Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-18
The Competitive Drill which
Did Not Come Of at
Huntsville.
How the " Chicks" Bid Farewell to
Huntsville and How They
were Received
: at Home.

The settled disagreement between the
Porter Rifles and the Chickasaw Guards,
at Huntsville Gu Friday last, did not
leave the companies or their hackers
and friends ia the best of humor. Every
body used the phrase the drill is or"
Tbeil humor at the result, on the part Of
everybody was 10 doubt heightened by
the rainy weather. The weight of the
atmosphere has quite a considerable
effect upon the temper Of man, and the
barometer can be used 10 indicate &C.
c~urately man's disposition or temper and
tone Of mind daily. This branch Of in.
vestigation will no doubt be added to the
signal service bureau in due time, and
then we expect 10 see a bulletin posted
in each household giving the PROBABLE.
ties OF the temper Of the animal man
and his better half in advance for the
day. 1t rained steadily and almost with
out intermission from seven o'clock on
Thursday morning to ten o'clock on
Saturday morning. Mists and fogs hung
heavily on the surrounding mountains
and hills, and ever above the p%ellucid
waters Of the beautiful "big spring" a
vJpor was discoverable just as if some
water spirit or nymph hoated around tie
grotto, wrapped in misty habiliments.
1t having been announced by author.
ity that the Porter Rifles would leave for
home at s o'clock on Saturday morning,
Captain Duncan, Of the Chickasaw
Guards, and Captain Cameron, Of the
Bluff City Grays, rendered the services
of their companies as an escort to Cap.
tain Donaldson and the Porter Rifles.
This act of courtesy was rendered and
accepted, Notwithstanding the late un-
plea ssntness and the bad feeling, both
military and social, which had been en-.
gendered.
EsCoRTING Il RIFLEs TO HI DEPOT.
At hslEpast seven in the morning the
Chicks and Bluff City Grays, headed
by Arnold's band, formed as escort, and
amid the cheering Of the people, accom-
panied the Rifles to the depot. There
they went through a few military evolu.
tons and gave three cheers for the Por.
ter Rifles, which were responded to by
the Rifles, who had boarded the train.
The Chicks" and Grays gave three
cheers for the ladies Of Nashville, Hunts.
vile and Memphis. The Rifles, headed
by Captain Donelson. came from the
train, and without arms formed in front
of the Chicks" requesting the latter to
90 through the manual. This was done
in brilliant style, and WAS de.eryedly
applauded by the Rifles and citizens. In
a few minutes the train moved out, ard
the Chicks and Rifles parted perhsps
forever, it now being improbable and
hardly possible that any other drill con.
test will take place between the rival
companies so great is the bitter feeling
at. present existing.
THE DRILL OF THE CHICKS"
Owing tOthe continued cloudy weather
and muddineSs OF the fair grounds hand
bills were circulated informing the PEG.
pie that the Chickasaw Guards would
give an exhibition drill on the south side
Of THE Courthouse Square Saturday after
moor at three o'clock. Long before that
hour crowds began to assemble; the
Courthouse Square and the iutersecting
streets were packed with human beings.
The Huntsville Hotel Headquarters OF
the Chicks and Grays) presented a
charming sight; every window was filed
with ladies, the verandas we're likewise
crowded with the bellies Of two cities
Memphis and Huntsville-and occasion
ally you could see a Nashville belle who
awaited the drill with p~leasurable ankle
ty, because on the night before the gal
liant and knightly conduct of the Chicks"
in the ballroom, their elegant dancing,
etc, won many a heart from the fair of
Nashville, although the ladies fair be.
longed to the house Of Capulet, and with
that house it was a crime to smile upon
a Montague; but when did ever a Juliet
fail to smile upon a Romeo, even though
the old folk" and all the rufled kins.
men frowned and iumed like fiery Tybalt
AT two O'Clock Arnold's celebrated
band, which had been delighting the
Huntsville people for two days past,
filled the air with music. The Porter
Rifles, the cause Of the trouble, had de.
parted and Dame Nature seemed to give
a sigh Of relief as she listened to the
rsvishing music. Ia a few minutes the
murky clouds broke away, blue patches
Of sky began to appear east and south,
and by half.past two o'clock the glorious
sun broke out beamiDgly as if to indorse
the course Of the Chickasaw Guards in
demanding a fair aud legal contest, such
as Was had IN two former occasions.
At ten minutes to three o'clock the
band marched forth, followed by the
Chickasaw Guards. As the latter de-.
bouched from the hotel and marched
to the drill ground on the south
side Of the square a tremendous cheer
was heard, the martial bearing Of the
% nk.oL.u ;.o4