The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-07-08
TIE EoURTH IN OTTAWA.
The Soldiers Grand Receptiou
md Dinner.
An IMMENSE CROWD OF People.



Speeches. Songs, Music. rev Sc.
The Soldirrs' ur~ah Reception and Ceie-
bration at Ottawa on the Fourth equalied
our highdst anticipations, both as to the
Enamber of soldiers who honored the OCCASION
with their presence, and as to the number OF
citizens from all parts OF the county who took
part in the great ovation.
|, Tuesday was ushered in b. the firing of
guns, urder the direction Of Mr.. H. P.
Brunker; and again: As the soldiers, at II
O'Clock, marched from Washington Hall to
the grounds, where the tables xers spread,
minute guns were fred under the same
direction. r.,
Az early As 8 o'clock II the morning the
people from the surrounding towns CON-
menced Aocking in; by 10 o'clock the streets
were pretty we'll filed, and by u o'clock the
principal thorougbfsres were = INA.
The grounds selected fer the occasion
we're a beautiful grove Immediately west Of
the south end of the Illinois river bridge,
thus within full sight of the city and at a
distance which, on any day not so hot,
would have been pleasant walk. They had
been prepared by the erection Of a spacious
stand for the officers, speakers, musician,
DC, q capacious kitchen, in which to place
the provisions previous to going upon the
table then r-nge of tables, ten in number.
each three or four hundred feet in length, the
whole capable cf comfortably seating over
/ 500 people ard then plank seats had been
placed in different parts Of the grove for
convenience generally. Besides these, in the
mids. of the grounds. where they are
crossed By the pipes of Cations water works,
q beautiful fountain had been extemporised,
which sent its Jets up some forty or fifty feet
into the ali, imparting an effect both beauti-
full sno delightfully."- cooling aud refreshing.
An immense tank Of ice water vas also kept
filled fer the general rejection.
There was no general procession, and none
had been designed, and this may serve as an
explanation why number Of civic societies,
who appear to Lave expected an invitation TO
march i'll the procession, received none. A
huge procession, On . day Of such intense
heat, is always grea, bore, and seldom has
attractions to compensate tor the torture of
those compelled to beara prominent part in
it. Such, at least, vas the view Of the COM
mit,ee when the idea Of procession was
n nc.yN = l,,f
way was the march Of the soldiers FROM
Washington Hal! TO the grove, distance of
less than mile. The soldiers, however,
had generally come 10 town with their famI
lies or sweethearts, and out of the FIVE or six
hundred believed to have been present, less
than 200 the. st the hall, and joined in the
procession, which moved promptly at IS min
utes OF u o'clock, under direction DAVID p.
JOKES, Esq, as Chief Marshal, with his aids,
led by DenharJ's BRASS band and field music
,r.i,r direction of D. II. Clarke, Esq. Ar
rived at the gro-e, the exercises were super.
Intended hy
". B-susrl.L Esq, P.t:sident Of lie dry.
l.. LELAND, Esq. Wee President The day.
And were as follows:
Prayer was offered up by Rev. A GRAY.
Tie Declaration was then read by R.v C.
P CLARKE.
Patriotic Song, By glee club, consisting
Of Ladies and gentlemen, under direction Of
II. FiScH.
Then followed ti,. 4 ifress OF We,cnme by
H1n. Is. e. Cox. II Md an eloquent and
irnir;.hle address aud Will. at shall no:
attempt 70 do il JUST i'll terH.s. our readers
! we bel eve. will concur III our estimate of it,
when we lay it before them in our next issue
| There may have been some expressions in il
TO- winch rigid Democratic politicians would
| not accede, but generally it was free from
| partizan illusions, aud conceived in e1cellci.:
! taste.
The R:piy Of Mr. MEADE, private Of the
; lo4,h regiment followed, and was short,
| neat, and in god taste. Doubtless some
Colonel OF Major could have produced some
thing more high-sounding and eloquent, but
it vas fancy of the soldiers that the reply
in their behalf should be made by one OF
them, who bad Aourished no shoulder straps,
and, with this in view, their selection was a
fortunate one. We shall endeavor, also, to
print his address.
Another P,ariotic Song BY Mr.. Finch s
Glee Club closed the exercises at The stand,
| and it is but Justice to say, that this, as we'll
as the previous song, was admiralty given.
and ELECTED loud applause. Mr.. r. had IRE.
pared bis choir at but few hours notice,
gave his services gratuitously, and. under
the circumstances, deserved nc; only the
applause, bu, the thanks of the company.
An invitation was now given to the soldiers,
their wives and sweethearts to repair to the
tables, and after the soldiers, &C., were seat
ed, such others as The com mittee designated
filed up tie seats that re NAMED vacant.
Tue tables, which were loaded with not
only the contributions of the people of Ot,a'
~a, but from all parts of the county. it is
needless to say groaned under an abundance
of good things. There was not only enough
for the soldiers. who were the specially
invited guests, but, after them. . thousand or
two others also .partook at the general tables
! while many hundreds Of others. who had
brought their ba ,ketswth them, gathered in
groups under trees aud on grassy plats in al
directions. and had their own social. pleasant
dinners. Previous To par.aking Of the good
things before them, huwever, Blessing was
| invoked By the Rev. T. N. BENEDICT.
Among the side groups we must not fail .c
mention the separate table set by the people
of the town of Fall River. The town adioins