The end of the Civil War was a joyous time for many Southerners who were able to once again openly celebrate the national Independance Day, a practice that had been suppressed by the Confederates during the previous four years. This article from the NY Times is particularly moving for its account of the Freedmen’s celebration in Raleigh. This was the first time the former slaves had been able to celebrate as part of the American people.
NORTH CAROLINA.; Celebration of the Fourth by the Freedmen Arrival of Col. Whittlesey in Wilmington Will the Freed SlavesWork? General Intelligence Offices Gov, Holden,
Published: July 14, 1865 NY Times
RALEIGH, N.C., Fourth of July, 1865.
Almost incredible is the fact that a Northerner is quietly seated in the heart of a Southern State, to describe a Fourth of July celebration, gotten up by those who have heretofore been held as slaves. KILPATRICK’s flying squadrons, and SHERMAN’s triumphant legions tramped and rode through the streets of Raleigh in victorious review, but the great culmination of the victory was witnessed to-day, evidenced in the fact that the freedmen, women and children, of this vicinity, to the number of three thousand, celebrated the anniversary of American independence, and marched through the city with banners flying, pennants streaming and music playing, as free and independent people. The procession formed at the proper time and place, and wended its way past the Governor’s house and Gen. RUGER’s headquarters, to the shady groves of the “Peace Institute,” in the northern boundaries of the city, and there the disenthralled slaves enjoyed a celebration of this glorious day, following a programme of their own making, and listening to speakers of their own selection. Two or three days past the blacks have been congregating here in anticipation of the festivities of the occasion, and the roads from the country were lined with them, “toting” haversacks filled with provender to last them during their stay. “When in line and marching along, they presented an appearance which, while it gave rise to many ludicrous thoughts, was nevertheles exceedingly creditable to the participants. Great buxom women dressed in homespun working-dresses, with fine cloth shoes, tramping through the dust, or dressed in fine linen with heavy brogans on their feet, were to be seen; but as a general thing they were, with the exception of characteristic penchants for gay colors, attired in a very motley manner. Barefooted enthusiasts praised God in ragged and tattered cotton-field suite. Little children, waving the blessed emblem of liberty, shouted hosannas; and old men and women wept for joy.
The white citizens also had their celebration, and it was a decided success. They indulged in no procession, however, but merely assembled in the shady grove of the capitol square, and listened to an exceedingly appropriate and well-written address by S.F. PHILLIPS, Esq., of Chapel Hill. Mr. PHILLIPS was invited by the Committee of Arrangements on account of his well-known Union sentiments, and acquitted himself in a manner that fully justified their expectations. The assemblage was not numerous, but was quite respectable.
During the evening there was an ordinary display of fireworks, and throughout the whole day Young America enjoyed, for the first time in four years, the inestimable privilege of throwing torpedoes, firecrackers, double-headers, big Dutchmen, &c.
In conclusion, it is proper to say that the Fourth of July never received so much attention before in Raleigh. As to political significance, the blacks betrayed the most enthusiasm, of course, for it is their nature to be enthusiastic on such occasions; but the whites are deserving of no little praise for their liberality in donating money to defray the expenses, and for the interest they betrayed in the sacred character of the day.
In Newbern and Wilmington the day was duly observed after the old-time manner of speech-making, salute-firing, &c. In Beaufort the freedmen also had a celebration probably more extensive than that of their brethren here. They had chartered trains on the railroad, and between live and ten thousand congregated there.
On the whole, the old North State, after five years of non-observance, has made due reparation, and has finally established the birth of the nation’s independence as a holiday never to be forgotten or neglected again.
The NY Post also covered the Raleigh celebration here:
Independence Day In The South. Two Celebrations of the Fourth of July at Raleigh
Date: Monday, July 17, 1865
Paper: Evening Post (New York, New York)
Volume: 64
Page: 3
First the article describes the white people’s 4th of July:
Next the author describes the much more celebratory 4th in the Black community:
This is sort of neat. The banners carried by the African Americans are described. They give interesting insights into what was on the minds of these men and women just months after their liberation.
Here were the banners of the public schools, the first to educate children born as slaves:
After the march, there was a picnic and speeches:
