Battalion Day

"Battalion Day" , Or "Militian Day", was once an annual event, required by law. 

 Just after the Revolution, a law had been passed requiring all men subject to military duty to assemble once a year in their respective districts, to be enrolled, and to undergo a sort of perfunctory drill.  This annual drill, called Battalion Day, soon turned into a holiday, with all citizens turning out for the local gathering.

James Cleaver, in his 1895 Reminisces of the early days of Columbia County, mentions the celebration.

"Battalion Day was much bigger than the Fourth of July in those days. On that day, all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 45 were commanded to meet for inspection and drill, and all who had guns (and the majority of men had) were commanded to bring them; and those who were so unfortunate not to have anything that would shoot were to bring the next best warlike instrument they could; so I think about half of the warriors carried broomsticks and shelalies. They all passed inspection for officers and privates alike were anxious to be dismissed so that they could get their share of ginger cakes and small beer. Of course, we were tired after being marched several miles to the music of the  fife and drum and going through evolutions."

"Sheep, oxen, and suckling pigs were roasted whole for the occasion.  Barrels of ale would be tapped and pure rye whiskey could be had for the asking or cheap purchase.  All kinds of athletic games would be indulged in, and toward the evening free fights enlivened the scene or combats between rival local bullies. "

"But there was one other day, which, although never made a legal holiday and never observed as such, was more generally observed as a holiday and called out more people than any other day in the entire calendar and which was more looked forward to than perhaps any present legal holidays, Christmas alone excepted.  I allude, of course, to the well-known and time honored day in our old time Pennsylvania Calendar, "Militia Muster", or "Battalion Day".  The present generation deserves to e pieties because it has no personal knowledge of this ever to be remembered festival.  Who that has been there and seen it and taken part in it can ever forget?  Especially what boy!" - Lancaster New Era, Nov 1899

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Battalion Day In Sunbury

BATTALION DAY.

From Reminisces Of Sunbury, Published in 1910

"Sunbury to-day presents a wide contrast with the town years ago, not only in appearance, but in the general make-up of the people and their diversions. Sunbury years ago had a great event which occurred yearly — it was Battalion Day. The Sunbury battalion was composed of the militia of the adjoining townships. On the appointed day the companies com- posing the battalion would arrive in Sunbury and were formed in line by the proper officers on Market street, adjoining the public square, and awaited the arrival of Maj. Gen. Wm. H. Kase, General of the 8th Division P. V., and staff. In the meantime the Adjutant had the battalion formed and ready for the command. The General and staff arrived and gave the command to march. They marched out Market street to the drill grounds, in a field this side of Conrad's Hill. The drum corps were old-timers, and never failed to play that old familiar melody, "The Girl 1 Left Behind Me." On one occasion the drum corps was short a fifer. There was a great whistler in town who was considered the greatest in that line this side of Penn's Creek, and he agreed to whistle, and he did in his ludicrous and happy way he had, while the crowd laughed at the idea. He never smiled but kept up the old tune, and winked to the drummers and they took the hint, and thrashed those drums to beat the band.

During the review and evolutions on the drill ground, nearly the whole population was present. The soldiers carried canes and umbrellas in lieu of guns. Their parade through the streets created much merriment and brought forth many funny remarks, but all was right on battalion day. After the parade was dismissed the streets were crowded with people.

General Orders. headquarters, Rushtown, North 'd Co., Oct. 22, 1849.
In accordance with the recommendation of Gov. Johnston, the Field and Staff officers of the Eighth Division will hereafter appear on parade in the undress frock coat and forage cap of the United States Army.
Those officers who have already procured the full uniform are not included in this order.
William H. Kase, Maj. Gen. 8th Div. P. V.

A line of wagons and booths surrounded Market Square where spruce beer, cakes, ginger ale, oranges, lemonade, ice cream, and various other refreshments were served in great quantities. The hotels, shops and stores did a thriving business.

On battalion day the old personal difficulties were generally fought out. Each community had its own bully, and when they came together there was trouble, and often resulted in a fight, but the encounters in general were mere tests of strength and skill, not only the fists but the teeth and finger nails were brought into the fray.

Dancing was a great pastime of the day. At the tavern of John Batcher, on Chestnut street, between Second and Front, and the Cross Keys tavern, in the stone house below the dam, one could always be accommodated with a straight four dance or a fight, or both if you felt so inclined.

Old Simon Roush with his flying horse aggregation was always on hand to amuse the crowd. The old gentleman died in Snyder county at the age of 88 years. On the evening before he died he had entertained the family with his old fiddle for two hours previous to retiring.

Battalion day was a holiday for hundreds of people. They came from all sections. People living in adjoining townships, who had not seen old friends for a year or more, took the opportunity to be present on these occasions. And many were the greetings of old friends. All had a pleasant time, and dispersed to their homes feeling happy and better for their outing. The day was also beneficial in many other respects.

There were games and all kinds of sport during the day. The game of long bullet was quite popular and considered good exercise. An iron ball weighing about twelve ounces was used. The ball was propelled by a jerk of the arm and made to bound along the surface of the ground. The player propelling the ball the longest distance won the game. This game was played on Spruce street from the corner of Front street to Third street. Spruce street was then known as the "Bullet Alley." There was also corner ball, town ball and hand ball. There were two hand ball alleys in town — one at the corner of Market and Center alley, and one in the old jail yard.

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Philadelphia Inquirer, 1903

It included four companies - Lewisburg Infantry, The Union County Guards, The Emmitt Guards Of Selinsgrove, and the Pollock Guards of Crotzersville.  

"Battalion day at New Berlin Friday last, was rather a pleasant show, considering that Militia Trainings are no longer required. Nearly 200 members of various Uniformed Companies paraded and were drilled bv Brig. Insp. Simonton Colonel Middlesworth and Emmit Maj. Middlesworth and others. The new "Guards' of Lewisburg, attracted much attention, and with the Lewisburg infantry and the New Berlin company were decidedly ou the No. 1 list, in every respect desirable.

Gingerbread suffered as usual - some become inebriated and in most respects it was as much of a "battalion" as if the "bulwark" itself had turned out and the Organs crony had been there with his sixpence to treat. - and by the way (speaking of treating) we had forgotten the modern Samaritans last tour column reply, but will endeavor to do it justice next week, in shorter metre!"  - Lewisburg Chronicle Aug 28 1909

"In connection with the old public houses which are passing away before, the march of time and progress, we must make mention of Battalion day -  the day of ginger-beer and ginger-bread  - when the bold militia captain strutted with lofty bearing and loftier plume, In front of his fierce command, which went through the evolutions milititaire under his Instructions, with the grace and alacrity of a drove of oxen, amidst a storm of old shoes, stones, bones, and the shouts and hoots of a crowd of rascally boys.

 Battalion day was a great day the day on which all old feuds were settled by the strength of knuckles. Crowds, in which the demon of whisky Impatiently slumbered, would suddenly become floculent as a swarm of bees, and the remit of the sudden and Inexplicable embrace would be numerous black eyes, skint and  bloody noses, and it host of other evils entirely too numerous to mention.

The fiddle and the dance were the usual adjuncts of the battalion, and were a right nice feature of the occasion. The only dance known or practiced, was the old French-four, which resembled the Indian Snake Dance. People nowadays, know nothing about politeness -  they don't.  Why, in those days If a lady was asked to dance and refused, she was instantly necked, and hauled forth, and her pedal arrangements immediately went into operation like a streak of greased lightning. We say people in these degenerate days hasn't the least idea of manners. There were no restless wall flowers in those days its in these -  no, no! all danced -  all danced perforce of good breedin. The man who could make the most noise with his feet, regardless of tune or time, was regarded as skillful but the man who could get through with the greatest variety of bodily girations, and throw himself as high as the ceiling, and give 40 hideous yells, was considered far superior to any one else, and his fame went abroad. When a set of dancers was out the floor in full operation, the noise and clatter resembled that of the pitman in a saw-mill - the  whole scene perfecting  a sight ridiculous in the extreme.

The customs, and manners, and condition of this community and vicinity, have changed since this style of dancing was in vogue, and the last of the old land-marks associated with battalions and kindred matters of days gone by, will soon be superceded by the largest and most commodious hotel in this place. " Sunbury American, 1871