g{x `|ÇâàxÅtÇ Volume 53, Issue 10 December 2014

Chapter Officers

2013-2015

President Don Green

1st Vice President Randall Allen

2nd Vice President Mark Owens

Secretary Gary Smith

Treasurer Dan Stebbins

Registrar John Cooney

Historian Albert Rolon

Chaplain George Andrews

Past President Jeffrey Sizemore

Director Fred Gaines, Jr.

Director Norman Myers

Committee Chairmen

2013 - 2015

Newsletter Editor Jeffrey Sizemore

Program Randall Allen

Color Guard Andy Showen

ROTC-JROTC John Little

Public Service Dan Dall

Veterans Affairs John Little

Eagle Scout Randy Gastfield

Liberty Tree Fred Gaines, Jr.

Medals & Awards Ron Hamilton

Chapter Yearbook

Historian Albert Rolon

Finance Dan Stebbins

Endowment Fund Norm Myers

Web Page Norm Myers

DAR/CAR Liaison Robert Smither

Central Florida Sons of the American Revolution

Meeting Location: The Mayflower

1720 Mayflower Court

Winter Park, FL 32792

Chartered May 5, 1961

Chapter Meeting

December 13, 2014  

At this meeting, our speaker this month will be Joseph M. Vetter. His presentation is titled: “Why I Fought at Gettysburg! A Re-enactor’s Story”

This meeting will be held in the Duxbury Hall of the Mayflower Retirement Community Center located at 1620 May-flower Court in Winter Park, Florida. A time of socializing will begin at 11:30 am with lunch being served at noon. The cost of the lunch is $16.00.

The entrée choices will be an-nounced in a separate e-mail. Note that each meal comes with an assortment of vegetables, starch, salad or soup, and a des-sert. Coffee and tea is also served with the meal. Please make your reservation to attend this meeting by 12/10/2014 by con-tacting Compatriot Dan Stebbins via phone at 407-830-6946 or via e-mail at catears@centurylink.net. Your participa-tion is greatly appreciated in responding with your RSVP before the deadline date. Please plan to attendA

Purchase a Colonial Uniform

Many Florida SAR members have colonial uniforms which they wear in Chapter color guards or for special com-munity and SAR events. We are routinely asked to participate in July 4th, Flag Day, ROTC, DAR and other functions wearing them. This is a great way to participate in these events and to provide visibility and publicity for the SAR. Please consider get-ting a uniform for yourself and your socie-ty’s benefit. There are several colors and styles available.

NSSAR 125th Congress Have you ever attended an Annual NSSAR Congress? It is not too early to plan for 2015. 2015 offers a great oppor-tunity to attend the 125th Annual Congress in Louisville, KY. Saturday, June 27 through Wednesday, July 1, at The Galt House, Louisville, KY. Remember NSSAR headquarters and Museum are located in Louisville. The host state, Kentucky, in con-junction with NSSAR offers wonderful exclusive tours of local attractions and historic sites as well as enjoyable social gatherings for meals and conversation with members, their spouses and friends.

The Minuteman Page 2

American Creed

I believe in the United States

of America, as a government

of the people, by the people,

for the people, whose just

powers are derived from the

consent of the governed; a

democracy in a republic, a

sovereign nation of many

states; a perfect union, one

and inseparable; established

on those principles of free-

dom, equality, justice, and

humanity for which American

patriots sacrificed their lives

and fortunes. I therefore be-

lieve it is my duty to my coun-

try to love it, to support its

constitution, to obey its laws,

to respect its flag, and to de-

fend it against all enemies.

SAR Mission

The objects of this Society are

declared to be patriotic, his-

torical, & educational; to unite

and promote fellowship

among the descendants of

those who sacrificed to

achieve the independence of

the American people, to in-

spire them & the community-at

-large with a more profound

reverence for the principles of

the government founded by

our forefathers; to foster true

patriotism; to maintain & ex-

tend the institutions of Ameri-

can freedom.

Birthday

Announcements

On behalf of the Central Florida SAR Chapter, we would like to wish the following individual a Happy and Enjoyable Birthday:

DECEMBER 5 Stebbins, Janet 6 Gaines, Frederick III 9 Atwood, Stephen 15 Bagozzi, Mark 17 Russell, Richard 27 Coughlin, Dan

Chaplain’s Message – Christmas By Rev. George Andrews

“O holy child of Bethlehem descend to us we pray; cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell. O come to us, abide with us. Our Lord Emmanuel.”

We have invented the many festoons of Christ-mas - the holly, cards, cookies, carols, trees - and even the date. But no one invented the fact behind Christmas. This was the gift of God. It was the birth of a child. The gift of a person like no one else who has ever lived - Jesus Christ. What is the miracle of Jesus Christ? It is not merely the wonderful stories connected with His birth or

even the amazing things He has been able to do. The real miracle centers on who He was and is and the price He paid at Calvary. When Jesus asked the question, “Who do you way I am?”, Peter answered, “The son of the living God.” Everyone who has made that discovery for himself wants to shout it to the world. And many through the ages have.

“God has visited and redeemed His people.”” God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten son.” “God has shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” To hear the words of these eyewitnesses is to catch again something of the awe, the wonder, the excite-ment and the joy with which people through the ages have experienced the miracle of Jesus Christ.

One of the disciples, John, looking back, wrote these extraordinary words to express the wonder of it: “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth.” May each of us experience once again the true miracle of Christmas in our hearts and lives.

Page 3 Volume 53, Issue 5

1770 - The College of

Charleston was established.

Charter granted in 1785 and

class began in 1790. In 1837,

it became the first municipal

college in the United States.

1770 - Earliest production of

porcelain in America success-

fully effected by Bonnin and

Morris of Philadelphia.

1771 - Umbrella as protec-

tion against the sun was intro-

duced in Philadelphia amidst

storm of ridicule. Newspa-

pers considered it effeminate.

Doctors, however, recom-

mended it as a means of

keeping off vertigo, epilepsy,

sore eyes, fevers, etc.

1772 - The first foundry for

casting type in America was

completed; but it failed to

make colonial papers self-

sufficient without imports from

England, with consequence

that Revolutionary War, with

its isolation of colonies from

English production, seriously

disrupted journalism in Ameri-

ca.

February 9, 1773 - William

Henry Harrison, the ninth Pres-

ident of the United States of

America was born in Berke-

ley, VA.

Membership in the Ladies Auxiliary

The Ladies’ Auxiliary Florida Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is open to wives as well as female blood relatives (mothers, daughters, grand-daughters, aunts, nieces) of the SAR member. The Ladies’ Auxiliary supports the SAR in its histori-cal, patriotic and educational objectives. The Ladies’ Auxiliary raises funds to award (on a smaller scale) the same students that the Florida Society SAR awards. Dues for the LAFLSSAR are $5 per year; the application form is available at: http://www.flssar.org/FLSSAR/DOCS/LadyAuxDocs/LaAuxMemApp.pdf

Please encourage the ladies in your life to join and support us in our efforts.

Speaker’s Biography

The author lives through his passion for history! Teaching 8th graders during the day (Hinson Middle School) and adults at night (Daytona State College), his life revolves around that deep passion. Whether reenacting in first person Civil War characters like General Custer or volunteering community-wide to assist historical-ly related groups, his fascination for Florida history has led him to further research, enabling many to appreciate the Kevin Bacon-like historical links to the Daytona/Ormond Beach area. Ghost tours, historic presentations, and planting that seed in students to be inspired by their national story, Mr. Vetter attended St. Bonaventure University and has a degree from Nova-Southeastern. Raised in Long Island, New York, but a Florida resident over 35 years, he lives the cliché "Northern by birth, Southern by the Grace of God!" Hobbies include paddle boarding in races and extreme paddle fishing, a recent discovery.

To All Compatriots of the Central Florida Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution

I am very pleased and excited about the current status of our Chapter’s Endowment Fund. This type of Fund as most go are to establish a challenging goal where the Principal is maintained in a permanent position and only the Inter-est Income is used to meet the organization’s financial needs.

My message today is very exciting and one that I want to share with the entire Membership.

During the past few days we have received from three members donations of $1,000, $500 and $436, bringing our overall total to $45,000 leaving a need of only $5,000 to meet the $50,000 goal. Therefore, as Chairman of the Endowment Fund that has now been in place for ten years, I am challenging the entire member-ship to raise the needed $5,000 that would allow the Fund to reach its goal and bring this project to a final conclusion on or before December 13, 2014.

The Minuteman Page 4

Remembrance Day

He was getting old and paunchy And his hair was falling fast,

And he sat around the Legion, Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in And the deeds that he had done, In his exploits with his buddies; They were heroes, every one.

And tho' sometimes to his neighbours

His tales became a joke, All his buddies listened quietly

For they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer, For old Bob has passed away, And the world's a little poorer

For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many, Just his children and his wife.

For he lived an ordinary, Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,

Going quietly on his way; And the world won't note his passing,

Tho' a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, Their bodies lie in state.

While thousands note their passing, And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories

From the time that they were young. But the passing of a Soldier

Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution To the welfare of our land,

Someone who breaks his promise And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow

Who in times of war and strife, Goes off to serve his country

And offers up his life?

There is a “Big Royal Plum” in the raising of this $5,000 --- one member has stepped forward with an offer too good to turn down. He will match all contributions up to $2,500.

Contributions are to be sent to the Chapter Treasurer, Daniel Stebbins, 368 Croton Drive, Maitland, FL 32751-3114.

New Citizenship Induction

Pictured herein are members of the Central Florida SAR Chap-ter participating in the New Cit-izenship Induction that was held recently in Orlando. John Little and Norm Myers were in Colonial uniform and Tom McElroy was also in attendance along with his daughter that works for the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services.

Page 5 Volume 53, Issue 5

The politician’s stipend And the style in which he lives,

Are often disproportionate, To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,

Who offered up his all, Is paid off with a medal And perhaps a pension -

though small.

It is not the politicians With their compromise and ploys,

Who won for us the freedom That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in dan-

ger, With your enemies at hand,

Would you really want some cop-out,

With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier - His home, his country, his kin,

Just a common Soldier, Who would fight until the end?

He was just a common Soldier,

And his ranks are growing thin, But his presence should remind us

We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict, We find the Soldier's part,

Is to clean up all the troubles That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor

While he's here to hear the praise, Then at least let's give him hom-

age At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline

In the paper that might say: "OUR COUNTRY IS

IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

Public Service Awards

During the month of November, Compatriot Dan Dall, Chairman, Public Service Award Committee, presented three medals on behalf of the Central Florida Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. Dan presented all three at the recipient’s location in the presence of their peers and superiors. He was welcomed very warmly and treated royally at each ceremony. All present were tremendously appreciative and expressed sincere gratitude to our Chapter for such recognition of these superior public servants and in one case, giving Dan and the recipient, Donna Mussler a standing ovation at the Kissimmee City Council Meeting.

Left: Barbara Weyel; Osecola County Fire Safety Department; Fire Safety Commendation

Above: Inspector Donna Mussler: Kissimmee Fire Department; Fire Safety Commendation

Above: Deputy Dana Lang: Seminole County Sheriff’s Office; Law Enforce-ment Heroism.

The Minuteman Page 6

SAR Pledge

We, descendants of the heroes of the American Revolution, who by their sacrifices, established the United States of America, reaffirm our faith in the principles of liberty and our constitutional republic, and solemnly pledge our-selves to defend them against every foe.

SAR Recessional

Until we meet again, let us remember our obligations to our forefathers who gave us our constitution, the Bill of Rights, an inde-pendent Supreme Court, and a nation of free men.

Democratic Republic

A form of government in which power is explicitly vested in the people, a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and rep-resentatives responsible to them and governing ac-cording to law.

“The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon.”

- George Washington

The Battle of Princeton Overview: Many Americans do not realize that George Washing-ton crossed and re-crossed the Delaware River a total of four times in the waning days of 1776. The first time was in early De-cember when he left New Jersey in retreat from the British. The 2nd was when he crossed to at-tack Trenton (Dec.25-26). After Trenton was taken, he deemed it best to put the river between his army and the more powerful Brit-ish army, and went back to Penn-sylvania. When he arrived at the Pennsylvania camp he received word that General Cadwalader had crossed the Delaware and was in Trenton. Cadwalader had not crossed on Christmas due to the bad weather and mistakenly assumed that Washington would not have crossed either. Upon learning that Washington had not only crossed but had beaten the Hessians, the shame-faced Cad-walader crossed and entered the

unoccupied Trenton. Washington did not want to put a negative spin on the so far vic-torious venture by ordering Cadwalader to retreat, and so crossed the river once again and joined the two commands together on the 29th of December. By this time Corn-wallis had arrived at Princeton, New Jersey with 8,000 troops. Washington knew he could expect an attack by Cornwallis very shortly and was determined to make a fight of it. Instead of fortifying Trenton he put his lines just south of the town on the south bank of the Assunpink Creek.

On Dec. 27th General Cadwalader, who had been unable to land on the Jersey shore on the 26th due to the ice on that shore, reported he was crossing near Burling-ton, reinforced by militia which was turning up encouraged by the victory. Cadwalader was unaware that Washington had re-crossed the river. He moved into the now empty Burlington and then to Bordontown, reporting that the citizens were hastily removing the red rags nailed to their doors as symbols of loyalty to the crown. He entreated Washington to join him in advancing on the British who were in a panic.

Washington's troops were at the moment in no condition to advance, further, he was short of food. Also many of his New England troops enlistments were due to expire on the 1st of Jan. By the 30th he had improved his supply situation and re-crossed the river. On the 30th he made an impassioned plea to a regiment whose enlist-ments were about to expire. No one stepped forth to stay. Once again Washington spoke "My brave fellows, you have done all I asked you to do and more than could reasonably be expected. But your country is at stake, your wives, your houses, and all that you hold dear. You have worn yourselves out with fatigues and hardships, but we know not how to spare you. If you will consent to stay only one month longer, you will render that service to the cause of liberty and to your country which you probably nev-er can do under any other circumstances. The present is emphatically the crisis which is to decide our destiny."

Again the drums rolled, calling for men to step forward, and finally about half

The Minuteman Page 7

the men step out to reenlist. Other officers speak to other regiments with the same success. With the other troops on hand, it will have to be enough. If Washington could main-tain the initiative, he might save the Revolution. If he loses a battle at this critical time, it was thought the revolution would collapse.

Synopsis: The British General Howe orders Corn-wallis to Princeton to gather all available troops for a coun-ter attack. January 2nd Cornwallis marches on Trenton with about 6000 men, leaving 3 regiments of the 4th Brigade at Princeton as rear-guard, under Colonel. Mawhood. At Maidenhead (now Lawrenceville) the British on Jan 2nd meet with American units who begin a fighting withdrawal, ambushing and delaying the British. It is 4 P.M. when the British finally get to Trenton, to find Washington en-trenched but out numbered and outclassed. Washington has but 5,200 men, many unreliable militia. Washington has deployed his troops to on the south side of the Assunpink Creek, a strong position, and repels several attempts of the British to take the bridge. Night fell finally. Since his troops are tired, Cornwallis decides to wait to attack until morning, when he can "bag the fox" as he says. His officers want to attack now, fearful of Washington's known ability to retreat and escape.

During the night, Washington leaves a few men to keep the campfires burning, make entrenchment noises, and keep up appearances, while the rest of the army moves around the British forces toward Princeton, where they can attack the rear of the British forces and maybe even capture the 70,000 pound sterling war treasury of Howe in New Brunswick. Washington orders silence and orders are given in whispers. Taking back roads the Americans move to the south around the British and swing towards Princeton. Main roads at this time are poor tracks-some of these back roads are little more than trails which had already become unused as the area was settled and the troops stagger along them in the dark all night. Luckily a freeze has set in with nightfall and the roads are frozen and passable for both men and can-non.

At dawn, Colonel Mawhood has begun to follow in the wake of Cornwallis to Trenton, with his 17th Foot of the 4th Brigade followed by the 55th, and the 40th regiment ordered to remain in Princeton. Now the Americans under General Mercer who had been sent to guard the left flank and the 17th under Mawhood dis-cover each other at the same time, and move to attack. The 55th moves back into Princeton. Mercer and Maw-hood each believe they have encountered a patrol. Maw-hood has about 276 men, and Mercer 120 with 200 fol-lowing. Both race to the high ground now called Mercer heights. Mercer is surprised to run into Mawhood's men deployed in line. Captain Willie Leslie of the 17th, and nephew of General Alexander Leslie, is killed in the first fire. After exchanging fires, Mawhood's regiment charges with the bayonet. Only 20 or so of Mercers men have muskets and bayonets, most being slow reloading rifle-men whose guns can not use bayonets. Mercer is mortal-ly wounded and his troops fall back, but Cadwalader's 600 men of the Pennsylvania militia arrive. They fire and then start to fall back, even though they greatly outnum-ber the 17th. (Mawhood and the 17th regiment put up a terrific defense, still remembered and honored in Great Britain.)

Washington and his officers rally them, and more troops arrive and Washington himself leads them towards the British. Washington is only 30 yards from the British lines when he orders his men to fire. Both sides do fire, and Washington disappears in the smoke. When the smoke clears Washington is unharmed but Mawhood's regulars have broken. Washington orders a charge. The British troops retreat, some scattering into the woods, others turning for Cornwallis or New Brunswick. Wash-ington also leads the pursuit, calling "Its a fine fox hunt, boys!"

In Princeton, the 40th and 55th regiments pre-pared to make a defense of the town. General Sullivan had his wing of the army moving to sweep into town from the other end, and the British sent out a platoon to outflank them. Sullivan in turn sent out 2 regiments to counter this flanking maneuver, forcing the British back.

The Minuteman Page 8

Now Sullivan's men met an equal number of British deployed behind a dike in the area of Frog hollow. Sullivan had his cannon brought up, which sent shot into the dike and drove the British into the area of Nassau hall, the main college building at the time.

The British took shelter in and around Nassau Hall in Princeton. The Americans brought up cannon, and took two shots at the building. The first bounced off, but the second entered the main room where the troops were holding, and allegedly decapitated a picture of King George the 2nd on the wall. The British in Nassau Hall surrendered.

When the British Dragoons make a stand to defend the fleeing troops, Washington called off all pursuit. Corn-wallis could move on his rear soon, and he had to keep the army together. Placing a militia unit to destroy the bridge over the Stony Brook, and gathering what supplies could be quickly loaded, he ordered the troops to march to Kingston. Here it was decided that even though New Brunswick and the British treasury were a few miles away, and lightly guarded, the exhausted troops could do no more. The American army moved north along the Millstone river to Somerset Court House, now Millstone, where he had to rest his troops.

Back at Trenton, Cornwallis, on the 3rd , at dawn had found that the Americans are gone and at first it was believed they have marched to Bordentown, but soon reports of fighting at Princeton are received. Cornwallis marches on Princeton, and his vanguard arrives as the bridge over the creek is broken up. The militia makes a short stand, forcing the British to stop and form for battle. Washington and the troops are able to get away, and Cornwallis rests his troops for a few hours, then marches to defend Brunswick, following after Washington.

At Kingston, Cornwallis heads for Brunswick and arrives at 6 am and deploys to defend the town. Washington is a few miles away at Somerset Court House ( now Mill-stone), but his troops are exhausted, some have hardly eaten, and Cornwallis position was not known, except that he was close. Any attack is not considered possible.

On the 4th, after deciding not to attack New Bruns-wick, Washington continued north, and later that day they arrived in Pluckemin. Protected now by the Watchung Moun-tains to his east, and with Morristown units behind him, Washington was now safe. He would soon move the army into winter quarters at Morristown.

Captain Leslie of the 17th, whose body was placed in a baggage wagon which was then captured, is buried with full military honors in the Pluckemin churchyard. He had known Dr. Benjamin Rush of Philadelphia when the doctor studied medicine in Edinburgh. After the war the doctor put a marker on the grave in respect of the family.

The British, who lost 86 killed and wounded at Princeton and two hundred captured, were now ordered by Howe to abandon NJ, except for a line from Perth Amboy to New Brunswick. Washington, who had about 40 killed and wounded at Princeton, had now driven the British from most of New Jersey, in what is called the Ten Crucial Days., from

Dec. 25th to Jan. 3rd. More importantly, the Revolution now had a

chance, morale was improved, and the people once again believed they could stand and face the enemy troops. The British outrages in the invasion of NJ had turned many previously on the fence to the side of the rebels, paper money was acceptable once more and the rebel government and army found support again. Wash-ington had learned to fight not the main British army, but its outposts, forcing the British to give up any effort to control the hinterlands of America. The French gov-ernment, encouraged by the British defeats, released supplies to the American war effort. In England, the roy-al government started losing support for the war. The Crisis was past, even if severe hardship and fighting were yet ahead, in a long and bitter struggle for freedom and independence.

Source: http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/

battledetail.aspx?battle=15