The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-10-20
HILo, Oct. Is, 1896.

WARREN GOODALE.
HILO, Oct. 10, 1896.
Mr.. John Efinger, Secretary H. S. A.
R., Honolulu:
Dear Comrade-The notice of the re-
union of the S. A. r. has been duly re-
ceived. Many thanks. | sincerely
regret my inability to attend. Hilo
Sons are unfortunately cut off from
enjoying these pleasant reunions, but
we are with you in spirit, and would
greatly enjoy being there in body to
participate in the celebration.
Very truly yours,
L. SEVERANCE.
Hon. Albert Francis Judd was the
first speaker of the evening and read
the following interesting paper:
Ladies and Gentlemen, and Comrades
of the Sons of the American Revo-
luton:
The objects of this society will be
more fully enlarged upon by the prin-
cipal speaker of the evening, who will
follow me. The Hawaiian Society can
not, as it's sister chapters in the United
States do, erect monuments commemo-
rative of the events of the War of In
dependence of the American colonists,
being in a foreign land; so it has, be-
sides the general objects of the Associ-
alton, the special one of promoting a
knowledge of American history among
the young of these Islands.
1t is gratifying to notice so many
young persons present here tonight.
History is a noble study-interesting
to all classes, and is becoming more
and more an essential part of a liberal
education.
The first gun of the Revolution was
fired at Lexington, Mass, on the 18th
of April, 1775, the anniversary of which
event this society duly celebrated.
Without attempting to sketch the in
tervening events, the various cam
paigns and battles, which were con-
Quoted with varying success on either
side, the epoch eliminating in the Am
erican victory at Yorktown, Virginia,
celebrated tonight, begins in 1880,
nearly six years after Lexington and
Concord.
Benedict Arnold's treachery, by
which he had planned to deliver West
Point, and as a corollary the whole
Hudson River, to Sir Henry Clinton,
the British commander, had been eX-
posed by a timely capture OF Major
re and the discovery of the papers
of the plot on his person. This was in
October, 1880. In May of the same
year General Lincoln had allowed him
self to be cooped up in Charleston, 5.
c., and after a seige of two months
had surrendered with his whole army.
At Camden. S. c., Lord CORVALLIS had
defeated General Gates, thus annihilat-
ing for the second time in three months
the American army at the South. The
historian, John F'iske, says this was
the darkest period of the war. Count
Rochambeau, the French ally, with g.
900 men, was blockaded and hemmed
in on Rhode Island by the British fleet
and troops.
The value of the Continental money,
being irredeemable paper, had fallen to
about zero 1t had taken $3.50 to buy
a busbel of corn, and $4,000 for suit
of clothes, and now the people refused
to take the Continental money at all,
and resorted TO barter.
The Articles of Confederation be-
tween the thirteen States had not been
ratified, and the only way that the
Continental Congress could get either
money or soldiers was by asking the
States to furnish them. Great Britain
was at war with France, Spain, Hol-
land and the American colonies. She
had her hands full. This would account
for the weakness with which the wal
was conducted on both sides. Inc BTU
ish plan of campaign at this time was
to first reduce all the States south OF
the Susquehanna river to subsection,
and in fulfillment of this design Corn
wallis had started south. His road was
inland, away from the supplies which
the British fleet could furnish him
AT Kings Mount" the backwoods-
men from Kentucky, Tennessee, the
Carolinas and West Virginia, under
partisan leaders, defeated Ferguson,
killing and wounding 400 and taking
prisoner 7O0-all that were left-los-
ing themselves only Is killed and 60
wounded. The British army was in a
territory where the inhabitants were
unfriendly. This victory was the first
cleaning forth of the silver lining OF
the dark cloud.
Hearing of this disaster, CORVALLIS
fell back to WinnsborOugh, 5. C., and
sent for reinforcements.
General Greene, second only to
Washington as a tactician, took COM
mand of the army operating here, sue
ceeding General Gates, who was fall
ure. His army was of only 1000 men.
Baron Steuben was recruiting in V1r-
ginia. Leslie, and after HIM Arnold,
operated against him with British
troops sent from New York. General
Greene divided his army into two
forces. Marion, the Swamp Fox,
with is squirrel hunters, threatened
CORVALLIS connection with the coast,
and Dan Morgan threatened Cornwall
lis inland posts Tarleton a gallant
cavalry soldier, was sent by Cornwallls
with LOO men to wipe out Morgan;