Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-07-21
FROM THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI.
The 4th at Jeff. Davis House.
Correspondence of the State Journal.

SSPNhuehCe VI Iue STAKE journal.
e. S. S. MOUND CRY,
" MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, July 18th.
1t has been some time since last l wrote.
A complete dearth of ANYTHING interesting Is
my excuse
The guerriIlas have been and are now ac-
tive, but navigation has been but slightly
interrupted as yet. small encampment on
the west side of the river at the foot of Hur-
ricape Island, was attacked a few days since,
but although the force was small they re-
nuIsed the enemy. The Mound City went
down and shelled the woods pretty thorough
w. But they come in again the next day,
AMI as we could not lay by them they were
in an exceedingly precarious position, having
no means of crossing the river. Consequent
" Capt. Langthrom ordered the little steamer
Idaho to transport them to the east side of
the river. The rebels Immediately occupied
the abandoned stOckade and the same evening
fred upon the Grey Eagle without doing any
damage however. Well knowing they would
vamoose, should gunboat heave in Sight,
our commander ordered howitzer to be Sc
cretly taken down to the foot of Hurricane
Island directly opposite the stockade and
wait until they should open again upon some
other boat. But they either discovered the
move or concluded to leave the premises, and
after remaining there several days and not
seeing anything of them, the gun was again
brought On board.
And now | wish to give you a little idea of
how we spent the glorious 4th in this land of
cinnamon seeds and sandy bottoms
The day was ushered in at sunrise by a
rousing salute of q guns from the Mound
City. They were no ear splitting six poun-
ders, but full charged nine inch guns and 100
BIS rifles fired at regular int rivals, their sui
len thunder reverberating for miles through
the forests on either side the river. A SINH
lar salute was fred at meridian and again at
shutdown.
The arrangement was made to give all the
loyal people iii The vicinity an opportunity of
celebrating the 4th at the residence of Mr..
jefferson Davis, Esq, novel idea! Through the
exertions of several yankee school marms,"
the house was tastefully decorated for the oc-
casion.
Over the gateway was festooned in ever
green's the word
ssWelcome."
At the main entrance, the words
"rhis is the house tina jeff built
Made every one at once feel at home
Most appropriately placed near the back
door at the end of the spacious hall were the
words,
exit Traitor
Of which it was remarked that the moral
was,
"Down with the traitor,
And up with the star
The banquet was spread in the wide ran
das and the tables gaoaned Der aCh their
weight of good things. The CUISINE had been
well attended to and there was no lack of
delicacics or substantals. About 10 a. m,
the steamer DWgc1d arrived from Vicksburg
with a merry party Of ladies and gentlemen
to participate with US. 1t would hardly be
proper to dignity che gathering as a celebra-
ton, and picnic would be better adapted,
VIC W III Chll IL IL tC-iflC on ttc tlil
of July at jeff Davis house, B,iorly place,
his residence. his plantation. Let the north
ern people for moment suppose what the
practical position of things must be, should
enemies be on that day revealing at the
house of Abraham Lincoln, at Springfield
The thought should inspire any Union man
with hope. was credibly informed that an
invitation was passed through the lines to be
forwarded to Old jeff. to be present on the
occasion; but his non-appearance was easily
accounted for. Esa
The order of exercises was as follows:
Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Lvermore, of Wis.
consin.
Reading the Declaration-By DR.. Round
tree. e
Oration-By Mr. Livermore.
Next came copious shower of rain which
drove all in doors for a season.
Mrs. Francis Gage, of sanitary notorety,
made very neat and appropriate speech.
A song was then sung with great gusto,
the words being composed for the occasion
and sung to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne,"
as follows:
THE HOUSE THAT JEFF. BUILT.
How oft within these merry halls
The traitor of the day,
Has heard am bition's trumpet calls,
Or dreamed of wars array
Or of Empire dreamed whose base
Millions of blacks should be- %
Aha, before this days sweet face ~
Where his visions be Z
IL.
Those Empire dreams shall be fulfilled,
But not rebels thought
Like water at the cistern spilled,
Their boasts shall come to naught
From gulf to lake. from to sea, q. |
Behold our country grand
The very home CT Liberty
And guarded by her hand. .z.. ~
We reyel in his halls to-day " 81
Next year where will he be
dread account he has to pay
May We be there to see!
And now for country, tru tn and right
Our heritage all tree,
ven live and die, we'u sing and fght
ARe onion! three times three.
The song was followed by a grand charge |
on the edibes, after which there came a, tire |
mendous fire of eorks, which was kept up |
without lntermission as long as we stayed. !
And here we romped thoroughout those spa
cious and airy rooms where the great traitor
no doubt used to lounge on his open worked
divans with five or six hundred dollars worth
of a little Niger standing by keeping fys off
him, while he Matched the plot of country,s
ruin But instead of seeing the consumma
&C