The New York herald., 1876-09-17
HARLEM BATTLE PLAINS.
A Civic and Military Celebration
Of the Event.
HON. JOHN JAYS CENTENNIAL GRAFTON.
Looking Back on One Hundred
Years of History.
A Peaceful Contrast to the RevO-
lutionary Days.


Yesterday at O'Clock there a mocting Of the
Committee OF Reception Of tho historical Society OF
| tho State OF New York at the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
The guests received Governor Henry Lppitt, OF
Rhode Island; Colonel Charles Warren Lippitt, chief
of the personal staff; Colonel Edward Eames, Colonel
Theodore NJ Cook, General Hebcr Lcavour. Adjutant
General of tho State, and Colonel Jabers c. Knight
Paymaser General The reunion II is hardly neces-
sary state for the purpose OF arranging the pro-
ceedngs to take place later the day Oh the site OF
the battle of Harlem Plains, on which historic spot
Hon. John Jay was to deliver an Grafton.
On arriving at the place OF celebration scene OF un
rivalled beauty was unioldcd. Upon a large plateau
upon the edge of bluT extending from 115th to l25th
street, erected two large covered platforms
festooned in elaborate manner with American hags
tents pitched upon the ground from which hoaed
the national colors, the fences and likewise
decorated, and from every point-not excepting tho
Boomingdale Lunatc Asylum-,hcre seemed to bo
display Of rcd white and blue In front
stretched the lowlands, now teeming rich with
the autumnal vegetation; to tho left, the low
brick houses Of Harlem seeming almost pro
totype OF that anciont city in Holland
from which it its Far in the distance the
sparkling OF Long Island Sound laved the dim
shores and the spires of the churches pierced
INC uuH september SKY IKE iances Inc ony BHttct-
ing object however thinning through tho ether the
great Cathedral distant Fifth avenue whose marble
retwork seemed to be mirrored against the heavens
and reflect It's glory the landscape In gazing west
ward the winding Hudson washing the feet
oil the Palisades and way beyond steamers were plying
from shore to shore peacefully as If never battles
had been lost
CEREMONIES
About threo o'clock the Historical Society arrived
upon tho ground and took possession OF the main
stand They accompanied by tho following gen.
tlemcn:-Governor Lippit and staff, Mayor W. H.
wickham, Charles O'Conor Judge Larremorc, cx-
Mayor Daniel +. Tiemann, Lieutenant Gardner United
States Army; Row. Dr. Morgan Dix, General Kilbourne
Knox, Senator Beekman. Colonel Warner Major
George W. Mclean, OF the ''od Guard;" Rev. DR..
Richard s. Storrs Rev. Or. Adams, cx-Commissionor
Van Mort, County Auditor Earle, James Russell
Lowell benjamin II. Field, Hosea b. Perkins, Ford
ham Norris Henry A. Oakley. W. Il Moore and +. Do
Pcystcr.
The exercises of the commemorative anniversary
were opened with prayer. by Rev. Dr. Morgan Dix. He
supplcated Almighty God, the everlasting King whose
power infinite to have mercy on all the people, to
the end that they might yield obedience TO all in
thorny He thanked sEe Gver Of all good for the sig
nal manifestations OF His merces, especially evidenced
in those days when faith in His power made for this
people an invinciOlo bulwark OF their liberties.
Mr. Frederick Dc Pey introduced tho orator
Of the day, Hon. John Jay, who spoke substantially
follows:-
Our centennial year. fraught with cherished memo-
ries brought US to the anniversary Of the spirited
eugagcincnts which took place the hoights and
plans around US u hundred years ago between
OF the Continental troops under the command OF WASH
ington aud q part OF the British army under Sir
! William Howe The action for the American army and
the American had great sign ncance Our
troops engaged in II represented all sectionsNrgnia
Maryland. Pennsy ylvania, New YORK ana New Eng
| land ,licati
| in common destiny. and recalling tho generous
thought OF Patrick henry, when he said, al am net
| Vlrginan-l American" II was the first
cess OF the Americans IN the New York campaign and
| 1t occurred moment when both officers and men
ard alarmed exhibition Of panic the day before,
which had wounded their seLrespect and
veioped tho bravery and spirit of our newly
levied troops and their ability. when iarly
army and the trained veterans OF the Continent. 1t
inspired with ardor the Comm In Chief, his
officers and men, and It thus became important link
in that cham Of events military and civil, which, by
the wisdom OF Washington and the holp OF God, cstab
lisnsd. after seven years struggle, our Union and
THE OCCASION Is yIrLY GRAcED
by this brilliant assemble including our distinguished
aud welcome guests aud by our gallant Seventh rog
| ment, OF which New York is justly proud-hat school
soldiers which in our late war furnished more than
600 officers to the army aud navy OF tho United States
Practical as may be the character, active as is the
life OF coantrymep. theirs is not the irgid
philosophy denounced by the English moraI.st
when might conduct one unmoved ground
consecratci by wisdom, bravery and virtue. r.
! as Dr. johnson observed, that man IS little to be
! cnvcd whose pa,rioiism would not gain force upon
| the plains OF Marathon, or whose pety would not
burn brighter amid the ruins OF Iona, the American
could he DC iound would be still less to be enved whose
PATRIOTISM at this Centennial season would not be
rcshcd on tie baltic eds OF the Revolution. where
our independence was won under the lead OF wash
| ington. II Marathon and Iona inspire touching
| scenes. while they also remind US OF ages that
are gone linked with living present, and
THE nxAgr OF THE NATION
ko,t l,l xtlh htnvn nd m
Centennial the gathering OF the nations nj Phila
delphia not 10 sirg our requiem and divide our her-
treasures magpidccnco the birh-year OF ihc
| Republic Having dismissed to their homes her army
OF million and retained Tor the protection OF the
Republic some twenty-five thousand men, less than
the garrison OF a European capital she cordially
way to assure them that II ..westward the star OF
empire takes its way, our star OF empire Is the bar
bnger OF peace Our Centennial is teaching us tho
unity OF history by the most striking OF lessons, as
Egypt leads the thrUng mother OF civilization, with
her untold ages OF hoar an'i!uisy-.ne iand OF the
| Sphynx, with scripiura memories OF Abraham and
sarah OF Joseph and hts brethren. when the great
pyramid had been standing some 1000 years; OF the
second Joseph the mother and the child recalling Men,
phls aud TheDe.. Raneses and Cambyses, with dim
thoughts OF Tyre and sdon, and Babylon, as shadowed
forth by kzckcl and Jc'cmiah. Egypt, which va her
remote origin was sphynx to the anceut Greeks,
brings from the East with her oriental courtesy her
greeting and her gifts. She saiutcs us OF old the
statue OF Memnon greeted the rising sun; aud we
read the message written her portals at Paramount,
'fhc oldest nation sends her morning greeting to tho
youngest nation we ieel that our youthful Republic.
child OF the brightest centuries OF European develop
mcnt is akin to all the nations and heir TO the culture
OF all the ages.
Touching the dispute between England and her colo
the combattcd that the coloniss at first
wished for separation They contended not for rights
which they considered new but which were sacred and
traditional Tho speaker adyer,ed to the certainly
foreign aid at the o the struggle observing
that had not yet received the gallant the great men
who aitcrwird Hooked standards The defeat Of
Quebec the arrival British ships in the Hudson,
the coming OF Hishianders and hessIans were duly
mentioned. The disastrous battle oi Long Island,
Washngton's retreat IRON Brook yn TO New York, and
the landing OF the first division OF tho British army
under sir Henry Clinton next reviewed.
There Is incident, said the speaker, connected
with Putnam's retreat which, although often related,
cannot srope-ly omitted Centennial mention of