, 1862-07-11
FROM M MEMPHlS.
THE FOURT71ss AND HOW TT
WAS KEPT. .


1loAn A1Aansas ana Mtss1ssfpp1.
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribunc,7
GAGoso HoUsE, MEMPHIS, July s. 1862.
HIS INV nearly q month By the usual
record Of the calendar, and to your corres-
pendent it appears fully two months since
the federal fleet entered Memphis. Ofthe stir
ring events tranEpiriDg hereabouts in the
weeks Intervening it has been my desire to
Keep the.rcaders Of THE TRIBUNE fully nosted
Last week I told them all about the first
Social Union reunion held here within the last
tWelvemonth. Perhaps it would not prove
unlnteresting to give q short letter on the
manner In which the natal day Of our national
Independence was celebrated.
Yesterday opened gloriously-as all DAYS
40 IN Memphis-#ith a prospect Of being as
hot as those preceding it, and the batteries
opened too with 100 guns at sunrise startling
southern rebels, who had blotted the Fourth
OF July from their list Of anniversary DAYS,
the supposition that the mortar fleet had
opened upon the city, or that JEFF. Thompson
had done for once as he promised and com
menced opening tie back door of Memphis
with artillery preparatory to letting in his
horde OF marauders to burn and DESTROY
place they could not hope to hold. LOYAL
people, who had kept in remembrance
last year, when it was rank trea-
son TO speak Of Independence Day were
not frightened, but turned over in bed and
took another nap when they had listened to
the booming music until its roar had ceased.
The sound Of artillery was continued from
camp to camp on the eastern border, and when
the Chicago Light artillery, the Ohio and
CoggRTel's batteries had had their say it
suddenly ceased. The day was properly uBh-
cred in. The first fourth Of July celebration
in Memphis, since the Inauguration Of the war,
had been duly and properly commenced.
The military, the feH northern men, and the
few Onion men and women with which the
city is blessed, then came out in Sunday
clothes, and the rebels who stood about the
stores, where no business could be done that
day, Tor lack OF customers, looked in each 9TH
e1s' faces and asked if it was tie Sabbath day.
4 seaman who was passing q crowd Of this
character, oFerhea1lng question OF this sort,
answered it b. taking Gil his cap and shouting
"Hurrah Tor the fourth Of Julia! Sunday
comes every week, but Independence Day
| only once year!"
| The gentlemen were satisfied, closed the
| store and adjourned to their parlors to discuss
| the probabilities Of the capture Of General Nc
| Clcllan and the onward march to Washington.
Early In the day unwonted bustle and con
fusion was to to be observed on thc decks Of
the gunboarts st. Louis and Mound City. By
noon both steamers We're gaily decorated with
TIC stars and stripes, and al the reportiore Of
| the signal box. These latter streamers Of
tancltul device were hung in parti-colorcd
testools upon lines stretching from the tops
p1 inc sm0kc-stacks to the upper deck, fore
and att. The large, black steamers appeared
Ike immense whales, across whose backs
Flora had cmptied her basket filled with tropi-
cal tlwers. Capt. McGulnjgle, being patriotic
as well as brave aud loyal commander, deter
mined to do his share toward having q real
old-tashioned fourth of July in the land of
Dixie. Hence the flags and that which came
after.
At precisely twelve O'Clock the gunners Of
the St. Louis were pipcd to quarters and pres
emily commenced the firing Of 100 guns, sta at
Will which was admirably performed. The
/ hrst gun Was signal Tor general outpourlng
Of the citizens. Men, women and children at
once de6erted the occupation Of the moment
snd ran to the bluff, to the levee, the house
top, the piazza, or any other eligible locality
IRON whence the sight could be Conveniently
witnessed. First was the puff Of white smoke,
and then the quick-follo lowing and deep-toned
report. Shot followed upon shot with such
rapld succession that presently the steamer
vas almost hidden from sight, and afterward
through the haze came the lurid glare Of the
fire as the cannon were discharged, seemingly
tTGm massive bank OF cloud. It WAS truly
4 grand and beautiful sight. But perhaps
what pleased the citizens-and those who had
not watched tho came sight for week upon
week. where the scene WAS intended to have
t bctn in earnest and not in Sport-Tas the
opening of the the mcrtars, i've or six o1
Which we're located on the Arkansas shore inst
below Hopehcld. Had these same mortars
| been trained upon the site OF tue city, instead
OF down the river, and had q tifteeni itch shell
followed each report and come crushing into
The midst Of the thickly settled districts, there
to burst and scatter death and destruction
around, the exhibition could not have beer
looked upon with more absorbing interest
The pleasure Of beholdiug it was greatly en-
HANGED By the knowledge that it was a per
fectly, peace III one. After firing four or five
rounds each. the harmless mortar practice
ceased, and the asEemblage dispersed.
At about three O'Clock, according to pre-
yious arrangement, and upon invitation O.
Gen. Thaycr, late colonel Of the 1st Nebraska
regiment, company consisting Of Gen. u. s
Grant and his Chief staff officers, several Off
cerE Of other regiments, the brigade and reyi
mental officers Of Gen. Thayer, those o
CoggswelPs battvry and the Sth Ohio, in
/ c;uding IN the former Capt. Coggs we'll him
sell, and several representatives Of the North
ern and city press, gathered at the camp Q
the 1st Nebraska, about two miles from til.
} river, preparatory to commencing the remain
, ing exercises pertaining to genuine Fourtl
Of July.
There being no convenient grove for th
| festivities Just at the camp, the general pitch
, ed upon the large garden and tine surround
ing grounds Of widow lady Of secession pro
cllyities who had made her exit from Mem
| phl6 rs the fcdera1s came in, and beneath th
cooling shade Of her stately gum trees an
spreading buttcrnuts, surrounded by til
| finest shrubbery, the heavy leaved magnolias
aud the Towering cactus, were spread table
= Of primitive construction, upon which hi
been placed Tcpast that would tempt the az
petite Of an epicuTe. At the broad doubl
! gate leading to the garden WAS planted heaV
: gun. At each post Of the gate doated th
! American fay, and at different points within
: the same glorious ensign waved in the paEsin
breeze. Just to the left Of tic fine rcsdeac
: Of the departed female Memplian, was locate
$ the brass band Of the brigade, which, as th
, little procession headed By Gen, Grant an
> Thayer, entered the boundaries, and followin
i the firing Of the first gun, gave the stigrin
White and Blue.''
D The company were soon seated The dir
t ner was waited until benediction was pr
- nounced By the chaplain Of the 1st Nebrask:
7 when each man proceeded to ''eat green cor
in Memphis" Some had, 4 year before, pr
missed themselves the pleasure Of doing tt
same in New Orleans, but were well satisde
to change the scene Of operations to cool,
I the head Of the table sat the host-a host j
d himself, at the head of the line Of battle or
=: the festive board-Gen. Thayer. At his rigl
: sat Gen. Grant, not IN uniform, and fair +
presentation, to all outward appearance, Of
:, we'll. to. do southern planter.
: After the dinnt tue Catawba was Introduce
; and the toasts, each toast followed BY gu
c Gen. Thaytr announced: 1.-THE day We CT
# | ebrate." 1t wus responded to 1sy Charles !
:. Da, q, ESQ, late Of the New York Iribu,s
= who chanccd to be present. His speech I'll
clear, tc the point, torcib1e and eloquent f
e gave The President Of the United STATE
IS Honest Abraham Lincoln" Responde
T. to By Gen. Thayer. Gen. :rhay
y then announced, sour nlustrious Cues
;. :, Gen. Z. s. Grant.'' Responded TO By 4. ]
:. Richardson, Esq, Of the New York Tt1bua
. The speech Of Mr. Richardson was feryid ar
II replete with historical illusions. He spoil
in exceedingly graceful terms Of the gener
le who always "moTed upon the enemy
10 works !"
~ The next regular toast Was to t'Gen. l. Wa
~ lace. Responded to By gentleman connectt
:, with his staf, whose name was not announce
u and General Thayer. The General announce
Of aThe Medical Department. Desponded
IT | by tile surgeon of the brigade, Dr. J. H Sc
mour. The doctor was in favor Of "throwi1
phSsic to the dogs and substituting spar
Ing cata"ba, very happy suggestion. Al
cd tneh me company suggested seconding
af the suggestion.
:; 10 the sentiment, stThe Press, DR.. Say
VI. Ser, chaplain Of the 47th Indiana regimen
81 and nov for time editoria1ly connected vi
at me daily Onion Appeal, made a good r.
re- peuse. SIT, kiebaldson Was called for, a