The United States military has a long and colorful history in Cliffside Park, New Jersey. The first U.S. military installation in the borough was Fort Lee on the Cliffs of Moriah, which opened in 1776 as a British garrison. In 1814, Fort Clinton was founded by General James Wilkinson to protect the town from American attack. The fort served as an artillery depot and base of operations for American forces during the War of 1812 and later became part of the 2nd Infantry Division under Major General Winfield Scott Hancock in 1864.
In 1865, Cliffside Park become home to 1st Brigade (D) New York Volunteers Infantry Corps when it was organized at Camp Chase near Utica. In 1886, 1st Brigade (D)NYVAC relocated to Fort Hamilton on Staten Island after their brigade commander Colonel David Dixon Chafee resigned from the army to take over command of Cloverdale Academy’s football team. From 1888-1892, 1st Brigade (D)NYVAC rotated through Cliffside Park twice annually for training with Regular Army infantry troops at Camp Randall on Staten Island before deploying to San Francisco for maneuvers in September and October 1890.
On July 25, 1898, 1st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (5th Battalion), National Guard Combat Team came into existence when its regiment’s armistice with the Union army was ratified at Gettysburg.
In 1902-1903, Cliff Side Park hosted three months of annual summer encampment called “The Great White Way Camp” that attracted thousands of soldiers and their families from all over America.
In 1907-1908, Brigadier General John Jenabled assumed command of 3rd Infantry Division based out of PhiladelphiaJohn Jenabled:General John J Enabled:
On May 26, 1912 Congressmanial Candidate William Fenton delivered a speech denouncing World War I veteran Frank Pusateri as a traitor who had deserted his unit while serving with Company K2 Brooklyn National Guard Unit.
Fenton's speech also attacked then Mayor Nicholas Murray for not helping enough war veterans
Nathaniel Sargent Post:
Mayor Nicholas Murray & William Fenton - Mourners' Speech Transcripts