The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-09-10
4 Trip to Long Branch
PHILADELPHIA. August 81. 1872.

Is our "pulflng and snortlng steam
horse strutted forth from his dusky sta
blc," aud as he straghtcned his traces, it
was noted that he was encum5cred with
% passenger coaches, filed with the
members, adherents, aud friends Of the
"Pitman" NJ. Il Church, worshippng at
21st and Lombard sts., Rev. q. W. Nc
Llughlin pastor. The morning was one
of the torrd kind, out our iron steed
needed it not, but piled his gigantic
strength, comprising nerves, muscles and
sincws, of steam, irou and steel After
swaying and slipping awhile on the CLASSY
rails, he caught ioothold, aud pressed on
ward with majestic air, the pondcrous
and roaring train following. Ga arriv-
ing at Trenton, n. j.. 80 miles above the
city. the managers Of the road rcckoned
it advisable to divide the train. They
did SO. We then skipped like bird
over the plains of Jersey, soon reached
"Monmouth Junction." at which point
we divcrgcd to the right Of the main
New York line. a few miles farther
on, crossed the other through line the
"Camden and Amboy," at james burgh.
We then steamed up the Agricultural
Railway, and soon passed within musket
range Of the famed Monmouth battle
ground, on whose ems inguined field many
Of Columbia's heroic sons died, that we
might live, in resisting proud "Albion's"
tyranny aud oppression and laying and
cementiug with their blood the founda-
tion of that glorious superstructurc Of
American constitutional liberty, under
whose shadow we now so peacefully
dwell. Tne last Revolutionary patriot
that died in Bristol, at the advanced age
Of more than four score years and ten.
while living more than once narrated to
me some incidents that occurred on that
memorable day, in which he was an ac-
tive participant. He informed me that
on that cventiul morning. himself and
two or three of his soldier comrades sal
lied forth lute distance from camp in
quest Of poultry, before the early dawn.
As the eastern sky began to be tinted
with light, they found themselves in the
apple trees capturing chickens. While
engaged in that act, their ears were sud
denly sauted with the cracking and roar
Of musketry, and the heavy booming OF
cannon. They instinctively "scented the
battle from affair." Chickens were in
stantly released from the warriors grasp,
and they as soon on the ground, and on
the double quick running toward the
field Of strife, without ammunition, guns
or even cudgel. When they arrived at
our lines, Mr.. B. informed me that he
approached fallen soldier, whose gun
lay unused at his side. lie instantly
seized it and stripped him of his accou.
trements and ammunition, and appropri.
ating them to his own use, "pitchcd in
The contest was severe, but at length the
british Red Coats" retired from the
field, and left our forces masters of the
situation. Daring the contest our hero
was struck in his side with an ounce
British bullet, which was never extract,
ed, but descended with his honorcd per,
son to the tomb, a. a lnemento of hi
gallautry and patriotism. \ few mile,
farther on, we passed another object
around which much interest has away,
clustered, the old "Tennant church. Tho
church was built prior to the Revolutions
AIRY war. Mr. Tenuant, Presbyterian
clergyman, preached and itinerated in
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware
and Maryland, was contemporancou.
with WhiteieId, with whom he held meet
ings in the old Pine street church in thi,
city, and signal revivals of religion fol
lowed their preaching. Bishop Asbury
resided in Philadel phia at the time. Mr.
Tenant at length settled in Freehold, n
j. After preaching awhile he sickeneC
aud died aPparentl.", the day for the fun
eral was Appointed When that day
rived the attending physician and a few
friends asked and obtained postpone
ment of the funeral services, although
most Of the community upbraided then
for their supposed folly III taking such
view of the case, that ia, that life wa
, not wholly extinct. The physician KEEP
on using all means to resussitate, ThC
. next appointed day for burial arrived
He again plead for farther time 1t wa
/, hesitatiugly again granted, but before tn
: next day named for interment arrived
the friends aud the community becam
astonished at the indications of returnin
vitality. At length Mr.. Tenuant begaI
! to icebly and slowly respire, aud awhil,
alter opened his eyes, again on earth
! Whom able to speak he expressed aston
= ishment and regret that he still lived o
= earth, as he thought he had "crossed tn
river and had had experiences an
views that were enrapturing to the visio
!, and senses. He slowly recovered an
= preached some years in the same puly
y as before, and which is still in goo
state Of preservation. He at length dice
y was buried, and gathered to h
: fathers" 1t is some years since | rca
. the account but think in the main al
y correct. We soon passed through til
: shaded and beautiful village of FreeholC
. Six miles farther on passed throug
, Farmiugdale, the "headquarters of tn
Jersey "narl pits" The earth appear
d to have been dlsembowelei for quite
y space around. After passing throug
d Hopewel aud E.tontown. we arrived 1
81 the famed watering place. As the, no
T. two trains, discharged their living freigh
At they appeared like great army. | re,
ii ognized but one in the vast crowd, thl
D. was the stalwart form of the Rev. Bisl
le op Simpson. The Bishop has cottag
II here, and sojourns here through the hea
d, ed season, unless required to be absel
ID on official business.
c. Long Branch is 50 miles northeastern
as from Philadelphia, and 80 miles nearl
cs south from New York. Accessible fro
the former city by rail, and the latter ;
boat to Sandy Hook, thence by rail. III
D. coast is said to be higher here than
y any other point between Nova Scotia au