The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-09-03
Tho Yorktown centennial.
TIE MILITARY DISPLAY Az THE CELEBRATE

TIE MILITARY DISPLAY Az N CELEBRATION.
WASHINGTON. d. G., September Colo
mel COrbIn has received notifications from
military organizations proposing 10 take
part in the Yorktown celebration aggre-
eating 10 600. and confidently expects that
The military feature OF the occasion will be
the presence OF a. least $4,000 soldiers.
General Hancock has ordered Battery "I,"
Third United States artillery, Captain Ny
rick commanding. TO proceed TO Yorktown
without delay and report 10 Lieutenant
Colonel Craigbill for duty in preparing
camp-grounds for the troops.
COLONEL %CRATeHlLL's REPORT OP THE BeO-
GREss or II WORK OF PREPARATION.
BALTIMORE, September 2.-Celonel Will
liam L. CraighIll, OF the United States En-
gineer Corps, returned from Yorktown,
Va, thls morning, where be has been look
ing aiter The progress OF the arrangements
for the Centennial celebration at that place.
Up to this time the progress on the work
has not been advanced rapidly, owing TO
the fact Of the general impression that the
display and obseryances Of the occasion
would depend in a great measure upon the
assured cOnyaiescence Of the President,
and the additional fact that the amount OF
S2O.O 600 appropriated By Congress was insult
| ficient to meet the expenses absolutely ne
cessary 10 be incurred. The work y now
progressing expeditiously and satisfactorily.
The land purchased by the Government for
$1,000 embraces six acres, and lies Just
within what were the British lines. The
foundation ios the base CT the monument
has been dug and filled in with granite con-
crete. The cornerstone Of granite was
taken from a Richmond quarry, and IS on
the ground ready 10 be lowered Ia position
fer the Masonic ceremonies. The encamp-
meut for the United states troops and
State military and Masonic societies VIII
be on the Temple farm, about one mile
and a half distant from the monument site.
IL IL an open field nearly level, but With
sufficient undulation for proper drainage
and well adapted to army encampments.
n position the regulars will occupy the
right OF the field, and General Han
cocks headquarters will be here. The
same ground was occupied By Washington
| some one hundred years ago, and by Gen.
eral McClellau's army In 1862. On tbs
| field will be pitched from 1900 TO 1900 TENS,
each capable OF sheltering fifteen men. 1t
is estimated that about %, 900 military and
5000 Masons VIII he in the tents.
For the accommodation Of the. executive
officers Of the Government, the members OF
the Cabinet, Congressional Commission,
| and distinguished guests, areception build-
ing 100 feet long and go feet wide IS being
built. II will contain a room for The COM
mission, one for the Secretary OF State, ana
one for ladies. a large portion OF The space
will be taken up for purposes OF entertain
ment. -.
The Yorktown Centennial Association OF
%well.knOWn citizens Of the thirteen original
| States, Of which Hon. John Goode. OF Vir-
einia, is chairman, and Colonel Peyton, 81
New jersey, general superintendent, Is AFRO
aiding .he Commission. As heretofore an
nounced, they have purchased the Temple
farm, and rendered its use for a camping
ground. They have also renovated ana re-
| paired, from cellar 10 garret, the Moore
House, which is on the Temple farm. II VIII
be handsomely carpeted aud papeTed ana
rendered 10 the Congressional COMMISSION
for use by its guests. II wasi q this house tnat
the articles Of capitulatiOn were concluded
and sgreed 10. The Association Is a,so
sbout erecting a building 2G0 by O. feet for
| hotel purposes, designed 10 accommodate
1000 persons with beds. On tbe part OF the
neople of yorktown absolutely no prepare
lions are being made. A little wooden
sbanty. with the words "0pera-House "
over The entrance, and a bali dozen
or more board huts for dispensing
"cool lager" have been put up, ana
seem 10 have exhausted the enterprise
OF the natives. Engineers Braxt0n ana
| Webb, Of the Chesapeake and Ohio rali-
| road, and Colonel C%raighill, were at YORK,
town Yesterday, and went over the ground
with a view OF locating the entrance OF
their branch road. At present, the only
way OF reaching Yorktown from this city
is by way Of the York River Line OF steam
ers. II was expected that 4S engineer SOL
diers and 80 enlisted men. ordered from
WiIlett's Point and West Point by the See
rotary Of War, would arrive at Yorktown
to-day and rcnort 10 Colonel Craighlll.