The Redwood gazette., 1897-07-01

History of the country that, the day has
been chosen for such purpose There
was dramatic force In the arrangement
that was not without its effect in stimu-
lating patriotism in the then tense condi-
tion of the public mind. At once Presi-
dent Lincoln sent in his message calling
for 400, 900 men and $4OO, 600, 900 and urg-
ing prompt measures for the prosecution
of the war.
The month Of July, 1868, opened with
much Of hope and anxiety throughout the
country. All eyes north and south were
turned toward Gettysburg and Vicksburg,
and there was little thought anywhere
save for the opposing armies that faced
each other. For several weeks the inya-
sion of Pennsylvania by the Confederate
army Of the Potomac had been talked Of.
The state militia of Pennsylvania had
been called, and President Lincoln had
Ohio, Maryland and West Virginia to re-
crossed the Potomac and several small en-
gagements had already occurred. On the
1st of July the two great forces-the
flower of the Confederate and the Union
armies-met IN what was to be ono of the
greatest battles Of modern warfare. The
world knows the sanguinary glory of
Seminary Ridge, Rock Greek, Cemetery
Ridge, Little Round Top and Oak Ridge,
and the great deeds of Meade, Reynolds,
Hancock, Sickles, Howard, Sedgwick, Lee,
Longstreet, Hill, Early and others. For
three days the country stood aghast and
trembling, but when the Fourth dawned
Lee was in full retreat back acress the Po-
tomac. yes
Nor does Gettysburg stand alone in
making July 4, 1868, eminent. Vicks-
burg comes in for q share in the distino-
tion. For many long weary months
Grant by land and Porter by water had
been besieging the strong city on the
banks of the Mississippi. From the latter
part of May the investment was complete.
The doomed city was bembarded without
intermission day and night and 1t is esti-
mated that 10, 900 shells were thrown in
to it's streets every day. Capitulation
was only question of days or at the most
of weeks, and on the Fourth the wornout
army of brave defenders surrendered, and
the triumph of the Union forces was COM
plete. General Halleck, in speaking of the
tactics that secured this victory, declared
that "no more brilliant exploit can be
found in military history" Together,
Vicksburg and Gettysburg have made the
Fourth of July one of the most notable
days in the military annals of this country.
The Great Portland Fire.
Portland, Me-, has impressive if not
agreeable reason to remember the Fourth
of July. 1t was on the evening of that
day in 1866 that the city had display of
fireworks t1nequaled before or SINCE
Nearly one-half Of the city was destroyed
by fire. A tract 119 miles long by one
quarter of a mile wide was burned over.
The city and county buildings, churches
banks, wholesale business blocks and pri-
vate residences were destroyed. Over so
buildings were blown up to stop the prog
ress of the flames, which, however, were
not under control until the afternoon of
the next day. The loss was $40, ,OOO, 900,
and the insurance only half that amount
A quarter of the population of the city
was made homeless. This was the most
notable event ever recorded in the history
of the state of Maine, and until the Chi
cago and Boston fires followed few years
later it stood as the most disastrous con-
fagration ever known in this country.
A National Convention.
Only once has a national convention of
great political party been called to as
semble on the Fourth Of July. That SIN
gle exception was the Democratic conven-
ton Of 1858 at New York. The country
was in q disturbed condition. The war had
left its legacy of passion and of depression,
that always follows civil discord. Presi-
dent johnson had become separated from
the Republican party that had elected him
as Abraham Lincoln's associate, and the
reconstruction measures, the carpetbag
governments of the south and the use of
the United States military in the states
lately in the rebellion were the burning
questions of the hour. 1t was felt that
the Democratic party had now a fair
chance to return to power, and the Fourth
of July was selected as fitting day for
the convention to meet, in order to initiate
the campaign with eclat. And on the
same day soldiers and sailors conven-
tion was also held in New York and in
dorsed the Democratic nominees in ad-
vance. The Democratic convention sat for
several days and On the twenty first ballot
nominated Horatio Seymour for president.
George Fl. Pendleton, Andrew johnson,
General W. S. Hancock, Sanford E.
Church and Thomas A. Hendricks were
prominent candidates, and it is almost
forgotten political history that Chief JUS
tice Salmon P. Chase-although Repub-
lican-was seriously considered in oonnec-
ton with the nomination. But when elec-
tion day came Grant defeated Seymour.
The Amnesty Proclamation.
July 4, 1868, was even more distin-
guished by the famous amnesty proclama-
tion issued by President johnson to those
who had been on the Confederate side dur
ing the war; Devoid of its preamble and
whereases this is the historical document:
"Now, therefore, be it known that 1, An
drew johnson, president of the United
States, do by virtue of the constitution and
in the name Of the people of the United
States hereby proclaim and declare un-
conditional and without reserve to all and
to every person who directly or indirectly
participated in the late insurrection or re-
bellion, excepting such person or persons
as may be under presentment or indict-
ment in any court of the United States
having competent jurisdiction upon
charge of treason or other felony, a full
pardon and amnesty for all offense or
treason against the United States or of ad-
herring to their enemies during the late
Ciiv1 war xuifh afiop IF oil r;oh<, 80