Patriotic and Immortal: Washington Before Yorktown (painting by Rembrandt Peale)
From The Courier Seneca Falls, NY February 22, 1861:
Honor to Washington
This (Friday) morning at early sunrise, the Zouave Cadets fired a national salute, in honor of the day which gave birth to the patriotic and immortal Washington. The first gun was a signal for the bells, whose iron tongues quickly responded in joyous utterance of approval of the sentiments of love and veneration which animated every American heart, and which the recurrence of this day will ever awaken so long as this confederacy exists, the proud achievement of the renowned and illustrious dead. Washington though dead still lives and speaks through the American heart. The parade at 2 o’clock was a very fine affair, and the ball this evening at Union Hall will undoubtedly be a scene of social, and joyous animation.
In addition to the ball there was also supposed to be an Exhibition Drill by the Zouave Cadets.
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Baltimore's Washington Monument: decorated with evergreens and brilliant flowers (completed 1829;photo 1890)
Throughout the nation(s) there were celebrations in honor of Washington’s birthday. I did not see too much about the Deep South in The New-York Times, but you can read about events in Charleston at Disunion. There was information about the two slaves states that surrounded the United States capital, Washington’s namesake. From The New-York Times February 23, 1861:
IN RICHMOND.
RICHMOND Va., Friday, Feb. 22.
The anniversary of WASHINGTON’s birthday was celebrated here with much pomp, the day being observed as a general holiday. A full national salute was fired, the military paraded, and the American flag was displayed abundantly.
IN BALTIMORE.
BALTIMORE, Friday, Feb. 22.
The day was generally kept as a holiday. At the Washington monument the American flag was hoisted at daylight from the doorway and large vases were placed at the base decorated with evergreens and brilliant flowers. A band of music was in attendance. The military paraded, and the streets were thronged with people.
So at least some people in Richmond are still flying the American flag. I think it’s interesting that the Civil War Daily Gazette noted that as Lincoln was traveling through Baltimore the night following Washington ‘s birthday crowds were “singing rebel anthems and a spirit of secession filled the air”. furthermore, Richmond was hosting the Virginia secession convention and as Seven Score and Ten reported there was plenty of secessionist sentiment there. Maryland and Virginia are still in play and, unsurprisingly, there seems to be opinion on both sides of the Union/Secession question.
A toast to the Farewell Address: A noble lesson of wisdom and patriotism now, unhappily, too rarely studied and too little heeded.
Of course, New York City had many celebrations (New York Times Archive). There was a dinner at the Astor House for 150 prominent New York City Republicans:
Over the President’s chair was a portrait of WASHINGTON, and over that the words. “Union, now and forever, one and inseparable,” and at the opposite end of the apartment was a miniature Fort Sumter, with the American banner on its flag-staff.
It was quite a party – there were thirteen toasts, including one to Washington’s Farewell Address.
After the sixth toast the miniature Fort Sumter fired a salute of 34 guns, creating great amusement first, and then calling forth vociferous cheering.
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Also in NY City (The New-York Times February 22, 1861):
The second annual reception of the Eighth Regiment, Washington Grays, will take place in the evening, at the armory of the corps. The splendid portrait of WASHINGTON, by REMBRANDT PEALE, will be formally presented to the Seventh Regiment, at its armory, in the evening.
Rembrandt Peale (you can see some self-portraits at his Wikipedia entry)
The Birthday Man (portrait by Rembrandt Peale)
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1) I knew there were Zouave outfits that served in the Civil War. I did not know there were apparently Zouave groups in towns all around the country before the war. I think Zouaves from Seneca Falls served in other units during the war. More information about Zouaves in general can be found at at Duryee’s Zouaves
2) You can read more about Rembrandt Peale and see more of his work at Wikipedia.
3) Since 1862 The United States Senate has annually read the Farewell Address on Washington’s Birthday. Andrew Johnson introduced the petition in 1862. 02-22-2012: The reading in the senate did not become an annual event until it was read again in 1888.
4) I’ve read and heard how symbolically important Fort Sumter was during these months 150 years ago. It sure seems important to the New York Republicans as they propose their 13 toasts and listen to the 34 shots from the miniature.
