Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-03
FOURTH OF JULY THOUGHTS


 ing the Revolution, the towns citi- zens would rally for speeches and the discussion of public affairs. In 1774, when the military spirit was strong. field review of four compan- les was held on the Green.
 Up to this time, the English colors were carried, the familiar banner dis playing, Miss Caull<ins says. the Cross of St. George in a field of red or blue, and sometimes the St. Andrews Cross united with it. in ref erence to the union of England and Perhaps it was at this particular f of ardent patriots, bearing the ban ner of the State. in marching through the streets encountered a light in fantry company carrying the royal cannon i'm the way, refused to let the infantry. pass until the standard bearer had lowered the royal flag, which from this time was never used ! again.
 lt was in f777 that Congress ordered the flag with it's thirteen stripes and | thirteen stars, which, we can imagine | was speedily adopted by the patriots of ancient Norwich.
 On the Sunday following the battle | of Bunker Hill, just as the morning church service was closing. a horse- man Gailoped up to the Green. The church bell was rung in great excite | ment and the congregation rushed out | to hear the courier read the war | ''dispetches.''
 l That evening there were bonfires on the Green. the bell was again | rung, cannon fired. speeches made and many pledged themselves to Join the Continental army.
 | Noxu |na- .f,.r ;sd.Ssad.s.. k-J been here declared. the townspeople as- sernbled for their first Fourth of July l celebration.
 There were gay. sights on the Green during the early training days, when as Miss Perkins recalls, all the houses and taverr1s around We're filled with | guests, there were feats of famous training, or election cake, washed down in the regulation way; throngs l were struggling over the plain and l through the streets, among whom the Mohegan Indians, with their queen Betty Uncas were most conspicuous | as they lined the fence from Lords to Lathrop's tavern
 In 17es, the Twentieth Regiment | commanded by Lieut. Col. Joseph Will. Iams, was reviewed on the Green by Maj. Gen. Gordon and inspected bJ Brigade Major Joseph Perkins. | consisted of one matross company, ont light infantry, one grenadier, anC eight infantry companies. attended by Capt. Edgertons troops of Horse. The Weekly Register thus enthuses I over the review, with glaring lack O. what we would now callneutrality
 Tho mankind look forward witt avidity to the season when swords shall be beaten into plough-shares nations learn war no more yet fol beauty, order, regularity of movemen and the true Sublime, perhaps nC place or situation short of the Heav. enly Jerusalem can furnish scene equal to military arrangements"
 After a military parade, there wer, games, in which Capt. Griswold tool the lead in cricket, Capt. Edward Slocum in wrestling and John Pos
 would show his agility by climbing the steeple. In the evning there would
 be bonfires on the Green and revelf, at the various taverns.
 The Plain was used by the coIores
 people of the town for their annua
 election of a governor and the festiv. ities which followed. One of the frs governors was Boston Trow w-trow, wh,
 died in 1772, aged 66. His successor Samuel Hun'ton. named after hi master. Gov. Huntington, was elected for many years. The last of thes, governors was Ira Tosset. During the long winters, the boy
 would build snow forts on the Green
 their tug -of-war battles being di
 rected by a certain Jabez Choate. ; relative of the celebrated Rufu
 Choate. During the war, these snov forts sheltered juvenile militia wh, fought "the regulars" Charles Miner
 in The Norwich Jubille, tells of ttei songs, ending:
 Don't you hear the general say,
 Strike your tents and march away. The affection in whiih the ol,
 Green was held by early Norwich res
 idents was indicated by a story tol, by the late Congressman John T. Wait One resident remonstrated wit another who was about to move t
 Wequonnock (probably the moderi
 Taftville) saying. ''why,
 I'd rather live all my life on Norwicl Town Green and then be hung at tn Cross Keys, than go to Wequonnoch and die a natural deathi" THE DICTAGRAPH.