New-York tribune., 1880-06-24
THE BATTLE OF SPRINGFIELD.
MEMORIES OF THE REVOLUTION.
THE SONS OF NRw-JERsEY PATRIOTS FIGHTING TIL
BATTLE OVER AGAIN.

THE sONs OF NRw-JERsEY PATRIOTS FIGHTING THE
BATTLE OVER AGAIN.
| TFRON SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUHE.l
SPRINGFIELD, N. j., June 23.--TO the stu
dent history the OF Springfield, N. j.. Ia known
ms the place where June %. $780, battle was fought
between force Of the British and some Continental
troops under General Grrenea battle OF little conse
quence II Judged by the numOers engaged OF by the
casualties bu' because Of the consequences, worthy OF
| n prominent place In American history. Formerly
Springfield the line Of travel from Eastern Penn
sylvania to Ncw York and through stages passed and
large herds Of cattle driven. When railroads were
introduced gcd was left to one side and became
duh and almost inanimItc little village. 1t ia situated
In Union County not far from Mlburn, which Is distant
from Ncw-YO.k about eighteen miles, and is reached by
way OF the Morris and Essex Railroad
Some weeks ago the townships OF Springfield and
Mlburn decided celebrate centennial anniversary
Of the Battle OF Springfield and for that purpose the
sum of S3 900 WAS appropriated. The celebration oc-
Cured to-day, ana caused much interest among the peo
pie for many miles around. From early hour they
poured the little village and before noon they num-
bered there nearly 5000 The celebration was under
the management OF a committee composed OF T. d.
Cond Dr. L. T. whitiineham, Jesse H. Rogers j. Mar
tin Roll and Asa I. Woodruff who arranged for sham
fight on the old battlefield, and for speech-makng
the village green
Ml0a. H. a special train reached Milburn with the
roops thar were take part In the engagement Three
| companies OF tho 81 Regiment from EizIboth under
| command OF Colonel John G. Rose. represented tho
patriot forces while like number OF frou the lat
Regiment Of Newark, under Colonel Wlilm Alien, con-
tho unpopular character Of British
invaders and frowns OF the Jerscy maldens
| About I3O men OF Lincoln Post No IL. q. A. K OF
Newark acc0mpnn'c ed the troops. Forming at Mlburn.
the patr md IIcsslns marched amicably together
down dusty country road toward the OF the
tion. The road chokcd with people IA carriages
! and on foot. Every house on the way was pTofusoy
| decorated with flags and bunting. At a gr'at many
hnu.rs PICTURES Of Washington wcro placed TIC
doors At Springfield the work Of decoration was not
| less general or prniuS". ,, a.,
The plan ~ he shnm founded closely upon the
events NJ tho nc unl engagement The Americans nhder
Grnrral Greene wn was pcrsOnated by ColOhei husc,
were posted 10 cover the bridge over the hhWhV
NJ the ITEM extremity OF the town on the old Morris
| town turnpike, while the Hessinns. under General
KnyI hans H. advanced nlong ths pko 10 the htacA,
| The engagement began shortly before noon AIier a
! short rrSsianc"' the Americans, nrgnn 10 gns t
way slOwl'. drfonllng every men o thr way, h'u Rh
lanily returning yory for NOcy Officers on rt' sue
rode hlihcr and ihIlhcr encouraging their men anu rN
posing their lives with reckless bravery lbat nau M te
lair succt Iturs ebuddcr Becoming 0B pressed tno
American ic back more rapidly ana hnaly rrue,,eu W
IN confusion until they chmo under the protection Of ar
uety u0strd on the springfield green. Here the Hes
CONFUSION and again the tidc OF battle surgcd 10 and fro
over thr RshwaI unul the invaders drew on. Inc Dl
no was wcl fought aud excited the wonder aud adm ra
Of ihe spcctnturs IN whose quiet Vos the spec'Hee
Aiirr tie sham battle the dust-srainrd and tired
ronps wrtr refreshed with collation., and then me III
erected I'm The shade OF cump OF treer. what Is
called ihr Springfield Grcon but what really tho old
bI .ruund which Is yet tnick studded WIZ VINE
tomb~tonc-. Among The prominent persons tu lhc
platform noticed the Hon. George A. Hllset' "i
Nrwnrk whose other WINS DOru IN me only house III
sprngncid cfi standing by the British troops the Hon
| William A. enter, uf newark; General Judson kh
pairics nnd Il ". Parker of Newark After prayer by
tie Rev. Mr. street, OF me CohhSSEtlcul
| Farms Pro-byleran Cnurth, Richard wayne
| Parkcr, OF NrWark. delivered IN address. Itclt
| ing the facts connected with General Knyrhausen's
INVASION and with ihc battle II sprntrid lle declared
thar LhlH fight of supreme moment because u Wa'
fought then Keystone OF the United states IL the
riisn could taken the gap In those mountains tneio
he Id nnd tnkon County UI Morris they could nave
st led hc cnt'ro country. Tue light Of Springfield
he continued, IN won bY JPrBeymen. IL WAS Tue onn
slant uuspariug. unhnchnR action OF the Jersey
militia, who tnIucd cat win their mes anu nreu ITo
every position Of vantage, that galoi tho enemy b.
VOID cuuur.lnt nid made thon unwilling 10 Bhy III ule
| Vicinity In cnbclusiUD Mr. Parker said " The Dattie
of Sprin.rd The rtdenptlOn, not only OF hrW-Jef
Bcy. nut OF America. II was crss lhe DattIo lile rue
true tnc Dnns OF New Jersey made four years before
tnAt sire was free aud independent Never again uiu
British sOldcIy set fcO ON jersey soil We nave cOe
today to honor the memory Of tlo mon VINO IuuBh
that battle. We all ought 10 know more about lntlb-
about their energy and uncOnquerable endurance -
| William A. Sillcs read letter fOund among thC
Sparks Dunu~crpt collection Cambridge The letter
| yrus written by MniOr DAVID Humphreys To General
| washington by order OF General Greene, from the
hrigiis Springfield aud WA dated ut IL n M Ui
June o. 1880 lis c0ntrnts were report OF the pro
crcdngs Of the day up TO the hour OF wiring IL wac
| ulOl acd having been opened by GcnCrdl wayne.
General Fitzpatrick, who received with loud cheer
ing described rapidly the events wtich led up 10 tn'
battle Of springhuld He closed with glowing tribute
| 10 tho Of the Revolution.
After the speaking tho troops FORMED, anu inarcnct
through the streets OF Springfield. milDurn ana Shor
HIS. rccevng enthusiastic greeting everywhere
Atbighfl fireworks were displayed ut Miburn. nnd th
young people enjoy eel themselves at centehlhl picnic
| and dance III noiRhbOTlnP grove
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