The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. 2 (of 2): or, Illustrations, by Pen And Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for IndependenceLossing, Benson John
History
The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. 2 (of 2): or, Illustrations, by Pen And Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for Independence
Lossing, Benson John
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
[[[Sufferings of the Soldiers.--Visit to the Battle-ground.--Woodhull's
Monument--William and Gilbert Tennent.]]]
{365}the slain were Lieutenant-colonel Bonner, of Pennsylvania, and
Major Dickinson, of Virginia. The British left four officers, and two
hundred and forty-five non-commissioned officers and privates on the
field. They buried some, and took many of their wounded with them.
Fifty-nine of their soldiers perished by the heat, without receiving a
wound; they laid under trees, and by rivulets, whither they had crawled
for shade and water. But why dwell upon the sad and sickening scene of
the battle-field with the dead and dying upon it?
[Illustration: 9375]
We have considered the dreadful events of the day; let us for a moment,
before returning to Valley Forge from our long digression, glance at the
ground now covered with the results of the peaceful tiller's conquests.
I visited the battle-ground of Monmouth toward the close of September,
1850, and had the good fortune to be favored with the company of Doctor
John Woodhull, of Freehold, in my ramble over that interesting locality.
Doctor Woodhull is the son of the beloved minister of that name who
succeeded William Tennent in the pastoral care of the congregation
that worshiped in the Freehold meeting-house, and who, for forty-six
consecutive years, preached and prayed in that venerated chapel. Doctor
Woodhull was born in the parsonage yet upon the battle-ground, and is so
familiar with every locality and event connected with the conflict, that
I felt as if traversing the battle-field with an actor in the scene.
Dark clouds rolled up menacingly from the southwest when we left
Freehold and rode out to the meeting-house; and while sketching the old
fane, pictured on page 359, heavy peals of thunder from a cloud that
rapidly approached broke over the country. I had scarcely finished my
outline when the heavy drops came down, and we were obliged to take
shelter in the church. Resting my port-folio upon the high back of
a pew, I sketched, from the open door, the annexed picture of a neat
monument erected to the memory of the reverend pastor just mentioned.
Almost beneath the spot where I stood, under the middle aisle of the
church, rest the remains of the Reverend William Tennent, who was pastor
of that flock for forty-three years. * On the right of the pulpit is a
commemorative tablet, with a brief inscription. ** Mr. Tennent was one
of the most faithful ministers of his day; and his name is widely known
in connection with curious physiological and psychological phenomena,
of which he was the subject. For three days he remained in a cataleptic
state, commonly called a _trance_, or apparent death of the body
while the interior life is active. He had applied himself closely to
theological studies, until his health suddenly gave way. He became
emaciated, his life was despaired of, and,
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