New-York tribune., 1878-06-29
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

THE BATTLE MEMORABLE IN TIE HISTORY OF
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE - THE OPPOSING
FORCES-CGTIZENS OF NEw-JERsEY-A WORTHY
COMMEMORATION.
lFRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
FREEHOLD, n. j., June 2S.-It was 1853
ago when the first court house was built in Mon
mouth, and to-day the little bell with its devout legend,
"soli Dec Gloria" which hung in the old building when
the British Army bivouacked behind it, rang together
an assemblage OF Jerseymen more numerous than
gathered within its sound. There were a good many
Jerseymcn here hundred years ago DickinsOus
militia in their workday clothes and Jerseymen of the
Continental line. under Maxwell, in hunting frOcks
and altogether it was very busy Sunday
in the little hamlet of Monmouth Court House,
comprising them perhaps, dozen dwellings.
In the nolghborhoOd with Washington there were
$4,000 men, among whom, it is worth remembering,
least 600 negroes in the NewJersey and Pennsyl
vania regiments Sir Henry Cintons force weaker.
He had begun to dstrus his Americans in Philadelphia
where roo of them had enlisted for life with Pennsyl
vania Gamses. and a whole regiment of AnspacheTs
had been sent around by to New-York.
AS 1t was, at least 400 OF KDyphausen's
HessaDs deserted before they reached Mount Holly.
But after ALL Sir Henry had 900 men in red and
black. battle such scale, raging III
the thick woods which then surrounded the vii
lage must have been surprise to tho good
people thereabout, although they were not unused
wars alarms. with NCW-NOrE and staten Island III
the hands OF the British and their feet lying at Sandy
Hook there was much encouragement to the large
and bitter lOyalis element throughout the country to
pprsevere in depreciation. Many patriot was shot
down IN tho night or while at his work in the field
and more than once IN retaliation the bodies OF
tories left hanging in front of the Court
House. Many Of the Monmouth men who
fought that day already distinguished in these
fierce encounters, where quarter was neither
asked nor given. This desultory but dangerous
warfare did not cease with the great battle
ar und the Court House, and as late as 1872 Car
pany of Monmouth Artillery, was hnng at
ddgtow1 and Colonel NatG2R ii,, senddGr, 9da,,Se Sl
oi the Amos seudder a leaf from whose history was
October Is I731 This Colonel Scudder deserves cs-
pecial mention the only member OF Congress Killed
How largely the best blood Of NcwJersey was repro
sented in toe battle to-day commcm9la'e9 Is soWn ln
srfsae s &S tSeTe Eag We're three officers who after
ward. became GOvePGG To}GS 81 RcarG H"%yc and
| Waitr Aaron ogden. On General Lord Sliring'S
sta another gallant aTc6 ST mnsket
| hall. And the detachment OF l3VO CHOSEN morse
ward General Anthony Welton who distinguished
himself in tho Southern department. II ls small ~oh-
! rich in historical memories should can oU 40
/ many Jersey men aud 80 many NrW-jigiSey cover
nshcd the stale with Govctrors foI ears ou OF
the thirty -four since thS rr NV bave bccn
! elected by ire people. Aud there Is surely
enough in the scndcauce and circumstances oi the
hattie 10 make n nf interest to everybody The remark
able number of distinguished officers engaged the fact OF
lis being the last great battle 81 the war the iact
/ that here was The first visible fTWt ot the
long discipline Of steuhen Valley Forge; the incident
OF Sergeant Molly the treachtiy 9i Leg tne 't,'oe M
rest retreat and turn it into yictoryi the re-,
suIts of tbe battle, especially the one capital
Tesuit that IL az once established Washington In posi-
fn above he reach Of jealousy and nuiguC-lil these
unite to make this Of the most worthy dbys 10 De
cOmu emOratod Ia ali our history.
And worthilY It was commemorated Tho pro
gramme good one. and fairly carried out
Crowds wandered over all the miles through
which the battle drfted. Even MCuckton's grave
In the old ICnnGut churcEyard not too far away.
! and as tic pilgrims razcd at the blood d-stains
| in the old church, there no irrcNeTent
suggestion that perhaps the Monmouth far
| mcrs initiate the example OF the prudent Scots,
vino syY used Of Frightening up with red paint,
at least once sar, the traces left by Rz1os blood in
| HOlyrOOd,P alace.