, The Thompson-Starrett Company, 149 West 74th Street, New York, N. Y.
Great-grandson of Isaac Davis (1754 -.... ); Private, in Captain Thomas Walker's Company, Colonel William Fleming's (Virginia) Regiment, 1776; Lieutenant in Captain John Hunton's Company, Colonel James Ennis (Virginia) Regiment, 1780-1781; Captain in Colonel Reuben Lindsay's (Virginia) Regiment, May, 1781.
BALCH BEALL WILSON. November 30, 1894.
Schmelz National Bank, Newport News, Va.
Great-grandson of Stephen Bloomer Balch (1747- 1833), of Deer Creek, Maryland; Captain of a company in Lower Marlborough, Maryland, 1777.
JAMES SPRIGG WILSON.
October 21, 1897.
Colonel, (Medical Corps), U. S. Army. San Francisco, Calif.
Great-grandson of Stephen Bloomer Balch (1747- 1833), of Deer Creek, Maryland; Captain of a company in Lower Marlborough, Maryland, 1777.
MAHLON ALPHEUS WINTER. March 12, 1901.
Manufacturing Chemist. Winter Building, Washington, D. C.
Great-grandson of Joseph Winter; Minute Man in the Connecticut Troops; served in the Lexington Alarm under Captain Thomas Lawson, 1775; later served with General Israel Putnam.
LEONARD WOOD.
January 7, 1903. Major General, U. S. Army. Commanding Sixth Corps, Fort Sheridan, Ill.
Great-great-grandson of John Nixon (1725-1815) of Massachusetts; commanded company of Minute Men, Lexington Regiment, at Bunker Hill.
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ROBERT WICKLIFFE WOOLLEY. December 20, 1915.
Interstate Commerce Commission. Eighteenth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C.
Great-great-grandson of John Howard (1732-1835) of Virginia; Volunteer at the battle of Guilford. While in the act of taking a wounded man from the field, he was attacked by Tarleton's Light Horse and received five wounds three of which were pronounced mortal by the physician who dressed them.
WALTER FITZHUGH WORTHINGTON. November 30, 1891.
Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy (Retired). 16 Mission Ridge Road, Santa Barbara, Calif.
Great-grandson of Nicholas Worthington (1732-1792); Major of Maryland Troops, and Delegate to Legislature of Maryland.
Great-great-grandson of William Fitzhugh; Member, Maryland Legislature during the Revolution; Member of Council of Safety and Committee of Vigilance of Calvert County.
LEE WARINNER WRIGHT. May 27, 1915.
Captain, Assistant Paymaster, U. S. Marine Corps. Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D. C.
Great-great-great-grandson of James Pendleton (1740- 1793); Ensign, Seventh Virginia, February 7, 1776; Second Lieutenant, April 26, 1776; Captain First Con- tinental (Virginia) Artillery, February 7, 1777; was in service October, 1778.
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DONT TREAD ON ME
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THE FIRST FLAG OF THE CONTINENTAL NAVY. PRESENTED TO THE SONS OF THE REVOLUTION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ON FEBRUARY 22 1919.
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A FLAG PRESENTATION ON WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1919
The First Flag of the Continental Navy Presented to the Sons of the Revolution in the District of Columbia by the Patriotic League United States Marine Corps Recruiting Service.
A T the Fifth Joint Celebration of George Washington's Birthday by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolu- tion, Sons of the Revolution in the District of Columbia, and the District of Columbia Society Sons of the American Revolution, at Memorial Continental Hall, Washington, D. C., Saturday, Feb- ruary 22, 1919, a copy of the first flag of the Continental Navy was presented to the Sons of the Revolution in the District of Columbia by Mrs. George Barnett for the Patriotic League United States Marine Corps Recruiting Service.
The Presiding Officer was Mr. Elmer Marston Wentworth, of Iowa, Past President General, National Society Sons of the American Revolution.
The following is an account of the Presentation Exercises :
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: Next in order is the presentation of the flag. This will be by Mrs. George Barnett, wife of the Major General Commandant of the Marine Corps of blessed memory and active opportunity-they never miss a scrap. It is particularly our pleasure at this time to have the wife of the Major General Com- mandant take an active part. Here is a lady that needs no introduc- tion to an American audience, Mrs. Barnett.
MRS. BARNETT'S ADDRESS : Five years ago the Societies associated here today began jointly to celebrate this National Holiday. Their effort was a success; so the practice was renewed year after year, and this meeting at Memorial Continental Hall has become an expected event. The Sons of the Revolution, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Sons of the American Revolution express the same principles. They possess like obligations to preserve the memories of our War of the Independence and to promote a respect for the prin-
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ciples for which the American patriot fathers fought. Your first joint meeting was at an historic time. The World then, in 1915, was involved in its greatest struggle against injustice and oppression. Men on the other side of the Atlantic looked for an ideal that might save them. All that civilization had ever gained for mankind was at stake. Opinion here on this side of the Atlantic was divided, while might was triumphant on the other side. And the eyes of the op- pressed there turned to America, but we did not respond, for our people did not realize what that war meant to them. America was searching for its soul.
This war has produced many stories to inspire generations yet unborn. One of these we may well remember. Its hero was Lieu- tenant Pericard of the French Army. His company held an advanced post that had been severely attacked by the enemy. This was at Bois-Brule early in April of 1915. The trench was filled with prostrate French soldiers. All resistance had been shattered. Then the Germans came !- on and on-then suddenly from this shambles, from this heap of dead and wounded-a shattered being arose, blood- stained and staggering, but still with his soul staunch within him. His arms reached out for a sack of hand grenades; his voice strong with a new strength, he shouted "Debout le morts!" ( To your feet, ye dead!). That tangled mass of humanity writhed-and then it arose! Men who had been all but dead fought with the fury of fresh youth-fought until they died again. The invader was swept back- an inspired word had caused a resurrection!
As America, back in those days of 1915 and after, was seeking its spirit, these three societies united their influence. Year after year you came together here, to honor on this day the memory of our Country's Father ; to give expression for what he stood for-to respect his words as we have just heard them read. And as America stood, a little child amongst the great warring nations, you sang here faint- heartedly the song of liberty for all. In the clash of clashes and the tumult of those times, that song was heard near and far. The heart of America awakened-the dead arose-for we found that we must enter the war to defend, not alone our liberty, but the liberty of the World. What warring peoples of Europe sought-were the Ameri- can ideals, the sacred principles of our Revolutionary fathers; freedom and equal opportunity for all.
And so there came a resurrection of America! With the white hot blast of war the New World awakened. And when I speak of war, I must speak to one who knew war in the old days. To you, Dr. McKim; you, sir, very early in your life, served as a soldier in the ranks. You learned there the soldier's first duty to advance the cause without thought of yourself. As you learned there to sink your
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individuality in the cause ; so has the Society of which you are an hon- ored member labored unselfishly to fulfill its duty. In the clash of times you gladly came here to this temple of the Daughters to unite your influence as a society with theirs and that of the Sons of the American Revolution.
When a state of War against Germany was declared, a number of patriotic women in New York City, under the leadership of Mrs. Edith Skerrett Wills, the wife of an officer of the Marine Corps, formed a League to cooperate with the Recruiting Service of the Marine Corps. By public speaking and in many other ways, their efforts were directed to attract to the marines the best of American youth. Many of the men who fought so bravely at Chateau-Thierry and in the evil stretches of Belleau-Wood, were men who had listened to the pleas of these very women. In France, last summer, I looked upon many of their graves, silent rows of rectangles which speak a story of their sacrifice. There, near to the historic River Marne, under the orders of General Pershing, under the immediate com- mand of his former Chief of Staff, General Harbord, of the Army, these marines were permitted to demonstrate that the American soldier, properly trained, was better than the best the Prussian system could produce.
Back in the days before the Revolution-in 1775, to be exact- before the United States of America could be called by that name, Benjamin Franklin, in Philadelphia, wrote that he had observed on one of the drums belonging to the marines, whose recruiters were raising two battalions, there was painted the rattlesnake with this motto under it, "Don't tread on me." He said, knowing it was the custom to have some device on the Arms of every country, that he supposed this design was intended for the Arms of North America. That corps of Marine drummers often marched the streets of Phila- delphia in those days, pounding their so-called musical instruments to "drum up" recruits. Later in the year 1775, Congress created the Continental Navy, and that device of the Marine drummers became the design of the Flag that flew from the mastheads of our first ships-of-war.
The Thirteen Colonies were designated by the thirteen rattles of the snake, coiled ready to strike. And that self-same motto of the Marines, "Don't Tread on Me," was written on the Flag, the first Flag of the Continental Navy.
Doctor McKim, on behalf of the women of the Patriotic League of the Marine Corps Recruiting Service, I wish to offer this flag to the Society you represent, as a token of our appreciation of your efforts as a Society to make these joint celebrations so successful and so en- during.
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MUSIC-"In Flanders Fields" (McCrae)-vocal, Miss Annie Jett; accompanied by Miss Christine Richards:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow, Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky, The larks still bravely singing fly,
Scarce heard amidst the guns below.
We are the dead; short days ago we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, loved and were loved; and now we lie in Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe, To you from falling hands we throw the Torch. Be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not
sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders fields.
DR. McKIM'S RESPONSE: Madam, you do the society which I have the privilege of representing a great honor in the presentation, so gracefully and eloquently made, of this beautiful flag, which so strikingly symbolizes the fierce and aggressive spirit of the U. S. Marine Corps when called upon to defend the Republic from attack, -that spirit which led the enemy to dub them "Devil Dogs."
May I beg you, dear Madam, to convey to the women of the Patriotic League of the Marine Corps Recruiting Service the grateful thanks of the Sons of the Revolution.
We are descendants of the patriots who broke the yoke of a Ger- man despot seated on the throne of Old England,-England then counted our enemy, now, thank God, our friend,-yes our mightiest and staunchiest friend ; and remembering that the Marine Corps was organized in the City of Philadelphia in the year 1775, we feel that your organization stands for the same principles that ours does; and is irrevocably committed, as we are, to the preservation of the heritage of ordered Liberty and Representative Democracy under the aegis of the Constitution-the sheet anchor of our most sacred rights. We pay our tribute of love and loyalty to the Republic as Washington and his co-laborers fashioned it,-to the Constitution which they, with marvellous wisdom created and on this day we stand ready to pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor to defend it from the
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foul hands of those who would desecrate and destroy it, by whatso- ever name they may be called, Radicals, Socialists, Anarchists, Bol- shevists.
May I recall to the audience the uniformly high and fine record of the Marine Corps ever since its organization under the shadow of the Revolution of '76. It has borne an honorable part in every war in which our country has been engaged. On many fields, in many parts of the world, in Tripoli-in Mexico-in China-and elsewhere, it has done distinguished and devoted service to the Republic. But its deeds of valor have never been so resplendent as in the great War for Liberty and Civilization just brought to a victorious conclusion.
You, Madam, have truly said that the 4th Brigade of Marines, under command of General Harbord, were permitted to demonstrate that the American soldier, when thoroughly trained, is superior to the best that the Prussian system can produce. Not once or twice or thrice, but many times on many bloody fields in France, that Brigade has, as part of the 2d Division, shed lustre on the shield of the Repub- lic. In the number of battles in which it was engaged without fail- ing to gain its objective, it stands in the unquestioned first rank. Its spirit was always indomitable despite severe punishment and heavy loss of life. In the words of its commander they waded into the Boche like a bunch of "Wildcats."
It greatly distinguished itself on July 18th, in the great offensive, and again on September 12th to 15th. In the Champagne battle of October 2d to 10th, it bore a great part in driving the wedge by which General Petain forced the Germans to retreat 12 miles; and such was its valor that on the heights of Vallendar, overlooking the Rhine, on the anniversary of the Kaiser's birthday, four Legion of Honor decorations and 248 French War Crosses were pinned to the breasts of the heroes of that battle. In the words of Major- General John Lejeune: "This superb division of fighting men is unsurpassed in valor and skill, in endurance, in determination to conquer."
But of all the deeds of the Marines I think the most glorious is that by which in the early days of June they halted the victorious advance of the German columns at Bouresches and Belleau Wood. I have read the official military diary of that struggle, and the record is that during all those ten days of terrific fighting "the line has receded nowhere and has everywhere advanced" and this although officers and men were ultimately in such a state of almost complete exhaustion that they fell asleep under bombardment. The Germans said that they found the Marines a bit worse than the Canadians and the British. The official report stated that they had not given one inch of ground. The Commander of the 23d Regiment of Infantry sent hearty congratulations, and added, "It will inspire all Americans." General Pershing telegraphed, "It was a magnificent example of
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American courage and dash." The Generalissimo himself, Marshal Foch, sent his love and congratulations. And the French General in immediate command issued an order changing the name Belleau Wood to "Le Bois de la Brigade de la Marines."
That, I say, ladies and gentlemen, was the most gloriously achieve- ment of the Marines, because on that occasion they struck a blow which changed the whole aspect of the military situation.
Let me recall the circumstances: The military authorities had decided to evacuate Paris. Then the German offensive had been launched, their legions were already near the gates. They were advancing in the pride and confidence of certain victory at the rate of 20 or 30 kilometers a day-marching in goose-step form-when those two Marine Regiments, the 5th and 6th, in cooperation with the 9th and 23d Infantry, struck them a blow which first surprised and then checked them, and then sent them staggering back. You remember, ladies and gentlemen, the circumstances. The gallant French were exhausted and overwhelmed and were retreating pre- cipitately. The officer in command sent the Marine Commander a written order to fall in rear of the French and retreat. The answer was laconic and very emphatic, but the diary simply says "that order was not obeyed." Indeed, the Marines, carefully and coolly adjusting their sights, met the onrushing hordes of Huns with a withering fire, and then charged, and after a bitter contest in which they lost five- eights of their numbers they swept back the Prussian Guards in defeat and confusion.
Ladies and Gentlemen, that was the turning point of the war. That was the moment that marked the turn of the tide of the for- tunes of the campaign. What those intrepid men did that day electrified the Allied Armies-electrified all France-restored the morale of the weary English and French soldiers-demontsrated the reliability of the American fighting men-showed the stuff they were made of, and convinced Marshal Foch that the American Army was an asset of such value that it was possible for him to assume the offensive and drive the invader out of France.
At the conclusion of the address the Quantico Glee Club, consisting of 50 enlisted men of the Marine Corps, under Song Leader Gilbert Wilson sang, "The Marines Hymn."
LAFAYETTE DAY EXERCISES, SEPTEMBER 6, 1918
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AN ADDRESS
By Count de Chambrun, Counselor, The French Embassy (Repre- senting The Ambassador of France) at the Joint Celebration by the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the Revolution in the District of Columbia and the District of Columbia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, of the 161st anniversary of the birth of the Marquis de Lafayette, Sep- tember 6, 1918.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER was Louis Annin Ames, Esq., New York City, President General, National Society Sons of the American Revolution, who said
Our last speaker is the great-great grandson of Marquis de Lafay- ette,-Count de Chambrun, Counselor of the French Embassy.
Mr. President, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen :
On this anniversary, particularly dear to my heart, I feel deeply the honor of being called upon to speak, in the name of the Ambassa- dor of France, before this assembly graced by the presence of the President of the United States, whose name, blessed by all my fellow countrymen, is today as popular among them as Lafayette's with you. I am greatly honored also to address the distinguished representatives of the patriotic societies whose mission it is to preserve the sacred mem- ories of the American Revolution.
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