Picnics And Parades And Marking Time

[JPK Huson 1863]

Donna is away for a few. No one can replace her energy in the Food Forum, I told her I'd try to help!


" In July 1861 when - volunteers clashed at Bull Run in northern Virginia, civilians--congressmen, businessmen and socialites with picnic baskets--drove out in carriages from Washington to watch the battle. But within hours they had joined McDowell's Union army in hasty retreat from the battleground to Washington. Contemplating the death of nearly 900 soldiers, both sides realized that the war would be no summer's amusement--nor "fun and frolic," as one spectator anticipated. "

……Was one of the most well-known of all ' picnic ' days and an abysmal, tragic failure. Still, our American spirit dearly loves an excuse, any excuse for a get together. Combine the spirit of patriotism felt through our long History with inventive ways we've managed to mark the birth of our nation and what has transpired has been as unique as all our cultures- which is the point, really. Only one ' Us ', U.S. ' Us ', deliberately symbolic, turning pages together through over two centuries. Like a pianist playing dependent on another flipping his music- the song doesn't continue one without the other. It's the " Star Spangled Banner ".

What better reason to throw a parade.






" Variously known as the Fourth of July and Independence Day, July 4th has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-83). In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues. "

http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/july-4th

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

 

[MRB1863]

...and it looks like a good time was had by all. Thanks for posting! Can almost hear the fanfare at these patriotic events!

 

[18thVirginia]

My great uncle in East Texas grew watermelons like those in the truck shown above. They were called "black diamonds" I believe and had the absolute best flavor. We drove down to Mt. Pleasant one time and he had all these watermelons piled up in a jeep that couldn't be sold because of a yellow spot on the side.

My dad and I stood there with him as he sliced them and cut the heart out and we ate the hearts with the juice running down our arms. Then he fed the rest of the melons to the hogs. My grandmother was his younger sister and loved watermelon, but lived her adult life in Nebraska where they were never very good.

Great thread.

 

[18thVirginia]

Here's a July summer menu from the 1930s:

Dinner menus for July
Cold sliced meat, potato salad, rolls, peaches and cream, iced coffee, tea, or chocolate; fried or broiled chicken, new potatoes, peas, currant jelly, strawberry ice cream, vanilla wafers; broiled ground beef on toast, lima beans, fried tomatoes, Spanish cream...

http://www.foodtimeline.org/fooddecades.html#1930s

 

[18thVirginia]

4th of July in 1862-64

[1862]
"We would call the attention of our citizens to the excursion and basket picnic at Babock's Grove, on the approaching Fourth of July...A table will be set in the grove with refreshments for those who prefer to buy rather than to carry their dinners, and there will be hot tea and coffee, ice cream, lemonade, oranges and other fruits, on sale on the grounds. Donations of provisions for the furnishing of this table, cold meats, biscuit, cake, pastry &c., are earnestly solicited.
---"Fourth of July Excursion to Babcock's Grove," Chicago Tribune, July 3, 1862 (p. O_4)


[1863-4]
"Union soldiers celebrated two holidays a year that their enemy dis not necessrily observe. One was the Fourth of July. Early in the war, Confederates, too venerated it as the anniversary of American freedom and celebrated as they could. Even in the earthworks and forts surrrounding Port Hudson, Louisiana, where a beseiged Confederate garrison found itself steadiy driven toward starvation, the defenders strove to make something special for the holiday. Their skimpy beef ration already exhausted, they began eating mule on July 1, 1863. 'All who partook of it spoke highly of the dish,' said one Rebel. 'Mule meat was regularly served out in rations to the troops from and after 4th of July.'...Yankees officers held Fourth of July banquets beneath leafy arbors in their garrisons, and when possible, the day came with them all on campaign or as in 1863, exhausted from recent battle, and it passsed with only a modicum of culinary observance. The Sanitary Commission attempted to encourage celebration of the Fourth by sending special treats to the armies, fresh vegetables in 1864, for instance, but the distribution came to little more than two or three onions and tomatoes for each man, much diluting the holiday meal. Some men actually managed to save things from their Christmas boxes for months, in order to bring them out for the Fourth, such as canned salmon and green peas that appeared on a 1st New York Infantry officer's table in 1864. Rhode Island officers in the army besieging Petersburg in 1864 celebrated the day with canned stewed oysters, canned roast turkey, bread pudding, tapioca pudding, an apple pie made in camp, and lemonade."
---A Taste for War: A Culinary History of the Blue and the Gray, William C. Davis [Stackpole Books:Mechanicsburg PA] 2003 (p.118)

http://www.foodtimeline.org/july4th.html#1950s

 

[donna]

A great thread. Thanks so much. Wonderful photos.

 

[donna]

Since July is also National Picnic month, I am bringing this wonderful thread started by JPK Huson back up.

There is nothing like a picnic and picnic foods. I always have great memories of the Church Picnics I have attended.

 

[kholland]

Another good one

 

[donna]

Another excellent thread, thanks to Annie (JPK Huson) for National Picnic Day, April 23.

 

[Patrick H]

Annie has done it again...a great thread! Does anyone recognize the city in the photo of all the sailors marching up the hill?