The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1905-08-11


main army. The army marched in
regiments until reaching Newtown
following ane another at intervals of
days march or at distance of about
Is miles. Their stay in New town was
cut short by urgent orders from Gen
Washington to hasten toward the
Hudson river. There was no rest eX-
cept what was imperatively necessary
and some of the French officers set the
example of walking the whole distance
at the head eff their regiments. The
officers wore coats of white broadcloth
trimmed with green, white under
dress and hats with two corners in
stead of three like the cooked hats
worn by the American offers, paid all
their expenses in hard money, COM
mitted' no depredations and treated
the inhabitants with great ciyility
and propriety. "HiStOry of the Cath
lie Church in the New England
States"
According to the Magazine of Amer
lean History the army numbered 600
artillery, 600 cavalry and 5000 infantry,
1890 men in all. While they were in
Newtown five men deserted from their
ranks. Their encampment was on the
Clark's, southwest of our village. -Es-
quire LamsOn Birch, who died some SO
years ago and who lived upon that
plain, remembered many incidents
connected with Revolutionary times
and he confirmed the statement that
there was an encampment Of French
soldiers near his fathers house, as did
also Aunt Ann FoOte who in RevOlu-
tionary days lived in a house that
stood where Mrs Barney Kelly now
lives. There were two divisions of
the French army passed through New
town at different times. Aunt Mary
born in l776 and dying in 1878 aged 1O2
years, claimed to remember distinctly
an encampment of French soldiers on
this plain east of the village where we
now are and she also remembers the
celebration of the proclamation Of
peace when an OK was roasted whole
at the head Of NewtOwn street. The
second passage Of a French army
through the town was under Gen La
Fayette marching from the Hudson
River across to Boston, when they en-
| camped in Newtown over night. One
needs only to bear in mind that New
town lies on the direct inland course
from Hartford to the Hudson River at
Peekskill to see, that of necessity the
moving of troops in either direction,
from the eastern coast to the Hudson
River or from the Hudson River to the
eastern coast, would take them
through Newtown. The passage of
French troops that Aunt Mary Ann
Glover referred to was under Gen
Lafayette, under marching orders
from Gen Washington to go from
Peekskill to Boston. They encamped
on the plain between the village and
the railroad station, and as she said
when they took up marching orders,
went eastward over the hill through
the bristling bayonets as they climbed
the hill left it's lasting impression or
her mind that she often spoke of ir
her later years.
The following correspondence thai
passed between the COMMANDMENT
chief and Count de Rochambeau wher
the latter was enrOute towards the
Hudson River confirms the statement
that the French army did pass through
Newtown and encamped here, thus re
moving everything that might seen
but a myth in connection with such {
statement. On the army passing from
Boston westward it reached Hartford
on the 22d of June: 1871, as the follow
together with other interesting cor
the army reached Newtown.
Hartford %, June 1881.
| arrived here yesterday with the
first regiment which has been followed
this day by the second and will be 81
tomorrow by the third and the dal
after by the fourth. l shall stay herr
this day and tomorrow to give time
for our broken artillery carriages to b.
mended and Our young artillery horses
and oxen to refresh themselves.
shall set off the day after tomorrow
with the first regiment for NewtOwn
the army to march in four divisions OF
before and | shall probably arriv.
there on the 18th and stay the 29tf
and Both to assemble the brigade anC
march in two divisions to the NORTH
River. The corps of LauZun viii
march as far advanced as my frs
division through Middletown, Wal
Iingford North Haven, Ripton anc
North Stratford, in which last place i,
will be on the 2Sth. l have the
honor, SC,
The Count de Rochambeau.
His Excellency George Washington
Camp near Peekskill, p June 17e1.
Sir: l have the honor of receiving
your Excellency's favor of the 23d in
slant from Hartford. 1t would have
given me the greatest pleasure could
have made it convenient to meet yOu
at Newtown, but Independently OF
many arrangements which are neces
sary at the first taking of the field,
am detained by the hourly expecta
uiOn of the Chevalier- a-LauZun.
am pleased to find that your idea OF
the position which will be proper fol
the troops under your command coin.
cides with my own and 1 shall be
happy in giving your quarter-masteI
general every assistance in reconnOi
tering and making out your camp
Lieutenant Col Cobb, one of my aids
de-camp, will have the honor of deliv
ering this letter and will return to me
with any dispatch or message your Elk
| callancu NAV wish To communicate OIL