The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-20

OUR CAPE MAY LETTER.

wv" WV CAPR ISLAND, July 20
Another day Of the memorable soJourn OF the Grey
eserves at Cape Island has passed. and III mas been
enly less eventful than the two days which mmedi-
aAelV preceded II.
Tho Amenities Of Soldering.
uyhop tho Crews Crawled under their tents at Camp
UptOn on Sunday night, to dream over the uhprece-
aented honors which had been so profusely heaped
anon them by the President OF the United States, not
ane n, them imagined that their profound cOmpla-
.encv and complete self-satisfaction could be mate
rialy disturbed after it had sustained the slight rue
accustomed by the hurry OF the Presidential party In
getting away from the island But the courageous
heart when it shoulders musket is ofttimes obliged
10 face the elements as well as the enemy. Such
fate was decreed for the Grey Reserves. The sun
aank TO rest only to darken the scene while the storm
King was marshalling his forces. Some OF 1.-THE
tyoonsp which had received their old commander
with cheers" had been soldering before and were
not less weather-wse than they were martial. Many
nj them felt the approach Of the masquerade OF the
elements in the marrow Of their bones and they
were heedful enough Of the warning to hunt up
shovel and dig a trench round abont their tent,
when about midnight, the storm burst upon the
eamp i'm literal as well agurativc fury, these wise
and valiant campaigners rolled over on their cots
and laughed in the face Of their assaian But there
were not few foolish youths in the encampment
who had scorned the sappers work, and to their DIS
NAV they soon found themselves anOat and seaward
bound Then they bestirred themselves and their
the plight of the traditional drowned rat.
Tho Grev Reserves Sustain Another DisRp-
pOintmcnt.
The grand and central object OF interest to the
veterans of Camp Upton yesterday was, as matter
of course the monster military ball which was to
transpire in the evening. But somewhat exciting
episode had been appointed for the afternoon, and
this was the review of the regiment 10y Major-Gene-
raj Meade The Greys had been so putfed up with
vanity by the attentions OF President Grant, that at
one time they almost Inclined to regard this
contemplated review as a lamentable falling off in
the splendOr Of their martial achievements. But
when "their old commander" had actually put to sea
in the Tallapoosa, they began to think that, after
ALL it would not materially sully their record to pass
in review before the hero Of Gettysburg and when
they crawled out Of their tents on Monday morning,
their high-1yng notions had been so dampened by
the storm that they were in a mood to regard the
presence of General Meade in the light OF a very dis
tingushed honor. Thereupon they set their hearts
upOn it.
General Meade had promised to come, and his arri-
val was anXiUusly looked Tor by the morning train.
But General Meade did not arrive by the morning
train. Nor did the evening train number him
among its passengers. Instead Of General Meade in
his own proper and ilustrious person. came simple
telegram, which announced that storm was pre-
Vaing in the city, that the General had pressing
Eagements and that Major-General Van Vliet, who
was already on the island, and therefore presumed
TO be without pressing engagements and without
Of the storm, had been requested to represent
him.
The Greys at once accepted the situation and con-
cluded to inspire the venerable Chief Quartermaster
OF the Department of the East with the belief that
they were entirely worthy Of all the attentions
which they had received at the hands OF the greatest
captain of this particular age and nation, or Of any
other age and nation. At half-past O'Clock in the
afternoon the camp was crowded with visitors from
the island. In fact, there were more spectators
on hand than had turned out on
the previous day, when his Excelency himself
had given 'the troops" third opportunity to 're-
ceive their old commander with cheers" When
General Van Vliet appeared upon the scene in fd
uniform he attended by Major Carstairs SINH
larly attred, and by Colonel Cadwalader, of Gene
raj Meades stan, in citizens Dress The advent of
the distinguished guest was heralded by the firing
of Major-Generas salute of fifteen guns; the
regiment broke into columns by companies, and
marched by General Van Welt in review; it then
broke into sections, and repassed on the double
quick; it then formed in line and gave the saluta
tiOn OF "present arms" ;" it then went through the
mannuvres of the battalion drill and the thing
was done-and well done, into the bargain
The ''.SOiree Militaire."
Meanwhile the island was alert with preparations
FOL the crowning event OF the day. the Soree Mill
tare which was to transpire at the Stockton House.
The mammoth dining-room OF this establishment
was very tastefully decorated for the eventthe
aorations, however, being precisely the same at
Congress Hall on Saturday evening previous. Long
festoons Of bunting enCirc ed the apartment, i'm
parting to 1t a picturesque and patriotic well as
a martial aspect The Greys at the proper
time donned their white pautatoons, shrugged
their shoulders up into their full dress jackets,
grasped their weapons, and left the encampment
early in the evening for the march upon the town.
They likewise left behind them thirty or forty
miserable and misanthrope creatures who were
charged with the unwelcome duty of guarding the
camp while their comrades in arms TO be en-
gagged in the lively action upon the door OF the ball
ROOM The despair OF these poor fellows was slightly
assuaged however by the that at halfpast
eleven they would be relieved by Ike number, aud
get a chance to trip their toes faataNticaly Ia the
small hours OF the morning
When the doors of the ballroom Serc thrown
open, about ten O'Clock, as brilliant thrOlz - ever
passed into any ballroom since the world OF fashion
first gave itself dancing passed itself thrGash
the passage. First Of ALL Of course were the heroes
of Camp Upton and Congress Hail. In their trim and
jaunty rig but without their dangerous weapons
Then there were a half score so Of the members
OF the First City Troop Of Philadelphia with feathers
in their caps that threatened to scrape the ceiling
and boots so long drawn out in the legs that their
two-inch coat tails appeared to be as long as was
needful. Then there was squad OF Baxter
Zouayes, with naming red trousers aud delegations
also OF the National Guards and Washing
ton Greys Of Philadelphia, and the
bth Regiment Of Maryland Militia all cOnspicuously
attired. Then there was a group of men whose
MIN f,lly complied with the request OF their hosts
NV nnnearing in full uniform ranking all the way
from simple majors up to major-generas. Then
tbere were men OF mark in the business and social
world followed by hundreds whose fame Is yet
restricted 70 ordinary circles And then there were