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MEMOIR
^ent^nnittl ^tlshxMan
BURGOYNE'S SURRENDER,
SCHUYLERVILLE, OCT. 17, 1877.
ALBANY:
JOEL MUNSELL.
1878.
SARATOGA MONUMENT.
MEMOIR
OF THE
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
OF
HELD AT SCHUYLERVILLE, N. Y.,
UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE SARATOGA MONUMENT ASSOCIATION,
On tlie 17th of October, 1877.
PREPARED BTj
WILLIAM LrSTONE,/> ^ ^'
Secretary of the Association. v
"History itself must now begin as from a new epoch. They are new powers that must set the wheels of government and of all the world's machinery in motion."
ALBANY:
JOEL MUNSELL.
1878.
\
NOTE.
The author would here acknowledge his obligations to Col. D. F. Ritchie of Saratoga Springs, and Mr. P. C. Ford of Schuylerville, for assistance in recalling the details of the celebration.
OFFICERS
SARATOGA MONUMENT ASSOCIATION.
President,
HORATIO SEYMOUR, Utica, N. Y.
Vice-JPresiden t,
JAMES H. MARVIN, Saratoga Springs, N. Y.
Secretary,
WILLIAM L. STONE, New York city.
Corresponding Secretary,
ED. W. B. CANNING, Stockbridge, Mass.
Treasurer,
DANIEL A. BULLARD, Schuylerville, N. Y.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
Committee on Design,
William L, Stone, Charles H. Payn, E. W. B. Cannins,
James M. Marvin, Leroy Mowrt,
Committee on Location,
Asa C. Tefft, Benson J. Lossing, E. F. Bullard.
Suilding Cotnmittee,
Charles H. Payn, Asa C. Tefft, William L. Stone.
Executive Committee,
Leroy Mowry, James M. Marvin, Daniel A. Bullard, D. F.
Ritchie. Advisory Committee, Edward F. Bullard, Saratoga Springs, P. C. Ford, Schuyler- ville, N. Y., B. W. Throckmorton, New York city, Oscar Frisbie, New York city.
Executive Committee for the Centennial Celebration. William L. Stone, P. C. Ford, Edward F. Bullard.
4 Officers.
TRUSTEES.
Horatio Seymour, Wm. J. Baco>'', Utica, N. Y. James M, Marvix, Charles H. Payx, E. F. Bullard, David
F. Ritchie, Saratoga Springs, N. Y. Wm. L. Stone, Gen. J. Watts De Feyster, Algernon S.
Sullivan, B, W. Throckmorton, Xew York city. Daniel A, Bullard, P. C. Ford, H. Clay Homes, Schuyler-
ville, N. Y.
Leroy Mowry, Greenwich, N. Y.
Asa C. Tefft, Fort Miller, N. Y.
Charles W. Mayhew, Victory Mills, N. Y.
. E. R. iluDGE, Boston, Mass.
E. W. B. Canning, Stoclcbridge, Mass.
Webster Wagner, Palatine Bridge, N. Y.
Frank Pruyn, Meclianicville, N. Y.
James H. Kelly, Rochester, NT Y.
Giles B. Slocum, Trenton, Mich.
Benson J. Lossing, Dover Plains, N. Y.
Gen. John M. Read, Lemon Thomson, Albany, N. Y.
. CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
OF THE
SURRENDER OF BURGOYNE.
NARRATIVE.
At early clay-break on the Centennial of Burgoyne's surrender 1 stood upon the highly elevated plateau on which i^sts the foundation for the Saratoga Monument. A vast amphitheatre was spread at my feet. High as I was above the village of Schuylerville and the surround- ing plain, or rather the whole region of country between the Kayaderosseras range on the west, the Green mount- ains on the east, and the Cats kills on the south, the varieties of upland and lowland were lost in the almost perpendicular line of vision in which they were presented to the view. As the dawn grew on apace, a gra}- jasper tinge slowly crept along the edge of the horizon. Flecks of pale sapphire gradual]}' branched up, which, changing into shoaling spires of emerald and chalcedony, grew more and more distinct, until the entire eastern sky was bathed in the hues of the topaz and amethyst. As the day advanced, and the rays of light darted thicker and brighter across the heavens, the purple clouds which hung over "Willard's mountain, were fringed with a saffron dye of inexpressible beauty. As the sun ascended above the horizon — the broad glare of his beams being somewhat
6 Centennial Celebkation of
repressed by u dense atmosphere — the orb could be clearly defined by the naked eye. After it had gained the horizon the lesser spires below began to point their tall shadows toward me ; a cheerful and mellow light gradually diftused itself around; and the fog, which had rested upon the lower landscape, gently lifting, disclosed hill and vale, wood and river, in all their autumnal loveliness, standing sponsors for the new-born day.
Wednesday, the 17th of October, 1877, was, indeed, a superb autumn day. The air was mild and balmy, and by nine o'clock not a cloud could be descried in any quar- ter of the heavens. It would seem as if the fates had deliberately combined to render the weather most auspi- cious. On the Monday previous, a cold, driving rain had set in ; and although it liad partially cleared, yet the sun of Tuesday had gone down in gloom ; while the wailing of the wind in the tall pines and the leaden clouels over- head gave every indication of another storm. Notwith- standing, however, these untoward signs and the con- tinued interrogations "Will it ever clear up?" the citizens of the patriotic little village of Schuylerville continued the work of decoration late into the night. Early in the afternoon of the 16th the advance guard of the visitors, press-reporters and delegates from different military and civic associations began to arrive. Among these came Battery B, of Troy, Captain A. H. Green commanding, with twenty men and five brass twelve pounders, and, also. Captain Tracy of the same city with twenty police- men, whose manly bearing and efifective measures for preserving the peace during the celebratio^i received the deserved commendation of all lovers of order. In the evening, the village was generally illuminated, giving to the colored decorations a really fine effect, and eliciting warm encomiums for the tasteful manner in which the ladies and gentlemen had performed their work.
THE Surrender of Burgoyne, 7
The following morning, a little before sunrise, the artillery men of Battery B turned out, and dividing into four squads proceeded in as many directions to the out- skirts of the village where their cannons had previously been placed in position.' The day was formally ushered in by a salute of one hundred guns, the echoes of which had scarcely died away, when the people of Easton, from the heights of Willard's mountain, returned the greeting with the same number of guns. The bells of the churches then rang out merrily, and the steam whistles from the factories in the vicinity blew their slirillest notes. The rumbling of wheels along the several roads leading into the village was now heard, and soon the streets were astir with wagons, carriages and omnibusses filled with people from the surrounding country. In Saratoga Springs, twelve miles awa}', all the stores were closed, and a still- ness, more than funereal, hung over its streets; while the entire leno-tli of the road leading from that village to Schuylerville was, for more than four hours, covered with a continuous line of vehicles of every description — from the field-wagon, with rough board seat and chains on which to rest the feel and drawn by oxen, to the hand- some chariotee of the wealthy citizen.^ Toward noon the
'Tliese guns were placed respectively near the corner stone of llie Sara- toga Monument ; on'the site of the camp of the British Grenadiers ; on the hill back of Alnnzo Welch's house where General Morgan's riflemen were stationed, and on the high bluff on tlie east side of the river, the site of old Fort Saratoga during the French and Indian colonial wars, and, just pre- vious to the surrender, occupied by Col. Fellows Avith a battery. An eight- een pounder captiu'ed from the British in 1813, and presented to the Saratoga Monument Association by Frederick DePeyster and Gen. J. W. DePeyster, of New York City, was also placed near the corner stone.
'Benj. W. Amsden of No. 70 Lake avenue says that on Wednesday morning vehicles were passing iiis place, en route to Schuylerville, long before daybreak. Somewhat surprised at the immense number of people moving in tlie direction of the surrender grounds, lie began at six o'clock and kept a tally of each team that passed up to eleven o'clock, five hours,
8 Centennial Celebration of
military, masonic and other organizations that were to take part in the approaching pageant thronged into the town, and by mid-day, the pavements and the windows and porches of the houses were filled with an expectant miiltitiule anxious to secure a good view of the procession.^ And well might the scene now presented rivet the eye. It is seldom that a spectacle, such as that which the streets and buildings of Schuylerville aftbrded on this occasion, is seen. As early as a week previous to the celebration, every flag, Uarge or small, every yard, remnant and piece of colored goods to be found in any of the stores wer.e purchased, to the great gratification of the merchants, who had feared that, in their patriotic enthusiasm, they had been unwise in filling their shelves with so large a stock of red, blue and white goods. Nor were the decorations, so universally displayed, massed together in ahetreogene- ous manner without form or comeliness. Good judgment, a cultivated taste and a lavish expenditure of money gave to the public buildings, the hotels and the stores a bril- liant and striking appearance ; while the fayades of the houses adorned with bunting and various original devices illustrative of scenes and incidents of a century ago, showed good taste and commendable patriotism. This,
and found the number to be three hundred and fifty-four. As tliis is but one outlet to our village some idea may be formed of Saratoga's delegation to the celebration when the other streets and avenues on the east side are taken into consideration. The number of Saratogians who attended the centennial could not have been less than five thousand. — Saratogian, Oct. 18lh, 1877.
'It was estimated by persons whose experience in large gatherings of a like nature rendered them competent judges, that fully thirty thousand people were in the vilhige and upon the surrender grounds at noon <m Wednesday. Had the conve3'ance to the village been by rail road instead of stages and private teams, undoubtedly more than double that- number would have been present. A more orderly and a more intelligent number of persons, it was repeatedly remarked during the day by participants in the Oriskany, Bennington and Beinis's Heights celebrations, was never observed in any other place Where people were so closely brought together.
, THE Surrender of Burgoyne. • 9
together' with the bright and variegated colors of the autumn foliage in the yards and along the side-walks, did much to heighten the general effect. When this hand- some adornment was so universal, to specify those resi- dences that were more richly dressed than others would be invidious. So general, moreover, was the desire to create a good impression — when neighbor vied with neighbor in beautifying their houses and places of busi- ness— that great would be the difficulty to know how or what to write in regard to the mottoes, buntings, banners and lanterns of each private dwelling.
Among the public buildings thus decorated were the new school building, tliii engine-house and the churches of St. Stephen and of the Visitation. The Dutch Ee- formed church wreathed garlands of the red, white and blue around its doric pillars, and the Methodists also ex- pressed their patriotism by a fine display of flags and streamers. The Goldsmith and Gaily Houses were pro- fusely hung with bunting and colored lanterns, and the Schuylerville House presented a picturesque front with its heavy festoonings of evergreens interwoven with the red berries of the ba}^ Suspended over the main street at a prominent point was a pictorial representation of the surrender. Burgoyne was painted in the act of handing his sword to Gates, while underneath the scene was in- scribed the British general's remark : " The fortune of war. General Gates, has made me your prisoner." At a number of points, from newly erected flag-staffs, American colors were floating^; and here and there one saw now a
'One of these flag-poles, at the corner of Pearl and Burgoyne streets, is one hundred and fifty feet in height; another, close by the corner stone of the monument, is one hundred and sixty feet high. Each of these poles is snrmounted by a large glass ball ; and the one planted bj^ the cor- ner stone may be readily seen bj' the aid of a field glass by the citizens of Saratog I Springs, twelve miles distant. These flag-staffs were both the worli of Mr. Giles P. Laing, of Schuylerville.
10 Centennial Celebration of
•
portrait of George "Washington, and again one of Philip Schuyler, Morgan or some other old hero in a frame of evergreen. Nor was this kind of work confined to Schuylerville. Standing near the site of the monument the eye took in, for miles around, flags waving from poles set up for the nonce before innumerable farm-houses. In the distance, snugly nestled among the lower spurs of the Green mountains, the pretty villages of Greenwich and Middle Falls looked like two fleets riding at anchor, their tall masts flying gaily colored pennants as if for some great naval victory. Saratoga and Washington counties seemed in very truth to have hung their banners upon the outer walls. Indeed, as it wi^ well said at the time, " What, with the vivid hues of autumn upon the trees, and the vivid hues of patriotism upon the houses, the vil- lage and its vicinage looked as gay and attractive as did the splendid army of Burgoyne, as it sailed up Lake Champlain in June 1777, when the sun shone on the scar- let coats of British grenadiers, and on the bright helmets of the German dragoons^"
As the troops of the several commands arrived they re- ported to the Grand Marshal, General W. B. French, on Schuyler Square where they were assigned positions. In conse(]uence, however, of the late arrival of the more dis- tant organizations it was noon before the Marshal and his aides had arranged them into column.^ Finally, the report of a cannon told that all was in readiness; and at half past twelve o'clock the procession, headed by a pla- toon of Troy police, filed out of the square into Gates's avenue. General French and his staflf gallantly leading
'Mr. .McElroy, in the Albany Ecening Journal.
*Gen. French deserves ninch credit for the skill wiih which I13 held the procession intact along the line of march. No break or impediment caused any of those halls or separations that so frequently occur on occ;i- sions of this kind.
THE Surrender of Burgoyne. 11
the way. The line of march was from Gates's avenue to Grove street, thence to Pearl ; from Pearl to Burgoyne ; down Burgoyne to Broad; up Broad to Spring; thence to Church, to Burgoyne, to Pearl, to Saratoga, to Green and up Burgoyne avenue to the monument grounds ad- joining Prospect Hill Cemetery.
A volume would scarce suffice to detail the particulars necessary to a full description of the iiags and emblems and patriotic decorations which graced the arches under which passed the many divisions and sub-divisions of this imposing pageant ; nor yet to give the incidents which, like the fragments of a splendid vision are still floating in bright and glowing masses through the imagination. But the spectacle was too brilliant and the scenes too various for the memory to retain more than certain vague impressions no less beautiful than indistinct. Those who were present and saw the magnificent scene on that lovely autumn day — while it gave them an idea of the appear- ance of the two armies one hundred years ago at that very hour and on tliat very spot — will at once admit that it cannot be painted in language ; and those who had not that happiness, must content themselves with the assur- ance that the best endeavors of the writer to convey to them an adequate idea of its eifect will fail.
The first arch (tastily draped with flags and bunting) under which 'the procession marched, was at the corner of Green and Pearl streets, near the handsomely adorned residences of C. W. Mayhew, and G. W. "Watson. The next one was at the junction of Burgoyne and Pearl streets in front of the Dutch Reformed church. Upon it in let- ters of evergreen were the words of welcome ascribed by some to Gates on his first meeting the defeated British general ; " I am glad to see you,"^ with the century
'" It is the custom in England, and in America on approaching any body for the first lime to say, ' I am very happy to see you.' General Gates
12 Centennial Celebration of
dates of Oct. 17th, 1777, and 1877 ; the right and left of the centre inscription bearing the names (also in ever- green), of Schuyler, Gates and Morgan. At the corner of Burgoyne and Broad streets another arch, festooned with laurel, spanned the road; while a little further on and opposite the Methodist parsonage, a graceful arch, thrown across the street, bore on its south side the legend, " Meth- odism honors the occasion," and on the north " Methodism reveres the heroes of 1777." On the lawn, in front of the Marshall House, ^ from a tall liberty pole floated the stars and stripes, and a little distance from the foot of Bur- goyne avenue on the Main street, an old elm, whose trunk was wreathed with the " red, white and blue," bore this inscription ; " Near this spot, Oct. 17th, 1777, American and British officers met and consummated the articles of capitulation of General Burgoyne to General Gates ; and on this ground the British laid down their arms thus se- curing American independence." Standing on the roof
chanced to make use of this expression in accosting General Burgoyne : '1 believe you are,' rapVied the general, the fortune of the da^- is enlirely yours'." — Iravels in North America in 1780-83, % the. Marquis De Chastel- lux.
' " A hundred years ago from yesterday, in the cellar of the house, at present occupied by Mrs. Jane M. Marsliail, tliere was a jjilifid picture of ii few crouching, terror-stricken women and cliildren, and a number of wounded, hungry soldiers ; a century later, yesterday, upon the lawn of tne same house, there was a joyous, patriotic compaify of wives and maidens, raising into the air a liberty i)()le whereon, in a few days shall float the glorious emblem of {reetloni ami victory. With the dark mem- ories of lliat house upon their minds did these women lift aloft with wil- ling hands llie celebraiing staff of its peace and domestic love. The sad records of Madame Kiedesel stand in dark conli-ast with this honorary act of Mrs. J. M. Marshall, Mrs. George W. Smith, Miss Jennie Marshall (the two latter the former's daughters), Mrs. Chas. Bartram ofGreenpoiut, L. I., Mrs. Wesley Buck and Mrs. Josepli Hudson of this village. The pole is eighty-nine feet from the ground and will float a flag twelve by fourteen feet." — ScJtijylerville Slandurd, Oct. 15, 1877.
Mrs. Marshall also, gave the two Albany companies of the Twenty-fifth regiment, the day after the celebration, an elegant dinner set out on the lawn. .
THE Surrender of Burgoyne. 13
of the Grecian portico of D. L. Potter's dwelling, the God- dess of Liberty, in life size, shone resplendent in a starry crown and a skirt made of the American flag. Within the court-yard of Alonzo Welch — the site of the old Revo- lutionary Barracks — stood a large marquee from the top of which were unfurled the American and British colors; while on the northwest corner of. Pearl and Terry streets a wooden monument was placed, having upon one of its sides the following lettering :
Saratoga,
Bemis Heights,
Benniicgton,
Oriskany, Lexington and Concord, The eye of beauty, too, gazed with delight upon the pass- ing scene. Everj^ window was thronged; and the myriads of handkerchiefs which fluttered in the air was only rivaled in whiteness by the delicate hands which suspended them ; while the glowing cheeks, the ingenuous smiles of loveli- ness and innocence, and the intelligence which beamed brightly from many a sparkling eye, proclaimed their po- sessors worthy of being the wives, mothers and daughters of freemen. It was inline a proud spectacle; but language fails in attempting its description — mucbmore in impart- ing to paper the sensations which it created. It is not difficult to describe individual objects correctly, but it is impossible to portray their general effect when happily grouped together. We rejoiced, and all who were there rejoiced; although, as we looked upon the countless throng, we could not but remember the exclamation of Xerxes, and feel that "a hundred years hence, not one of all that vast multitude will be alive."
Immediately behind the police and leading the proces- sion proper, came the popular Boring's band of Troy, composed of twenty-six pieces. Following these, and 3
14 Centennial Celebration of
marching by platooiis, were Company F, Tenth regiment N. Y. S. N. G., Captain George D. Weiclman commanding, and Company I, Twenty-iifth regiment under Captain Walker. Both companies wore a neat gra}'^ uniform, and by their soldierly bearing did credit to the capital city. Colt's armory band of twent}' pieces, one of the choicest musical organizations in the land, and clad in scarlet, fol- lowed next in order ; and directly after them were the Governor's Foot Guards of Hartford, Conn., commanded by Major W. II. Talcott. The presence, on this occasion, of the Foot Guards was particularly fortunate, and most appropriate. Dressed in the rich and peculiar style of the time of George III — bear-skin caps, scarlet coats, knee- breeches, and black velvet leggins with silver buckles on their shoes — they gave to the spectators a correct idea of the appearance of Burgoyne's " Red-coats" at the time of the surrender. Accompanying the Foot Guards were the Veterans of the corps in citizen's dress, wearing Kossuth hats and crimson badges.^ The Park Guard's band, one of Vermont's best, with the Park Guards of Bennington, Capt. N. 0. Wilcox, made a striking appearance in their grenadier hats and steel gray uniforms. Having taken part in the Bennington centennial, it gave them pleasure to participate ii> Saratoga's celebration. It was one of the best equipped commands on the ground. As the proces- sion moved by, the next command that passed along was
'The Governor's Fool Guards were cliartered in 1771. In October, 1777, il started for Saratoga to offer its services to Gates though organized specially as a body guard to tlie governor and general assembly of the colony of Connecticut. The company, under the command of Captain Jonathan Bull, marched as far as tlie Rhinebeck flats, M'liere, being met by an express with the news of Burgoyne's surrender, they returned home. The battalion now numbers about one hundred, including a band of twenty-five pieces. James Bull, now living at Saratoga Si)rings, is a grandson of Captain Jonathan Bull, and was a member of the guards fifty years ago. His father Isaac D. Bull was the first major of the or- ganization when it became a battalion in 1813, serving until 1816.
THE Surrender of Burgoyne. 15
the Hughes Light Guards of South Glen's Falls, Capt. Gleesettle. This company has only recently been organ- ized, hut the members carried themselves like veterans, reflecting credit on the most northerly town in Saratoga county. The Whitehall Cornet band then filed past, lead- ing the well known and popular Burleigh Corps of "White- hall, Lieut. Bascom commanding. The Guards and Corps were dressed in the regulation dark and light blue and wore the shako, and made a creditable appearance. This military array was followed by the Knights Templar, their gay trappings, in the bright sunlight of an unclouded sky, being sufficiently gorgeous to have filled the eye of a Per- sian emperor in the height of oriental splendor and mag- nificence. The Knights Templar constituted the second division of the procession which was under the command of very eminent Grand Commander Charles H. Holden, assisted by Sir Knight B. F. Judson. Preceding the Washington Commandery of Saratoga Springs, was the Ballston Cornet band dressed in a showy dark blue uni- form. Then came the Seventy-seventh regiment band of Saratoga Springs, composed of twenty-two pieces and dressed in military uniform, followed by the Apollo Com- mandery of Troy and the Temple Commandery of Albany. These comraanderies, together with Washington Com- mandery, sustained well their reputation as among the finest appearing and best drilled organizations of Sir Knights in the state. The Mozart band of Schenectady, uniformed in white, came next in order preceding the commanderies of St. George of Schenectady, Be Soto of Plattsburgh, Holy Cross of Glovers ville, Lafayette of Hud- son, Little Falls of Little Falls, Killington of Rutland, Vermont, and the Tefl:'t of Bennington of the same state. The Schuylerville Cornet band was the next to pass, fol- lowed by the Master Masons, who precede<i the Grand Lodge of the state of New York. Along the whole ex-
16 Centennial Celebration of
tensive line of march each of the different organizations was received with continual cheers, a circumstance which added not a little to the animation of the scene.
The Saratoga Centennial Cavalry, Major T. S. Ilassett commanding, brought up the rear. This company num- bered upward of eighty horsemen, and attired in the attractive uniform of Gates's Centennials, they elicited much praise from thebystanders whenever they appeared. This cavalcade formed the escort, or rather the rearguard, to the orators, poets, officers of the day, members of the Saratoga Monument Association and invited guests, who, seated in open carriages, formed the "civic portion of the procession. In one of the carriages were Horatio Sey- mour, George William Curtis and Alfred B. Street, each wearing on his breast, not the gorgeous insignia of the courts of kings, but — typical of Republican simplicity — a silk badge, on which was attaclied a plain rosette made of the dry leaves of the palmetto.^ Among the most honored guests were ex-Senator Foster, of Connecticut, whose father was in both battles of Berais's Heights, and George L. Schuyler, of New York, a grandson of Gen. Philip Schu^'ler. In another carriage, also, rode Albert Clements, aged^ ninety-six, George Strover, eighty-six.
' At the top of the badge is printed the word " Gates," and at the bottom, " Saratoga, Oct. 17th, 1877." The badges were the gift of Gen. Steplien D. Kirk, of Charleston, S. C. Gen. Kirk accompanied tiic gifts with appropriate patriotic sentiments.
^Albert Clements, the most remarkable person in the vicinity of Schuy- lerville, was ninety-six years old on the 24lh of October, 1877. Born in Dutchess county, N. Y , he came with his father to Saratoga (Schuyler- ville) when only eight years old, in 1781, and has resided there ever since. His father purchased five hundred acres of land west of the Schuyler tract, which in part he cleared and made very productive in corn, wheat, buckwheat, fla.x, barley, etc. He also had a distilleiy on the Fishkill, about a mile south of Victory Mills, near the houses of Vilorus Winney, and of the father of Mr. Giles B. Slocura, now living in Trenton. Mich.
THE Surrender of Burgoyne. 17
and William H. McCreedy, eighty-six, the three oldest men in the village, and honored both for their own sakes and from- having once been the neighbors of Gen. Schuyler. The presence of these, three venerable, but still hale and hearty, village sires, and the distin- guished ex-Senator Foster, carried back the minds of the beholders so vividly to those "times that tried men's souls,"' that they no longer seemed to belong to the " dim past," but to the vitality of the actual present. It had been expected that Governor Robinson, of New York, Governor Rice, of Massachusetts, and Van Zandt, of Rhode Island, would be present ; but illness kept them all away. The goyernor of New York was represented by members of his military family; "but as he had vetoed the state appropriation for the celebration, a word of sympathy from him in the commemoration of the most important of the Revolutionary centennial cele- brations in New York state would have been fitting and welcome."'
The procession was more than a mile in length, and
Plis Either wns a most successful distiller, and manufactured an excellent quality of whisky from buckwheat and potatoes. He also made cider brandy. The longevity of the family is remarkable. His father died at ninety, his mother at eighty. Albert Clements has had eleven children. The youngest living is fitly years old, and he has a son (Dr. Clements, of Saratoga Springs), aged si.xty-five. He never belonged to any religious denomination, but attends that of the Methodists. He has never used (so they tell me), " as much tobacco as would amount to one cigar ;" but has always drank spirits, " when he felt like it." His earnest sententious speech, without any of the besetting weakness of old age, commands the attenticm and interest of all with whom he converses. His hale, hearty, courteous manner, and his physical activity make him a man to be noted. When I proposed to send a carriage for him on the day of the celebration, he rejjlied that " he could walk as well as not," though he lives two miles from the village. The- father, grand- father and great-grandfather of Mr. McCreedy were all present as soldiers at the surrender, jVIr. Clements, Mr. Strover, and Mr. McCreedy, all occu- pied seats oa the speakers' stand, the day of the celebration. ' Harpefs Weekly.
18 Centennial Celebkation of
contained nearly three thousand people. It was, indeed, a pageant of indescribable interest, and, to most, of double attraction ; the occasion being one in which the deepest sympathies were enlisted, and it being also altogether the finest display of pomp and circumstance ever witnessed in northern New York.
A large part of the population of Saratoga and Wash- ington counties had given themselves up to the enjoyment of the occasion ; and gladness, in all its fullness, was depicted in every countenance, while a noble enthusiasm swelled every bosom. The bond of union was complete; and every man, carrying himself back one hundred years, felt as though his country had been rescued, in the last hour, from the most imminent peril.
The head of the procession reached the open square in front of the monument at half past one o'clock. The right of line then opened, and the Grand Lodge advanced to its position, being surrounded by the subordinate lodges formed in a square. Tlie commanderies made the same formation outside of the lodges, while the military, beyond the commanderies, encircled them, having in their rear a vast concourse of citizens, estimated at twelve thousand. The various bands of music, which had enlivened the march of the procession, were concentrated in the enclosure, bvit so disposed as not to intercept the prospect. The Grand Lodge occupied a position upon the foundation of the monument, and thus the Masonic cere- monies, which were conducted in the usual form, were in full view of the multitude.
After the corner-stone had been laid, the procession was reformed r and, amid the firing of cannons, counter- marched to the speaking grounds on Schuyler square where two stands had been built, on which floated the American and British flags. At the southern stand, where Hon. Charles S. Lester of Saratoga Springs presided, the"
THE Surrender of Burgotne. 19
orations of Horatio Seymour and George William Curtis, and the addresses of Judge Lester and Lafayette S. Foster were delivered, together with the poem of Alfred B. Street, read by Col. E. P. Howe of Saratoga Springs. The short, impromptu speech by Senator Foster, was peculiarly timely and fitting, and of extraordinary interest, owing to the fact that he had often listened to the story of the battle from the lips of his father, who was lieutenant and adjutant of one of the Connecticut regiments on the Ame- rican side. At the northern stand, Hon. George W. Schuyler, in the absence of Gen. E. F. Bullard, was called upon to preside ; but shortly after delivering his intro- ductory address he was summoned away by a dispatch from Albany. Before leaving Mr. Schuyler called upon Col. David F. Ritchie to take his place; and the latter acted in this capacity during the remainder of the exer- cises. At this stand were delivered the historical address of William L. Stone, and the speeches of B. W. Throck- morton of New Jersey, Judge Austin A. Yates of Sche- nectady, and H. L. Gladding of Alban}^ General James Grant Wilson (the biographer of Fitz Green Halleck) read that poet's Field of the Grounded Arms, and the Rev. D. K. Van Doren of Schuylerville a poem by General J. Watts De Peyster prepared expressly for the occasion, A new version of the Star Span^led Banner, by Col. B. C. Butler of Luzerne, JS^. Y., was then read by William L. Stone, and the exercises closed by the reading, by Col. Ritchie, of letters from Benson J. Lossing, Mrs. Ellen H. Walworth, Giles B. Slocum, and General Stephen D. Kirk of Charleston, South Carolina. At the close of the literary exercises, Governor Seymour presented the following re- solution which was unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That the thanks of the Saratoga Monument Association be presented to Booth Brothers of JSTew York
20 Centennial Celebration of
city for tlieir generous donation of the corner stone which has been laid, to-clay.^
It had been the intention to close the celebration with a brilliant military spectacle representing the surrender of Burgoyne to the Continental troops. It was, however, almost dusk when the speaking was finished; and, ac- cordingly, Judge Lester, in dismissing the audience, stated that the Connecticut boys^ refused to surrender, and that the exercises would therefore be brought to an end by a dress parade. By a curious coincidence both Judge Lester and Col. Ritchie closed the exercises at the two stands by announcing an adjournment until the next centennial in 1977. Although these gentlemen seemed to have little faith that many of their auditors would