Connecticut western news., 1879-09-24
Battle Flag Day.

Flags from the Arsenal to their final resting place in the new Capitol, which called togeth- CT 75, 900 visitors and 8, 900 State veterans of the late Rebellion. The programme was we'll laid out and followed, and considering the magnitude of the undertaking. was a credit to We take the following extracts from the Hartford Courant's report of the affair:
 It was about half-past twelve when the col umn moved from Ford street and the park.
 The First regiment, the Governors Guards and the Putnam Phalanx moved up High-st. and waited a considerable time before the final start for the second division. Meanwhile @ detail of color bearers passed along in ad- vance to the arsenal. The march up was a continuous ovation. At every point the vet erans were greeted with cheers and waving of handkerchiefs. The decorations along High street and Windsor avenue were su- perb The walks were thronged with multi tudes of spectators. At two houses on the avenue little girls decked in gorgeous colors of the day appeared in the vestibules, and each regiment cheered them. At the Arsenal the color guards were drawn up in line, bear ing the glorious flags, the most of them being 30 tattered as to prevent unfurling. As the column countermarched, the color bearers fell into their respective regiments, and the loved flags once more and for the last time con- signed to those who bore them through the war, were tenderly carried toward their final depository. As the line drew into North Main street the church bells were ringing, and all along the line there were continuous huxzas. Main street has never been so pack ed with people. At Court House square the crowd was so great as to prevent for time the advance.
 The line passed along the appointed course, through Wethersfield avenue, Morris street, Maple avenue and Park street to Washing ton street, where the decorations were gorgeous. In front of MT. Morgan G. Bulk eley's residence there was handsome arch, with the names of dead veterans inscribed upon it, and profusely decorated with ever- gre ems and flowers. At 2:25 o'clock the First regiment wheeled into line on the east side of Washington street and the other portions of the procession passed them, to the capitol. An hour and twenty minutes elapsed before the last of the veterans had passed in re- views
 The press headquarters were in a large, upper room in the Times building fronting Main street, from the windows of which magnificent and comprehensive view of the procession and crowd in Main street could be obtained. The head of the line appeared in sight at 1:30, coming around the North Main street turn. There was 8 dense throng of people in the street crowding to it's very cen ter and the walks were full, and more were coming in from the side streets till it seemed as if the whole street was solidly packed be- yond separation for the passage of the pro- cession; and it was with difficulty that the surging mass could be kept back within req sonable bounds. Looking north there was one solid mass of people, Never before has such sight presented itself in Hartford. It was at this time when the crowd was at it's height and reasonable estimate of it's num- Der in the city, outside of the local popula- ton, must place it at over 50,000.
 Upon the arrival of the column at the Cap itol the veteran battalions formed in line, fac ing the north front, carrying their colors in the centre. covering those in front so as to make 6 perfect line of color bearers in the center of the column solidly massed When all had as- sembled there was dense mass of veterans extending from the capitol down to the ter race. After all the bands which were in front had played Marching Through Georgia" to- gether, and other old army alrs, and the vet erans had sang under the lead of Captain Charles A. Jewell the formal presentation of the battle flags by General Hawley to Cover nor Andrews took place upon a platform rais- ed in front of the building.
 The most dramatic and touching event of the whole day was the passing in the colors by the color beaIer to be deposited in the el- egant cases prepared to receive them in the west vestibule of the capitol. It was grand, and yet most affecting scene. The bearers of each regiment came forward separately car Eying the torn storm-beaten old flags, and as each set of colors was presented the regiment which had defended them waved hats and cheered over them; and so from one long line to the other the color-bearers came for ward tenderly bearing the old banners, dearly loved by themselves and their comrades, and passed them in. It was solemn yet grand :; the scene went straight home to the hearts of many, and eyes filled with tears. There was Q solemnity deeper than found expression, and @ picturesqueness about it that aroused ones enthusiasm and patriotism to the high est pitch.
 After the disposition of the flags the vast concourse called for some of the generals who were on the platform, and several were intro duced by General Hawley and received with hearty cheers.
 One of the neatest things of the whole day showing the ways of the old soldier was the good order maintained in getting into the din- ing tents; though there was another exhibi- ton of soldierly manners in the way the crowd of people jammed up against the north front of the capitol, was quietly backed for a consid- erable distance to make room for the veter- ans. There was an abundant provision of food-so much, indeed, that half as many more veterans could have been comfortably fed. The management of the feeding arrange. ments, which has been chiefly in the hands of General w. H. Green and MT. Jasper H. Bolton, has been excellent throughout, and the generous donations made by the ladies of Hartford deserve a most hearty acknowledg- ment It was no small task to undertake to feed between eight and ten thousand hungry men. The eating tents were protected by detail of Companies A and E in command of Captain Westphal and Lieutenant Levi Hotchkiss.
 The grandest spectacle on Main street in the evening was the new City hall and the arch in front of it. The hall was ablaze from the dome to the base. Chinese lanterns in festoons fell from the summit Two rows of gas lights Illuminated the front, and the iron fence on the sides was tipped with gas burn CTS. The arch was covered with gas lights also, making a beautiful appearance Along the street at various places red fire lit up the scene.
 The handsome arch on Washington street, erected by MT. N. G. Bulkeley, was hand somely lighted and attracted much attention, as it's decorations had during the day.
 Just about seven o'clock the electric illum- ination by the Brush light began and it was kept up till ten o'clock. The four large lights on the lantern sent their rays off to the four points of the compass, and the movable light on the Pimpton building was turned in vari- ous directions, This was of 5000 candle power and half as strong again as any of the others. It was thrown upon the jet of water and produced beautiful effects which were re. ceived with cheers by the thousands of spec- tators, and after that the colored light was