Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-09-19

West Chester, Pa. Sept IL. All roads |
seem to lead to old Birmingham
Friends Meeting House to-day, the
principal point of the Brandywine bat
tlefield, where the unwilling and dedi-
cation of the tablet to Gen. Lafayette
and granite monument to Col. Joseph
Mcclellan took place this afternoon.
The line moved from West Chester
at noon. Col. Alfred Rupert was mar
shal-in-chief. The military display
consisted Of Co. /, Capt. Paxson, of
this borough, and Co. H, Capt. Wal
tiers, of Phenixvile. Thel Phpnix-
Vile Military Band furnished music
and the hundreds of public school chill
dren supplied the vocal features of
the musical programme
The members Of the Chester County
Historical Society, under whose aus
pieces the Lafayette testimonial was
reared, and the many descendants of
Col. Mcclellan, who had caused to
be built the handsome monument TO
the memory and deeds of their fighting
ancestor, who shed his blood with
Lafayette at Birmingham 118 years ago
to the day, made up good portion of
the line, while in handsome equipages
rode the French consul, Louis Vossion /;
Charlemagne Tower, Charlton T.
Lewis, the. orator of the Lafayette
occasion, and Col. Joseph Bell, the
orator for the Mcclellan kinsfolk.
Before leaving town the Military
Band gave lawn concert at the Court
House Of patriotic character and
another at the historic grounds after
lunch was served. The Mcclellan
Monument was the centre of attraction
first and here Judge Hemphill pre-
sided. The unwilling was by James ID.
Mcclellan of Lancaster, the oldest of
the family now living. Mrs Abner
Hopes of West Chester, who is Regent
of the Chester County Chapter of the
Daughters of the Revolution, read a
history OF the monument project and
some family traditions, and she in
turn was followed by Col. Joseph Bell,
who delivered fine Grafton, in which
the love of country, heroism and forth
! tude OF the Mcclellan family was given
in very pretty story
I AT 2 p. m. the Lafayette tablet was
! gathered about by several thousands of
earnest people, and after some good
/ music, vocal and of the band order,
Rev. Owen P. Eachus Of Heightstown,
N. j., offered up prayer. A cornet
kduet by Messrs l.. H. and H. f. Van
Ederslice of the Phmnixville Military
Band, was given which opened the way
for the formal presentation of the tablet
by james Monaghan of West Chester.
/, In brief way DIR. George NJ. Phil
lips made the dedicatory address, and
( Miss Harriet Trappe read T. Buchanan
Reads poem, 1.-THE Fight at the
Ford" The hymn America" was
then given, and Gilbert Cope of
West Chester, made the historical
address of the day. With the CIV
ing of "The Star Spangled Banner
by the band, the orator, Hon. Charl-
ton 7. Lewis of New York, was intro
duced. He gave a mastery presenta-
ton of the character of Lafayette and
his conspicuous devotion TO the cause
of freedom on two continents. His re-
marks were lengthy and cultured in
their character. With benediction
by Rev. W. l.. Bull the affair closed.
Another hour was devoted to looking
over the historic grounds and listening
to the stories of the battle from aged
residents, and then the assembled PEG.
pie took the quickest and best routes
for their respective homes, refreshed
anew from having drunk at the founi
of freedom at old Birmingham.