The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-04-09

ERGEANT RATES IN RICHMOND.

Sergeant Gilbert Fl. Bates, the flag
bearer whose fame has been heralded over
the country by telegraph and through the
press for months past, reached Richmond
yesterday afternoon at half-past o'clock.
There was large crowd waiting both in
Manchester and on this side the river to
welcome him, but owing to the uncertainty
as to his route Of entry, the people were
divided between the three bridges which
span the James. 1t was noticeable that
the crowd was composed almost entirely of
white persons, and quite number of la
dies were present. After crossing the
bridge the pressure was so great about the
Sergeant that his walk was greatly i'm
peded, and he struck out at "double-
quick" with the flag unfurled. Cheers
greeted him at various points.
He came to halt at the. Exchange Ho-
tel, where Colonel Darlington and his
courteous sons were prepared to give him
an Old Virginia welcome. The crowd
pressed in the hotel to such an extent
that he was obliged to seek immediate re-
fuge in his room. Many prominent citi-
zens at once called and congratulated him
upon reaching Richmond, and expressed
in kind terms their appreciation of the OBJ
| iect Of his tramp through the South.
After an hours rest, during which it
was found necessary to close the room
door in order to keep back the host who
were anxious to "shake hands," he enter
ed hack, in company with Major Vaughan
of Montgomery, Ala, and Mr.. Darlington
of the Exchange Hotel, and drove to the
Capitol Square. Here crowd of nearly
thousand persons had assembled ; very
few negroes being noticed in attendance.
He went directly to the top of the Capitol
building, aud waved the flag north, south,
east. and west. AS he passed down
many persons pressed up to grasp his hand !;
but it was observed that the Radical men,
bers of the Convention stood aloof.
On his return to the hotel about fifteen
or twenty of the Conservatives of the
Convention were introduced to the Ser
geant, each giving him cordial greeting.
In reply to the question "Do you think
the South is reconstructed 2" he replied,
eyes" with much emphasis. "Do you
think YOU can convincethe northern people
of it ?" 81 can the ordinary people," was
the reply. He said he had everywhere
received kindness on his trip. He did not
know how to express us leellUSS Oh ILLS
subject. On his arrival at Amelia Court
house at IL O'Clock P. NJ, Mrs. Joseph
Canoe gave him a fine supper, and had
hot breakfast prepared before his depar-
ture at 4 O'Clock in the morning. At Coal
field and other places large crowds ga
thered to greet him. His trip from Vicks-
burg to Richmond has been continued
ovation.
As previously stated, the Sergeant is
unarmed and without money. He travels
in velvet suit presented him by the ladies
of Augusta, Ca, and wears bright, red
sash presented by the ladies of Mont
gomery, Ala. He talks little, but is intel
ligent and very pleasant in conversation.
One of his legs is considerably swollen,
and he has therefore more willingly yielded
to a desire to stay in Richmond to-day. AS
he desires to see the sights to-day, we are
authorized to state that he will be " at
home." at the Exchange, and pleased to
receive company between and O'Clock
P. NJ. Those desiring to see him had better
call at that time.