“The Eighty-Seventh Anniversary of our National Independence takes place to-day. Notwithstanding the war, and the anxiety that all loyal men feel for the triumph of ourarms, arrangements for a fitting celebration of our Natal Day have not been forgotten.” So proclaimed the New Times on July 4, 1963. The time went on to state the military parade would not be “so grand as usual” due to the number of regiments away at war.
What was happening to the men who were at war on this the second Indepdence Day of the War? Were they concerned about the fate of the Union. Optimistic?. Celebrating the day or even remembering what day it was?
For Private Brother, a Marine from Bath, Maine stationed in New York, it was a bit of a boring day. He had just returned from accompanying the body of Admiral Foote to New Haven, CT for internment, so perhaps he enjoyed the time off. But this is what he wrote “The most quiet ‘Fourth’ I ever spent.” His ship was decked out with flags, and there was a 21 gun salute fired at sunrise. At midmorning Captain Meade (a relative of that General) read the Declaration of Independence. That seemed to be the extent of the celebrations on board. No mention of anyone being detailed to go march in the City’s parade.
What of those men who only the day before had been defending Gettysburg while fending off Pickett’s Charge? It was one of mixed emotions and activity. For Private Ira Pettit, he just noted there were not even national salutes fired. This was probably a relief after all the firing of the last 3 days. More firing might have signaled battle, so peace and quiet seemed preferable.
Others like Sergeant Horner was actually still fighting. The fighting didn’t just end on July 3, there was still some rear guard action as the Rebels retreated. There was other grim work too. He noted “our men are burying the dead as fast as they can…” It rained too. John William of the 6th NJ Volunteer Regiment noted it along with Horner. He was also dealing with the retreating regiment, waiting in line of Battle ready to move out.
Some men were reflecting on what happened and the day it was. Captain Josiah C. Fuller of the 32nd Massachusetts could hardly believe it was the 4th. The hot July Pennsylvanian summer did not agree with him “am all wet with sweat and don’t feel good on that account.” But he was happy about beating the Confederates the day before.
The siege of Vicksburg ended on July 4. After the many months of trying to capture the city, this was great cause for celebration. Sergeant Osborn Oldroyd of the 20th Ohio proclaimed the day thus “THE FOURTH OF JULY! The siege is at last ended. Behold the white flag now waving over the rebel ramparts.” He wished the news be spread far and wide, especially to worried loved ones. He wanted the entire Union army to know so that they could take heart from this momentous occasion.
Rosecrans also operating in the Western Theater was moving towards Tullahoma and taking Chattanooga. John King with the 92nd Illinois was part of those movements, operating around Wartrace, Tennessee. For him, it was pretty boring day. “…We were relieved from all ordinary camp duties to perform and allowed to enjoy ourselves.” But it gave him time to think, the country was at war, the outcome still uncertain.
The only thing more boring than being in camp was being on blockade duty. Naval Surgeon Boyer on board the Ferdinanda noted this in his diary, “I had the pleasure of taking a glass of sherry with Ensign Flood in honor, as he said, of ‘Mr. Fourth of July.’ It was the dullest 4th of July that I ever experienced.” Blockade duty consisted of a lot of sitting around waiting for a blockade runner to make a run, or of sailing to the next port for waiting or repairs.
Those ships sent overseas had a more lively 4th than those on blockade duty. But less exciting than the men at Vicksburg. Ships at sea can’t just take the day off, shipboard life continues to keep the ship afloat and functioning. So the day was mostly ordinary with some exceptions in observance of the holiday.
The Wyoming was in Yokohama, Japan keeping the harbor open for trade. At sunrise she hoisted the American Ensign at the fore main and other masts. In return the French and English squadrons in harbor with her also hoisted American Ensigns. They hosted a Minister from the Consulate and a “a number of other gentlemen on board.” At noon, a 21 gun salute was fired, and the French and English also participated in the salute. Considering the meaning of the day, quite nice that the English were joining in.
But then back to business. One man was confined in double irons for leaving the ship without permission, being drunk and using “boisterous language.” But that wasn’t the big excitement. Apparently while being escorted to confinement, he jumped overboard and made for shore. They sent a boat after him. He was captured and returned to the ship. This time they put the irons on him before escorting him.
Things were a little less exciting in Spezia, Italy for the Constellation. Just like the Wyoming, the flags went up at sunrise (morning colors is now 8 a.m.). The Constellations added the Italian flag to the foremast. At noon the salute was fired with other ships in the harbor answering.
Then the work of the day commenced. Constellation had serious discipline problem that only changed when both the Captain and Executive Officer were replaced in late July 1863. A cabin boy, Saunders, who had been on report before was confined in double irons for disobeying official orders. Results of courts martial held the day before were read out to the crew. Corporal McLeod from the Marine contingent on board was sentenced to loss of 3 months pay, close confinement in double iron for 30 days, 5 days of which on bread and water for using insulting and insubordinate language to a superior officer. Moses Safford had noted in his diary this superior officer was the Executive Officer of the ship himself. Another man was found guilty of desertion and sentenced to 2 months loss of pay and deprivation of liberty for 6 months, along with another man who got 6 months loss of liberty. Both these latter sentences had to be remitted with a warning when it turned out the officer of the deck had given permission for the men to leave and they just overstayed. It was determined the officer of the deck was negligent so the men could be not punished.
Moses Safford, the Yeomen Diarist aboard the Constellation was contemplative about the meaning of the day. He felt the flags and decorations around the ship set her nicely. He spent the day in town. Upon his return in a small boat to the ship, “It occurred to me that tonight men whom I know are perhaps lying wounded on some Southern battlefield looking up at the same full moon which has contributed so much to making this evening enjoyable to me.” He could not know that men, possibly from his own hometown of Kittery, Maine were lying not on a Southern battlefield, but in a Northern field near a town called Gettysburg. Fields with names like Seminary Ridge, Little Round Top, the Peach Orchard, The Wheatfield and ominously, the Devil’s Den. News had not come of that victory. Nor of Vicksburg. Or of the victory of the 1st Kansas Colored Troops who had fought through Cabin Creek to bring vital supplies. But even without that knowledge, he heard from his ship, the USS Constellation, “All’s Well.” “It was the voice of the United States Government in this part of the World.”
Sources for this post:USS Wyoming Deck Log July 4, 1863USS Constellation Deck Log July 4, 1863 35 Days to Gettysburg: The Campaign Diaries of Two American Enemies by Mark NesbittThe Diary of a Dead Man, 1862-1864, compiled by J.P. RayLetters Hom:e A Collection of Original Civil War Soldiers LettersThree Years with the 92nd Illinois:The Civil War Diary of John M. King, edited by Claire E. SwedbergShowing the Flag, the Civil War Diary of Moses SaffordThe Boys of Bath, the Civil War Diary of Private Charles Brother USMC, by Christine FrieselNaval Surgeon: The Diary of Dr. Samuel Pellman Boyer