New-York tribune., 1880-06-23

TITLE OF SPRINGFIELD.
ACENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.

n CENI ENNlAL CELEBRATION.
KNYPHAUSEN'S RAID INTO NEw-JERSKY-THE BURN
ING OF sPRINGFIELD-IHE BATTLE WITH THE
CONTINENTALs.
lFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE.
SPRINGFIELD, N. j., June 22.-Thls is the
very day above all Others when it Will be historically
appropriate for the Democratic party adopt State
Right platform in the Convention at Cincinnati for 1t
the one hundredth anniversary of the fight at Spring
field. N. j., and burning Of that village, as well as
the wholesale arson at Connecticut Farms The destINe
tOn OF life and property by Knyphausens raiders was
the direct result of tho decentralization of patriot
army under the State Right theories which
had then taken possession OF Congress to such
an extent as to control action. There had been
distress and hunger all Winter at MOrrlstown. The
Legislature of New-Jersey had forbidden the Connen
tai staff TO purchase supplies in the Washington
was levying forced contributions upon the exhausted
counties one by There muterings of mntiny
ana two Connecticut regiments had already paradCd
under arms with threat to march home. And all this
because, according to such careful authority as Chief
justice Marshall, Congress had abandoned the Ma
tonal system and adopted the State system carry
ing on the war;"
1t was during these days OF gloom that Kuyphausen
felt encouraged to make little expedition Jersey
10 XIII oil few rcbes aud make friends among the
dscOntented. He left New with 900 men on the
7th OF June, and after amusing himself by setting fire
10 Connecticut Farms he killed few miitamen. buried
some of his and retired Elzabe where
ne rested until the 23d Clinton, who had then
from the South, made fent up the Hudson TO draw
Washington the country, Kny phausen again
advanced as far Springfield. where was confronted
by two brlgades of Grecnc's command, Starb's md
Maxwel's. little hot fighting followed. Shreve's
regiment, which guarded bridge across the Railway
and Major Lees command which was posted ut the
other. were driven back But the main body of the
Americans had formed on the Short Hills, a com
mand'ng position, and Knyphauscn. not deemng it pru
dent to attempt the fred the village nnd retrcated
crossing over to Staten island the same night.
IL was by no means n tremendous engagement, this
Battle OF Sprineticld but there was n considerable
sprnRlnG Of talent there and thercabouts make it
memorable Greene and Stark and Ight-HOrsc Harry
Iee' with Wayne and Washington within helping dis
tance and Angel of Rhode Island whom Washington
comphcnted for his Galantry, compiling his name with
Maxwell, Of NcwJersey, all togohtr make q clus-
ter OF heroes which would grace any field
To them must he added the names
still hOnored in Ncw-Jersey, OF Ogden Barber Dayton
Dickinson and Shrevc. In Greere's official report the
American loss 10 set down srvcnty-twO killed and
Wounded while The loss of the enemy is unknown. Rah
ert'on, the loyal Governor OF NcwYork writes to Lord
George Gcrmain that the raiders lost not man nor
thing" Major Humphreys of Greenes staff. writes TO
Washington from the field that the enemy
"mnch CALLED. having received several heavy
aud well-drected fires from shreve's and Angels
Matthew of the Codsream Guards who came over as
2,d I" nis 1nre M the Colonel ana on rh,S expedou
may have magnifed matters, for he dark night when
on picker aHty While the army retfcatpd rtt Jed.
aa ~he Wann;rnG m M around ne sets IL down ths ne
scene "i horror" Tins scene have stinlu
Imagination, and il would be hardly safe trust his
estimate. " dare say" he wutrs, that there were
not less than 500 kl,d wounded and missing in this
| expeditiOn, besides officers"
Tns young gentlemans diary better readlnc bv the
way thar he ever Thought u would be. 1his is his
cEecTIul ausOn TO the InccndIaTiSrn OF the
O course 1t Is not to be wonuerPd tat tue soldiers
| hred tue houses from which the rebels had fired ON
TEN" Governor RobersOn's official story H. in another
strain He ElOri"s the mercu Character OF the
aud tells bow the domestic animals straycd about
unhurt among them no plundeI, rudcness took
place" The burning Of the town hc considers
nate accident which prlved OF reputation
Generals in'entOns meri;ed" This clemeuCy seemed
please Lord George Gcrnaiu for h. back
Governor: The care taken 10 prevent punuer
protect pcrccahle lnliabtanis mOlrstailOn
equally pOlli and humane and Will. not wnrn
the commander nciief shall judge proper carry
| operations INTO that country, D. found have
made impressions upon the minds The people very
| favorable TO his Mjestys Cover nncht." GENERAL
Greene however, seemed 10 labor 1cr, nu
preston. wiSh," said he. tlai every Amt ricau
cnud have been spectator 10 The contihg. aiiuI
They would have elt IOr the sufferers burned to
| revenge The IIjustice."
To-Day the ,od people OF Springfield TO celebrate
the battle Tic hiidgcs over the raging Railway Will be
held by one regiment Of militia until General KnyptdII-
sen; WIN anoh drives them IKE chaG up snoIt
III Is Aficr the rian tRht there will lie eatng
arnhlng and II Is TO be care good deal Of speaking.
Tue town Will not be nred and all good Citizens iu
the wlsh tbat 1T may stand aDothcr hundred years