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Fourth of July, 1862
1862
07 03 CELEBRATION AT WATERTOWN, July 4th, 1862
There will be a grand celebration at Watertown,
July 4, 1862, for the purpose of commemorating in a proper manner the 4th of July, 1776. Ample
preparations have been made to ensure a celebration worthy of the occasion, in
the light of passing events. The people
of Watertown and vicinity are invited to be present. WD
The exercises will be held at Racek’s Garden, 6th Ward, at 10:30 a.m.
Officers of the day:
President – William M. Dennis
Vice Presidents – Hon. M. B. Williams, Dr. E.
Johnson, Henry Bertram, Watertown; Hon. J. W. Bird, Hon. D. F. Weymouth,
Jefferson, Hon. W. S. Green, Milford; Michael Ames, Harvey Crandle,
Herman Gruber, Emmet; Hon. John Gibbs, Ixonia; Hon.
Austin Kellogg, Concord; Hon. H. H. Winter, Town of Watertown; W. W. Woodman,
Hon. E. Montgomery, D. W. Aspinwall, Farmington; F. Wegener, Lebanon.
Marshal – Fred Fischer
Assistants – Amos Baum, George Field, Edward
Hall, William James, J. Schubert, Peter Rogan, Jabob
Zimmerman, and M. Owens.
Order of Exercises
The procession will form in front of Dennis’
Block at 9 a.m. and march thence through Main Street, and up Fourth Street, to
the place of exercises:
1st Music by the Jefferson Band
2d Prayer by Rev. D. O. Jones
3d Singing by the Musical Society
4th Reading of Declaration of Independence
by H. Barber, Jr.
5th Music by Band
6th Oration by J. LaDue,
Esq., of Milwaukee
7th Singing
8th Oration in German by H. C. Fack, Esq.
9th Music by Band
In the afternoon there will be music on the
grounds by the band, gymnastic exercises, juvenile sports and a grand display
of fireworks in the evening.
By order of Committee.
07 03 OUR NATIONAL ANNIVERSARY
Arrangements have already been made in this city
for the appropriate celebration of the 4th of July. Hiram Barber, Jr., will read the Declaration
of Independence; J. LaDue, Esq., of Milwaukee will
deliver the oration in English and Henry Fack of
Jefferson the oration in German. Mr. LaDue is a talented and eloquent orator and will give an
address that will deeply interest all who hear it. Mr. Fack is a find
speaker and will please the German citizens both in the style and manner of
what he will say.
Eighty-six years ago the men of the American
Revolution took the first steps in the grand experiment of self government. They fought a seven year’s war before peace
could be extorted from George III. Then
came the duty of framing institutions that should give them liberty, unity,
strength and prosperity. They nobly
performed their work and the results of their patient and wise labors may be
seen in the transformation of a continent from savage barbarity to the
blessings of civilization.
Two generations have lived and died, and today
we find ourselves involved in a struggle to preserve the existence of the very
government our patriotic fathers organized and put in operation. Under these circumstances, it is well that we
commemorate the virtues and imitate the example of those who have so strong a
claim on our gratitude and respect. The
parting advice of Washington and Madison – the one the revered hero-chief in
war, the other the far-seeing sage in counsel – was to cherish and uphold the
Constitution which made us one people and protected us from the envy and hatred
of the despotisms of the Old World.
Tomorrow let us gladly hail the dawn of our
great anniversary with rejoicing, and as the hours of the memorable day move
on, recall the scenes that were witnessed in the Hall where Congress was
assembled in Philadelphia on the 4th of July, 1776 – listen to the high debate
there held, and raise our voices in praise of the acts then and there done.
The men who took part in that drama were certain
of only one thing – they knew they were running fearful risks. Success had not crowned their efforts and the
triumph was yet to be won. There were
the armies of the British King stationed in all the colonies – there were the
fleets of the Mistress of the Seas riding in every harbor. These accumulating martial forces were to be
met, defeated and driven from the soil they were invading for purposes of
subjugation and the deed was accomplished.
We cannot do better than to summon all our
energies and means to put down a rebellion seeking to overthrow and destroy
that which our fathers most highly valued, sacredly cherished, and made such
unparalleled sacrifices to secure for themselves and us. WD
07 10 THE 4TH OF JULY WAS VERY GENERALLY
OBSERVED IN THIS CITY.
All day the streets were crowded with people
from the country. The celebration was in
every respect a successful and brilliant affair and we learn that not a single
accident occurred to mar the festivities of the day. The oration delivered by Mr. J. LaDue of Milwaukee was listened to by the thousands present
with lively interest, and many passages called forth the enthusiastic applause
of the audience. It was a production of
remarkable ability – and so pleased were the people that at the close a motion
was made returning the thanks of the citizens assembled to the speaker and
requesting that he permit it to be published – a request we cheerfully comply
with. Mr. H. C. Fack
followed Mr. LaDue, delivering an address in
German. He spoke well and earnestly,
being frequently interrupted by tokens of approval on the part of his German
friends. Taken altogether, we do not
remember to have witnessed a better celebration in this city. WD
07 17 A HANDSOME CONTRIBUTION
Mr. A. Stein, after paying all the expenses of the
celebration of the 4th in this city and finding he had a little over ten
dollars left, presented the amount to Mrs. W. C. Fountain, the Treasurer of the
Soldiers Aid Society, to be expended for the benefit of the sick and wounded in
the army. This is the best and most
satisfactory use that could have been made with the funds and the act must be
approved by all. WD
History of Watertown, Wisconsin