The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-09-27
MONUMENT marks. FORT LIE
COY. FORT. A SPEAKER AT THE
UNWILLING.

was VuBht EuttS Oh moy HI hsSh
30. -Interstate Palisades Park Plans De-
scribed by Commissioner Perkins.
ID, The monument commemorating the
events OF the Revolution which gave the
town Of Fort Lee It's place In history was
unveiled yesterday. Almoat six years ago
the Fort Lee Revolutionary Monument
/, Association was organized ard yester-
. DAYS ceremonies marked the elimination
OF its efforts to obtain a fitting memorial
; for the site Of Washington's old strong
, hold. .t
The little town perched sleepily. on the
Palisades was fully awake to the glory
of the occasion. Notra house was I'M
adorned, with bunting or flags and the
streets were feetooned with red. white
and blue.
The Governor was there and the Gov
ernor's staf. glorious In gold lace and
~epaulets. two companies OF United States
infantry. q battalion Of the New Jersey
National Guard, marines from the school,
ship New Hampshire. many Grand Army
men, Sons Of Veterans and members OF
other patriotic societies The fire de-
partments Of FortLee. Englewood. Leonia.
Palisades Park and Edgewater were also
In line. and the entire police force OF all
those TOWNSHIP men In all-was on hand
to. preserve order. Altogether probably
10000 people assepbled for, the cere-
, monies.
The statue Is the work OF Carl E. Tefft
Of New York. II represents two OF Gen.
Washington's men. q soldier and a drum
mer boy, gazing down overt the Palidades,
which they evidently have just climbed.
Apparently they are Watching the opera
tons Of the British on the Hudson. The
figures are seven and a half feet high
and are cast in bronze. They are
mounted on a pedestal ten feet high,
which represents the ragged cliffs OF tho
Palisades. from which the stone itself
was quarried. This pedestal stands on,
a three. foot terrace, bringing the height
Of the monument up to twenty feet. The
monument cost 5000. which was appro-
priated by the New Jersey Legislature.
Gov, Fort was the principal speaker.
He reviewed the history OF Fort Lee and
said he had settled for himself the moo
question OF whether or not there "
was a battle fought there. Gov. Fort said
there was. He had had his Adiutant-
General examine the records, aud two
afidavits had been unearthed One read:
This Is to certify that John Devoe was In
the months service under my command
May "a, l7si, and that hethen was wounded
and taken by the enemy. and lost his musket
snd cartridge box In an action at Fort Lee,
fhtthe county Of Bergen.
: 'tSimedl' SAMUEL DBMAREsr.
= Captain OF the militia OF Bergen county.
This second affidavit said;
Personally appeared before me one OF the
Justices Of the county OF Bergen. Abraham
Devoe. and made oath that the above &C.
Count Is Just and true. and that he has
received no satisfaction, or payment for the
same.
sworn before me on this t went eighth day
of April. 17ss.' JAcoB TERHErS, Justice.
This. said Gov. Fort. established bev ond
question the fact that there was q battle
at Fort Lee on May IL. 1851. and that at
least one man was hurt In T. Then the
Governor read a wonderfully long list
of Colonies. Majors and Captains whose
names are on the list Of applicants for
fou ght in this battle.
George W. Perkins, president Of the
Interstate Palisades Park Commission,
announced that the commission had OBJ
tanned all the Palisades included in the
strip Of territory between Fort Lee and
Nyack. By the first Of next year. Mr..
Perkins said, deeds for this land would
property, he said, had cost $500, 600. OF
this sum New Jersey had contribut ted
$4,000. The crest had been furnished by
New York.
Mr.. Perkins then said that the Leeis-
latures Of the w States were TO be asked
this winter for appropriations to begin
S tSs Raiiss sas pr %EtS IN s=sGsessins a a1Sas
that would lead down to the waters edge.
He asked the people Of Bergen county
to support this request. He said that
Gov: Fort had pledged his support.
Finally Mr.. Perkins proposed that the
celebration In honor Of the sOoth ami
yersa5y Of the discovery Of the Hpdaon
ing along the Palisades rather than in
the usual wasteful display Of fireworks.
He said he would makr that suggestion
the Legislature OF New York.
Others speakers were William Hughes,
William M. johnson and Edward W.
Tks ate Of, the new monument is Cd
.Palisade avenue. Il is' near the oentre
o. . plot Of ground an acre In extent
that has been made into q park and 10
tobe called Monument SquarS.
Contrary TO the somewhat common
belief Fort Lee was not situated on the
edge Of the Palisades and did not overlook
the Hudson. It stood back from the
verge of the cliffs several hundred yards,
and was % located as to command q
rsytns leading up from the water.
Through this ravfne ran the road from
the old boat landing. The Hudson wa
commanded by several cannon placed on
the cliffs.
Tho nsw monument stands on q point
old fort. This monument also marks
what 10 sid TO be the site OF the original
camp occupied by Gen. Lee as his head.
quarters, and the spot where Morgan's
militia ridemen were encamped.
In aters year this same spot became
known as one Of the beauty places Of the
vicinity. Half q century ago a Rev. DR..
Parker turned the place into a tiny lake.
This he beautiied In every possible way.
and the lake wal left as q place Of recre-
alton for those who built around II. In
the centre Of this lake was a tiny islet,
There. II - said. DR.. Thomas Dunn English
ever, did not keep its high standing As
the place degenerated the pond was
neglected and finally became q mere mud
hole. known as Parker's Pond. So II re-
NAMED until condemned for q monument
site and beautiied,
Army and Navy Orders.
wAsHSo7ox. Sept. .e.-Tnese army orders
were issued to-day:
Major william F. Martin, Eighteenth Infantry,
apon cHpiratlon OF, leave to Fort Leavsnworth
Win a HA@aNlT