The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-11-27
TWO THANKSGIVINGS
By JAMES PARTON.

TIC most joyous Thanksgiving recorded
| In American annals occurred In May, 177S.
when the news arrived that France had
| concluded treaty of friendship and alli-
ance with the thirteen States OF tho
| American Union. 1t followed the winter
| of want and narrowing anxiety which
| General Washington and his army passed
| at Valley Forge, on the banks of the
! Schuylkill, twenty miles above Philade,-
/ pha.
Five months before, there had been
| Thanksgiving which was far indeed from
| being festival in Washingtons camp.
Philadelphia had fallen into the hands
| Of the enemy, and. when winter ap-
| preached, the American general knew not
| what to do with his shivcring troops.
| There was no room for them iu the coun-
| try towns of Pennsylvania, which were
filed to overlooking with refugees from
| the captured capital. General Washing
| ton, after much reflection, made up his
| mind to remain where he was, and create
a little town of his own.
SO, in his Thanksgiving proclamation
OF December II, 1777, he announced this
intention, saying that, with activity
and diligence, huts may be erected that
will be warm and dry" In which the
| troops will be more secure against sur
| prises and at hand to protect the coun-
| try" But, first of all the army must COM
| ply with the call Of the Honorable Congress
| to render thanks for the brilliant sue
cesses OF the recent campaign, which had
resulted in the surrender of Burgoyne
| aud his army.
THE general directs that the army re-
| main In Its present quarters, and that the
| chaplains perform divine service with
their several corps and brigades, and
earnestly exhorts all officers and soldiers,
whose absence Is not indispensably neces-
| sary, to attend with reverence the solem-
mites Of the day"
All OF which was punctually observed by
the army on the 18th OF December
Washington never exhibited his emf
nent qualities in more striking light
than he did during the winter at Valley
Forge. He was then wholly the great
man. The patient endurance OF the men
was due In great part to his presence,
to his manifest sympathy with them, and
his known activity on their behalf. Tho
| measures which ended the famine, and
brought In abundant supplies OF clothing
and food, were directly due to his fore
sight and energy.
1T having pleased the Almighty Ruler
OF the Universe to defend the cause Of the
United American States, and finally to
raise lis up a powerful friend among the
princes OF the earth to establish our lib
erty and independency upon lasting
foundation, 1t becomes us to set apart a
day for gratefully acknowledging the
Divine Goodness, and celebrating the i'm
portant event which We owe to His Divine
Interpostion. The several brigades are
to be assembled for this purpose at
O'Clock tomorrow morning, when their
chaplains will communicate the intelli-
gence contained in the Postscript OF the
Pennsylvania Gazette Of the 2d instant,
and offer up thanksgiving, and deliver q
discourse suitable to the occasion.
"At half after 10 o'clock q cannon will
| be fired. which Is to be q signal for the
men TO be under arms; the brigade in
spectors will then inspect their dress
and arms and form the battalions accord
| Ing to the instructions given them, and
announce to the commanding officers Of
the brigade that the battallons are formed
The commanders OF brigades will then
appoint tield-oilicers to the battalions
| after which each battalion will be ordered
to load and ground their arms. At half
| past eleven second cannon will be fired
as signal for the march, upon which the
| several briGades will begin their march
| by wheeling to the right Of platoons, and
| proceed by the nearest way to the left OF
lHell BIOuuu ny lue ueW pOSlllOn, tnlS
will be pointed out by the brigade in
| spectors.
"A third signal will then be given on
| which there will be a discharge OF thirteen
| cannon, after which running fire OF the
| Infantry will begin on the right OF Wood
| fords, and will continue throughout the
| font line; it will then be taken upon the
| left OF the second line. and continue to the
| right. Upon signal given, the whole
| army will huzzl:
Long live the King OF France!
"The artillery then begins again, and
| fires thirteen rounds; this will be sue
| ceeded by second general discharge OF
| the musketry in running fire, and
huzza:
"'Long live the friendly European
/ Powers!
The last discharge OF thirteen pieces
| OF artillery will be given, followed by q
general running fire, and huzza:
1.-The American States!
This programme was executed with
precision, and the effect was brilliant and
| picturesque In the extreme. A bright
| Maysun was shining overhead. new colors
were flying, and many Of the soldiers
were attired in new uniforms Lafayette
! and other French officers were present.
| In the afternoon General Washington
invited the officers and guests to BAN
quet, which was greatly celebrated at the
time. An eye witness reports to one of
the newspapers that the officers marched
to the amphitheatre thirteen abreast, and
| arm in-arm.
! Mrs. Washington, Mrs. Greene, Lady
Stirling and her daughter, with many
ladies OF the neighborhood, graced the
scene. Lafayette was In the highest
spirits, and triumphant Joy shone in every
/ ko
news Travelled from State to State and
town to town. similar scenes Of thanks
giving and festivity were repeated
] Youths ComDanion