The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-01

Il hASES-lF 0nA LANAI
L PROGRAMME FOR TODAY.
Yesterday was the greatest day OF the
Fair. The attendance seemed to be fully
as large as ever before, Notwithstanding the
weather was cloudy and ,disagreeable 4 Had
the day been bright and warm and the earth
reasonably dry the crowd would have iar
|outnumbered any Ia the history OF the Ag-
ricaIturar Society. AS it was, many ladies
and others oil. delicate, health did not dare to
venture out to the grounds, for they knew
that iIeavyrain had fallen the night before.
and therefore had good reason to fear the
dampness = and they had also wholesome
recollection OF the winds which sweep over
the Fair Grounds with biting effect never
experienced in the city.
The crowd was good humored. Whether
for the moment there was promise OF glorl-
Gus sunshine or discomforting shower II
kept lively. The greeting OF old friends as
they met was cheerful end continuous fea-
ture. It was day OF retfnion OF city and
country people-always pleasant and agree
able.
i When it became ksown that Mr. Vor-
hees had not arrived there was some disap-
pointment. 1t was more than once said that
stbe newspapers shouldn't have announced
him unless they knew Of his positive ac-
ceptance OF the invitation" Be it known
that the newspapers got their information
from the official publications Of the Agricul-
tural Society. Whatever wrath has been
bottled-up on this account should be poured
upon the Society. ..-.. RIA !, .
However, had Mr.. Voorhees, come he
would have had dreadful time speaking
to the people, for most OF the time the wine
was very high. His eloquent words, in
stead OF reaching "his hearers" would
have been waited over their heads to the
city and far beyond. ..; .v, .-
The Competitive DRILL.
The conspicuous feature of the days en-
tertainment was the competitive drill or
white military companies of the State. The
First regiment and the Peninsula Guard
and Portsmouth Old Dominion Guard, all
under Colonel Bradley T. Johnson, reached
the grounds about IL O'Clock. The Rlch-
mond Light Infantry Blues and Richmond
City Guard came out little later. /:
The troops were formed in hollow
square in front OF the headquarters OF the
Society. The crowd gathered about them
was very large. 1t is common thing 70
hear men say, "Oh,, the women and chll-
dren all like to see the soldiers, you know, =
| In this instance the men pressed so closely
upon the lines that the weaker members OF
the human family present did not have
much opportunity to witness the drlihDg.
The ;;orches OF the Main Building, Centen-
NAL Building, and Headquarters Building
were, however, densely, and it may be SAID
dangerously, packed. r -..%s,- !,
The gentlemen chosen as Judges were
Major w. &. Randolph, Fifth Artillery u
S. A.; Major j. 81. Cary, Second Artillery;
and Lieutenant l.. A. Chamberlin, First AT
tilery.all on duty at Fortress Monroe.
The Judges had their stand on the Head
quarters porch Z Governor Holiday, Gene
rails Joseph E. Johnston, Early, Taliaferro
Fitz. Lee, and DR.. Hoge, and other dlstin
guiShed gentlemen, had seats near to the
| judges. ......--~
Hon. Bardwell Slote Mr. Florence). mem
ber from the Cohosh deesGrick, having beer
spied il; the crowd around tue military, wa:
called out and invited to the Judges stand
and introduced to those notableS, witt
whom he was not acquainted. The honor
able gentleman declared that he enjoyed
the competitive drilling very much. Ht
pronounced it F. r.
The premiums offered by the Society were
$500 to the best drilled company, 5000 t
the second best, 800 to the third. I
THE GRAYs. =" "....
The Grays Company AZ drew the posi-
tion of first in order to drill, and Captain
BossieuX, bringing his company out, pre-
septcd them to the judges. The drilling then
at twenty minutes to II O'Clock, commenced
Lin earnest. The Grays were in tine trim
Every man was we'll up in the manual o
arms. and the many warm friends OF thI
time-honorcd company felt we'll satisfied
that the first prize was within easy reach
They were drilled with unfxed bayonets
except Of course when the time came Il
"stack arms"-an evolution which wa
wellnigh iaultlessly performed, ant
which induced hearty cheer from
their friends all around the parade-ground
But that was not the only movement which
was applauded. The wheeling Of the com
pany, and the evolution Of coming to com
pany front while marching by fours, wer
, performed with precision and nicety tha
at once satisfied every spectator that tn
: Grays woald be hard to beat. One unfor
, tunate accident, the dropping OF his mus
ket by one Of the men, was greatly re
J GREETED by all the soldiers present who wer
Interested in the contest, and the Captain
marched his men from the ground no uoub
feeling satisfied that they had acquitted
J themselves handsomely, if not secured th
prize. -..
/ THE WALKER LIGHT GUARD.
Captain Bossieux having drilled through
his time twenty minutes). the next com
pany TO come upon the field was Compan
B (Walker Light Guard), Captain Ell. {
Jones. They came to the front at II M
: precisely, and evidently determined to d
their best; and they have cause to be we
satisfied with their performance.
They drilled with untiXed bayOnets. Th
evolution Of "secure arms " and the obIiqu
movements Of the company drew forth yer
hearty cheers from the bystanders; and q
times it was doubtful matter in the mind
of many of the spectators whether the Gray
or the Walker Light Guard would win. A
twenty minutes after IL o'clock they fir
!. is he'd their drill and were marched from tn
field, when they received the cOngratuls
tions OF many friends.
THE PENINSULA GUARD.
The next company to take part in th
contest was the Peninsula Guard, iron
Hampton, Va, Captain S. B. Wood, ou
, commanded during the drill by Lleutenan
w. L. Dougherty. They marched UP t
4 the parade grounds about twenty-five min
utcs past IL, aud presented fine appear
auce. The men we're all about the sam
size. stout and well built. Their move
ments were steady, and their performance
as far as it went, creditable. The compan
4 drilled with fixed bayonets. "
4 Their platoon movements and thel
s fire. were fully appreciated and ap
planded; but the officer commanding oni
4 drilled hjs men about half the time allowed