Page 61
History of Orange County
Town of Newburgh
Page 61
After 12 o’clock the General sat down to supper with about 100 gentlemen, from which he arose to depart before the second course. Mr. Hunn, (one of the committee of arrangements) embraced that hasty moment to address him in the words following:
General La Fayette—I avail myself of the first moment I could obtain through the immense crowd which has surrounded you since your arrival at this place, to address you at the request and in the behalf of the revolutionary inhabitants of this vicinity.
From the moment of your debarkation on our shores, Fame, with her silver trumpet, and on the wings of the wind, proclaimed the glad tidings throughout the land; and numerous heralds spread accounts of your progress, and the reception due to your transcendent merit.
We are told that you visited the cradle of the genius of our independence; That battle grounds, places of heroic conflict, and hair-breadth escapes, have been brought to your view and recollection: and that many a way worn soldier of the Revolution threw by his crutch, and in his heart curtailed ten years of his chequered life, to grasp your hand and relate some tale of that eventful period.
You have recently reviewed the military post of West Point—the ground where the most base ingratitude and hellish conspiracy against our arms, was detected and suppressed—and you have now gladdened our hearts with your presence.
In your excursions more southerly, you will be reminded of scenes, in which you are more immediately interested; and where your victorious sword has carved a noble monument to your imperishable renown.
You have now around you many revolutionary characters, (amongst whom I glory in being numbered) who, like you, spent seven years of their early life in that glorious cause, who, like you, heard the clang of battle, and saw the blood of war—and whose tottering limbs and hoary locks do not prevent them from exulting in the reflection that they fought and bled with Washington and La Fayette.
But permit me to turn your attention for a moment, to scenes of a more peaceful character which occurred at this place.
If your time had permitted, it was our intention to invite you to view the classic ground, where the American army rested upon their arms, after achieving the glorious object for which they were called together—where the immortal Washington, surrounded by his brave and experienced Generals, offered up to the omnipotent God of battles, his thanksgiving and praise, for favoring his army to emancipate from the oppression of a foreign potentate, three millions of his fellow beings, and establish them a free and happy nation—and where he disbanded an army whose hearts he possessed—and like another Cincinnatus retired from the field of victory to the plough, and the arms of domestic peace.
Remindful of these important events, (and who can ever forget them) the patriotic inhabitants of this place, have in contemplation to erect a monument on that sacred spot, commemorative of that glorious termination of our revolutionary struggles; and they felicitate themselves that they will now he enabled to inscribe thereon, that the last and most illustrious of our Major Generals, after an absence of more than forty years, visited this place when the country was free, prosperous and in peace with all the world— and who was hailed the successor of Washington, and the revered father of ten millions of grateful people.
I am extremely happy in being permitted to tender you the homage of our profound respect.
During this address the General smiled several times and at its conclusion bowed and expressed his gratification, saying he “was extremely obliged."
He was then conducted by the committee to the steamboat which left the dock about two o’clock for Poughkeepsie, attended by a deputation from this village.
Gazette of September 18, 1824.
HONOR TO THE BRAVE.
The fields of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma were so gallantly fought by the American forces under Gen. Taylor, that the citizens of Newburgh felt themselves constrained by a deep sense of patriot duty to themselves, and justice to Col. Wm. G. Belknap, their townsman, who largely partook of the dangers of the fight, to manifest their sense of his noble bearing by some public testimonial, called a meeting of the citizens for advice and consultation when the following proceedings were had:
At a meeting of the citizens of Newburgh, at the Orange Hotel, on the 27th of June, 1846, called to concert measures for presenting to our townsman, Col. Wm. G. Belknap, an appropriate mark of their approbation of his military vices, Capt. Henry Robinson was called to the chair, and D. W Bate appointed secretary.
On motion, The chair appointed James G. Clinton, David W. Bate, Sam’l W. Eager, James Belknap and Sam’l J. Farnum, a committee to draw up and report such resolutions expressing the sense and the particular manner in which the object of the meeting ought to be carried out.
The committee, after a short absence, by Mr. Clinton their chairman, reported the following preamble and resolutions, which being considered were unanimously adopted:
Whereas, Lieutenant Colonel William G. Belknap when a youth entered the service of our country from this his native town, as an officer in the war of 1812, through which he served with distinction to himself and honor to his country; and now learning, from official report, of his true and noble bearing on the 8th and 9th of May last, in the severely contested battle, of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma under General Taylor, on the east bank of the Rio Grande, in which we acknowledge his services specially on those two occasions as highly meritorious—-truly honorable to the country—beneficial as an example of courage and noble daring to the army of the Republic in all time to come——grateful and heart-cheering to his family and friends—— gratifying in the largest measure to his fellow citizens of Newburgh, and just such as they would expect from Col. Belknap, who as Lieutenant in 1814, so retired with his picquet guard before the enemy’s column, as to excite the warmest commendation of *General Ripley, their gallant commander. Therefore, knowing him personally, as a citizen and gentleman, and with increased confidence in him as a soldier,
Resolved, That he be presented with the thanks of the citizens of Newburgh, who hereby, in testimony of their admiration of his conduct and abilities, and of his severe and dangerous services in the battles above named, present him with a Sword, suitable for an officer of the rank he so deserved. Whereas, James Duncan of this county, and from our immediate neighborhood, entered the service a youth, and has now become a most distinguished officer in the Light Artillery, so as not only to merit the approbation of all our citizens, but particularly that of his personal friends in the county of his birth,
Resolved, That as a mark of our approbation of him as a gentleman and officer, and as a testimony of our pride in him and gratification for his services, we present him a Sword, which we request him to wear as a mark of regard for his earliest friends and as a memento of his merit.
Resolved, That the Trustees of the Village of Newburgh, in view of the nature and object of these proceedings, and more fully to effectuate the same, be, and they hereby are, requested to engross the same on the minutes of their corporate proceedings, and present a copy, if required, to Colonel Belknap and James Duncan, respectively.
On motion, The chair appointed D. W. Bate, J. G. Clinton, Robert Lawson, Esqs. to procure and present the Sword to Capt. Duncan.
On like motion, Capt. H. Robinson, John De Witt, D. W. Bate, and Sam’l W. Eager were appointed a committee to procure and present the Sword to Col. Belknap. On like motion, Capt. Robinson, M. H. Belknap, Nathan Reeve, David Crawford, Benjamin Carpenter and General Dubois were appointed a committee to circulate subscription papers to raise funds necessary to effect the objects of the meeting, and that subscriptions be limited to $5 each.
Resolved, That the proceedings be signed by the chairman and secretary and published in all the papers of the village.
H. ROBINSON, chairman.
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*Extract from General Ripley’s report of the attack by the British on Fort Erie, August 15. 1814.—The manner in which Lieutenant Belknap of the Sad, retired with his picquet guard from before the enemy's column, excites my particular commendation. He gave order to fire three times as he was retreating to the camp, himself bringing up the rear. In this gallant manner, he kept the light advance of the enemy in check, for a distance of two or three hundred yards. I have to regret, that when entering our lines after his troops, the enemy pushed so close upon him that he received a severe wound with the bayonet.