The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-09
THE GRAND REVIEW.

correspondents was apprlSeu OF the lmpOr-
tant event through a general order which
circulated through the camps the night be-
fore. And as happened on that night
to be the guest of the gallant young field
officers of the sold Twentieth Tennessee. u
was posted" as to coming events, and
was among the first on the field of review
the next morning.
The sun rose gorgeously above the spires
OF the city, and sabres and bayonets gilt
tered in every direction as the regiments
OF the first Division for review filed into
the open area selected for the ceremony.
The review took place in an open plain,
on the road leading to Shelbyville, about
one mile from Murfreesboro. An immense
concourse of people assembled to witness
it, and the elite Of the beauty and fashion
of old Rutherford and the surrounding
country" was fairly represented in the
graceful persons of many of the fairest of
the daughters of the old volunteer State
The outskirts of the plain were bordered
with people of all ages and costume, hor-
ses and vehicles of every description, pre-
senting altogether scene of hustle and
excitement that reminded one of England s
race-course on Derby day; while the lines
of infantry, with waving banners and
cleaning bayonets, the superbly mounted
cavalry, and gaily caparisoned chargers, to-
gether with the generals and their respec-
tive corps of staff officers and outriders, on
nett ed steeds, with rich housings an trap
pings, revived old and pleasant reminis-
cences of the Champ de Mars, and sug-
gested vivid pictures of the glorious time
of the First Napolean. The lines were
forming, and I was looking about me for a
safe place of observation for quiet citizen
observer and reporter, when an incident
occurred to me.
You have heard of the oracles of Delphi
You have heard Of the mystic temple, the
hazy depths threabouts, and the supposed
god who held his habitation within these
dim shadows. Well, the whole thing was
nothing to the sight that broke upon me
at this moment. a noise of Gathering
hoofs was heard to the right suddenly
turned my eyes in time to behold great
cloud of dust approaching, from which
issued the forms of riding men vaguely.
For a moment more the dust cleared
away. look again and see a charger, the
most superb of charger kind, splendidly
equipped. \ soldier sits upon him, and
every inch soldier Dark locks of hair,
''In gloss and hue the chestnut when the shell
Divides their folds to show the fruit within"
And yet family fiecked with tiny sprays
of silver white. A face, full and oval /;
eyes large and luminous with life and
thought; a small mouth, overshadowed by
moustache of amber color; complexion
clear and roseate; and form as finished,
compact and symmetrically rounded as an
Apollo. A full suit of Confederate gray
set off the figure and completed the i'm
posing presence of the rider. 1t was Breck-
inridge. l never saw him look so grandly,
except on one occasion. That occasion
was upon the memorable field of Shiloh,
amid the smoke and heat of great con-
fiict, surrounded by perfect ring of fame,
through whose fiery folds he passed, as
harmless as the favored children in the
fiery furnace. l must be pardoned for
dwelling upon his picture. Hewas mon
General" in that memorable Mississippi
campaign, and have an honest partially
tor him above the rest.
He was not the only distinguished per-
sonage, however, that composed the Presi-
dental cOrtege on that review morning.
There was Bragg, the veteran of grape-shot
memory; Braxton Bragg, to whose ear the
belching of hOwitzer is sweetest music,
and TO whose sight nothing is more re-
freshing than charge of Southern bayo-
He was the picture Of soldier, and sat his
horse like Tourney knight.
Then here is another veteran. Do you
see that old man yonder- burnt,
brawny, stout-limbed Vigor displays
herselfin every muscle. Activity in eve
ry movement. An old man, truly, but a
brave, bold, young old man, Big fea-
lures, frank open face, rubicond health.
An eye like Mars to threaten and COM
mand, but Ito love also. A loving old
man, and soldier, albeit Bishop Yes,
Bishop, bona fide Bishop, and Lieu
tenant General to boot. His Right Rev.
erend Lieutenant Generalship, Leonidas
Polk. Here's health to him
And here is General Hardee, whose ex-
cellent Textbook Of tactics was the bane
of our youthful military education, but
whose volumes, nevertheless, have acted
the drill-master for both armies in this
war-General Hardee, whom the ladies all
adore / know two fair ones myself who
are dying about him. He always was a
gallant and graceful gentleman in the par
lor as well as in the field but he has been
disappointed in love, says my little bird,
for all that. Caddy --- was an early
fame of the Generals when a mere Cap
tain of the United States Army. She was
beautiful, sprightly, and accomplished.
The Captain wooed, and apparently won
her. About this time he was ordered to
West Point. His only rival, a sprig of a
Congressman's son, came in as cadet
young, good-looking, but desperately dull
at the books.
He would have been turned off last year
but for the generous chivalry of Hardee,
who could not think Of allowing his posi-
ton to be suspected, compromised, OF
questioned, and who stood between hi:
rival and harms way until he put him
through. The fair beauty, proud, false as
fair. All women are ungratetul, as most
women are firts at heart. Two days after
the young Buck received his brevet lieu
fba nj no RAIL