The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-07
0RIS K A N Y.
Enthusiastic Celebration Of the
Htrkimsr-Ganssvoort Victory.
EX-GOVERNOR SEYMOUR'S GRAFTON.
Fifty Thousand People Greet
a Tattered Flag.
ELOQUENT ADDRESSES.
Lieutenant Governor DcEhsimer. Ellis N. Roberts. Chan
cslor Haven and Clakson N Potter
A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.
ELOQUENT ADDRESSES
A MIRACU LOUIS ESCAPE.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HxRALp1
UTICA, August Q, 1877.
The centennial anniversary oil tho desperate struggle
1t Or1skany worthiy celebrated to-day. No
greater crowd has assembled anywhere on the cont.
nent during celebrations unless special days
~ tho Philadelphia Exhibition. Fully nifty thousand
people must have been present tho grounds, and
the whole aroa Of the Orskany battle field, covering
1000 acres was dark ana surging all day long with
human beings. Tho New York Central Railroad ran
Immense trains all day long from Utica and Rome
TO the grounds Canal boats piled rapidly as posi-
Bile. all crowded and OVERCOMING With humanity and
private carriages and farmers wagons jammed every
road leading to the scene. The general estimate on
oil sides is that $4,000 people assembled celebrate
the exploits OF Herkimer's hardy 800 At late hour
tonight the trains are disgorgng mutitudcs every
halt hour IN Utica on their return, and II seems
tremey probable THAT crowds will be compelled
main ON tho field oil night The ground been oc-
rupied by tents and saloons and lunch rooms ever
since Saturday, and presented tho aspect chiefly Of
sountry fair
OFF TO THE OLD BArrLE 1iKLD.
All day Sunday numerous companies wero encamped
there who came into Orskany to-day to take part In
the march. The line was formed with unusual promp-
titude by Mayor Evarts the marshal in the principal
street OF the village and began Its march about half
past eleven O'Clock to tho battle field miles away
along almost the path tho eager young Germans
OF hundred years ago compelled old Nicholas Her.
kimer TO lead them, The country miry then, and
corduroy road was laid between Oriskany
ana Fort stanwix 1t has been drained
since aud good gravel road has boon
built to connect the two villages, but traces OF the
corduroy remain In various places. rotten tim
bcrs lay in tho midst OF the crowd to-day just where
Herkimcr is sradtionally declared to have mado the
supreme and successful effort to rally his troops
After the sudden savage onslaught of the ambushed foc
Along the new road the troops marched, reaching tho
grounds and being reviewed by Ex-Governor Seymour,
rs president Of the day. at tho stand In excellent
order. They represented organ nations from Oneida
Herkimer. Montgomery and Fulton counties, and In
cuded nas.onal guardsmep Aremen, Grand Army men,
minute men, mounted veterans, veterans OF 1872,
Oneida Indians and citizens In carriages. Governor
Seymour and his niece, with Mr. and Mrs. Abraham
V. Lansing, OF Albany, tho laspnamed grand
daughter of Peter Gansevoort. who defended Fort
Btarwix. having In her possession the flag Of General
Eansevoort rode In tho first carriage driven by
most extraordinary looking coachman that over had
charge Of precious burden, and deparked at the
reviewing stand, where the address welcome vas
delivered.
TX GOVERNOR ssYMouR's Address.
At one O'Clock, In the presence Of vast multitude,
Ex-Governor Horao Seymour delivered tho address Of
welcome, as follows:-
All who for the glory OF our people by MI
ing up their minds with lofty standards Of ooun-
try; all who love to study the history oil the events
which have shaped our civilization, government and
laws; all who seek 10 lit up tho virtues OF our
patri0tism-will rejoice that mect here to-day
this battle h'd 70 honor the courage and devotion DIS
we Ire engaged does not merely concern the memories
Of the dead; it teaches the duties ana eevates the
character of the living The command that VIC honor
father not only GLORIOUS requirement but IL Is
agrand maxim OF Jurisprudence Those who think
and speak OF virtue aud patriotism In their own
and minds OF others the seeds OF virtue patriot
ism. Tho men Of the Mohawk will be wiser aud
better for this gathering upon the spot whore
their fathers fought and suffered ana bed 10
uphold the cause OF this country. The prep
aration for this celebration Of The events OF the
day. tho facts which will be brought to light and
the duties which will DO taught will In some decree,
tell upon the character OF ry man before me They
past every household In this valley. Thcy will
give them currency among all classes and weave thcm
that was dying out viii be revived and stamped upon
the memories OF the coming generation This celebra-
ton makes our bills and streams teachers Of virtue.
1t gives interest to the OF our river
and our valley. For hencciorth they Will recall to
our minds more clearly tho events OF tho past Evory
spot noted Tor some stirring act will hereafter as we
pass them by, remind US OF tho deeds OF fathers
The old churches and Eomes built when Britain ruled
our country and which were marrcd by war when tho
valley desolated by torch and tomahawk, will
grow more sacred IN our eyes Their time worn walls
will teach US, in their silent way 70 think of suffering;
OF bloodshed, OF ruthless ravaEes dreadful and
prolonged than were endured elsewhere during tue
revolutionary struggle.
BETTER HISTORY xxEDED
We arc this day bringing out the events OF coun
try their true light Historians have done much
rectals have not yet become as they should DO,
part of the general intelligence OF our people, Views
In their due proportion or with proper pcrspoctvea
This Is mainly due 10 the neglect OF It's history by
New York. There 10 dimness III tho popular vision
about this great ccnrc, aud theatre Of events
which shaped the civilization, usages and govern
ment OF this continent. lnls is not only a wrong
70 State, but to Union. II has lett tho
annals OF other sections dsjonted from their due
latonshps to the great body OF our traditions. This
want OF an understanding or the affairs OF New York
quest by Britain OF It's stronghods during the Revolu
ton would have been to the American cause II has
broken its unity II has made field Of broad scpara-
sion between its paths which has made 1t difficult to
get clear conceptions OF It's unity ana its central
Mohawk now enter upon duty OF making It's his
tory as familiar ~ household words. Let
ss ms,tou 'ni ofsa S,aSs
structures toll the citizens OF other States and
countries they pass along our thoroughtares where
In way that shall STIR our hearts and educate our
minds Let II not bt done by virtue OF act OF the
Legislature, but by vrtuo of our efforts and patr
otism Lot us not look elsewhere Tor and when We
would honor tho memories OK those VINO have served
their country In my mind this would be as unit as
for that family circle has boon broken by death
TO let strangers come In and perform the last sacred
Office to their departed kindred. Let our colleges
denco OF New York and H. will make them wiser
czens when they upon the duties OF life. Let
oar youthful scholars bc taught the events and
traditions which make our bulls instinct with glowing
interest Let tho family circle by the hrcsidc, learn
the legends Of our valley, and let the mother with
glowing pride tell TO her offspring what those Of heir
0wn blood and lineage did Tor their country's wclfac,
30 that patriol ism should DO kndled ut each hearth
stone. Let the rich man give vi his abundance ana
tho poor what he With willing heart,
and then when monuments shall stand on this
field, other spors consccrated by the ashes of
those who persisted Tor their country such monuments
Will not only show that the memories OF the dcad have
been honorcd, but that the living intelligent virtu
and patriotic.
rnE FIRST EUROPEAN STRONGHOLD.
When Europeans first cau,, 10 our shores they found
the region stretching from ttie Atlantic TO the Msss
sppi, from tho great nkcs to the present State OF
North Carolina, under the control OF the IroQuois
They gained their powcr by the pos
session OF their stronghoids in this State. From
these they followed the vergDg valleys which gave
their pathways into the conry Of their enemies who
were divided by the iangc OF mountains which separ-
nci tie rivers after thcy had taken their
tho Highlands OF Now YORK. For more than a century