The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-05-31
ADDRESS OF WIN. S. WELLS
AT THE DEDICATION OF THE
BUSHNELL MONUMENT

At Monitor Park, This City, Decoration
Day, May 3Oth, 18OG--A Fine Tribut,
to the Memory of Mr.. Bushnell and
His Work In Connection With the
Building of the World Famous Moni.
tor.
Following is the address of William
s. Wells, Qate) second assistant engi-
neer, United States navy, historian OF
The Cornelius Scranton Bushnell Ma
tional Memorial Associations"
Of all the days of the year, this one
Memorial day, stands alone, In awak-
ening all the most beautiful and tender
sentiments of our human nature. Our
hearts are at the same time in unison
of exultation, of joy and Of grief
There is no class, no creed, to-day, and
our voices blend in harmony in singing
the Star Spangled Banner and My
Country, tbs of Thee, and the hour
stimulates within us pride that we
are American citizens and have the op-
portunity to do honor and reverence to
the memory of the men who fought and
died, or did some great special service
to establish and presrve this nation.
1t is a day also in which the golden
chords Of love and affection are touched
that link us with those of our own
blood and families, of father, mother,
husband, wife or child, whom we have
tenderly and sorrowfully laid to rest in
their everlasting sleep. We commune
with them to-day, and with loving
hands, and through the fragrance and
beauty of flowers, speak to them more
from the heart than words can express
the real promptings Of our inmost
souls And what a fitting day it Is for
the ceremony we are now performing,
Every age has its heroes and men
who have won conspicuous fame often
by single act, but this service some
times has not been fully appreciated
while they lived, and too much time off
ten elapses before the results of that
act grows to such proportions as to be
fully comprehended, and a proper tri-
butte given to their memory. Conneeti-
cut has wonderful array of great
names from It's earliest settlement; OF
those who mar the steps of it's pro-
gross, its development and those who
contributed to our national greatness.
Among the latter, who is entitled to
high honor for national service ren-
dered is that of Cornelius Scranton
Bushnell. He was born at Madison,
Conn, July 10, 1929, and died in New
York city May 6, 1896, and was laid to
rest May 8, in Evergreen this city. He
was a descendant of our most substan-
tial pioneer New England stock. His
father, Nathan Bushnell and his moth
er, Chloe Scranton, were respectively
descended from Francis Bushnell and
John Scranton who came from England
to the New Haven colony in 1893, and
were members of the company who
purchased the Guilford plantation from
the Indians.
The world is full of monuments to
commemorate events or in honor OF
men collectively or as individuals. In
one sense we are generally but the
creatures of the present hour, for most
men pass away from the memory of
even their contemporaries, not having
achieved anything Of special impor-
tance. But this life which I've are hon
oring to-day will live not only in histo-
ry, but will be doubly SECURE from for
getfulness by the reminder of this en-
during memorial we have just unveiled,
and why?
In any great crisis there must be
men who are resourceful to advise,
urge, direct and who can be relied
upon. Mr.. Bushnell was not in battle
as some of us have been, but performed
a service equal in value IN results to an
immense army, or fleets of ships of
war. But he was soldier at the
breaking out of the civil war and
stouldered a musket while in Washing
ton, when the Capitol was menaced af-
tSrythe Confederates caused Fort Sum
ter to capitulate on April 10. He en-
listed as a private in the Washington
Clay Battalion" called for emergency
service in protecting the person of the
President Of the United States and 9TH
er officials, and the public buildings
WllAAO pAlV city u w doIllI6 LOll was Iull
Of conspirators. Ills discharge bears
date of being mustered into the service
April IS, 1861, and discharged May A,
1851, and bears the signature of Presi-
dent Lincoln with thanks for service
rendered at this special time. Mr..
Bushnell informed me that he per-
formed service from April -, although
not mustered until the 18th. This SER
vice made Mr.. Bushnell eligible for
membership in the G. A. r., and he was
duly mustered as a member of Admiral
Foote Post, II, Department of Connect
icut, on June 5, 1886, and was buried
with g. A. r. honors. I had the honor
to propose him for membership. l do
not wish to pose before you as a proph-
ct, but before the ballot was taken on
the night of his election / stated to my
comfades that although some of us
have been in many battles and our
names are honorably recorded in the
service of our country, that our person
ality would probably not long endure
outside of our immediate families, and
our names only remaining for future
but that the time would come
when grateful people of this common
wealth would erect a monument in this
city commemorative Of the great SER
vices to our country performed by Cor
nelius Scranton Bushnell, Tt is exceed
ingly gratifying to me, having been his
friend, associate and comrade, that
realize this prophesy has been fulfilled,
and that have the honor to stand be-
k1.o ,,n,x a = +ha 1,pvaIlJno If tb5u mo.