Children: Ruth Berg, Margaret Stevens, Henrietta Swope, Helen Ward Frederic Berg, Treadwell Berg, Champion Ward Karl O. Baird SOLDIERS Captain: Capt. Shelby C. Leasure Norman G. Becker Everett B. Bleecker Charles H. Hollenbeck Paul W. Lukens Henry R. Perkins The Christian Intelligencer of May 23, 1861, gives an account of the raising of the Stars and Stripes over Rutgers College amid the unbounded enthusiasm of the students, a number of whom had already enlisted. The flag, made and presented by the young ladies of the city, was fourteen by twenty-two feet in size. The venerable president, Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen, made the address, and the Hon. G. B. Adrain made the presentation speech. The flag raising was at four o'clock and about five hundred persons were present. It is upon this account, supplemented by similar accounts from other sources, that this episode is based.1o A crowd is seen gathering to witness the raising of a new flag above Queen's building. The President of the College, members of the Faculty, and important townspeople take their places on the platform. Students and citizens gather about. The President makes a speech: "We are gathered together, my friends, on a most solemn and important occasion. In a time when we were in the full tide of national blessings, when our country's banner was cherished at home, respected and honored abroad, we find that seven sister states have separated from us and raised the armed hand of rebellion to overthrow the government. . . . Our forefathers saw and felt the defects springing from the independence of single 19 A paper read before the New Brunswick Historical Society by Dr. J. H. Raven, contains a most interesting and comprehensive account both of this flag raising and of the laying of the cornerstone of Queen's College. states, and that there could not be either safety or glory in thirteen independent factions. Hence the framers of the Constitution assembled for the purpose of forming a wise and permanent bond of union. The Union formed then is the Union of today, and under it our prosperity has been so great that we are willing to sacrifice the last drop of our blood to see it maintained against traitors. Secession is only a name gotten up to palliate treason. The doctrine would be amusing were it not so abominable. Why, if seven states can secede, what is to hinder one? Nay, may not Middlesex county secede from New Jersey and New Brunswick from Middlesex county? The next thing will be that our very wives will be seceding from The first cannon shot against Sumter struck the great heart of the American people and that heart shall never cease beating until this wrong is avenged. (These seceding states) are endeavoring to coil a serpent among the stars and stripes, whose fangs shall strike out the emblems of seven states from its glorious folds. If a foreign foe had attempted this the nation would have risen up as one man to hurl down the aggressor, and how much worse was it when the foe came from within our own bosom. us. We must fight! There is no alternative. Rebellion must be crushed, and then we shall become once more a happy and united people.' The students sing "The Flag of Our Union." "20 THE FLAG OF OUR UNION FOREVER A song for our banner, the watch-word recall, United we stand, divided we fall, It made and preserved us a nation. The union of lakes, the union of lands, The union of states none can sever; The union of hearts, the union of hands, The flag21 is raised amid cheers, followed by the singing of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic.' THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord, He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored, He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword: His truth is marching on. Chorus: Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on. 20 The singing was led by three young men of the college, and consisted of "America," "The Star Spangled Banner," and "The Flag of our Union.'' 21 The flag used in this episode was owned by a gentleman of Brooklyn and was flown from his residence in that city upon the receipt of the news of each victory of the Union armies. |