Roy Blumenfeld is a history lover and volunteer docent at the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum.

Sources

Websites:

1. “Clara Barton Papers: Diaries and Journals, 1849-1911.” Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/collections/clara-barton-papers/

2. “Clara Barton Diaries and Journals.” Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/resource/mss11973.007_0440_0454/?sp=12&r=0.413,0.246,0.381,0.583,0.

3. “Witness to Bull Run.” United States Senate, www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Witness_Bull_Run.htm.

4. “Civil War Washington D.C. 1861-1865: 4th of July 1861.” Civil War Washington D.C. 1861-1865, civilwarwashingtondc1861-1865.blogspot.com/2011/06/4th-of-july-1861.html?m=1.

5. “Lincoln’s July 4th at the Cottage.” Lincoln Cottage, www.lincolncottage.org/lincoln-july-4th-cottage/.

6. “150 Years Ago Today: July 4, 1864.” Beyond the Crater, www.beyondthecrater.com/news-and-notes/siege-of-petersburg-sesquicentennial/150-years-ago-today/150-18640704/.

8. “Father-Offspring Relationships in the Civil War.” American Battlefield Trust, www.battlefields.org/learn/head-tilting-history/father-offspring.

Books:

1. Oates, Stephen B. Woman of Valor: Clara Barton and the Civil War. Kent State University Press, 1996.

2. Pryor, Elizabeth Brown. Clara Barton: Professional Angel. University of Pennsylvania Press, 1987.

Lecture:

1. “Matt Borders Presents – “The Fourth of July” In the Civil War.” YouTube, uploaded by Addressing Gettysburg, July 4, 2021 youtu.be/XeY7l6wYYg0?si=vvGm826uwcbPAQu9

Every year on July 4th, just a few blocks from the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum, one of the largest Independence Day celebrations in the country takes place. Washington, D.C. takes its role as the nation’s capital seriously and festivities dominate the city. Modern holiday traditions include parades, parties, a concert by the Capitol, and fireworks over the Potomac. But how did people celebrate during the Civil War, when 437 7th Street (then 488 ½ 7th Street) was a boarding house? More specifically, how did Clara Barton celebrate?

Growing up in Massachusetts, a state with history steeped in the Revolution and the fight for the nation’s independence, Clara held a deeply ingrained sense of patriotism. Her father was also a patriot: a veteran of the Northwest Indian Wars and leader in the North Oxford, Mass., community.

On July 4, 1861, the Civil War was young and the nation was still hopeful it would be over in three months’ time. In Washington, D.C., to mark the holiday, a massive demonstration of military might was displayed; cannons fired salutes, 20,000 soldiers marched down Pennsylvania Avenue where President Abraham Lincoln reviewed them in front of the White House, new members were sworn into Congress and voted in favor of funding the war effort, speeches were given across the city, parties raged, and the night ended with unofficial fireworks displays.  

Washington, D.C. on July 4, 1861. (“Harper’s Weekly”)

Just two weeks later, on July 21, 1861, the streets of Washington, D.C., were filled with a different kind of crowd. The largest land battle on American soil thus far had occurred 35 miles away from the city in Manassas, Va., near a creek called Bull Run. Residents of the city and some members of Congress had followed the army in carriages and with picnic baskets to watch the battle, many believing it would be the decisive end to the war. Clara’s friend, Senator Henry Wilson, was among the crowd. But the battle did not end in Federal favor, as expected. Instead, when Union soldiers fled the field in retreat, the onlookers from D.C. were swept up in it and some were even captured by the Confederates.

Wounded soldiers from Irvin McDowell’s army poured into the city following the defeat that would become known as the First Battle of Bull Run or the First Battle of Manassas. Clara wrote her father that the aftermath had “been a hard day to witness, sad, painful and mortifying, but whether in the aggregate it shall sum up a defeat, or a victory, depends, (in my poor judgement) entirely upon circumstances, and the tone and spirit in which it leaves our men, if sad and disheartened, we are defeated, the worst, and sorest of defeats, if roused to madness, and revenge, it will yet prove victory.”

July 4, 1862 had an entirely different tone and tenor compared to the year prior. Festivities in Washington, D.C., were muted. The Federal Army of the Potomac in Virginia had shifted close to the Confederate capital of Richmond, but it had been pushed back by the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, now commanded by Robert E. Lee, in a series of battles from June 25 to July 1 known as “The Seven Days Battles”. The reversal of fortunes heavily impacted the mood of civilians on both sides celebrating the 4th of July in 1862.

The night before the holiday, Clara penned the following entry in her diary:

Thursday, July 3, 1862

The day before the 4th; fighting at Richmond, what will tomorrow be? Went to school of Mr Luther, Mr Hale & Mrs. Casmer went – very interesting letter from Mrs Brown & [Mary] Norton

Clara was at a personal crossroads at this point in 1862. She desperately wanted to contribute more to the war effort. Using all available means, she ramped up her campaign to go to the front with supplies and to tend to the wounded as a nurse. On July 11, she received passes to aid the troops garrisoning at Fredericksburg. By the end of September 1862 she had traveled to numerous battlefields, including Antietam, and her invaluable service earned her the nickname “Angel of the Battlefield.”

The July 4, 1863, issue of “Harper’s Weekly” highlighted Harriet Tubman’s recent Combahee River Raid. (“Harper’s Weekly”)

Clara spent July 4, 1863, in South Carolina. She had come a long way, literally and figuratively, over the past year. Her reputation preceded her by now and opened doors and opportunities that led her out of the mid-atlantic to the South Carolina Sea Islands. She had arrived in April. A campaign was underway to capture Charleston and Clara knew fighting meant there would be wounded who needed her. This corner of the war generally received less attention than events happening in Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and Tennessee. But a July 4, 1863, issue of Harper’s Weekly highlighted recent events in the area, including a raid up the Combahee River in which Harriet Tubman had provided intelligence and participated.

The holiday proved to be a peaceful one for Clara.

In her diary, she recollected:

Saturday July 4, 1863

Arago sailed close we breakfasted quite alone the Capt not returning till noon – Frank came home still later – Leander went to ride with some gent and at 6 1/2 our four horses came we started down the beach, Dr. Dalrymple & Mary Banister came on, we all stopped at the signal station, the Dr & Mary returned and we went on to the road which leads to Lawtons. 3 miles from Braddock Point, the 1st Mass cav, stationed there led us up it was very dark and Lieut Moore, we had a trout of the water & rake, and after a most pleasant left as the moon was rising about 9. rode a few miles – Braddocks Point is 15 miles from Hilton Head. Lawtons 12 miles by the beach, 10 by road – for the last 5 or 6 miles, Will & Mary led and after some little training of the Capt’s horse we followed at some speed and back into town, took supper in my room and after a jolly time till we were all sleepy we retired

Clara’s day of leisure with friends and family was one of her more pleasant ones that summer. July 4, 1863, would become known as “The Glorious 4th” with simultaneous victories at Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Tullahoma.

In June 1864, she found her next posting on the outskirts of Richmond, Va., with the Army of the James. Fellow Massachusetts resident and commander of that army, Major General Benjamin Butler, appointed her Superintendent of Nurses; a title that finally gave Clara some sought after authority. She spent July 4, 1864, in a 10th Corps hospital tending to the wounded. There were rumors, mostly on the Confederate side, that a massive assault on Richmond and Petersburg may happen to coincide with the holiday, but no such action took place. The day passed uneventfully.

All major hostilities had ended by July 4, 1865, but Clara was still busy tending to war work. Her attention shifted from caring for the wounded to the dead and missing.

About the Author

Roy Blumenfeld is a history lover and volunteer docent at the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum.

Sources

Websites:

1. “Clara Barton Papers: Diaries and Journals, 1849-1911.” Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/collections/clara-barton-papers/

2. “Clara Barton Diaries and Journals.” Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/resource/mss11973.007_0440_0454/?sp=12&r=0.413,0.246,0.381,0.583,0.

3. “Witness to Bull Run.” United States Senate, www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Witness_Bull_Run.htm.

4. “Civil War Washington D.C. 1861-1865: 4th of July 1861.” Civil War Washington D.C. 1861-1865, civilwarwashingtondc1861-1865.blogspot.com/2011/06/4th-of-july-1861.html?m=1.

5. “Lincoln’s July 4th at the Cottage.” Lincoln Cottage, www.lincolncottage.org/lincoln-july-4th-cottage/.

6. “150 Years Ago Today: July 4, 1864.” Beyond the Crater, www.beyondthecrater.com/news-and-notes/siege-of-petersburg-sesquicentennial/150-years-ago-today/150-18640704/.

8. “Father-Offspring Relationships in the Civil War.” American Battlefield Trust, www.battlefields.org/learn/head-tilting-history/father-offspring.

Books:

1. Oates, Stephen B. Woman of Valor: Clara Barton and the Civil War. Kent State University Press, 1996.

2. Pryor, Elizabeth Brown. Clara Barton: Professional Angel. University of Pennsylvania Press, 1987.

Lecture:

1. “Matt Borders Presents – “The Fourth of July” In the Civil War.” YouTube, uploaded by Addressing Gettysburg, July 4, 2021 youtu.be/XeY7l6wYYg0?si=vvGm826uwcbPAQu9