E 241 .S2 N5 Copy 1 _t STATE OF NEW YORK J REPORT OF THE Saratoga Battle Monument Dedication Commission TRANSMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE MAY I, 1913 ALBANY J. B. LYON COMPANY. PRINTERS 1913 STATE OF NEW YORK 1 REPORT OF THE Saratoga Battle Monument Dedication Commission TRANSMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE MAY I. 1913 ALBANY J. B. LYON COMPANY. PRINTERS 1913 0. OF D. JUL 19 1913 } State of New York No. 65 IN SKNATE May I, 1913 Report of the Saratoga Battle Monument Dedication Commission To the Hono7'able the Legislature of the State of New York: Pursuant to the statute in such case made and .provided, we, the undersigned Commissioners, submit the report of the Saratoga Battle Monument Dedication Commis- sion of the State of New York. Very respectfully, WILLIAM H. MANNING President LOREN H. WHITE Secretary GEORGE H. WHITNEY Treasurer REPORT To the Hiniorable the Legislature of the State of Neiv York : Pursuant to Chapter 489 of the Laws of the State of New York of 191 2, a Commission was appointed to plan and conduct a pubHc dedication of the Saratoga Battle Monument, erected to commemorate the surrender of Burgoyne's army in the War of the Revolution. William H. Manning of Saratoga Springs, N. Y., appointed by the Governor, Hon. Loren H. White of Delanson, N. Y., appointed by the Senate, and Hon. George H. Whitney of Mechanicville, N. Y., appointed by the Assembly, met at Albany on the 30th day of July, 191 2, and formally organized as such Commission. Wm. H. Manning was elected President, Loren H. White, Secretary, and George H. Whitney, Treasurer. The Commission decided upon the 18th day of October, 191 2, for the dedication cere- monies. The Commission entered into correspondence with various historical, revolutionary and colonial societies throughout the country, extending them an invitation to participate in the dedication ceremonies. Invitations were extended to the Governors of each of the thirteen origi- nal States to be present at the dedication ceremonies as the guests of the State of New York, and also, if possible, to be accompanied by a military representation and their State flaof- The President of the United States and the Secretary of War were also invited to participate in the ceremonies, and the War Department were asked to send a detachment of troops. Through the courtesy of Assis- 6 [Senate tant Secretary of War, General Oliver, four troops of the U. S. loth Cavalry, accompanied by a mounted band, were ordered to march from Fort Ethan Allan, Vermont, to Schuylerville, where, during the dedication, they were encamped for eight days on the very ground that was part of Burgoyne's encampment at the time of his surrender to General Gaee. The various ancient and honorable mili- tary organizations, which are still preserved by act of Congress, were invited to participate, and of these the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachu- setts, the Second Company of the Governor's Footguards of New Haven, and the Veteran Corps of Artillery of the State of New York, accepted and were represented by detachments of their organizations. The formal dedication took place as planned, and a more beautiful day could not have been had. Thousands of people from all parts of the country assembled at the beautiful village of Schuylerville for the ceremonies. The military exercises consisted of a parade in the morning which was reviewed by Governor Dix and the other Governors and their representatives and various delegates from many historical and colonial societies. The State of Maryland was represented by Governor and Mrs. Goldsborough, Secretary of State Graham, Adjutant General and Mrs. Macklin and two Commission officers with the State flags. Vermont was represented by Lieutenant Governor Howe, Adjutant General Tillotson and Colonel W. W. Brown ; Connecticut was represented by Lieutenant Governor Dennis A. Blakeslee, who was accompanied by the Governor's Footguards of New Haven; New Hampshire was represented by Adjutant General Herbert E. Tutherly and Lieutenant Colonel Harley B. Roby; Colonel Frank E. Cutting and Captain W. W. Wade represented Governor Eugene N. Foss of o No. 65] 7 Massachiissets; Colonel Robert F. Leedy represented Governor William' H. Mann of Virginia; Adjutant Gen- eral Oscar W. Babb represented Governor Cole L. Blease of South Carolina. Governor John A. Dix and Mrs. Dix were present. Governor Dix was accompanied by his staff. In addition to this representation, a detachment of the Veteran Corps of Artillery of New York State, under command of Colonel Asa Burd Gardiner, was present. Other military representations present at the dedication exercises were, the Second Infantry, N. G., N. Y., under command of Colonel Loyal L. Davis ; one platoon of Battery "A" of the First Field Artillery, N. G., N. Y., under the command of Captain Guido F. Verbeck, and Troop "B" of the First Cavalry, N. G., N. Y., Captain E. L. Miller commanding. A luncheon was tendered by the Commission to the distinguished guests who were present and the Commis- sion secured a handsome colonial residence for the occa- sion. After the luncheon, the formal dedication of the monument took place, which consisted of the following exercises: The invocation was pronounced by the Very Rev. James J. O'Brien. Commander A. DeR. McNair, U. S. N. retired, delivered the opening address an behalf of the trustees of the original monument association and formally presented the monument to the State of New York. Governor John Alden Dix, in behalf of the State, accepted the monument from the trustees. Rev. Dr. Henry M. MacCracken, Chancellor Emeritus of New York University, delivered an historical address on the part New York took in the American Revolution which culminated in the Battle of Saratoga, An original poem by Charles H. Crandall of Stamford, Conn., entitled "Saratoga" was read'. "America" was then sung by the assembled audience accompanied by the massed military 8 [Senate No. 65] bands. The exercises closed with the benediction by Rev. John H. Brandow, formerly of Schuylerville. That evening a magnificent military ball was tendered by the citizens of Saratoga Springs and the Commission to Governor Dix and the other Governors and distin- guished guests from many States. The ball was held in the State Armory in the village of Saratoga Springs and was a brilliant social event. The dedication and military cere- monies were pronounced by the guests who were present as most imposing and a fitting commemoration of what was probably the most important event in the history of this country. FINANCIAL STATEMENT To the Honorable the Legislature of the State of New York : The Saratoga Battle Monument Dedication Commission appends herewith a financial statement of receipts and disbursements in connection with the dedication : Receipts Received through appropriation as per Chapter 489 of the Laws of New York $2500.00 Disbursements Entertainment of guests at the time of dedication $586 1 5 Erecting grandstand and reviewing stand at Schuylerville 570 00 Transportation for guests, attend- ance at grandstand, expenses at camping grounds, miscellaneous stationery, telephone and tele- grams 315 75 Salary and expenses of Assistant Secretary 202 00 Carriages and automobiles for guests in parade, etc 1 74 00 Decorations 167 00 Rental pf mansion for luncheon. . . 100 00 Stenographer's services 100 00 Detectives and police 86 00 lo ■ [Senate Music $74 oo Automobile hire for Commission. . io8 oo Expenses of Commission 89 55 Commission stationery, programs, etc 70 00 Rent of office for Commission 100 00 $2742 45 Deficit $242 45 No. 65] II In conclusion the Commission wish to express their appreciation of the kindly assistance rendered them on many occasions by Governor John A. Dix whose advice and help materially assisted in making the occasion such a successful one. The Commission were also ably assis- ted in all their work by Dr. Thomas E. Finegan of the State Department of Education, Hon. James A. Holden, State Historian, and Adjutant General Verbeck and his assistant officers. All of which is respectfully submitted. WILLIAM H. MANNING President LOREN H. WHITE Secretary GEORGE H. WHITNEY Treasurer I TRRftRY OF CONGRESS ■li 011 800 768 Z