The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-07-13
IYDEpENDENCE DAY IN 1874.


BY GRANT THoRNBURs, NEW YORK.
I arrived in New York, for the first time on the
sixteenth of June, in the year 1874. had no ac-
ouaintances in the city then, so resolved to spend
the anniversary in way to please myself. At sun
rise the bells rung out merry peal from the stee-
Piles of old Trinity, Middle Dutch, and St. Georges
Churches st. PauPs had neither bell nor steeple
at that time its present was then in process of
erection and completed in the fall of that year
There were thirteen guns-one for each State-tired
from the Battery. a company, composed of forty
or fifty OF the old veterans paraded the streets with
muskets, and fired a salute at twelve, M. They
wore old cooked hats and tattered uniforms in which
they fought by the side of Washington. There was
now and then one with only single arm.
In 1902, number of those aged and noble soldiers
of the revOlutiOnwere removed from the CUSTOM
house and other offices and their places filled by
beardlesss and blapdless patriots! At p. m,
twelve or fourteen OF us pushed off in boat from
the foot of the old Ply Market. \ passenger took
the helm, while two boatmer began to row us over
the river to Brooklyn.
strong spring tide was running in, which car
ried our frail barque high Waabout before
we made the Long Island shore. Being in
slack water, reached Brooklyn in ten minutes,
having made the passage in one hour and quarter
"a thing which often occurred in those days. This
was the first time | ever was on Long Island. |
stood a few minutes the wharf, looking in all
directions about me, and | do not think | could
have counted thirty houses. walked forward in
the middle of the street until | came to the old
Dutch Church. about Il mile from the ferry. A
thunder storm coming up, sought shelter in cot
tage near by the wavside. Dutch negress and
two or three half-breeds were in possession OF the
hut. As she could speak neither Scotch nor Dutch
to any extent, our words were ''few and far be-
tween"
The storm passed over in half an hour, and took
to the street again. Here saw, for the first time
field of Indian corn. ltwas eight feet high in full
leaf and tassel and the rain drops sparkled it
like diamonds, under the glancing rays of the su.
| mounted upon the rails of the fence to see this
beautiful sight-it looked like field that the Lord
had blessed 1t was flood tide when we returned,
so we crossed in twenty minutes think 1t was in
1911 that Fulton commenced running his steamboats,
from New York to Brooklyn. Now the passage is
made with an unlimited quantity of freight and pas
sengers in from five to ten minutes fulton died in
needy circumstances From the ferry stairs |
walked up the market the corner of Water street.
and hearing a shout coming from the south, | fol-
lowed the sound.
of the old Exchange Coffee House, on the corner of
Wall and Water streets The Society of the Gin
cinnati were drinking toasts, and at every toast a
salute was fired from a siX-pOunder in the street.
and all the people shouted with joy. think it was
in 1898 when the General afterwards Governor)
dwet in Liberty street. opposite the Middle Dutch
church. My own house was near bv, so we were
social terms On the Fourth of July, in that year,
the Cincinnati Society dined in Washington Hall,
which then stood on the spot where Stewards mar
BILE store now stands
About p. NJ, letter was left at the Generals
house, which the family thought required an imme
uldle answer. III Delng independence Day, thc ser
wants had a gam tier ain gait, his daughter sta
ted the case to me, and carried the letter myself
to him-being glad of the opportunity to see so
many of Washingtons officers assembled together.
An orderly sergeant stood by the room door in & the
passaoe dressed in full Continental uniform. The
GnnoroI answered the call, met me in the passage,
onened the letter. and glanced at the signature,
placed it in his pocket, and invited me to the honor
Pf otor;n|, the room. | shook hands with dozen
o r ineo bnarv headed veterans drank to the health
o % Wasbin@t6n made my best bow, and retired
7 should think there were about one hundred and
frtv sitting around the tables. Among them were
Generals Hamilton Giles, Gates Lewis Stevens.
Van Caustlandt, Schuyler, etc In the room were,
also. Colones Varick, Durr, Turnbull, McComb;
Majors Fairly, Lamb, and others whom l did not
know. All of that company never met again; two
the city like food, and thinned their ranks most wo-
fully 1t has been many years since the last of them
died, and we will never look upon their like again.
- Wash. Union.