The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-17
Preparations at MOrristOwn, N. j., for
the Coming Fourth Of July.
REVOLUTIONARY "REMINISCENCES.
Fortunes and Vicissitudes Of the
Continental Army.
A HISTORIC SPOT.
MossIsrows, N. J., June 10, 1875.


grand celebration, OF an exceedingly novel and in
yerestng character to be held here upon the coming
Fourth Of July, The Mayor OF Morristown, the Com
mon Council and the different officers OF the county
will take part in IT, and every trade and industrial in
tercsi OF the city Will be represented The clab-
crate preparations being made render
Well may the Inhabitants this lovely little city de
vote small portion Of their yearly income in appro-
pratey celebrating this important OF national
holidays. for by dong, they not only commemorate
grand epoch OF American history but they also pay
Hitting tribute the brave and good who founded
Morrisown. and who played most important part in
tho great struggle for independence.
One familiar with the "Fied Book OF the Revolution"
rs no wanders about these beautiful hills finds almost
every point something to remind him ola bygone
tury, while he gazes upon the quaint old relics
which everywhere claim his attention he cannot help
but feel that he is standing upon haliowed ground
There but few places In The State of New Jersey
where, during the dark hours of colonial history in
dividual heroism more conspicuous, for 1t
Aere In the year 1776, that almost all the male
habtants who old enough 70 shoulder musket
formed themselves into body OF minute men, and
urged by their loyal and devoted families, Tor.
warded communication to General Washington that
they ready march to the point where their
vices required. For this noble and patriotic
action tue Provincial Congress returned them q OF
hcartiest thanks.
II was here, too. that in the year 1776 reared
those mills and towers which supplied the Continental
Army with powder and shot, and was from this his
orc spot that tho forces at Springfield and Trenton
irew their ammunition and supplies that for them
Asuccession or brilliant victories Hence this posi-
ton important to the forces under Washington il
was the ambition Of the British TO attack; but SO
Bacrcdly and systematically 1t guarded that the
enemy were never able TO capture it,
WASHINGTON YOUNGSTOWN
General George Washington arrived at Morristown
January 1776 and took up his winter quarters at
what then known tho Arnold Tavern. The
quaint old building, though slightly altered is still
standing can see It as write, just there
west side Of the Green. Its rooms which have shell
tered many lusrious guests, have all been trans
formed into offices and stores but the general outline
OF It's external architecture is to-day pretty nearly the
same as it was hundred years ago.
From this point on December 20, 1875 Washington
wrote to Congress- stating that he had directed three
regiments TO halt at Morrstown, where he understood
that about 500 militia gathered restore
confidence among the people and to encourage them,
far possible to completely covcr their country. !"
These regiments were for tho most part composed OF
Eastern men, and numbered in all about $40 souls
General Maxwell, Of New Jersey, commanded tho
troops and Colonel Jacob Ford, Jr Of this place. was
the retreat OF Washington" but while doing SO the
snemy under General Leslie, poured such qgang lire
in upon him that he compelled 10 retire and
bivouac again nt Morrisown. He died CT brain fever
only few days after being driven back
About Arnold Tavern are clustered tho m ost sacred
rccollections II while CHARTERED mere the news
up TO Washington and his staff from the Lowan-
tca Valley where the troops in camp, that tho
soldiers attacked by the most terrible of all dis
the people residing in the town, and its his
tory the Continental Army brought with
such n dire and dreadful enemy Death daily visited
the terrorstrickcn army, until 2o5 brave and valiant
men were placed under the sod. One can
we'll understand the alarm of Washington,
- he beheld his brave followers falling victims the
asease and the anxiety Of the people of the country
1T this critical period better be imagined than
described because should tho ranks OF the army be-
eome reduced that they could longer defend their
shot towers and powder mills the cause would be
utterly lost for u upon them that almost the entire
force in the Held depended Tor ammunition.
II is a legend that the maiady carried into the
American camp by British spy, the enemy, by this
dishonorable method, having cndeavored TO gain a
Ihost important position and turn the tide OF victory
toward themselves The hour dark and the young
nation plunged In gloom and sadness; but darker
hour Still destined 70 follow for just at this time
WASHINGTON BECAME DANGEROUSLY
II was in the dead Of winter. The entire country
snow bound In order travel from point to point IL
was necessary TO cut roads through the drifts as
Abcrcrombe cut his way through underbrush from
Lake George to Fort Ticondcroga The soldiers were
shvcring for want OF shelter and dying for lack Of
proper care and attention. In HIS desire TO relieve
their position and IN his anxiety prevent the spread
OF the awful scourgc Washington. negectng his own
health, constantly subjected himself to the elements,
and In his frequent journeys between the camp and
headquarters contracted heavy cold which brought
him down upon his back in the Arnold Tavern with
diphthcria
sad intelligence would create were II communicated
the soldiers, purposely kept II from them Tor time
The onappearancc OF their commander in camp how
ever, finally led them to suspect his serious illness,
whercupon the officers unable TO keep them longer IN
suspense revealed the whole truth II said that the
forces were utterly heartbroken. They had laced the
enemy against terrible Odds they bad seen their
panions alter another carried out TO be buried
They were content TO suffer the conditions OF ono Of
the most terrible winters that has been known
and the OF their commander they would,
left OF them, have even yet marched in n solid
rolumn against an army double their number; but now
bsat the voice their General silent, that
shc midst OF their despair they could no longer catch
glimpse OF his familiar iacc, they were wholly I'M
ncrved, and for the moment seemed have lost all
trust in their God and their cause.
Tradition has II that alarming did tho position Of
Washington become that his medical advisers APP
preached him and acquainted MIN with bis dangerous
situation They asked him whom he considered most
competent 10 AL his place in OF his death. Wash
ineton was unable speak tho time, but with his
Anger pointed out General Greene the But,
thanks TO the Almighty, the cheftain recovered ana
this circumstance along with the fac, that the
and mills were turning out increased amounts OF
powder and shot, once mote inspired hopc among the
soldiers, and also placed them upon footing with tho
enemy.
The winters OF 177s-so were terrible, amos, beyond
description DR.. Thatcher in his dairy writes 1.-THE
soldiers destitute OF both tents and blankets and
many OF them bsrefooied and almost naked our
lodging last night the frozen ground Later he
adds Tin addition 10 other sunerlngs tho whole army
has been destitute OF The stan OF lite for days
On The sd inst We experienced one OF tue most ire.
mcndous snow storms ever remembered. No man
could endure It's violence many minutes without dan
ger OF his lie" 80 heavy was the storm
nunIcaton with tho army from Morristown
entirely cut OF and u about this time that Wash
fnrton wrote the Chief Magistrate OF New Jersey
follows present state OF the army with respect
provisions is the most distressing oil any have
experienced since tue beginning OF the war"
IL in the winter OF 1850 That Washington moved
from The Arnold Tavern 10 the Ford mansion which
has since been regarded as hrs "Hcadqusrtefs
Here he Joined BY Lady Washington. NO sooner
She arrived when several ladies VINO held high pc
sitons the country, put on their best "bibs and
bands and their elegant 'rpiics and silks,n
cali upon her when they reached the mansion they
found lady busiy engaged IN knitting stockings loo
her husband. During the course OF the She took