The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1898-02-10
LONE HORN
a short story of the Revolutionary War
in New Jersey.
~ - ~
my time
THE END,


in New Jersey.
Time, which has woven n mantle OF
forgetfulness about so many relies OF
the American revolution, hiding the as
sociations that give to tattered flags
and rusty gun barrels a value beyond
price, has dealt kindly with the old can
non known as One Horn" This weap-
on stands on an eminence in Fairview
cemetery at Westfield, y. j.. Beside il
is the soldiers monument, and above,
or a lofty flag-pole, perches an Ameri-
can eagle, symbolical of the liberty the
cannon was so active in achieving.
Compared with the pouderous artil-
lery of u time, One Horn cannon is
but a plaything. 1t is less than four
feet in length, and weighs with its
carriage barely $50 pounds. But in its
day the gun was regarded as a formida.
BILE weapon; and its capture by the
Americans from the British in 1850 oc-
cGsioned great rejoicing in the patriots
camp.
Prior to June 23 of that year the can.
non was used by Gen. Knyphausen in u
campaign intended to destroy the pa
triots and the cause for which they
were struggling. On that eventful
morning. the British commander di-
yided his force of 5000 men into two
columns, and advanced westward from
Elizabethtown. One division marched
to Springfield, and the other took the
road through what is now Crawford 70
Westfield.
The citizens of Westfield awaited
with intense anxiety the arrival of the
enemy. Their f~orebodings were not
quieted by the news from Springfield
that the village had been pillaged and
burned by the invading soldiers. One
detachment of artillerymen visited the
old Baker homestead on the outskirts OF
Westfield and promised to protect the
family from harm, provided provisions
were set before them. Mrs. Baker ac-
cepted the terms joyfully, and prepared
for the unwelcome guests a generous
meal. which included a keg of very
hard cider. One of the soldiers drank
so freely that he forgot his manners
and began amusing himself by chasing
the farmers family about the room al
the point of the bayonet.
But a minute man named Capt. Little,
who had been watching the proceedings
from behind a bush, interfered at this
point by sending a well-aimed bullet
through the brute's thigh. The report
Of Titles gun brought other minute
men to the scene and n skirmish en-.
sued. The British were compelled ia
beat a hasty retreat, leaving their gun
behind, in the possession of the Amer
leans. During the encounter the can.
non had been upset, and one of the horns
or arms which held it fast to its car.
riage struck a stone and broke it off
This accident suggested the name" One
Horn" and SO it has been known ever
since.
During the same hour the division OF
the army that had marched for West.
field reached the town. The first thing
lone was the removal and confiscation
of the Presbyterian church bell. This
bell, in addition to it's Office of summon.
ing the people to devotional services,
was used as a fire alarm and to give
warning of danger from the hostile In.
dams who infested the surrounding
country. The soldiers, after helping
themselves TO the citizens goods and
taking prisoners a few of the rebels
marched away. The bell they sent 70
New York. To supply its place. zone
Horn" cannon was brought into the
town. Whenever danger threatened its
voice Numbered out a warning TO the
people, and many times bands Of Brit.
ish m%arauders were driven away by its
use.
The cannon has figured prominently
in many occasions subsequent to the
war for independence. 1t has been fired
in scores of patriotic celebrations. and
the descendants of revolutionary patri-
OTIS have priced II so highly that many
rival claims to IFS ownership have been
made. Within a few years Westfeid
has succeeded in proving it's title, and
the gun has been stationed in Fairyiew
cemetery. where il teaches an impress
sive object lesson in patriotism.-N.Y.
Post.