The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-29
MONMOUrH's BiTTLEFIELD.
Thousands Looking at the spot where Meii
Pitcher served the Gun.

singing M blithely at daybreak this morning as
they were on that fine Sunday morning lust one
hundred years ago. when Knyphauscn. in com
mand OF the baggage train Of Sir Henry Cn-
toms army. broke camp to continue the retreat
to the sea and they were no less rudcly dis
turbed. This time 1t WIS not by battle. how
ever. but by a salute Of thirteen guns from tho
Adiutant- Generals Department. placed some OF
them on the same Briar Hill. northeast Of Free
hold. whore Gen. Dickinson with the New Jer-
sey militia. opened the battle Of Monmouth with
an assault on Knyphausan. The other guns
were upon Combs's Hill. to the northwest.
whence Grn. Greencs artillery. after Gen. WASH
ington had reformed his retreating troops. di-
rcctcd an enfllading fire upon Monckton's Brit
ish grenadiers that IL said to have turned the
day in the patriot army's favor.
As the early trains came in bringing de-
tachments OF soldiers. Knights Templar. and
sight seers and the vehicles from tho surround
ing country began to line highway and byway
the little town teemed with animation. Every
house WINS decorated, and the big Court House
WAS fairly hidden with flags and bunting. Many
strangers took advantage OF the morning hours
to drive out to the scene Of the fierce. fighting,
the famous hedge, about two miles from Free
hold, where MoncktDn fell Mt the head OF his
grcnadiers. and the ancient Tennent Church.
boards mark the site Of the old Tennsnt par
sonagc and tho spot where Monckton was
killed. nara by. Part OF the old barn still stands
which partially sheltered Wayne's forces from
the fire Of the grenadiers. In max ing the cut
for the Freehold and Jamesbury Railroad near
that point n cnrt load ~ human bones was un-
earthod from trench that doubtless had been
dug for the British that were left on the field. A
Pitcher served her dead husbands gun; and
another guideboard by the roadside-the same
Er2ad by which washington hurried on from
where ha met Lee retreating, and where. there
is reason TO believe. the Father of his Country
swore.
Tho old Tennent church was decked with
fags; and nag was stuck up ut every tomb In
| the chur hyard where a revolutionary patriot
lay buried. There were score or more OF
them, some bearing well-known names like
Col. DAVID Rhca, Gen. DavidT, Forman Joseph
Sutfn. Nathaniel Sndder. Major James Craig.
and Col william Wikoff. Within yard OF the
church. on the side nearest the road, Is the foot
Of Monckton's grave. 1t is marked 10y decay
ing headbonrd upon which only. the letters
Col. NJ ars decipherable. miniature
union Jack had been tackled upon the weather
beaten board over strip OF white muslin. with
the picture of an acacia tree freshly printed ~
green. aud the words. An Appeal to Heaven
church, AZ n point Just opposite Monckton's
grave. his name was once cut and singuarly
hroddSS he cs f1 b reod IN sne
Returning to Freehold. a number Of interest
ing revolutionary relies were e. be seen In the
old town. The old Episcopal Church that. like
the Tennent WINS used as q hospital after the
battle still stands near the site ~ the old Court
House. to which also scores Of wounded men
were carried. The bell Of the old Court House
IL in the possession 81 Mr.. William Lloyd.
whose father bought it when the ulding was
removed II Is inscribed. Soil Dec Gloria.
A s-i75s.r 1t did duty afterward upon the vii,
lage schoolhouse. long since replaced by pre-
approach Of the British in l77s. An inscrip-
ton on another old building nearly opposite
the Court House AYERS TINT Washington pre-
sided at the meeting Of Masonic lodge there
the night So, 'pps e. Scu ne night Ser
ton had his headquarters Is shown a short
distance south OF Freehold. with It's quaint
rounded shingles. well preserved. Il il. still
used as n farmhouse. and known as the Muir
phy house. very interesting relic IL n hand
some portrait Of CO.. Mogckt9n: in OF, cabinet
Monmouth county by AN English merchant who
s sSaMs MAY Nw EHsG with tss BFi5e It x was
n chair in which Washington sat. and many
relics Of the battlefield. and nm admission fc,'
fund.
GOV. Mcclellan and staff did not arrive until
after 10. AT which hour the procession was 10
be formed. He was received by ex-Gov. Par
ker upon IN" lawn IN front OF seminary Hall.
ernors. Congressman, state senators, aud As
semblymcn. and other funciionaries OF the past
and pres Mt rs Freehold had never seen before,
By This time the visitors had augmented g.
somewhere between fifteen and twenty thou
sand The raj way on 'ials estimated that they
had transferred over 1000.
The ro'rssion was hehded 10y Grand Marshal
james :. Yard and aids. Gen. Srwell COM
manler of the second Brigade and the ideal OF
horse at the head Of his stuff Then came the
/ hrisad,s, The seventh, Col A. W. Angel fret;
Third. Col. Morre last. Al were headed hy
/ bands. Damascus Commanlery OF Newark
came next. W III st. Johns Lodge, in which Gen.
Laiaveiie took 2 degree IN Masonry; and with
Grand Master Marshall b. Smith ami his rrii-
me me inelqIng Pas Grand Master Ely,2odi I.
Ian and his stair. including the veteran Gen.
Mott. in carriages then members Of the Legis-
nture. and state and county officers veterans
"a rRn "a lItHl
Association Of Newark. in white hints. and the
Delaware Hose Company OF BordentOwn. A
gnudily painted wagon, heralding newly
invented magic SOAP with boys throwing. speci-
mems TO the crowd, followed close behind.
It was about 0eock when th Pro.css9E
around the corner stone. that stood ready 10 be
low upon its brick pedestal. Ex-G2y, Joel
Theodore ". Morris. son-in law Of Mrs. d. s.
Schanck. presented in her behalf the deed OF
Monument Park 10 the association. lie spoke
OF the ancestors OF the family who had fought
In the battle and said that the only reservation
in the deed WINS that the ground should never
be diverted from the purpose for which it WAS
Mr.. Parker received tho gift with appropriate
remarks. Grand Master ,uith then command
cd silence. and, with his deputies. tested ;s-
corner stone and pronounced II true aud laid in
aye l95f nn " bSrt was dropped to 's place
briefly and with good delivery. closing thus
On nj, beautiful and appropriate .ie the generous gift
nal ancestors were In the haic-in the pre- senco Il this
vast multi tude with most solemn and ting ceremonies
have laid the stone of monument The work
j. ausplcousN begun and the monument will he built
The honor OF the county o Monmouth Is pledged to It's
completion
When ali here assembled shall have rasscd from earth
the granite shat to rise on this spot will still pon to-
ward heaven and ~ after ccniurits will speak 90 the
generations who follow at the heroic de-, ii. and VIZ
tues ~ Those mobile men who, these ds 100 N,nrs
aro achieved victory which helped 20 make our coun.
Try nee
The Hon. Samuel $. oox's Grafton, which fol-
owed occupyin. about an hour. was one OF the
prst efforts oil ais life. One passage WAS as fol-
W. lis the inner meaning of this Monmouth hnttle'
Hs II not the contest of people tor liberty aud un"nf
II WAS said IN the atoryme, Liberty hr-t-uniun after
ward II should be- as our history trache, u,-
liberty Tor and with umon and union for and Wi liberty
establish protect and defend for ourselves and posle1y
the rights oi mankind.
Mr.. b. W. Throckmorton Of New York, who
WAS born on the battlefield. followed IN an olo-
qucnt address, in which he gave free sketch OF
| tho battle.
EX-Goy Parker read letter from friend Of
! Henry Armitt Brown, regretting his inability,
| on account Of Illness. to speak, Letters OF re-
| greet were also received from Mr.. rilden. Gems.
| Hancock and sherman. HoratiO Seymour. who
| is OF Monmouth cXtraction, Chancellor Kunyon,
! and eX senator Ten Eyck one from william
! Cullen Bryant written the day before the aeci-
dent which resulted in his death, regretting his
| inability. by reason of other literary engage
meuts to write an ode for the occasion. At the