The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-06-28
BUNKER HILL CELEBRATION.
From the Boston Daily Mail Of Saturday.
THE DAY.

THE DAY.
The dawn Of the day was cool. yet beau
tiful-scarcely q cloud obscured the clear a.
zure of the sky-and the sun rose as clear
and as bright as the hopes of freedom on
that suspicious morning when
"Freedom from her mountain height
Unfurl'd her standard to The air."
A grand salute was fired al sunrise and
at an early hour every road and avenue
leading to the city was thronged with PEG.
pie of all sexes and ages, rushing 10 eager
haste and curiosity to mingle in the scene.
The streets through which the procession
was 10 pass were decorated with much taste
thrown across the streets and avenues
were national flags and pendants, floating
from every quarter in rich profusion. and the
private seats for the lucky spectators who
had timely secured places, were handsome
" entwined with flowers and garlands. rem.
dering the scene where ever the eye was d.
rected Interesting ard beautiful in the ex.
( IRENE.
A! At half past 8, he military part Of the
procession commenced forming in the mall
the right resting near The corner of Boyl.
ston and Charles streets. and extending 10
and some distance up Beacon street.
A little past 10, the procession began TO
move such a scene of pomp and pagean.
try never was exhibited in Boston. Tie
differen, military companies, preceded by
our National Lancers, followed 10 the sound
Of soul-slirring music, the splendid uniforms
of indispensable neatness, and the soldier.
like spirit instinct which dwelt in every
face, were contemplated by the crowd with
feelings of great satisfaction. Looking
from Park street Church up fremont street
as the military were passing, the scene was
grand, beyond oescripiion-the fine appear.
ance-the beautiful green branches over.
hanging lhem-1ags and banners floating
in every direction, and The perfect sea Of
faces Of The delighted thousands rendered it
far more imposing than any we have ever
witnessed.
But 10 our mind the most Interesting part
Of the procession were the revolutionary
soldieIs-lhe last survivors f'76, who were
horne along in carriages. towards The scenes
of their past glory. There was a great
many Of them, and their personal appear
ance was extremely interesting. The old
fellows even exhibited more enthusiasm than
their younger brethren, for some of them
cheered with all their might. and with their
handkefchiefs tied to sticks and their canes.
waved them 10 the audience and cried out
huzZa-huZza, until their threats cracked,
and "piped and whistled in the sound
So much real Enthusiasm on the part of the
old veterans could not fail of awakening
some of the fire in the hearts of the specta
tors; and, in fact, we even saw the poetry
OF inspiration and patriotism coming out
spontaneously, in the midst of braves, huz.
"a, and clapping Of hands.
II made some of the eyes of the veterans
beam again like an April sky. and their
glowing faces showed that they were fight.
ing over again the battles of their country.
We take particular notice of this part of the
procession, for after all it is The very heart
and soul of it. Think, dear reader, Of two
hundred old revolutionary soldiers. yho ris.
ked their property and their lives in our in.
FAINT struggles for freedom-who fought on
Bunker Hill going back again to visit those
scenes 50 fraught with pride and great c.
vents-yes, revisiting them once more be-
fore their immortal parts shall sink into e.
terniiy. In few more years those heads
now covered with time crowned laures will
sleep in the dust, and the lofty Monument
will be the only enduring memento CT the
past.
One of the old soldiers wore hat the
corner of which was pierced with a bullet
hole, and ever and anon he directed his sha>
king fingers TO il, ard with trembling
voice said, =" got that near the spot where
Warren fell !''-Anoiher had paper ball
upon which was written in capital letters
"God bless the memory of Warren, poster
ity will appreciate his worth !"
Upon one carriage was raised miniature
monument Of the battle of Lexington, with
the inscriptions borne upon that monument
at Lexington, and inside the carriage were
IL old soldiers who fought bravely at the
Battle Of Lexington. They were cheered
10 the very echo as they passed.
Tho procession occupied one hour and
twenty-eight minutes in passing a given
! point, and was probably about three miles
10 length. As general rule the plaioons
were about eight deep.
! There was no great manifestation of en-.
thusiasm towards either the President or the
Orator of the Day on any part of the route.
The windows, doors and balconies along
The whole line. particularly in Washington
street. were crowded ws,h spectators but
The sidewalks were comparatively free, and
afforded the best opportunity of viewing the
procession. Those therefore who bought
seats a. high prices. paid rather dear for the
! whistle. The spectators, as we'll as those
in the procession, appeared very cool and
comfortable.
The display Of the military companies
was by far the most imposing part of the pa.
geant, and probably exceeded any thing ev.
er before exhibited in America. The num-
Der Of Companies was very large but it was
not The number so much as The uniformity
and discipline Of the men, that made their
appearance most imposing. All the COM
Panies appeared wells some of them splen-