Litchfield enquirer., 1865-07-06
The Fourth in Litchfield.

The clerk of the weather seemed to have laid himself out to afford the amplest opportunity for making the day one worthy of the time and the occasion. The return of the dawn of peace, after the long night of war, gave an ad- ditional zest to the patriotic ardor' of the peo- pie, and far and near, throughout the length and breadth of the United States, this Fourth l of July was celebrated as doubtless it was neY- CT celebrated before. We have before us the pleasant task of chronicling how the day was spent in Litch6eld.
 At sunrise the day was welcomed, in the true JOHN ADAMS style, with the ringing of bells ard salute of thirty-six guns. Every gun told an awakening people that each star of our Union galaxy once more shone as brightly as of yore, and each State responded to the universal rejoicing that burst forth with the sunlight over a reunited and redeemed nation ! At an early hour our country cousins began to pour in, (onc couple, at least, came as early as two o'clock in the morning) and everybody appeared to be bent upon having the best kind of time. It would be futile to attempt de- scription of the various vehicles which con veyed the patriotic pleasure-seekers hithcr from all parts of the county. We noticed one which the occupant -solemnly told us had been used to convey its owners on every similar celebra- ton since '76, and we believed him. It would be equally idle to describe the side scenes we witnessed during the day, but will confne our report to simple statement of the publication proper. .. The committee on the celebration, aided by the ladies of the Soldiers Aid Society, and the citizens of Litchield generally, had made ample preparations fer the reception of soldiers and strangers from abroad. The large tent of the Agricultural Society was pitched upon the highway in front of the East Park, and filled with tables which groaned beneath the weight of edibles of every description. The Park was also handsomely decorated, and arranged with seats, stands, flags and notices of re- joicing and welcome to the returned veterans. Another appropriate feature was the placing of two fine representations of monuments in the Central rark, one of them commemorating General Ethan Allen, who was born in Litch-
 field, January llth, l757. and inscribed with Ticondoraga,' Montreal and Ducit Amor Patre,' and the other om gallant soldiers who have fallen in the late war for the Union, and inscribed with the names of some of the battles in which they fought and fell-' Cold Harbor,' Winchester Cedar Creek Sai
 lors' Creek and with the mottoe-'' Dulce ct decorum est pro patria mor." These tempo rary monuments afforded good idea of more permanent memorials, which we hope soon may be erected in every town in the county.
 At eleven o'clock, procession of returned veterans and others was formed in front of the Mansion House, and, preceded by the Litchfeld Brass Band, marched to the Congregational Church. Much disappointment was fell that more of our brave Litchfeld County boys could not have been present, especially those of our County Regiment, but We hope to have it yet in store to welcome them in body. The Con- gregational Church, which was appropriately dressed with flags and flowers, was filled to ov- erhowing, and the exercises opened by speech from Hon. o. s. Seymour, President of the Day, which was appropriate, eloquent and pat riotic, and was we'll received and loudly ap- plauded. Prayer was offered by the Rev. MT. Perry, and after Hail Columbia by the Band, the Declaration of Independence was read by George M. Woodruff, Esq. The choir sang Willis National Anthem, and the Orator of the Day, G. H. Hollister. Esq, delivered his oration. Though somewhat discursive, it was full of good points, and elicted much commend ation. After the oration, letters were read from Edgar S. Van Wrinkle, Esq, Hon. F. A Tall. madge, and Hon. Lewis B. Woodruff, regret ing their inability to be present on the occasion, and the exercises were closed with the Doxol. ogy to Old Hundred and benediction by the Rev. H. S. Vaill ea T After the exercises at the church, the multi tude proceeded to refresh their several individ- ualities under the tent, and from cursory view of the performance, we should judge that this part of the entertainment was entirely satis- factory. The demand was great but the supply |inexhaustble, and good many more than twelve baskets full were gathered up and taken of, in addition to what was slowed away. in the ten or twelve hundred bread baskets After the substantials were thus disposed of, the or thodox feast of reason, &c. was spread, and quite crowd gathered among the trees to lis- ten to the expected addresses. Brief speeches were made by E " Seymour, Esq, and Rev. W s Perry, when the sound of the hewgag and the whisperings of the tomjohn, not to speak of the gentle murmurs of the tin horn, amour ced the near approach of the justly celebra ed and world renowned Rangers of Blue Swamp, and broke up the assemblage about the speak ers' stand as effectually as a thunder shower would have done. In vain we attempt to de . scribe the glory and grandeur of those noble sons of Milton, as they slowly and solemnly ana yet not without certain signs of hilarity at once more returning nome from the wars wended their way oyer the brow of East h;ll