The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-10-08

TABLETS DEDICATED
Interesting Exercises at
Taylorsvil1e and Wash
ington's Crossing.
THE CNcNNATTIHONOR NEW JERSEY
Bucks County Historical Society
Erects the Memorial ON Penn
sylyania's Side of the
River.
Special t,the Jersey Cttp Nears.

Cct. II cJo.-DOllSO dl
over this country. like stars of honor on
the breast of the battle-scarred veteran,
are and tablets commemora-
tive of the deeds of men whose names
d lustre to the halo which encircles
the pages of the country's history. On
the battle fields of the Revolution, as
well as those of the Civil War, rise these
memorial tokens calling to mind the
deeds of bravery, of self-sacrifce and of
patriotism because of which we, who live
in the present, are enable to enjoy lib
terty. peace, prosperity and happiness.
Today are dedicated at Washington's
Crossing two stone tablets, one on either
side of the river, to commemorate that
memorable Christmas eve in 1776 when
General Washington and his little army
of Continental soldiers crossed the Della
ware River and marched through the
cold and the snow and defeated the Hes
slams at the battle of Trenton.
1t is most fitting that such bravery,
such s-elf-sacrifice, such patriotism should
be cherished in the breasts of those for
whom these men fought and died, and 1t
is very much to the credit of the Soci-
ETY.. of the Cincinnati of New Jersey and
the Bucks County Historical Society that
llGy Ildft ldhGA IL dpOl Via
perpetuate the memory of this event by
the erection of these tablets.
NEW JERSEYS TABLET.
The tablet erected by the Society of the
Cincinnati is on the New Jersey side of
the river. 1t is situated on a bluff OF red
shaIe just north of the track of he Bel
yfdere delaware Railroad, about 100
yards west of Washington's Crossing
L - - 41frof1nr IN thnCP
which the society is marking historical
spots in various parts of the State.
1t bears a bronze tablet, on which IS
the inscription:-'This tablet is erected
by the Society of the Cincinnati in the
State of New Jersey to commemorate
the crossing of the Delaware River by
General George Washington ana the
Continental Army on Christmas night,
seventeen hundred and seventy-s1X.
The stone is erected some distance
from the present bed of the river, n
the reason for this is that the bank
which separates the canal feeder from
the river is made" ground, and it is
supposed that at the time Washington
crossed the river its northern bank was
where the. stone now stands.
The stone on the Pennsylvania side is
of granite. and bears the inscriptions
Near this spot Washington crossed
the Delaware on Christmas night, l776,
the eve of the battle of Trenton"
This stone is situated kon the land Of
Dr.. Griffee, in Taylorsvilie, and stands
a few feet from the river road.
1t is in the centre OF WnaI was Lne
Conkey's ferry at the time washington
When the bridge was built Mr.. Taylor.
A 49, 1--H .1nn1iYNo tn n
bridge entrance offered to exchange II
for the land on which was the road lead
ing down to the ferry. Thus 1t is thai
the stone is situate as it IS 49,
: The exercises at the dedication OF the
stones today will be held N the open air,
if it is fair, and should it be stormy
they will be he'd in the Methodist Church
ID5EISDIIcAToRY EXERCISES.
The dedicatory exercises will comprise
an address by General William ., Stry
ker of this city. an Grafton by DwignS
religious Il. services s'mmsH''ns a. :.
AT the conclusion of the exercises at
Taylorsvlle the Society of the Clnclnnatt
viii unveif their tablet on the New Jer-
It might not be out of place to give
some of the facts which led up to wash
ington's crossing on hat CHRISTMAS
The fall months of 1776 were very dark
for the Continental cause. After the
August. which resulted disastrously for
the American army. a hasty retreat was
made by General Washington across the
East river f NoJ New ao Fort el{ WEas Hn tne
held by $500 Americans was taken by
assault, and the garrison was ape
to lay down their arms between the
A week later, Fort Lee on the west bank
of the Hudson river. was abandoned be-
cause Lord CORVALLIS with a large force
he'd gained its rear and made IT I'M
terable. A very large quantity OF COM
misary stores, guns, ammunition ana
camp equipage. which the Continental
here fell into the hands of the enemy.
The army was then posted on the west
bank of the Hackensack river: it had
scarcely four thousand men fit for duty,
and they were greatly in need of tents;
shoes and blankets. On the Sd of
November General washington concen-
2Sth he left that city and began his
memorial retreat through the Jerseys.
AS the American column passed through
New Brunswick battalion after battal-
ion left the army, their term of enlist
ment having expired. When the Amer
lean army reached Trenton. weary, rag
reinforced by a German battalion. by
three battalions of Philadelphia Asso-
eiators. the Philadelphia Troop of Light
small regiments of New Jersey militia.
CROSSING THE DELAWARE.
During the afternoon of December Z,
December 8, small boats were constant
" crossing the Delaware, at Trenton
ferry, a short distance below what is now
the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge, and
at Beatty's ferry, a few yards above the
present Calhoun street bridge. In this
way the entire American army reached
after a brigade of the British army en-
tered Trenton and went to cross the
river. but could find no boats. New
Jersey was now virtually in possession
of the British. and the condition of the
State was deplorable.
AS sion as the American Army had
reached the Pennsylvania side of the
river they were arranged along the shore
from McKonkey's ferry. now Titusville,
to Dunk's ferry, a short distance below