Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-02-09
THE NEW JERSEY STATE AR
SENAL.

THE NEW JERSEY STATE AR
SENAL. .-...
The following interesting account OF
the State Arsenal was prepared by Mr..
T. J Murphy the Trenton correspond
ent of the New York Herald and Even.
ing Telegram.
"The New Jersey State Arsenal,
formerly the old State Prison, is loca.
tod in South Trenton, adjacent to the
present State Penitentiary, aud occu-
pies space of about two acres. 1t con-
sists of two large apartments, in which
the appurtences of war are carefully
housed as well as workshop for keep
ing the arms in order. and residence
for the military storekeeper. The
buildings command fine view of the
Delaware, as it rolls majestically along.
They are modestly but substantially
built, and seem well adapted 20 their
present purpose. Though the civility
and urbanity of the military storekeep-
er, Mr.. Sterling. the visitor was shown
through the interior of the institution
and made acquainted with its contents,
some of which are intimately associated
with the history of the country since
the eighteenth century. The reader of
American history is well aware that
among the old thirteen States New Jer
sey stands proudly eminent, both for
the number of battles waged upon her
soil i'll the cause of liberty and indie
pendence, as we'll as for the bravery and
patriotism of her sons. There are not
many relics preserved of those days
that tried mems souls, but such as have
survived bear testimony to American
valor and English discontinue. In one
of the apartments are an old six pound
er ("red nose'D and several British
muskets captured from the Hessians at
the battle of Trenton, in which Wash
ington figured so gloriously. Some of
those guns bear the impress of the
Tower of London, and others of Dublin
Castle, while some Of them are engraved
1880" Here also is piece of ord.
nance presented by General Lafayette
to the American Congress- In this de-
partment also are preserved many son
venirs of the late rebellion, in the
shape of numerous varieties of rebel
flags, some in fair state of perfection,
while others are tattered, torn and per
forated in way that eloquently speaks
OF fierce contests and the reluctance
with which the rebel standard bearers
parted with their banners. A flag be-
longing to the Four h New Jersey is
carefully laid by as having II romantic
history. 1t was captured with the reg
iment i'll the "seven days fight" and
by some means got into the possession
Of the daughter of Jack Hamilton.
Provisional Governor of Texas, who, it
is said, kept it concealed beneath her
under othiug until the surrender of
Lee, when she returnedit to the New
Jersey authorities. The department
likewise contains splendid Mexican
saddle, presented by Commodore Boggs
to be awarded by Governor Oldeu 10
the bravest New Jersey volunteer.
However, it seems that their collective
bravery was so meritorious that the
Governor was unable to distinguish any
individual prowress, SO that the gift re-
mains unclaimed. The rest of the Gu
riosities embrace a six FOUNDER bronze
cannon, captured at Tripoli by Admiral
Decutar; two four pound guns, cap
tured at Saratoga before the surrender
of Burgoyne, and block Of camphor
God brought over from China by H.
N. Cougar, present Secretary of State,
while representing this commonwealth
at that court. rea
In the outer departments are kept
fifty pieces of artillery, made in Troy
and quite new twenty five thousand
muskets, besides q quantity of ammu-
milton, train harness, etc. The mus
kets are carefully packed in boxes,
while the harness and artillery are reg
ularly cleaned, so as to be fit for imme-
diate service.
The old flag staff, which proudly
Raunted in the yard since the CONVEX
sion of the buildings into their present
use in 1928, was destroyed by lightning