History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 85

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 1148

USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth county, New Jersey > Part 85

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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 Monmouth," -- appropriating twenty thousand

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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

dollars towards the ercetion 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 hearing 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 House was Judge Geddes, of Ohio. IIe 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 indneing them just this once to promise not to object to the bill, and one afternoon, just as the House was about adjourning, Miles Ross, the Representative from the Monmouth District, called up the bill, and in two minutes it passed 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 Robeson, Brewer, Jones, Hardenburgh, Harris and Hill.

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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 increased 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 contract 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 seenred 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 commission continue at this date (November, 1884) the same as first elected, in 1881. Following is a description 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, consisting of three sections, 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 cast 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 overwhelmed by the superior numbers of the British dragoons. In the foreground he is represented with historical 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 "victory 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 check 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- tie 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, Lee, Greene, 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.

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 erection 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

1 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 eame, and intended as such, but consisted of a turret at 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 Napoleon guns, stationed in Throckmorton's field, just east and in full view of Monument Park. Shaking his golden locks, he encircled "C'olumbia 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 a> 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 dres. It was "her bridal day of happiness." Decorated in all the hnes of the rainbow, she reflected the patriotism, the valor, the devotion of the heroic dead of the Revolution. The whole town was a sea of decoration, and bespoke that they tread ground hallowed by associa- tions dear to every lover of political freedom. Strangers on the streets gave way to exclama- tious as their measure of praise at seeing the magnificent display of bunting.

a just feeling of pride on the part of the people flag. Reaching from the top of the pole to each

Two beautiful triumphal arches spanned Main Street, one extending from Burtis' brick build- ing across to Taylor's Hotel, ou the opposite side, the other from Ellis' building across the had been removed, was richly tapestried with street. Both arehes were after the same design, · and were constructed at the expense of the citi- zeus 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

either end of each structure and spanned by a bridge four feet in width, the centre of which was ornamented with a eupola three or four feet in height. The turrets were built up with ever- greens, on the top of which, at each corner, 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 con- 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'. 1 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 gilt letters, were the dates "1778 and 1884." From the top of the pole floated the American arch were suspended the naval flags of various nations, making the whole a pleasing, ornate design.

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 elegant garnet satin curtains, suspended from the ceiling in graceful folds. Upon this was an escutcheon 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 | selle were decorated after the same style as the stand, was a ground-work of brocaded silk ; conrt-house.

over this was red bunting, with gold and black

It is estimated that from fifteen to twenty silk bands festooned in graceful fans. AAbove thousand people were assembled to witness the 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 from every portion of the county and State, and there were many representatives of adjoining

the coping of each corner was a large gilt eagle| surrounded by four flags of different nations. States. Back of the chair-stones in each of the three 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 small 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 curtained 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 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 were soon followed by the arrival of Governor

reviewing stand, fifty-four by ninety feet, 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-

ceremonies. The Pennsylvania Railroad and the Freehold and New York Railway cach 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

The arrangements for receiving invited

angles of the monument were large shields, 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 Freeholders of Monmouth County and other prominent off- 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.

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THE TOWN OF FREEHOLD.

Abbett aud his staff, escorted by the Freehold Cornet Band, with the Institute Cadets as aids. Then came General Plume and staff, and soon the house was filled with distinguished guests.

Stratton, Mr. Sims, President Society of the Cincinnati, Judge Fitch, of the same society, United States Senator John R. MacPherson, 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 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 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. Lewis Perrine, Surgeon-General Theodore Var- iek, Inspector-General Weston, Inspector-Gen- eral Rifle Practice Bird W. Spencer, Judge Advocate-General Garret Ackerson, Assistant- 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 brick building, corner Main and South Streets, were gentlemen representing the follow- ing-named newspapers :-- Rahway National Democrat, New York Graphie, Matawan Jour- nal, New York Evening Telegram, New Jersey Standard, Jersey City Evening Journal, New York Herald, New York Times, Coast Demo- crut, 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, Trouton Emporium, As- bury Park Shore Press, New York Morning Journal, Newark Press, Newark Evening News, New Jersey Mirror, Mount Holly News. 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, Justices 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. Vancleaf, 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. H1. Hunt, John .1. 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- 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 occa- 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. gressmen Ross, Peddie and Keau, ex-United States Senator Cattell, Charles Parker (brother of the ex-Governor), Rev. Charles P. Glover, State Comptroller Anderson, State Senator John 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- There was some delay in the arrival of the nickson Chew, editor Camden Press, Colonel | railway train bringing a part of the military,

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History of Monmouth county, New Jersey, Part 85

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co. Number of Pages: 1148

Author: Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Swan, Norma Lippincott. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia, R. T. Peck & co.
Number of Pages: 1148