Good Times: Independence Day on the Oregon Trail

By Jennifer Mueller

By as early as 1800, Independence Day celebrations were common. Traveling across the wilderness with little to call their own, celebrating the day on the Oregon Trail was a reason to escape the drudgery of five to six months of constant travel. Independence Rock was looked for eagerly, starting the trail in the early spring, the emigrants hoped to reach Independence Rock by July 4. If they had not arrived by then, they knew they were behind schedule. Many scribed their names in the rock as a memento. It was a day to rest, with a feast the most likely indulgence. Diaries often mentioned the events.

Emigrant James Nesmith: "Had the pleasure of waiting on five or six young ladies to pay a visit to Independence Rock. I had the satisfaction of putting the names of Miss Mary Zachary and Miss Jane Mills on the southeast point of the rocks."

Emigrant Margaret Hecox: "Being the fourth of July, we concluded to lay by and celebrate the day. The children had no fireworks, but we all joined in singing patriotic songs and shared in a picnic lunch."

But for an unpublished story of my own, I created a trail diary of a fictional crossing with a little more detail...

July the 4th
We lay abed this morning. All had a go as you please. Some hunted and fished, others lounged, while the children played games. Flags hung from several wagons. Another train pulled up and joined us for the celebration of our country's independence. A salute to our grand country was fired from 150 guns. All up and down the river we can hear similar salutes from those that left before and after us.

With so many women with us the feast that followed was immense. Roast antelope, roast sage hen, roast rabbit, antelope stew, sage hen stew, jack rabbit stew, antelope pot pie, sage hen fried, jack rabbit fried, fish fried. Irish potatoes brought from Ohio, Boston baked beans, rice, pickles, white bread, graham bread, warm rolls, biscuits, pound cake, fruit cake, jelly cake, Sweetwater mountain cake, peach pie, apple pie, strawberry pie, custard pie. Our two from New Orleans even introduced us to something called dirty rice made with the innards of the fowl we had killed. I don't know that I have ever eaten so much in my life.

After dinner as much brandy as could be found was rounded up and a great many toasts to our fair country were had. No one could forget the rash of Stewart weddings that took place, Alexander Stewart and Helen Vandeveer, Daniel Stewart and Charlotte Houlton, Duncan Stewart and Delia Drake.

July 4th - Independence Day

On July 4, 1776, the US declared independence from Great Britain by adopting the Declaration of Indepedence. The Declaration was sparked by the anger over Parliament's Stamp Act in 1765. Colonists called for boycotts of British goods and the call of "no taxation without representation" echoes over the land. The Act was appealed in 1766 after months of protests and attacks against tax collectors and the customhouses. Then in 1773 the Tea Act was passed basically allowing the East India Company to become a monopoy in the American tea trade. This was seen as another taxation by the Americans, thus sparking the "Boston Tea Party" and a chain of events of the British dominance in the Massachusetts including the closing of Boston merchant shipping and establishing British rule. The first Continental Congress was called to lead a united resistence to British rule. In Lexington, April 19, 1775 the first shots of the American Revolution against the British were fired.

The Continental Congress began passing measures to outst British rule. In 1776 Thomas Paine wrote and published Common Sense, a highly circulated pamphlet agruing the importance and need for independence.

The Declaration was written by Thomas Jefferson (the 3rd president of the United States). You can read a copy of the Declaration at the National Achives site. Jefferson wrote the immortal words American's live by today "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."

The Revolutionary War continued on for five years after the Declarations of Independence was adopted by the thirteen States. In 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, the United States became officially a free and independent nation.

So today while enjoying your July 4th with cook outs and fireworks, give a few moments to think of the brave men and women who fight for freedom--past and present.

Marianne LaCroix
http://www.mariannelacroix.com/
SEA HAWK'S MISTRESS -- Coming July 18, 2007 from Ellora's Cave
THE GLADIATOR -- Coming Summer 2007 from New Concepts Publishing
CROSSED SWORDS -- Fall 2007 from Ellora's Cave