Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-03-09
Our Washington Letter.


WASHINGTON, d. c., March g. 1881.
Mr. Editor =" Inauguration Day" has come
and gone; the ceremonies and festivities are over
a new president has been sworn in, the country
accepts new ruler, and all the people cry
" Amen To attempt a description Of the sights
and sounds Of
INAUGURATION DAY,
or tell the history OF yesterday in Washington,
however brief, would tax your columns to the ex-
cusion OF all else, So we must confine our re-
marks to simple sketch OF some of the principal
features which made the day a memorable one
in the history of the national capital.
1t may be well to state, at the outset, that the
ceremonies attendant upon the Inauguration Of
President Garfield were the most imposing ever
witnessed on this continent. The evening before
closed in storm OF wind and snow, accompanied
by frequent flashes of lightning and loud peals Of
thunder. This was, to say the least, dispiriting
to the immense crowds Of visitors that had gath
cred, and were still gathering, in the city, and
served to dispel, in some slight degree, the ardor
Of all concerned. The morning opened ooio, riIv
snow lay crisp and white throughout the city, and
the raw March wind was sharp and bitter. By
ten o'clock, however, blue rift appeared in the
cloudy sky, which gave promise OF better things,
and soon the sun shone out to the delight Of the
assembled multitude. 1t shone upon as grand
and glittering sight as was ever witnessed on
Pennsylvania avenue, with the one exception Of
the grand military review Of 1865. No pageantry,
before or since, had ever equaled it. The gloom
and dependency OF the early morning quickly
gave place to cheerfuness and good humor. The
n. ~. .~f& ~
the disheartened soldier became the enthusiastic
hero; the disguised citizen was transformed into
the good-natured host, and corresponding good
feeling permeated the atmosphere and took pos
session OF the whole city. The avenue, and all
its approaches from the White House TO the
capitol, was thronged, and damned, and crowded
by the raging, resistess sea Of humanity. The
great stands that had been erected on either side
all along the route were quickly filled to overflow
ing, and all was on tip-toe Of excitement for
THE PROCESSION
to move. Ten thousand people were awaiting its
appearance. At last the strains OF music were
waited on the breeze from the direction Of the
executive mansion, and at about half-past ten
o'clock the first detachment OF the grand process
sion was seen advancing down the avenue. No
one could mistake the figure Of the foremost
leader, the hero Of many battles, General W. T.
Sherman, the marshal Of the day, who rode at
the head OF the column, on milk-white steed,
supported by his aids and a body of metropolitan
police. After him came the first division, made
up of both civic and military bodies, to whom
was assigned the honor Of escorting General Gar.
field and party from the white house to the CAPT.
toll. The division was commanded by Brevei
Major General X. b. Ayres, and consisted Of the
Second United States artillery, Third artillery q
battalion OF the United States Marine Corps, with
the famous Marine band OF seventy pieces the
Champion City Guards Of Springfield, Ohio the
Cleveland Troop on horseback; the Union Vet
eran Corps Of this city; Central City Veterans Of
Syracuse, New York, with Maurers Band; 0s
wego Citizens Corps Of Oswego New York
Grand Army Of the Republic, three hundred men
and Wilson Post Band OF Baltimore; Grand Army
Of the Republic of Maryland, eight hundfed men
Washington Light Infantry Corps, with Donch'
Band; Annapolis Naval Cadets, four hundred
strong; Hampton Cadets, of Hampton, Virginia
National Rifles OF Washington, with Weber
band Battalion OF United States Signal Corps
| Ninth Regiment New York National Guard, an,
Drum Corps
behind the famous cleveland Troop came al
open carnage drawn by Tour horses In whicl
was seated the presidential party. On the bacl
seat were President Hayes and President-elec
Garfield and facing them were Senators An
thony and Bayard, of the committee OF reception
In another carriage were seated General Arthu
and senator fehdie'oh' All along the route IN
presldeh'eiec' was greeted with the greatest on
I -.
thusiasm, ana was Kept busy In powing' nat
hand, 10 the 'oeiiefous cheering that came iror
all sizes ,
A.. A. ~ sAil.on o.
s,',,,". ooa.aians ~ ,on anu t., ,Sa E'a,e
~ .ha aann,.. na~ ous ~.
.ho 49, y .s'l a'a.'on p",S'
'" '"e s ., 49, ''s ons ".s1' no'o'