Ayerigg, was a large truck-carriage, which bore a grand pedestal and monument, representing black marble, enclosed by a fence. This monument had four panels. on each of which was a motto, in large letters, as follows: "Americans, remember the British." "Youth of my Country! Martyrdom prefer to Slavery." "Sires of Columbia, transmit to posterity the cruelties practiced on board the British Prison Ships." "Tyrants dread the gathering storm, while Freemen, Freeman's obsequies Perform." On top of this monument was a staff eighteen feet high, bearing an American flag, at the apex of which was a globe on which was an eagle enveloped in black crepe. Preceding this was a young man, dressed in appropriate costume, representing the "Genius of America." This character was simulated by Mr. Josiah Falconer, a member of Tammany and the son of a revolutionary patriot. Other young men represented, in character, the Seven Virtues. Leading the whole procession came, first, the Grand Sachem, the Father of the Council and other officers of the Society following, accompanied by a herald and trumpeter. The procession marched through Main, Sands, Bridge, and York streets, halting at the vault prepared as the receptacle of the honored relics, while artillery boomed from the neighboring height of Fort Green, where, later, Joseph D. Fay pronounced a brilliant oration, after the corner-stone had been laid with the usual ceremonies. This was a great day, both for New York and for Brooklyn; the streets were filled with people, and the river was alive with boats, brilliant with American flags, as were also many of the houses on the line of the procession. Benjamin Romaine was at this time Grand Sachem. At the conclusion of the ceremonies, the Tammany party returned to New York. The relics of the dead were actually placed in the vault under the structure built for their reception, on the 26th day of the following May. Eleven thousand men had died on the prison ship "Jersey" alone; how many on the other ships is not accurately known, but the number was proportionately as large—except in one case, where the officers were endued with some measure of humanity. Some time after the performance of this national duty by the Society of Tammany, the land on which the vault was erected changed hands, the grade of Jackson street was altered, and the lot on which the relics of the martyrs rested were sold for taxes. Again, it was a Tammany man who came to the rescue. Benjamin Romaine, the late Grand Sachem, bought it in. He had personally known what it was to be a British prisoner, having been for many months in une of the sugar-house prisons in the City of New York. Mr. Romaine subsequently built an ante-chamber over the vault and otherwise improved and decorated the building with inscriptions and other adornments. To better ensure its future preservation, he adopted it for his personal burying-place, and in 1829 had his own coffin placed therein, properly inscribed, lacking only the date of his decease. This premature coffin was placed alongside of the monster thirteen receptacles containing the martyrs' bones. Mr. Romaine was more than once asked to surrender this plot to the city, but he persistently refused. He said: "These relics are my property" (he had spent nearly a thousand dollars in improving and caring for the place above the original price of the lot). He also said: "When I am placed with them I shall bequeath them to my country, and commend them to the care of the Government." This noble man died in 1844, at the ripe age of eighty-two. The martyrs' bones, which he had so tenderly cared for, have since been placed within an elevated terrace, on the westerly side of "Fort Green" (officially named Washington Park). Congress has annually, but vainly, for the last twenty years, been besought to make an appropriation to mark this spot by a suitable monument. There is now (1901) in the Borough of Brooklyn a Society of Ladies, whose object is to erect the long delayed monument by securing a state appropriation for that object and by general subscription, with good prospect of success. CHAPTER XIV. BUILDING A NEW WIGWAM. N eventful year was 1811 in the annals of the Tammany Society; for in that year was laid the corner-stone of the first permanent Wigwam, which was erected on the corner of Nassau and Frankfort streets-included in what is now called "Printing House Square." On account of the troublous condition of the times just preceding the war of 1812, the ceremony was less elaborate than it would otherwise have been, and the small four-paged papers of the day had less space to devote to local events that is now imperative; but we have a copy of the inscription on the stone, and a full list of the active officers of the Society on that auspicious occasion. Inscription on the Corner-Stone laid May 12, 1811. "This stone is laid by the Tammany Society, or Columbian Order No. 1, on the 12th day of May, 1811, and the 21st year of its institution, and the 35th of American Independence, being the first stone of a building erected for preserving and strengthening that patriotic chain which unites its members and for accommodating their Republican* brethren. BUILDING COMMITTEE-Henry Rutgers, Augustus Wright, William J. Waldron, Matthew L. Davis, John S. Hunn, James Warner, John Hopper, John Haff, William Jones, Stephen Allen, Jacob Barker, Clarkson Crolius, John T. Irving. MASONS-William Simons, John O'Blenis. CARPENTER--George B. Thorp. The work of erection went bravely on, and the building was completed in time for the officers of the Society to receive and entertain, in their grand new hall, the most famous naval and military heroes of the war of 1812-15 In later days it was the custom of the Society to celebrate the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans by a ball, and on these occasions the most distinguished citizens often took part. Among the favorites of the ballroom at these and other entertainments was the accomplished and ever graceful "Prince John Van Buren." It will be remembered "Republican" then meant Democratic. son of President Martin Van Buren, who obtained his distinguished sobriquet from the fact of his having on one occasion danced with Queen Victoria soon after her Majesty had become Queen. But dancing and banquets were far from being the chief occupation of the members of Tammany during the early years of their occupation of the new Wigwam. When the news was received in New York City-January 20, 1812— that war had been declared against Great Britain, the first call for a public meeting in support of the Administration was issued by the Tammany Society, inviting the citizens to meet in the City Hall Park on the afternoon of Wednesday," the 24th. This meeting was presided over by Col. Henry Rutgers as chairman, the secretary being ex-Mayor Marinus Willetts, both well-known Tammany men, Henry Rutgers having been one of those who contributed liberally toward the erection of the Wigwam. He was the founder of the great Rutgers estate in New York, and the beneficent patron of colleges, charitable institutions, etc. The city at this time contained many Federalists, some of whom bitterly opposed the war, while others of them gave to the Administration but a cold and qualified support. The whole-souled war men were the Democrats, of whom Governor Daniel Tompkins was, by nature of his office, the most prominent. His home at this time was on the Bowery, near Houston street. Previous to the outbreak of hostilities the Tammany Society, when celebrating the Fourth of July by a procession, preceding the ceremonies at the Wigwam, had continued the use of the bucktail insignia and other Indian decorations, but on account of the alliance of certain tribes of Indians with the British invaders, and their savage mode of warfare, the question arose in the Society whether it would not be better to abandon this usage and to parade in citizens' dress. Opinion was not unanimous on the point, but the majority decided in favor of the latter course, and the annual procession was made without the usual aboriginal display, preceded only by the handsome large blue standard of the Columbian Order, emblazoned with a golden eagle on one side, and the cap of Liberty, surrounded with stars, on the reverse. This year, also, various new customs seem to have crept in. A special meeting was called to elect officers, the object apparently being to secure those known to be in favor of sundry reforms, including the permanent abandonment of the Indian insignia. Some fantastic titles seem also to have been temporarily bestowed on individual members, for what reason does not clearly appear. Thus we find that New York men are designated as Sachems of other States; as, for instance, Clarkson Crolius, appears in the journalistic reports of the day as Sachem of North Carolina, or as representing the Buffalo tribe; Garrett Sickles as Sachem of the Delaware tribe; Stephen Allen as of the New Jersey, or Tortoise tribe, the purpose, apparently being to have all the original thirteen States represented, whether members from those tribes were personally present or not. At this time Mr. Mooney was again Grand Sachem, and Peter Embury was Father of the Council. While the war continued the Tammany Society loyally maintained its original position of friend and helper to the Government, taking every opportunity to honor the gallant men on land and sea who were personally meeting the enemy on the field, on the deck, or in the shrouds of torn and shattered vessels. A number of its members served in military capacities, among whom may be mentioned Clarkson Crolius, who became Major of the Twenty-seventh Regiment. United States Infantry. A recent writer* has gone so fully into descriptions of military and civic banquets and honorary receptions at this period that we refer our readers for such details to his pages, and will give here only one instance of many such which occurred, in which the Tammany Society either led or took a prominent part. At the public funeral of Captain James Lawrence and his brave officer, Ludlow, which took place in September, 1813, the Tammany Society issued the following call to its members: BROTHERS: September 15, 1813. You are once more called upon to exhibit public testimonials of respect to the heroic dead. Local or party distinctions** find no place in the bosom of a single son of the heroic Tammany on this occasion. The Society are especially requested to attend at Tammany Hall to-morrow morning precisely at nine o'clock, with their usual badge of mourning for departed heroes slain in battle, viz., a red ribbon edged with black, worn on the left arm. The design is to join the other societies in solemnizing the tribute of funereal respect to these heroes, Captain James Lawrence and Lieutenant Augustus C. Ludlow, who fell gloriously in defending their country's right and the National honor. The bodies will arrive at the Battery precisely at ten o'clock, under the direction of the honorable corporation of the city. By order of the President. JAMES W. LENT, BENJAMIN ROMAINE. ABRAHAM STAGG, Committee of Arrangements. But it was not alone in funeral ceremonies that Tammany paid its respects to the heroes of the country. At banquets and balls its members were always ready. One of the finest entertainments given during this period to civic, military or naval men was the public dinner given by the Tammany Society to Commodore Perry, on the 11th of January, 1814, at their own hall, which the Commodore came from Newport specially to attend. In 1814, at the grand annual festival of the Society, the Vice-President of the United States, Hon. Elbridge Gerry, was present at the Wigwam. Mr. Rodman was the orator of the day. R. S. Gurnsey, in his interesting work, "New York City and Vicinity in 1812-15." |