The Van Buren press., 1875-06-29
The Millennium Approaching!

! There l. scarcely paper comes TO our tabl
ba, relates some incident connected with tn
recent centennial celebrations that mus
touch the hearts of all those who love thsi
country,and desire a restoration ofpcace, ,har
mony and love between the sections.
/ On the 18th of June occurred the one hun
dredth anniversary Of the battle Of Bunker
! Hill, the initia'osy one Of the Revolution. Il
was to be great occasion. and Americans o
all sections were invited to be present, and
take part in the grand jubilee
The Norfolk Blues. Of Virginia, under the
command OF Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, and the
Washington Light Infantry. of Charleston
South CAROLINA, Col simmons in command,
accepted the invitation. With regard to the
treatment which they received, we cannot do
better than copy from the New York Worlds
Boston correspondence
There vas the fraternal feeling Of glad
welcome and joy to begin with, first, last and
all the time. Ii bubbled and oyerhowed at
every point, nobody quite hung out the
cross-bar Of the Confederate flag. though any
quantity Of the fcstoons were in the red aud
white, once deemed such wre.ched taste,
gland town. The changed feeling turned the
celebration into love-feast and brought the
goose-hesh creeping down any mans back
who saw the palmetto picked out for North
ern cheers. and it was cheering with no whit
of abatement Of the old time belief In anoth
or tree.
The official invitation and the official well
come to the southern troops are as a matter Of
course things that could be arranged before
hand. and. given energy, carried out without
break or stop but these shouts from the pave
ments, and the swinging hats and handkcr-
chiefs from the windows and stagings--that,
no programme could order or ask.
Wednesday afternoon President Elliot, Of
Harvard, extended the hospitalites OF the
universities to the Washington Light In
fantry. OF which some Of the memberu were
graduates.
The same correspondent writing on the 10Th
SAYS: The Norfolk Blues visited Mayor Cobb
to-day. when speeches were made by the
Mayor and Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. The latter
spoke as follows;
Ma. MAYOR; ! have but few words to say. I came
bore not expecting 10 speak. snl think we have
had plenty Of speeches, and fully understand every
thing; but unite with these gentlemen IN thanking
the city Of Boston and vicinity through you for this
very cordial and gratifying reception which we have
ciyities at the hands Of the gentlemen of Boston
even those who differed most widely with us, but We
were not prepared to meet with this enthusiastic and
splendid demonstration which we have witnessed at
your hands, Wewill raturn to Virginia, and tell
the people they should come here and see for them
selves, as We have seon, the people eff 3osten, and
they will feel as we iee that this great country.
and form part oft. | thank you most sincere
ly, sir, for your kindness and hospitality,
After few minutes OF ofconvcrsation Mayor
Cobb shook each Nirginisn by the hand, and
badc them good-by. again assuring them that
h.,n al t..I NH. Vtsif me tth1
The Blues left the city this afternoon by
boat. The departure from the Parker House
was attended with great enthusiasm 1t was
with great difficulty that Gen. Fitzhug Lee
reached hi. carriage Round upond roun OF
cheers were given by the people. Gen. Lee
was calle upon to speak, and briefly thanked
the people for their great cordality. On the
way to the wharf Gen Lee and the Blues
were checred wherever recognized.
The World Of the 10th, In its account OF the
return from Bunker Hill to New York, says
/ The ashihgton Light Infantry, Of Charles
town, escorted, as before, by the Old Guaru
left Boston, in special train at 4 80 =. NJ, day
before yesterday. and arriving at Full River
an hour later, boarded the steiner Proyi idenc.
and came on to this city, arriving here
! (Ncw York; at o'clock yesterday morning
AS soon as all had discmbarked, the line OF
march was taken up and the visiting troop:
]
street, where n light break fast was served
Major Mclean. Of the Old Gu ri, being Pres
| dent of the stock exchange a visit Was nexl
made to that glorious institution, and amid
tremendous Yelling the visitors were marshal
| led into the room and drawn up in front OF
the Presidents desk. with the Old Guard
M!jor Mclean took his position at the Prcsi-
| dents desk. and in the name OF the brokers
| heartily welcomed the visitors. ). V. White
on behalf of the managing committee follow
ed with Il short address of welcome, Mr.
| Whcelock. chairman of the Brokers' Board
| then introduced Col. simmons commander OF
! the southern troops who was received with
| prolonged cheering. Mr.. Wheclock made q
! professional Joke, which was rapturously ie-
| ccived, 10y calling from his desk in his custo-
mary manner. " South Carolina old siNes.'
The .oldiesr then filed out and were checrcd
again and again. as they marched past the
| brokers offices. Both companies greeted
with cheers all aleng marched up Broadway
and to Irving Hall, where a rest was given
them.
At ~ o'clock the Veterans Of the Seventh
marched up to Irving Hall to escort the
| Charlestown company to dinner at belmont
eos, Fourteenth steeet. The Veterans were
drawn up in Irving Placc,and the visiting SOL
dicrs. aud the Old Guard passed In review be-
| fore them. the latter in turn reviewing the
! Veterans. The march WAS then resumed
amidst the greatest cheering BY the thous
| ands assembled on the sidewalks. all the way
to the restaurant. The Washington Infant :
| ~ carried 4 bundle Of Palmetto on their
march. The entire body of soldiers sat do VI
to dinncr in the large dining hall the cspac-
! ty OF which was sorcly tested. General Mar
shall Ietferts. Colonel Commanding the Nete-
rams, presided On his right sat Col. Sim
mons. and on his left Mai. Mclean. After
dinner. Gen. Leilcrts rose and said:
at gives me great pleasure to wclc Dms the South
Carolina regiment. The North and the South have
at last joined hands on the soil Of Massachu.
sets, and we now fold you in our arms as brothers
Of our common country. lGreat cheerine) Soldiers
may We always be united in hands and hearts The
future is indeed bright The sun shines with brill
fancy over band Of brothers, to be kept together
| ntil the eternal shores are reached We feel at
last that the hearts of all soldiers throughout the
| country. nov beat in perfect unison. Brother sol
diers of the South we give you agrand hearty vel
| come. You are doubly, trebly, and most emphati
eally welcome. and may you return to your home,
| confident Of our sincerity
As Gen. Icllsrts finished, the whole body
Of city troops rose, and gave cheer after cheer
to the visiting soldiers. The scene was re-
peated again and again, rs Col Simmons rose
to respond. lie said:
| ~ thank you for this evidence of your friendship .
and fraternity. Language is inadequate to describe
the emotions of our hearts in contemplation of those
during our recent visit. We came among you stran-
gers to each other, and We leave you brsthers for
life. Great checringl am enc Of the Old Guard
-Gaashter("sndw we feel that you belong to us. and
We to you. (Cheers) Permit me to say that | look
upon the events of the last few days as the most
! Il was projected we builded better than we knew.
The events of the pas. few days-whch have been
the osprings of fraternal good feeling everywhere
will enable the country to be united to the end oJ
| inn ph he of n rCnI