The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-20
lrhuunn pispatrh.
SATURDAY MORNING. APRIL 20, lse,
The Tsrehlishs Procession and lllumiaa.
tten last night.


The rsrehlisht Procession and illumiaa.
tten last might.
In Pursuance of a notice published In this
paper, that torchlighs procession and illu-
mina,ion, in honor Of the recent glorious VIC
tory obtained by the "rebels'' at Charleston
over the Federal forces, and Of tho secession
Of Virginia from the Union, an immense con-
course Of citizens, numbering not less than
ten thousand men. assembled at the desig'
mated rendezvous, In front of the City Hall
al 81 O'Clock. The news received in the af-
ternoon, from Baltimore, added greatly TO the
already iubliant feeling of the public mind,
and the widest enthusiasm prevailed. The
weather was highly propitious for the ocea-
sion, the sky being without cloud. The
crowd was formed into line by Chief Marshal
Gen T. p. Arsusr, with the aid of a number
Of assistant Marshals, and, with torches in
hand and headed by SxIrH's splendid Band
commenced their march, proceeding, amid the
most deafening cheers, up 18th street to Clay,
ND Clay TO 10Th, down 10th to Broad, up Broad
70 Foushee down Foushee TO Franklin, down
Franklin TO 9Th, down 5th to Main, down
Main 10 10th, up l9th to Broad, along Broad
to 2Sth, down 25th TO Franklin, and mp Frank
lin to the Governors Mansion. The Armory
Band, with its accomplished leader, LTBaAS,
was In the centre of the procession.
Along the whole line of march the houses
were brillianNT Illuminated, and the side
walks were crowded with adn,iring and SYM
pathixing spectators, among whom were many
ladies, who expressed their appreciation by
waving their handkerchiefs. The immense
moving mass, with their blazing torches-the
brilliant and beautifully arranged lights
cleaning from the window panes OF almost
every house-the incessant play OF Roman
candles, sky rockets, and numerous o'her
styles of pyrotechnics, shooting far up INTO
the vault of Heaven and bursting INTO
thousand beautiful scintillations, presented
spectacle the splendor of which has never
been equalled in this city. As far as the eye
could reach the moving mass OF fire surgeo
along and iigh ted up with its lurid glare every
object with almost the brightness OF day. In
various localities bonfires had been iishtea
and the dun cloud Of the burning tar roiieo
up and away like some spirit OF darkness
taking its flight from the wrath OF an ofenoeo
Deity.
There wen s. ,ral hundred transparencies,
with every variety Of motto, all OF theih nav
ing reference TO the occasion, and TO the strug
gle In which the Southern States are engaged
Some of them were highly amusing, promi
nent among wnfcn WIS ohe iepio Soh'"e '
heeira of I.rEcoLx to Washington, and upor
the opposite side, his supposed speedy exi
from that CITY. There were also numerous
flags of the Southern Contederacy, above
some of which were blazing torches. Thu
procession, after going over the prescribed
route, passed tho Exchange Hotel on its re
turn, headed by the Marshals on horseback
and, after reaching Main street. was dis
missed, the people quietly returning to then
several homes. Nothing that ever trans
pired here has served to infuse so much EN-
thusiasm in the people of all classes, eondi
tions and celors. No accident occurred wor
thy of notice. The ladies heartily seconded
the efforts of their husbands, brothers ant
sons, in giving eclat to the occasion, and the.
will heartily second the efforts to humble Or
= ABB and his mercenary hirelings in their ma
crusade on the rights of the South.