New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-11-20

assembage. Ex-senator Stanley Matthews
delivered the Grafton. In the evening there
was grand reunion in the great tent, mt
which General McCoOk and General Sherman
spoke. A description of the statue, which
was designed by J. Q. A. Ward. Is appended.
THE INAUGURAL PROCEEDINGS.
THE PROCESSION LARGE AND IMPREssivE-rHE
CITY IS FESTIVE ARRAY.
IBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEI
WASHINGTON Nov. 10-1he Thomas statue was
dedicated to-day with appropriate ceremonies by
the Society of the Army of the Cumberland. Ibis
morning the sun rose clear and chill. dispeling all
dismal anticipatons and promising most enjoy
able day. Later in the morning the sky became
overcast but the air remained crisp and bracing, and
the day continued throughout 10 be one Of the kind
which makes marching or standing for hours pos
slblc without great fatigue.
In SO far as the work of the several committees
was concerned, the preparations seem 10 have been
complete and fully equal to all that was promised.
The ornamentation bestowed upon the Thomas Cir
Gle was very elaborate. Forest of tall poes placed at
regular intervals around the circumference sup-
ported great waving clouds of color formed by
wrcaths garlands and festOOns of evergrcens, flags
and streamers of hundred patterns, shapes aud
Sizes badges, emblens and notices. Batteries Of
large brass field pieces pointed outward from
around the base of the pedestal, while stacks of
small arms and piles of cannOn-balls filed IN the III
terval. IN the centre square Enclosure, formed OF
four immense Union flags, yelled the statue. The
hotels and a few business houses were decorated
with considerable prcfusion and taste.
The influx of strangers was smaller than was an
ticlpated. but immense and impossible crowds as
sembled hours before the time for the procession to
,i.1 Ia far
it, The vast porticos of the Treasury were damned
with expectant masses of people as early as half
past l. and by that hour, too, windows along Penn
sylvania-ave. were commanding a premium. The
crowd was extremely orderly.
Fourteen years ago that portion of the Army OF
The Cumberland which followed Sherman In the
march to the sea. marched through Pennsylvania
ave. nearly 10000 strong. Only few of those men
were in the ranks OF the column which this morn
ing marched through the same street on their way
to the statue of the greatest commander OF the
Army of the Cumberland the " model soldier ]"
of the war; as Horace Greeley styled him. and
"Old Papa" Thomas, as his soldiers at1ectionatey
called him. The Pennsylvania-aye. OF 1860, some
OF Sherman's soldiers declared, was the worst road
to march on they had ever found. To-day 1t is
smooth and clean as a floor, the finest street for
parade that is to be found in America.
A REMARKABLE PROCESSION.
The management of the procession could not
have been better. The command of the whole col
umn and of each division was intrusted to men of
military experience. Their aids had all seen SER
vice. The several divisions were at their stations
at tie time appointed and were drawn out into the
column with military precision and without con-
fusion.
One of the nest interesting features Of the pro-
cessOn was made up of the hall dozen volunteer
military companies from Maryland and Virginia.
4 company which attracted much attention. both
on account of its fine appearance and its historical
character, was the Richmond Blnes. This organize
ton was formed in 1893 and its ranks have been
filled and differed from time to time by some of the
most prominent citizens of General lbomas's native
State The company was commanded to-day by a
son of the late Governor Henry 4. Wise. Tisfee
other Virginia companies. one composed of cadets,
also appeared TO do honor to one OF Vrgnias truest
and noblest SONS
Another very interesting feature of the process
sion was the several Grand Army and other organ
izatons of veterans. While there was less style
about them, old soldiers remarked that the un-uni-
formed veterans and the modestly uniformed men
of the Grand Army Posts at fell into the easy
Swing which many of them had learned while
following Thomas and sherman.
Another body of men also attracted much atten-
ton. These were the veterans OF the Mexican War.
who held the post of honor at the right of the col
umn. This company of ninety men carried the flag
of the 10Th Infantry, which their comrades bore
into the City of Mexico when it surrendered.
In the street in front of the Executive Mansion q
stand had been built. Here President Hayes and
all the members of his Cabinet except the Attorney
General reviewed the column. The excellent
marching of the detachmenis of marines and rcgu-
lars and the appearance of the boys from the tram
ing-ships Saratoga and Portsmouth, were highly
commended by the President and the distinguished
men who accompanied him. Nearly all the houses
III the vicinity of the circle were tastefully orna-
mentcd with bunting.
CEREMONIES Al THE STATUE.
Long before the arrival of the leading platOons
every portco and window which commanded Il
view of the spot where the ceremonies were TO take
place was occupied, while by the time that the last
files wheeled into the circle approach from any
direction almost impossible.
Ii is nobody's fault that the ceremonies at the
statue were less impressive than they expected
to be. 1t was so cold that people could not keep
still with comfort while the space within the build
ing lines was so immense and tho streets leading
out of the circle so wide, that all sounds seemed
to be dwarfed, as they would have heen
on an open prairie. Even the booming of the can
non fired in salute mt the moment of unveng
seemed only half to fill the space with sound, aud
the music of bands and human voices was only
audible to those in the immediate neghborhood of
the musicians.
An amphltheatre had been built around half the
inner circle ana chairs placed upon IT, sufficient
in number TO accommodate $500 invited guests
As usual the committee in charge Of tickets found
it impossible To withstand the pressure and it be-
came known last night that they had been over
prodgal in their dispcnsation Owing TO
this knowledge eager ones who were intent
upon getting their full rights pressed in and secured