Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-04-21
The Arrival Of Sergeant Batssat Wash
ington City.


By nine o'clock this morning there had as
sembled at Long Bridge numerous COM
course of citizens, and when it was announced
few minutes after ten o'clock, that Sergeant
Bates was at the Virginia end of the long
Bridge, the crowd was quite large, many Ia
dies and distinguished personages being
among the number. Senator Doolittle, on
horseback, advanced across the bridge, as did
also committee of the Conservative Army
and Navy Union, and many ladies and gentle
men.
There was no formal reception. but one of
the members of the Conservative Army and
Navy Union welcomed him. The badge of
the Conservative Army and Navy Union was
placed on the lapel of his coat, he being made
an honorary member of that club.
Sergeant Bates was then escorted to the
public house of Captain Founts, corner of
Maryland avenue and Fourteenth street,where
he remained until one o'clock, and then
marched up Fourteenth street to Pennsyl-
vania avenue, and thence to the Presidents
House. The procession was headed by four
gentlemen mounted, followed by Heads
Band, and then by Sergeant Bates, who was
accompanied by large number of citizens
following him on foot. As he passed Will
lard's and the Treasury Building he was en-
Enthusiastically cheered, always returning the
compliment by raising his cap. When the
procession halted in front of the Executive
Mansion, President johnson came to the
front Portico, and approaching Sergeant Bates
took him by the hand and said: " All de-
sire to do is to simply welcome you and your
flag" He then took the Sergeant by the
arm, and they walked into the house and in
to the East Room together, followed by the
crowd. Here again the President said: Ser
geant Bates, I again welcome you to the Ma
tional Capital and to the Executive Mansion.
heartily welcome your fag-our flag; may
it always be as glorious and victorious in the
past.
Sergeant Bates bowed, thanked the Presi-
dent in low tone, and then was shaken by
the hand by the large crowd in the room.
He had some private conversation with the
President, and then with the crowd, retired;
the President, with Col. Moore, remained in
| the East Room until the crowd had retired,
The procession was again formed and
marched down Pennsylvania avenue to the
Capitol.
Arrived at the Capitol the Sergeant and
his party marched to the east front of the
Capitol and up the steps, where he was halt
ed by the Capitol police, who said they had
orders not to permit any demonstration what
| ever IN the Dulldlng.
The order obtained yesterday from Gene
raj Michler, permitting him to display his
flag from the dome, was here exhibited, when
the policemen replied that they could not
admit him unless ordered to do so by Ser
geant-at- arms Brown, of the Senate.
Meanwhile the crowd gathered around him
and gave three cheers, and congratulated him
upon his successful march. After some de-
lay Sergeant alarms Brown endorsed upon
the order to admit Bates, but when this was
presented to the Chief of the Capitol Police
he still refused unless Sergeant-at-Arms Ord
ways endorsement was also obtained.
The Sergeant and his party refused how
ever, to be further delayed, and putting him
in hack, they proceeded to the Washing
ton Monument, where the Sergeant was per-
mitted to fling his flag to the breeze.
At the monument speech was made by
Mr.. Perrine, of N. York, who referred to the
fact that Bates had marched all through the
Southern States, and had not been stopped
in his progress until he reached the doors of
the Capitol of the nation.
Sergeant Bares asserts that he has made
no wager, that he has done what he has done
to satisfy his many friends in Wisconsin that
the stories about atrocities in the South and
their hatred of the flag were base falsehoods.
He says he is poor man; has not made, and
does not expect to make, any money by his
trip through the South. He expects to re-
turn to his home in Wisconsin in few days
In the meantime he will sojourn at the
Metropolitan Hotel.