USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Jersey City > Memorial of the centennial celebration of the battle of Paulus Hook, August 19th, 1879 : with a history of the early settlement and present condition of Jersey City, N.J. > Part 12
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Within that park whose foliage glints beneath the summer's sun, Where rests the weary artisan, his daily labor done ; And the little children prattle as merry as the birds, Was heard the Briton's reveille, his sentry's warning words.
Where points that tapering church spire, the Christian's way to God, The red cross proudly fluttered, and hireling legions trod There on the battlements beneath, their loud-mouthed morning guns, The echoes of the hills awoke and frowned at freedom's sons.
Many patriot hearts had yearned to hurl that ensign down, And oaths were sworn of vengeance 'gainst the emblem of the Crown ; All knew death was failure's forfeit ; time brought at length the day, And the hero, too, to lead them, and well he led the way.
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From o'er the quiet Hackensack the daring band had come, Few were their numbers and they marched cheered not by fife nor druin ; The Bergen wood they quickly passed, and threading down the hill, Weary, footsore, but undannted, they halted by the Mill.
"Stand you ready, men, for orders, our scouts will soon report, " If the road is clear before us, and all's still within the fort ; "He may now turn back who wishes "-their leader to them said ; 'But to follow all were ready, when Light Ilorse Harry led.
He thanked them and with swelling heart .knelt on the dewy sod, And prayed "Lord, be our shield to-night, and help Thou ns, oh God ! " Thine the power is, only Thine, through Thee comes victory ; " And Thy will be done, our Father, Thine all the glory be."
"Amen " was softly said by all, that fervent voice who heard, As they calmly stood there waiting their brave commander's word ;. And each pressed his musket firmly against his throbbing heart, Touched his comrade's elbow lightly, all ready for the start. -
They all felt that in the darkness, for them was stubborn strife, Victory they thought would cost them many a precious life : But love of liberty inspired-it moves the mind of man, And nerves the heart to sacrifice, as no other purpose can.
Far on their left Harsimus lay, all silent in the night, The shores of old Communipaw, shed forth no guiding light ; The hills of Bergen were behind where many a Tory slept- Before, the sentry of the foe, his lonesome night watch kept.
The order came in tones subdued like to a muffled drum- "Now forward, men, we'll win to-night or our last battle's come ; " And quickly must the work be done-let no man speak a word,
"Nor musket fire, for all depends on bayonet and sword."
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They hastened o'er the marshy road and reached the strong barred gate, Which would not open readily, and 'twas dangerous to wait ; So clearing ditch and abattis they rushed upon the foe, " The fort is ours, hurrah ! hurrah ! " almost without a blow.
" Hurrah for Lee and victory, the Hook is ours to-night !
"Take all the prisoners you can, spare those who do not fight ;
" The morning sun begins to gild the stoeples of New York,
" The foe swarms o'er the river, and his guns begin to talk.
" We've scourged the lion in his den, and he may snarl and roar,
" Ile'll ne'er feel safe on Jersey soil, as did he heretofore ;
" Now, as Washington has ordered, we'll secure a safe retreat,
" Back to the Hackensack we'll march, and reinforcements meet."
'Twas but a little spark, and yet a great blaze from it spread, For from hearts that had desponded, all doubt and fear soon .fled ; Too long they'd feared the tyrant's power, but then blessed Harry Lee, Who on that August morning taught them how they might be free."
A hundred years have flown since then, but lingers 'round this spot, The spirit which inspired our sires ne'er by their sons forgot ; And often when in deadly strife, our starry banner shook, The first to rally 'round it were the sons of Paulus Hook !
BY THE EDITOR.
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EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESS.
[New York Herald, August 20, 1879.]
Jersey City enjoyed her centennial celebration-that of the capture of Paulus Hook-quite enthusiastically yesterday. Descendants of the cap-' tured garrison were notably scarce. -
PAULUS HOOK.
. . PYROTECHNICS AND ORATORY.
LIGHT HORSE HARRY LEE'S DARING ACHIEVEMENT.
Jersey City awoke yesterday morning to the booming of cannon and the waving of flags, intermingled with the ringing of bells and the blowing of steam whistles. Most of the houses were decorated with bunting, and the ferry boats carried the Stars and Stripes in honor of the day. * The event of the day was an oration, addresses, singing of national songs, and a glorification generally at the Tabernacle.
[New York Times, August 20, 1879.]
JERSEY CITY'S REVOLUTIONARY BATTLE.
Jersey City has just had her centennial celebration. It was her fortune, or misfortune, that but one battle was fought on her soil during the war of the Revolution, and she made the most of that one historical event yester- day. * It is known in history as the battle of Paulus Hook. * The object of the attack was not to secure the fort and hold it,
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for, with New York in the hands of the British, Paulus Hook would not have been valuable enough to the Revolutionary Army to warrant it ini holding the position. The object of the surprise was to capture as many prisoners as possible, and to give to the British a lesson which they sorely needed. They had been accustomed to look upon the yeoman soldiery of the colonies with contempt. Dashing Harry Lee, in his brilliant victory at Paulus Hook, thoroughly disabused thein on this point, and the moral effect of his bold enterprise upon the American Army was invaluable. * *
* Every flag-staff in the city threw its banner to the breeze, and the masts and rigging of the ships and steamers on the Jersey side of the Hudson were liberally decked with bunting. Even the ferryboats, which are supposed to ply their monotonous course unaffected by ought save the ice in winter, caught the infection of patriotic display, and were so gaily" decorated, fore and aft, that they looked more like excursion steamers than common ferryboats. The houses and places of business were mantled in bunting during Monday night, and when the morning broke it was upon a scene such as used to be witnessed in our large cities on the Fourth of July.
[New York Daily Tribune, August 20, 1879.]
IN MEMORY OF PAULUS HOOK.
JERSEY CITY TAKES A HOLIDAY, AND CELEBRATES THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF HER BATTLE-GOOD SPEECHES AND A FINE PARADE. -
The battle ground, which Jersey City owns in fee simple, is not a very spacious one, but Jersey City deserves the credit of making the most of it, such as it is. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine how any city could be more demonstrative. * * * The solemnities broke out suddenly and with great violence at sunrise, with a chorus from all the steam whistles of all the factories, locomotives and steamboats, rendered fortissimo, and accom- panied by a furious ringing of all the bells. All the roosters crowed, and everybody who was awake and had anything to shoot, fired it off'; and it is alleged that Captain Ehler's battery delivered a salute of thirteen guns, but nobody heard it for the noise. *
* * Beyond question, it was the finest display of the kind ever seen in Jersey City. * * It was ex- * pected that Governor Mcclellan would review the column, but he only had three weeks' notice and was away off at Long Branch, and therefore
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couldn't reach the battle ground until after the fight was over. * The city and the people were the most interesting part of the show. The streets were gaily decorated, and everybody was out of doors for a holiday .. ** * Business was almost totally suspended, with the conspicuous exception of the beer business, which enjoyed a season of activity which was astonishing to persons not familiar with the capabilities of patriotism as an absorbent of moisture. Revolutionary enthusiasmn was on tap all day, and everybody was liable to explode in three cheers and a "tiger " at the
slightest provocation. * * In the evening there were more salutes, a general illumination, and a big sputter of fireworks on the hill where Allan McLean had scouted through the woods a hundred years ago, and all was over. Light Horse Ilarry Lee inay be celebrated again some day for his deeds at Eutaw or Guilford, or for inventing the historic phrase, - "First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countryinen," but his memory will never receive a heartier or noisier tribute than it received yesterday in Jersey for capturing the fort in the sand hills of Paulus Hook.
[The Sun, August 20, 1879.]
PAULUS HOOK REMEMBERED.
AN ALL-DAY CELEBRATION BY THE PATRIOTIO JERSEYMEN-A CONFUSION OF SOUNDS AWAKENING SLEEPERS AT DAWN-LISTENING TO THE STORY OF MAJOR LEE'S EXPLOIT-VETERANS AND INFANTS.
At sunrise yesterday ringing bells, sounding steam whistles, and boom- ing cannon awakened sleepers in Jersey City, the west side of New York, and surrounding regions, and reminded them that the day was the one hundredth anniversary of the affair at Paulus Hook. It was a strange uproar that this combination of sounds made, and, heard at a distance, it was continuons and not distressingly discordant. For a long time patriotic Jerseymen had been preparing to suitably observe the centennial of "Light Horse Harry's" twilight exploit, and when the day broke yesterday there was a wealth of decoration on public and private buildings, with flags, streamers, and mottoes. Business was generally suspended in Jersey City, and at an early hour the streets were alive with men, women and children, in their holiday clothes. Every incoming train brought reinforcements from the surrounding regions, and early in the forenoon the principal streets were thronged. Men in uniforms hurried to and fro in search of their respec-
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tive corps, and women leading screaming children by the hand, or carrying them in their arms, pushed and jostled their way to neighboring points of vantage: *. * * Near the grand stand there was a dense throng, and several women and children were injured. Distracted mothers, fearing that their lives were in danger, passed up their babies to gentlemen on the plat- form, and more than one distinguished veteran found himself with a scream- ing infant in his arms, and the cause of merriment in the throng.
[Journal of Commerce, August 20, 1879.] :
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION-BATTLE OF PAULUS HOOK.
Yesterday morning the celebration was opened by a salute of thirteen guns, the blowing of whistles and ringing of bells. On all sides . the city was gay with displays or bunting. At noon there was a public meeting in the Tabernacle, where appropriate addresses were delivered, and in the afternoon there was a grand parade of military and civic organiza- tions. In the evening many houses were brilliantly illuminated.
[The World, August 20, 1879.] 1779-GOOD GRACIOUS !- 1879.
THE BLOODY AND NEVER-TO-BE-FORGOTTEN FIELD OF PAULUS HOOK RESCUED FOR IIISTORY.
Jersey City was in a patriotic furor yesterday over the centennial cele- bration of the most daring and important-in the opinion of Jersey City- event of the Revolution, to wit, the assault on Paulus, Poulus or Powles Hook or Hoeck. The orthography is appropriately shifting, because the blood-bought ground itself, originally an up-river sand-bar, became sta- tionary (at a point where the Cunard docks were) only a few years before it-to speak of it in the light of its old tricks-slid into history. The tale of its capture from the eddying tide is quite as remarkable as that of the event which was yesterday honored. No one but a dogged plodding Dutch- .man would ever have thought, with land plentiful and cheap all around him,
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of riveting a swamp sand-bar to the solid underground as Cornelius Van Vorst riveted down what is now the most valuable part of lower Jersey City.+ That is what he did, and his heirs and the heirs of the Van Ripers, Van Horns, Van Winkles and Van Wagenens, whose distinguished ancestors owned land contiguous to the swamp, rose yesterday morning before day- break to show how thankful they were for it, as well as to do honor to the assault. These descendants, with their friends, and with those who were impelled by a sympathizing and energetic Citizens' Committee to become co-operators in the work of house and street decoration, so bedecked the houses and streets with bright-colored bunting that the morning sun, steal- ing up over the water beyond the Battery, was ontdazzled and by compari- son with the splendor of the city was a cat looking at a king. * There was a salute of guns and chaotic bell ringing and whistle screeching at sunrise. * * * Before the Tabernacle exercises ended the streets were busy with moving crowds. Along Jersey and Newark avenues, Mont- gomery, Grand, Washington and Sussex streets the sidewalks were packed. The City Hall, Police Headquarters and other public buildings and many of the store fronts were hidden behind folds of bunting. The newsboys, hackdrivers, horseears and grocery wagons severally grinned and bore the weight of decorations lavished upon them. All the surroundings of everything were magnetic and exhilarating.
[New York Daily Witness, August 20, 1879.]
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. -
AN ENTHUSIASTIC CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
The good people of Jersey City celebrated yesterday the Centennial Anniversary of the Battle of Paulus Hook. There was a general suspension of business, and the city was gay with bunting. * * The first public exercises of the day began at noon, in the Tabernacle, on York street. The walls of the hall were beautifully decorated with streamers and festoons, while the city emblem and the emblems of the thirteen Federal States adorned the chancel. * * The procession was one of the most imposing affairs ever witnessed in Jersey City. * In the evening, the city was a blaze of light.
+-The World is mistaken. Three New Yorker's did this .- EDITOR.
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[New York Star, August 20, 1879.] RECALLING A HEROIC DEED.
JERSEY CITY CELEBRATING LIGHT HORSE HARRY, LEE'S TRIUMPH -- CANNON AND BELLS AWAKENING THE CITY AT SUNRISE.
The Centennial Anniversary of the Battle of Paulus Hook was celebrated. brilliantly in Jersey City yesterday. The ferryboats were gay with bunting, and the entire city was in holiday attire. * *- * The parade was a creditable one, the spectators breaking out in cheers at times, at the steady marching of the men. * Bands of music, during the evening, were in the various public parks. At eight o'clock there was a fine pyrotechnic display.
[The Christian Intelligencer (New York City), August 28, 1879.]
The Centennial Anniversary of the Battle of l'aulus Hook was cele- brated by the citizens of Jersey on Tuesday of last week. The Rev. Dr. Paul D. Van Cleef, of the Wayne Street Reformed Church, delivered the invocation, and the Jersey City Sangerrunde sang national airs. James B. Vredenbergh · delivered an address, in which he referred to the sacrifices which secured American liberty. Ex-Senator Winfield was the orator of the day. Hle painted in glowing colors the dashing brilliancy of Light Horse Harry Lee's surprise of the British fortifications at Paulus Ilook ; the capture of more than 150 prisoners, and of a quantity of arms; and the orderly retreat of the American force. The achievement, he said, was all the more brilliant, as having been done under the guns of the British army posted in New York. B. W. Throckmorton followed with an address, and the Rev. Dr. Abercrombie pronounced the benediction. A civic and mil- itary parade took place in the afternoon, and in the evening there was a display of fireworks.
[The Evening Journal (Jersey City), August 20.]
Yesterday will probably never be forgotten by the thousands of people who participated in the exercises of the centennial celebration of the battle of Paulus Hook. The day is over, thie celebration has taken place and is a
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thing of the past, but the results of it in awakening and renewing patriotic feelings, who shall compute ? From the tiring of the first gun at sunrise to the blazing of the last pyrotechnic piece last night the whole affair was a complete and prominent success. The Committee of Arrangements felt proud and happy over this, and the people who contributed funds for the object are doubtless perfectly satisfied with the results. ** ** * It was a grander sight to see the packed masses of people which everywhere lined the streets along the route of procession. Where they came from is a mystery, unless we accept the hypothesis that all Jersey City, reinforced by a part of New York and Hoboken, turned out to see the parade. That thousands of people came from abroad is certain. The trains and the ferries brought them by scores and hundreds, and the lower part of the city by four o'clock was a solid mass of people. Every window, shed, awning and every other point of advantage was filled with eager-eyed people watching the parade. The displays of bunting were marvelous, many buildings being literally covered with the national colors in some form. It was a time for the outpouring of the patriotic sentiment of the people, and right worthy. they responded. The parade was universally admired, and the promptitude ' withi which Gen. Ramsey and his aids moved it was a theme of favorable comment. The appearance of the troops and organizations was very creditable.
[The Argus (Jersey City), August 20.]
* Measured by such battles as marked the rebellion-the reader will bear in mind that we are now speaking of the second rebellion -Paulus Hook was, an ant-hill to Mount Blanc. But it was a blow of some sort. Feeble, perhaps, because it was struck by a few ; but it was the blow of patriot arms nerved by patriot hearts-the work of men who would have done better had the opportunity offered. New York was full of opportu- nities. What did New York do ? * * In point of numbers, tasteful and profuse decorations, a wide-spread enthusiasm and a magnificent civic and military display, the anniversary yesterday was an unqualified success. Nature seemed to be in sympathy with the effort of our citizens and furnished a day of unexceptionable quality, which tendered greatly towards the success of the whole affair. * The ferryboats, street cars and locomotives running on the different railroads centering in our city, were gaily decked with the national emblem in honor of the occa-
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sion. Early in the day crowds of people from everywhere congregated in- the streets, dressed in their holiday attire. The banks, public buildings and most of the prominent places of business were closed. Decorations, some of them costly, others unique and appropriate, were to be seen every where. Flags floated out upon the breeze as if pleased to once more have an airing. So plentiful were they that to the casual observer the query at once in- truded itself-where did all the flags come from? The rising generation, not to be behind their elders in the matter of patriotism, made the air resonant with the reports from Chinese crackers and toy cannons. Peddlers of all kinds of wares; the inevitable lemonade and peanut men, and the vender of suspicious-looking ice cream, added their quota to what might be properly termed a season of carnival. * * The exhibition of fireworks at the head of Montgomery street attracted an immense throng. Prior to the display a band discoursed popular airs and kept the crowd in good humor. As the balloons, rockets and other pieces were sent flying. heavenward they were greeted with exclamations of delight. The set pieces, Liberty Tree, Fairies' Frolic, Star of Independence, the Old Wind Mill and the Bay and the equestrian statute of Light Ilorse Harry, with appropriate mottoes, were exceptionally good. The exhibition lasted about two hours. There was a large gathering of people at the different parks throughout the city, where bands were stationed and gave open air concerts.
[The Mail (New York City), August 19.]
Up to a late hour last night great fears were entertained by the Committee of Arrangements having in charge the proper celebration of this, the 100th anniversary of the battle of Paulus Hook, lest the storm of the last few days should continue and thus seriously interfere with the character and enthu- siasm of the demonstration. The severe rain of yesterday had the effect of thoroughly cleaning the streets and adding a bright, crisp look to the verdure on trees and shrubs. The American flag, which could be seen floating in the cool west wind from every nook and corner, palace and hovel, locomotive and street car, presented the appearance of having been newly washed under the auspices of the Goddess of Liberty, so brightly did its color gleam in the rays of the morning sun.
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[The Commercial Advertiser (New York City), August 19, 1879.]
The Centennial Anniversary of the Battle of Paulus Hook, in Jersey City, is being celebrated to-day in an appropriate manner, At sunrise, every bell in the city rang out a glad welcome, and every whistle screamed with joy, while the air over the salt marshes, back of the city, shook under the thundering of Battery A. Dwelling-houses and stores on Henderson, York and Montgomery streets, as well as those in other parts of the city and in Lafayette, were gaily decorated with bunting and flags, and the national colors were displayed from all the hotels and public buildings. The streets have been thronged all day with citizens in holiday attire. The memorial services at the Tabernacle, corner of Henderson and York streets, were of an interesting character, and attracted an immense con- course.
[The Evening Post (New York City), August 19, 1879.]
The people of Jersey City began early this morning the celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of the Battle of Paulns Hook. * The city was gay throughout with displays of bunting. The national colors floated from all the public buildings, and from very many of the private dwelling houses. A federal salute of thirteen guns was fired at sunrise by Battery A, under command of Captain Peter Ehler, of the Hudson County Artillery, and for fifteen minutes after sunrise the air resounded with the blowing of steamn whistles and the ringing of bells. *
* A civic and military parade is taking place this afternoon, and in the evening there will be a display of fireworks.
[The Evening Express (New York City), August 19, 1879.]
* The day among the citizens is being observed as a general holiday. The banks, City Hall, public offices, and many prominent business houses are closed, the decorations on the same being ornate and tasteful. The fronts of most of the private residences exhibit emblems appropriate to the occasion, and evince the sympathy of the occupants with the cause that gave to the struggling colonies their independence, and to their descendants
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a prosperous home. Thousands of people have been arriving during the morning, from all parts of IIudson county and the neighboring cities, to witness the grand civic and military parade this afternoon, and the evening display of fireworks, which will close the festivities of the occasion.
[The Evening Telegram (New York City), August 19, 1879.]
To-day the citizens of Jersey City celebrated the one hundredth anni- versary of the Battle of Paulus Hook, or "Paulus Hoeck," as it was called in early times. At sunrise this morning, the people were awakened from their slumbers by the ringing of bells, blowing of steam whistles and boom- ing of cannon from Battery A, of the IIudson County Artillery, which. honored the occasion with a federal salute-thirteen guns. At an early hour bunting was profusely displayed from all the public and most of the private buildings. From a number of windows the "Old Red " of Great Britain floated upon the air, beside the stars and stripes. But little business was done in the city during the day, and toward noon the people began to throng the streets in holiday attire. At noon, a national salute of thirty- eight guns was fired, and the people began to throng into the Tabernacle, York and Henderson streets, where the civic services were held. His . honor Mayor Henry J. Hopper occupied the chair. The ceremonies con- sisted of music, addresses, etc. * * At sundown, a federal salute will
There will be displays of fireworks on the brow of the hill at Montgomery street. During the evening, bands of music will be stationed at the various public parks throughout the city, where they will discourse national music until midnight, thus appropriately closing the cen- tennial celebration of a most interesting and important event in American history.
be fired. '
[The Sunday Mercury (New York City), August 24, 1879.]
THE PAULUS HOOK CENTENNIAL.
The battle of Paulus Hook was celebrated with enthusiasm in Jersey City last Tuesday. * * * There was a lengthy street parade. The Fourth N. G. S. N. J., Col. Steele, and Ninth N. G. S. N. J., Col. Hart ;
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four companies of regular infantry, a battery of the Third Artillery, U. S. A. ; Battery A, of New Jersey ; several posts of the G. A. R, and numerous civic organizations were in the procession, which was quite imposing, the military presenting a handsome appearance, and marching very well. A banquet and pyrotechnics concluded the celebration.
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