The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-17
A BATTLE REMEMBERED.
fHB HISTORICAL sOCIETT CELE-
BRATING ON HARLEM PLAINS.

rstive speaking on the site Of the Fight |
The Seventh Regiments Observance
Had 1t not been for the efforts of the
Kew York Historical Society the centennial an
niverssry Of the battle OF Harlem Plains night |
vesterdsy have passed unnoticed Toe conflict, |
slough In itself OF small Importance, had a
marked influence upon the war Of lndepend-
pDce. The Continental troops were disheartencd
and demorazed by their forced retreat from
Lons Island aud the subsequent landing OF the
British at Kip's bay. The success on Harlem
Pisins, however slight, restored the sinking
courage Of the army.
Al noon Yesterday many OF the most promi-
nent members Of the Historical Society, with
guests, including Mayor wickham and the Gov
isrnor of Rhode Island, met In the Fifth Avenue
Hotel, where n banquet was served, and soon
after one o'clock started In carriages for tho
scene Of the celebration, moderately level
ltrsct Of land at the foot of Washington Heights.
The spot was selected In view Of the historical
Interest attached to 1T but. Judged on Its merits,
sworse place could hardly have been selected.
Besides being almost inaccessible by reason Of
rough roads, It was exposed to a wind that made
those VINO wore summer garments look curl
suely upon those In overcOits. Nevertheless
there were many thousand persons present
when the party from the city arrived, and there
was lack Of patriotic enthusiasm. Hun
dreds of carriages were upon the ground, con-
readily have been mistaken for picnic partes
Soon after o'clock the crowd was largely aug
pented. The Seventh Regiment, he dcd by Its
band, marched down l10th street and up the hin
where the celebration WAS In progress. They
we're accompanied by an eager throng, who
hoped to gain GOOD places ~ seeping close to
them. In this. however. they were disappoint-
ed, for the regiment drew up In line 50 far from
abe speakers platform mat II was not easy to
haa uArH hat ha nd
was covered with small guard tents, aud
presented the appearance Of camp, ex-
cept that there liberal sh wing
Of canvas booths where Lemonade, beer,
sandwiches, and pie we're sold with rduidity.
The road leading to tho battlefield was lined
with nags oeurlns the wOrus Is tile ot Harlem
PiHiue," ana from every tent upon the round
banners were hutterug. The speakers plat
Iornl, when was occupied Nv tue uemters ol
the Historical Society and their guests,
elevated bout ten feet, anu covered with tent,
eurmouuted by hass bearing the arms Of the
State of New York, the stars aud stripes, and
other devices. Numerous seats rad been pro:
weed Tut these we're soon nlied, aud most OF
the standing room occupied. Tier We're
severel rows of seats IN from, OF the
were occupied by little eirls. inmates ct the
peighboring oruhan asylum. The crowd extend
60 lar BACK, ana altogether heNond rtacn OF tue
speekersvoices, but tn 70 was perfect -nenoe
dunng the addresses, and the IF quent bursts
ing and taken up by the others. attested the
enthusiasm. About a lhird of the occupants OF
yith his stsG Il col. Cnarie, warren N,priit,
Gen. Heber Lefavuur, Adiutani- Gener OF he
state OF Rhode island, anu CD. JaDez L. Knight,
DIR. Morgan DIX: Charles O'COnor; James Beck
cal soeesy T. pe Lane ss NeT H. i %r !0T
Moore, Coz. Warner. Jldge Llircmote, Gen. Gil
sert k9oA NaAor Mie]nsn' Commii,-'oper y-n
Adams; Henry A. u,kley. Pr sdcnt II
the board Of |! cerwriicr-; the Rev Dr. >torrs,
Mr.. Frederic De peyst,r. y c.ideu. Of the
Historical society, nltsded. and soor after the
srliSal OF the Seventh X, g.mcnt, and the cess 10
hon Of the mu.ic Il It's ind lie called The
meeting to order. ON behalf ~ the society lie
extended ~. tranks 10 III VINO mad attended
the ce'cpration. 10 tn re- In cnt IA I hal js-t
marched upon tue 81 Gnd and to Mr.. Jonn jay.
bic iiustiieu- gr ucsc vhp iell on Harlem
rains one hundred ,raIs ago. lie introduced
the Rev. lr. NJ rs-n DIX, wio pr y,G hritgy,
wbile the crowd stood WIN ancoy,r'd heaas
a patriotic air from me repineutal b nj /.
bate United States Minister 10 \ stria. who had
solved with tumultuous cheering, winch lasted
several minutes, after which he described the
truEge Tor indepsndence. lie explained h9w
lhe Agnt u on iiarl IA Plains, tnough MT rank
ing as great victory. was probably the turning
point OF the war IL tulosized Mrs. Murray,
tbe brave lady VINO detained the English vf1ic, -
while the American general was making his re-
Neat, ana closed his exhaustive grafton Wit an
lppeai 10 his hearers To sacredY guard those
poerties nor which their forefatners had died.
WIS not only on the field Of battle, ne suid,
That mems rights were endangered, for there
we're foes To be conquered IN ieace as well as
hwar, aud only by the stern =; Genunciauon Of
snieial corruption could TINS natluu retail it,
proud osition. Let all honest men oand theu-
leves together - inst the commo enemy, ,nd
teacn those Wu"uI their votes had placed lu
power that their sovereign VIII must Oy oheN q,
Or prompt and erectual puni,hment would IN
kyitablS fail u?on the heals Of the delinq cents.
II. Jay was appla ded.
Withou notes. lac delivered ala address hku
shose that have made ms name a synunim los
eloQuence He said that II .noud inspire SEN
O. .tAnl a. la ism III IN
ereabt OF ever man 10 stand upon the sitc Of a
eioriou. batlle h'id, ma llnk n nose Nno had
lot hestated to Ave their lives In the cause Of
noeity. Every American must rejoice that the
disastrous massacre and rrttea, If Brooklyn
Heights was succeeded by the triumph ana VIC
sorry OF Harlem Plains lie wa gi.d, too, That
was, In great tasure. 10 wonun's hand
shat the victory was due. To the WI and
katri1tism of Mrs. Murray after whom Murray
Hi was named, attribui able no small
measure, the happy issue OF the OF indie
Debdence. He cnuplinented The 'rator Of The
aGy, sir. Jay, aud offered "a resolution OF thanks
1rom the Historical society. Tue resolution ~as
Mr. De Peyster next introduced Mr.. ]. ".
Beekman. Vice President II the Historic a
kociety, VINO spoke Of the important part New
York city took in the struggle for independence.
Fort W shington, he said, saved the country.
'Impregnatle itself, II aucsted me British fleet,
ana n,adered ne ino4ls from ndine. liut tor
been cut on, the whole country have fallen
eas ,,i, INTO tne mann 81 me .nrnY aud there
gear In America. lie thought, too. that the
bSttle OF Harlem Plain Was more important ia
itself than nlgnt be ut int suppo.ed. lie re.
fhe battle Of Bunker nm Ia the lattcr no
Americans were beaten aud tDcy only Stopped
cunning AN tu."ed u."n Their enenies when
MR.. o. Stevens offered a I, solutiou u thanks
70 the Governor Oh HnoGe ~ ia AID no Ai,N or
also 10 the clergy Olr ~, ven how'd Ia the
Rev Drs. Adams, Store, mi DIX. WHO TO-, On
their hat, while tue Spectator. ohrercdJ; $50
tne distIngui-ned assent lace f.oNiu- TO Tho
audience, winch "ppiaeded enthusiastic ,iiyl.
[ 4 Oh le ttr