Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1859 — THE FOURTH. [ARTICLE]

THE FOURTH.

Our nation’s birth day vvas celebrated last Monday in Rensselaer with more pomp and show than perhaps ever before, and an immense crowd turned out to observe the day. j The morning dawned clear and j bright, and the first rays of the sun shone on the stars and stripes waving from Captain Warner’s Liberty Pole, which had just been erected by the Artillery Sjquad. Thirteen salutes were fired by the Artillery at daybreak, and a detachment of the Rifles aided in convincing our citizens that the morning of the Fourth had arrived, tyhile the melodious Strains of the Brass Band were borne smoothly along on the morning breeze, as if to woo us to sweet repose again. We intbi pot forget to relate a good joke right here. The detachment of Rifles before spoken of, thinking Captain Warner not yet arisen from his bed, cotfjp hided to honor him with a special ealute, that would start him to bis “pegs,” an< l hasten the roar of the “red artillery.” So they ranged themselves in front of his residence, and the Corporal had given the words'‘Ready—Aim— Fi’ I—when 1 —when comical head of the Captain was seen peerit.g round the corner of the building, while the

words “Present Arms!” issued from his comical mouth. The Rifles “caved.” The Sabbath 'School celebration in the morning passed off well. The Rev. Mr. Mock delivered an excellent address to the children, and the singing by the Sabbath Schools was a credit to their teachers. The main procession was formed at ten o’clock, in the following order: First came the Military Band, consisting of one fife, one base drum and three tennor drums. This Band was one of the features of the day r and greatly contributed, by its thrilling music, to the festivities of the occasion. Next came the First Rensselaer Rifle Company, under command of Lieutenant Howe. Taking into consideration that the Company has 'been organized but about a month, and that this was their first public parade, the Rifles did exceedingly i well, and materially contribute;} to the proper celebration of the day. Next came the Chaplain and Orator, then the Sabbath Schools, and after them the citizens generally. | After the head of the procession had I reached the grove north of Ezra i Wright, the tail had not crossed the bridge. Seats sufficient for the audience were not provided; but as we cannot speak well of the Committee, we will say nothing ill of them here. The exercises of the day were prayer, reading the Declaration, oration, and martial music. Young Thomas J. Spitler read the Declaration with credit to himself, and the'oration by W. D. Lee was in his happiest style. We heard many say it was the best : effort Mr. Lee ever made. At the j close the schools marched back to ■ the Court House, escorted by the Rifles, to partake of a dinner prepared for them, (the schools.) In the afternoon a b<;dy of horse- i men went through the cavalry exer-' treise —as well as they knew how—commanded by Coroner Peacock, Captain Moss and Captain Milroy, respectively. They rode helter-skel-ter through the streets and around the Court House, two or three riding abreast here, and single file yonder. The rear was brought up by a boy riding the smallest jenney that has been running loose about here for a long time. The animal is the size of a young calf. The whole thing looked ridiculous enough, uuu caus ed a great deal of sport to the bystanders. The horsemen fought a sham battle, and bravely charged through and through. No accident occurred, except to two furious riders,whose Rosinante* rushed with ungovernable impetuosity against i one another, making the very ground 1 tremble and the riders’ cheeks to iblanch. But nobody was hurt, and the crowd was greatly amused. The day closed with quite a stirring display of fireworks at night. Everything passed off well—not a fight, or anything else unpleasant, marred the festivities.