Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-07
GEoRaIA HrsToRTCAL SOCIETY.
an Interesting MeetiDg--The Leo
fure of Mr.. w. 8. Bogart.-Business
Meeting.

many ladies, the attraction being lecture
from Mr.. W. s. Bogart, on "The Reminis-
cences and Traditions Of Yorktown" before
the Georgia Historical Society. The members
Of the Chatham Artillery, which corps bore
conspicuous part in the memorable events
connected with the siege, were present in
force. Shortly after eight O'Clock, Dr. Char
tiers, Vice President of the society, briefly
introduced Mr.. Bogart, who was received
with applause, at the subsistence of which
he thus pleasingly opened his lecture
One bright afternoon, in a summer OF
dozen years ago, / was sailing over the
waters Of the beautiful Chesapeake, seeking
refreshment in their life-giving breeZes and
delighting my mind In recalling the assCcia-
lions of its famous localities. The traverse
of this noble bay, discovered by the Span
iards, and named after their fashion OF reli-
gious nomenclature, "The Bay OF Santa Ma
ria" brings one everywhere into communi-
cation with scenes that charm the eye, stir
the memory and touch the heart Its shores
and inlets, from the time of Smiths early
survey, are connected with much that is at
tractive, grand and heroic In the history of
our country for near three centuries.
AS we were returning to Norfolk l was
not sorry to see our steamer heading up the
York, for thus / should again behold the
magnificent water prospect, as we approach
the bluff, crowned by the famous field of
Corvallis capture. AS our boat crosses
York Roads we enter the finest aff1uent
OF the Chesapeake. The wide world of
waters, seen again and again, is still as
grand as ever; the broad river pours It's I'M
failing volume into the great estuary, and
the varied scene OF swelling bluff and Guilt
waited farm and waving woods and bright
he Fn ,sakx
rescue beauty, and awakens again the
traditions of the memory. An hours
run of ever changing view brings us to
the foot of the hill wherein stands
a sleepy old town-yet e historic spot
soon to start into new life, aud to behold
again some of the scenes of its early days
This broad plain with its antiquated village
once covered with hostile armies, but for
the last century almost desolate-will soon
again be visited in crowds, larger multi
tude than has ever gathered there since the
twenty five thousand besiegers and besieged
fought the fight of freedom on its sandy
soil.
American independence, eliminating on
the field of Yorktown, is about to celebrate
its hundredth birthday. 1t was not the pa
per declaration of 1776, but the stalWart
vindication OF it by arms, in protracted
war and in bloody conflicts, that Won this
independence. The public interest in its
first centennial, as shown in newspaper dis
euBsion, municipal movements, State appro
priations and national resolves, welcomes the
coming event, and France, our old ally, after
all her viclssitudes in a century of gigantic
change, still remembers her alliance, and
now, a republic like ourselves, will the
more gladly be represented by civil
Ians, soldiers and sailors, in token
of the timely aid rendered an infant
people by the most despotic nation in
Europe. A single centennial day will not
suffice for holiday or memorial week,
perhaps fortnight, will be needed for pub.
lie qualification aud for instructive memo
ries; and parades and reviews, speech max
ing and celebrations, will produce revival
of good feeling, OF repaired social life, and
of reawakened patriotism. 1t ia not too
soon then to turn ones thoughts towards
this shrine of freedom, whittier mutitudes
doubtless will go the coming fall to swell a
country's thanksgiving.
Sharing this public feeling, and hoping to
interest my hearers in this old place and its
surroundings, | desire to say something to-
night: First, on the general significance of
the story Of the Yorktown peninsula;
second, on its traditions and "reminiscences:
and third, on the incidents of the "great
SIEGE" so as to give fresh interest
therein to those of you who may attend its
centennial celebration.
Inc l0tn OF May, loOG, anu the 18Th OF
October, 1881, are two dates by far the most
important in American history. In differ
ence of time they lack seven months of
century and three quarters, and in differ
ence of locality the places which they
represent are apart scarcely half a days
journey on foot. So sharply defined a
period of time-siDgle days fixing its ex-
tremes-one so full of historic iH'erest, OF
momentous events and oflasting r. ults, win
rhay fnr a
mark the beginning and the end OF a great
historic dramatic gradual building and
the speedy fall OF vast colonial power on
whose basis has grown up the mighty coun-
try which we call the United States.
When British dominion was planted on
this continent, IN an untTied spot on an un-
known river, and the stream OF British
civilization began to flow hither, 1t was lit
tie foreseen that this hardy plant, then
committed to our soil, would, after long
aud lusty growth and the spread OF vigor-
GUS shoots, die on the very spot of its plant
ing; nor that the flag then unfurled to the
air of the new world at jamestown should,
after proudly waving for near two hundred
wears, be lowered in blood and storm from
the ramparts of fortress but dozen miles
distant.
In the providence of God, these seeds of
English life and liberty had taken root and
spread over the land. British civilization
and religion had been engrafted In sturdy
stock, and the English colouists, grounded
In the best political education, had become
qualified for Independent life, and surely
there was no filter time for such an event
than when these people, trained by discip-
line, deserved success; no filter occasion
than when assisted By powerful allies and
led by Providential leader, they had long
withstood tyranny, and saw success in the
near future; and no filter spot to give the
coup degrace to an exhaustive war of six years
than on the very soil where English do
minion had been planted one hundred and
seventy five years before. 1t was indeed
significant retributlon that British rule In
these United States ended in the place of
it's beginning.
This locality Is worth description, and its
history is full Of interest. Fact and senti-
ment combine to make it famous and ro-
mantle A little sandy peninsula, scarce
ten miles by thirty, forming ''cul de sac,"
hemmed in by the broad Chesapeake and
the waters of the York and the James, a
plain of genial climate, soft atmosphere,
abundant and varied living and refined life,
the earliest and the continuous home Of the
first English emigrants and the nucleus of
English civilization in America-the begin
ming of English sway, planted in peace,
grown up in blessing, but yet, when culmi-
mating In oppression, destroyed In violence
and storm. Such is the interesting little ter
ritory we propose to visit, whose two he
roic fields are almost In sight Of each
other.
There is a third spo: in this classic region
no less famous than these two, and so con.
nected with them that they suggest each
other. The three are forever united, aud
they give this little peninsula the pre-emi-
nent honor of holding in its tiny area, as In
the angles Of triangle, whose longest side
is scarce fifteen miles, the seed bed of Eng
lish dominion 10 the United States, the spot
of its extinction and uprooting,
and the place where originated
those principles of government
that started the war of the Revolution,
mapped out the theory of American institu-
lions, and gave to the science of politics
as the germ of the United States Constitu-
tion-the Virginia Constitution of May,
1776, the first written constitution OF free
State in the history of the world. How
strange is it, while these political ideas con-
tinue to rule the world, that the regime
whence they sprang has fallen ntoisolation
and solitude, and threatens to sink into
chronic somnolency.
OF jamestown, in its desolation, l shall
say nothing here; of Williamsburg | have
on another occasion spoken at length; but
of the sister classic spot, where English rule
over US was destroyed, propose tonight to
give you what have gathered Of reminis-
cence and tradition, from personal inquiry
and from the written page.
Seventy miles from Richmond and thirty
five from Norfolk, on the lofty bluff over
hap IF ha