History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2, Part 7

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 994

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"'FELLOW-CITIZENS :- We are assenibled on a battle-field of the American Revolution. Here, one hundred years ago, our forefathers struck a blow for liberty. Near the spot where we now stand, on that quiet Sabbath morning in June, the first gun of the battle of Monmouth was fired and the first blood shed. Here the Continental troops emerged from tbe woods, and yonder [pointing to an eminence wliere the other meeting was in progress] the Queen's Ran- gers received the first volley, fied through the village and joined the main army of the British, then slowly retiring over the plain beyond. The American ad- vance, under Lee, quickly crossed the ravine which forms the eastern boundary of this farm, descended into the plain and engaged the British rear.

On this beautiful and appropriate site the generous gift of a public-spirited lady, whose paternal as well as maternal ancestors were in the battle, in the presence of this vast multitude, with most solemn and fitting ceremonies, we have laid the corner-stone of a monu- ment. The work is auspiciously begun and the monument will be built. The honor of the county of Monmouth is pledged to its completion. When all here assembled shall have passed from earth the granite shaft to rise on this spot will still point . towards heaven, and in after centuries will speak to the generations who follow us of the heroic deeds and virtues of those noble men who, on these fields one hundred years ago, achieved a victory which helped to make our country free.'

"A stand one hundred yards or more away was ereeted in what is termed Throckmorton's Field, which was gaily decorated, and upon which was sta- tioned a band of music. Here ex-Governor William A. Newell presided, assisted by the following officers : Vice-Presidents, Jolin S. Applegate, Dr. S. H. Hunt, Collen B. Miers, O. C. Herbert, Levi G. Irwin, Thomas S. Field, D. R. Conover, David Baird ; Secreta- ries, J. Clarence Conover, Hon. John J. Wheeler. After a prayer by Rev. Thomas H. Cullen, and an eloquent address by Governor Newell, a fine selec- tion of music was rendered by the band, and Colonel Henry B. Carrington, United States army, delivered a historical sketch of the battle of Monmouth.

" At the conclusion of the musical and literary exercises the troops were re-formed and made a short

- parade, passing the residence of ex-Governor Parker,

where they were reviewed by Governor George B. Me- Clellan, who uncovered as every regiment came in view. This concluded the festivities of the day, which were brilliant and successful, and were credit- able in the highest degree to all concerned. Through- out the day the entire military and the guests of the occasion were furnished with a bounteous repast at Shinn's Hall, as many as nine hundred sitting down to the tables at one time.1 There was full and plenty, and none were permitted to leave dissatisfied. Such hospitality has rarely been equaled, and the ladies, of whom there were many, were unremitting in their attentions in waiting upon the men who had come to Freehold to help swell the throng, and to add to the interest of the great centennial celebration of the battle of Monmouth, and here before closing let me say that the ex-Governors of New Jersey nobly re- sponded to the invitation to grace the occasion by their presence, four-Price, Parker, Newell and Bedle-being prominent in all that was transpiring, and exhibiting quite as much enthusiasm as any of the good people of this, one of the original thirteen States."

The first meeting of the Monument Associa- tion after the centennial celebration, was on the 22d of February, 1879. The president stated the object of the meeting, and said, in addressing the association, " The honor of the county of Mon- mouth is now pledged to the completion of the monument, the corner stone of which we have laid." The treasurer, Mr. John B. Conover, reported the total receipts for monument fund, up to that time, to be as follows, viz. : Receipts from all sources, $3957.03; disbursements, in- eluding expense at celebration, $332.25; in treasury 22d of February, 1879, $3624.78.

This statement was certainly discouraging ; but the few stout hearts foremost in the under- taking were not appalled, but in strong faith re- doubled their efforts. Plans for monuments were sought, to cost from five to ten thousand dollars, and several plans were submitted .:

At the meeting of June 28, 1879, the receipts had increased over twelve hundred dollars. The Rev. Thaddeus Wilson, of Shrewsbury, ad- dressed the association at that meeting. The

! It was estimated that fully three thousand persons, in- cluding the soldiers, were provided for at the public tables. Every township in the county contributed double the quantity of provisions asked for. The arrangements, which were almost perfect, included even the furnishing of ice-water in profusion at many different points for the re- freshment of the military and visitors.

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

trustees and officers chosen were those who had previously been elected. The association was now in condition to receive the deed for the site. On the day the corner-stone was laid, Mr. Theodore W. Morris, son-in-law of Mrs. Schanck, had delivered to ex-Governor Parker, president of the association, an agreement signed by that lady, in which she agreed to give the deed to the association when five thousand dollars had been subscribed and paid in towards building the monument. The deed for the site, containing over three aeres, was signed and executed on the 28th day of June, 1879, by Mrs. Mary A. Schanek and her children. This was indeed a most generons gift of a valuable plat of ground. The site is pronounced by all who have seen it the very best that could have been obtained. The thanks of the association and of the people of Monmonth are due to Mrs. Schanck and her children, and especially to Mr. Morris, through whose influence chiefly this noble gift was made.

The fund continued to increase gradually but slowly. On July 10, 1880, the treasurer re- ported the amount received and in hand, secured by bond and mortgage and United States bonds, to be. nearly seven thousand dollars, It now became apparent that the subscriptions would soon reach ten thousand dollars. Ex-Governor Parker had obtained forty one-hundred-dollar subscriptions, besides many of fifty dollars, and nearly one thousand five hundred dollars was paid through Major James S. Yard, of the Mon- mouth Democrat, and about six hundred dollars came through collections of James T. Burtis, Esq.

When it became probable that the ten thou- sand dollars of subscriptions aimed at would be obtained, the active promoters of the project began to think that a ten thousand dollar mon- ument would not be of sufficient dimensions to worthily commemorate a battle so important to the State and nation as that of Monmouth ; but how to add to the fund was a most difficult problem.

At a meeting held on the 21st of February, 1880, Governor Parker advocated an application to the Legislature of New Jersey for an appro- priation of ten thousand dollars to duplicate the |

amount of subscriptions. It must be confessed that success in that direction then seemed doubt- ful, but the meeting

" Resolved, That the executive committee of this Association be authorized to take such measures as to them may seem advisable to obtain from the State of New Jersey, at the present session of Legislature, pecuniary aid toward the erection of the monument to commemorate the battle of Monmouth, and that ap- plication for that purpose may be made to the Legis- lature in the name of the Association."

Application was made to the Legislature dur- ing the session of 1881, in conformity with the resohition above quoted, and with what success appears by a report made at a meeting of the association, held on the 2d day of April, 1881, by ex-Governor Parker. He reported, amid applause, that the Legislature had passed an aet giving ten thousand dollars towards building the monument, and also stated that Senator Mc- Pherson told him he " thought the Congress of the United States would make an appropriation of ten thousand or twenty thousand dollars for the same purpose ; " so that the prospect was good for over forty thousand dollars to build the monument, as a considerable amount would still be realized from private subscriptions.

It must not be supposed that the appropria- tion from the State was obtained without effort. It took weeks of hard work to accomplish it. The president of the association and others saw every member and explained to each every reason for the appropriation. It was fortunate that there were in the Legislature a few warm friends from the first. The Hon. George C. Beekman, a patriotic gentleman and an enthu- siastic student of American history, at that time represented Monmouth County in the Senate, and gave all his energies to secure the passage of the bill, which was also warmly and earnestly advocated by the Ilon, Holmes W. Murphy, of Frechold, a popular gentleman with his asso- ciates in the House of Assembly. The president of the Senate, Hon. Mr. Hobart, of Passaic County, was born in Monmouth. Senator Sewell, of Caniden, and Taylor, of Mercer, were also warm advocates of the measure. Senator Beekman was selected to introduce the bill, which had been carefully prepared by ex-Governor Parker.

487

THE TOWN OF FREEHOLD.

The day before the vote was taken in the Senate it was somewhat uneertain how it would result. All the Senators thought the object a worthy one, but some said it was introdueing a precedent for appropriations, and they thought their eonstitnents would blame them for voting the money. The reply was that all the people of the State were, or should be, interested as well as those residing in Monmouth, and the precedent involving the raising of ten thousand dollars by those interested in another battle-ground before a bill could be passed, and all the people of Monmouth asked of the rest of the State was to duplicate their subscription.

On the night before the bill was to come up in the Senate, Mr. Charles P. Smith, of Tren- ton (sinee deceased), gave a reception in honor of the newly-elected Governor Ludlow, and the newly-elected United States Senator, Sewell. To this reception the Senators and members of Assemby, as well as the judges of the Supreme Court, were invited. Ex-Governor Parker was present. It so happened that Mr. Smith had a fine painting representing Molly Pitcher at the battle of Monmouth. Of course, the ex-Governor took pains to eall the attention of the legislators to that painting, and dilated considerably on the heroism of the brave woman in the battle. On the next day the vote was taken, and out of twenty Senators present, nineteen voted for the bill. On the same day the bill passed the House of Assembly, under suspension of the rules, by a two-thirds vote.

On the 2d of April, 1881, resolutions were passed in conformity with the law authorizing a deed to be made to the State for Monument Park on or before the first Monday of May, 1881, and to hand over and transfer also to the commissioner for the State eight thousand dol- lars in money and securities. It will be seen that the whole ten thousand dollars which had been subseribed was not to be handed over to the commissioner, but that two thousand dollars was reserved to aid in putting the park in order ; but the commissioner did actually receive as much as ten thousand dollars from the Mon- ment Association in addition to the land, for the accumulated interest and the subsequent sub- scriptions turned over amounted to some two

thousand dollars in addition to the eight thou- sand dollars.

By the aet of March 14, 1881, appropriating ten thousand dollars for the ereetion of the monument, the work was placed under the charge of a commission instrueted to seleet a design, contract for, ereet and finish a monu- ment in the park at Freehold, where the battle commeneed, June 28, 1778. Under this aet the Monument Association selected five trustees -Mr. Theodore W. Morris, Major James S. Yard, Mr. James T. Burtis, Mr. Hal Allaire and Mr. John B. Conover-to represent them in the newly-ereated State Commission. The State officials to represent the State on this eommis- sion were the president of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Edward J. Anderson, comptroller of the treas- ury, General Lewis Perrine, quartermaster-gen- eral, and General William S. Stryker, adjutant- general. On April 9, 1881, the commission was organized by eleeting Hon. Garret A. Hobart, president of the Senate, to be president of the commission ; Hon. Harrison Van Duyne, Speaker of the House of Assembly, and Mr. Theodore W. Morris, vice-presidents; Colonel Edwin F. Applegate, secretary, and Mr. John B. Conover, treasurer. The commission, at this meeting, ordered a deed to be executed to the State of New Jersey for Monument Park. It was stated that ex-Governor Parker, having been appointed a justice of the Supreme Conrt of the State, was unwilling to accept eleetion as a member of the commission, which was a body under the State law, because it seemed to be against the spirit of a statute of New Jersey which forbids a judge of the Supreme Court holding another office. It was, therefore, re- solved, on motion of E. J. Anderson, "that Hon. Joel Parker be requested to be present at all future meetings of the commission, to assist by his counsel and advice." And Judge Parker was appointed to go to Washington, and, if pos- sible, proeure an appropriation from Congress.

On the 6th of December, 1881, Senator McPherson introduced in the Senate of the United States "A bill in regard to a monu- mental column to commemorate the battle of Monmonth," -- appropriating twenty thousand

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

dollars towards the erection of the column,- which bill was duly passed.

It was fortunate that John R. McPherson and William J. Sewell were in the United States Senate when the measure was pending. They were on opposite sides in politics, and as each took a warm 'interest in the success of the measure, a powerful influence was brought to bear on both sides of the chamber in favor of the bill. Senator Sewell was a member of the Military Committee, to which the bill was re- ferred. He had a day appointed by the full committee for a liearing on the bill, and tele- graphed to Judge Parker notifying him of the time. This was quite unusual, as such matters are usually referred to a sub-committee. It was through Senator Sewell's influence that this was done. Judge Parker went to Washington be- fore the committee, and at their request addressed them for about an hour ; the result was that the bill was unanimously reported. The committee was composed of the following Senators, all of whom were present,-Logan (chairman), Sewell, Wade Hampton, Hawley, Benjamin Harrison, Grover, of Oregon, Cockrell, of Missouri, and one of the Texas Senators. It was understood that before the committee met, several of the Western Senators were not favorable to the bill. They did not know much about the bat- tle itself, nor did they approve of voluntary organizations to erect monuments, because, after the originators of the project are dead, others suffer them to go into decay ; but when they understood that the State had taken a deed for the site and aided in building the structure, they were satisfied the monument and grounds would be taken care of. The Senators on the committee who warmly favored the bill and aided General Sewell materially were Benjamin Harrison, of Indiana, Hawley, of Connecticut, who had met Judge Parker in Philadelphia in Centennial times, and Wade Hampton of South Carolina, whose grandfather was in the battle of Monmouth. Senator Sewell was re- quested to report the bill, which he did, and in a few weeks the bill was reached in its turn. Sena- tor McPherson made a carefully-prepared and eloquent speech in advocacy of the measure, and . it passed the Senate without a dissenting vote.

The bill then went to the House of Repre- sentatives. In that House there was greater difficulty to secure its passage, not because there was any actual opposition, but because of the number of bills ahead of it. Judge Parker again went to Washington, determined to pass it through the House, if possible, before his re- turn. He did not exactly like the Military Committee of the House, for it was large and unwieldy. He had the bill referred to the Library Committee. This is a joint committee consisting of three Senators and three Repre- sentatives. It has a supervision not only over the library of Congress, but also over works of art, and inasmuch as it was contemplated to have bronze representations of scenes in the battle on the monument, the bill was referred to this small committee. The Library Committee at that time was composed of Senators Sherman, of Ohio, Hoar, of Massachusetts, and Daniel Voorhees, of Indiana, all of whom heartily approved the bill,- Voorhees, the son of a Jerseyman, who went West many years since from the county of Somerset. The active committeeman of the Honse was Judge Geddes, of Ohio. He was instructed to report the bill, which was done, and the report printed. Now the hard work began. There were between two and three thousand bills and joint resolutions pending ahead of this bill. If it could be got on the Speaker's table, it could be called up out of order, if no objection was made; but if a single member of the House objected, it could not be taken up. There were were two or three members of the House called " objectors." They were men never, up to that time, known to let an appropriation bill be taken up out of order, without sending it back by objection. Judge Parker knew these men per- sonally and sought them out, and he succeeded in inducing them just this once to promise not to objeet to the bill, and one afternoon, just as the House was abont adjourning, Miles Ross, the Representative from the Monmouth District, called up the bill, and in two minutes it pa-sed unanimously without a call of the roll. All the members from New Jersey aided in the pas- sage of the measure Besides Ross, there were Robesou, Brewer, Jones, Hardenburgh, Harris and Hill.

489

THE TOWN OF FREEHOLD.

Judge Parker had made arrangements through Secretary Frelinghuysen to have an interview with the President, and had secured his prom- ise to approve the bill, which was done as soon as it reached the executive. Thus the fund had inereased from less than three thou- sand dollars, when the corner-stone was laid, in four years, to over forty thousand dollars.

On the 16th of October, 1882, a committee on design, consisting of Mr. Theodore W. Morris, Hon. Edward J. Anderson, General Lewis Perrine, General William S. Stryker and Mr. Hal Allaire, invited the submission of designs and specifications for the battle monument, and on March 2, 1883, the design executed by Eme- lin T. Littell and Douglass Smythe, architects, and J. E. Kelly, sculptor, and exhibited by Maurice J. Power, of New York City, was accepted, and a contraet was awarded Mr. Power, of the National Fine Art . Foundry, for its erection for the sum of thirty-six thousand dollars On May 9, 1883, the services of Mr. Edward E. Raht, architect, were secured to superintend the construc- tion of the monument. Hon. Gar- rett A. Hobart, president of the . Senate, was elected president of the commission, and Hon. John T. Dunn, speaker of the House of Assembly, and Mr. Theodore W. Morris, vice- presidents for the year 1882. The officers of the commission for 1883 were Mr. Theodore W. Morris, presi- dent, and Hon. John J. . Gardner, president of the Senate, and Hon. Thomas O'Con- nor, speaker of the House of Assembly, vice- presidents. In 1884, Mr. Morris was re-elected president of the commission with Hon. Ben- jamin A. Vail, president of the Senate, and Hon. Alfred B. Stoney, speaker of the House of Assembly, vice-presidents. The other offi- cers of the conimission eontinne at this date (November, 1884) the same as first elected, in 1881. Following is a deseription of the battle monument, as it now stands.

The base of the monument is in the form of an equilateral triangle with cannon at each angle. Three spurs of granite form the base of the shaft, surmounted at the point of contact by a large drum-shaped block, on which five bronze reliefs, illustrative of the battle, will be placed. Above the tablets and around the shaft are the coats of arms, in bronze, of the thirteen orig- inal States, festooned with laurel leaves. Rising above this is the shaft proper, eonsisting of three seetions, each joined by rings of bay leaves. The shaft is surmounted by a composite capital, on which is a statue of Columbia Triumphant. The monument

MONMOUTH BATTLE MONUMENT, ERECTED IN 1884.

is constructed of New England granite, fine-axed, and is about ninety-four feet high. The tablets, five feet high and six feet wide, merit special mention. The models of them were designed by Mr. J. E. Kelly, of New York City, and the bas-reliefs were east at the National Fine Art Foundry. They repre- sent, with graphic exactness, five seenes in the Mon- mouth battle, viz .:

1. Ramsey Defending his Guns .- This represents Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Ramsey, of Maryland. in the closing effort to hold his position until the main army could be rallied. General Washington had told him he depended on his exertions, and he

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

had promised to check the enemy. He tried with his gallant regiment to defend the guns of Lieuten- ant-Colonel Oswald, until, having been dismounted, he was overwhehned by the superior numbers of the British dragoons. In the foreground he is represented with historieal accuracy in a hand-to-hand conflict with a detachment of the Seventeenth British Light Dragoons. Colonel Ramsey's portrait is from a min- iature and silhouette, both taken from life and fur- nished by his family. His sword is modeled from the short-bladed weapon which he actually carried that day, and which is still preserved. The uniform, horse equipments and all the outfittings of the drag- oons are taken from the official record of the battal- ion. So particular has the artist been that the "death-head" may be seen on the hat of the trooper of the Seventeenth Dragoons,-the organization al- lowed to wear the same by the order of the King, with the motto "vietory or death." In the back- ground Oswald is directing his men in their attempt to carry off his guns. It will be remembered that Ramsey, very badly wounded in this personal com- bat, was taken prisoner by the British. Sir Henry Clinton, in soldierly admiration of so brave a man, ordered his release on parole.

2. Washington Rallying the Troops .- The comman- der-in-chief is here depicted riding down the Amer- ican line at headlong speed, and rallying the troops after General Lee's unaccountable retreat. He is placing the regiments of Stewart, Ramsey and Liv- ingston in position to cheek the advance of the Brit- ish: General Washington's head and figure are modeled from Houdin's life-cast, now in possession of Mr. Power. The model is worked on a scale and is entirely accurate, in all its proportions, from Hou- din's measurements. The style of the uniform and horse equipments of the chieftain are all from authen- tic sources.

3. Molly Pitcher .- The head and figure of the hero- ine of Monmouth is an ideal woman of great muscular power. Her dead husband is at her feet, and General Knox is seen in the background directing his artil- lery. A wounded soldier uses his right hand, instead of the left, in thumbing the vent. This, it is readily seen, improves the composition of the picture. The old Tennent Church, still standing as a memorial of the battle, is seen on the extreme left of the relief.

4. Council of War at Hopewell .- This tablet repre- sents Generals Washington, Lec, Greenc, Stirling, Lafayette, Steuben, Knox, Poor, Wayne, Woodford, Patterson, Scott and Duportail as they appeared in the important council of war held at Hopewell, N. J., June 24, 1778. General Washington is listen- ing attentively as General Lafayette, standing by the table, is urging upon the council to decide on making a strong demonstration against the British column, even if it should bring on a battle. The · position and general expression of other officers clearly indicate their opinion of Lafayette's appeal.

General Lee, who preferred to let the British force parade unmolested across the State, looks indignant that his military experience and judgment does not entirely control the board. It is also easy to see that the foreign officers, Steuben and Duportail, want to make a strong attack, and not simply to feel the enemy. General Patterson agrees with them, and so does the true-hearted Greene. General Wayne, al- ways ready for fight, can hardly wait until Lafayette has finished, that he may speak a few words of ardent patriotism. Colonel Scammell, Washington's adjut- ant-general, who afterward gave his life for liberty on Yorktown's ramparts, is here engaged in noting the opinions of the general officers for the guidance of his chief.

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History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2, Part 7

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co. Number of Pages: 994

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : R.T. Peck & Co.
Number of Pages: 994