The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-25

which eventually led to the independence
of the colonies. The original document
is still preserved in Carpenters Hail, in
Philadelphia, and the following are the
names of the Jews on that early roll of
patriots: Benjamin Levy, Samson Levy,
Joseph Jacobs Hyman Levy, Jr., David
Franks, Matthias Bush, Michel Gratz, Bar
nard Gratz and Moses Mordecai.
A direct descendant of the last named
signer is Col. Mordecai, who is now the
commandant of the Watervliet Arsenal,
at Watervliet, N. Y.
The number of Jews in this country at
the time of the revolutionary war was
small, but even from the scant congrega-
ton there was a liberal representation In
the continental army, and the statistics
prepared by Mr.. Wolf show that there
were many Jewish officers of high rank
under Washington. Among these were
Col. Solomon Bush, Capt. Joseph Bloom
field Surgeon Moses Bloomfield Mai
Lewis Bush, Col. Isaac Franks, Quarter
master Benjamin Hart, Col. Isaacs,. Capt
Jacob de Ia Motta, Maj. Benjamin Nones
and many others, besides a large number
of enlisted men.
When the war was over the Jewish con-
gregations of Savannah, Ca, and New
port R. /, sent addresses to Gen. Wash
ington, who said in one of his answers:
May the children of the stock of Abra-
ham who dwell in this land continue to
merit and enjoy the good will of the other
Inhabitants, while every one shall sit in
safety under his own vine and fig tree
and there shall be none to make him
afraid"
When the war of 1912 began the Jewish
population of the United States was esti-
mated at 5000. The muster rolls of that
period show the names of many Jews, one
of whom was Brig. Gen. Bloomfield. The
officer in command of the port of New
Vol 81
there were Jews in nearly every organiza-
ton. Among the many Jews who fought
on the American side in the Mexican war
were Gen. David De Leon, Col. Leon Dy-
er, Col. S. M. Hymans, Surg. Gen. Moses
Albert Levy, Lieut.. Col. Israel Moses and
Surg Henry H. Steiner.
On the roster of the regular army there
were up to 1895 the names of ninety-six
Jews. The list includes the names of men
in every branch of the service, many with
a distinguished and all with an honorable
record.
The record of the Jews in the United
States navy is also an honorable one, and
shows that they were represented In all
grades, from the man before the mast to
flag officer, and it is due to a Jew, Capt
Uriah Phillips Levy that corporal pun
ishment was abolished in the United
States navy and the five names in
scribed on the Tripol monument in the
Naval Academy grounds, one, MidShip-
man Israel, is that of Jew.
The following list gives the number of
Jews who served in the various wars:
In the Continental army............ As
In the war of 1872 ....................... Al
In the Mexican war INSTRUMENTATION. IS
In the United States regular army. SO
In the United States naVy............ Is
In the civil war:
Staff officers in the Union army 16
In the Confederate army ........... a
officers in the Confederate navy . II
Soldiers in the Union and Confederate
armies ...s'.....s'.............. y84
The largest number of Jews enlisted
from New York, where 1 1896 were enrolled
and went to the front. Ohio came next,
with 1,0O4 men, and Illinois next, with 7G2
Louisiana furnished the Confederacy with
224 Jewish soldiers, which was more than
balanced by little New Jerseys list of
opt in the Union army.
The proposition to have a parade of the
Jewish soldiers has been spoken Of but
men of standing in the Jewish community
laugh at the idea, and say that they will
not encourage the scheme.
I'VE are proud TO have the men come to
our places of worship" said member of