USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Pt. 2 > Part 8
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5. Wayne's Charge. - The other unfinished relief depicts Mad Anthony Wayne leading his troops in the final charge of the day, through a trampled corn- field and the British grenadiers falling back and try- ing in vain to carry away the body of their dead commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Monckton. The parsonage of Tennent Church is seen in the background.
The work of constructing the monument having been delayed from various causes, the commission was unable to arrange for its un- veiling on the anniversary of the battle, and accordingly the 13th of November, 1884, was fixed upon as the day of its dedication.1 Com- mittees of arrangements were appointed on be- half of the State and of the town of Freehold, and every possible effort put forth to make the affair a grand success. The citizens of Freehold raised a very generous fund for the purpose of building triumphal arches in the streets, and defraying other expenses which would devolve upon the town, and which had not been pro- vided for by the State. The Board of Chosen Freeholders of the county made the appropria- tion necessary to decorate the county buildings and for the ereetion of a reviewing stand in front of the court-house. At last the only question which weighed heavily upon the minds of all was whether or not the weather would prove propitious. Many a weather prophet wisely shook his head and declared that the day would surely prove stormy, or cold and disagreeable. There were three heavy hoar- frosts just preceding the day,-a sure sign of
I The account which follows of the ceremonies attending the unveiling and dedication of the monument is from the Monmouth Democrat of November 20, 1884.
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rain, as some thought,-but the day came, and these gloomy predictions "faded into thin air." Old Phoebus rose in a cloudless sky, and . as he slowly emerged from his eastern bed he was welcomed with the ringing of church-bells and with a Continental salute from twelve-pound Napolcon guns, stationed in Throckmorton's field, just cast and in full view of Monument Park. Shaking his golden locks, he encircled "Columbia Triumphant" with a radiant halo, and bathed old Monmouth's battle-plain in one vast wave of light. The hoar-frost gleamed whitely on the sere, brown sward, fit winding- sheet for those heroic dead whose dust there mingled with the parental clay. A western breeze, which coyly played with the rich-hued autumnal leaves still lingering on the trees, was as mild and balmy as those which sweep over violet-beds in the flowery month of May.
The citizens of Freehold early bestirred them- selves. They evidently felt that, next to the battle of Monmouth itself, the most important event in the history of the place was the dedi- cation of the beautiful monument to commemo- rate it. Freehold in the Revolution was very different from the Freehold of to-day. Never be- fore was the handsome town in such magnificent dress. It was "her bridal day of happiness." Decorated in all the hues of the rainbow, she reflected the patriotism, the valor, the devotion of the "heroic dead of the Revolution. The |gilt letters, were the dates "1778 and 1884." whole town was a sea of decoration, and bespoke From the top of the pole floated the American a just feeling of pride on the part of the people flag. Reaching from the top of the pole to each arch were suspended the naval flags of various nations, making the whole a pleasing, ornate design. that they tread ground hallowed by associa- tions dear to every lover of political freedom. Strangers on the streets gave way to exclama- tions as their measure of praise at seeing the magnificent display of bunting.
Two beautiful triumphal arches spanned Main Street, one extending from Burtis' brick build- ing across to Taylor's Hotel, on the opposite side, the other from Ellis' building across the street. Both arches were after the same design, and were constructed at the expense of the citi- zens of Freehold. The length of these struc- tures was thirty-eight feet and the height eighteen feet in the clear. They were constructed with artistic skill and presented a magnificent appear- ance. They were not, in fact, true arches, nor
intended as such, but consisted of a turret at either end of each structure and spanned by a bridge four feet in width, the centre of which was ornamented with a cupola three or four fcet in height. The turrets were built up with ever- greens, on the top of which, at each eorner, was a flag with vertical staff, suggestive of Gothic pinnacles. The angle under the bridge was broken by large American flags, and the entire span was covered with bunting of all colors festooned and made into large fans. This eon- stituted the ground-work of the bridge. Upon this, at intervals, were placed large shields with flags of different nations. Between the shields were the coats-of-arms of the thirteen original colonies, that of New Jersey being in the centre, above and around which were flags in vertical positions. Standing above this, in half-relief, was a Goddess of Liberty, holding in her hand a large flag. The material used was rich through- out and presented a very pretty appearance. The word "Welcome," in large gold letters, swung under the lower arch at Ellis', and the word "Monmouth," made in the same manner, swung beneath the upper one at Burtis'. A flag-pole had been erected on the corner of Main and South Streets, half-way between the arches. The base of the pole was wrapped in evergreen, at the top of which was a portrait of Washing- ton, ornamented with bunting. Over this, in
The interior of Shinn's Hall presented a truly magnificent appearance. The decorator's art had transformed it into palatial beauty, sug- gestive of the banquet halls of baronial times. The front of the hall, from which the staging had been removed, was richly tapestried with elegant garnet satin curtains, suspended from the ceiling in graceful folds. Upon this was an esenteheon bearing the coat of arms of New Jersey. The side-walls all around the ceiling, for a depth of three feet, were festooned with silk plush, embroidered in gold tinsel. Below this, on both sides and ends, were hung shields,
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
bearing flags of all nations. Between the shields were hung bannerets in white, yellow, green, blue and garnet. These were embroidered with gold tinsel and edged with gold fringe, each bearing in the centre a coat of arms of a foreign nation.
The speakers' pavilion on the park grounds was richly ornamented. Between the posts, at the front and sides, were curtains of American flags. Below this, on the railing, all about the . stand, was a ground-work of brocaded silk ; over this was red bunting, with gold and black silk bands festooned in graceful fans. Above the speaker, and looking out upon the audience, the open space was hung with garnet curtains, while in the centre was the same material made into a fan.
In the interior of the building the decora- tions were after the same pattern. Flags of various nations floated from the top. The music stand was in keeping with the pavilion and of like material. The monument itself had its bronzes veiled in garnet chintz. On the coping of each corner was a large gilt eagle surrounded by four flags of different nations. Back of the chair-stones in each of the three angles of the monument were large shields, bearing flags of different nations. The whole park, with these bright colors, presented a mag- nificent appearance.
Nearly all the private residences and business places of the town were decorated with flags, streamers and other patriotie devices in bunting and evergreen, and in the centre of all this was the court-house in its magnificent costume of all colors. From the top of the building floated three large flags, and sinall flags and shields were fastened to every pinnacle. Falling from the edge of the roof in graceful festoons were the tri-colored emblems of America. Ever- green ropes, festooned, broke the angles of the bunting festoons. Each window was eurtained with flags and hung with evergreens in wreaths and stars. In the centre of the building a coat . of arms of New Jersey, in oil, was placed, and around it were evergreens. The porch contained shields of the thirteen original States, with New Jersey in the centre. The porch columns were wreathed in evergreens and flags. The immense
reviewing stand, fifty-four by ninety fect, in front of the court-house, was decorated with national colors. The jailor's residence was decorated in keeping with the court-house. The Ellis building, containing the law-offices of Samuel C. Cowart, J. Clarence Conover, E. W. Arrowsmith and Charles H. Butcher and the shops and stores of Anthony Deedmeyer, Charles B. Ellis, Charles Hartzheim and A. De la Reu- selle were decorated after the same style as the court-house.
It is estimated that from fifteen to twenty thousand people were assembled to witness the ceremonies. The Pennsylvania Railroad and the Frechold and New York Railway each ran five special trains and five regular trains each way. The former ran eighty-five coaches and the latter about fifty coaches each way, and every coach was crowded full of people. The arrivals by the Pennsylvania were nearly eight thousand, and those by the Freehold and New York about four thousand. The people came from every portion of the county and State, and there were many representatives of adjoining States.
The arrangements for receiving invited guests were admirable. Distinguishing badges had been sent out with each invition. White badges assembled at ex-Governor Parker's residence, where Governor Abbett and staff, the judiciary and other distinguished guests were entertained. The members of the State Legi -- lature, the Board of Chosen Frecholders of Monmouth County and other prominent offi- cials of the county and State wore red badges, and were received at the grand jury room in the court-house. The members of the press wore blue badges, and were entertained in a suite of rooms on the second floor of Hall's brick building, corner of Main and South Streets.
Reception committees were at the various trains for the purpose of directing the guests to their proper rendezvous. The distinguished State and national officers were received at ex- Governor Parker's residence. The whole house was thrown open for the occasion. About ten o'clock the first guests began to arrive ; these were soon followed by the arrival of Governor
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Abbett and his staff, eseorted by the Freeliold Cornet Band, with the Institute Cadets as aids. Then came General Plume and staff, and soon the house was filled with distinguished guests.
The following is a list of some of those who were received and entertained at ex-Governor Parker's : Governor Leon Abbett, Private Secretary William C. Fisk, Adjutant-General William S. Stryker, Quartermaster-General Lewis Perrine, Surgeon-General Theodore Var- ick, Inspector-General Weston, Inspector-Gen- eral Rifle Praetiee Bird W. Spencer, Judge Advocate-General Garret Aekerson, Assistant- Adjutant-General S. M. Dickinson, colonels and aids-de-camps, C. D. Hendrickson, E. A. Stevens, W. F. Taylor, Eckford Moore, Otto Hoppenheimer, C. W. Thomas, J. W. Romaine, Charles Agnew, Daniel J. Betchel, Chancellor Runyon, Justiees Supreme Court, David A. Depue, B. Van Syekle, E. W. Seudder, Rear- Admiral United States Navy, Charles H. Boggs, Gifford Stanley Simms, Clerk Supreme Court, Franklin B. Lewis, Judge Court of Errors and Appeals, Honorable George A. Halsey, John T. Vaneleaf, Richard A. Herbert, James N. Stratton, Professor John Enright, Rev. Frank Chandler, D.D., Captain and Judge-Advocate, Franklin C. Woolman, Colonel W. A. Morrel, Lieutenant-Colonel G. E. P. Howard, Dr. S. H. Hunt, John J. Toffey, Major and Judge- Advocate, Frederick Frelinghuysen, Henry M. Herbert, James Bishop, General Gershom Mott and staff, Brevet Major-General Joseph W. Plume and staff, Major-General William J. Sewell and staff, ex-Governor Ludlow, ex-Con- gressmen Ross, Peddie and Kean, ex-United States Senator Cattell, Charles Parker (brother of the ex-Governor), Rev. Charles P. Glover, State Comptroller Anderson, State Senator Jolin S. Applegate, ex-Speaker A. B. Stoney, State Senator-eleet T. G. Chattle, Judge William J. Magie, Judge Brown, of New Jersey Court Errors and Appeals, Judges Black, Glasgow and Lee, of the Burlington Common Pleas, Judges Reed and Gant, of Camden Common Pleas, District Attorney Jenkins and Surrogate Brown, of Camden, Prosecutor Belmont Perry, of Gloucester County, Judge Stratton, Sin- nickson Chew, editor Camden Press, Colonel
Stratton, Mr. Sims, President Society of the Cincinnati, Judge Fitch, of the same society, United States Senator John R. MaePherson, Congressman-elect Robert S. Green, Congress- man Fiedler, John Y. Foster, ex-Congressmen H. S. Harris and Amos Clark, Congressman Farrel, Judge Knapp, of New Jersey Supreme Court, Charles E. Harris.
The Board of Chosen Freeholders of Mon- mouth County acted as a reception committee at the court-house, where a very large number of distinguished guests were entertained.
Among the members of the press who were hospitably received and entertained in the pleasant suite of rooms in the second floor of Hall's briek building, corner Main and South Streets, were gentlemen representing the follow- ing-named newspapers :- Rahway National Democrat, New York Graphic, Matawan Jour- nal, New York: Evening Telegram, New Jersey Standard, Jersey City Evening Journal, New York Herald, New York Times, Coast Demo- crat, Shore Gazette, New York Evening Tele- gram, Philadelphia Record, Jersey City Sunday Tattler, New York Evening Post, State Gazette, Newark Register, Burlington Enterprise, Beverly Banner, Philadelphia Inquirer, Camden Post, West Jersey Press (Camden), Rahway Censor, New Brunswick Fredonian, Delaware Valley Advance, Plainfield Times, Key East Key Note, Asbury Park Journal, Trenton Emporium, As- bury Park Shore Press, New York Morning Journal, Newark Press, Newark Evening News, New Jersey Mirror, Mount Holly News.
Mr. William S. Potter, of Somerville, former owner of the farm known as the " Battle- Ground," and who took a warm interest in the erection of the monument and personally aided in securing the passage of the bill by the State Legislature making the appropriation for the monument, was among the visitors on this ocea- sion. Another visitor worthy of note was Mr. Eli Crozier, a very old gentleman, who has at- tended all the centennial celebrations of battles in the United States, and has written an account of them, giving special prominence to the one in Monmouth.
There was some delay in the arrival of the railway train bringing a part of the military,
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
which did not reach Frechold until after eleven A. M. The procession then formed on Broad Street and marched through the principal streets. It was reviewed by Governor Abbett, who, with his staff and a host of dignitaries and distin- guished visitors, occupied the reviewing stand erected by the county in front of the court- house. After the review, Governor Abbett and staff and all the officials on the stand joined the procession as it marched up Court Street to Monument Park. The complete procession was composed as follows :
Grand Marshal, Major J. S. Yard. Marshal's Aids :
William S. Throckmorton, J. Nelson Conover, Charles H. Butcher, Major Alexander A. Yard, Samuel R. Forman, David S. Crater, William Harts- horne, Herman Liebenthal.1
Brevet Major-General William J. Sewell, Command- ing Provisional Brigade, N. G. N. J.
Brigade Staff :
Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas S. Chambers, Assistant Adjutant-General : Lieutenant-Colonel Daniel B. Murphy, Inspector ; Lieutenant-Colonel Franklin Gauntt, Surgeon; Major Wil- liam M. Palmer, Quartermaster; Ma- jor Kenneth J. Dunean, Paymas- ter; Major James E. Hays, Judge-Advocate.
Captain E. A. Gillett, Captain Hamilton Markley, Aides-de-Camp.
Fourth Regiment, N. G. N. J., Colonel Dudley S. Steele, Commanding.
First Regiment N. G. N. J., Colonel Edward A. Campbell, Commanding.
Seventh Regiment N. G. N. J., Colonel Richard A. Donnelly, Commanding.
Gatling Gun Company B., Captain Robert E. Eckendorff, Commanding, with two guns drawn by horses.
Third Regiment N. G. N. J., Colonel E. H. Ropes, Commanding.
The Committee of Arrangements. The Monument Association. The Monument Commission.
I Volunteer aid, representing J. B. Morris Post, G. A. R., of Long Branch.
The Senators and Representatives and Representa- tives-Elect of the Congress of the United States.
The Society of the Cineinnati.
The Grand Lodge of Freemasons.
Hon. Leon Abbett, Governor of New Jersey. Governor's Staff :
Adjutant-General Stryker ; Quartermaster-General
Perrine; Surgeon-General Varick; Inspector- General Weston ; Inspector-General Rifle
ยท Practice Spencer; Judge-Advocate-Gen- eral Ackerson ; Assistant Adjutant- General Dickinson. Aides-de-Camp-Colonel W. E. Hoy, Colonel E. A. Stevens, Colonel Eckford Moore, Colonel J. W. Romaine, Colonel C. D. Hendrickson, Colonel E. A. Stevens, Colonel C. W. Thomas, Colonel Otto Heppenheimer. Major-General Gershom Mott, Commandant of Na- tional Guard of New Jersey, and Staff. Brevet Major-General Joseph W. Plume (Command- ing Second Brigade) and staff. Ex-Governor of New Jersey.
The Judiciary of New Jersey. The State Officers. Members and Members-Eleet of the New Jersey Leg- islature. Other Distinguished Guests. The Board of Chosen Freeholders. The Sheriff and County Officials.
The Board of Commissioners of the Town of Freehold. The Township Officials of other Townships. Civic Societies. Citizens and Strangers.
The parade presented a most brilliant and imposing appearance. The troops marched with the precision and regularity of trained veterans. As the procession passed under the triumphal arches to the sound of martial music, the assembled thousands who lined the streets, filled the reviewing stand, crowded the porti- coes, windows and every available sight-seeing space in the surrounding buildings, cheered and waved their handkerchiefs. The scene was a grand one, and not soon to be forgotten.
As soon as the procession reached Monument Park the ceremonies of unveiling were opened with an invocation of the Divine blessing by Right Reverend Bishop Scarborough. Then followed the formal delivery of the monument to the Governor of New Jersey, with a presen- tation speech by the president of the commis- sion, Mr. Theodore W. Morris, who, on elosing his address, drew a cord which unveiled the bronzes of the monument amid a thunder of
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applause from the vast throng assembled round of thelatter regiment had no means of appeasing it, while the cannon on Throckmorton's Hill | their hunger, though the want was partially sup- boomed forth a Continental salute of thirteen plied by the exertions of the few individuals who, of all the residents of Freehold, knew of the shortcoming. Had it been generally known, the wants of the famishing regiment would have been amply supplied. In every other particular, except that of the unfortunate mis- take referred to, the ceremonies and festivities of the unveiling were carried through with complete and most gratifying success. guns. The presentation was responded to by Governor Abbett in an eloquent and patriotic speech, at the conclusion of which the Governor introdueed the orator of the day, Ex-Governor Joel Parker, of Freehold, who then advanced and delivered an oration, which, replete with interesting historic facts, and breathing throughout a spirit of lofty patriotism, com- manded the closest attention of his great audi- ence, and was frequently and heartily applauded. When Judge Parker's oration was finished, Governor Abbett announced the eonelusion of the ceremonies of the day, which were then closed by a most impressive benediction, pro- nounced by the Rev. George C. Maddock, and the firing of a national salute by the artillery on Throckmorton's Hill. The vast throng of people surged back to the town, where all the hotels and other places of entertainment were filled to overflowing by the hungry and thirsty thousands. The Governor and his staff, the generals and their staffs, the Monument Com- mission and Association, the Monmouth County
The day was perfect. The streets and roads were entirely free alike from mud and dust. The weather was neither hot nor cold; the atmosphere was clear and invigorating, and the breeze was no more than enough to unfold the thousand flags that floated over the park and town. Good feeling and good order prevailed. Scarcely any intoxication was to be seen, and there was not a disturbance or accident of any kind reported. No great concourse of people ever celebrated a public event with more com- fort and satisfaction than did the thousands who gathered to witness the dedication of the monn- ment of Monmouth. The number of troops present on this occasion was less than those who Board of Chosen Frecholders and the many ' participated in celebrations of the Monmouth other distinguished officials and gnests who battle anniversary in previous years, but of all the ceremonies and parades which have ever been had in commemoration of the Monmouth battle, that of November 13, 1884, must ever remain the most memorable. were in attendance npon the eeremonics of un- veiling were dined in fine style at Shinn's Hall. Hundreds of visitors dined by invitation at private residences. The troops, who had been dismissed before the elose of the ceremonics at the park, had marched to the barracks, where the State of New Jersey had made provision for their entertainment. The barracks were two long, board-sided, canvas-roofed buildings, which had been temporarily creeted at the ex- pense of the State in the vacant lot just north of the Freehold and New York Railway depot. Each building was twenty-four feet wide by two hundred and forty-eight feet long, and each was capable of accommodating one thousand men. The First, Third and Fourth Regiments arrived at the barracks before the Seventh, and their appetites had been so much sharpened by their long waiting, mareling and fasting, that when the Seventh arrived, the provisions were almost entirely exhausted, and the wearicd men
The first eclebration of the battle of Mon- month, on the field where the conflict took place, was held on the 28th of June, 1828, it being the semi-eentennial anniversary of the great event. The principal feature of that celebration was a sham fight, carried out as nearly as practicable in imitation of the battle, and on the same ground where it was fought. Neither the number of troops taking part in the celebration of 1828 nor any of the particulars of that affair (other than the facts stated above) have been ascertained. No other celebration was held on Monmouth field until Wednesday, June 28, 1854. As that event is still elearly remembered by many of the residents of Mon- mouth County, it is thoughit to be not inappro-
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priate to give the following extract from an account of it which appeared in the next issue of the Trenton True American.
"The celebration of the seventy-sixth anniversary of this important event in the history of our country came off on Wednesday, June 28th.
"At an early hour on Tuesday, strangers from va- rious sections of the country began to arrive. The insufferable heat which was experienced during the day was greatly relieved by a delightful shower which occurred in the afternon, laying the dust and re- ducing the thermometer many degrees. At an early hour in the afternoon an infantry company under Captain James S. Yard, editor of the Monmouth Dem- ocrat, and a cavalry corps, under Captain Truex, werc under arms to serve as an escort to the expected vis- itors. Captain Yard's company carried the old mus- kets used by Lafayette's troops, and presented by him to the United States.
" At about seven o'clock the train came in from the east, bringing the following companies :
"The Independent Continentals, Captain Pearce, and Company C of the American Rifles, Captain Hag- adorn, from New York.
" Jersey Continentals, Captain Pollard; Mont- gomery Gnards, Captain Farrell ; and Meagher Re- publican Guards, Captain Hopper, from Jersey City. " Washington Volunteers, Captain Spear, and Greenville Guards, Captain Fisher, from Bergen.
"National Guards, Captain Tuthill, and Hoboken Rifles, from Hoboken.
" Lafayette Guards, Captain Halsey, from Newark.
"Two companies of the Fourteenth Regiment, under Colonel J. C. Smith, from Brooklyn.
" Kearney Guards, Captain North, from Amboy.
"The military made a most beautiful display, two superb bands of music accompanying the visitors. They marehed in the village in gallant array, and en- camped on a field adjacent the town. Their camp- fires were kept burning during the night, presenting quite an imposing appearance. A council of war was held during the night to determine upon the proceed- ings of the morrow.
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