USA > New Jersey > Essex County > Newark > A History of the city of Newark, New Jersey : embracing practically two and a half centuries, 1666-1913, Volume I > Part 36
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There seems to have been far stronger opposition to this action than the Centinal of Freedom, the Republican [Democratic] organ, would have us believe. The night after the meeting the liberty cap was taken off the flagpole, at the apex of Military Park, and the liberty cap on the emblem of justice over the judge's chair in the county court house was also removed. This was apparently
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done to give the impression that the doers felt the town, in its action urging Congress to stop naval armament, had thrown aside freedom, had trampled upon liberty.
A few days later, according to the Centinal of May 1, 1798, a new liberty cap was provided and restored to the flagpole. There was a procession, with music of American airs, and an address was made by Dr. Macwhorter, in which he reiterated his well known belief that the militia was sufficient to protect the contury in all times of stress and trial, and that a standing army was unneces- sary. Not long afterward the liberty cap seems to have again disappeared from the flagpole.
NEWARK AND THE WHISKEY INSURRECTIONS.
In 1794 came the so-called "whiskey insurrection," in Penn- sylvania, when Washington sent forth the first call for volunteers in the history of the republic, and when Essex County and Newark responded with promptness and enthusiasm. This rebellion was a direct protest against the policy of the federal leaders. It arose in the western part of Pennsylvania among the Scotch-Irish settlers of Washington, Westmoreland, Fayette and Allegheny counties, because of the insistment of the federal government that duties should be paid, not only upon all distilled liquors, but upon the stills where they were made. The "whiskey tax" was opposed because it sought to levy upon the right to use drink distilled from rye, which, it was asserted by the West Pennsylvania revolution- ists, should be as free as air or water.
On May 9, 1794, an act of Congress was passed, calling for 80,000 effective militia to quell the insurrection. New Jersey was to furnish 4,318 men. Washington's proclamation calling for the subjection of the rebels was issued on August 4, 1794. The actual number of troops finally called into the field was about thirteen thousand men, from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey militia. New Jersey's quota was 2,100, and of these Essex and Newark furnished at least five hundred.
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The militia of Western Pennsylvania, which was strongly allied with the Republicans in politics, took up the cause of the insurrec- tionists against the federal government. It is most important to Newark and Essex County folk to note, however, that the Repub- lieans here stood fast by the federal administration. They held a meeting in Newark, presumably at Seabury's tavern, on September 22, 1794, at which resolutions were adopted endorsing the steps taken by the government to suppress the riots in Western Penn- sylvania. The resolutions set forth that the majority must rule, and that while government may do wrong, the people, under the constitution, have means for redress. The society deprecated the attempts being made to hinder inquiry into the government's methods in reducing the confusion and anarchy in Pennsylvania, declaring the efforts made to fasten on the various Republican societies of the country the blame for inciting the riots, invidious. The resolutions were signed by Matthew Ward as chairman and Aaron Pennington as secretary.
Newark and Essex contributed to all three arms, cavalry, artillery and infantry, reaching Trenton in mid-September. After several weeks campaigning in the Pennsylvania mountains, with no engagements and only such hardships as were incidental to long marches, crude camp equipment, etc., the rebellion collapsed late in October, 1794. The Jerseymen had then been about six weeks in the field and it took them another month and a half to get home. The only casualty reported from the Essex militia was the illness of Cornet Beach of the Newark cavalry company who was invalided home. The troops, who had been sent out amid scenes of great enthusiasm, returned in detachments, the first early in December, until the last arrived some weeks later. They were formally welcomed by the leading citizens, with speech-making and feasting. The affair was described in the Gazette on January 14, 1795:
"On Friday last an entertainment was given by the citizens of this town, to the volunteers on the late expedition against the Western insurgents. Agreeably to the arrangements of the day, the Volunteers assembled at the Academy, being joined by their
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fellow citizens, and a number of the French republicans, at present residing in this place, and who were invited on the occasion, a procession was formed, from the Academy to the Court House, where Brigadier General Cumming delivered an address."
In the course of it he said:
"Your laudable example has at least demonstrated this great truth, that a national militia is in every way adequate to the support of a free government and will do away with every pretext in favor of a standing army."
Captain Burnet responded for the volunteers. They then adjourned to Gifford's tavern to partake of a "Civic Feast." There were fifteen toasts, and three "volunteers," one of the last being:
"May citizen soldiers always support the constitution and laws of their country, and never have any future occasion to arm in suppression of insurrection."
"JERSEY BLUE."
In every war in which New Jersey troops have had a part, from the French and Indian wars to and including the Civil War (and the Spanish War hardly lasted long enough to bring out that peculiarly New Jersey expression of its patriotism), the term "Jersey Blue" has played a more or less striking part. The expres- sion originated, as we saw in a previous chapter, with Colonel Peter Schuyler's men in the 1750's; was revived with the War for Inde- pendence, when Captain Eliakim Littell of the Essex Militia led a company uniformed in "Jersey Blue," and appears in the "Whiskey Insurrection."
Governor Howell, who was something of a poet, wrote some verses to inspire the Jersey troops while on march into the Penn- sylvania mountains, which were very popular for many years thereafter, and which ran as follows:
To arms once more our hero 1 eries, Sedition lives and order dies; To peace and case then bid adleu, And dash to the mountains, Jersey Blue. Dash to the mountains, Jersey Blue,
Jersey Blue, Jersey Blue, And dash to the mountains, Jersey Blue.
' Washington. Howell was a veteran of the War for Independence.
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Since proud ambition rears its head, And murders rage, and discords spread; To save from spoil the virtuous few, Dash to the mountains, Jersey Blue.
Roused at the call, with magic sound, The drums and trumpets circled 'round, As soon as the corps their route pursue; So dash to the mountains, Jersey Blue.
Unstained with crime, unused to fear, In deep array our youth appear; And fly to crush the rebel crew, Or die in the mountains, Jersey Blue.
The tears bedew the malden's cheek, The storm hangs 'round the mountains bleak; 'Tis glory calls, to love adieu, Then dash to the mountains, Jersey Blue.
Should foul misrule and party rage With law and liberty engage, Push home your steel, you'll soon review Your native plains, brave Jersey Blue.
The militiamen seem to have sung these verses to some air which the writer has not been able to discover. Toward the end of the little campaign another poet delivered himself of a second part or sequel to Governor Howell's effusion, as follows:
When we lust heard our Ilero's erles To arms! to arms! or order dies- Our arms we seized and swiftly flew, Dash to the mountains, Jersey Blue. .
O'er mountains high and vallies deep, Our rugged course we still did keep; Nor rain nor snow could e'er subdue The patriot zeal of Jersey Blue.
At length, by dint of toils and pain, The western waters we did gain; But to our grief no rebel crew Would try the steels of Jersey Blue.
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Then through their country we did scout To find these sad offenders out, And show what monstrous melons grow Beyond the mountains, Jersey Blue.
And now these dogs to prison led Or to the Indian country fled, With hearts to love, as courage, true We'll homeward dash, brave Jersey Blue.
And when we quaff the gen'rous bowl, And catch the fire from soul to soul; We'll toast our wives and sweethearts true
Who sigh to meet us, Jersey Blue.
Now while we jog the road along, Let's cheat the hours with a song, Until enraptured we shall view Our native plains, brave Jersey Blue.
To patriotic Jerseymen, "Jersey Blue" had become a sort of slogan. "Recent letters from some of our citizens," remarked John Woods's Newark Gazette, on October 1, 1794, "inform us of the high spirits and the good order and discipline which prevails in the camp. Should an action take place we have no doubt but that the Jersey Blue will maintain their long established credit, and hand down their verdant laurels to their posterity."
Again, in 1812, with the country about to engage in its second war with England, Jersey Blue appears, in a poem of nine stanzas, published in the Newark Centinel of Freedom, on September 1, of that year, of which the two following are typical :
Young Jersey Blue attend the call, Of invitation to us all; Come forward, march, the way is clear, Young Jersey Blue, come volunteer. Volunteer, volunteer; Young Jersey Blue, come volunteer.
Our country calls the brave to arms, Dash on, my boys, 'tis war's alarms; Support the cause, 'tis freedom dear. Young Jersey Bine, come volunteer.
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THE MILITIA AND POLITICS.
While the people were, in the main, strongly opposed to a standing army at the close of the War for Independence and for very many years thereafter, their enthusiasm over militia organiza- tions was strong. They had failed to learn the grim lessons taught, right here in Newark and Essex, by the failure of the citizen soldiery to properly co-operate with the Continental army; they seemed to remember only its brilliant achievements towards the close of the great struggle. Gradually, as the political parties began to take definite form, they organized companies of their own. Newark had its "Federal Blues," in the middle 1790's, and the "Republican Fusiliers" made their appearance about the same time.
CITIZEN SOLDIERS' UNIFORMS, 1793-1794.
At least two companies of Newark militia took part in a reception given General Washington at Elizabeth while he was on the way to New York for his first inauguration in 1789.
Militia, uniformed under State regulations, appear in 1793. Part of the regulations were laid down at the very close of Gov- ernor Paterson's last administration, and were elaborated by his successor, Governor Richard Howell, who led the New Jersey troops in the "Whiskey Insurrection." In June, 1793, Governor Howell issued the following: 1
"The commander-in-chief thinks proper to recommend to the general militia of this State, who may not go into complete uniform, if such there be, that the non-commissioned officers and privates of such regiments do procure neat white linen frocks, which will be cool in summer, and by the addition of a warm vest, will be comfortable in winter; a red yarn sash to gird the middle, with overalls"-to all intents and purposes our modern khaki- "tight around the small of the leg; half boots or half-spats, and round hats, with the feather recommended by the late Governor, must complete the whole uniform. It is said some regiments are proceeding to furnish themselves with the above dress, the expense of which will be very trifling."
The above was quite generally adopted, but there were in every town of any size whatever, one or more uniformed companies, and those of the cavalry and infantry are given in some detail herewith:
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CAVALRY.
Black leather caps with bearskin over the crown; straw- colored silk sash tied 'round the same in a bow behind. A small, flat, yellow metal button and yellow loop, a black silk rose cockade, two and one-half inches in diameter. Green feathers, with red tops. Black velvet stocks, two and one-half to three inches wide.
Dark blue coats, buff facings and linings, and plain flat yellow metal buttons, the skirts of the coat to fall seven inches below the hip bone; the commissioned officers to wear on each shoulder a gold epaulette not to be wider than the strap, which is to be two inches in width.
Waistcoats to be of buff cloth, without lace, single-breasted, no skirts or belts, and with a single row of small, plain flat yellow metal buttons in front.
Breeches to be of buff leather; six small plain flat yellow metal buttons on each knee and the knee band to tie with strings.
Boots with black tops, high enough to cover the knee band and to fasten to the buttons on the knee of the breeches.
Steel spurs, swords, to be slung over the right shoulder in a buff leather belt three inches wide, with buff leather sword knots about an inch wide; black cartouche boxes buckled around the waist with buff belts; Black holsters; dark blue saddle cloths with buff stripe an inch wide around the edge, and lined with yellow flannel; Black bridles and reins and dark blue front pieces; Valises, breast plates and cruppers and every necessary rein and strap to be of black leather.
LIGHT INFANTRY.
Hats are to be round, brim 31% inches wide, except the part on the left side, which is to be seven inches wide and turned up. Light blue feathers, with red tops for officers. Stocks the same as the cavalry.
Coats of dark blue, red facings and white trimmings, skirts to fall twelve inches below the hip bone.
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Waistcoats, overalls and half boots, the same as the grena- diers.
GRENADIERS.
Hats to be cocked, the side brim seven inches wide and the hind brim eight and one-half inches, with a small, flat, white metal button and white loop and loopings.
Stocks the same as the cavalry.
Coats to be of dark blue cloth with full red facings, and white linings; the skirts to fall two inches below the knee garter, and to be turned up with hooks and eyes, a red heart an inch in bigness to point to the hook and eye.
Waistcoats to be of white cloth and the same cut and fashioned as those of the cavalry.
Overalls to be of white linen or drilling, with a slit below the calf large enough for the heel to go through, and to sit tight in the thigh and leg.
Half boots to from six to six and one-half inches high, bound with red leather to turn over at the top one-fourth of an inch, and to be laced in front.
The commissioned officers to wear small swords with silver hilts; the non-commissioned officers to carry a musket with a bayonet of 18 inches, the bayonet to be slung over the right shoulder in a white leather belt three inches wide, and the car- touche box to be slung over the left shoulder in a belt of the same kind and size; the bayonets and cartouche boxes of the privates to be slung and carried in the like manner and kind of belt.
WEARING THE UNIFORMS TO CHURCHI.
The Federalists usually formed the most pretentious com- panies and were, of course, promptly accused of their "monarchical" leanings, aping the pomp and circumstance of kingdoms. The Republicans oftenest took up with the simple garb of the "frock- men" first described.
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In 1793, Wood's Gazette, published in Newark, and a Federalist organ, solemnly applauded the tendency of militiamen to wear their uniforms to church, to stimulate the military spirit, arouse patriotism, and (whimsically enough) to give the men a chance to get some benefit out of their expensive clothes. Here is the argument:
"It is with pleasure we remark the attention paid by the officers of the militia, and the citizen soldiers of the uniform companies, to the recommendations of their field officers to wear their regimentals on Sundays. Many are the advantages likely to ensue from a perseverance in the observance of this regula- tion. Our officers and soldiers will acquire greater ease by being constantly accustomed to the dress of a uniform, than when it is only occasionally worn.
"The military air of troops is perfectly mechanical, and arises from habit; the truth of this remark is obvious to everyone who is the least acquainted with armies. Unless, therefore, some expedient be adopted to familiarize the men with the garb of a soldier more than what arises from the general field days, by law established, there will always be a certain stiffness, and consequent awkwardness, which will occasion an appearance of inferiority, when compared with disciplined troops. Officers, especially, should use every means to acquire and keep up a military air. * *
"Another and important benefit is likely to arise from adopt- ing regimentals as a Sunday dress. Great objections and real inconveniences have been experienced through the United States in raising uniform companies, by reason of the expense of regimentals, which in general cost more than plain clothes, and being but occa- sionally used, become a real tax on the citizen.
"Now, if regimentals are adopted as a dress-suit, this great objection will be obviated, and not only uniform infantry, grena- dier, horse and artillery companies may be formed, but whole battalions may be gradually introduced completely and uniformly equipped.
"The advantage therefore of persevering in wearing the regi- mentals on all public occasions must be too obvious not to be encouraged. Our fellow citizens will soon pride themselves in appearing in the dress of Freemen, and the fair daughters of America will smile benignantly on the man who has not only a hand to provide for her support, but an arm to offer for her protection."
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All this was promptly frowned upon by the Republicans, and one of them wrote to the editor denouncing the "clangor of arms" in church. He objected emphatically to "making the temple set apart for the humble worship of God, a theatre for the exhibition of military show * * an ostentatious arrangement bordering upon Asiatic pride and voluptuousness."
MUSTER AND TRAINING DAYS.
It will surprise many to know that in 1794 and for a long time thereafter Essex County sustained a brigade of militia. Training days were held in the spring and fall, in May and October, usually. "Muster" day was a general holiday and a sort of festival. The citizen soldiery assembled on some large open stretch of ground, reasonably accessible from all sections of the country, which at that time included Paterson and a number of other small places now outside Essex's boundaries. Tuscan Hill, which was on the north side of what is now Springfield avenue, between Irvington and Hilton and east of Maplewood, was a favorite drill ground. Booths and stalls lined the field after the manner of a country fair. The people flocked from all the country 'round and the militia came from every direction, often being brought to the field in wagons-the modern idea of "hiking" as a part of the train- ing of a militiaman being at that time unthought of. There was any amount of drilling in small and large bodies, always a good deal of musketry firing with blank cartridges and cannonading of the same noisy but harmless order, and the late afternoon and evening were given over to general merrymaking, with dinners at the tavern and the drinking of strong waters. There was little of practical value in this so-called "training," but it satisfied the popular idea of military preparedness, strange as it may seem.
MANEUVERS OF THE ESSEX BRIGADE.
Here is an account of one training day, which took place at Tuscan Hill in mid-October, 1794, published in Wood's Gazette:
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"The Essex Brigade of Militia, commanded by Brigadier General [John N.] Cumming, consisting of the regiments of Colonels Crane, Hedden, Condit and Swain, and the Paterson battalion commanded by Major Blachly, paraded on Monday last, near Tuscan Hall. There were under arms about 1,800 men (the greatest part of the artillery and horse and a considerable detach- ment of footmen from this Brigade, have marched against the Western Insurgents), a detachment of Capt. Parkhurst's company of artillery, and about 40 horse from the different troops of horse under the command of Lieutenant Day. The Brigade made a very military appearance. They formed and deployed columns, but little inferior to the best disciplined regulars. The firing of platoons and regiments were generally well performed. Major Harrison's battalion of Colonel Condit's regiment, Major Dodd of Hedden's regiment, and Major Shute of Crane's regiment, deserve particular credit. There were about fifteen very handsome uniformed com- panies, and it was very evident from their performance that they possessed much military spirit."
"On Monday last," announced the Gazette on May 20, 1795, "the militia throughout the State was trained by companies, the several companies in this town, notwithstanding the unfavorable weather, appeared on parade and exercised with considerable spirit. After the duties of the parade were over, the officers and a number of the privates dined at Gifford's and spent the day with that harmony and glee which ought to characterize the citizen soldier."
In 1794 Newark had uniformed companies for each arm of the service, artillery, grenadiers, infantry and cavalry.
In 1788, on May 1, "The town battalion assembled on the parade ground," Military Park, "commanded by Major Beach, and performed various evolutions with commendable exactness and propriety." In 1799 there appears a company in a measure equiva- dent to the G. A. R. of this day. It was known as the "Silver Grays" and was made up of veterans of the War for Independence.
The May "training days" were, as a rule, for the exercise of the several companies of militia in their own towns and villages, and were practically for the purpose of drilling in preparation of Independence day, which Newark has celebrated since 1788, and probably longer, although the writer has been unable to find any record of earlier celebrations.
CHAPTER XXI. INDEPENDENCE DAY IN NEWARK, 1788-1836- DISTINGUISHED VISITORS OF THAT PERIOD.
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CHAPTER XXII.
INDEPENDENCE DAY IN NEWARK, 1788-1836-DISTINGUISHED VISITORS OF THAT PERIOD.
T HERE is something inspiring about Newark's Independence Day lineage, if one may be permitted to call it that. This community began its observance of the day when by far the greater part of the United States was a wilderness; when the possi- bilities of the Great West were undreamt of; when those who celebrated, all but the small children, were uplifted by the realiza- tion of their dearest dreams nursed during days of black despair and hours of grim trial. It had cost them much, both men and women, to be able to celebrate the day; that is, the Fourth was, for every one of them, their own making, in part. No wonder the little village of twelve hundred or so inhabitants rose at daybreak as one man, on the mornings of the Fourth in the last decade or so of the eighteenth century, and set the village a-quiver with the clanging of their two church bells (on the First Church and Trinity Episcopal), fired their Revolutionary cannon and flintlocks in noisy abandonment, and later in the day marched in as imposing a procession as was possible, lighting the skies at night with their bonfires and cheering themselves hoarse at one of the village inns until late into the night, at the Independence Day dinner, as the several toasts were called off and drunk down.
AN APPEAL TO CIVIC PRIDE.
Few cities or towns in all this country (except Philadelphia) have nearer and closer claims upon them to observe its natal day with proper spirit and dignity than our own Newark. There are few ways to impress upon Newarkers the need for deeper, more comprehensive and more useful civic pride, than by a brief re- hearsal of a few of the early celebrations of the great festival. A history of these celebrations is in a sense a history of Newark, for the first half century or so of its life after the War for Independence.
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In 1788 the day began with the firing of twelve cannon-shot, one for each year of independence. At 8 in the morning there began what was no doubt the greatest parade ever held in the village up to that time. It was largely an industrial parade, headed by two or three companies of local militia, a troop of horse, frock men, artillery, grenadiers, light infantry, all called the "Independ- ence Corps."
An account in detail of this celebration was given in the New Jersey Journal, in its issue of July 9, 1788. It is in part as follows:
"At sunrise the day was announced by a salute of twelve cannon, being the years of our independence, and the bells of the different churches rang till 8 o'clock, when the independent corps, consisting of the Horse, Artillery, three companies of Frock Men, Grenadiers and Infantry, commanded by Capt. Cumming, were paraded and reviewed; after the review they proceeded to the Presbyterian church," then on the west side of Broad street, "ac- companied by the inhabitants of the place, where the Rev. Dr. Mac- whorter delivered an elegant oration to a crowded audience. From the church, the procession being formed, they proceeded through the principal streets of the town, forming a line three-quarters of a mile; at one o'clock they reached the church green," the Bran- ford Place of to-day, "when the artillery fired a salute of ten cannon in honor of the ten Federal States; the Battalion fired the Feu- de-Joy, which was returned by the inhabitants with three cheers.
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