Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-07-04
FOURTH OF JULY IN 1861.
How New York City Celebrated In Il
Dark I,ays of y.rarti;ne


Dark Days of Wartime.
And yet, even with the crash of the
first battle Of the civil war still rever-
berating, New York city did celebrate
the Fourth of July in 1861, although
there We're many who opposed it, saying
that 1t was more meet that the nation
should mourn than rejoice.
But while orations were being deliv-
cred and fireworks were lighting up the
skies the newspapers We're filled with
war news, some of which did not make
good reading for patriots ON Independ-
ence day. An extraordinary session Of
congress had been called to meet in
Washington on July to discuss the
war, which was no longer a question,
but bloody fact, and to provide money
and men to carry on the conflict Regi-
ment after regiment had been raised
and was then pouring into Virginia,
and an immense army was concentrated
IN that state, which was to be the bat
tlegrcund of the war;
Three days before the steamer st.
Nicholas had been stolen by the traitor
Holllns, who was disguised as an old
woman, and the Pocahontas, a govern
ment steamer, had been sent to the Rap
pahannock river to recapture the st.
Nicholas. News of the battle of Will
Transport had just reached the city, and
the troops were gathering for a battle
at Fairfax.
But the great sensation was the pro-
jected advance ON Richmond. The Con-
federate congress was to meet there on
July 80, and the cry was, "On to Rich
mondp' to capture the Confederate cap
ital before their legislature could meet
and prepare their plans of defense. New
York city's lack Of efficient fortiffcation
for harbor defense was the great ques-
ton agitating the city, and arguments
pro and con were written and spoken
on the subject.
Notwithstanding all this terrible
news of war the city did celebrate the
Fourth. In IS places, from Carmans-
lie to the Battery, orations were de-
4vered, and fireworks were provided
from the public funds. On this day Ed
ward Everett spoke from the stage in
the Academy of Music, and with his
eulogies of the fathers of American lib
erty and his references to the crisis
through which their land was then pass
ing made one of the most brilliant ora
tions of his life.
The military spirit had descended in
power on the young boys, and every
where night be seen lads from 10 to Is
years old, and some even younger,
marching in uniform to the sound of
the drum and fife, while proud mothers
watched them from the windows and
thought of their fathers who were march
ing, not on parade in the streets of
safe city, but in deadly earnest along
the muddy roads of hostile land to
meet the enemy.
Washington news did not reach New
York SO 'ckly as it does now, so the
doings OF .ongress and President Lin
coins message did not reach the city
until July 6. 1t was in this message
Lincoln asked congress to provide 400,-
900 men and $100, 900, 900 to carry on
the war, defined the manner in which
the seeded states would be dealt with
latter the rebellion shall have been
suppressed and uttered the memora-
BILE words: Having thus chosen our
cause without guile and with pure pur-
pose, let us renew our trust in God and
go forward without fear and with man
ly hearts. " Two days later this congress
authorized the extraordinary acts of the
president since their adjournment the
preceding March. Anew York Recorder |