Inaugural Issue Of The Clayton Enterprise Newspaper, Vol. 1 No.1, August 7, 1869 (Clayton, New Jersey)

Blood & Engarde, Clayton, NJ, 1869; 19" x 24", 4 pages; attractive large engraved masthead. The inaugural, and very possibly sole existing issue of The Clayton Enterprise, 28 column weekly newspaper published at Clayton, Gloucester County, New Jersey and dedicated to news of local interest in relation to politics, agriculture, business, and homemaking, together with wider regional, state, national, and international news briefs, select literary readings, train schedules & fares, and useful and entertaining miscellanea.. Some lengthier articles included:**A spirited promotional piece on the village of Clayton extolling its salubrious climate, agricultural richness and productivity, adjacency to West Jersey Railroad with terminus at Philadelphia, good society, schools, churches, generous and hospitable people of high moral standard, and low price of land. Special attention is drawn to the engineering prowess of John Moore, whose great energy and industriousness were in great measure responsible for the town’s development and change of name from the previous "Fislerville."**A report on J. R. Thompson’s Swedesboro Railroad project, describing the route, state of completion, advantages to residents of Gloucester and Salem Counties, etc., and listing the names of each of the incorporators. **A lengthy story on the Stockton Hotel in Cape May City, beautifully illustrated with a large engraving of the hotel front.**A first hand account by a Confederate soldier of an incident from the War in which a reluctant recruit to General Longstreet’s army at the "Battle In The Wilderness" was deployed with his unit across an open field toward a line of Union sharpshooters. At the first whizz of a bullet which landed a round at his feet, the recruit looked in shocked disbelief to his comrades, who paid no attention and continued their advance, leaving the young man to conclude it was a mistake or an accident. When the enemy then opened thunderous fire, the soldier dropped everything and beat a fast track to safety as fast as his legs could carry him, yelling at the top of his lungs toward the enemy line from safety behind a tree, "I say, you men over thar in the woods! My God Almighty! Don’t shoot this way! Thar’s folks out here!"**An intriguing six column short story of a deceitful suitor’s treacherous plot cleverly foiled by a young hero using extraordinary scientific methods.**A two column article outlining the principles of Masonry, presented as first of a proposed weekly feature of the paper’s format dedicated to Masonic news, correspondence, and development of the craft. Laid in is a 5 1/2" x 4" flyer soliciting subscribers and advertisers for the publication. Very Good, 1" closed tear in the blank margin at right center and bottom center, some roughness along the right edge, and a very few pinholes. Aged pencil note in top blank margin in an archaic hand reading "Copy of first paper published at Clayton, N.J. Present to Hist. Soc." It is signed "D. Wales." Large elaborate engraved masthead. Quite rare, with no other copies to be found anywhere.