The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-03-10
VOL. XXXV.--NO. 20.

witness the wedlock of Confederates andUnion
veterans in one common official ceremony to
decorate the graves of their sacred dead.
Meade Post, G. A. r., of this city, to its ever
lasting credit, gave the invitation, and Lieut..
Thos. S. Mccullough, of the Maryland Infan-
try, Confederate Army, accepted it and de-
ivered the oration of that day, and Federal
and Confederate braves marched in one COM
mon procession to honor those who died on
either side of the great breach.
Indeed, as the legislative heart of Maryland,
this little city on the Severn is ever alive with
the best. The most successful novel of the
day has its scenes laid chiefly here, and from
the abundant storehouse of Annapolis history
drew a rich supply of dramatic incidents,
while the Naval Academy furnished in one of
its graduates the accomplished author.
CREATION OF THE NAVY.
Nor yet is the annals of IFS glories all told,
for to Commodore Isaac Mayo, who lived
almost within sight of the historic State House,
is absolutely due the credit of the location of
the Naval Academy at Annapolis.
In our State House the stainless sword of
Washington returned to the giver. The
treaty of peace they made as 13 free and
independent States was ratified there, and
in this city and in all probability, in the State
House, met the convention of five States in
I7S6, which led to the greater convention that
formed the Federal Constitution and created
the more perfect Union of the American
States.
This State, too, had its strong hand in
molding and creating that pride of all coun-
trymen-the American Navy. 1t was born
October Is, 1775 On that day Congress
passed its first act for the formation of navy.
Joshua Barney, of Baltimore, it is conceded,
was the first man to receive a commission in
the American naval service. On November
-, 1775, Congress adopted its rules and reg
ulations for the navy and ordered the building
of Is ships. Under that act insistant and pa
riotic Baltimore built the Virginia, of 2S
guns, and Barney had the distinguished honor
at his recruiting station, with his own hands
to hoist, amid the music of drum and fife, the
first Continental banner seen in the Monu-
mental City. Before the day was over the
Hornet, of which Barney was second officer,
had her full complement of men enlisted.
Barney was transferred to the Wasp and
captured a British tender in the Delaware,
aud later was, with the Hyder Ally, the cap
turer of the British sloop-of-war General
Monk.
James Nicholson, born at Chestertown,
Nd, WAS the second officer, who had the en-
tire command of the American Navy-a post
be held from the date of his commission until
the first navy was abandoned. Previously as
a commander in the Maryland Navy, for the
State had one independent of Congress, he
had recaptured several vessels taken by the
British, and when he was not at work destroy
ing British shipping he would land his naval
brigade and help the army, which he did with
his crew at the battle of Trenton.
The son of Commodore Nicholson, Mary
lander, was a lieutenant with Paul Jones; his
other brother. John, was lieutenant in the
Revolutionary Army. and his grandson, Viii
liam Carmichael Nicholson, was a midshlp-
man on the President when il was captured
by a British cruiser James w. A. Niehol.
son. great grandson Of Commodore James
Nicholson, WAS in the navy during the Civil
War; as his father, Nathaniel Dawse Nichol
son, had been in the war of 1872. Then, as
now. it ran in the families to inherit a turn
for the navy. and the great captains of the old
navy repeat their deeds of glory by their
progeny in the new American Navy.
Daring the Revolutionary War this little
MARYLAND Navy did excellent service. This
fleet numbered at least 80 vessels adorned
with such Suggestive names as Baltimore,
Conquerer, Revenge, Terrible, Intrepid aud
Fear. Naught. Among the commanders IN
this feet there are the still more suggestive
names OF John Rogers, David Porter, Thomas
Johnson aud James Buchanan. As for the
Baltimore privateers, their names were legion
and their deeds romantic.
Again, IN Tripoli, Maryland had her Deca-
tur aud her Ridgely, and in every conflict OF
national arms this Stale has contributed her
share Of men and captains to the successes OF
the naval service While doing the one she
has not left the other undone, and one of her
SONS shaped in concrete hope and beautiful
song. the thought and prayer of the nation:
.,rhe s,ar-spaugIed Ranner' on. long may It wave
Oer the land af the free ana the home OF the brave
whne vet another, and he au American Naval
officer, gave birth to that most patriotic OF sen
timents:
..My country-may she always be right
But right or wrong-my country.
FiRsr WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
The first monument erected TO the memory
of George Washington WAS built on South
Mountain, ia Washington county, by the peo-
ple of Boonsboro, Maryland, on July 1, 1897.
So. today, We, as loving children Of noble
ancestry, have gave gathered for our inspira-
ton a few Of the gems that our lliuslrous
loreiathers have scattered along the jewel
studded shores of Maryland history. To keep
alive these memories; TO preserve the record
( Of their achievements; IN inspire this genera
ton by, and to transmit to future generations,
their example are the monuments of title, the
| letters patent. the right of being of the Mary
/ land Branch Of the Society of the Daughters
| OF the Revolution.
Yet with all our pride Of State and ances-
/ lry, we are still prouder to remember that the
| splendor Of the achievements OF the American
| Navy and Army in peace aud war; the mag
nifceuee of Marylands contribution TO the
! Union of States, come, at last, to one altar
our common country, and lind their highest
| honor in ministering at its fanes In this
snirit this tablet is erected. The spendor of
| the one and the grandeur of the other, reach
! their greatest excelleree and chief glory IN
| being part of that American Republic which
/ Washington and the fathers established and
whose star of promise win safely guide the
ark of human liberty down the ages and pre-
| serve to us and our children's children the
| blessings Of liberty in all the efugence and
/ brilliancy of constitutional orbit OF progress
aud development, and when the mighty roll
/ of time shall cease, then, aud then alone,
/ shall end thy destiny; superb, and crowned
with Gods approving verdict, the nations
| thou shalt lead in all that's best and good,
and. with thy glory, thrill the sons of eternity