July Fourth and the Civil War

Some research I found about the Fourth of July during the civil war

US Capital The East Front ca. 1861

1861

• Lincoln calls an "extraordinary" session of Congress and presents an address regarding the suspension of Federal government functions by secessionists in the South.
• The President also reviews 29 New York military regiments in front of the White House and also raises the stars and stripes (the flag presented to the city of Washington by the Union Committee of New York) on a 100-foot high flagstaff located at the south front of the Treasury Department.
• Galusha A. Grow is the only Speaker of the House of Representatives ever to be elected and take office on the 4th of July.
  
• An artillery salute of 15 guns is fired at Camp Jackson near Pigs Point, Va., in honor of the Southern States that have declared and are declaring their independence.
  
• In Baltimore, the citizens there present a "splendid silk national flag, regimental size," to the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment
• Gov. John A. Andrew of Massachusetts celebrates the 4th with the 1st Massachusetts Regiment at Camp Banks near Georgetown, D.C.
  

1862-

• Lincoln is in the White House and receives the "Soldiers of the War of 1812"...Mr. Lincoln replied appropriately, thanking them for the call."
• A pyrotechnic depiction of the battle between the Monitor and Merrimac takes place in New York

President Lincoln at Antietam, 1862

1863-

• The President issues an address to the people honoring the Army of the Potomac and "for the many gallant fallen." There was a ceremony on the grounds of the Executive Mansion.
• Upon hearing of the news of the surrender of Vicksburg, the President gives a "Fourth of July" speech on July 7 from the upper window of the White House to an "immense" crowd.
• Vicksburg, Mississippi waited 82 years, until 1945, to again celebrate the 4th after General Ulysses Grant took the city in 1863 during the Civil War.
• In Concord, N.H., former president Franklin Pierce addresses 25,000 persons at the "Democratic Mass Meeting" held there.
  
• In Buffalo, N.Y., 17 veterans of the War of 1812 march in a parade there.
• At Annapolis, a "flag of truce" boat filled with Secessionist women from Philadelphia and elsewhere leaves on July 3rd and travels south.
  
• In Gettysburg, Pa., as the Rebel troops are.making their escape from the great battle just fought there, someone throws firecrackers among their ambulances carrying the wounded and causes a stampede of the horses and panic among the troops.
  
• In Columbus, Ohio, Randal and Aston's store has 8,500 American flags to sell for the holiday.
  
• In Newport, Rhode Island, the Fourth of July celebration is repeated on Tuesday, July 7, due to the news regarding the Union victory at Vicksburg.
  
• Gov. Zebulon B. Vance of North Carolina giv es a speech in Granville county, urging "the people to continue their assistance in prosecuting the war until the independence of the Confederate States was established"

Charleston, S.C. Site of the night attack on Fort Sumter, September 8, 1863

1864-

• The President is at the White House reviewing the Reconstruction Bill and meeting with various officials.
• Gov. Andrew Johnson of Ten nessee addresses the citizens of Nashville.
  
• In Washington, D.C., Secretary William Seward, riding in a carriage, narrowly avoids serious injury when a rocket, set off by a young boy, strikes him above his eye
  

1864. Maj. Gen. Sherman and staff

1865-

• One of the first "Freedmen" celebrations occurs, in Raleigh, N.C.
  
• Lincoln's "Emanicipation Proclamation" is publicly read in Warren, Ohio, and Belpassi, Oregon.
  
• The National Monument Association lays the cornerstone of the Soldier's Monument in Gettysburg.
  
• The Huntsville Advocate (Alabama) prints news about celebrations in Gettysburg and New York.
• The celebration by the Colored People's Educational Monument Association in memory of Abraham Lincoln occurs in Washington, D.C. and is the first national celebration by African-Americans in the U.S.
  
• In Albany, N.Y., 100 "tattered" Civil War battle flags are presented to the state and Gen. Ulysses S. Grant is in attendance.
  
• In Savannah, Ga., Governor James Johnson addresses the citizens there telling them that slavery is dead and that they should renew their allegiance to the Government.
  
• At Saratoga Springs, N.Y., J.C. Hamilton, son of Alexander Hamilton, reads the Emancipation Proclamation.
  
• Union General William Tecumseh Sherman participates in a 4th of July civic celebration in Louisville, Ky., and witnesses a balloon ascension there.
  
• In Hopewell, New Jersey, a monument to the memory of John Hart, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, is dedicated and New Jersey Governor Joel Parker delivers an oration

Pennsylvania Ave 1865

Its interesting to note as well that when July 4th fell on a Sunday, the anniversary was celebrated in most places on Monday, July 5.

Gettysburg 2008 Part 4

My Confederate Day Continued...

Battle: "The Devil's to Pay", First Day Struggle at Willoughby Run

Tracy and I, despite the light rain, decided to watch the battle from the Union side near the bleachers. Overall a very good site to watch the battle. While there we met a photographer from National Geographic. He took alot of pictures (not of us) and told us to check the NG web site for the pictures later this month.



The battle was amazing! Just the size and organization of having this type of event is enough to impress. And the artillery were amazing to watch. From where we were, we watched many Union groups march to the field and I was able to spot the Third Maine. Of note is a story told by a private regarding the soiled doves trying to temp the troops.


I hope Private Tom C does not mind me quoting him but he did such a great job:

We reformed, marched up the hill when suddenly the Captain ordered “Eyes front!” Unfortunately, human nature being what it is, the best way to make someone look at something is to tell them not to. We then spied the Captain’s concern - several soiled doves stood nearby - those poor children had cast away dress and bodice to make clear to the passing soldiers their commercial intentions. The Captain’s concern for the men was most understandable - like the sirens of antiquity, any weak soul harkening to such a seductive call could only find himself soon dashed among rocks in ruin.

I had no way of seeing where the 15th Alabama might be.



After the battle (and yes, more shopping!) I finally ran into Miss Vicky and stuck with her while she looked for some of the other 15th members. Finally we decided to head back to the CS camps via the hay wagon. Again, this was no speeding event. Because of the rain, the CS roads were so muddy that the event planners had to close the road up into the camps while they poured crushed stone on the roadway. That left me, Miss Sandy and Charlene to hike up the hill
(we sent Miss Vicky ahead on a golf cart).



Now I haven't spent alot of time with Little Miss Charlene, but she was delightful! We held hands as we walked and despite her being tired, we made it back to camp. At that point the modern age attacked in the form of my ringing cell phone. My presence was requested in the year 2008 again. I hiked back down the hill (didn't I just get here!) and met my family on Table Rock Road.


Battle: "Holding the High Ground", Defending East Cemetery Hill

There we were able to watch some of the evening battle from the Confederate side (Where were the 15th?)


While we watched it started to rain..Hard so I headed back to the RV.

Gettysburg 2008 Part 1

The 145th Anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg took place July 4, 5th and 6th 2008. I was honored to be a participant and the next few blog entries will be about those three days.

I actually left Saturday, June 28th and drove to my sister’s in Maryland. Our car was stuff with all sorts of Civil war paraphernalia: Tent, table, crates, blankets, dresses, writing desk, small barrel...as if I was leaving for the real war!

We didn’t actually leave for Gettysburg until Thursday July 3rd. And as luck would have it, we were stuck in traffic and it took longer to get there then we hoped. We set up the RV and I quickly headed to camp arriving at 5pm.




Now finding the right camp was entertaining to say the least. At least I knew where my tent didn’t belong. I wasn’t with the cavalry or the artillery. That narrowed it down to a many acre field of Infantry. I circled the area, several times, and at last I stopped and called "Uncle Dick". Logically he asked to identify my surroundings. "I am near the flags" referring to the regimental flags. "And now you’ll tell me you’re by the white tents too!" he said...For the record, I thought I was quite clear in my directions. He saved me, led me to the Third Maine and helped me set up the tent. Good ol’ Uncle Dick!



Being a "Ramada Ranger" I of course headed back to the RV to sleep.

Compliments

I was in my office where I have some pictures from Camp Sylvia on mybulliten board. A nurse came in, saw the Union uniform and startedtelling me about a great Union group she saw the Fourth of July inBath. She said the music and marching gave her chills....I was quite proud to inform her that it was the Third Maine!Awesome job Every One!!