Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-07-16

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march, and as we passed the bridge into the town.
the cannon greeted III with many a friendly peal.
We paraded through several Of the streets. and
were escorted in fine style to the several lodgings
which hospitality had provided. Every man Ielt
at once he was to be well taken care OF. The
hand was shown US at the commencement, and
we knew how the game would be played. The
Chesterfield Troop were escorted by the Peters
burg and Richmond Cavalry to the Union Tavern,
where they were told their quarters were provld-
ed, and ali they saw was theirs; and then the Rich.
mond Troop were escorted IN turn to PowelPs
elegant establishment, where we were told "sen
tlenen, you are at home; you will lind stables
for YOUR horses. beds for yourselves; make your
selves comfortable" Here the Blues had been
escorted. and also provided with quarters; the
Artillery and Rifle were accommodated IN the
same STYLE at the BollingbrOok Hotel. All were
comfortable. The different Petersburg compa.
MES then dismissed for the night. and then came
the recognition of friends and good fellowship
overlooking: vow didn't stand in need Of intro
ductions; YOU didn't feel as If YOU desired to
know to whom You were indebted for marked at
tention; every one made as free with you as IT
he had known you all your life; you were not
told TO call and see me before you leave town,
but you were forced to go along now; "come, |
want to show you our towns" "my wife will be
glad to see you;'' s.come and see my little curly
heads;'' ..the little fellows will welcome you to
Petersburg;' and so It was; for my part, | felt
determined to know something of these good peo.
pie. and | took the rounds, as | know almost eve
~ one eI,e did, and every door was open, and
every table spread. We didn't 90 singIy; we
went by hundreds; for we were gathered in
groups, and we had a merry making.
Every hotel, every restorative, every public
eating or drinking house IN town was open TO us
all; their yards were decorated with evergreens
hung with lamps in %festoons. and their tables
presented every variety; and il you asked what
you had to pay for your refreshments, they would
absolutely laugh at you; it you called even a, an
Apothecaries TO provide yourself with soda wa
ter no charge was made, nothing would be re.
ceived; such an entertainment is worth record
ing. But were | to tell one half the llberality,
the cordiaIity. the kind ebulIition Of feeling that
! witnessed, your paper would not contain it.
The Fourth. The morning saIutes were fired,
the reveIIies were beat, the flags we're floating,
and at every turn you saw the busy preparation
OF soldiery for the morning parade. There are
sorts OF morning ~salutes; one with cannon;
60 to Petersburgh they'll show you the other,-
hail storm. Well we breakfasted, and now the
trumpets sounded, and the drums beat to arms
once more: Petersburg was all in motion, and
aud Chesterfield, lent a willing hand.
At nine o'clock, the line was formed, the Mar.
sails of the day took command Of the whole, and
w paraded through the several streets to the !
by the bv, the negroes in Petersburg
know who they have to deal with; there is no
disturbance; they know their distance. In Rich.
mond, when a military band strikes up a martial
air, there is one universal rush Of woody heads,
and if you don't use your bayonets, you will in.
.evitaoly be crushed 10 death. / have seen thou
sands OF little negroes some of them hardly able
to walk. pell nell, heller SHELTER in with the
herd; and if you breathe, it must be the real aro-
ma Of dust and filth. At the Theatre, we were
well provided for; the pit was reserved for the
the stage for the Infantry, the boxes for
the ladies and citizens: when the curtain rose
the seated soldiery with their nodding plumes
and %bris,ling bayonets had a most happy effect;
the officers Of all the different corps were in front;
they rose and saluted the citizens, and were
greeted in turn with three cheers and martial mu.
sic! When all were seated, Mr.. John Thomp-
son Brown. a member of the Petersburg Cavalry
rose to read the Declaration of Independence,
and prefaced il with some Of the happiest soul.
remarks. His composition is always
beautiful; we had heard him before, and always
with pleasure in our Legislative Hall in Rich.
mond. He was followed by Col. Psgram, who
delivered an eloquent grafton which was receiv.
ed with great and just applause. These ceremo-
MES being over the troops again assembled, and
were escorted to a beautiful lawn, where the line
was formed preparatory to the md day salute -
We anticipated being reviewed by Brigadier Ge.
neral Brodnax, but he was moi in town, and our
own Brioadier General Lambert. was requested
to review the troops A finer set [ never saw,
nor a better line; after the review, a federal sa-
lutte was fired by the Cavalry and Infantry, and
then our Artillery made the welkiu ring again
We again marched for the place provided for our
entertainment a: dinner, and here We were dis
missed to cool of. We cooled OF win si1an:.
1t is useless to attempt a description Of the lit.
tie comforts provided previous to dinner, but
they were such as none but the most determined
disposition to leave nothing undone that hospital,
ity could devise would ever have thought Of
The dinner was set out under a spacious bull.
ding erected for the purpose, containing six par-
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