Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-03-09
Handsome Military Dlsplay-Gen' JOS T.
Johnston.

ss. UUu1SGUu'
The display of troops in Staunton Tues
day at the first parade of the Staunton
Artillery was the finest ever made III This
city in times Of peace. The novelty Of the
occasion was the new artillery company
commanded by Capt. i. H. Fultz, num-
bering fifty-four men and differed by Its.
Ihos. Shumate, Theo. Long, John Bryan
and Hez. Jordan. The size and bearing of
the artillerymen were just the thing for
soldiers, and for Il company that had never
had company drill, and only as YET been
drilled in squads, the marching was very
creditable. The handsome uniforms of
grey with black and red trimmings were
much admired and with the cleaning sa-
bres made a very pretty picture. The
company left their armory near the
G. & o. Depot, about 3 O'Clock in the at
ternoon and marched to the tap of the
drum corps to the armory of the West Au-
gusta Guard, Capt. VIM. L. Bumgaruner.
which, with military courtesy, had offered
| themselves as an escort. Headed by the .
| Stonewall Brigade Band, the West Angus
ia men marching better han they ever
marched in Stanton before, the two COM
| paies paraded the principal streets of the
city, the windows and sidewalks along the
route being thronged with admiring spec
tators and the ladies quite enthusiastic.
| The artillery carried their beautiful stand
| of State colors painted with art and taste
by Mr.. Thos.t Henning and borne by color
| Sergeant, B. Dull, a color bearer Of fine
appearance. 1t being understood that
Gen. Joe Johnston Was on the incoming
| Eastern train from Richmond the battalion
marched to the depot, and formed i'll line
to receive him. Gen. R. D. Lilley, whose
! armless sleeve testified his right to promi-
nence in military affairs, upon the arrival
of the train introduced Gen. Johnston to
| Captains ~Bumgardner and Fultz and the
former presented the white whiskered vet
eran of many battles to the troops who
presented arms.
Gen. johnson lifted his hat, and said he
Nas highly gratified at the reception. To
see good soldiers had always been a pleas
ureto him, and the bearing of those he saw
in line showed him that they were of that
sort. He also liked the military spirit
which could produce such companies as he
saw. He thanked them heartily for the
welcome given. The little gray-head SOL
der, with his white mutton-chop whiskers
and bald head, standing straight up with
an unmistakable military bearing, seemed
really touched at the reception, and quite
as if he meant the kind things he said {;
and he looked still more so when, at the
suggestion of Capt. Fultz, three cheers
and a tiger rang down the line. The spry
old man shook hands with every member
of the old brigade band. His memory is
very keen, and he said afterwards in private
conversation that ne we'll remembered see
ing the old Staunton artillery in action at
the Henry House at the first battle Of Ma
nassas. Both he and Gen. Beauregard in
their official report mentioned this battery
with praise. He remembered the old West
Augusta Guard having carried it with him
as a part of the 18th Virginia regiment
from Harper's Ferry to the first battle of
Manassas.
When the parade, which nearly set the
school girls wild by passing the various fe-
male colleges, was over the artillery fired
d salute from their two four-pound Whit
worth guns, which arrived from Richmond.
Saturday morning, the firing being ex-
3~ellently done and, when the boys tried
themselves, as fast as in action. The CON-
pany is promised, by the State authorities,
Il battery Of four twelv%e-pounders, so that,
probably, at the next parade we shall see
the guns. in line and the officers mounted.
The officers of the new company, have
cause to be proud Of it's first appearance.
and, as men are generally alive to the i'm
poItance of having fne-looking officers,
we suppose they. will reclprocate the feel
ing Of pride.