l e a t l o n 0 ( 'N J e n t Pr o c e e d in g s Mac ow an Ed li e r print r n t t r 0 Beekm an t N ew Y o rk g S pp . e s a d S a ione s , 3 S E 2 8 ] 1°q Association MAR 12h? ’ Pr iso n Ship Ma rty rs Mo n u m e nt 14th 1908 N ovember , DEDI CATO RY C EREMONI ES The Ceremon ies attendi ng the dedicat ion of the Monument a i n Fort Greene Park , erected to the memory of the thous nds who perished on the fou l prison sh i ps anchored i n Wallabou t R r of Bay during the evol utiona y War , were made the charge the fol lowi ng Commi ttee ; General H oratio C . K ing , Chai rman , 8. H on . Charles E . H ughes , Governor of N ew York , H on . V Wh i te , Presiden t of the Prison Shi p Martyrs Monument Associa of Old tion , H on . Stephen M . Griswold , Society Brooklyn i tes , and John B . Creighton , Secretary . OR D ER O F C E R E MON I ES . T 23 rd R . Music by egi ment Band , . F . Shannon , Leader . Closi ng wi th the Star Spangled Banner , al l standi ng . a a a D D Rev . Pr yer S Parkes C dm n , . a Poem Thom s Walsh . O . H n. a ration o Wi l l i m H Taft . Presentation of Monumen t on Behalf of the N ational o Government by the Secretary f War , n . H o . Luke E Wri ght e of Acceptanc on Behalf the State by the Governor , H on . Charles E . H ughes . Acceptance on Behalf of the Ci ty by the Chai rman of McGowan. the Board of A ldermen . H on . Patrick F . Address on Beh alf of the Tammany Society or Col um O n a . a . Cohala bian rder H on . D n iel F , Grand S chem r Closi ng P ayer and Benedict ion , r D D Rev . J ohn L . Belfo d , . of War Tri bute , Sal ute and Taps , U n ion Prisoners , N ew York Associ at ion . 4 PRISON SHIP MARTYRS ’ MONU MENT The day was most unpropi t ious . A threaten ing storm wi th a cold easterly wi nd cu l m i nated at the hou r for the l i terary exer was c ises i n sleet and snow . The parade most stri ki ng , bu t much marred by the u nfriendl y elements . A descri pt ion wi l l be found at the close of th is account . Abou t two thousand spectators were congregated i n the Grand Stand and i t i s esti mated that forty thousand more braved the Ol elements to wi tness the i nteresti ng ceremon ies . The d Brook l nites a y , who have long been i nterested i n the Memori l , seeki ng to ccu through Congress secure the necessary appropriat ion , o a pied conspicuous place , and nearby were the members of the R Martyrs Monu men t Society , the Daughters of the evol ut ion , of R and the Daughters the American evol ut ion , Li ttle Men ’ 6 z of 7 . Women , and other patriot ic organ i at ions The Tammany a Society , wh ich was the first body to make practical effort i n the col lect ion of the exposed bones i n Wallabou t Bay and pl ace in 1808 a on was re re them , , i n wooden tomb H udson Street , p sented by several Grand Sachems , who wi th over two h u ndred members paraded . Among the u n ique featu res was a banner in 1808 carried the procession i n by the Tammany Society , wh ich was presented to the Mon ument Society by Mrs . H enry lt : of . Young , R i verhead , N J bears th is i nscri ption Mor 1 1 50 tals Avaunt . Spi ri ts of the Martyred Braves approach of of . the tomb of H onor , G lory , Vi rtuous Patriots of The Veteran Corps of Arti l lery of the State New York , i n o the picturesque u n iform f a century ago , did guard duty at the on 1 3 1808 Mon ument . Th is organ ization paraded Apri l , , at of - on the l ayi ng the corner stone of the tomb H udson Street , long si nce decayed , and removed when the bones were transferred to the tomb at the en trance of Fort Greene Park . After several musi cal select ions , endi ng wi th the Star Span ’ - gled Banner , adm i rabl y rendered by Shannon s Twenty th ird R e of egi m nt Band , the H on . Stephen V . Wh i te , President the Monu ment Associat ion , cal led the audience to order , and after briefly descri bi ng the movements wh ich led u p to the comple t ion of the Monument , presented the Chaplai n of the day , who made the i nvocat ion . D . D . Rev . The prayer by the S Parkes 'Cadman , , Pastor of was the Central Congregat ional Church , a most eloquent appeal , of : unfortunatel y not reported , bu t wh ich the Eagle said I t PRISON SHIP MARTYRS ’ MONU MENT 5 was strangely i mpressive to hear the Engl ish born and Engl ish bred clergyman p ray eloquentl y and fervently on the subject of the Martyrs who had perished i n B ri tish sh i ps th rough B ri tish r neglect and c uel ty . of Mr . Wh i te I now have the great pleasure present i ng Mr r our own r to you . Thomas Walsh , a talented esident of Bo o , as the Poet of the occasion . POEM. E T s . By homas Walsh , q ' T H E P R l S O N S H I P S . N ot h ere t he f renzi ed onslaught— h ere no roar Of victo ry— no raucous cry of hat e From t he red su rge of w ar; ’ H ere c rowd no Caesar s my rmidons of stat e Lest for som e hasty -fadi ng lau rels he be lat e And night annu l his place ; But sol emn is t he t read of feet that com e A rou nd this hal low ed mou nt— with d ru m Conco rdant— wi th t he clarion Of youthfu l h earts that th rob for d eeds subli m e ’ H ere wh ere no stai n can e er defac e T e e P r e his colu mn d b auty out of a th non , r r This glo y su gi ng pu re b eyond t he clouds of Ti m e . H ere ou r fort ress hi l l ’ ere ree er r e r Wh F dom s gath i ng vangua ds took th i stand , O re re I— ere e e la sac d l ics how s n y y, How pati ent for this d ay Whose ri t es we now f u lfi lll Thousands of dusks and dawns have t re mbl ed on Th ese po rtals of you r tomb ; Ye e r t he re r e h a d t ad of disco d shak this land , The t ru mp eti ngs of doom ; ’ Yea r r ee e e t he r cr , th ough you sl p y kn w o phan s y, ’ The r e e r far r b ok n h a ts clamo i ng , And t he pal e h ero es pl ucki ng d eathl ess wreaths ’ ' F rom fi elds o ershad ow ed by t he buzzard s wi ng ' O re h , i n what di fu l school L earn ed ye t he i ron rigo r of t he mi nd You r m emo ry b equ eaths? Was i t i n plagu e and fami n e ye did fi nd ’ PRI SON SHIP MARTYRS MONU MENT S uch right di vi n e to ru l e Such h opes i n God and man— that doubl e stay Of comm onw ealths to -d ay? For ere t he r for all e h , sponso s ag s , Ye gave as sol em n gages Not blood alon e But very fl esh and bon e l Nor e e e for t he r and r e pl dg d y only st ong b av , But for t he g en erations yet u nbo rn e er r re e ree t he mom By v y st and mot that g ts , For t he pal e despot shackl ed to his th ron e As for t he serf and slave. O r re er t he stal wo th d am s i n dust , ' T G od who oo r e r r hat t k you you ng h a ts t ust , o r t he e r r e Y u pangs , issu of you pat iots caus , Sti l l sways t he stars and sou ls of men ’ Wi th t h anci ent s eals and laws ; Nor did H e tu rn and mock you r anguish wh en Ye c ri ed H is passwo rd th rough et ernity A nd di ed i n fetters so ye might be f ree.