The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-26
ived at Fort Washington, and was also buried at

To the soldier the last resting place of his comrade
Is consecrated by the memory OF the trials the con-
ficts the sacrifices and the sufierings which they
hase shoulder to shoulder, encountered, He feels
that his honor rests by that mound Of EARTH and
uust guard it from violation while life shall last.
BE bequeaths its care to his countrymen as place
that future years may bring spoilers of the tomb,
who will forget their duty to the blood which ce-
mented the foundations Of the republic.
TIE Mexican war was prolific in instances whore
those who fell were exhumed by committees sent by
their surviving comrades, and received soldiers
burial at home.
Permit me to relate fact in this connection.
At the call for volunteers for the Mexican war,
William Zurich marched with his company from
the town OF York, and joined the Pennsylvania Re-
giment. In the battle which occurred before the
walls of Pueba, Zurich, with others of his company,
having charged close up to the Mexican lines saw his
friend and comrade shot dead by his side. A SUI
perior force compelled them to retreat, but Zurich
paused, and shoulderng his friends body, was bear,
ing it off to place OF safe sepulture, when paii
struck him and the brave fellow sank in death by
the body of his much1oved friend. Zurich was the
grandson Of Michael Zurich, Of the captured
soldiers of Fort Washington.
Shall the stern heart and rough nature OF soldier
beat with so hallowed feeling, and shall the
citizen the merchant and the legislator repudate it?
<Shal it be said that the city of New York desc
crates the graves of her defenders, and at the
bidding Of the moneygod, scatters to the winds the
ashes Of the soldiers of liberty
These patriot soldiers who now repose in the
churchyard of Trinity, died far from friends and
home. They laid down their lives in their youth
They left no sons to speak for them. Their silen
dust cannot plead to you for rest.
It, therefore, becomes my duty and privilege to
| address you.
! was born where they were born. Their friend
with the green hills which they last looked upon
when they marched to defend your city.
My earnest petition to the Common Council OF the
city of New York is that the remains of these mar
of IpIo In loft in
the graves where their comrades laid them.
Respectfully, J. BARNITz BACON
No l67 Broadway, Feb. 8, 1854.
DESIGNATION OF TRINITY cHURCHYARD
(Copy of Letter from his Honor the Recorder 10 A.
deYnmn Francis, ddted)
NEW YORK, May %, 1853
Dear Sir:-I did not receive your note mentioning
meeting of the committee of your board in rela-
ton to Trinity churchyard, until after the time de-
|. s1gnated. II is painful to to discover that
newed efforts are making to desecrate that holy
ground, for there lie mutudes of tie dead includ-
ing relatives, connexions, friends and ancestors Of
almost every family Of long standing in our CITY, in
gle the success of which established those mighty
principles and institutions OF human liberty from
which flow the happiness the blessings and prosper
\ ity of this country and its people.
! have not examined the papers connected with
the present application but should like to do the
moment can obtain sufficient time from my other
i
some few exceptions by the same leading persons
who took active part in the applications made in
1916 and 1s47, which, believe, in effect, was to
make street in continuation OF Pine street opposite
to it, through Trinity churehyard-the north part
SO feet IL inches wide on Broadway, and SO feet 8
inches on Trinity place, and to be continued to
Greenwich street. opposite Albany street. so feet
wide The street proposed on its northerly side on
Broadway would approach to within 40 feet of
Thames street. which is 20 feet / inch wide on
Broadway and 81 feet inches on Greenwich street,
and, by diagonal line, would be within So feet
inches of Thames street at Greenwich street.
The ground, as understand, has been employed
ms q cemetery since l676-the north part for all de-
nominations, confirmed by deed from the city in
l7OS. Originally, that part was gully about 49,
feet deep; and successive surfaces from the original
one, by successive filing to the present surface have
hsen used for interments, until, in truth, the land
chiefly for the whole depth is now composed of hu-
To accomplish the desire Of the applicants it would
be necessary to remove theremains Of a vast humble
Of persons.
see no advantage in recapitulating the argument
used on the former occasions in this letter. but
hct you to have the kindness to read the message
] veto Of Mr.. Havemeyer the Mayor in 1885, made on
the 18th Of May Of that year, and received in tn
Board Of Assistants, and the report of the commit
tee Of the same Board, made on the I'D of March
ls47. (Doc. 80 Of that year)
= The truth of the views of that committee we are
now, think, in some respects realising. The sale
of the graveyards and churches, and removal Of the
dead in various parts Of the city, and the closing up
of those green and spots by covering them
with buildings, have deprived u.s. to large extent,
of what may be regarded as necessary openings for
ventilation; nay, more, have removed 30 much OF the
moral influence which religious worship carries with
it. that vice and crime in the lower wards of the city
have been deprived of one Of their material preven
tves. The idea, no doubt, has its opponents, but
think examination will prove its truth.
Besides am interested in the measure, because
have twenty-five relatives and connections lying in
that portion of the yard. Some of them were in
tered previous to and some since the revolution. A
headstone of one who died in 1852 is yet extant
We are family of Huguenots. Our ancestors,
fort and good condition to this country-when here
it was almost wilderness-and met loneliness and
poverty. They did this for consciences sake; and,
to worship the Deity according to their tenets,
would walk on Saturday night from New Rochelle
to this city to their church, and return on Monday
morning.
The French church in Pine street, to which they
went, and its graveyard have, as well as 9th
ers, been sold for money, and the remains Of the
congregation there inferred been taken up and car
Jied away
Generations Of this family lie in Trinity church.
yard and 1t Is now impracticable to separate their
ashes from the earth which surrounds them. Such
is the case with thousands of others.
One of the family is Peter V. Tilyou, who died in
1885, at the age of ninety individual of the
body.guard Of Washington who, it is said, on the
entrance of the American army into this city at
the close of the war, took down the British and run
mp the American colors, at the spot where Is now
when he heard Of the application in 1885, before his
DEATH to open the street through the cemetery, re-
monstrated against the act in the newspapers Of the
day, and exclaimed that when he and his comrades
were fighting the battles Of their country, he little
thought he would ever live to see their bones
scattered, and that he had father, mother and
wife, and ten brothers and sisters, lying there.
The disturbance of the dead is q revolving act,
only excusable by extreme necessity. The instincts
of nature and the behests of the Almighty forbid it,
The abode of the dead is consecrated-is sacred in
the eye Of all nations, and linked as this home Of
mighty nation of the past is, by tradition relation
of this city-beautiful, though solemn in its appear
ance and nsprations-can It be, that any considera
tons short 81 vital necessity can warrant its being
broken into?
But enough; excuse these remarks: they are in
voluntarily drawn from me on thinking over the
matter. If Won will inform when you shall have