USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Dover > Dover dates, 1722-1922 : a bicentennial history of Dover, New Jersey , published in connection with Dover's two hundredth anniversary celebration under the direction of the Dover fire department, August 9, 10, 11, 1922 > Part 17
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God of the nations, we pray not alone
For the young land that our forefathers knew ; Far may Thy kingdom of mercy be known,
Wide as the sweep of Thy heaven's own blue!
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MILITARY
The Colonial and early wars of our country have been fully recorded in other books, accessible in our Public Library, such as Stryker's "Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War," and Munsell's History of Morris County (1882). Rev. Joseph F. Tuttie, D.D., of Rockaway, gathered up the Morris County traditions and local legends of the French and Indian War and the Revolution. Upon his work, chiefly, are based the "Ballads of New Jersey in the Revolution," which narrate many of these stories of Morris County. In "Dover Dates" we are giving material not published before.
Alonzo B. Searing tells how, as a boy, he used to walk from his home in Millbrook to attend the military parades held then in Succa- sunna on patriotic holidays. There he would hear the orators of the day and see three veterans of the War of 1812 ride in the procession, which was lead by a venerable veteran carrying on a pole a Liberty Cap of red, white and blue.
The three veterans of 1812 were Byram Pruden, James Ford, and John D. Sickles, father of our veteran fireman, Wm. W. Sickles-all of Dover.
General Winfield Scott, of the Mexican War, resided in Elizabeth, N. J., and there the author of "Dover Dates" has seen him ride out on horseback or in a carriage drawn by a handsome pair of grays. My grandfather was his family physician and I have dazzling recollections of a brilliant "party" at the old mansion, which I attended when a child. But in time the old mansion stood empty and deserted. We boys used to climb up on the back porch roof and enter the second story windows, roaming about the vacuous rooms, almost fearing to see the old General appear before us. We raised terrific warwhoops to keep up our courage. But the echoes died away in desolation. Sic transit gloria mundi.
His mansion is now well preserved as one of the historic land- marks of Elizabeth.
THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
July 19, 1881, the Dover veterans of the Civil War instituted the Major Anderson Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, naming it in honor of the loyal commander of Fort Sumter. In a few years the name was changed to "James McDavit Post," in honor of James Mc- Davit of Dover, who was killed, at Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863, while binding up the wounds of his commander, Captain Thomas J. Halsey.
There were twenty-eight charter members of the Post, of whom three now survive-George H. Wolfe, James Brannin, and A. B. Sear- ing. The Post now numbers sixteen members, who meet in March, June, September, and December, on the second Friday of the month, having the following officers : E. G. Rockwell, Commander; A. B. Sear- ing, Adjutant; and John Burrell, Quartermaster.
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Alonzo B. Searing has long been the recognized historian of Dover's part in the Civil War of the sixties. Many will remember his patriotic addresses to our schools on Memorial Day occasions and the unaffected eloquence with which he has told of Dover's share in preserving the Union. "The History of the Eleventh New Jersey Regiment," by Sergeant Thomas D. Marbaker, of Trenton, formerly a resident of Dover, contains material furnished by Mr. Searing, relating to men of Dover who served in that regiment.
It has long been the wish of Mr. Searing's heart that a fitting monu- ment should be erected by Dover and Randolph Township to the soldiers of all wars from the Revolution to the present, and this wish was expressed by him and others on our last Memorial Day, when the statue for the soldiers of our late war was unveiled in Hurd Park.
An extract from a poem by our fellow townsman, Uzal Newton Crane, well expresses the sentiments that have long been cherished by our Memorial Day Exercises in honor of the Grand Army of the Republic.
OUR FALLEN HEROES
Cover their dust with the brightest flowers blooming, Affection so deep the cold world has ne'er known; 'Twill live in some hearts till Time, all-consuming, Effaces all epitaphs graven in stone.
Children unborn shall yet rise to succeed us, And heap up new honors where sleep the brave slain, Who saw but decay where disunion would lead us, But Liberty's tomb when our land lay in twain.
Deck ye their dust! the dire conflict is over, The warriors are mute to the madness of war ;
Peace, like a halo, around them doth hover,
She beams in our skies as a bright polar star.
Strewn be their beds with floral profusion, From Green Mountains down to the stormy Gulf-side, They gave not their lives to giddy delusion, Nor mighty ambition, as monarchs have died.
Theirs was the task which the right ever urges, Incumbent on all loyal men to uphold- Strewn be their graves from Atlantic's long surges To far California's famed flowers and gold !
Soft be the dirge o'er the soldiers' low pillows,
Bright the banners that wave while the blossoms ye strew ; Firm as the rocks by the storm-beaten billows
May the North and the South stand united and true ! :
May, 1878.
THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, 1898
From a tattered copy of "The Morris Journal," of May 5, 1898, we glean a few facts about Dover in the Spanish-American War. This information is eked out by a little pamphlet, "Roster and Addresses of the Second New Jersey Volunteer Infantry in the Spanish-American War, 1898," printed at Paterson, N. J.
The Dover men belonged to Company M, having the following officers : Captain, Edward L. Petty; First Lieutenant, John W. Roff; Second Lieutenant, Ernest W. Goodell; First Sergeant, Adelbert P. McDavit; Quartermaster Sergeant, Warren Surnburger; Sergeants, Charles F. Roderer, Arthur D. Kelly, Ernest C. Dalzell, John Koerferl. With the Dover men were a few men from Morristown and other places, making eighty-five privates and twenty-five others-officers, corporals, artificer, wagoner, and musicians.
The Regiment Adjutant was Captain John T. Hilton of Paterson, N. J. The Colonel of the regiment was Edwin W. Hine of Orange, N. J. A "Brief History" included in the Roster informs us that this regiment was organized in Passaic, Bergen, Essex, and Morris Counties, with headquarters at Paterson. It arrived at Sea Girt, May 2, 1898, and was mustered into the United States service May 13, 14, and 15, 1898. Left Sea Girt, June 1, 1898, and arrived at Camp Cuba Libre, Jackson- ville, Fla., June 3, 1898. Was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, Seventh Army Corps, commanded by Major General Fitzhugh Lee. Remained at Camp Cuba Libre until September 2, 1898.
Owing to the large number sick with typhoid fever the regiment left Florida, September 20. 1898. and arrived at Sea Girt, September 22, as per orders from the War Department, to be mustered out. The regi- ment was finally mustered out November 17, 1808.
On Monday, May second. Company M left Dover for Sea Girt. The streets were early astir with people. Flags were flying. Photog- raphers and amateurs were taking pictures. At the armory, soon after eight o'clock, the men fell into line and the roll was called. Chaplain McCormick, in behalf of William S. Collard, presented a beautiful American flag. Three cheers were given for the flag, three for Company M, three for Captain Petty, three for the officers. Captain Petty then called on Dr. David Spencer for a parting word to the Company. He based his remarks on the name "Company M," of which he made an acrostic.
C is for Country, the whole country.
O is for Obedience.
M is for Mettle.
P is for Patriotism.
A is for American, the American continent, which takes in the United States and Cuba, too, for right and humanity.
N Notable. You are a notable Company.
Y Yankee, which used to stand for excellence, as "A Yankee good soldier."
M stands for Manhood. You comprise the manhood of Dover.
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The Armory was a large building, once used as a skating rink, occupying the ground where Birch & Basset's garage and the "Index" office now are, on Essex street. Here Company M had been accustomed to meet and drill before the war was thought of.
The line of march from the armory was led by the Enterprise Band, followed by Chief of Police Hagan and assistant McElroy. McDavitt Post G. A. R. was the escort of honor. It was a fine sight to see the veterans of '61 with their magnificent Post flag, leading off the "boys of '98." Then followed the Dover Council No. 6, O. U. A. M., and a large concourse of citizens with Mayor Pierson in the front line. The route taken was out Essex to Blackwell, up Blackwell to Warren, up Warren to the depot.
Farewells were soon spoken. The 9:45 train was taken. Attached to it were two cars of the Pennsylvania Railroad on which Company M were to go through to Sea Girt. The train was in charge of Conductor James McKay, engineer Michael Dunn, fireman Michacl Duy, with Fred Stager, Al Weaver and Ed Streeter as members of the crew. With the American flag in front and the American and Cuban flags in the rear the train moved out amid tears and cheers, the music of the band and the waving of flags, hats, and handkerchiefs.
In connection with the departure of Company M the incident of the peanut stand, recalled by many, caused great excitement. A for- eigner who kept a peanut stand on Warren street by the Baker Building, when he saw the men of Company M marching in the street, said that he hoped they would never live to return from the war. This was afterwards acknowledged by the man. Mr. W. H. Baker ordered him to remove his goods from the cellar of the Baker Building. Mayor Ferdinand Wolfe ordered him to remove his stand from the street. Eventually some of the young men and boys in town battered down his stand and burned it as Company M was marching by to the railroad station. The offender escaped.
While the Dover men saw no active service in the war of 1898, they received drill and experience of camp life. This military drill and expe- rience came into play later in a way never anticipated at the time of the Cuban war. Lieut. Roff of Company M organized a company of boys and young men, entitled The Hoagland Guards, whom he drilled in the rooms of the Hoagland Memorial Church. Many of those who received this instruction became officers in the war of 1917, and took part either in the operations of the regular army or in drilling our Home Defense companies, as shown in their history. Others, not in the Hoagland Guards, but having been drilled in 1898, helped drill the men of 1917. Thomas J. Conlan, David W. Heiman, and A. P. McDavitt helped organize our first Home Defense League, and Obadiah S. Parker, Jr. served as Second Lieutenant of the Militia Reserves throughout the war of 1917-19.
The columns of "The Morris Journal" contain poems expressing the sentiment of the time. We quote the following stanzas from a poem by Peter Egbert Galligan of Boonton:
F 01 ba N
e h sa C
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an Je
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THE MARCH OF THE FREE
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From the northland and the southland, From the east and from the west,
From the noble Alleghanies,
To the Rockies' snow-capped crest.
From the glowing hills of vintage, From beside the sunny sea, We are marching on to Cuba 'Neath the flag of liberty.
We are marching forward ever With our standard to the air,
And its crimsoned bars of glory With the stars float freely there.
And the winds that rule the forest, With the winds that rule the sea, Tell the story of our mission- "We are come to make man free."
The men of Company M did not get to the front. Their worst enemies were the typhoid fly, rations unfit to eat, ignorance, incompetence and neglect as shown in camp management. Company M had a good officer in Captain Petty, who did his best for his men. Lieutenant John W. Roff proved himself a competent and faithful officer, always study- ing to improve and caring for his men. Quartermaster Warren Surn- burger did all he could to make the best of things and when the Gov- ernment sent on 100 pound boxes of baking soda to feed the hungry men, he succeeded in trading it off at the corner grocery for something more satisfying. This is only one instance of the continual battle for food. Camp sanitation was at its worst.
Governor Foster W. Voorhees saw that our men received full equipment, even to overcoats, before they reached the balmy climate of Florida. These blue overcoats with bright brass buttons were quite ornamental when strapped outside of the knapsacks, and carried on the back. Some regiments were not nearly as well equipped as the Second New Jersey. The Southerners were amazed at the toggery of Company M, including those overcoats. "Where be you uns all from?" they said. Answer : "From New Jersey." Reply : "What State is New Jersey in?"
When the men were mustered out and reached home they looked like skeletons.
The experiences of this war led to some needed reforms in the military service. The lessons of the Russo-Japanese War and the Boer War were also observed, leading to other changes in tactics, equipment, and sanitation. Even then, our peaceful pre-occupations and purposes left us almost defenceless at the outbreak of hostilities in Europe in 1914.
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Quartermaster Warren Surnburger did his utmost to provide for and care for his men, by securing suitable food and accommodations. On their first trip to Florida they suffered greatly for want of eatable rations. You should hear Sergeant Surnburger give his personal reminiscences of their experience. I have tried to get him to write them out for this book. Like all Dover people he is "very busy." What he can tell in an hour would make a long story. Among other things he tells. how grateful the men were for certain money raised by the people of Dover for their benefit, which helped them to reach home alive after long sickness. The people of Morristown sent down a box filled with all sorts of articles which added greatly to the comfort of the men while in camp.
But the other side of the story-the lack of sanitation, the mis- management, the downright dishonesty encountered in many ways- was no credit to our country.
THE BOYS' BRIGADE Bv H. Miller Roff
J. Wesley Roff was First Lieutenant of Company M, the Second Regiment of the New Jersey Volunteers and served in the Spanish- American War in 1898, enlisting May 2, discharged November 17, 1898. Believing in the need of a military company in Dover, having seen the necessity of trained soldiers during his soldier life in the United States Army, upon his return he made plans for an organization of such a character in Dover.
Lieutenant Roff was janitor of the Memorial Presbyterian Church, in which church the military company was formed. He was also State Corresponding Secretary of the Y. M. C. A. A few boys whom Mr. Roff knew at the time were taken and on October 13, 1899, a company was formed with eleven members, being boys whose ages ranged from twelve to fourteen years. A boy who was big for his age would be permitted to join under the age of twelve, but the minimum for the average built boy was that age, accepting youth of any church denomina- tion or nationality, despite the fact that all drills and entertainments. were held under the roof of the Presbyterian Church. The trustees of the church gave the boys the use of the lecture room in the church and built gun racks for them.
The boys' first guns were made of wood. Better guns and regula- tion rifles were obtained later. The organization was named the "Boys" Brigade." The membership grew to nearly two hundred members, maintaining the policy of allowing any boy to join with the consent of his parents. The reason why the church took such an interest in this work was that a number of attempts had been made to form an unde- nominational Men's Club. Although such plans failed, the Boys' Brigade carried out this purpose in a different way.
The organization grew to such numbers that two companies were formed, known as Company A and Company B. Later a third company
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had to be formed, known as Company C. Later on, as the boys in Company A were becoming men, the older ones formed an artillery company known as Battery A, all of the companies being under command of Lieutenant Roff.
The honorary title of "Colonel" was bestowed upon Mr. Roff by the members in the late years of the organization. Meanwhile, because the boys were well on into manhood and because the organization was so closely associated with the church, the name of the Boys' Brigade was changed to "The Hoagland Guards," which was taken from Hudson Hoagland, the donor of the church, who had done so much for the boys during his lifetime.
When organized but a year the Hoagland Guards went into camp and continued to do so each year until they disbanded in 1911. For four years they encamped at Budd Lake and for a few years they went to Lake Hopatcong; but in the later years Budd Lake was chosen as the most suitable place. They named their camp "Camp Hoagland." It attracted much attention among summer visitors, receiving favorable comment. Because of their youthfulness full military discipline was not adhered to.
From the beginning of the organization Annual Inspections were held, showing the progress made. All kinds of drilling, games, and exhibitions were featured in these annual events. An Annual Bazaar, held in the rear of the church, was another event always looked forward to by the boys.
The organization of two basketball teams was a big addition to the athletic activities, a gymnasium having been provided for in the church when it was built. Later on, the old church, then known as Library Hall, was used for drilling and athletic work. They also had a baseball team. Both the basketball and baseball teams were very successful in their exhibitions, having won many laurels, accepting in good nature also a number of defeats.
As the boys proceeded in their work, those best fitted were advanced in rank to be corporals, sergeants, lieutenants, and so on until some were made honorary majors.
The organization was practically self-supporting, but so popular that citizens suggested regular subscriptions. Through their own efforts they were fully equipped and, after they were disbanded, these boys left with such qualifications for military life that some of them, in the late World War, were immediately promoted to be commissioned and non- commissioned officers. They gained additional training in the Dover Guards and Home Defense League, becoming officers in both of these organizations. The following is a list of men so promoted from time to time :
Dr. A. A. L. Baker Coleridge H. Benedict, Jr. Raymond Cox George R. Flartey Charles A. Gillen Sidney M. Gillen
Benjamin Hosking Jeffrey Hosking Orray Ayres Martin Schimmel Horace Woodhull
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Thomas Swayze James Armitage William Rule
Edgar Parker
Fred H. Roff Roy H. Parcell
H. Miller Roff Harold Richards Carl Searing Raymond Stringer Wm. Turner
THE DOVER GUARD By Edward W. Larsen
On February 7th, 1916, thirteen men met at The Baker Theater Annex for the purpose of forming a local military company. Rev. T. J. Winslade presided at the meeting, at which time plans were discussed and such enthusiasm was manifested that officers were elected and committees appointed to proceed with the organization.
The following officers were nominated and elected: Captain, H. J. Hasselbauer ; First Lieuetenant, Wm. J. Robertson ; Second Lieuten- ant, R. E. Stringer ; Chaplain, T. J. Winslade ; Adjutant, H. J. Sutton.
The committee appointed to secure quarters were successful in obtaining Roth's Hall at the corner of Blackwell and Essex streets for drill and meeting purposes.
At the second meeting held a week later, there were about fifty young men who signified their intention of joining the company and the first drill was conducted that night. It was at a business meeting held after this first drill that the name "The Dover Guard" was adopted.
Rifles were borrowed from the Hoagland Memorial Church, uni- forms were shortly secured, each member paying for his own, and the work of drilling was begun in earnest.
The organization grew with leaps and bounds and in a short while it was decided to split the company and form a battalion. The election of officers for the battalion resulted as follows :
Major, H. J. Hasselbauer ; Adjutant, H. J. Sutton ; Chaplain, T. J. Winslade; Captain Co. A., Wm. J. Robertson; First Lieutenant, E. W. Larsen; Second Lieutenant, R. E. Stringer; Captain Co. B., A. L. L. Baker; First Lieutenant, Edgar Parker.
The plans of The Dover Guard having worked out so well, neigh- boring towns were asked to form companies and invited to join with ours in forming a regiment. At a meeting held in Hotel Dover, a regi- ment was formed and was to be known as The New Jersey Civic Reserve. Major Hasselbauer was elevated to the colonelship of the regiment. This necessitated an election for Major in The Dover Guard, to which position Captain Robertson was promoted. E. W. Larsen was advanced to the captaincy of Company A, and R. E. Stringer to First Lieutenant. The Life of The N. J. Civic Reserve was not long, however; but The Dover Guard continued to flourish under the able leadership of Major Robertson.
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Shortly after the formation of The Dover Guard, it became affili- ated with The National Rifle Association, through which five Krag rifles and 120 rounds of ammunition per man were secured. A regulation rifle range was constructed on Captain Baker's property at Millbrook. Once each week the members of the companies would participate in rifle practice and, to stimulate interest in shooting, contests were held between the two companies.
At the time of the entrance of the United States into the war, the Dover Guard at the request of Mayor Whitham, undertook the duty of guarding the town's water works. It was here that the young men of the Dover Guard received much of the training which benefited them so much, when later they entered the national service. Each night a squad of men was detailed to each of the water plants and their tour of guard duty was carried out as near to that prescribed by the War Department as it was possible to do.
Mayor Whitham, appreciating the work of these young men, called a meeting of the citizens of Dover, who subscribed enough money to equip the company with Krag rifles and woolen uniforms. The first appearance of the Dover Guard in their new uniforms and rifles was on the Fourth of July and received much applause and commendation for their splendid military behaviour.
The Dover Guard was very prominent in all the Liberty Loan and Red Cross drives and there never was a detachment of Dover men to leave for Camp Dix, but what the Dover Guard was on hand to escort them to the depot.
Scores of young men received their first military training in the Dover Guard, who upon their arrival at the training camps were imme- diately taken out of the rooky squads and made corporals and in some cases sergeants.
Some time before Captain Baker was commissioned in the Regular Army his infantry company in the Guard was made into a Battery. Possession was gotten of a field piece belonging to the State and in custody of Ex-assemblyman J. J. Vreeland.
Major Robertson remained in command of the Dover Guard until the formation of Company D, N. J. State Militia. All the officers entered the services of the State, except Captain Larsen, who remained with the few who did not or could not join the Militia.
A reorganization of the Guard was effected and the work of pre- liminary training was again started and became so efficient that it was looked upon as a sort of training school for the State and Government forces. Captain Larsen was very ably assisted in the later work of the Dover Guard by First Lieutenant Floyd Hann and Second Lieutenant Lloyd Reeves, together with a splendid corps of noncommissioned offi- cers. When its ranks were depleted by enlistments to the militia and the army the Dover Guard was disbanded and its equipment turned over to the town officials.
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DOVER'S HOME DEFENSE LEAGUE
When the strained relations between the United States and the Central Powers were gradually reaching the breaking point early in. March, 1917, a group of patriotic citizens met with the Mayor and Board of Aldermen to discuss the subject of a Home Defense League. Following several informal meetings it was decided to arrange a mass meeting for April 2, 1917, in the Northside School auditorium. More than five hundred citizens attended. Mayor Richard W. Whitham was elected president; Robert Richards, vice-president; George R. Flartey, secretary; and Charles S. Clark, treasurer.
On the date when war was declared between the United States and Germany, April 6, 1917, nearly eight hundred persons crowded into Elite Hall, where stirring addresses were made, committees appointed and subscriptions totaling $4,622.43 offered toward a fund to properly arm and equip the members of the military companies to be formed for the defense of the town in case of emergency. The by-laws of the organization stated the subject as follows: "The object. shall be the preservation of life and property of the citizens of the town, to assist the Mayor and Board of Aldermen in promoting peace. and harmony, and for such other legitimate and patriotic purposes as may develop from time to time, excepting industrial disputes."
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