The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-10-11
A BRIHEl PREPARED
BY Mr., Edison @, Brace, to be
Presented to the
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY,
Giving Reason why One of the New
War Ships shonll be Called
"wheelipg" Mr.. Brace
waptsto DO Successful,

~ AHM MseAh plnVp kklo ANEhLhlnhNghh
reported the fact that movement had
been started to have one OF the new
cruisers being constructed by the Gov
eminent named after this city, The
idea originated with Mr. Edison o, Brace,
Of the Navy Department., who was
formerly well known newspaper man
Of this city. He communicated bis idea
to the Hon, G, L, Cranmer and enlisted
the cooperation Of that gentleman, aud
several other prominent gentlemen hav-
ing learned Of the proposed movement
have shown an interest in It. Judge
oranmer has received another letter from
Mr., Brace about the matter in which lie
says;
Navy, who told me he thought l had q
good case and that he would be glad to
give me q hearing when | could get my
brief In shape, From this ] inferred that
he had not seen my first brief, and now ]
know that 1t was pigeon.holed by a
Board oil Naval Officers, who have about
as much appreciation, Of historical pro-
priehes and yerilies az so many poplar
menl want to succeed,
having gone into this matter, l enclose
q rough draft Of brief to the Secretary,
in which you will see what | think
ought to be done by the citizens OF
Wheeling. Cruiser No. Z is ID be- a 5000.
ton vessel oil high power, OF noble type,
and Is expected To have life Of from
fifty TO sevenLy,tlye years. ItWould be- a
great thing for Wheeling to be advertised
In all parts Of the globe bysuch a ship
for such time. 1t Is practically perpet.
ual the present Boston is tho fourth"
The brief prepared by Mr., Brace to be
presented TO the Secretary Of the Navy,
and which he enclosed In his letter, was
as follows;
Mr.. BRACES BRIEF.
SR:-I have the honor to ask your at.
tention to the following statement rela-
tive TO the naming OF one Of the new
cruisers; A gunboat has been named
the Concord" to commemorate the field
OF the first blood OF the Revolution, and
another has been named tho. "York-
town" TO commemorate the surrender OF
CORVALLIS aud the virtual surrender Of
the British cause In the rebelling Colo.
MES. This Is most appropriate, because
thereby two events Of historic and pa
triotip interest are signalized,
beg to suggest, as . citizen OF West
| Virginia, that II would be appropriate
for the same reasons to Christen one Of
the new vessels the "Wheeling", be-
cause at Fort Wheeling (also known rs
Fort Henry was fought tho last battle
Of the Revolution, and the last blood of
the conflict was there drawn, The bat
tic Of Fort Wheeling occurred Septem.
Der IL, 1852, nearly year after the sur
render OF CORVALLIS. II was fought be-
tween the settlers, about iVrty Ia nun
Der On one side, and a force oil between
900 and 100 Shawnee and Delaware In
dlans and company OF British troops
numbering forty aud calling themselves
the Queens Rangers, on the other
side, the Indians and Rangers being gn.
der the British flag, and g9Mmapdad by
British officer, Captain Pratt Of the
Iianaers,
The conflict was desperate, rs was
usual In border warfare, and was dis.
tinguished by many acts Of Individual
heroism and prowess. 1t resulted Ia the
complete routing Of the British and their
savage allies. Il was a formal pitched
battle, and has clearly defined place In
history. (See plnns "Rurler History"
Re Haas's History Of Western Wiz.
ginia,p Withet's "Border Wariare,n
History Of tue Tan. Handle" "The
American Pioneer" etc.
My idea Is that II is fully as warrant.
able and as appropriate to commemorate
the last blood, as the first blood for In.
dependence, and l therefore suggest
that Wheeling be thus honored. BY SO
honorlng Wheeling, you would honor
the pioneer patriots OF the mountains
who were the most highly esteemed by
Washington Of all hisftTdops, and who
conquered d double enemy, British and
savage, to break the way to Western
civilization.
wHEELlNG's PAST IN TnB MATTER.
l have suggested to the Hon. @. L.
Cranmer, Of Wheeling, whols the best
authority we have on local history and