Ohio History Journal

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AN UNKNOWN GRAVE

AN UNKNOWN GRAVE.

 

 

JOHN JAMES PIATT.

[The following poem with preface was read by Mr. Piatt at the

Annual Banquet of the Ohio Society S. A. R., held at the Columbus Club

on the evening of April 19, 1904.]

On the title page of an interesting volume of family history

recently published at Columbus, I read two sentences,- the first

from Edmund Burke: "Those who do not treasure up the mem-

ory of their ancestors do not deserve to

be remembered by posterity." The other

is from the Bible: "Children's children

are the crown of old men; and the glory

of children are their fathers." I thought,

therefore, if I were to speak here to-

night, as an hereditary member of the

Society of the Cincinnati, I might not

appear too personal,- not unpardonably

personal, I hope,- if I should take occa-

sion to honor, so far as I could, the New

Jersey officer of the Revolution whom I

represent, when I may explain that, eight years after his seven

years' service in the Continental Army - having been in every

important engagement under his great commander, including that

at Yorktown, (he was with three brothers in the battle of Trenton)

it is reported he received a new commission, raised a band of

men at his New Jersey home, and marched with them across the

country in the autumn of 1791, and, joining St. Clair's army at

Fort Washington, now Cincinnati, was killed in the memorable

defeat on Ohio soil. There is an interesting reference to him in

Howe's Historical Collection, describing his unwillingness to be-

lieve that a retreat had been ordered. It is said that General

Washington, when he learned of St. Clair's defeat, wept at

hearing of Captain Piatt's fate. Capt. Jacob Piatt, his younger

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