Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-06-01
MANY RELICS IN
NATIONAL MUSEUM
Roles Played by American Patrl-
OTIS in History of Country
Are Perpetuated.
MEMENT0S OF WASHINGTON
Uniform and Equipment Used by THE
Father of His Country" in Field
Among the Most Highly
Priced Exhibits.

The roles played by patriotic Ameri-
cans in the history of the country are
perpetuated in the exhibition halls of
the division of history in the United
States National museum at Washing
ton, where large portion of the Arts
and Industries building is devoted TO
the preservation of historical relics.
The exhibits are intended to illustrate
by an appropriate assemblage OF Cd
jects, the lives of distinguished person
ages, important events, and the DOM
este life of the United States from
colonial times to the present day. The
collections in these halls are especial
" rich in relics and mementos or
American army and navy officers, ana
include uniforms, swords, guns, nags,
and many other objects which recall
the names and services of their Illus
trious owners.
Probably nothing in all the collec-
tons more quickly touches the hearts
of true Americans, than certain OBJ
jects once the property of 1.-THE Father
Of His Country" While composed
mostly of household articles, there are
also several martial accessories. Con-
spicuous among these is pair of gold
wire epaulets worn by Washington
when a colonel during the French and
Indian war, notably throughout the
Braddock campaign in 1865. His Con-
tinental army uniform, worn at Annap-
oils, Nd, when he resigned his COM
mission as commander in chief OF the
Continental army, December %, 17S3,
is one of the most highly valued OBJ
jects in the museum. Another great
attraction is the equipment used by
him in the field, consisting of his tents
with poles and pegs, mess chest and
various utensils, his writing case and
spy glass.
Life Masks of Lincoln.
There are two life masks of Abra-
ham Lincoln, casts Of his hands, and a
suit Of clothing worn by him while
president. The museum is fortunate
in having a large number of objects
pertaining to the life Of Gen. U. 5.
Grant, particularly the gifts he re-
ceived during his journey around the
world on the termination of his presi-
dency. Among these personal relics
are several swords, uniform coat,
saddle, canes, epaulets, medals and
commissions. There are several cases
Of these Grant relics, one of which
pertains to the career Of Maj. Gen.
Frederick Dent Grant, United States
army, son of the president. OF other
presidents of the United States, there
are personal relics of Adams, Jeffer-
son, Madison, Monroe, Jackson, Van
Buren,, Cleveland, Mckinley and RoOse-
welt.
Paul Revere, famous as the hero OF
the ride to Lexington and Concord in
ITS, and who served as lieutenant
colonel of artillery throughout the Rev
olution, was q silversmith by trade
and the museum has several excellent
examples of silversmiths work execut
ed by him. The National Societies
Of the Colonial Danes of America and
Daughters of the American Revolution
have a number of interesting historic
relics and tokens on view in the mu
scum.
Commencing with the days of the
Revolution and extending through the
| periods of all our wars, there are il
the national collections interestin!
swords and other objects owned by
| such men as Alexander Hamilton, JOhI
Hancock, Brig. Gen. Peter GansevOort
Jr., Brig. Gen. Montgomery c. Meigs
Marquis de Lafayette, Count de Roch
ambeau, Brig. Gen. Thaddeus Kosciusz
ko, Brig. Gen. Eleazar w. Ripley, Maj
Gen. Jacob Brown, Maj. Gen. JohI
Bankhead Magruder, Maj. Gen. Alex
ander Macomb, Maj. Gen. George w
Morgan, Brig. Gen. James Shields
Brig. Gen. John Watts de Peyster, Maj
Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, Maj
Gen. John A. Halderman, Brig. Gen
William II. Browne, Maj. Gen. Jane
Birdseye Macpherson, and many 9th
ers.
Relics Of John Paul Jones.
Nor is the navy lacking in represen
tatives. There is fine series of relic
and mementos starting with John Pau
Jones, whose remark, II have just be
gun to fight" is known to every schoo
boy. One of his flags is exhibited, an
cutlass and musket captured fror
the Scraps" in 1919. 1t was Jone
who first carried the Stars and Stripe.
then the new flag of America, acros
the sea. The original "Star Spangle
Banner" which inspired Francis Scot
Key to write the poem, now our ns
tional anthem is displayed in the mt
scum.
Commodore Stephen Decatur's swor
is an interesting relic of this remark
able sea fighter who gained distinctio
in the Tripolitan war, served gallant
in the War of 1912, and forced the De
of Algiers to renounce all claims {
| ~ -,~s& o.