PORT JERVIS, New York—Orange Park was alive with history on June 20 to honor the one-time Port Jervis resident who wrote about a common soldier facing the fear of battle during the Civil War. The day also memorialized the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, which ended in April, 1865.
Port Jervis went all out in its celebration of Stephen Crane, whose novel “Red Badge of Courage” depicted the inner thoughts of farm boy Henry Fleming when he faces combat. The red badge of the title actually refers to the red badge worn by the 124th Infantry Regiment of New York state volunteers, commonly known as the Orange Blossoms.
Re-enactors in Civil War dress made camp, ladies wearing mourning black for a son killed in battle walked through the park, and famous figures such as Ulysses S. Grant mingled with officials, historians, and descendants of the celebrated author. A Native American re-enactor told how he might have lived among the people of the city.
Crane resided for a time in Port Jervis with his brother Edmund, and there is a story that Crane got the material for his book by listening to Civil War veterans in a Port Jervis park.
According to writer Robert Eurich this story about the park actually began in 1982 and may just be local lore. He says Crane’s neighbor was a veteran, the barber next to his brother’s law office was a veteran, and veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic held meetings nearby. So, according to Eurich, even if Crane did not hear war stories in the park, he certainly heard them in Port Jervis.
True Fear of War
Eurich said Crane wrote about the true fear of war. The account in the novel is considered an accurate description of the Battle of Chancellorsville. Eurich says the Union flank completely collapsed and there was a mad stampede of horses, men, and pack animals.
