The national Republican., 1861-07-08
). Grafton. By Col. VIM. r. Small.


the greatest enthusiasm pervaded the hearts of
the men. Col. Smulls address was short and
pertinent, and was frequently interrupted by the
applause of the men.
AT the close of the exercises, Lieut. Sloan,
Of company A, rec .ested the members to kneel
on the ground and pledge themselves before
God to be true to the glorious flag of our coun.
try. This request was complied with, every
man kneeling and making the solemn pledge. |
Il was pleasing sight to see so many men
thus expressing their unalterable allegiance TO
the Government, and determination to use their
right arms strength in the destruction or con.
fusion of its enemies.
The camp was very quiet all day. But few
were beyond the lines, and universal disposi.
tion to peace and order seemed to prevail.
In the evening, prayer meeting was held by
company e, Capt. 8. 8. Rankin, who were
drawn up in order to participate in the cere.
monies. ,...
The Chaplain made patriotic address, invit.
ing the men to join the invocation to God for
his blessing upon our country. The entire day
passed very pleasantly:
Dedication of Fort Albany.
The twenty. fifth ALBANY regiment, Colonel
Bryan, celebrated the day by dedicating their
fort, which they named "Fort Albany" The
fort covers about FIVE acres of ground, aud is
situated on Prospect Hill, commanding the
Long Bridge and the road leading to Fort Run
yon.
At ten and half o'clock, the regiment par
AIDED and marched into the fort, where they
listened to the reading Of the Declaration Of
an appropriate and eloquent address from Col.
onel Bryan, who named the fort. During the
delivery of the address, the colonel was often
interrupted by the applause Of the men. The
" ar.Spangled Banner" was then sung by the
regiment, while the national flag was raised on
the staff in the centre Of the fort, by Captain
Ellis and the engineer corps. The gun squad,
under the command of Assistant Quartermas.
ter Neblock, fred a salute Of thrty.fo guns
as the flag was run up
A more enthusiastic celebration of Independ.
ence Day was seldom witnessed, and the day
passed off without a single accident or occur.
renee calculated to mar the enjoyment Of the
"Albany boys"
Colonel Pratt's Regiment
The day was celebrated in quiet and un-
ostentatious manner by the thirty first New
York volunteers. At daybreak, the regimental
band played several patriotic airs in front of
the officers quarters, and at night the men
gaily illuminated their camp and built bonfres.
Captain Whitlock's company, during the even.
ing, sang several patriotic songs and hymns.
" EECHEs
t Delivered on the occasion Of The Rsvie'o Of the
New York Regiments on the Fourth.
The troops having all passed in review, the
!, immense concourse Immediately beseiged the
platform, and commenced cheering Justify foI
the President, Gen. Scott, and others. Presi
l. dent Lincoln, in few moments, advanced tc
\ koc .,,l x,ka ,ax La.,,
+ stored, he addressed the enthusiastic gathering
:. as follows:
:, INTRODUCTORY REMARKS OF Mr. LINCOLN.
Gentlemen: trust you will not censure me
for thus appearing before you, and assuming
e such prominent position, for there is kind
}. of rule that constrains me to do so. am aware
that you are more desirous Of having Gen
IS Scott appear before you than myself, and
y therefore take great pleasure in Introducing
g him to you.
}. Gen. Scott then advanced, and was intro
! duced by the President amidst the most vocif
erous cheering. After politely acknowledging
d with graceful bow the compliment bestowee
= on him by those assembled, he returned to hi
SPEECH OF ny. SEWARD.
/. Loud and prolonged calls being made fo
At Governor Seward, he stepped forth and sub
IS mitted the following brief and happy remarks
d Fellow.ctizens: Dating from the year l776
inclusive, up to the present period, this consti
tutes the eighty sixth occasion when the fourth o
July has found the people Of America, from tn
St. Lawrence to the Gulf and from the Allan
a. and united people. Applause We hav
* shown by our ballots that we intend ther
,e shall be thousand and more Fourths of July
IS [Vociferous cheering Since that is not satil
w factory, an appeal has been taken to the bu
u. lets. And though bullets must decide III
of struggle, yet Goa is on the side of liberty, an
1t, therefore we need fear nothing.
o SECRETARY SMITHS SPEECH.
ho Hon. Caleb B. Smith, of Indiana, Secretar
~ " of the Interior, was next called upon, when b
- a. responded in the following language:
~ If any one in the vast assemblage has herr
u u tofore entertained q solitary doubt as to tn
~ triumph of the American people, in their eifor
ah ~ to suppress the grand rebellion, that doul
w. w. must have been dispelled by the spectac
5;s 5;s which you have witnessed on this nterestin
ho i,0 anniversary. That's 50, and applause. N
ne ,m man who gazed upon that gallant band of p
's' triotc volunteers who at the call OF the
country, left their homes, and came here, peri
=. ling their lives in defence Of this glorior
q. Union, can doubt for one moment that tbs
70, rS' will completely succeed in crushing out Il
on o,' rebellion, and in planting the foundations
au' our Government deep, broad, and so sacre
al that traitorous faction shall, in all coming tim
~, 70 hide its head and acknowledge the suprema'
,aa 1er of the laws of the Union. Applause. VIII
'1 me my friends, am satisfied, from what | ha'
Tue seen to-day, that the great State Of New 1o
alone has the power and the will to furn
a. the means to trample rebellion under foot ar
usS ,"S "elevate" the traitors upon the gallows'
INC mo Laughter, and applause.] l have only to 81
iiSS today, fellow-citizens that having witness
,ca ,a many Fourth of July celebrations, have nev
Ns', aet upon this glorious day been inspired wi
the AZ ~. w w ~ ""I Ion;o,s JTn;c