The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-03-24
Cen. SEWELL'S
MEMORIAL.
Impressive Services in the
Assembly Chamber This
Afternoon.
SENATOR sT0KEs'S EULOGY
He Pays a Glowing Tribute to
the Dead Senator AS a
Soldier and States
man.


Especial to s'The Jersey City News."l
TRENTON. March "a, 1s02.-It was
most distinguished gathering of repre-
sentative Jerseymen that crowded into
the Assembly chamber this afternoon to
| attend the memorial services which the
Legislature held for the late United
States Senator William ]. Sewell. The
chamber was appropriately decorated for
the occasion with tall palms and fragrant
flowers. A large portrait of the late Gem
eral Sewell stood near the speakers chair
Governor Murphy and all the State Off
! cials occupied the front row of seats
United States Senators Kean and Dryden
and most of the representatives of New
Jersey were present.
Former State Senator Edward G. Stokes.
of Cumberland, delivered the eulogy,
which was most eloquent effort, and
held the close attention OF the crowded
chamber for over two hours. He said in
part
New Jersey boasts Of long line Of
distinguished sons Fame and glory have
come to her from her soldiers and states
men; from her jurists and scholars; from
her disceverers and inventors; but of all
the illustrious men whom she claims as
her own and whose lives are a source of
inspiration, there is none who loved his
country and State with greater love. or
more zealously sought to promote their
welfare and honor than did General VIII
liam J. Sewell ] speak of him as "Gener-
all for that title he was loved by his
comrades of war; by that title known
throughout the State and nation, and by
that saluted by his associates and
friends.
HE was not of American parentage.
He was alien born-ours only by adop-
tion, yet none the less he was an Ameri-
can by Instinct and training, and had
most sincere and genuine affection for
the land of the Free His patriotism
knew no bounds, and the stars and stripes
were as dear to his heart as the life he so
freely offered in their defense On one
occasion. in Response to a greeting b. his
friends, in a burst of feeling, Of which
he was always possessed, but which he
seldom revealed. he declared, could he
have his choice, he would choose to die
fighting for the country which had done
so much for him.
Born in 1895 left fatherless and
notherless at an early age, the orphan
lad followed an older brother, Robert, to
the city OF New York. There. when about
eighteen years of age. he entered the SER
vice of the sea and sailed before the mast
on the Flyaway, an American merchant
man about to make a voyage of the
world
TN the course of its sailing the ship
touched at a port in Australia at a time
when the discovery of gold was offering
hopes of fabulous wealth. The crew
yielded to the temptation, mutinied, and
attempted to seize the vessel, but youns
Sewell refused to join the mutineers, and
with the same hatred of rebellion he
showed later in life, he took mis- stand
with the little band of officers who were
defending the property entrusted to theie
care. All night long the opposing forces
held their ground without advantage on
either side. With the day of the morning
at great personal risk Sewell succeeded
in signalling a man of war lying few
miles distant to the relief and rescue of
the officers and the restoration of their
| rlghtful authority. For this courageous
/ conduct he received promotion, and the
youngster who sailed as d boy returned
with the rank of first mate
His arrival in this country was coin
cident with the acute stages of the slav-
cry agitation. 1t was the time OF the cul-
minati tion of questions, discussions and
controversies which involved the life of
the nation, and which were to be settled
only by the tribunal Of war
"Of the volunteers among, the first to
enlist was Captain Sewell. He offered
himself as a private, but secured a cap
tain's commission in the Fifth New Jer-
sey and participated in every engage
ment in which his command took part
His record in the war is part Of the
States history, of which every Jersey
man is proud. He served throughout
that four years terrible conflict. save for
a brief period when disabled by sickness
and wounds. For gallant and meritorious
conduct he was steadily advanced in rank
| and at the close Of the war was commits
stoned by brevet Brigadier-General and
| Major-General of volunteers. A medal
| presented to him by the officers and men
| of the Fifth New Jersey 'for valor,'' in
scribed with the names of the engage
] ments in which he participated, is a
mute, but eloquent testimonial of the re-
| gard in which he was held by those who
served with him on the field of danger.
i .'He was bold, and inspired others with
/ a confidence and courage akin to his own.
| He led where any dared to follow.
| "TIis charge at charlottesville was one
| of the most brilliant feats of the war and
won for him medal of honor. It was
the morning Of May Sd. 1SS3-the last Of
the three days, battle. The Second Bri-
/ gade of New Jersey had had but two
| hours sleep during the night They had
formed in fighting line before daybreak,
and had been under continuous fire for
over four hours Many of their comrades
were dead More lay wounded and dying
about them. General Mott had been in
jared and carried from the field Cen
eral Barry had been Killed and the COM
mand fell upon Colonel sewell.
ITO the south and in 'front.' and to the
| west and on the right flank, were the
Confederate troops. They had seized the
hill which Seweli wanted to recover, and
were swarming forward In Overwhelming
numbers. With the instinct Of a born SOL
dier he rallied his men and led
the whole line forward Seeing his
men hesitate n the presenceSof the foe,
lsof such Overwhelming numbers that It
/ seemed madness 10 change, he ga1loped fo|
the 'front.' III advance of the brigade until
be atood q dIstInck viaW If III, ana thsn,