George Washington Celebrated July 4, 1778 in New Brunswick
With a Parade down Raritan Avenue
NEW BRUNSWICK -- A program on George Washington's celebration of the
Fourth of July in New Brunswick on July 4, 1778, will be held Wednesday,
July 4, in Buccleuch City Park in front of the city-owned Buccleuch
House, beginning at 1:30 p.m.
City Historian George Dawson and James Raleigh, president of the Friends
of Monmouth Battlefield, will speak on the celebration and other events
surrounding the appearance of George Washington and the Continental Army
in New Brunswick on July 4, 1778, following success against the British
Army at the Battle of Monmouth.
David Martin, vice president of the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield,
will appear in American soldier dress, and talk about the life of
American soldiers in the Revolutionary War Battle period.
George Washington and the American army retired to New Brunswick and
Piscataway following the June 28 battle. Washington issued an order
July 3, from headquarters at the Ross Hall House in Piscataway, that his
soldiers and artillery-men should march to New Brunswick with their
equipment and form a parade line along the Raritan River in the city.
The cannon were fired 13 times in celebration of the second anniversary
of Congressional approval of the Declaration of Independence. The
soldiers then executed a running series of musket fire up and down their
line.
This was the first official observation of the Fourth of July as a day
of national celebration.
Buccleuch House -- built in 1739 by Anthony White -- was unoccupied at
this 1778 celebration, owned by an officer in Washington's army, and
available as a review post for Washington and his generals.
Attendees should bring lawn chairs.
Then, attendees should come to Stage Left for music, food, wine, beer, cocktails...