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History of Orange County
Town of Newburgh
Page 62
D. W. Bate, secretary.
During the proceedings Charles Humphrey, Esq., of Albany, being present, was introduced to the meeting by Col. J. G. Clinton, who, being an early friend of Col. Belknap, addressed the meeting on the adoption of the resolutions for half an hour, in a very appropriate, feeling, and happy strain.
The committee caused a sword to be made for presentation of the value of $350, on which were the following inscriptions:
On the blade—” Fort Erie, August 15, 1814; Palo Alto, May 8, 1846; Resaca de la Palma, May 9,1846.”
On the scabbard—”Presented by citizens of Newburgh, his native place, to Col. Wm. G. Belknap, U. S. A.”
RECEPTION OF THE CADETS
On July 25, 1822, this handsome military corps, under the command of the gallant Major Worth arrived in this village from an excursion of a few days to Goshen, on its return to West Point, and encamped in the lot in front of the Presbyterian meeting house.
Although the Academy is but eight miles from our village, and we have frequently had the pleasure of seeing a portion of the officers and cadets in our village; this is the first time we have been favored with the presence of the entire corps: and a strong disposition was manifested on its arrival to treat this distinguished body in a manner comporting with its meritorious character.
Accordingly, on the evening of its arrival, a tea party and a ball was given at Crawford’s Hotel, by a number of gentlemen of the village. It was a brilliant assemblage of beauty and fashion. The master of the hotel had provided everything such a company could desire. The band of the corps attended—hilarity, gayety, and friendliness were conspicuous; and a late hour in the morning found the numerous company retiring.
At eleven o’clock the corps marched accompanied by a large number of citizens to the elegant and hospitable mansion of Jacob and Thomas Powell on the bill, where a collation was provided every way suited to the occasion. On the arrival of the corps and citizens, the worthy owners invited their guests to partake of whatever suited their convenience or tastes. Two or three hours passed in gayety and festivity, when the corps retired to the encampment, highly gratified at the reception and entertainment, and the boats no less so at the opportunity given them of bestowing their munificence on so distinguished and honorable a clans of young gentlemen.
In the afternoon a number of the officers, cadets, and citizens visited the encampment of the American army during the revolutionary war, in the town of New Windsor, and in passing partook of the hospitality of Mr. I Nicoll’s mansion.
In the evening Dr. S. A. Walsh, acting surgeon to the corps, in the absence of Dr. Foot, gave a brilliant entertainment to the corps and a detachment of the cadets, and a select company of ladies and gentlemen, at the Orange Hotel. The rooms of this spacious building were amply supplied with whatever contributed to the taste or convenience of the company----and the arrival of the Sabbath admonished the guests to depart.
On Sunday morning the cadets attended divine worship at the First Presbyterian meeting house, where the Rev. Mr. Johnson delivered an appropriate and eloquent discourse.
On Monday the tents at the encampment were struck, and preparations made by the corps to return to West Point, the commandant intending to have accepted the offer of Capt. Carpenter’s steamboat as a means of transportation. But a wind having sprung up, the proffered politeness of Messrs. Reeve & Falls was accepted, and the sloop Argus was chosen to convey the corps to the Point. They were marched to the dock accompanied by an immense concourse of ladies and gentlemen, and embarked, hailed by the cheers and good wishes of thousands. After bidding adieu to the inhabitants and the vessel had got under way, a federal salute was fired from on board by the cadets, and an hour’s sail restored them to the Academy.
After the Cadets had embarked, Major Worth observed to the President of the Corporation, that he had avoided a formal expression of the thanks of the corps to the citizens of the village, lest it might be thought the communication was designed for parade. The corps could not, however, with propriety, separate from the citizens of the village without a cordial acknowledgement of the polite and friendly attention so universally shown to them; And they were the more gratified that their conduct had secured so warm an approbation from their immediate neighbors and fellow citizens. He wished the President to tender to the citizens of the village, the respectful acknowledgments of the corps of cadets for the highly flattering and friendly reception they had met with during their stay here.
The President remarked in reply, that it would give him great pleasure to be the organ of communicating sentiments of such cordial and mutual good feeling between the citizens of this village and the corps under the command of Major Worth. That the citizens were sincerely gratified with this opportunity of evincing their respect for the cadets, and to witness the soldierly appearance and invariable gentlemanly deportment of the whole corps of cadets. That it was by intimacy so cordial that the great relationship of citizen and soldier, upon which the liberties of the country are based, is to be maintained.
We all hope that the intercourse between this village and your post may hereafter he more frequent, and that sentiments of personal friendship may also be connected with our best wishes for the prosperity of the Institution at West Point.
Political Index.