The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-04
AN HISTORIC site MARKED
The dwelling Of the COOch's
Bridge Battle Monument.

NEWARK. Del. Sept. 4.-The Unveiling
of the new monument on the spot where
the American and British troops fought
l24 years ago, at Coochs Bridge. Del, was
a memorable occasion. This is believed
to be the place where the Stars and
Stripes were first unfurled in battle.
About 5000 persons assembled there yes
terday to witness the ceremonies attend
ant upon permanently marking the his
to:iCal spot.
II was a glorious day for the patriotic
organizations OF the State through whose
efforts the monument was erected The
unwilling brought together men promi-
nent in all the walks OF life in Delaware.
II was marked by Inspiring music. patri-
otto songs. ana addresses The orators
were seated on a stand prettiIy festooned
with red. white, and blue bunting and an
abundance Of flags, while the spectators
stood for more than two hours in q driz-
zling rain and listened
Chief Justice Charles Z. Lore. Of the
Delaware courts. presided The CcremO-
MES opened with an Invocation by Bishop
Leighton Coleman, Of the Protestant
Episcopal Diocese OF Delaware. The
opening address was by Henry G. Conrad,
Librarian Of the Delaware Historical So
ciety, who gave an account OF the Skin
mish at Cooch's Bridge and the story of
the flags early days.
After Mr.. Conrad had concluded the
memorial. amid an outburst of applause.
the monument was unveiled by Howard
DeHaven Ross. jr,. and Francis Allyn
| COoch. il. Miss Emma Lore. daughter Of
the chief justice, sang The Star Span
gled Banner" The formal presentation
OF the monument TO the State was made
by Hon. J. wilkins CoOCh. and Gov. John
Hum responded. This was followed by
an address by Walter : Logan. OF New
York city, President General Of the Ma
tiOnal Society Sons Of the American Rev
olution
General James H. Wilson. Of the United
States Army. made an address describing
the significance OF the flag The address
Of General Wilson was the means Of test
ing the temper Of the crowd in regard TO
the SampsOn-Schley controversy. The
general made a reference to Dewey carry
ing the American emblem at Manila and
Sampson at Santiago. but there was i'm
mediately "a loud shout from the crowd
'Schley, Schley, you mean which was
repeated several times. At the mention
of Rear Admiral SIMPSONS name there
were Kisses General Wilson paid no at
tentiOu to the interruption
Brief remarks by Hon. Robert G. HOus-
ton, Of Georgetown, Del, and the reading
OF an original poem by William Town
send SmitheTs. Of Dover. Del. followed.
The exercises closed with a bencdiCJion
pronounced by Rev. Thomas c. Potter.
Mr.. Conrad, In his address, thus spoke
OF the dag unfurling:
The flag of the United States had its
beginning June u, III, when Congress
I adopted the resolution On August fol-
lowing short skirmish or rally occurred
at Fort StanwiX. New York, ia which the
Americans fOated a r1dely devised flag
intended to represent the ideas embodied
I IN the resolve OF Congress But all his
torlans agree that the nag ioated on that
occasion was merely an improvised one,
I and IN no sense a complete and regular
flag OF the United States.
The sa6ernent that took plate here
on september J, Ia. was the first / be-
ieVe. after the adoption OF the flag where
the American forces were drawn in line
OF battle in front OF the opposing army
Presumably the American forces had a
nag or nags IN their tine when presenting
themselves in battle array. The records
tell Us that when Washington marched
! his army through Philadelphia tie bands
were playing and the iags were flying
Undoubtedly those flags had been made
aIter the pattern set forth in the resolve
OF congress OF seven weeks before. these
having been ample time for the making
of the flags after the approved pattern
The first thought would have been TO fur
ntsn them as speedily as possible 20 the
main army of Washington as il marched
South to meet the invading foe
To my mind II is indisputable that
across yonder 70 the eastward. beyond
he flowing waters OF the Cbristiana
within sight Of the spot upon which /
stand, there was borne aioft by the
American column under the brave Max
well the flag Of the thirteen United States
with thirteen stars and thirteen stripes.
and thar there, for the first time II an
peared in the smoke and blood Of battle
monument today"
The monument is large. roughly hevyh
block Of Brandywine granite. eight feet
tall, about six feet wide, and four feet
thick, with one polished face for the fol-
lowing inscription:
The Stars and Stripes were first unfurled
In battle
AT Cooch's Bridge
Erected by the patriotic societies and cfti-
zeps Of the State Of Delaware,
September 3. 1901.
The memorial stands upon a plot OF
ground given 10 the State by I KViIlyi,Is
COOch whose beautiful lawn forms a
background for the tablet. The COoch
residence was built IN 1850. By his great
grandfather, Thomas CoOch. and IN the
autumn OF l444 II was the headquarters OF
Lord CORVALLIS. who comma nded part OF
the invading army Of General Howe.
From the house one obtains a glimpse Of
the near hill beyond the creek and there
Il was that the memorable skirmish took
place between the British advance and a
detachment Of picked Americans under
command Of General Maxwell. a valiant
soldier from New Jersey
II was on August . that Howe landed
with his army about twelve miles below
phia- Washington had faced the British
general in the northern part Of New Jer-
scy, and instead OF marching across that
State TO reach Philadelphia the English
commander thought he would try a bit
Of strategy and surround his movements
with mystery. So he prepared a decay
letter supposed TO be for BurgOyne but
which conveniently fell into the hands Of
Washington, as was intended. In this
alleged message General Howe unfOIded
a Plan to go TO Boston, but the alert
Washington wrote that the letter con
WINGED him beyond a doubt that the des-
tination OF the English army was Phiia-
delphia
The American army then began to move
slowly toward the south. although there
was still Some suspicion about Howe and
Washington could not believe that the
English general proposed 20 abandon
Burgoyne 10 his fate. week after
EOWe's feet had sailed washington
wrote on July 60 that Howe's abandon
ing Of BurgOync was so unacCOuutable
a matter that, till 1 am fully assured IL IS
so. cannot help casting my eyes behind
me-"
After voyage Of a month the English
army reached OIdield's Point near the
head Of Elk River, twelve miles below
EIktOn. Md. II numbered 1900 we'll
equipped men. IN fine spirits and trained
20 the service.
Howe found Cecil county a hotbed OF
American patriotism. according 10 the
testimony OF a Mr.. Galloway. one Of the
guides for the British. Explaining to the
House Of Commons in lG9 the guide said:
General Howe happened 10 land has
troops in part Of the country more dis-
affected than any part L knOw-I mean
Cecil county, In Maryland"
IL took the English several days 70 land
their troops at Oldfields Point In the
Greene, Weldon. and Lafayette were near
Eslktou. August %. spending the night