USA > New York > New York City > New York city and vicinity during the war of 1812-15, being a military, civic and financial local history of that period, Vol. I > Part 17
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The whole' procession then moved in the follow- ing order :
Volunteer Escort.
Marshal of the day and his three aids.
A full-length likeness (figure) of Hamilton on a stage surrounded by drapery and drawn by horses. Hamilton band of music. A Deputy Marshal. Hamilton Society in the following order : Volunteer Escort. Marshal of the day and his three aids. Grand Marshal of the Hamilton Society.
Committee of arrangements, flanked on the right by banner, bearing date Nov. 25th, 1783. Banner of Independence, flanked on the right by
banner bearing date 26th July, 1788 (the date of the adoption of the Federal constitution by the State.
254
WASHINGTON SOCIETY PROCESSION.
The society in eight divisions between which were borne the banners of the society in the following order :
Trumbull, Ames, Wayne.
Full-length portrait of Hamilton on a stage plat- form, surrounded by drapery and drawn by horses.
Lincoln, Lawrence,* Washington, flanked on the left by banner of Monmouth.
Grand Standard of the Society, flanked on right by banner of Yorktown.
Standing committee and officers of the Society, flanked on the right by first vice-president, president ; on the left by second vice-president.
The Banner of Independence, flanked by two smaller banners and supported by military and naval characters of the Revolution.
The Washington Society, four abreast, in fourteen divisions, each preceded by a banner in- scribed as follows, respectively :
Hancock.
Washington
Warren. Wooster.
McDougall.
Putnam.
Band
Mercer.
Montgomery.
Schuyler. DeKalb.
of
Steuben.
Lingan. +
Knox. Greene.
Music.
Hamilton.
* The banner inscribed with the name of Lawrence was dressed in mourning out of respect to the memory of the then recently departed hero. The members of the Society each wore a badge of mourning for Capt. Lawrence.
t The banner inscribed with the name of Lingan, who was killed by the mob in Baltimore in the attack on the Federal Republi-
255
WASHINGTON SOCIETY PROCESSION.
The Washington standard flanked by two others, borne and supported as the banner of in- dependence.
Captain Isaac Van Wart, one of the captors of Major Andre, bearing a standard emblem- atic of that event. *
Full-length likeness (figure) of Washington on a platform (drawn by horses), surrounded by drapery, and surmounted with a gilt eagle holding in his beak a scroll with the words "The father of his country."
The Committee of Arrangements. Standing committees and officers of the Washington Benevolent Society.
Hon. Gouverneur Morris, orator of the day, in his carriage.
President of the day, flanked on the right by first vice-president with the constitution of the United States, and his left by the second vice-president with the Declar- ation of Independence. Escort.
The line of march was up Robinson Street (now Park Place) to Broadway, down around the end of
can office on June 22, 1812, was carried by a Mr. Thompson, who was one of the party who was attacked by the mob at that time because of their opposition to the war. See toast to his memory. Post, p. 259, ninth toast.
* At that time Captain Isaac Van Wart resided at 18 Anthony Street and had a blacksmith shop there. He was then 54 years old. He died in 1828.
256
WASHINGTON SOCIETY CELEBRATION.
the Park to Chatham Street (now Park Row), and up to Pearl Street and up Pearl to Broadway and down Broadway to Washington Hall on north- east corner of Reade Street. There the line halted and opened to the right and left, facing inward, and then marched from the rear of the procession through the line. This brought the officers of the Washington Society to the front. As the officers of the Washington Society passed the two bands of music they were silently saluted by them. After they had passed, the officers of the Hamilton fell in the rear of those of the Washington, and entered the Hall followed by the member of the Washing- ton and those by the members of the Hamilton.
The Washington and Hamilton standards were placed upon the stage. The officers of the Wash- ington, excepting those on the stage, were seated on the left of the stage, and those of the Hamilton at the right of the stage. The other banners were distributed in other parts of the hall.
All the military in the procession appeared in full uniform.
There were assembled nearly three thousand ladies and gentlemen to listen to the proceedings which were commenced with prayer by Rev. Dr. John Mason, of the Murray Street church (11th Presbyterian). After this a piece of martial music by the military band, then an ode set to music and adapted to the occasion was sung ; the Declaration of Independence was read, then music by the mili- tary band, then the oration by Hon. Gouverneur Morris, then Yankee Doodle by the Washington and Hamilton bands together. Then they were dismissed and were disbanded. .
257
MR. MORRIS' ORATION.
The oration was decidedly a Federal one in poli- tics. The Evening Post, a strong Federal journal of that day, said of it :
" This oration was such a one as might be ex- pected from so distinguished an orator, patriot, and statesman as Mr. Morris, and therefore requires no description from us."
One passage in his address was :
"Shall I trespass on your patience, fellow citizens, to prove the duty of defending our country ? God forbid. I will not insult your understanding nor wound your feelings. What ! prove to Americans -who glory in the name of Washington, and that, too, on the 4th of July-that it is their duty to de- fend their country ? As well attempt to prove that they see the sun or breathe the air or feel the pulsa- tion of their own honest hearts."
*
After discussing the alleged causes of the war and the policy and effect of its conduct he said :
" I will not, fellow citizens, trace the ills we suf- fer up to their source. That is an object of legis- lative wisdom. If attempted here, we might be charged with hostility to the Union. For, strange as it must seem, it is nevertheless true, that those who inculcate principles inconsistent with all social union, charge the opponents of their disorganizing principles with an intention to separate the Eastern from the Southern States. That the course pursued for some time past, will, if persisted in, occasion that separation, there can be little doubt ; but he who spent the flower of his youth and the strength
258
WASHINGTON SOCIETY DINNER.
of his manhood in laboring to promote and confirm the American Union, can never, but in the last necessity, recommend its dissolution. *
"Federalists are too proud of the name they bear, to view unmoved the danger to which our Federal compact is exposed. The followers of Washington cannot wish to pluck a star from the constellation of his glory."
At four o'clock a large company of gentlemen of the Washington Benevolent Society sat down to the dinner provided by Mr. D. W. Crocker, the keeper of Washington Hall. After dinner the fol- lowing toasts were drank :
1. " The day we celebrate. May the independence extorted from Britain never be sacrificed to the in- trigues of any ambitious tyrant.
2. " The memory of George Washington, the father of his country-Even he did not die soon enough to escape the attacks of malignant Jacobinism.
3. "The constitution of the United States. The rock on which the Federal party stands.
4. "The Navy of the United States. The first born of Federalism ; but now claimed as the favor- ite of democracy. May its laurels survive the blighting fondness of its stepmother.
5. "The minority in Congress. The sentinels of freedom.
6. "The departed heroes of the Revolution. . Spir- its of the brave, we love to venerate thy memory.
7. "The memory of Alexander Hamilton. His
* Mr. Morris was a member of the Continental Congress in 1777 and signed the Articles of Confederation and was a mem- ber of the convention that framed the Constitution of the United States and signed that document.
259
WASHINGTON SOCIETY DINNER.
wisdom is recorded in the prosperity of his country -his integrity in the calumny of its enemies.
8. "The memory of the brave Lawrence.
Fame shall rehearse in future times, And Fame shall bear to distant climes The bloody conflict on the sea, The tale that tells of death and thee.
9 " The name of Lingan, the hero of '76 .- He was murdered in defending the liberty of the press. We will honor his memory and his co-patriots in defi- ance of Jacobins and assassins .*
10. "Liberty. Though artfully forced into a league with the destroyer of human freedom,
" The sons of Columbia shall never be slaves,
While the earth bears a plant or the sea rolls the waves."
11. " Commerce. While American measures are made to suit French purposes we must long hope for its return in vain.
13. "The Washington Benevolent Society through- out our country. The legacy of our political fathers their text-book-his benevolence and patriotism their models of imitation.
14. "TRUTH-lies at the bottom. May Mr. Web- ster's well constructed political pump bring it up at last.
15. " Alexander the deliverer.t
16. "The Christian world. May the time soon arrive when its conduct shall accord with its prin- ciples and the people learn war no more.
17. "The fair daughters of Columbia. May they always prove enemies to 'non-intercourse' and friends to 'union.'"
* See ante, p. 254 note.
+ Referring to the Emperor of Russia and the French army .
260
OTHER DINNERS.
There were a number of volunteer toasts, but they were so ultra against the administration and the war that they were not published in the news- papers of the day.
The following was one of them :
" Madison Democrats. If you would see their courage, go to Canada; if you would see their mercy, go to Baltimore."
The Hamilton Society dined at Washington Hall, at 4 P.M., but not with the Washington Benevolent Society.
The Hamilton Society previously had an oration of their own at Harmony Hall on the evening of the 1st of July.
The Columbian Society, which had previously in- vited all the Republican (Democratic) young men of the city to dine with them at Tammany Hall on that occasion, sat down to a dinner provided at Tammany Hall, but had no relation to Tammany Society dinner.
The George Clinton Society dined at the Phoenix Coffee House, corner of Water Street and Coffee House Slip at 4 o'clock.
The Veteran corps of artillery also had a dinner in the afternoon.
The Hibernian Provident Society dined at the Union Hotel.
The city militia and many civic societies and as- sociations took it upon themselves to celebrate the day in their own way, as was the custom of the time, and would take no part in either of the processions, one of which was led by Tammany Society and the other by the Washington Benevolent Society.
261
SOCIETY OF CINCINNATI.
Among the prominent societies and associations of that day who did not join either procession were the following :
Marine Society, St. Andrew's Society, German Society, Mechanics' Society, St. Patrick's Society, Manhattan Provident Society, The Society of The Cincinnati, The Typographical Society.
The members of the common council and their invited guests partook of a dinner at 4 P.M., which was spread in one of the rooms in the basement of City Hall in front.
The members of the New York State Society of Cincinnati, held their anniversary meeting at the City Hall at 12 o'clock (on the 5th) for transaction of business and to celebrate the day. The society dined at the City Hotel at four o'clock. Their at- tendance at their business meeting was small. It was as follows :
Richard Varick, president ; Ebenezer Stevens, vice-president ; Jonas Addoms, assistant treasurer ; Henry S. Dodge, secretary.
Members present-Church, Crosby, Lawrence, Taulman, Christie, McKnight, Tiebout, Howe, Fowler, Fairlie, Pendleton, Holden, Strachan, Wat- son, Burrill, Giles, Livingston, Torrey, Cooper, Sted- diford, Waterman, Troup, Rogers, Bicker, Loomis, Leaycraft, Deniston.
The honorary members admitted on that day were : Stephen Decatur, Jacob Jones, William Bain- bridge and Oliver H. Perry. Capt. James Law- rence was to be admitted then, but his previous death rendered the action impossible.
The members still wore the badge of mourning for his death.
262
OTHER DINNERS.
The Typographical Society had a dinner at two o'clock at the Bank Coffee House, then kept by William Niblo on the southeast corner of Pine and William Streets.
At the Military Hospital at Greenwich, near Fort Gansevoort, an address was delivered by Nathaniel Green, sergeant of Capt. Robert Gourley's company in Col. Hawkins' regiment of volunteers, then sta- tioned on Staten Island. After the address a dinner was had there and toasts drank.
The sergeants of the detachment of United States artillery under command of Lieut. - Col. House sta- tioned on Governor's Island, assembled at Castle William, where they partook of a dinner prepared for the occasion, after which eighteen toasts were drank, showing a hearty sympathy with the ad- ministration. Among them was " Perpetual union of the United States. May the head become paraly- tic that would conceive, and the hand wither, that would attempt to divide them."
The Tammany Society of Kings County assem. bled on the 5th at the house of Alexander Whaley, in Bushwick, to celebrate the thirty-seventh anni- versary of American Independence, and after the usual ceremonies of the day partook of a dinner and drank patriotic toasts, which were similar in sentiment to those of their brethern in Wigwam No. 1.
The army regulations of 1813 provided that on the 4th of July of each year a national salute con- formable to the number of States, be fired at one o'clock P.M. from all the military posts and forts in the United States, but that they should not be fired from guns of higher caliber than twelve-pounders.
263
INDIVIDUAL CELEBRATIONS.
This was done by all the forts in the city and about the harbor, independent of any other salutes by the militia.
There were ample means provided for individuals to celebrate the day in an independent way.
The common council authorized the Mayor's Marshal to give permits to persons who wished to erect temporary booths for the day on the Battery Parade, in Bowling Green, and in City Hall Park for the sale of refreshments, etc.
These places were filled with booths, and at these were sold principally liquors, cakes, gingerbread, boiled ham, oysters in every style, pickled lobsters, clams, mussels, roast pig, spruce beer, lemonade, candy, etc.
The breastworks around the Battery Parade did not interfere with the usual summer entertain- ments and amusements there, but rather increased the attendance. The Battery promenade, as it was called, which included the building around the flag- staff, and the walks and benches and other neces- sary furniture for a summer garden, were under the management of Messrs. Hathaway and Marsh, who had obtained that privilege from the city.
No advertisement or notice was given as to any particular entertainment or attraction there on that day.
The proprietors of the garden then sometimes gave an open-air free concert to those that choose to visit the promenade on the battery. In the sum- mer of 1813 there were several excellent entertain- ments of this kind from the portico of the flagstaff (see ante, p. 53). The Pandean Minstrels and
264
POPULAR ENTERTAINMENTS.
Moffat's Military Band * were the most notable. There can be no doubt but that that part of the city was the chief resort for the multitude on that day, and that the usual amusements of the times were amply provided by the proprietors. A band of music, and sending up one or more balloons were among the day's free entertainments. At that time when a paper balloon was sent up, there was a parachute attachment, beneath which was fas- tened a live cock, who made the ascension in that manner, and when the fire that caused the balloon to ascend burnt off a certain connection the para- chute with the live cock in it floated off in the air safely from the balloon, to take the chances of ulti- mately reaching land or water without harm.t The smoke and heat that sent the balloon up was gener- ated by a ball of lamp wicking soaked in whale oil and attached under the balloon and set on fire. It would burn for several hours while the balloon was ascending.
The firing of guns and small arms was not in- dulged in by the boys or other persons. The city ordinance of May 17th (ante p. 214), against it was effectual to prevent it. Chinese firecrackers were then unknown here, and the city ordinance did not prohibit the burning of them.
* Moffatt's full military band at that time comprised fifes and drums, two French horns, four clarionets and two bassoons.
+ An entertainment of that kind took place from a vacant lot in the Bowery in 'September, when the mammoth paper bal- loon was an oblong pear-shaped body (similar to those of the present day) twelve feet in diameter and twenty-two feet long besides the parachute and live cock attachment. A band of music was part of the entertainment. The price of admission was 50 cents.
-
265
BALLOON ASCENSION.
More select and quiet entertainments could be had by the people.
Scudder's American Museum, No. 21 Chatham Street (opposite (Tryon Row), was open with ad- ditional attractions.
The Panorama of Naval Paintings, illustrative of the signal victories achieved by the American navy during the war, was open next door to the Park Theatre. They were painted by Michael Corney in Boston.
The New York Circus, on Broadway, corner of White Street, gave two performances, one in the afternoon at three, and in the evening at 7 o'clock. Admission, box, $1 ; pit, 50 cents.
A balloon ascension, by means of hot air, was ad- vertised to take place from an enclosed lot corner of Rivington and Essex Street, at three o'clock P.M. The patriotic aeronaut (the proprietor) was to ascend and wave the United States flag on his way to the clouds. The admission to the grounds was 50 cents. There is no account of the success of the attempted ascension, but if it was made the aeronaut lived through it, for a few weeks after- wards he advertised that he would make an ascen- sion in his mammoth balloon.
Although the day seemed well provided with en- tertainments and amusements suited to all, there was one event that probably gave more widefelt and hearty joy and amusement than could have been anticipated. It was the capture of a dozen British sailors, and the mode of it and the marching them as prisoners of war before a multitude as- sembled at the Battery Parade in the afternoon.
For some time the British sloop Eagle, tender to
266
TRAPPING THE ENEMY.
the British Poictiers, had been employed by Com. Beresford off Sandy Hook for the purpose of cap- turing fishermen, and burning coasters near there. There had been many attempts to capture her by Com. Lewis and his flotilla of gunboats then near Sandy Hook Light House. A ruse was planned to effect this. On the 4th of July, the "boys" were celebrating the day. Com. Lewis sent out from Mosquito Cove a pilot boat, disguised as a fishing smack, named the Yankee, which was borrowed of some fishermen at Fly Market, New York, and a calf and a sheep and a goose purchased and secured on deck in plain sight. Forty-three men, well armed with muskets were concealed in the cabin and fore deck of the smack. Thus prepared she stood out to sea as if going on a fishing trip to the banks, three men only being on deck dressed in fishermen's apparel, with buff caps on. The Eagle, on seeing the smack, immediately gave chase, and after coming up with her, and finding she had live stock on deck, ordered her to go down to the Poictiers then in sight of them. The helms- man of the smack answered "aye, aye, sir," and apparently put up the helm for that purpose, which brought him alongside the Eagle, not more than three yards distant. The watchword "Lawrence" was then given, when the armed men rushed on deck from their hiding-places and poured into her a volley of musketry which struck her crew with dismay, and drove them all down so precipitately into the hold of the vessel that they had not time to strike their colors. Seeing the deck was cleaned of the enemy, sailing master Percival, who com- manded the expedition, ordered his men to cease
267
EVENING ENTERTAINMENTS.
firing, upon which one of the enemy came out of the hold and struck the colors of the Eagle. She had on board a thirty-two-pound brass howitzer, loaded with cannister shot, but so sudden was the surprise, they had not time to discharge it. The crew of the Eagle consisted of H. Morris, master's mate of the Poictiers, W. Price, midshipman, and eleven marines. Mr. Morris was killed, and Mr. Price was mortally wounded. The Eagle, with the prisoners, were brought up to New York City in the afternoon, and landed at Whitehall dock amid the shouts and plaudits of thousands of spectators as- sembled at the battery celebrating the anniversary of national independence.
Many of the retail stores were open in the after- noon.
When the ringing of the bells of the city for half an hour at sunset commenced, there was some diminution of the crowds at the lower part of the city. Many had sought other places provided for the evening celebration.
In the early evening the front of Scudder's Amer- ican Museum was brilliantly illuminated. The Pandean band of minstrels lent their harmony to the occasion and played a number of appropriate national tunes.
The front of the Park Theater was illuminated by a transparent painting in which Liberty was represented as an allegorical female figure clad in robes of yellow-a globe was beneath her feet. In one hand she held the American flag and was sup- posed to be in the act of planting it upon that part designated America. In the other hand was an olive branch. The flag formed the outer drapery of
268
PLAYS AT THE THEATER.
the figure. Beneath this and over the globe was a white lily ; on the left were three boys, one of whom was holding and pointing to a book on the open leaf of which was written "Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1776."
The entertainment of the evening commenced at 7:30 by the most patriotic and popular play of the time, entitled "The Glory of Columbia. Her Yeo- manry; or What we Have Done we Can Do." It was founded upon the capture of Major Andre. There were only six characters in it. Gen. Wash- ington was represented by Mr. Green, Major Andre by Mr. Simpson. The captors of Andre, Williams, Paulding and Van Wart, were represented by Messrs. Hilson, Darley and Jones respectively. Mrs. Darley appeared as Honora.
After this play Mr. Cooper delivered a monody, written by a New York gentleman, on the death of Capt. James Lawrence.
This was followed by a patriotic entertainment called " Freemen in Arms; or Tribute to the Mem- ory of the Brave."
When the curtain arose it revealed a monument in memory of Gen. Z. M. Pike, who fell in the capture of York (Toronto), on the 27th of April, 1813. On one side of the monument was the Genius of America (Miss Stanley), weeping over the loss of her gallant son ; on the other was the Goddess of Liberty (Miss Ellis), pointing to the American eagle soaring above the British flag.
Mrs. Claude sweetly sang "Angels ever Bright and Fair."
The second scene represented a naval procession with appropriate banners recording the late victo-
269
VAUXHALL, GARDEN.
ries of our navy. This piece was concluded by a glee and chorus entitled " Ye Sons of Free Colum- bia," sung by Messrs. Darley, Yates, Pritchard, Horton, Charnock and others.
The evening's entertainment concluded with the pantomime of "Don Juan."
No band attended the performance.
The attractions of Vauxhall Garden, on Bowery Lane, were many. The doors were opened at four o'clock P.M. Admission, 50 cents. Tickets were on sale at G. & R. Waite's book and stationery stores, 38 and 64 Maiden Lane. The garden and walks were illuminated by fixed lights. A "power- ful band executed some of the most stirring and popular patriotic and military airs."*
The principal parts of the garden were arranged as follows: In the large avenue and square, together with the two walks intersecting it, where the eques- trian statue of Gen. Washington presided, were elegantly decorated, and on each side were arranged emblematical monuments bearing the names of the signers of our independence, and the names of each State they represented. The monuments were placed in order around the statue of Washing- ton, at the feet of which were three Genii offering garlands of flowers with civic and military crowns, through which were entwined the mottoes: "Father of his Country ;" "Defender of Freedom." The center avenue of triple arcades was arranged as forming a number of triumphal arches, each deco- rated in allegorical designs appropriate to the mod- ern heroes of the time. Each of the arches was
* So announced in the advertisement.
270
FIREWORKS AT
surmounted by a medallion enclosed in a trophy of large flags-the medallions bearing the names of American naval heroes, conspicuous among them were Rogers, Hull, Jones, Decatur, Bainbridge, Lawrence and Chauncey. On the caps of each col- umn were medallions noting the victories of our navy with the names of the British conquered ships. In the same arches were medallions containing the names of Dearborn, Pike, Harrison, Van Rensselaer and Lewis, with flags denoting the victories of York (Toronto), Fort George, Fort Meigs and Sack- ett's Harbor, the whole enclosed in trophies of flags attractively arranged. All of these were richly il- luminated in the evening.
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