It always was a sunny day

At least, it very seldom rained.

The water god seemed gracious, then

The martial god seemed ruler when Militia soldiers met and trained.

Nor was there in the year a day

So full of fun, so bright and gay

"Battalion Day" Or "Militia 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 combat between rival local bullies. "

According to the Berwick Enterprise newspaper, “During the early years of Berwick. There were battalion drills in town, consisting of organized companies of infantry, cavalry, and militia. They trained first upon the Miller farm north of Freas miles in the rear of town, and afterwards on the commons on the upper end of town. It was a great day. Farmer's boys and girls would plant corn extra hours to be at the gigantic military parade.

Fair country damsels would mix in the giddy mazes of the dance till the gray dawn of morning was streaming forth in the eastern horizon. Ginger cake, oranges, and peanuts stood in pyramids upon every street corner. and brewed beer flowed from barrels like streams of nectar. It was in May when flowers were blooming. when the corn was all planted.”

Elijah Voris of Danville spoke of his reminisces of Danville in 1842, including a humorous story of Battalion Day. "Christmas and the Fourth of July were the only holidays we observed then although 'general training' was counted quite a holiday. That always came in May, just after corn planting, and on that one day of the year, every man between twenty-one and forty-five years old had to go through the military drill even if he shouldered a cornstalk, a cane or broomstick in place of a gun. "I remember one general training or battalion day when Captain Fox marched his company down from York's Hill, and the men got to running so fast that a lot of them crossed Mill Street and jumped into Mahoning Creek. "

The Lewisburg Chronicle newspaper of 1909 included this story of Battalion Day. "Battalion day at New Berlin Friday last, was rather a pleasant show, considering Battalion Day Trainings are no longer required. Nearly 200 members of various Uniformed Companies paraded and were drilled by 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 on the No. 1 list, in every respect desirable.”

Training Day or Battalion Day was quite a celebration as described in the Sunbury Daily Item, “Sunbury today 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 composing 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 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 on 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.

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 fingernails 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 sports during the day. The long bullet game 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 handball. There were two handball alleys in town — one at the corner of Market and Center alley, and one in the old jail yard.

"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 flocculant as a swarm of bees, and the remit of the sudden and Inexplicable embrace would be numerous black eyes, skint, and bloody noses, and its 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 haven’t the least idea of manners. There were no restless wallflowers in those days-no, no! All danced - All danced perforce of good breeding. 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 gyrations, and throw himself as high as the ceiling, and give 40 hideous yells, was considered far superior to anyone else, and his fame went abroad. When a set of dancers was out on the floor in full operation, the noise and clatter resembled that of the pitman in a sawmill - the whole scene perfecting a ridiculous sight 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 landmarks associated with battalions and kindred matters of days gone by will soon be superseded by the largest and most commodious hotel in this place. "