Smyrna times., 1890-12-24
WHOLE NO. 1864.
The Heroes of Delaware.
BANQUET OF THE DELAWARE SOCIETY
AT DELMONICO's.

'SSA@A III IT D1LA W AXE SOClEIH
AT DELMONICO's.
The dinner of the Delaware Society
at Delmonico's on the 9th, was a greas
success.
Speeches were made by Mr.. Bayard,
Mr. Bird aud Judge Grubb. Mr.. Bay.
ard was receiyed with great enthus.
iasm.
Mr.. Bayard spoke in response to the
toast, THE State of Delaware"
Mr.. Birds remarks were in response
to the toast, "The Heroes of Delaware ,,
He said:
Mr.. President aud Gentlemen of the
Delaware Society: In response to your
toast hardly know where to com.
mence, for heroes in Delaware have
Leen many and great. Every page of
her earlier history furnishes a record of
the act of some hero and everv son of
Delaware has indeed cause to be proud
OF the part his little state took in the
formation of public opinion as to the
Declaration ofIndependence, and later
on in the part she took to maintain that
Independence.
The name of Caesar Rodney is a her.
itage IN itself-a legacy TO any state
nay any nation may be proud of.
Upon his signature alone almost de-
pended the existence Of that declara-
ton. 1t was his eighty-mile ride from
Dover to Philadelphia, in answer to a
message from the faithful Mexican.
that sealed forever the independence of
the colonies, and before the ink had
scarcely dried upon the parchment he
despatched a message to the faithful
HssIett at Dover, urging him to raise a
command at once to protect that dec
laration offreedOm. But Haslett needed
no urging, for on the arrival of the
mounted messenger on the 9Th of July,
the very day after the signing, Haslett
had already enlisted thirty men in his
regiment Il fancy the first men ever
enlisted in that memorable struggled
and did not stop until that Delaware
regiment which afterwards fought its
way to fame and renown, had been
fully recruited and equipped. This
brave man at the head of the Della.
ware column fell at Princeton, a sacri-
ice for the life of the nation.
And so might mention the gallant
Caldwell, with his regiment of Blue
II ems Chickens, the brave Kirkwood
or the courageous Hall. who led his
regiment through so many struggles
OF that seven years contest for home
and for freedom.
But while these very struggles were
taking place, the little state gave birth
10 one who in the second war with
England was to add fresh laurels to
her line of heroes mean McDopough
-MacDOnOugh who at Champlain
drove the British squadron flying from
our shores.
A victory so overwhelming and COM
plete. that he might in truth be called
the Nelson of the American Navy. In
the same struggle we boast of the
Wasp and our own Commodore Jones.
Whose blood is not thrilled at the re-
call of that memorable battle at sea be-
tween the Wasp and the British sloop
of war Frolic ? 1t was Jacob Joues.
the hero of Kent, who gave the order
to board the Frolic, and board it thew
did, with deck close alongside of deck.
in the smoke of the fierce battle, those
brave men led by that gallant comman-
mander captured the English sloop
and with the capture a valuable prize.
Gentlemen, these are indeed heroes
OF which your state may be proud.
Upon his return from that memora-
BILE engagement, each city that he pass
Od through welcomed him with dem
OnstratiOns worthy of so great hero.
The press of the country was filled
with his laudatiOns-his name was up
on every lip and the boys of the coun-
try took up the refrain:
- wasp took a frolic and met Johnny Bull
Who always fights best when his belly is full.
The weSp thought him hungry by his mouth open
wide,
So, his belly to fill, put a sting in his side"
So, too, in the late civil war, Della
ware furnished true men, whose brave
deeds have become part of the history
of the country. The brave general
Smyth, commander of the Irish bri-
gade, is one of her heroes. The gallant
TOrbert, whose dash and brilliancv
made him at the last second only to
Sheridan, will never be forgotten, and
his name will be cherished by the peo-
pie of the state for the generations to
come.
Nor must we ever fail in the mention
Ofthe great Admiral, Samuel Francis
DUPONT, hero worthy of the name,
whose achievements were rich garlands
bequeathed as alegacy to the nation
and the state.
These are but a few of the heroes of
Delaware, but they are enough to make
us proud of the achievements of her
sons in time of war, on land and sea.