The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-15

Az the laying q tae corner OF ths "geidfw's
IL Ponds narrative Of events was = folIovs.-
LADIES AND GENrLEMEN-This very large audi
epce have conveyed here to render due honor e ire
memory of the forty six American soldiers whs sae-
ri6ced their lives in struggling for the rights and
privileges which We now enjoy, and whose reusias
repose in the grave around which we are nov
gathered The purpose Of my narrative 10 merely
to recount the facts and incidents connected With
this monumental enterprise, and neither to sxpAi-
ate upon the great cause of liberty In which these
martyrs suffered and died, nor undertake to show
how American Independence has essentially prsnet-
ed civilization and human progress Their history
10 collected from scanty records, from tradition and
from the "reminiscences of those very few survivors
who witnessed the thrilling scenes which We COM
mennonite; but enough of their history is knoWa to
truly grateful enterprise This is their brief history;
On the let Of January, l777 British cartel ship,
which was bound TO New Haven. but by adverse
winds put into our harbor forthwith Landed two b..
from British prison ship then lyinS oear N.w Ya,k
These unfortunate strangers "re quite Destitute Of
clothing and accd by long and 10 sthsouas
imp'isonment-D..oy Of them were gssp'ng ia tho
last stsges". burning fevers and other msladiss, and
some ". d upon the beach IL was in the middle Of
W'-.ler when these unexpected visiter were sud
denly cast upon our shore, and the news Of their
arrival spread through the town, tho people hsstsnsd
TO supply their wants, and TO alleviate their suffer-
ings. such could, travelled TO town, inpriating
their bloody footeepsi in the snow those who oould
not walk were conveyed to the Town House, which
90, converted into an hospital, and ssne wsre
onsrte,sd IN :. sritsble families 1t was in tims Of
war and our town was ts,..o oy .ne apseae %
those engaged in tho public service, 49, ''''' Wv
had fed to the interior to escaps the evils o. w..
1t is readily that the sympahies Of all the re-
naming inhabitants must have been aroused aud
called into exercise, to suppl food, cloth,ag NUS
ng. and other greatly needed comforts for thoss
sick and dying soldiers. And in rem ieriag those
kind services there must have been full scope foe
both public and private charities Most Of thsss
martyrs Of liberty belonged 10 Connecticut, and
nearly all the residue in Massachusetts, aud Pounsyl
vsDia. Such as could do so, tottsred to their
homes, and some were removed by rela'iyes sad
fIiends but notwithstanding all the kidd Offices
that watchful charity could bestow, within ono
month forty.six died and were buried ia this COM
mon grave An aged witness informs ms taAs in
day he saw twelve bodies laid in this oharnsl-
house worthy toansman who acted the part Of
the good Samaritan, took the fever and died Auf
OF all the inhabitants who Witnessed these heart
rcndpg scenes, only three survivors able to be
presen, AND oi0 in the monumental tribute ofrsspeot
For seventy five years the remains of these su-
ticnary soldiers have quietly rested in this neglected
spot. which has Away been kno vn az tho Soldiers
Grave !" An0 since the earth fell in the dspsh
of their mouldeIed cofns, the attention Of pissers
by has been forciby called to this interesting
spot. For many years the wish has been expressed
that some suitable monument should 10 erected TO
their memory By memorial from tho 10 gn the
subject was brought before the last General Asso-
bly,, and graft Of six hundred dollars was made o
accomplish this long .desired object The whole Of
that cum will be paid to Mr. John Ritter for COM
pleting the monument. From a model which has
been generously furnished by Mr. Sidaey Stone,
the structure will be thirty feet high csasissns Of
pedestal of ten feet, aud shaft of twenty feet,
and all Of massive Portland stone, from Shalsr Sc
Halls quarry. On the disc will be inscribed she
names and residences of the forty six martyrs and
brief account Of attending incidents Ga tho shaft
viii be wrought the State arms, the thirteen en-
blematic stars, ard the words 'Soldiers' Monu-
ment" and all will appear in suitable raised letters
and figures. We are now assembled to witness the
laying OF the corner stone, and the services will
sist Of prayers. addresses, and choice music, IN
words which sweet poets have kindly written for
this occasion. The foundation has been provided,
and these massive stones have been removed
from the shore TO this grave by the comwendabIe
efforts OF public-spirted native aud adopted
citizens But contributing friends in other
places have furnished material aid y Sons
thing yet remains to be done to wards grading the
ground, and providing suitable enclosurs-ard
in supplying these reeded items little public spirit
is anticipated Sundry documents will be deposited
in this monument, to inform posterity (@hen they
see the inside of tho monument,) who they were
that lived and aow they acted in the year 1852 in
honoriDg the memory of these martyrs of T6.
Among the documentswil be the Bible and Cenmsn
Prayer Book; the roll Of the last General Asscnby
tuch newspapers and periodicals may be furnished
the purpeee Statistics of this town and Of the
evolutionary soldiers this days erder of exercises
ard airy other suitable memories which may DO Of
ndVlDg tDo luclueuLS OF 8raLa-
fn enterprise, will add in conclusion, that from
he earliest to the present time, monuments have
been used to perpetuate tho memory Of the worthy
dead and their deeds. Such memorials have already
been reared In many places, to commemorate tho
services Of revolutionary horoes, And soon will be
seen in Milford q monument erected to he n smory
Of the forty. six soldiers who lost their lives in
striving for American independence that event
which has done more to hasten the march of sivli-
cation and human progress than any other recorded
human event. What is more commendsble in the
actors! and what is more pleasing to lockers
on, than such memorials render due honor to the
patriotic dead, and inspire love Of country in the
living and why should not these enter prisss COM
mand universal appreciation :?