The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-07-03
"ONE HORN" CANNON.
A Story of the Revolutionary War In New
Jersey.


Jersey.
Time, which has woven a mantle
OF forgetfulness about so many relics
of the American Revolution, hiding
the associations that give to tattered
flags and rusty gun barrels a value
beyond price, has dealt kindly with
the old cannon known as Zone
Horn. " This weapon stands on an
eminence in Fairview cemetery at
Westfield, N. J. Beside it is the sol.
diers' monument, and above, on q
lofty fagpole, perches an American
eagle, symbolical of the liberty the
cannon was SO active in achieving.
Compared with the ponderous ar
tillery of our time, Zone Horn" can
non is but a plaything. 1t is less
than feet in length, and weighs
with its carriage barely $50 pounds.
But in its day the gun was regarded
as a formidable weapon, and its
capture by the Americans from the
British in 1880 occasioned great re-
joicing in the patriots camp.
Prior to June % of that year, the
cannon was used by General Knyp-
hausen in campaign intended to
destroy the patriots and the cause
for which they were struggling. On
that eventful morning the British
commander divided his force of
5000 men into two columns, and ad-
vanced westward from Elizabeth
town. One division marched to
Springfield and the other took the
road through what is now Crawford
to Westfield.
The citizens of Westfield awaited
with intense anxiety the arrival of
the enemy. Their forebodings were
not quieted by the news from
Springfield that the village had been
pillaged and burned by the invading
soldiers. One detachment of artil.
lerymen visited the old Baker home
stead on the outskirts of Westfield
and promised to protect the family
from harm provided provisions
were set before them. Mrs. Baker
accepted the terms joyfully, and
prepared for the unwelcome guests
a generous meal, which included
keg of very hard cider. One of the
soldiers drank so freely that he for
got his manners and began amusing
himself by chasing the farmers
family about the room at the point
of the bayonet
But minuteman named Captain
Little, who had been watching the
proceedings from behind bush, in
terfered at this point by sending q
well aimed bullet through the
brute's thigh. The report of Lttle's
gun brought other minutemen to
the scene, and skirmish ensued.
The British were compelled to beat
hasty retreat, leaving their gun
behind in the possession of the
Americans. During the encounter
the cannon had been upset, and one
of the horns or arms which held it
fast to its carriage struck stone
and broke off. This accident sug-
gested the name lone Horn, - and
so it has been known ever since.
During the same hour the division
OF the army that had marched for
Westfield reached the town. The
first thing done was the removal
and confscation of the Presbyterian
church bell. This bell, in addition
to its office of summoning the peo-
pie to devotional services, was used
as fire alarm and to give warning
of danger from the hostile Indians
who infested the surrounding coun-
try. The soldiers, after helping
themselves to the citizens goods and
taking prisoner few Of the rebels,
marched away. The bell they sent |
to New York. To supply it's place,
Zone Horn" cannon was brought |
into the town. Whenever danger
threatened, its voice thundered out a
warning to the people, and many
times bands of British marauders
were driven away by it's use.
The cannon has figured promi-
nently in many occasions subsequent
to the war for independence. It has
been fired in scores of patriotic cele-
brations, and the descendants of |
Revolutionary patriots have priced
it SO highly that many rival claims
to its ownership have been made.
Within a few years Westfeld has
succeeded in proving its title, and
the gun has been stationed in Fair
view cemetery, where it teaches an
impressive object lesson in patriot
York Post.
UI,a, AsL.d