Monument at Fort Jefferson. 113
5. PRESENTATION
................................. Geo. A. Katzenberger
6. UNVEILING
.................................. Elizabeth D. Robeson
7. MILITARY SALUTE
....................Gun Squad, Co. M., 3rd Regt.
8. STAR SPANGLED BANNER . .............................Drum Corps
9. ACCEPTANCE ON BEHALF OF THE
PUBLIC..........Prof. J. T. Martz
10. HISTORIC ADDRESS
............................Judge J. I. Allread
11. YANKEE DOODLE
......................................Drum
Corps
12. A WORD FROM THE RED MEN
......................L. E. Wills
13. BENEDICTION
............................Rev. G. W. Berry
ADDRESS OF FRAZER E. WILSON.
SECRETARY GREENVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
One hundred and sixteen years ago to-day
a military post which
was being erected on this very spot by
the army of Maj. Gen. Arthur
St. Clair was named Fort Jefferson in
honor of that great statesman
and author of the Declaration of
Independence, Thomas Jefferson. We
are assembled to commemorate that event
and to do honor to the mem-
ory of the heroes and patriots who
sacrificed so much that we might
enjoy the benefits of a free nation.
Father Time has been very good
to us, indeed, and it is hard to
appreciate all the benefits conferred by
those who have gone before. Other men
labored and we have entered
into the rewards of their labors. Under
the inspiring influences of the
past I feel that it is good for us to be
here. Let us unveil this tablet and
dedicate this monument with due
reverence for the patriots who once
stood where we stand not knowing what
another day might bring forth.
With these thoughts in mind I want to
express a few words of appreciation
for the character and public services of
one whose name has gone down un-
der a cloud because of defeat at a very
critical moment in Western history.
Whenever the name of Arthur St. Clair is
mentioned in this vicinity
our minds go back to that cold November
morning in 1791 when his ex-
posed and decrepit army was surprised
and suddenly attacked by a fierce
horde of howling savages on a branch of
the upper Wabash. In face
of the terrible defeat that followed we
are prone to forget or overlook
the previous and later record of this
stalwart patriot. St. Clair was of
Scottish birth. He emigrated to America
in 1755 and served with the
British in the French and Indian War,
being in the important engage-
ments of Louisburg and Quebec. Like many
of his hardy countrymen he
then settled in western Pennsylvania and
engaged in farming until the
outbreak of the Revolution. The call of
the Colonies appealed to him
and he espoused the cause of freedom,
serving with distinction at Three-
Rivers, Trenton, Princeton and
Hubbardstown and attaining the rank
of Major-General. In 1786 he was elected
President of Congress and in
1788 was appointed Governor of the
Territory Northwest of the Ohio
river. With such a record of faithful
service on the credit side of
Vol. XVII.- 8.