The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. I, 1898Various
History
The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. I, 1898
Various
American-Irish Historical Society -- Periodicals; Ethnology -- United States -- Periodicals; Irish Americans -- Periodicals
Nothing further need be said regarding the value of the powder
captured on this occasion, or the boldness of the act itself. At
Lexington and Concord the British were the aggressors, the Americans
acting on the defensive; but at Newcastle the Americans were the
aggressors, made the attack boldly in the open day, and as Quint
said, “for the first time in American history the British flag was
torn down by men in armed rebellion.” John Sullivan’s history is
well known. He and his three brothers gave their best services to
the land of their birth, and in memory of those services the state
of New Hampshire erected a monument of Concord granite on the site
of the church in Durham, under which was stored the powder, and in
the presence of the governor, council, and other officials, state
and national, and a large concourse of people on Thursday, Sept. 27,
1894, the one hundredth anniversary of his death, dedicated it with
appropriate exercises. The inscription reads:
IN MEMORY OF
JOHN SULLIVAN.
_Born Feb. 17, 1740._
_Died Jan. 23, 1795._
Erected by the State of New Hampshire upon the
site of the Meeting-house under which was
stored the gunpowder taken from
Fort William and Mary.
The tributes paid to Sullivan’s worth on this occasion by every one
of the speakers were ungrudging and hearty. Professor Murkland said:
“This may never become a large community, but it will always be
exalted by its association with John Sullivan, lawyer, soldier,
statesman, and judge.
“The plain granite shaft, inadequate as it may appear, will yet
serve, when we shall have been forgotten, to recall the life of one
who served his country so bravely and so well that he made slander
dumb and malice impotent.”
Gov. John B. Smith said: “It is no invidious distinction to say that
of all the New Hampshire men of the Revolutionary period Sullivan
was not only peer, he was preëminently chief. His life is a part of
the country’s history, and now, by virtue of my office (an office I
am all the more proud to hold because John Sullivan filled and
honored it), I accept these grounds from the town of Durham, and
this monument from the committee in behalf of the state.”
O’Meara said:
“Your deeds for all the land that hold your fame
Shall link you now to love New Hampshire’s name,
While throbs high manhood round her glistening hills—
While patriot gleam or pristine glory thrills.”
Dr. Quint said: “To John Sullivan, the man who in all the American
provinces was the first to take up arms against the king, New
Hampshire erects this monument of native granite.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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