The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-05-26
The Centennial of 1858,
A LETTER FROM JOHN C. NOE.
10 the Editors Of The Free Iress:


Near the upper entrance to the High
lands of the Hudson, and on the west
bank of that noble river, is situated the
City of Newburgh, one of the most
beautiful and interesting places on this
continent. Built upon hillside it can
not be hid, the traveller as he views
it from the broad bay upon which it
stands contessing that this city of
churches is indeed beautiful for sltua-
ton, and that its citizens have just cause
for the outspoken pride in their city.
Besides it has been made famous as the
birthplace and home of men of world
wide fame,-historians, sculptors, Of
ticers of the army and navy, and men
famous in every walk of life. But
more than this it has been made famous
as the place where, nearly one hundred
years since, the Revolutionary Army
disbanded, and the sad farewell scenes
occurred between Washington and his
army.
The Centennial of this event will be
celebrated in the coming year, at the
quaint old building in this city, which
Washington used as his headquarters.
Preparations are being made for this
celebration by the citizens of the city
and the whole surrounding country
by the Legislature of the State, and by
Congress.
This grandest of all centennial celc-
brations is attracting so much attention
in the East, that am surprised to hear
so little OF it il this greatly favored, and
fast becoming famous ion "South.
western Minnesota"
Knowing something of the enthusiasm
existing among the people along the
Hudson Valley, and having just pride
in my native city, and being anxious
that what is proposed to be celebrated
there should be understood, have been
led to write this letter
''The events intended to be comment
grated are of broad and national
character.
ut was here, on the 10Th day of April,
1888, that the formal proclamation of
peace was made, and it was here, on the
green in front of 'Washington's Head
quarters that the patriot army was dis
banded on the Bird day of November,
1888. On the 25th day of November,
1888, commonly called Evacuation Day,
the British troops took to their trans
ports and sullenly quit the land they
had come to conquer and Cypress.
at was at Newburgh, or its immedi-
ate vicinity, about two miles from the
present city, that the army was encamp-
ed after the victory at Yorktown. Here
those of the patriots who died during
the encampment were buried. Rude
mounds still indicate the spot, but no
stone marks their resting place.
at was here, in the log building
known as the Temple that Washing
ton met. to confer with his officers upon
the famous 'Newburgh letters The
army without pay and without clothing,
had grown mutinOus at the continued
neglect of Congress to provide for their |
wants. In this emergency it was pro-
posed to form limited monarchy and
proclaim Washington dictator, with,
eventually, the title of King. The pro-
position was formally made to him, but
was promptly and Indignantly rejected.
1t was here that Washington, Knox,
Greene, Gates, st. Clair, Clinton, Wayne
and the Baron Steubcn had their head
quarters.
"Therc is peculiar fitness in the place
chosen for the celebration of these i'm
portant national events. Newburgh
and vicinity, from the very commence
ment of the war to its close, was the
scene of numerous other notable Incl
dents and events. The Highland Pass,
as it is called, was regarded as the key
to the whole struggle. The object of
the British was to get possession of the
Hudson, and by uniting the forces OF
BurgOyne in the north with those of
Howe in the south, cut off the Eastern
from the Middle and Southern States.
To checkmatc the enemy Washington
had taken early measures by throwing
up forts on the mountain spurs over
looking the river. The passage of vessels
was TO be DISTRACTED by chains, booms,
and cheuaur de .frise stationed at the
narrow points.
ITO secure control of the Highland
Pass the British rcsorted to both assault
and stratagem. The capture of Forts
Clinton and Montgomery and the treason
of Arnold are incidents of this region,
which, with scores of others, make it rich |
with Revolutionary interest.
"Among the other reasons for the pro-
posed celebration may be given the fact
that the year 1883 will furnish the last
opportunity for concentrating by
centennial ceremonies any of our Revo-
lutionary events; and it so happens that
the events it will commemorate are TN
surpassed in grandeur and significance
by any that preceded them.
"During the last six years we have
had several centennial celebrations, be-
ginning with that at Bunker Hill and
ending with that at Yorktown. None
of these celebrations were in honor of
Washington. They commemorated mil
itary events. The time has now come
to pay fitting tribute to Washington,
not as q military hero but as patriot.
BY his refusal to accept the crown he
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