EXHIBITION OF SONG BALLADS

Over five hundred ballads of the War of 1861-1865 and songs once popular in New York were selected from the Society's large collection of ballads and placed on exhibition in the Portrait Room during April, May and June. These little song sheets are familiar to old New Yorkers who know them as the "Penny Ballads," they having been sold for a penny many years ago on the streets of the city. The railing once around the City Hall Park was bedecked with these sheets hung to a string where they were for sale. Beside war songs nearly every event of local interest was portrayed in a ballad which was sure to make its appearance immediately after any happening. Therefore, these song sheets tell us of riots, prize fights, executions, elopements, which stirred New York as well as idolizing the heroes of the Civil War and the Regiments which participated in various battles. Popular songs then as now had their parodies such as "The Last Rose of Summer" and "The Last Potato." All these made an interesting exhibition of the Songs of Old New York.

FLAGS, ARMS AND TROPHIES OF 1745-1898

In the Assembly Hall, an exhibition of the Flags, Arms and Trophies owned by the Society has been opened to remain until November. Following is a list of the objects on view.

Flag, carried at the Siege of Louisburg, 1745 Expedition under Sir William Pepperell.

Cannon of the French and Indian War Period, 1755-1757, which stood on the north east corner of Pearl and Pine Streets, N. Y., as a curb post until 1911.

An early Silver Mounted Flint Lock Pistol, from the De Peyster Estate.

Sword used by Thomas De Kay, Colonel of the Orange County Militia, 1757

Sword used by General Henry Dearborn, marked "1755."

Five Powder Horns, used during the French and Indian War, and one small Powder Horn for flash pan or pistol.

Flag of the American Army of the War of the Revolution.

Revolutionary Bar Shot excavated on the Dyckman Farm, N. Y. City, 204th Street.

Three Revolutionary Muskets; Gun used by Rufus King, one found in the attic of the old Walton House in Pearl Street, one unknown.

Uniform Dress Coat with Order of the Cincinnati, and Military Sash, worn by Lieutenant Colonel Ebenezer Stevens, 2nd Continental Artillery, War of the Revolution.

Cannon Ball found at Front Street and Old Slip while excavating for the tunnel under the East River, November, 1916.

Cannon Shot found in the Old Fort at Fort Washington Park, New York City, June 18, 1909.

English Penny, brass shell and three solid shots excavated in Battery Park in connection with the work on a section of the new dual system of the City owned subways.

Sword used by General Horatio Gates, gold medal presented to General Gates by Congress for the Victory at Saratoga, 1777, also Wedding Ring and his sleeve-link buttons.

Sword said to have been surrendered by General John Burgoyne to General Horatio Gates of Saratoga, October 17, 1777.

Case of Pistols, used by Rufus King of New York.

Silver Mounted Highlander Pistol, ploughed up at Fort Washington, New York City, 1845, presumably carried by Captain William Montgomery, with Eglinton Crest on grip of Pistol and on reverse side the Monogram “A. M.”

British Regimental Officers' Buttons, mostly from Camps at Washington Heights, New York City, War of Revolution. W. L. Calver Collection.

British Regimental Private Soldiers' Buttons, mostly from Camps in Washington Heights. W. L. Calver Collection.

American Army Buttons, War of Revolution, mostly from Camps in the Hudson Highlands. W. L. Calver Collection.

Epaulet presented to Captain Samuel Craig of the 1st Regiment, Pennsylvania Line, 1777-1781, by General Lafayette for distinguished services in the Battle of Brandywine, September 1,

British Army Regimental numbered Buttons of the War of the Revolution from Camp Sites in and around New York. W. L. Calver Collection.

Military Badges and Belt Plates, British Army, War of the Revolution, from various Camp Sites on Washington Heights, also lead seals used on packages of cloth and linen. W. L. Calver Collection.

Cannon Ball found during excavation for foundation of new hospital building on the reservation of the U. S. Naval Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, November 8, 1918.

A Tomahawk Pipe formerly belonging to "Red Jacket."

Hessian canteen, cup, pewter spoons, fragments of 18th century glass, two rum bottles, ice creepers, broiler, iron snuff box, pins, buttons, tiny heart-shaped memorial brooch, bar shot, musket bullets, tent pin, caltrop, camp axe, bronze badge, cross belt plate, etc., found at the upper end of Manhattan Island by excavating the hut sites of the British Army, the work of the Field Exploration Committee of The New York Historical Society.

Shell Bullet for carrying secret messages, found by Mr. Thomas Muir, June, 1890, on the north end of Clay Island, Lake George, along the line of Breastworks of Green Island, one foot under low water mark.

Two keys of the old Debtors Prison, erected before the Revolution and during the occupation of New York by the British, 1776–1783, used as jail for confinement of American prisoners. The building stood in the Commons, present City Hall Park, but was removed at the commencement of the building of the present subway.

Camp bedstead used by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War.

Lock from the door of the room in which Major André was confined previous to his execution at Tappan, New York, 1780.

Three War of 1812 Flint Lock Guns-one marked "Manufactured at Sutton, Mass., 1811."

Officer's Sword, 1812.

Three Swords worn by Commodore John H. Graham, War of 1812. Sword presented to Commodore John T. Newton, by the City of New York 1817.

American Army Buttons mostly from sites on the Niagara Frontier, War of 1812. W. L. Calver Collection.

Tin Dressing Box used by Lieut. Jonathan Church during the War of 1812.

Model of a Frigate constructed from beef bones by American Naval Prisoners confined in Dartmoor Prison, England, during the War of 1812.

Uniform Coat and Plume worn by Corporal George A. Ward, Lafayette Guards, July 4, 1825, with Roster of the Company.

Flag of the American Party (No Nothing Party) carried in the Native American Procession, 1844.

Double Barrel Percussion Lock Pistol.

Flint Lock Pistol made in 1837.

Dueling Pistols owned by Thomas J. Bryan, period of 1850.
Two pistols made about 1845.

Cannon used in the War of 1861-1865.

Confederate Torpedo captured in Hampton Roads in the War of 1861-1865.

Part of tree with cannon ball imbedded, War of 1861-1865.
Torpedo of the War of 1861-1865.

Confederate Torpedo from Roanoke, Va., War of 1861-1865. Torpedo from Captain L. Paulding's U.S. gun-boat St. Louis, War of 1861-1865.

Flagstaff of Fort Sumter, War of 1861-1865.

Palmetto Flag used by the Confederates during Attack on Fort Sumter, 1861.

First Union Flag raised over Charleston, S. C., by General Schimmelfennig, February 18, 1865.

Flag of the U. S. Army Transport "Brewster" Expedition up the James River, May, 1864.

Three Revolvers captured in the Confederate Steamer "Florida.” Model of a Pontoon Bridge and Train made by the 15th Regiment New York Volunteer Engineers, War of 1861-1865.

Flag presented to the 12th Regiment, N. Y. Cavalry, War of 1861-1865 by the City of New York.

Two flags carried by the 38th Regiment, New York State Volunteers, War of 1861-1865.

Battle Flag of the 1st New York Dragoons, War of 1861-1865, commanded by Col. Alfred Gibbs, inscribed with its record of forty-six battles and engagements and its record of captures and trophies.