What were the North's elites doing to prove that they were as committed to waging war on the South as working class Americans. As the Confederate army marched north into Pennsylvania in June of 1863 on the way to the cataclysmic battle at Gettysburg, the North's elite's were organizing regattas, as if there wasn't a care in the world.
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The Annual Regatta of the Jersey City Yacht Club came off Tuesday afternoon, at 1 o'clock, from McGiehan's Basin, foot of Van Vorst-street, a large number of spectators being present.
– NYT, 6/25/1863
A meeting of the owners of yachts of the New- York Yacht Club, called by order of the
Commodore, was held at the office of the Secretary on Wednesday, 17th, Vice-Commodore A.C. KINGSLAND, presiding. The object of the meeting was to propose that the squadron rendezvous at Sandy Hook, for five or six days, for the purpose of fleet manoeuvering and trials of speed between the different yachts upon the ocean, up to Raritan Bay or toward the Narrows, anchoring each night in the Horse-shoe.
NEW-YORK VS. WILLOW, OF BROOKLYN.
The second elevens of the above clubs played a very interesting match on Saturday, on theground of the New-York club, Hoboken.
RUNNING RACKS AT CENTREVILLE COURSE, L. I. -- These races will commence to-day,
(Tuesday,) under the management of that well-known turf patron, Capt. THOMAS G. MOORE,of Kentucky, the owner of Idlewild and other fast horses, now at his racing stables adjoining the course.
-- NYT, 6/23/1863
The Sixth Annual Regatta of the Brooklyn Yacht Club, which came off yesterday, was a complete success both numerically and pecuniarily.
According to previous arrangements, the fast and commodious steamer Rip Van Winkle was at De Forrest's wharf, near Fulton Ferry, to receive the members and invited guests. Only a limited number of tickets was issued, but by some way or other at least seven or eight hundred people were on board.
On the way down, the hours were enlivened by Sanger's band, which discoursed some choice music. Several dances were improvised, and all had a good time generally. A glee club, composed of some 10 or 12 marines from the North Carolina, sang a number of patriotic and popular airs, much to the edification of the passengers.
-- NYT, 6/26/1863
To-day, it the circumstances of wind and weather permit. Divine services will be held on one of the larger yachts, and all things being made snug, the yachtsmen will lay by for the morrow, when, as is indicated elsewhere, they will have their grand Neptunical race, will show off and establish the points of their craft, will attempt time that will startle the old fashioned time-table, and do their best to have, under the standing regulations of the New-York Yacht Club, a jolly good time, coming home sun- burnt, freckled, tanned, wad with rousing appetites. -- 6/28/1863
The Annual Regatta of the New-York Yacht Club will come off on Thursday morning, the 11th of June, at half-past ten o'clock. There will be three prizes, valued at $150 each, which will be awarded to the first three yachts returning to the staks-boat abreast of the Club House, Hoboken.
Yachts allowed to carry men as follows: Schooners, first-class, one to every four tons of her measurement. Second class, one to every three and a half tons. Sloops, first-class, one to every three and a half tons; second class, one to every three tons. Every yacht under fifty tons shall carry, during a regatta, a serviceable boat not less than ten feet in length; and yachts over fifty tons shall carry one not less than twelve feet in length."
– NYT, 6/7/1863
At the City Regatta, to-day, HAMMILL won the first prize of $100 in the single scull race,
beating STEVENS, of Poughkeepsie – NYT, Boston, 7/4/1863
HAMMILL, WARD.
morning, an Albany gentleman offered to bet $800 even on HAMMILL., and was snapped up by a Poughkeepsian; and we had it for a fact that Mr. FLEMING had deposited $20,000 in the banks, a great portion of which he invested on HAMMILE. The crowds on the docks and in the steamboat hotel were immense, two propellers having come from Newburgh loaded with passengers, and a small one from Cornwall with WARD and his immediate friends. He lives, and trained himself at Cornwall, which accounts for his fine condition.
JOSHUA WARD is 6 feet high, 28 years old, and weight 104 pounds; he pulls a long, steady
stroke, which is considered best for a lasting race. His boat -- Dick Risden, of New-York – was built by GEORGE SHAW, of Newburgh, of mahogany; 29 1/2 feet long, 17 inches beam, and weighs 45 pounds.
HAMMILL is 5 feet 7 1/8 inches high, about 24 years old, and weighs 153 pounds. He pulls a
short, quick stroke, which, with a rippled water and his narrow boat, might have been anadvantage to him, but the water in this race was as smooth as glass.
Mr. ROBERTS, the President, and Mr. COTTE, the Treasurer, begged our reporter to announce that early in the Fall they will give a grand four-oared boat race, and hope boatmen will prepare accordingly against the announcement is publicly made.
-- NYT, 7/24/1863