New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-18
HARLEM's BATTLEFIELD.
a REVOLUTIONARY CONTEST coMMEM-
GRATED.

A REyor ITTIoNARY CONTEST C0BfMEM-
GRATED.
pRocFEDINGs ON THE YIELD oP THE BATTLE OF
aAp1EM P1.AINs-THE SPEAKERS AND THE AUDI
EEcR-ORAlloS by THE HON. JOHN JAY.
The Centennial anniversary of the battle OF
HsIlen PLANS was celebrated on Saturday by the New
York Historical Society upon the nights near the upper
end OF Central Park Upon this rocky and barren eeva
ton bounded by Observation-Disclosures ana one-hnh-
nred and ath-ss and Ninth and Tenth-aves is
the only Revolutionary battlefield of the island The
ezet eOnlmeInOrated SatGrddy-uE as com
pared With tho sanguinary struggles which had
preceded it, well with those that folowed-was OF
iuealculalle advantage to the American Army, as
strategic operation leading to brilliant and successful
campaign At noon on Saturday there was gathering
of prominent members OF the Historical Society at The
PIffh Avenue Hotel where lunch was served ana the
nnal for the days obserVanees were made
The party proceeded in carriages from the hotel 10
Washington Nights, which reached soon after .
O'Clock notwithstanding tho chilling wind. the dun
shy ana dust, q large crowd bad already assembled,
filing the limited area before the speakers stand. and
divided groups around upon the hillside, giving 10 the
scene the aspect Of picnic or fair TINS appearance
was heightened by the large gathering Of orphan children
from the neighbOring asylums BY the time that inc
9TH Regiment with band had reached tine HILL the
crowd had increased to nearly 5000. The speakers
platform was tastefuy decorated with the national and
State flags, and bunting hung in graceful festoons Pr
inent among the occupants OF the stand we're Gov Hey
TApptt Of Rhode Island, and Cola. G. W. Bppitt t. c.
Ames I. NJ Cook, and j. C. Knight Of his stall; Adh
tant-Genoral H. lie Favour OF the same STATE; Mayor
wIehham Commissioner Van Mort, Frederic DePeyset,
President and j. W. BeeaD. Vice President OF the HE
tOrical Society Charles OCOnOr FOrdnam Morris, the
Rev Drs. r. s. stOrrs, Morgan Dix, and william Adams:
Judge LarremOre Gen KbOurne Knox, George W. Mo
Lean, Major Of the Old Guard Col Clarke and Lieut.
COL Fitzgerald Of the 7tb Regimenti George H. Moore
III IA Perkins Auditor Earle, and others
The PROCEEDINGS
President DePeyster Of the Historical Society presided
and sitter brief prayer by the Rev. DR.. Morgan Dix,
introduced the orator Of the day, the Hon. John JAY
upon whom, he said had fallen the mantle OF his iustr
Gus 4randsire who tell Harlem PLAINS 100 years ago
Mr. JAY who was greeted with enthusiastic cheors
spoke of the Significance the action for the Amercan
army and the American Troops from all sections
were engaged In it. 1t the first success OF the
Americans the New-York campaign, aud it came after
much defeat and disbursement, inspiring with new
erdor the officers and troops. All the sacred memories
OF the scene appealed heart with eloquen0e OF
their own and Mr. Jay proposed 10 offer more th'n
simple narrative OF battle. After reflections
open tie associations OF the centennial yeal aud the
questions involved in the Declaration o. In cendenee
Br Jay described the operations In this vicinity during
the Summer and FAN Of 1878, The check received
by the American troops the 9th Of August had hed
the troops with disnay. The evacuation Of NewYorE
was resolved upon. Washingtons baggage removed
to his new headquarters Kings Bridge on the l4h
Tie oannonadng from the British shipping had com
enced on the 18th Of September and the First Division
Of the British army was Iandoa. Putnam, who was IN
command OF the In HewYork began his retreat
and Joined the army in the evening Harlem Nights
TIE headquarters of Howe were at what is Row Elm
Park at the Of Nnthave and Ninety hrstst Tie
nights were occupied by the Americans
Mr. Jay followed with long description of the Skin
IDisb the British being driven back with considerable
loss skrmsh ltsof is succtactly described in The
TRIBUNE OF Saturday Allusion made To the fall
Of Col KnOwltOn OF Connecticut, and whose conduct,
Washington said would have done honor To any country
Ieiteh who was al killed, similarly credited and
ms name was given the days parole. This was
stbe first CLEAN during the campaign" The
moral eTeot of the American was very great
Cen Clinton considerable equal TO a victory" Its re-
suit was TO restore TO the American troops confidence
and self-respect Mr. Jay closed with sOme remarks
upon the national progress and the noble example
presented by Washington of ford.ude and patriotism
The Rev Dr. Storrs followed Mr.. Jay with brlsf i'm
pronptu address in which described the sentiment
which should felt ny every patriot Stood upon tie
site of such battlefield aud reGoced upon its hallowed
story He conphmented the Of the day, tie
eiety 6c. in form of mton which adopted
by acolaati0n Tue crowd eauOred Tor other Speakers
but OF the many only James W. BeekDaB and James
Austin sJeyens tie society responded The exercises
were RbPFpeTseG with appropriate music by the band OF
the TIN ReginenJ