(Festivities of July 26 and 27, 1860, as reported in Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, August 11, 1860)
The Wide Awakes, as our readers are probably aware, is an organization having its origin in partisan spirit and is made up of members of the Republican party, the majority being young men. Its objects and aim is to aid in bringing about the election of Lincoln and Hamlin. The idea was suggested by the appearance of several young men wearing caps and capes in the torchlight procession which paraded the streets of Hartford on the evening of February 25th 1860, to escort the Hon. Cassius M. Clay. A meeting was called, and some thirty young men organized themselves into a Wide-Awake Club. A constitution was adopted, and officers chosen. Within the short time which has elapsed since it has increased to over five hundred, and Wide-Awake Clubs have sprung up in various other cities, towns and villages in other States as well as in Connecticut.
The Wide-Awake Club of Newark having notified their brethren of Hartford of their intention to visit them on Thursday and Friday of last week, the latter Club prepared a right royal reception for their guests, and the ladies having been enlisted in the cause, they were entertained in a manner is which must have impressed them with an elevated sense of the hospitality of their New England compeers.
The Newark Club, having chartered the steamer Josephine, left home on Thursday morning, the 26th, and arrived at Saybrook at the mouth of the river at half-past five o’clock, and at Hartford about half-past nine o’clock.
The weather threatened to be unpropitious, a dark bank of clouds in the south-west, filled with rain and electricity, seemed only awaiting a favorable wind to spread itself over the city and discharge its pluvial contents. The Hartford Club, notwithstanding, assembled at seven o’clock and proceeded to the dock, where they awaited the arrival of the steamer with whatever of patience they could summon.
There were in the ranks some three hundred or more young men, each uniformed with an oilskin cape and glazed cap, and bearing a torch similar to those in use by our own fire department. At half-past nine o’clock the signal rocket from the steamer was seen to dart heavenward as she rounded the point about a mile below the city, and it was immediately answered by others on the dock and by the booming of cannon and strains of martial music. In a few moments she neared the dock, and after a little delay the visitors landed amidst the shouts of welcome from thousands of voices. The scene at this moment, as described by our artist, was one of great beauty and interest. The dark thunder cloud had passed eastward, and was lighted up occasionally by gleams of lightning, forming a fitting background to the scene.
The line was formed and marched through the principal streets to the City Hall, where justice was done to a bountiful collation, which, with the speeches that followed, kept all engaged until half-past twelve o’clock, when the line was again formed, and the guests were escorted to their quarters on board of the boat.
On Friday evening, the 27th, the Hartford Club, together with their friends, repaired to the depot, where they received various Clubs from other towns, and escorted them to the camp or wigwam on Asylum street, a frame structure, erected for such purposes, and where they were addressed by several prominent individuals, and presentations were made of banners, capes, lanterns, rails, mauls, &c., &c.
At ten o’clock the grand torchlight procession was formed, and marched through the principal streets of the city to Charter Oakplace, amidst the firing of rockets, the burning of blue lights and a profusion of other fireworks. The sight presented has rarely, if ever, been excelled, and baffles description. At Charter Oak place the vast assembly was addressed by Hon. Dwight Loomis, after which it proceeded on its line of march to and across the Park, through Asylum and other streets to the City Hall, where another bountiful collation was served and partaken of. The sight as the procession crossed the Park was magnificent in the extreme. From four to five thousand torches could be seen at one time winding their way through and around the sinuous paths; the whole landscape was lit up with Innumerable roman candles and other fireworks, and far in the background the city was illuminated with flaming rockets, which sent their shower of parti-colored rain across the heavens in every direction, while the moon, as if paling her ineffectual light, sunk slowly beneath the western horizon.
At half-past one the Wide-Awakes escorted their guests to the cars and their quarters on the boat, and the city gradually sunk to its accustomed rest.
The Newark Club returned home on Saturday morning early, highly pleased with their trip and the reception which they had received.
The captain and lieutenants’ uniform consists or an Inverness mantle or overcoat with cape, made of black enamel cloth, and glazed hat. The captain carries a red, and each lieutenant a blue or green lantern. The privates wear a black enamel circular cape, quite full and of good length, glazed cap, and carry a swinging or fireman’s torch. Two pioneers, the tallest men in the company, carrying very large torches, are stationed on the extreme right. They are drilled in a few simple military movements, according to Hardee’s tactics.