The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-11-20
rhc Thomas Statue.

.,,.s., M; GERM MONIES AT WASHINGTON TES-
tgapAY-A GRAND DEMONSTRATION.
N.,.glyG-oX. November 19.-The city was
.t >lrsn-er> Today 10 witness the GER
Pr s,rs, attending the unwilling OF the
,..nr Of General George Thomas by the
;-ny oi tue Cumberland. \ meeting OF
. society was held this morning, and,
a..,. to tIc absence OF General Sheridan,
.-.,;5ent q ;he Society, on account OF
|. ,nc,>. General jefferson {. Davis was
"aNimuu>ly selected TO preside amid loud
.etr>. After the meeting adjourned the
,-.er>,ion was formed and proceeded to
T.. IL Of tac statue, where the unvcillng
economies were commenced. In the line
|, .he urucc>>jcn were ;he Richmond Light
I-hg'y Blues, OF Richmond. Va; the
: folk Ci,y Guards. OF Norfolk, Va: the
Alexandria Light Infantry. and the Cadets
:. JONAS Academy. o! Alexandria.
Tie nron, ion passed the Executive
va.ion and was reviewed by the PreSi-
.., 2nd Cabinet. after which it proceeded
. .sr circle where the statue is placed.
The exercises were opened with prayer !;
.ner which :. Hail to the Chief" was play
ii by ..r Marine Band. and the Star
|>ua..4 H4Incr' rendered by the male
c ~ 81 100 voices, accompanied by the
Marin" Band drum corps and cannon
.".,'y Battery \ Of the Second Artillery
q 1H,rr { OF the Third Artillery. for
:..g commanded by General Bragg during
Mexican war, and subsequently by
sr.~ra Thomas. These batteries were
.gsd on Massachusetts avenue and NJ
,..i. tnc Guns facing eastward, and were
-ra Iy electric wires, being Immediate
under tie control Of Lieutenant Swift,
lie signal Corps, and all under the di-
'.'a Of l.. I. Cannon.
iAa statue was then unveiled by the
| l.itor, ana the gra4d "Hymnus' was
~ hy the same chorus, with cannon ac-
4raHnrn;.
IL" Grafton was then delivered by Hon.
| l.:rr Matthew'S, and the statue was ac-
ir't.a by the President in q shOlt speech.
1 he enclosure, which was provided with
}'.&. Was filled lang before the hour fixed
=: Tie ceremonies, and at least 5000 peo-
sod around the circle. All the h)uSes
! %: immediate vicinity were handsomely
/ t'r2'cd. The President and bis Cabinet,
members OI ;he Supreme Court, and al
distinguished invited officials occupied
1.,' on :he stand. The place WAS black
lib lie crowd Of spectators, who re-
3-aafd tntt! Tie exercises closed.
among lac pleasing incidents Of the day
lae very cordial reception given to the
:,A'nt L'@ht Infantry Blues. whose fine
4 trt!E a!I~arance evoked hearty and ia
he c'gmrnt. As the company took
t'-r" IN the ;lnc. Colonel Ordway, Of the
s..A .'yn, @nd formerly Major OF the
4 He-!n""I Virginia Volunteers, rode
4 90 Ms -lceted with cheers BY bis old
-.-Lc>. Acknowledging the compli-
4 ---' oIoE~t Ordway responded in very
$50 1"d complimentary speech OF welcome
'-''t9",Hp, which was cheered to the
'os evening exercises were held in a
Il = "W south OF The Executive mansion,
,., It hE2un with prayer. Judge McAr-
I'4'eree an address OF welcome on
-" t.! ne city. General Arson McCOok
j '"ea ah Grafton, and Miss Annie Story
4 "a an original poem jy Edward Re
"eiai Sherman, in response to calls,
! .%.Is snort speech eUlogizing the charac-
.a1 worth Of General Thomas. Other
i! . .s,> we're made by Generals Buell., Nc
,,'r, aad Garfield.
-.'oeAi Hayes was then called for and
| '-' short speech.